(latest!) London Marathon Fund Raised

LONDON
GL £200.00
IoN Lab £17.40
Private donors £152.00 (02/05)
G Matteucci £64.43 (09/05)

STFC -MNT Center (aka my department at Didcot)
£98.00

Total: £531.83

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.

Last Sun's 22 miles

It was like going through the four seasons three times. Weather was cold and extremely windy. Literally, the wind can carry you away with it! There was hail, wind and sun ... all in the mere four hours that we ran. Now we can truly call ourselves - marathon runners!

Other than the usual gang, we had Lau joining us this time round. Great that everyone finally meet everyone! We ran the marathon route starting from Greenwich to Tower Bridge. Can you believe this, we did 13 miles in 1:57:32 (compared to my Paris Half 2:00:14, and it was a slow pace. What a difference when running in a group!

It was yet again a great run! Despite the horrible weather, thanks to the surviving Nat and Lindsey, we were able to pull through the longest run that we ever need to do for this marathon - 22.5 miles. Unfortunately, Sarah still has her hips problems and Lau his crumps. They had to stop at ~ 13/15 miles into the run.

Just some candid shots that we took near Greenwich, when we passed our 1st hail rain.

A Great 19 miles today!

The week couldn't have ended with a higher note than this. I did it! I finished the 19 mile today with a good form, of course I was exhausted and trenched! Weather today in London is 10C, windy and rainy (feel like 7C).

The truth, guys, I have been feeling down this whole week. Last week's incomplete 19 miles set the tone for the rest of this week.

I was in such great pain last Sunday that Sarah had to literally put me on the bus to go back to hers. I was obstinated to finish it since I already did 17 miles! But my ITB, plantar fasciitis and a newfound injury - peroneal tendonitis - resulted from supination (underpronation) on my right feet were acting so much that my pain scale was still 8-9/10 even after popping two ibuprofen. Tuesday, I went to my physio, Harriat and did an ultrasound on that tendon. I have this suspicion it would my new trainer. While it corrected my overpronation on my left feet, it could might overcompensate for my right feet. On that day I had to swim instead of run. An insane 53 50m-lapses! As it turned out after my Thursday 8-mile run, the trainer proved to be culprit!

I was torn from the discovery: yes I knew what was causing the pain, yet it would mean I need to change my trainer ... so close to race date. Not ideal! That's why I bought the first pair a month and half ago.

So on Friday, I managed to get the Gel Foundation exchanged for a Asics Gel 2130 women, a less support and softer base (as I land pretty lightly). But I need to break it in slowly - two short 5-mile before any long runs.

Chagrined by all these injuries, the life-overtaking running schedules and my forever-inchoated PhD transfer report, I was irascible, moody and worn out. To add on to the hopelessness, Shiok was closed abruptly. There go the months of liaising and my fund-raising plan. Plus the collection for Paris Half was minimal! (but there again it could be still rolling in!)

The most discouraging moment was when I realized I am in this all on my own. Suddenly, the reality hits me that there isn't anyone there for me: no concern calls from friends or family. How I long for it? It can quite tough to carry on by myself sometime.

Hence, to be able to complete 19-miler today, with still physical and mental strength to do more, it was a copacetic achievement! I feels now I can go out there and do what needs to be done for the coming week! Special thanks to my running buddies: Sarah, Lindsay and Nat. Without your constant encouragement during these long runs, guys, I won't have do on my own! Of course, with a lil of a external help: the big G! Thanks!


Nat, me, Lindsay and Sarah.

Down with Sore Throat

I guess last week stress from work and home is taking a toll on my body. To de-stress I ended up training harder in the gym. Hence, the sore throat!! We just got to listen to our body!!

I would take it easy this week and probably just do my Thursday easy run and Sunday long run.

Yesterday run was magnificent by the way! The view is just spectacular, ending at Westminster where Abbey and London Eye is. But as it was sunny, it was packed with tourists. We ended at 12.5-mile mark. Pretty good. Though my ITB was troubling me since mile 4, I kept on. Now I understand the difference between pain and sore, like how the trainers talk about. It hurt a lil, but it was bearable.

We will be doing this route again this week, probably start a few mile before Tower Hill to increase the mileage.

Massive resting this week!

Flora London Marathon 2008 Ballot Results

I WON the ballot to run the 2008 Flora London Marathon next coming April 13! It is like winning the lottery, which has never happened in my life until now! First-timer luck, as how Sie Lau put it. Unfortunately, Lau didn't have much luck this time round.

The marathon organizer sent a paper acceptance form to congratulate those who won the ballot. My running number is # 014909.

This means I can raise fund for my own charity! Whatever support that I will be getting for this 42.2km pledge will go directly to this program.

Many of you would have know, for a year now, even though it was a great idea to use my 2007 resolution to run a full marathon as a medium to raise fund for my Sepilok volunteer program, journey has not been smooth or easy. First, I cant accept any corporate sponsorship for my volunteer program, which made it a lot harder to raise money. Then an alternative plan was to get on one of this big marathon race (higher recognition), raise enough for the cheapest charity (still a high £1700) and then subsequent fund would then go to my volunteer program. But most charities would not want me to run for them as they would want all the donations to go to their charities instead of sharing it with my charity.

But now, with this successful ballot entry to London Marathon 2008, all the proceeds can go to my Sepilok program! This translates to a step closer in reaching my £3,000 target (without airfare) and sooner to join the baby orang utans in Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

I cant be more happy! Elated is the word!

Well, just want to give you guys a head-up to look out for my charity social event(s) or emails leading to this marathon. Do come and support for my cause: Conservation of the Orang Utans in Borneo ya.

Now routine running would have so much more meaning. Wish me luck for my training!

Entry For Flora London Marathon Ballot 2008

I have signed today for the balloting exercise for London Marathon 2008. So has Lau.

Fingers crossed that we will get it, so that we can raise fund for the Sepilok Orang Utan.



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Flora London Marathon
Date: 05-Aug-2007 22:35
Subject: Entry into the Flora London Marathon 2008
To:

Dear Ulu Gange,
Thank you for registering to enter the Flora London Marathon 2008 ballot.
Please come back on Friday 30th November to see if you were successful in the online ballot.
If you need to contact the organisers please quote the reference number 109745 and call 0207 90 20 200

Please do not enter via the postal system as this will cause your entry to be made void

Have you considered running for charity? Why not run for one of the charities listed on our site?

Don't forget you can start your training now. If you need any help, why not click here for your training guide.
http://london-marathon.co.uk/site/?pageID=2&article=148

Thank you.

Regards,
The Flora London Marathon 2008 Team.