Sunday 24 October 2010.

DAY 5

I received a wake up called from the operator and it is 4am in Beijing. The weather is dam super cold outside and I could feel the coolness’ in the room. I had 1 ounce of “MAQUI” juice and followed by 2 small boxes of “SUN-MAID” raisins. Had shower and add “TGC” Transdermal Glucosamine Cream at the joints and cartilage and followed by “JUMPSTART” at the stump area. I will apply the rest on my calf before the race start at 8am. I will be wearing the “ZOOT” compression tight “The North Face” long tee and covered by another TNF tee with every sponsors name on it. I also will be wearing TNF shoe “BOA” and also had 2 “GU” stand by on me. This is my first time running in the cold city and hope everything will go well and I will bring along TNF running jacket and glove. I have to add extra compression tight from “BV SPORT” at the Flex Run prosthetic leg to prevent the cool in the socket room. My “TIMEX” watch with heart rate monitor attach are with me too. I must look smart and like a pro athlete as I will be represent my country “Singapore” for this run where I will be running the 21km for “Beijing International Marathon” All set to go!

It is 5am and I called back home in Singapore to check on the condition of my younger daughter as she fall sick. I am worried if the asthma attack will be back as the haze is getting bad. I told my wife if she is getting worse do send her to KKH as she have the hospital record there. I am more worried on her other sickness too such as “liver sentosis” Let pray to God and hope she will get well soon. While waiting for taxi to arrived at 5.30am I was at the coffee house having a cup of black espresso and 1 slight of bread.

I am out of the hotel now, OMG! Dam super cold, raining and strong wind man! I am shriveling gergergergergerger! And in the taxi all the way to Tian’an Men square where the run will be held and flag off at 8am. Reaching at the area and I paid 15 Yuan for the taxi ride and OMG there are lots of people’s and  all of them are queuing and wait at the nearby field to sing their National Anthem song. Wah! How nice and inspiring they are and loyal to the country. I was at the 21km starting area and was at the front row with some China elite runners. Everyone keeps watching me and hey there are one arm Runner, both amputee arm runner, blind runner and no blade runner and I am the first one! I could hear runners cheers and called me “Singapore Runner” in Mandarin. I did short a run and warm up myself. It is 6.55am and I called back home again to check my daughter condition. My wife told me she is still sleeping and told me to concentrate in the run. Lots of runners stare and some of them took photos of me hahaha! Everyone is shivering and OMG! All the uncles and aunties come and stand in the front row and the volunteers keep shouting and explained to them to be at the back at the last row and all ignore it. There are runners with umbrella and flags blocking the elite runners. These clown runners just don’t care and spoil the mood of all elite runners for the half marathon. The rain keep falling and getting colder and colder. We are waiting to be flag off.

THE FLAG OFF

Set my “TIMEX” watch, 5 4 3 2 1 and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! GO! GO! GO! Hey! Too many rubbish on the floor and I near fall down. The first 5km I did well and had a bit of water and keep moving. The wind is so strong and it keeps raining. Reach at the 10km route and check my time is 1.04.07mins. Had 1 GU gel with bits of water and applied “JUMPSTART” cream. During the run I heard someone call me “SHARIFF” and I turn back it is Mohan Marathon. Finally I got to meet him and the rest of the Singaporean runners. All runners are so friendly there. We treat everyone like family and runners keep shouting “JIA YIO” and “Singapore Runner” I am so proud to have my National Flag on the tee. Adam One Arm Runner should be here and enjoyed the run.

Hey! It is 18km and I did well in the run, nonstop and 3 more km to go, super windy and cold. Lots of runner’s got cramp but to me thanks to “JUMPSTART” instant energy cream. Finally near the ending point, I sprint 50 meter and everyone cheers at me. Thank you everyone thank you Beijing! OMG! I am so dam shivering, I remove my hand glove and could see the redness on my finger and numb. I was wondering how to go back to hotel as the road are closed. Finally there are Caucasians and some friendly runners who direct me to go with them and get a train ride to Tian' Men Square Station. How nice of them and reaching there I manage to get a taxi all the way back to the hotel. I clean up myself and go for a short nap.

Wake up near 4pm and get ready myself for the last window shopping. I had lots of food in the MacDonald and even ice cream tpp with extra chocolate and topping hahaha! My Coach called me all the way from US and congrats me. He will be arriving and meeting with me on Wednesday in Singapore. I made lots of friends there and beautiful gals snap photos on me hahaha! So sweets! Back to hotel and informed the front deck staff to wake me up at 4am on the next day. I had shower and via live.com to family and finally at midnight had a short sleep.