The last Sunday of August saw me at the National University of Singapore (NUS) early in the morning doing the RunNUS 09.
RunNUS is an annual running event organized by the NUS Students’ Sports Club to promote a healthy lifestyle amongst the NUS population and the public. Already in its third year since its inception, RunNUS has become an important event for both the NUS alumni and its student and staff population to gather with friends and rediscover the NUS heritage.
The Men’s Open 12km competitive run was flagged off in a warm and sunny morning but the skies opened up and it started pouring an hour into the run. Luckily, I have finished the race by the time the first rain drop came hurling down, crossing the line in 55mins (unofficial time). It was a hard run for me, as the route was over hilly terrain.
To the dismay of runners who haven’t start their run, the organizers announced RunNUS 09 cancelled due to the downpour! Only the men’s open category got the run started before the rain came. You can just imagine how disappointed they were and what a wet blanket to be thrown on them on a wet Sunday morning!
There was a lot of disappointed and agitated runners, waiting out the rain.
Even the on-stage live band performance cannot revived the disappointment of the runners who had their run cancelled due to the rain.
Usain”Lightning” Bolt burn up the track in the Berlin Olympic stadium as he stormed to a stunning victory in the 100m at the World Championships in Berlin setting a new world record time of 9.58sec. Watch the video of this EPIC world record sprint…..and DON’T BLINK!
Here’s where Bolt’s speed place him in the animal kingdom
The first Youth Olympic Games will take place from 14 to 26 August 2010, where some 3,600 young athletes from all over the world - between 14 and 18 years of age – will compete in 26 sports and take part in Culture and Education Programme.
A YOG countdown party was held at the Padang to unveil a 10m countdown clock on the steps of City Hall. Yes, the clock is ticking and we have 1 year to go before the inaugural YOG begins. The public was also able to try out various sports in the carnival.
A young boy getting a trial on a sail boat, and a small crowd looks on.
Locals and tourists, young and old, trying our the archery stations.
A 7-a-side soccer game being played on the field of The Padang, against the backdrop of the Central Business District.
A game of 3-on-3 basketball was being played on a stretch of road which was closed.
The official results for Tri Run (the first of two half marathon I’ve signed up for August) were released and I’ve clocked a time of 1hr 40mins 23s for the 21km run, a personal best for me. I came in 12th out of 108 runners in the Men’s Open category.
(click on image to enlarge)
Considering this was the first 21km race I’ve ran in many many years, I’m satisfied with the time I’ve clocked. It is indeed a timely morale booster for my second half-marathon – SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (SSBR & AHM) – coming up this Sunday, 16 Auggust 2009.
