The Weekender: Half Marathon!

So as you may recall we have been training for a 1/2 marathon (both of our first!) The Standard Chartered 2013 event. This is the marquee running event in Singapore. There were about 16,000 people signed up for the full marathon, 12,000 for the half and about 20,000 people doing the 10k. 

Michael recently ran a 10k , but the only organized running I have even done was to walk a 5k corporate challenge through central park. My sister on the other hand is like a serious professional runner, but I am not. I could be the poster child for the 'couch to 1/2 marathon' program.

Anyway, here is the recap: 

4:30am wake up call, 5:15am taxi, 5:45am arrival, 6:30am start time!

At the starting line we were joking that Michael was like that one horse in the Kentucky Derby - the one that is favored to do well but the announcers are all like, 

'Uh no Bob, he's sweating way too much already!' as he being loaded into starting gate.  

Michael and I trained together for the most part, but did not plan on running together. He ditched me after the first 2km :) but it was perfect. I am more of a slow and steady type of distance runner. Michael however did tell me he saw a cute couple crossing the finish line running together connected by a string. Maybe next time?

The race for us began in Sentosa island and ended near The Singapore Cricket Club. The highlight of the race was near the beginning, running through Universal Studios. I felt like I was in a weird Asian alternate universe of my 2003 high school cheerleading championships in Orlando, FL. 

We did it! 

We ended up both finishing in the top 20% of men and women, respectively. Pretty good for first timers!

And my were the running gods shining upon us. It was literally one of the nicest and coolest days in recent memory. Everyone agreed the race would have been much more difficult 10 degrees warmer and without the cloud cover. 

PS - if you are wondering, the weather in Singapore is the exact same everyday (as seen below) between 88-92 degrees with an afternoon/evening thunderstorm. Every. single. day. It's way less fun than you would imagine. 

Our Sunday ended with a nice retox and time on the couch. 

We were also able to watch the Lancers in the State Championship game on our Sling box. Tough loss :( 

Maybe we were just overly tired, but we dying laughing at the local commercials while watching the game. We have not been outside the states that long at all, but the Golden Corral Triple Fountain?! #AMERICA

Thank you to our families and everyone who tracked us and gave their kind words of support and congratulations! This was a

 a big deal for us :)

Now, a swift (and sore) work week and we are off to Phuket, Thailand on Friday to celebrate our birthdays. Woo! 

Xo.

C