Beautiful First Night Race @ZSC

And, I completed my first night race here. :)

It has really been a long time since I joined such running events, and I was... a little excited and nervous. 

The race was originally postponed due to the rising covid cases, and I was kinda surprised that it was postponed to just... 1 week after. (I wonder if there has been a decline of cases and that's why, or?)

But, still, it was good to join in this event. 

Fiona said that she missed all the pre-race jitters, and that's possibly how I felt too. And given that I've been running every weekend, and now tracking my runs on runkeeper, I was curious to know if I would be able to under 6, for each km. My target was 6.10, and my dear husband said it was not a target and I should aim for under. Haha. But this is the race jitter la. 

I had no expectations about the organisation of the event, because I have no prior race experience here, and I just thought to follow the flow. I reached to find a whole masked crowd gathered for the 8km run already lined up in the stadium, and with social distancing. It was quite an interesting different experience, because there was no starting off at the same time, no shoving and pushing to the front. Groups of 8 set off 30 seconds apart, and everyone obeyed the rules. 

 

The run started and I just set off with my new sound-liberty wireless buds planted firmly in my ear. I must have been too excited, because at the 5th-mark, I was clocking 5:19. Haha. And then, I realised it must have been the adrenalin in me. So I slowed down a little and just ran. The route was familiar to me, given that I live just here in the sports city, but it was also unfamiliar with the night and the various cones and twists and turns here and there. And with the numbers of people and 2 different races going on at the same time. There were road marshalls and that was helpful, but some parts were really just dark. Still, I just ran and slowed down a little. 

At the 6km mark, I felt I still have quite some energy left, and decided to put in more power in each stride, and to go a little faster. The problem was.... when I was nearly almost 8km, the end was no where in sight. My runkeeper buzzed, and now I had gone on beyond the 8km mark and I thought perhaps, I should recalibrate again to make sure I can continue to finish the race. This was a little unexpected, but the extra exercise would not kill, so then, it's back to the psyche to say - recalibrate, and run on. 

Finally, I thought I saw the end-in-sight, with another 1/2 loop round the stadium exteriors. I ran through the alleyway leading into the stadium, happy to have completed my first run. Really happy. 

And I clocked 5.55 on my runkeeper, for 9.62km. 

Night Race 5/5

I am looking forward to my first night run here. :) I signed up for one race end 2018, but was unable to go for it as had a work trip. But this coming Thurs, I shall do my first night run / race here. 

It's been so long since I last joined such corporate running events. I think my last one was Standard Chartered 21km before I got married!! That's like almost a decade ago? 

And then, after that, I asked myself why I would pay money to run. And so, it's been a hiatus from such running events. 

Until last week - when this popped up on my FB, and the run would be around the Zayed Sports City, which is where I live now. So I thought - haha, shall I just go for it?

Running is supposed to be enjoyable for me, and running a corporate kind of race always just feels a little more competitive than normal. So I pondered about whether I should join in, and if I do, shall I just do 5km, or 5 miles? 

So yesterday, I decided to run a 5-mile run. 5 miles is about 8km, so I did an 8.4km, and it was kind of like an assurance that I surely can complete the race. Though it's also a little strange why I would think this way, because my usual weekend workouts are about 6+ to 10+ km each time. Haha, that's why I say - a race always brings about something different in me. 

And I did my 8.4km yesterday. :) Timing really goes down with Zoom Fly. 

So, I am happy and looking forward to this Thurs's night run. I hope it won't be that humid, and it will be an enjoyable one before the end of the work week. 

Haha, and with the registration, I have become the latest challenger. So funny. 

The humble Karak Tea

... has recently become one of the must-haves whenever I go to Mushriff Mall. This small unassuming shop tucked away in a corner at the basement carpark sells all sorts of Indian snack, chai tea, and ... the Karak Tea. :-D

This Karak Tea, is actually just hot milk tea, and it tastes very much like the Singapore Teh-Gao, except that I think Karak Tea is sweeter. I read that it originated from India and Pakistan, and here, there are so many places that you can find the karak Tea, as it is a common and favourite drink with the locals, and with the Indian community here. We've had Karak Teas while driving, at petrol stations, at pit stops, but, somehow, the Karak tea @ Mushriff Mall tastes the nicest amongst all. Maybe because it's always drunk just before we leave for home, when we are tired after all the grocery shopping and marketing. :)

So it is kinda like a ritual to complete the whole marketing experience with a well-deserved sweet Karak, and at such a very affordable 1AED price. 

I also think it is the whole experience. :) Just sipping a hot cup of Karak, amongst the very local pit stop scene, and where beside us, there are simple tables and chairs set up, for that tired and weary worker, the security guard, the shop attendants, the carwash folks, etc. 

Today, I sat right at the side with the simple mama store behind me. I sipped the hot Karak, and just felt thankful and glad that the week has ended. The Karak taste has become a little addictive. This drink has now become a signature part of the Mushriff marketing experience. :)

Missing the rain

My friends say that it's been raining in Singapore.

I woke up this morning missing the feeling and smell of rain. The clouds and atmosphere changing when it's about to rain, and the huge splatterings of raindrops, and even, sometimes, being out at MR and getting rained upon, a mixture of sweat n rain and my shoes smacking against the muddy slushes.

Oh. How I miss the rain and it's coolness. And sometimes the dirty aftermath (if i so choose to run!)

And today, in Abu Dhabi, it's sunny as usual. The worst has passed. Aug 24 was supposed to be the last official day of summer and it is true. The weather has cooled a little and by 630pm, it turns dark quite soon. Still, the temp is about 42 now. 😁

I am sitting in costa with my coffee, a cake and a book - Educated.

These last 2 weeks, I have just been feeling tired. This is the truth. I think all the early mornings are taking a toil on me and the past 2 weekends, I kept sleeping. And sleeping. But today I felt a little better. Today, maybe I just decided to do something different with a change of environment. So I headed to Costa for an afternoon read and coffee.

I am reminded of God's love and the little things I can be thankful regardless my emotions. I am reminded that post the rain, there is the rainbow. I am missing my family and friends in sg, and the rain. But today, i just want to feel grateful for even this afternoon at Costa.