Were so overwhelmed to know that, a running event near to our vacinity. A trail run at @Coney Island 👏🏻. It’s like just a stone throw away. No second thought, signed up immediately for both Renee and me when the race opened for registration.
Just 2 weeks before the race, the event organiser set up a booth at WaterWay Point. And this time having 15% discount. How could I leave Ryan and Edward behind while Renee and I running, especially running in such a conveniently located race area. Went there and signed up for Ryan and Edward too.
And yes, we finally can all geared up in the same running race-T and run the same pace as a family. One thing I am pretty sure is that, the route will definitely be a familiar one and no doubt a scenic one too.
A week before the race, or rather, on the day we completed our Run350 Half Marathon, Renee sent us a message that she was down with 39.3 high fever. Situation wasn’t quite encouraging especially there were no sign of recovery after few days with fever still ranging between 39 to 38. Told ourselves that it’s just 5K, lets do it slowly and steadily. If I could judge correctly, I know how much Renee wanted to see herself doing much better than her GEWR which she had clocked a strong 36min in her ever 5k run race. Fantastic job.
Just when we started feeling thankful with Renee’s recovery, Ryan fever 😦 However, he was in his high spirit and insisted to participate regardless. He even took picture of his Race-T with bib and share it to his friends. We gave Ryan medicine the night before, well hydrated them and all to bed earlier the night before.
He took this picture and sent it to his friends 😊:
On race day morning, I woke up, first thing is to feel Ryan’s forehead. Still hot! Extremely naive that very morning, knowing Ryan still having his fever @37.6 degree. Instead of insist him to ‘NOT RUNNING’, I let him decide it himself. When I am pretty sure what he will answer. Rightfully, I should not have allowed them to run 😔. But both insisted they are okay & wanted to go ahead 😜 💪🏻. Me, mixed feeling; not wanting them to stay at home feeling disappointed when the race is going on but they are sick leh 🤔
Talk and think so much, we ended here, waiting for the shuttle bus to transport us to the event site:
Family picture at the event site:
Kids took another shot with the big Coney Island poster:
The starting point was a 700m away from the event site. Thankfully for the familiar route and the scenic view had made it a good 700m. Along the way, I snapped some nice pictures too:
We reached the starting pen before 8am, the MCs were then still flagging off the 10KM runners. Waiting patiently and eagerly for our 5km flag-off moment. Glad that we managed to squeeze in the first 2 rows of 5km run.
Both Renee and Ryan was in their highest spirit upon entering the cosy-beautiful Coney Island Trail. Everything seems perfect – Edward was pacing Ryan steadily while I’m pacing Renee happily too. Not long, at about 1.5km away, Renee who was actually still having her cough, chocked while trying to sip some water. She looses a little confident then, paused but continue in few seconds. Steady girl, power!
Despite running the same routes again, I still find this place ‘BEAUTIFUL’, except for the stretch exiting from Coney Island back to Sunrise bridge. So so happy to see Renee and Ryan pushing themselves to complete each KM despite not in the best of health condition.
The run was pretty nice experienced until we hit 2.5km, when we exited Coney Island trail, when we first spotted a hydration station. YEAH (thought in my heart – can get some cold water)! 1st water station. To my greatest disappointment, never in my whole entire running experience, OUT OF WATER? All I could hear was a teenager apologising profusely to the runners, ‘Sorry for the inconvenient, we had ran out of water’. Witnessing his sincerity, my gratitude suddenly kicked in; is ok, we have our water. Ya, thank god we were carrying our water coz kids wasn’t feeling well and we thought to bring our extra water, just in case. Can’t imagine if we didn’t carry our own water bottles. Extremely sorry to many other kids who joined this 5km run; doubt they brought their own water. Wonder if there’s any medic prepared too. Kids braving the scorching hot sun + no water; OMG, organiser should really do some serious reflection.
Still, I enjoyed my run with my kids. At one point, Ryan was seen dragging himself under merciless hot sun, walking with both arms swinging like strengthless boy. I followed suite and took a picture of his zombie-tiredness look.
Anyway, that moment doesn’t last him too long. He started back his pace and to my greatest surprised, he could seriously CHIONG-ing when he saw the finishing line. If I have my most experienced calculation, i supposed his pace for the last 100m was about @4min. Sorry, even i can’t catch up with his pace. Yes, I had pushed my best speed thou. Happy to know that he really wanted to do his best, no just in academy but in sports! Jia You!
Few seconds later, we saw Renee and Daddy passing the finishing line too. Renee is always the steady one. She knew and analysed her body too much that at times she had forgotten that she should push for breakthrough. It’s never easy but it’s possible! Although her pace was already very good but I am 100% sure that she can do better if she had stronger will. Be confident.
At the finishing line, the volunteers were distributing our medals to us. Grabbed it and we are done with 5KM. Thought this isn’t so grand-way to distribute medals, not sure but this is my 1st time collecting my medal this way.
We took some victory pictures with our medals at our super-familiar finishing point. There were isotonic drinks offered by the event organiser at finishing point.
After the run, Ryan keep mumbling that he could have done better. Told him, there’s plenty more chance, no worry.
We went to the nearby Ah Dong for our family breakfast. Imagine after sweat and went into this air-con restaurant. SUPER COLD!
I’m confident that the kids can endure 5km run coz they had done few times 5km run with me at the park. No aching after this race (I think). Now, Ryan also experience his 1st Running even, altho not a too perfect experience but still a race event. Renee had her 1st 5km great eastern run event experience – that was a good experience!
Besides that, overall running routes and distance was fairly accurate. Didn’t want to complain too much and really wanted our first family run to be a memorable one. Thankfully, both kids managed to finish strongly despite not in their best health condition🤒. Thats life, we struggle along the journey, hoping for the best at the later-part. Never say die throughout the journey and I’m sure you not regret and will not remember how pain when you cross the finishing line. If you feel pain when running, try losing it. Running had thought us to be strong, everything is possible. Solved it and you will see yourself at the finishing line, sometimes you don’t even know how.
Thanks Renee and Ryan for trusting Daddy and Mommy. We love love both of you 😘😘Looking forward for another family run – for a better experience for the kids too
The few pictures from organiser:
TybMoments 