Out Of Breath - Part 3

"Anybody can be a runner. We were meant to move. We were meant to run. It's the easiest sport."

- Bill Rodgers, former American record holder in the marathon.

Montfort Secondary, 1996 - 1999

My first experiment with proper running is about to turn things around for the better... at least on the 2.4K circuit. I thought I had found the perfect running technique to survive through 20 minutes of physical exertion. Soon, I would find myself overtaking more and more guys by employing the run-walk-run method.

I began the 2.4K on a jogging pace and held to it for a few minutes to the next 'checkpoint', which might be a bus stop, lamppost, residential flat or any structural set-up being designated as a distance marker. Once there, I transited  into a walk which stretched between 100m -150m before I went into a slow run again. This style of running may be humbling for endurance speedsters but it really helps in preventing one from hitting the wall too soon. Meanwhile, I was unknowingly running in a way that was tried and proven.

Eventually, from Secondary 2 onwards, my improving performance became evident to my friends. Our class 'Mr Unpopular' was even convinced that I had cheated my way to the finish but I hardly find my results extraordinary; the best ranking I had secured so far among a class of 40 boys ranged between the 22th to 26th place.

The run-walk technique would remained my favoured method of tackling the 2.4K until I attended an annual 4-days camp as a Scout.

Held on school grounds, the camp was a major event for Montfortain Scouts as four of its patrols (Scout term for a 5-6 men platoon) pitted against each other in craftsmanship, the erection and maintenance of camping structures,  physical challenges and campfire performances. I was never a reliable Scout myself so during camp, I did whatever I could to follow orders and make things right, though I still flubbed sometimes.

On the third day, an announcement went around the campsite, calling for all patrols to sent a selected group of their members for a 7K race. Without hesitation, I volunteered.

The race started off from school on a fine Saturday afternoon. As we ran along Hougang Ave 8, the feat of staying together as a patrol became apparently difficult since not everyone could stick to an ideal pace. We managed to keep each other in sights and passed encouragements within earshot.

Before reaching a mile, I was ready to break into a walk as part of my strategy. One of my patrol mates was determined that I do not lose stride.

'Keep on running! Don't stop!', he barked. I could not said 'no' so I continued running.

Ten minutes later, we exited the Hougang area and cruised toward the housing estates at Serangoon North. From there, we did a turnaround and headed for the Hougang Central area.

Midway, I wondered if I possessed the energy to last throughout the race while running non-stop. I had not transited into a walk yet but was doubtful that it will not happen at all. Eventually, I realized that most of the guys were pushing themselves just as hard towards the next destination and I'd better follow along.

It seems to be about 25 minutes when we finally passed Hougang Central and were advancing towards the Church Of The Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary, next to the old Montfort site where a CHIJ girl's school now resides. From there, we left-turned onto Hougang Ave 8 with less than a mile to go.

Church Of The Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary at Upper Serangoon Road

(photo courtesy of catholic.org.sg)

 

As we ran past Punggol Park, I began to feel a euphoric sense of near-completion of the race. 'RUN LIKE A TIGER!', I urged my guys by the namesake of our patrol.

Not long after, we arrived at the carpark of Montfort School.

The race is completed. This satisfaction was also boosted by the fact that I had ran non-stopped for more than an hour and lasted through the whole distance. That day, I found that I was capable of performing even stronger than I previously thought I could.

The 7K race at the Scouts camp forever changed my strategy and mental approach towards running. From the humble run-walk technique, I advanced to running / jogging non-stop during 2.4K runs. I reaped much benefits from the change when I participated another cross-country school event race at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. I managed a moderate ranking among a Secondary 3 fielding of 2 or 3 classes.

I continued to do 4-5K runs (sometimes, with my pal, Elliot) around Hougang during school holidays and post-exam breaks..... only occasionally however. Being young and fun loving, I, like so many other boys my age, was distracted by many things in our time. Running got minimal attention so I never realized the extent of my potential like I do today.

A few months after receiving my 'O' Level results in 2000, I was posted to ITE Bukit Batok.

Out Of Breath - Part 2

“So you must pace yourself so close to what you can run.”
- Jeff Galloway, former Olympian athlete

Montfort Secondary, 1996 -1999

By Sec 2, I have had enough with my continual under-performance at the 2.4Ks. After slamming into the wall for too many times, I decided to take a new approach to running.

The method is orthodox, but nevertheless effective. In 1992, my Primary 4 P.E teacher, Miss Alicia Gomez, dispensed a vital tip on running smart. Basically for someone who is new to running, he needs to start off slow, mostly at jogging pace so that the untrained heart and lungs will not be exerted beyond physical means. Humbling as it may be in the beginning, it helps to conserve vital energies and steadily warms up the body systems.

When the runner jogs a considerable distance, he can carefully increase to a comfortable pace without significant compromise on performance.

That's at least the bits and pieces of Miss Gomez's running wisdom I could still recall.

On one particular morning, another 2.4K started and many of my classmates toed off to a fast start. While I would normally try to follow pace with whoever I think I can run along with, I decided to do a very slow jog which I handled with ease. One by one, friends zoomed past but I remained committed to my present pace, learning from experience what fast start-offs can do to you.

About 5 minutes or so, I got a little tired. At this point, I deliberately slowed down and walked for a few minutes before breaking off into another jog. This process was repeated throughout the route so that I did not find myself easily out of breath. I also overtook some runners along the way.

When I finally reached end point, I managed to shave about 2 to 3 minutes off my previous (dismal) record. And I was no longer the last 2. Though I can't remember much details of that day, I probably might have beat 1 or 2 more guys to the finish; it didn't matter anyway.

I was beginning to improve.

Little did I know how this tiny spark of success would one day lead to blisters, black toe nails and burnouts suffered in an intensive 8 months of marathon training.

Out Of Breath - Part 1

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

- Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher

Montfort Junior & Secondary, 1990s - 1999

Located in the humble heartlands of Hougang Ave 8, the Montfort School facilities is divided into two sections; one comprising the primary school side (Montfort Junior) and the other, the secondary school (Montfort Secondary). In operation since 1916, Montfort, in the early 90s, shifted from its former location at Upper Serangoon to its current site.

Within the confines of this Catholic "boys-only" institution are hundreds of male students from various backgrounds and races, energized for all the right and wrong reasons. What better outlet for a horde of restless kids than sports? Especially one that involves kicking a ball.

Despite the school's solid reputation for producing badminton champs, football remains the most popular activity around. Before assembly and during recess, a short game will be played either between two classes or opposing sides within a class or a mixture of both. Sometimes, a real football will be used. Other times, the boys will have to make do with tennis balls. When both resources are unavailable, the boys improvised by using crushed drink cans.

As kids, we will do anything just to have fun.

And then there's P.E.

Unless each sessions involved football (or at least other games or sports like badminton), P.E is sometimes frowned upon. Otherwise, it was enjoyable on most occasions as long as the class don't felt like they're being forced into physical exhaustion.

One of the activities our P.E teachers got us to do was to run around a section of the Hougang neighbourhood which Montfort is located within. Starting off and ending at the school's driveway, we exited out of the main gate and ran along the pavements at Hougang Avenue 8, 4, 10 and 6 respectively. When it's all over, we spend the final minutes of P.E catching our breath.

I like running for a long time. My first introduction to this heart-pumper, however, was no love at first sight. Actually, it was more like hate at first puke.

I remembered taking NAPFA test in primary school and had to meet a passable timing for about a mile long run. Like a typical running noob, I started off fast and ended up walking for the rest of the distance. This faulty pattern of running would go on for a few years and right into Sec 1.

Of course, Sec 1 was the worst.

This time, there was even more P.E sessions of (longer) 2.4K runs to make me scream for air. Out of a class of 40 boys, I would come in at the ridiculed Bottom 5. It's easy to witness my late return; you have a group of 30 something classmates, waiting at the driveway and they would spot a bunch of their dying friends, making it to the finish.

"Oh. Terry's back..... at last."

By then, I was convinced that, anytime, I will be the last guy.