April 13, 2008 Sunday - THE DAY

The night before, logistic needed to be sorted (yes down to the underwear). Ceria was already dressed for the occasion.

...Chinese Mp3 humming away ... it's 6.20am. The morning started with Weetabix Oatibix and Muller Omega 3 strawberry yogurt. Oh ya... the harden banana flavoured PowerBar. (BTW when did I become such a sport freak?)

On my way to the tube, striking a fatty pose! (I have to admit these pictures just ain't that flattering at all... but they are the only ones I had. Do bear with me if the horrid impact may lingers after this posting!! Even I am horrified by these pictures.)


At Blackheath, walking towards the starting line ...

I called my mom after taking this picture to give her well-wishing for her birthday. My dad was so excited for some reasons, but it was nice to hear that...

Unfortunately, I had the blue starting point, while Sarah, Lindsay, Nat and Lau all started at red. We had to part our way ...


Sea of runners and their supporters...

Trunks load of runners' bags ... and the anxious moment before the race starts at 9.45am. (I was in line for anxiety urge release!)

At the starting line... I was relegated to stage 7 starting point as I put 5 hours finishing time during signing up ... big mistake!

Me at the starting point. With Ceria...

At mile 4-7, being ahead of time, I began to interact with the crowds, high fiving (with Ceria's free hand) to all the kids that had their hands up! But it proved to be too much effort for I started to pant really heavily after a while! Stopped I do to conserve energy for the race instead.

At mile 12.5, half way into the race. It was an amazing sight to run in the middle of Tower Bridge at that hour. The bridge has never looked as good as this! Interestingly, there were two runners that whipped out their disposable camera nonchalantly taking pictures of themselves with the crowd behind them. I thought that was creative!

(sorry it is taken with my phone camera, hence the distortion of the picture!)


More of Tower Bridge when I ran pass underneath it ...

Me desperately trying to capture me on the bridge ... (again unflattering shot!)


Mile 19 was where it hit me hardest! Instead of 10min/mile, I took 20 mins, with longer interval of walking. Maybe I missed everyone along the way, everyone that was supposed to come cheer for me. It was just draining physically and mentally to motivate yourself then. I missed calculated my carbo boom that by mile 17 I had finished all my supplies. Many crazy thoughts ran through my head...

Suddenly I heard this voice from afar, "Jackie! Jackie! Jackie!" in a Spanish accent... It was GAbi! Finally someone I know! (ya after 20miles of running) It was so so sweet to see him there... I was like "take a picture of me" He managed to snap a shot with me trailing away ...



Then on, I was just driven by the newfound spur and the adrenaline rush from the cheering and encouraging crowd of London city, despite the horrible weather! It was hailing and then heavy rain falling. But those energy was like super power.In my head, each mile mark I see would mean one less mile to the finishing line...

At 200m away from the finishing mark, I told myself I would never do this again. I would never put myself through this again...

Then after 4:30:59, I CROSSED the finishing line .... I did it!

Hey I did it! If I can run this one, why not another marathon? I know. I am insane.

Me at the end of the race... with my medal.

I did it!

I did it! I did it!

After 1 year and 4 months, I achieved what I set out in my last year resolution.

I am an official marathon runner! Thanks to this fund raising efforts (instead of the other way round!)

More to come... just need to get hold of all the pictures from everyone to complete my posting.

Cant believe it is actually this Sun!

Yes, the race is this Sun - 13 April.

Butterflies of anxiety filled in my stomach since beginning of the week, to be honest. Slowly I can feel their anarchy in my head too. Even this very moment, typing this blog I am feeling nauseous and affected with intervals of cold /hot flashes. (I don't really discern the two polars as it happened so quick.)

Laterly weather in London has been flickish. 2-inch snow last Sunday. Snow in April! Hopefully weather this Sun morning would be favorable to runners. Forecast temperature is low 6C and high 13C and we might have some light shower.

Some trivial facts of this year's marathon. We would be part of the history this year as it is the centennial history of London Marathon when the 1st guy Dorando Pietri of Italy passed the finishing line in the Olympic, but he did it with the help of the authorities.


He was not the winner of the race, but instead Johnny Hayes from the United States was the official winner. Obviously it was because of the contravention of rules, led to Pietri disqualification. So down in history, Pietri had the trophy for crossing the finishing line first, while Hayes had the medal - the official winner of the race. Could this be the reason why the official prize for the marathon runners and winners is a medal rather than a trophy?

Anyway, my racing kit for Sun is top priority this week. As usual, procrastination, the root of all evil, has its way in me. No I had to wait till the marathon week itself to crack my head and source for the prop and material. Thank to God, I managed to get my act together. Look, I will have this little buddy (yet to give her a name) on my back!


With much creative thinking and after several trial & error, Mie, another PhD student in my lab, and I came out with this great idea to fasten, let's call her, Ceria onto me. With cable ties (like those around plastic bag after shopping at Mustafa - famous Indian 24-hr MegaMall in Singapore), her right upper limb and left lower limb are clutched together so that it gives a firm wrap around me while I run. Then her right lower limb is fastened to her right upper limb to stabilize herself on my back. Her free left upper limb would be used to wave to spectators and runners along the way. Cool ya?

Here's how she would look on me with my racing outfits for that day.



Yesterday, I went to the gym with Ceria to see how it feels running with her. In the beginning, it was just warm at the area where her body was next to. 2 miles into the run, I could feel the humidity and at the end of 3 miles, my shirt was soaked wet at that particular area. Other than that, everything seemed fine, not much abrasion on the side. She seems to hang well on my body even at the speed of 12km/h. Well, with the hope that it would build more awareness among the public of the diminishing habitats and the urgency to conserve this poor species from extinction, I think it is all worth the heat and uneasiness ya? Hopefully God would have the weather on my side, making it slight cooler and DRY... I would have to pray.

Now I really cant wait for the race to come! Wish me luck!

Oh ya, this is Ceria in real life at the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary.