I have been reading the previous posting about the integrity of the marathon written by the Race Director of MCM Marathon. It was about cheating despite using the Champion Chip. Obviously, the word Champion had made an impression in my mind.
So I went to another bus where the person whom I asked earlier looked at me in bewilderment. I saw PK Chan, the Coach Captain of Boleh Bus greeted me at the entrance. With the score-board in hand, I said to PK, “You look like a bus conductor.” “Yeah, don’t forget to give tips later,” he quipped. As time passed, more members arrived. We were happy exchanging greetings going for this special mission together.
Just before we started our journey, PK passed to me a film type Minolta SLR camera for taking group photos. Since Pacesetters Club’s official photographer, Mr. ChanWK, was not here as he had gone to Singapore earlier, looked like either Weng or I would have to assume the task to take the group photos.
Mr. Krishnan, Head of Running of Adidas, was in the same bus. He showed us the latest Supernova model which was much lighter yet with improved cushioning than the earlier models. According to Mr. Krishnan, the sale of Supernova was most encouraging. Every time the outlet gets a new delivery of consignment, it would be quickly snapped up by the runners.
At around 7.45am, All-Stars Bus from Permaisuri Group arrived. The rain spoiled the plan of taking group photos before we departed. PK suggested we would take one at the Yong Peng Rest Area later. At 8.05am, all three buses departed from base. I was feeling excited. I have not had this experience of been chauffeured in chartered bus for quite some times.
At Yong Peng Rest Area
The food-court at Yong Peng Rest Area is huge. There were many tour buses parked there. With so many tour buses, the food court was crowed with tourists looking for food. They even have VIP treatment for bus drivers to have their meals in a special room. The food there was pricy. A plate of simple mixed-vegetable rice and a soft drink costing RM 7-50!
Immediately after our food, Wend and I went outside to survey a suitable location for group photo session. There was one vacant land opposite the main road but crossing the road was quite dangerous. We identified a better location: the car park area which was on the same side of the food-court, though further away.
Taking group photos of about 120 runners was really an experience for me. I began to appreciate how ChanWK could accomplish the tougher jobs – taking 260 runners for the KLIM 2004 and 2005.
Returning to our three chartered buses where they were parked next to one another, I saw that all bearing the same number: 5885 with only the preceding letters differ.
Collection of Race Entry Packs
The buses reached Singapore custom checkpoint at 1.30pm. There were long queues of people waiting in line. With another 120 Pacesetters runners, that would compound the problem. One runner commented that they should anticipate the sudden influx of tourists for this marathon and should have more officers manning the counters.
Out of boredom, one runner jokingly said that the delay could be due to some elaborated ear squatting checks (referring to the infamous incident happened to a few Chinese national girls recently). Another runner replied: knowing that we are runners (with T-shirts prominently proclaiming we are), we could be asked to run 10km or round the building compound. Finally, it took us one hour to clear the custom.
We reached Suntec Complex at 3pm and we were given one hour’s time to collect the race entry packs. The collection center was big and impressive as the collection process was timed together with the Sports and Fitness Expo. There were many lanes for different race categories. Collection was efficient and swift, and the queues were cleared very fast.
Checking in at Hotel
We finally arrived at the Peninsula-Excelsior hotel at around 4.30pm. Since we were separated in different buses, we began to chat happily when we were together again. Much like at Bukit Aman car park after two hours of training runs. In this case, it was after five hours of sitting and sleeping in the bus. Most runners like to talk. Topics on running alone stretching from preparation to running and recovery would consume unlimited number of hours.
With a big group of runners, collecting of room keys was quite a daunting task. We were all asked to go to a briefing room. The hotel representative working with PK and PhoonYK were distributing the room keys to all runners. I continued to take photos while the procession was taken place. It really caught Phoon’s attention with the flash photography. Without much waiting, I was given the room key. But I continued taking photos and chat with other runners.
Surveying the Padang
Everything was done in quick succession. In less than half hour in the room, Weng and I were ready to go out to visit Orchard Road. We detoured to the Padang, the finishing area of The Race. It was calm before the storm: there were only a few workers doing the last minute work. Most booths were completely wrapped up in white plastic sheets. One tent, however, was seen arranging for a dinner party – it was the Pasta Party. There were rows of tables and chairs. I did not join them in the party last year; so is this year.
Weng and I had our dinner at a food-court around 6pm. It was located at the basement of the building opposite Peninsula hotel. With a camera in hand, I even took photos at the eatery stall after asking the stall owner for permission. Sensing that her photo was been taken, she took extra seconds to avoid the camera. Later only I realized that she is a Chinese national. She could be fearful that I was the Immigration officer that has Pacesetters written on the T-shirt.
We took MRT at City Hall station, which was opposite the food-court. Everything was just a stone’s throw away – very convenience. The earlier encounter of taking MRT was in SIM 2004, exactly one year ago. I have only a faint impression of what needed to be done. I asked one young guy about the detailed procedure of purchasing tickets from the ticketing machine. It turned out that he was a Thai; eventually, he was asking me for help.
A Brief Evening at Orchard Road
Stepping out of Orchard Road MRT station at 7.05pm, we could see the entire areas were packed with locals and tourists. My eyes were really busy. Other than admiring the lightings, most girls were quite revealing in their dressing with low cut tank T-shirts. Shifting my focus up (at lightings) and down (at them) would strain my neck too. Nevertheless, I have to focus more of the lightings: the original intention of walking along the boulevard to feel the Christmas mood.
Just in front of a huge Christmas tree lighted with thousands of glittering lights, we met IPP Mr. WanYL and wife. Mr. Wan was most impressed to see us wearing the yellow T-shirts promoting Pacesetters Club while strolling all over Orchard Road.
After walking for more than an hour, we decided to return early. Boarding one MRT back to the hotel, I saw that there was a lot of publicity for this marathon event. Event the floor board and wall of MRT are pasted with stickers announcing and promoting the event.
We retired to bed at around 10.30pm, preparing for The Race tomorrow morning – an event that we have spent three months in training runs that stretched almost 500 km.
Wishing all runners pleasant runs in their marathon challenges.
Goodnight everybody.
p/s stay tuned for The Race.
By KC
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