I Will Not Dis The Subaru Challenge Anymore. Here's Why.

The notion of sweaty human hordes clustering intimately as they plant their hands firmly on a car does not appeal as an exciting activity. It was probably one of the worst form of competitive events, performed for hours in the most sedentary art of energy-burning.

All striving to be the last man standing and winning a Subaru.

Courtesy of newnation.sg

Then again, there are far more undesirable feats which virtually no one wants a part in.

Like Masanobu Sato, a Japanese who masturbated to fame in 2009.

The Subaru Challenge does, actually, convey real respect to its contestants. Lately, I have come to acknowledge that it is perhaps tougher than said, running an ultra for close to two days.

Why can't it be?

The thought that Ngee Ann City's Civic Plaza would be the only scenery for the next few days (Latest: A G Jaishanker has won the 13th edition at a timing of 82 hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds) could send shivers down self-respecting trail and city runners. Also, I doubt the nutrition choices are any more delightful.

Does drop-outs receive finisher goodies for fulfilling the minimal hours of participation?

Even with the above incentive, it may well be an exercise in futility, an epic time span in pursuing a goal on the Mount Everesty scale of impossibility.

But that is what make the endeavors strangely valiant.

The Challenge isn't for the faint-heart.  It's a deceptively simple 'sport' that penalises a participant dearly for an innocently minor mistake.

In trail races, you might be able to get away for taking the wrong path in the forest. In the SC, there is close to zero room for errors (the consolation that you will not actually lose your life for such).    

The demand is that an able man will endure long periods of pure boredom as he keeps his palm glue-shut on the surface of a vehicle while standing / crouching under an apathetic weather. The hand must not flinched off its designated spot; failure of which is an automatic disqualification. In other words, it calls for deeper recesses of mental concentration and will power that even ultra running may pale in comparison.

Consider the other things that could be done in a long race without the fear of not finishing. Sleeping on the side? Doing a change of fresh clothes and socks? Relieving yourself of a terrible itch following prolonged periods with no bath?

How would you survive the SC while conducting those trivial affairs with ease? Jaishanker, the most recent winner, braved through more than four days without sleep, while at 24+ hours, some ultra runners are reported to have suffer bizarre hallucinations.

Fairing up the comparisons, there are actually ultras that could dwarfed the Challenge in mind-stretching proportions. One famous example: the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, repetitive loops of a 883 meters route to be completed within 52 days.

The dare to embark on the absolutely mundane for eternity-inducing moments must surely the most excruciating of challenges. Humans are sensitive creatures who crave change and variety. Usually, monotony dries the soul but the SC inserts a tangible purpose to an otherwise zombified state.  It is still not wise to assume that anyone with hands could breeze through the competition.

Hence, salutes to those who had tackled events of a similar tedious nature, be it yet another curious struggle for something with wheels or running on a treadmill for 24 dreadful hours.

Warriors in your own right but hopefully it does not involves that you wank for hours towards glory.