Monday 25 October 2010.

THE FINAL DAY.

It is 4am in the morning and wake up called by the hotel operator. I get ready myself and had 1 ounce of "Maqui" juice and apply "JUMPSTART" at the stump and on the leg muscle too.

Handed over the hotel key and my luggage was carried by the Security staff to the taxi boot and I paid them tips 10 Yuan each. Say finale goodbye to the Hotel staff as all of them were waiting for me at the lobby. I was in the taxi and the ride is so cool! Reaching at the Airport Terminal 3 and I paid the driver 100 Yuan and he refuse to accept the money. He told me in Mandarin that I had inspire him hahaha! I understand the basic of Mandarin words. Thanks to my younger daughter Nur Athirah who taught me how to speak  Mandarin as during her younger days in the pre school I sent her for Mandarin class.

Hey! check this out. Our SIA counter in Beijing Airport is 1st class were all the staff dress and speak well. Congrats and well done. After security clearance I took the sky train to the boarding area and had a short nap there.

The announcement was made and I am heading to the plane where the flight attendance knows and greet me. They direct me to the seat and while waiting, the flight captain approach and welcome me aboard. He congrats me and the journey back to Singapore starts now. Everyone in the pit was wondering who am I as all the flight stewardess treat me like a VIP. I had my first food in the flight and it's so awesome! I had an Ice cream too. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dam super tired and was watching some movies and fall a sleep.

The captain announcement that we will be arriving Singapore in 15 mins. I had a cup of water and refresh myself. Finally the we all are in Singapore and reaching near the Arrow Bridge. The flight stewardess direct me out and and the Captain says goodbye. I hoop into the buggy all the way to the end where I say thank you to the CAAS staff and heading to the custom and collect my luggage. I know there are no one will be fetching me as I told them not too. After clearance I went back to terminal 3 where I had rice with stew beef.

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks few people's who have make my journey a possible.

Mayor, Mr Teo Ser Luck.

NorthEast CDC, Ms Su Shan and the team of panel.

Media coverage.

Anita Travel Management Pte Ltd.

Sponsors by

OUTDOOR Venture for The North Face, running gear.

OUTDOOR Venture for Zoot, compression tight.

OUTDOOR Venture for GU, performance gel.

Fuel Belt, gear.

BV Sport, compression for calf.

LYNK Biotechnologies Pte Ltd for "JUMPSTART" energy cream.

LYNK Biotechnologies Pte Ltd for "TGC" glucosamine cream.

Special thanks to

Mdm Beatrich Tan and Family for the part of "Flex Run" prosthetic leg.

Raja Izam Mansor for some cash on standby.

Azril for daily "MAQUI" health juice.

My wife and children's been supporting all the while. 

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.

Saturday 23 October 2010.

DAY 4

Whole night could not sleep due to cough nonstop. I wake up at 8am and I had 1 ounce of “MAQUI” juice and get ready myself for breakfast at the coffee house. I had fruits, oranges and slice of bread and followed by a black cup of coffee. I went to the front desk reception and check whether Adam has arrive from the Airport. The staff told me that he has not check in yet. As today is Public Holiday and the ride to Olympic Sports Centre is jam so I decided to go and collect my race pack, anyway I already send an email to Adam 1 days before he leave Singapore to go direct from the Airport to the stadium and he had not replied to me yet till today. Hope everything will go well.

I told the concierge to book a taxi for me to the Olympic Sports Centre. It cost me 40 Yuan and I arrived safely. WAH! I could see the big sign of “WELCOME TO BEIJING MARATHON EXPO” All of us had to queue and security check before heading in the area.

Collected the running bib and time for me to go shopping. Paid 15 Yuan to Tian'Min Square.

Hope to returned Beijing someday with my family. Reach hotel around 4pm and I told the front deck to wake me up at 4am on the next day.