Actually, I posted this picture awhile back in my Instagram page. One day I saw a picture of my friend who just gave birth to her son in five months earlier. She showed a comparison picture of her, a month vs 5 months after she gave birth. She looked awesome!

Then, I wondered, how different do I look from last year, after I gave birth to Neishia? So I looked for different pictures and found this! Whoa!

I know that over a year, my body measurements have dropped significantly. Clothes that I used to wear even before I gave birth to my eldest one, now felt a little loose on me. I can feel that my arms are smaller, my tummy is much flatter, and thighs thinner. But if you ask me how much do I weigh.. well, the answer is that it’s not that much different from before my second pregnancy.

You see, I have been more active this time around, after I gave birth to my second daughter. It’s reflected in my body and my overall stamina. I won’t lie that I expect my weight to reduce by doing the workouts, but it’s not my main purpose to be active. It’s a bonus!

Yes, I have clocked in more than 1,000km or runs since last year. The Half Marathon training helps me to reduce my measurements faster, my endurance level was much better and I’m stronger. Why run, you ask? I say this over and over again, for a mom of two young kids like me, it’s the only thing that I can do on a daily basis. I can only have 1 day in a week for longer period that I can use to workout and I use that for long-runs, in preparation for my long-distance race.

Right now, in between my hectic work schedule and kids, I train smarter. Crosstrained with other activities like swimming, interval runs, tabata workouts, yoga, pilates, among other things. I still love running and I am also training for another Half Marathon at the end of June.

No exact workout is correct, what you need to do is to combine different workouts so you activate all the muscles in your body. A total-body workout! There’s no right or wrong whether you only runs, runs on treadmill, outdoor, cycling, swimming, weight-lifting, as long as it fits your body, your lifestyle and your schedule, why not?

Be active! Eat healthy! Live smart .. Go out there and enjoy the sun! (but don’t forget to apply sunblocks, please!)

This is my running milestone, a goal I have set for myself this year since I was not able to achieve it 2 years ago due to my pregnancy.

I’ve prepared to this half marathon since last year actually. I was back in training only a month after I gave birth to my second daughter and participated in 10K races. I was soo bored with the 10K races (merely because almost all of the routes would be the same), I decided that maybe I should go for the longer one. Adidas KOTR was one of them and I had a good time training for it. Early this year, I decided that I should do my half marathon race this year. My goal was to do it at Stanchart Race at the end of the year, but then I was left with 10k races throughout the year and it’s not fun! Joining a race is a good motivation to keep me training and running. So after furthering my research about running nursing moms, I decided that it should be save enough for me to run and train for the distance.

By mid January, I started my training after signing up for a half marathon race in NTUC Run 350 on 7th of April 2013. Why Run350? Because it’s a run for a good cause. Run350 is Southeast Asia’s premier eco-run in support of the global 350 movement. This movement aims to raise awareness to the need to lower atmospheric CO2 levels to 350 parts per million, which scientists believe is the level required for Earth’s sustainability.

I had a training plan ready as my guidance but I didn’t really follow it to the dot. My game plan was just simple. I want to run the long distance comfortably before I add more mileage to the run and run it every weekend until I’m comfortable with it and add it until I hit the 21k. Since I have plenty of time to do it, I chose to do it that way.

By early March, I made it to run the 21k during my training. I was so happy and proud that I was able to run the distance with no pain and with quite a good timing. It was enough to set my expectations come race day.

A week prior to the race, I was preparing myself to taper after the 10K 2XU Race. I went for 2 short runs during the week, even though my body felt a bit off. Somehow it seems that I was feeling bloated the whole time.

A day before the race, I found out that I had my period, which means I will be running during the heaviest flow. Yikes, not a good thing! This usually came with backpain, mood swing and loss of energy. So I made sure I have enough carbo, proteins, and water in my body. I was eating as much as healthy food as I can, I was full most of the time and I realized that I wasn’t even eating any rice, the day before the race. Didn’t even have my dinner, but I knew I should be okay.

I slept a bit early on Saturday night, after a day of running around taking the kids to birthday party then Naia’s piano lesson. Even then, I couldn’t rest as early as I would, since the kids keep coming and call out for me every 5 minutes until I finally just told them to get in the bedroom and ready to sleep.

By 2.50AM, I woke up even before my alarm went off. I set up the alarm to go off at 3AM. I woke up because Neishia started crying to be breastfed. So I spent about 15-20 minutes breastfeeding her then as soon as she’s back asleep, I went to get ready. By 3.55, I was off to pick up Yana and Leo and to the race area. Hubby was kind enough to wake up that early and dropped us off.

Running a race is always about how your mood and mind set up for it. I had a good mood, eventhough everything that could go wrong, happened leading up to the race. From the unfavoring period so I had to wear shorts on top of my tight to losing a rubber on one of my earphone so I had to get a new one. Yet I came as prepared as I could. I had a hard-boiled egg and a slice of peanut butter bread before I left the house, and a banana while I was walking towards the starting pen with Yana. 15 minutes before the race started, I took a GU Gel in Peanut (like it!).

I never really liked taking any energy gel when I run, mostly kind of because I wasn’t so sure if it’s okay for my baby since I’m still nursing. After further research, I had read quite many resourceful articles that it’s actually good for nursing runner mama to take energy gels since their body needs it for faster recovery. So, yeah, I come prepared. I didn’t know which gels to take so I took 3 different gels – GU Gel in Peanut (no caffeine) taken before the race, Accel gel in Strawberry kiwi taken after 1 hour of running, and GU Gel Roctane in Blueberry (with 35mg of caffeine) for faster recovery taken in 18km. And yes, I felt the difference.

Yana, Chacha and me started the race at the second wave. Somehow my Nike+ app wasn’t in my favor as it started before I even chose the playlist, so the songs played were those that I don’t even like to hear and they were in slow tempo. I was too lazy to stop and change so I continue to run with the unfavorable music. But somehow it kept me running in an easy pace. In the beginning, Yana and I were planning to follow the pacer but since the pacer went on the first wave, it’s kinda hard to catch up with them. As soon as the gun was off, Yana was running in front of me and I kinda lost her for the first 6-7km. I was running in my easy pace. My strategy was to run the first half in easy pace, so I can keep my energy towards the end. Even though I was carrying two water bottles in my hydration belt, I didn’t plan to skip a hydration point. I think I only skipped one in the beginning since I wasn’t so thirsty yet. I made sure I stopped in the hydration point, took one drink and gulp it all and continue to run. I used my water in my belt only after I took the gels.

The weather was perfect and it was to my advantage as I hate to run under the heat (who doesn’t?). I kept my pace all the way and surprisingly it was still below 7 minutes per km. By 8km, I saw Yana in front of me but I managed to stay behind her. Didn’t intend to go past her, since I was still in my zone, doing an easy pace.

After reaching 10K point, I took my energy gel and gulp it with water. By 11K, I found myself to have the energy to step up the pace, even passing Yana at one point. But I tried to remind myself that I still have a long way to go, so I should take it easy. I started to do a fast 1k, easy 1k, fast 1k, until I reach 18k. By 18k, I took another gel and started to step on my pace. It’s only 3k to go and I should be able to run in a faster pace. So I did!

By 19k, I was in 6’52″ but stopped for a few secs to get my water at the hydration point. Then I ran as fast as I could that my pace in 20th km actually dropped to 5’51″. One more kilometer to go and I intended to run as fast as I could, but actually slow down a bit because there were a bunch of photographers taking pic. So I made sure they catch me haha! By the time I crossed the finish line, I was running with 5’05″ pace, ending that kilometer with an average pace of 6’26″, with overall pace of 6’55″ for 21.4km, according to my Nike+ since I turned it on too quickly. Overall, I finished it in 2 hours 26 minutes (nett time). Not bad, since my goal was to finish it by 2hrs 30min.

It was a satisfying moment for me. To be able to run the distance in a race and got a medal for it. Naia and hubby picked me up after the race, too bad they weren’t there when I crossed the finish line. But glad that they did come to fetch me.

On our way to the car, after seeing me with my new medal, Naia asked me:

Naia (N): Mama, why do you run all the time?
Mama (M): Because I want to be healthy
N: Why?
M: Because I want to be able to play with you and your sister until you grow big!
N: *smile* Mama, I also want to run and get my 4th medal, so far I only have 3!
M: Of course, you will get it when we run in Kids Run in May, and you will get as many more medals than mine… You’ll see!
N: *big smile*

Yea I finally got my medal and finisher tee, a running milestone. But I gotta tell you, the convo above with Naia was easily beat all of that. THAT was the highlight of my day!

With Mama Runners SG – Yana, Chacha & Dea

Last day of March, a week before my first Half Marathon race, I took part in 2XU Compression Run Singapore. Only for 10K distance because this will fit into my training plan towards my HM race.

The flag off starts at 6.45am which means it’s still dark. I picked up Leo and Yana before we went to the meeting point at Millenia Walk and met up with Mama Runners.

I was undecided if I should go for an easy 10K or push for my PB. I decided last minute that I’ll go for easy as I was having light cramp right before the race started. Within the first km, already felt uneasy for the hot and humid weather (and the sun wasn’t even up yet!). My GPS was having a meltdown I think, as I was only running for 2 minutes and already announced that I have run 0.5km with 4’28″ pace. There’s no way that I was that fast! And that kinda ruins my track to know what pace I was the whole time, resulting me running a bit too fast too early.

By 8km, I felt tired already. I know I shouldn’t run that fast too early. The sun was already up and the weather was soo hot, I started putting on my glasses. It was kinda a mental fight at the last 2km, whether I should stop and walk or push for the finish line. Seriously!

So yes, I didn’t finish with a PB. In fact I was 2 minutes behind my last race. But it was okay.. had fun with Mama Runners group which some of them were having a first-time experience in a race. Always fun to meet up and run with them!

Saturday is a movie nite at our house. It started when Naia decided that she wanted to sleep in our big bed, while watching a movie “Annie” on cable until she falls asleep. So I told her that she can stay up while watching a movie in our king-sized bed, on Saturday only! The rest of the nights, she will sleep alone in a foldable bed in the corner of our bedroom. We actually wanted her to start sleeping by herself in her room, and we have tried that in many different occassion but Naia seemed to be a bit scared to sleep by herself in her room.

One Saturday night, we prepped for our movie nite, had our gourmet popcorn in the microwave and chatting and playing on the bed with the girls before decided which movie to watch. That night she decided to watch Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring. Of course we only allow her to watch the first 30 minutes, where it’s showing the hobbits in the hobbitton. As soon as the timer turned off the TV, she and Neishia fell asleep nicely and left mama and papa to enjoy the rest of the night, with the sleeping kids in between.

Okay, first thing first. Since it will take me awhile to keep up, let’s start to update with the most recent event – Naia’s birthday.

On 1st of April, Naia celebrated her 5th birthday! Time does fly by so fast, I feel that it was only yesterday that I felt the excitement of delivering my first baby to the world. Being totally clueless as a new mom. It’s like within a blink of an eye, there goes my daughter, graduating from a toddler world and I am celebrating the 5th anniversary of being a mom.

10 years ago, I probably wouldn’t even acknowledged that someday I will be a mother of two and revolves my life around two beautiful girls. It has been 5 years that I have been adapting to my new role and I am truly enjoying it, hence it does feel like a blink of an eye.

For Naia’s birthday this year, we didn’t plan to make any party. We do plan to go for a trip later this month, just like we do every year.. an annual trip for birthday celebration, now it’s for the two girls since Neishia also celebrated her first birthday on January.

However, two weeks prior to her birthday, Naia – who knows that we’ll be taking a trip to Disneyland for her birthday – pleaded that she wants to have her birthday at school and not in Disneyland. Awww.. apparently, she wants to cut and blow the candle in front of her schoolmates since we didn’t do that last year. So I decided to order a cake for her – which she specifically requested that she wanted an Ariel the Mermaid cake – bought some goodies and bags for the goodie bags for Naia’s schoolmates and teachers. I let her choose what goodies she wants for her friends for the goodie bags. Then I also let her fill up the bags with all the goodies. She separated the goodies for boys and girls (by color), learn how to count and share while doing it.

In the past, when Naia was still attending the childcare on half-day, we usually held the birthday celebration after lunch time, before the kids took their nap. This time, the teacher requested that we do this after nap time, when the kids would be allowed for their tea-breaks. So we only came to school with all the goodies at around 3.30PM.

The kids were waiting for us already and we started arranging the cake, the goodie bags and the candles. Neishia was so happy to be among the big kids and next to her big sister.

It was a short, simple birthday celebration. Just singing happy birthday, blowing the candles, cut the cake and share the cake and goodies with her friends. And she was more than happy already. The point is that she learns how to share with her friends throughout the ordeal. We didn’t even smother her with gifts. We only got her a real watch from Swatch a day before, so she can learn how to tell time.

Afterwards, we went to Marina Bay Sands, where the girls were playing and running around. They were having a good time chasing each other, then we had a snack nearby. More chasing around, chasing the birds, and just spent the rest of the afternoon at the boardwalk. By dinner time, as we were about to go home, Naia requested to have chicken rice for her birthday dinner. So we went to Nanyang food court to have chicken rice.

It seems like a lame birthday, isn’t it? Five years old and all she got was a chicken rice. But for us, we want her to know that it’s not about the material things she got for her birthday, it’s what she experienced to make that day a special day and memorable for her. Spending time with her family, share with her friends, surrounded with love from all of us. The memories that would be with her as she grows older.

Happy Birthday, my no-longer-a-baby girl! You will always be my little girl. Please grow up to be a kind-hearted, independent, healthy, smart and beautiful girl who always respect others, love thy family and God. Amen.

Last year I didn’t make one since whichever I had planned was put to a halt due to my pregnancy and the first priority was bringing my baby into the world. And therefore, 2012 has become a wonderful year for us as a family, and me personally.

JANUARY 2012
We welcomed Neishia to the world on 17 Jan. It was an easy delivery for me, within two days we were able to take Neishia home. From the beginning, she was an easy baby. Sleep, milk, and poop were her fave activities for the first 2 months. Naia was so in love with the baby that she didn’t want to go to school for a week. This also marks her staying in daycare full day, to prepare her when I’m back to work. I had 4 months maternity leave and it was one of the best times ever!!

FEBRUARY 2012
A month after Neishia was born, I decided that I should start doing my post-natal workout. I started with power walk to pick up Naia from her daycare, about 1km away one trip. I carried Neishia in a sleepywrap while pushing a stroller to Naia’s daycare, and returned the same way with Naia sitting on the stroller. I did this every day for 2 weeks while also doing easy pilates steps at home. It was fun! And I can’t wait to be back in shape again.

MARCH 2012
I started to run and was able to run 3.5K nonstop in my first tryout. Of course still with a very slow pace. This month, we also went back to Jakarta for Neishia’s Aqiqahan. It’s Neishia first experience on a plane ride. She was basically slept the entire time. I spent a week in Jakarta and the aqiqahan was a great gathering with family and friends. Anthie helped with the souvenirs, a pack of maccarons for the guests and Sefa came to take pictures of the event. Thanks for your help, ladies!

APRIL 2012
Naia turned 4 years old and we spent her birthday at.. Hongkong Disneyland! The whole family, including my brother’s family and my parents also tagged along in this trip where we visited both Hong Kong and Macau for a week. It was fun! As usual, Neishia was a great little traveller at only 2.5 months old.

MAY 2012
I returned back to office. Though it feels tough to leave 2 kids at home, I was looking forward to go back to work. My parents were still around and I have 2 helpers around since the previous one is getting ready to leave, while the new one has arrived for a job handover (haha!). So it was quite a smooth transition for me.

I managed to also keep my running training in tact and change my schedule to run in the morning before I go to work. It was also perfect timing that we – Thalia, Ninit & myself – decided to launch The Urban Fit this month too. By the end of the month, Naia and I also took part in a Kids Run Singapore race. First running medal for Naia, yay!

A week after that, Thalia & I took part in Sundown Race for 10K distance. My first race since I gave birth to Neishia.

JUNE 2012
My helper for the past 4 years has officially ended her service with us. She has been helping me since Naia was 3 months old. We said goodbye to her and life goes on.

JULY 2012
Multitasking becomes my middle name. Between taking care of house and work, I had to juggle and deliver my best. Tough times, but it helps me to become a better manager, at home and at work. By mid July, I took another part in another running race, Shape Run for 10K distance. I had so much fun and recorded a better timing. I have become a stronger runner, still very slow, but almost got back to my previous state before I become pregnant.

Neishia turned 6 months this month and started her solid food. She just loooves to eat!

AUGUST 2012
Ramadhan has come. I decided in the beginning of Ramadhan that I will take a break from my running training, but I ended up running at least once for week cuz my body was asking for a workout, yet I was able to complete the fasting month in full, on top of still breastfeeding and working out. I feel great!

We went home by end of the month, to celebrate the Eid at home with our family and spent a week there.

SEPTEMBER 2012
The fasting, breastfeeding and running has finally shown its result on my body. I lost 5kg during fasting month, tho my breastmilk production was still great and I felt stronger. I finally reached the weight before I was pregnant.. the first time! Yay!

I have also increased the intensity of my training because I wanted to take part in another race. In fact, I decided to sign up for 3 races until December. And it’s all about training every weekend. Though I still decided to hold off on taking the plunge and go for a Half Marathon race. I’m waiting until Neishia is weaned, or at least not too fully dependent on breastmilk.

OCTOBER 2012
As usual, October means Halloween and we celebrated at Chip Bee Garden as many previous years before. The day after, I took part in my biggest challenge this year – Adidas King of the Road for 16.8 kilometer distance.

NOVEMBER 2012
Another race to tackle – Great Eastern Women’s Run 10K. Too bad I didn’t feel very good on the race day and ended up with my worst 10K timing. Oh well, it was just one of those days. But I got great picture from the race, my first running shot ever!

Thalia and I also started a group with other urban Mama runners in SG and we went to our first run together at East Coast Park then the Brooks Party Run for 9K. It was awesome!

We also went to Naia’s year end performance with her classmates, where she performed a dance.

DECEMBER 2012
The month began with the pinnacle race that most Singaporean runners are waiting for – Standard Chartered Marathon 2012. Yet, I took part in the 10K race. I was waiting to take part for the Half Marathon since 2010, yet still cannot do it yet. Ninit & Chika came to join the race, while Ipeh & Udhien also came to Singapore for The Urban Mama annual meeting that we decided to do during that same weekend the race was held.

A week after, we went for a week of vacation to Lombok. Actually we wanted to visit hubby’s sister’s family who live there and we came to celebrate Dayana (Naia’s cousin) who turned 3 years old. My parents in law also came and we spent a week going around in Lombok with our family, including visiting the beautiful Gili island.

Great family time to end the year with!

So what to expect in 2013?

Well, as I said, I don’t really put up a resolution. I just want to live it day by day and always make the full out of it with my family. The new year comes as a reflection for me, as it also literally means that I’m getting a year older and 2013 means that I’m going to be in my mid-thirties.

My resolution is simple -
On a personal level, I want to continue to be a better mom, wife and runner. On the latter note, I’m aiming to cross one item in my bucket list – to run a Half Marathon. I have signed up to do my first one in April 2013, on an NTUC Run 350.

On a professional level, I’m aiming for another promotion for at least by next year. And therefore, I need to put in my effort and interest to make it happen. As for The Urban Mama, there are a lot of opportunities to grow and I will definitely will grow the business team with at least one more person.

On family, err.. no, no more kids, thank you! Two kids are enough, seriously! We’re planning on a long vacation in the mid of the year, a tradition that we keep to celebrate the kids’ birthday (Neishia’s coming to one-year old soon! Time flies!).

It has been one great 2012 for me personally. It has been a year of transformation, healthy and fit year for me! I just want to continue to do that next year, and maybe keep spreading the fit virus to more people and my own family. My biggest challenge is spreading it to my own hubby, but I have yet to make it my goal yet. It seems impossible task to accomplish, for now.

Happy New Year! May the new year brings more happiness, love and health to everyone.

Last Monday, Neishia has reached an 11-months mark. A month away to graduate from baby world and entering the world of toddlerhood. How time flies. It feels like it’s only yesterday that I carried her in my belly, or inside the sleepywrap as she’s sound asleep when we visited Hong Kong Disneyland.

I haven’t updated anything on Neishia in this blog, but I thought the 11 months mark is so special to be mentioned. It’s because Neishia has reached so many milestones in her eleventh months. Let’s list them all..

1. Officially she has visited 6 cities in 4 countries, outside of Singapore.
2. A very chatty girl who just loves to smile to everyone. At 11 months she already know how to call for Mama, Papa and her sister (which usually sounds like “ta ta” for kakak).
3. Adores her sister so much, she would have a big smile ear to ear everytime she sees Naia
4. A big eater, she eats everything! With her – so far – I have not experienced any meal time where she refused to open her mouth.
5. She started her solid food at 6 months old, starting with rice cereal, then fruits, vegetables, chicken, beef then fish. She loves them all! From the beginning I already applied a BLW method where she learns how to pick the food herself. She loves it and definitely masters the skill.
6. At 8 months, she already prefers to eat soften rice than porridge. At this stage, she eats everything prepared for her during meal time – in 5 minutes!
7. At 11 months, one tooth has erupted from her gum. More are seen to follow soon.
8. She has able to stand by herself unsupported. Even took 1-2 steps unknowingly.
9. Loves to be in the beach! Loves to put any object in her ear, pretending that she’s on the phone! LOL
10. She has gone taken the airplane, ferry rides, 4-5 hours ride (by car and bus) to Malaysia, horse-ride, boat, you name it.. she has taken them!

From the beginning, Neishia is such an easy baby. She sleeps regularly and only wakes up 2-3 times at night to be breastfed. She’s very playful and laughs hysterically everytime Naia plays with her. She can sleep on her own if she needs to, as long as she’s fed and with full tummy. She snacks on anything.

Sounds to good to be true for a baby to be that easy? Well, she is! I’m not even boasting, just stating the known facts.

I wish I can freeze time and have her at this age forever. When she can’t say no or answer back. When she would throw a big smile everytime I walk up to the door everytime I come home from work. When she would be so happy to see me and crawl on top of me playfully.

When the smell of a breath still feels like I’m smelling heaven.

I love you, baby girl! Don’t grow up so fast, pleaseee…

Here is Neishia playing with her big sister. One of the videos that I love so much. Neishia loves it so much that she would ask me to play it everytime she sees me holding on my iPhone. So cute!!

After our last visited Gili during our honeymoon, almost 6 years ago, we came back with two kids!

The purpose of visiting Lombok is to finally visit my sister in law’s family who have been living there for almost 4 years. We haven’t visited once and this is such an overdue visit. Since her daughter is also celebrating her 3rd birthday on Dec 7, we wanted to be there for the celebration. We stayed in Senggigi for a week and managed to jump on a boat to cross the island and visit Gili Trawangan.

Woke up early that day, didn’t even shower the kids as we’re going to spend the whole day at the beach. I prepared Neishia’s breakfast and lunch, packed in a food pot. Since Neishia is only 10.5 months old, I had to make sure that I prepare a homecooked meal for her, with no sugar or salt. So during trips like this, I have to bring an electronic cooker so I can prepare her meals beforehand.

By 8AM we were ready to leave the hotel and off to Bangsal, where the boats would go to Gili. Took the boat with other passengers, the boat was full with containers of raw food and other stuff that people bought from the market to be transported to Gili. As soon as we arrived at Gili, I was just amazed once again with how beautiful that place is. With its clear water, white sands beaches and bright blue sky.

In the beginning, Naia refused to go to an island nor the beach. She just wanted to stay at the hotel. But by the end of the trip, she was enjoying being in Gili so much that she didn’t want to leave. Even Neishia was lounging, playing with the sands and caught a nap under the tree on a beach. We all had a good time.

It was a perfect day under the sun, playing in the beach and swimming away. Naia collected the shells from the beach and brought a jar of it to Singapore. Such a wonderful family time!

After my first race running in this most-awaited running event in Singapore, it took me 3 years until I finally join again. I wanted to run the Half Marathon in 2011 as part of my resolution, after skipping it in 2010 (due to late enrollment). But since I was pregnant last year, the resolution is still in my bucket list.

This year I took yet another 10K race. As much as I’m eager to start running the Half Marathon, I wanted to wait until I have fully weaned Neishia.

Just like my first race in Stanchart Marathon, I was surrounded with many friends. If my first race was with a bunch of friends from work, this time it’s with other running mama and my running support group. Even Ninit & Chika came purposely from Jakarta to be in this race. Yay!

It was a great race to end the list of races I have run this year. I was relaxed and just wanted to do my best. The last race I ran had a different route, so even though the race is pretty much in the same area with my other races this year, it was fun that it was different from the last StanChart race I had.

The weather was perfect! Not too hot and in fact, it was a bit cloudy. I picked up Yana at our usual place, Ario dropped us off at Paya Lebar MRT where we met with Woro & Chacha. Then we took the train to City Hall to meet up with Ninit & Chika. Ninit & Chika stayed over at Thalia’s who was running the half marathon with Adhit.

After we met up with some other friends, we started to walk to the starting pen.

Met up with Mr. Fauja Singh, the legendary 101 years old runner who will also take part in the 10K race.

By 7.15AM the 10K run started. Since we were at the back, we ended up on the second wave of runners. I started off with an easy pace. I just wanted to enjoy the run and finish it strong. So I hold myself to run with easy pace for the first 5K and run hard at the last 5K. Well, that was my strategy.

I kept my pace steady in the first 5K, and I wanted to end the race with negative splits. So I kept the pace at around 6’40″ for the first 5K. As soon as I hit 5K, I started to up my pace and hit 6’36″ when I passed the 6.5km. I felt good, I didn’t even stop for water. I had my handheld bottle with me and I felt that it’s enough to hydrate me. I felt a bit tired by 7km already, but I still kept at it.

As soon as we were reaching the last kilometer, wheren all the runners came together in the same track, I ran as hard as I can so I can finish it strong. I finished at 1 hour 6 minutes with average pace of 6’39″.

Not my best 10K time, but it’s my best on race. So I’m happy.

As soon as reached the finish line, I was looking for hubby and Naia. Neishia also came along and was crying when she saw me. Since my t-shirt was soaking wet, I had to change with the official singlet so I can carry Neishia and feed her breakfast. After that I prepped Naia to go to the Kids Dash line, as she was going to run for 750m. She was still feeling unwell, and a bit down that she had to run with her dad and already tired from the long walk to the starting pen. She wasn’t really enjoying the run, but nonetheless happy to receive her second medal of the year. Way to go, Naia!

Another medal? Yes! But before I told you about the race, let me start about how I came by my new growing running partners..

So after so many months having our virtual running support group through WhatsApp – where most of them live in Indonesia, except me, Thalia & Fanny – one Saturday morning, Thalia and I discussed on creating a new group for all Mama runners in Singapore. We noticed that some people we know through social media or The Urban Mama has started showing interest in running, like we do. So we thought, hey why don’t we ask them to join for a regular running meet-up so we can share our experiences. So the group MamaRunnersSG began.

Most of them are people we know through The Urban Mama, some we met in person, some haven’t. I added some people that I know who also like running, including Yana who is my running buddy on my long runs on weekends, my buddy in Shape Run and Adidas King of the Road races. So there were 10 of us in the group – myself, Thalia, Yana, Sara, Woro, Rani, Dea, Ajeng, Erlia and Dessy.

We decided that we had our first running date on 17 November at East Coast Park. Woro wrote about it at The Urban Mama.

Since many of them just started running, we ended up having a discussion about doing a Party Run – Brooks Run Happy. It’s a 9km party run which is basically an extension of Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series. Since it’s a party run, it’s not a race as they will not have winners but everyone who came and had the run will get a medal. We call it “Dugem Run” since there will be DJ and music before and after the run. It’s also held at night, at 7PM, which is a good timing for moms like us. For myself and Thalia, this will be our third race together, our second night race after Sundown (which started waayy too late).

Six of the Mama Runners SG will join the race – me, Thalia, Woro, Erlia & Ajeng.

On race day – I went from home at 5.30PM, and was supposed to meet up with Thalia, Woro and Erlia at Marina Bay Sands. But the parking was terrible going in so we decided to park at Millenia Walk and took the MRT to Marina Bay station and met everyone there. Hubby and Naia came with me, eventhough Naia was actually still not well after her school’s year end performance in the morning. But she insisted to come to meet Aina, who also came with Ari. As we got out of Marina Bay station, we took the shuttle to the venue and met Sara (who came with her hubby) there.

By 7PM we already on our way to the starting pen. The music was blaring, the sun has set and become darker, the light show was playing at the finish line, as well as the starting point. As we entered the starting pen, there were a few people handed us glow sticks. I put them on my hand as bracelets, some put them as a necklace, or on their hair. By 7.30PM the run started off.

I started slow, warmed my body up first. I was still a bit traumatic from my past race where I wasn’t feeling very well, so I made sure I was running my pace and not too tired. The view was awesome in Tanjung Rhu as we were running overlooking Singapore skyline. I was starting the first kilo with 7″ pace. Not bad.

By the 2nd kilometer, I upped my pace and was having a great time passing by other runners. The 3rd kilometer was a stretch back to the start point and there was a very narrow road to share with other runners. I ended up slowing down but then picked up my pace again after reaching the 4th kilometer, running towards Marina Bay Sands. Had to slow down again by 6th km, where I was held up with a lot of passerby in front of Marina Bay Sands. People were watching the band and they were trying to cross our track while we’re running. There were strollers, kids, old people trying to pass us while we’re trying to run. It was chaotic, I even bumped to a girl who insisted on crossing in front of me. There was a U-turn after 7Km and we’re running back to the Marina Barrage towards the finish line. I picked up my pace, somehow I felt that I was not tired at all and tried to keep my pace up. As soon as I reached 8th kilometer, I even started to run a lot faster than my regular pace .. until I reached about 200 meter to the finish line, where I saw that it was an inclined finish. Oh crap.. I had to slow down and run slowly, even almost walking to reach to the finish line. And yes, I did it! 9km in 57 minutes, with a pace of 6’21″.

The finish line was packed with party runners who were dancing to the music from the light up stage. Thalia called after a few minutes, and I found out that Thalia had an accident and fell, causing a bloddy arm and a split handheld bottle cover. Sara joined us, then Erlia and Ajeng. We couldn’t locate Woro cuz her phone was dead.. but at the end we managed to meet up. Erlia came by with a box of BengBeng, and it was a better snack after a run than the regular eneergy bar (ya’ think?!).

Erlia’s husband, SN, took a lot of great pictures of us and it was awesome pictures. We stayed until the last lucky draw (a trip to US to join the Rock n’ Roll series) yet, noone from us won. Nonetheless it was a fun night, a fun race and truly enjoyable with Mama Runners!

before we enter the starting pen

.. as I’m crossing the finish line (picture taken by SN, edited by chacha)

after the race pictures .. sponsored by bengbeng.. LOL

once again, here’s the cool-looking medal. officially a “Party Queen”

*pictures are taken here and there from the gank and SN – thanks for the wonderful pictures!

.. and here is the official picture, taken during the run.