Haze Unfazed

Now you see, now you don’t. The condition of haze on last Friday 6 Oct was worsening. Nevertheless, I sent out one email notification to the usual group of runners with the title “Run in All Weather Conditions” to remind all and reinforce the 20km training run on Sunday morning, 8 Oct.

I was excited yesterday to see that the sky suddenly became clear. Where has all the haze gone? It was like magic. The sky was as clear as the photo below. Then this morning, Sunday 8 Oct, the haze is almost back instantaneously.

“Run in all weather conditions” was a phrase first coined by Meng, Penguin-2. Back then, the conditions included raining, flood, typhoon, and landslide – very much a water-based problem. Now we have to include another unusual parameter – unwelcome haze – courtesy by our neighboring country.

The new threat has a direct impact to all runners as the quality of The Air Supply (name of an Australian pop group) is unhealthy and we have been advised by the experts (read from newspaper) to stay indoor. The Air That I Breathe (song title by another pop group, The Hollies) contains unwanted particles and Every Breath you Take (by The Sting and Police) requires extra work in cleansing by the lung.

Most runners would defy the advice of staying indoor and will not take the haze problem too seriously for a few reasons: (a) we are strong and brave, so a mere high API index could mean nothing; (b) we are more concern with finishing the marathon than any other things else; and (c) even with muscle pain, the runners still run; so we are really unfazed by the haze unless the haze could transform the visibility in day as if at night.

Unusual happening strikes at the most unexpected moment. When I bent down to pick up the cube of soap that slipped from my hand when I bath yesterday evening, there was a slight pull of the back muscles. When the alarm set off at 4am this morning, I could still feel the pain. So, I missed the run this morning.

The 20km training run is important as it would be a springboard for the first 30km long run, which is schedule on next Sunday morning, 15 Oct.

I heard from Weng that the usual group of runners were there except Yours Truly. So, most runners are a committed lot: set the target (Singapore Full Marathon), follow the action plan in training dutifully. Something similar to what we do in life.

Now I am worried as to how fast I could recover and catch up with a 20 km training in getting ready for the 30km long run this Sunday. To run a 30km straight is something not impossible but that may affect the smooth performance as preferred.

By KC