A "Fool" Print

Today is the 15 km progressive run event held by MR25. There was a huge crowd gathering at the starting point near the Macrichite toilet with lots of familiar faces being spotted, e.g. Ronnie, Anthony, Janice, David, Eric etc. In addition, the Tampines Safra club had organized their run at Macritchie reservoir too. I have never seen such a huge crowd since after the MR Ultra-Marathon.

Macus and his brother were wearing their brand new GT 2130 Asics shoes. Everyone was making fun of the brothers’ new pairs of running shoes. Choo was especially interested and ordered a pair from me since he has been searching for the same model for months. Not sure if it was an act of God or by coincidence, our running route for today would pass through a series of trails and slopes. So much for the new sparkling white Asics shoes, which might soon be covering with mud and dirt.

We waited for the 15 km progressive run to begin before our turn to start. Incidentally, the 15km progressive run route was nearly the same as us. The route ran through the woods before hitting to the main road, up to 2 treacherous, daunting slopes before hitting to the scenery golf course, bypassed the air-con road and back by Upper Thomson road.

Our topics of chatting during the run were mostly circulating around running shoes. When I reached the golf course, I saw Anthony firstly to run back to the finishing, followed by Ronnie, Janice, David, Eric and Janice’s husband. One by one, I gave way and cheered for them. Subsequently, Teo led the way and brought us to the water point for the 15km progressive run. (He is also an old member of MR25) Since there was no participant left, we tended to drink up the rest of cold and refreshing water. Cooling!!

Against Toh’s wishes, we protested of his proposal to go up to the air-con road. However, the two ang-mohs (I saw them before but didn’t get their names) whom joined us had already run up the slopes. Nevertheless, that couldn’t spare us from another 2 more “killer” slopes in which we had to pass through.

After reaching Upper Thomson, it was a completely flat road. I thanked God secretly that my suffering had ended. I could still feel a bit of pain near my knees while running up the slopes, probably due to the 3hrs of cycling around at East Coast yesterday cheering up some of the Safra members in the Biathlon race.

At the finishing line, I met Anthony, Jancy, Ronnie and the rest whom had completed their run. Anthony suggested going for another round (10km). I was totally exhausted by the numerous slopes that have conquered. In fact, I didn’t think that Anthony was aware that I just came back from my run. Still, the idea allured me. After knowing their running route, I told them that I would catch up with them later.

I rested and chatted for nearly 20mins. While walking back to the starting point, Billy waved his hand to catch hold of my attention. Hmm.. how did I miss him? He didn’t join us for today’s run but did a short distance instead. I managed to borrow $1.20 from him to buy a can of “green tea” before I ran at the opposite direction of Anthony’s via the woods.

My plan was to wait for Anthony and the rest at the exit of the woods so as to be together for the rest of the journey. However, as usual, my plan fouled. They had not turned up. After waiting fruitlessly for ten minutes, I decided to make a U-turn and go back from the same direction where I have come from.

Jancy was earlier than me at the finishing. Great minds think alike. From Janice, I understood that they had made a U-turn just like me. Alamak, no wonder I couldn’t able to meet them. At this moment, Uncle Chua, Soh Hua, Eng Hwa and Goole had also done with their run. Janice’s husband revealed that Anthony had lost his car key and the rest (I presumed Ronnie and David) were with him searching for the key.

After taking my bath, I volunteered to backtrack their running path to see if I could locate the key. Janice offered to help but I couldn’t think it was necessary. Furthermore, dark clouds were forming in the sky. Perhaps it was a punishment that I didn’t attend the Church service. Once I reached the start of the trail, the weather began to pour heavily. The rain abated and poured again every time I made my way again back to the trail. The experience was exasperating. I headed back to the Macrichite toilet but still no sight of Anthony and the rest of the gang. Finally, after waiting for another half an hour, I decided to go back and prayed that Anthony would find his car key.