New Hope Starts When The Sun Rises: Metasprint

This is the first race in 2012.

The location for the Metasprint Aquathlon started early in the morning at Sentosa. Atmosphere was fantastic. Shah and me reached Sentosa feeling refresh except for Lattifah who was sleeping in the car... Haha.

When we reached, as usual we surveyed the area and order of move.

For this race, we are required to swim 750m and Run a distance of 5km.

Swim
It started with a little commotion about issuing of wrong swim caps to my category and people were a little unhappy about that. The organiser was smart enough to rectify the problem almost immediately.

The swim layout was a 2 "IN" 2 "OUT" format (image the letter "S"). I started with freestyle than breast stroke and ended with freestyle again. This is my first time doing freestyle in open water (a little nervous and clastrophobic). When using freestyle in open water, it is much more easier to move ahead of people and definately faster. The only problem that I had was sighting.... I tend to go off the course wasting time and energy. That I have to practice more.

The water was clear enough to see other participant's legs, which most of us can avoid. Like all swim portion of the race, people tend to kick, knock, ram over you. This was actually quite easily avoided as the water was clear enough. Unfortunately, Shah had the honour to get kicked by me. Hahaha.

Overall the swim was not too bad, just that the starting was really packed. Shah and me decided to start way at the back and going out to the far right to avoid the crowd.

20 - 29 Category

Swim placing: 66/202

Run

After getting out of the sea, I sprinted quickly to T1. Put on my shoes and off I went. Started the run with a stitch but carried on. Wish there was a water point to at least rinse my mouth from the saltwater.

The run route was a 1km run to Siloso then a 4km run at Palawan beach and Tanjong beach. The course was simple it was flat route all the way. No worries if you want to do this for the first time.

I made a mistake of not tying my shoe laces properly. I had to re-tye them for 2 times... Argh. Time wasted!!!

Now problems with the run:

1) U-turn point ran out of water. Big NO NO..... (at Tanjong Beach). All I can have was a piece of ice. that's all

2) Marshallers was not attentive. But I don't really blame them they are there for CIP. But there was one section that I had to tell the marshallers to be at a round juntion. People we crossing the road without even bother that participants are coming thru. Saw a few of the participants knocking into the public a few times... Some of them even ran an extra round and ran the wrong route. SIGH...

Overall the race was a not too bad one... Timing aside, I enjoyed the whole event. It was relaxed and fun. The 3 of us also had fun supporting the little kids who are racing. It was so cute and nice to see them racing... You should see how competitive these kids are.... Most of them ran by just slipping their shoes on without wearing it properly!! They also sprinted to the finishing line when we say "Go come On", "Hurry! someone is chasing you".... They never gave up! Well done kiddos!