Runner's Forum With Polar In this workshop, learn how to pick and best utilise the right gadgets to improve your run. You'll also learn how to fine-tune your training programme in this sharing session. Registration closes September 26.
Marathon Guide Planning on conquering the marathon? We've prepared a gamut of topics from nutrition tips to getting in tip-top form so you'll be ready for race day.
Her Say: Taking Yoga Together Won't Make You Girly Joining your wife or girlfriend for yoga or dance class won't make you any less of a man, says Ana Isaac. Take her word for it, your girl will love you even more for doing so.
Her Say: Uh-Oh – She Wants A Boob Job... Whether it's cosmetic surgery or long hours in the gym, women have their own ways to find the perfect look. Us guys can play a part by simply being a caring and understanding partner, says our female columnist, Anna Isaac.
Her Say: Finding Miss Right If you're looking for Miss Right, our female columnist has this advice - Stop looking. But that doesn't mean you won't find love with that special girl.
Men's Health Blog
Gavin Gets Garang: Day 45 Gavin Tan
Monday, 1st February 2010 @ 15:38:45 PM
Did I survive the Urbanathlon? YES...I bloody well did!
"I killed it! It was easy! Other runners were eating my dust! Iron Men have got nothing on me!"
That's what I'd like to be able to say but the truth is, finishing the Urbanathlon was a real struggle. Don't get me wrong — I fully expected it to be an uphill journey paved with obstacles (and it literally was) and I did not fully underestimate the difficulty I'd face — but I have to confess that even that estimation was quite below the mark. In other words, I expected the race to be really tough, but it still turned out to be a lot tougher than I had expected, if that makes any sense.
Sure, I had been training for all of three weeks prior to the race (watch my interview with Razor TV below), but even I knew that this was hardly enough preparation for someone who couldn't even pass his IPPT 2.4km run last year. That said, I'm really glad I attended all three Urbanathlon Bootcamp with Polar training sessions. Without them, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have developed enough mental fortitude to complete the full 12.5km of the race. After all, I'm embarrassed to admit, I slowed to a walking pace on more than a few occasions during the race. Those lapses in willpower usually happened right after a tough obstacle, like the Corporate Ladder (99 steps up Fort Canning Hill). I was also forced to limp slowly for several minutes upon scaling the Wall Street obstacle (1.5m low wall) as the impact from landing caused my injured right foot (read about this recent existing injury) to erupt in pain.
Getting ready to go (and shitting my pants)
The Monkey Business obstacle (6-metre monkey bars) literally proved the turning point for me. The wait for my turn to test my grip strength proved to be invaluable rest time, and the obstacle also signalled the halfway point of the route. From here, I knew every step I took would be one that was closer to the finish line. It was the morale boost I sorely needed after seeing most of my colleagues in the Men's Health team pull away beyond sight.
Ain't no Monkey Business going on here.
Six kilometres and four obstacles later — including swimming through water (Leap of Faith) and mud (Down & Dirty) — I finally crossed the finish line without stopping again (I think) in a time of 1:45:06. I know most people would assume that I felt a sense of accomplishment sear through me at this point, but the truth is, relief was the more overwhelming emotion. Relief that it was over and that there was no longer a need to force myself to run on. Greater still was the relief I felt that I did not come unstuck at the first major goal I had set for myself in my journey back to fitness.
Yes, I've been a very dirty boy...
Last push towards...
...the finish line!
Team MH triumphant (from left): Me, Ashruddin Sani, Melvin Hoe, Mirza Malik, Joe Tan
Watch my post-Urbanathlon interview on Razor TV below:
(Wait, that's not me...that's just my doppleganger clone Kevin. You can get your very own slave clone today at www.iwantaslaveclone.com for the very limited offer price of just $199.99! Order yours today and they'll even throw in a gimp in the likeness of that presenter. Free ball gag and flagellator to use on the gimp for the 1st 50 callers!)
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