Big Walk on water

I possibly a bit crazy. After yesterday's 50km let's take a walk training which ended at 10pm. I return home and watch the F1 qualifying live and had only 4 hours of sleep. I dragged myself up this morning at 6am to attend the big walk. The starting point is the L1 fountain area. It is packed with people. I don't want to start behind all the slow walkers. I squeeze myself up to the front, end up at about 4th row. Some MP, CEO bah bah bah flagged off the walk. The walk goes towards Nicholl Highway and turn into the Stadium, Tanjong Rhu and a trail to the barrage on the eastern side. The finish point is at the other side of the barrage. First, the route is NOT 5km, it is about 6.1km from my Garmin!

Please noted that I forgot to press start button at the start, therefore, the 1st 200m is missing and only start recording at Nicholl Highway.






After the flag off, I quickly squeeze passed a few groups of slow walkers. As expected, there are several brisk walkers in front. I passed a few brisk walks before hitting the Nicholl Highway. On the long straight of Nicholl Highway, there are a few brisk walker and a few runners. I don't care about the runners. I was really charging up. My first 400m is at 6:15 pace, then settle to around 7:00 pace. Within a km, I caught up a few brisk walkers/jogger. And there are only three brisk walkers in front. They are all very fast. The lady in front of me in white is in very good competitive walking form - hip twisting, 90 degree arm swinging nices, fluid motion. I was just 20m behind her and keeping about same pace.

Then, a tall old guy came very fast from behind. When he passed me, I accelerate and keep up with him at about 2m behind him. We went along, caught up and passed the lady brisk walker. But I could not keep up with him. His cadence is fast! I drop off and let him go. And soon by Tanjong Rhu, he disappeared in front. I then try to catch up with the next brisk walker in pink shorts about 50m in front. But after 2km of 7:00-7:15 pace, I started to slow down to 7:30. Then, the lady brisk walker that I past passed me! The pink-short walker also slow down and passed by both the white-tee lady and me. At Tanjong rhu, I charge up and at a traffic junction, the police did not slow the car in time. She paused, and I passed her again. After Tanjong rhu is a trail made of mud. Luckily, the weather is fine and the mud is compacted by a steam-roller. Therefore, it is hard and easy to walk on. About 500m into the trail, the white-tee lady passed me again, but this time, she was running, and then disappear in front. There are some other runners caught up and passed me. But in the final stretch, another fast lady brisk walker came from behind and passed me. I think I end up finishing 4 or 5 among the "pure" brisk walker.
I was able to keep my pace at 7:00 in the first 2km and 7:30 in the subsequent 4km. This is the fastest that I ever have in a similar distance. The 50km walk yesterday did not affect me.

The goodie bag is indeed very good. There is a nice aluminum water bottle with Marina Barrage printed on it. Very very nice. And also a bottle of water, an orange, two biscuits, a bottle of kim-chi (yes, kim-chi), a pack of tissue, a sample of bath lotion, a pack of fisherman's friends, a Pure maagazine and a copy of New Paper.




I took the shuttle bus back to Suntec and collect another goodie bag with a towel and a coupon book. After collecting the goodie bag, I stay around in Suntec City waiting for the Asics sales to open at 11am. Bought two shoes, a tee and some socks. By then, I start to feel very very tired.