Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2010

(Swisootel Vertical Marathon 2010)

This morning, I conquered the 73 storey with 1336 steps of the 226m tall hotel in the Swissotel Vertical Marathon with KT. This year is my 5th attempt for this race since I first participated in 2005. I actually missed the one in 2006 due to examination period during school days. Both KT and I were promoted to the next category this year as we joined the race in the Men’s 30-39 Category for the first time ever…

This year, I managed to improve on my timing with a reasonable time of 12:07min which was faster than last year’s timing of 13:02min by 55 seconds. I was quite satisfied with my timing this year and hope I can improve further. My target is to break my own record of timing 11:33min set in 2005 when I first participated. I hope I can achieve that during the Swissotel Vertical Marathon next year.

(View of the completed Marina IR from the helipad)


When we reached the helipad, we took a bit of rest before started taking snapshots. At the top, I took photos with KL and my cousin, GH who joined the race for the first time round. This year, we met the same old guy who chases us down the helipad in last year’s race…



























(Some random shots at the helipad after the race)














(Photos with KT & my cousin)


After taking enough photos at the helipad, we took the elevator down the hotel entrance for some refreshment and Red Bulls!! Near the Starbuck of Raffles City, KT and I managed to spot the World Male Champion of Swissotel Vertical Marathon, Thomas Dold (1 of my VM idols) and asked him to take a photo with us before he started his race. Hah :”D














(RedBull refreshment & The RedBull girls!!)

















(Another shot at the ground floor after the race)



Soon after that, KT went back home while I stayed round to take some more snapshots. I was lucky to have snapshot with another VM idol of mine, Mr Tan Soo Cheng (84), oldest participants in this race who has participated in this race for 10 years. Amazing.

















Photos with my idols
1 - World Male Champion of Swissotel Vertical Marathon, Thomas Dold
2 - Oldest Participants in the race, Mr Tan Soo Cheng (84),


At the holding area, I also manage to meet 1 foreigner friend who was in the same detail as me during the National Vertical Marathon earlier this year. We chatted for a while and took some snapshots together.

Not forgetting to mention, there is one special couple who were dressed up in their full wedding attire and participating in the Lovebirds' Challenge for this year. This certainly added some interesting entertainment to all the participants there. I congratulate to the couple for completing the race together.



























(The couple in their wedding attire for the Lovebirds' Challenge Category)


This year, the defending Male champion, Mr Thomas Dold from Germany participate in a new “Ultimate Championship – Men’s” and emerged champion again with a timing of 6:51min. This is not his best timing as he has set a record of 6:46min last year. Anyway it is a very fast and good timing already. As for the Woman’s Open category, last year’s depending champion, Ms Suzanne Elizabeth Walsham still manage to maintain her title with only 3 months after her delivery.














(Prizes for top winners)

















1. Ultimate Champion Male Champion - Thomas Dold
2. Depending champion for Woman's Open Category - Ms Suzanne Elizabeth Walsham

















(Ultimate Champion Female Champion - Moon Poyoka Melissa)



My next event for this year will be the upcoming inaugural Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore in about 2 weeks time. I am looking forward to that as I can run inside the Universal Studio Singapore as my first visit there during my 21km race. Haha :”D

More info on Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2010


http://www.swissotelverticalmarathon.com/


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094718/1/.html


http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4473579

Morning Jog to Dairy Farm Nature Park

(Photo taken outside the Wallace Education Centre)

This morning, I did another morning jog with my jogging kaki from CCK to a new place, Dairy Farm Nature Park from 7am onwards.

The route that we took includes Bukit Panjang Road => Zheng Hua Park => Hill View Park Connector => Dairy Farm Nature Park with a total distance of about 6.5km.


























(Directory at Dairy Farm Nature Park)













(The Dairy Farm nature Park visitor centre)














(Route Map of Dairy Farm Nature Park)



Upon reaching there, we visited the Dairy Farm Nature Reserve and the new Wallace Education Centre which were officially opened by Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan on 5 Sept 2009.














(Route leading to Wallace Education Centre)






































(Wallace Education Centre)














(Exhibition Hall inside Wallace Education Centre)
















(Article on how the name of the place "Dairy Farm" comes about)

















(Some info on Mr Alfred Russel Wallace)



As we walked further up pass the Wallace Education Centre, we saw 1 abandoned house which have been there quite long time ago.





































(View of the abandoned House)





























(Nice Flowers outside the Abandoned House)




A brief introduction of the place

This new S$5.7 million Dairy Farm Nature Park and Wallace Education Centre with site area of 63Ha is located on the boundary of the Bukit Timah Nature Rerserve. It offers public another alternative getaway with a sheltered visitor centre with open landscaped toilets and 2 exhibition halls at the Wallace Education Centre, not forgetting the Wallace Trail too.


More info on Dairy Farm Nature Park


http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2009/09/dairy-farm-nature-park-flat-trails-are.html


http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2009/09/official-opening-of-dairy-farm-nature.html


http://keropokman.blogspot.com/2009/12/wallace-education-centre-dairy-farm.html

Afternoon Jog to Jurong Safra

(Main signboard of Jurong Safra)

This weekend, I did 1 afternoon jog instead of a morning jog alone to try out a new running route from CCK to Jurong Safra Club near Jurong Point at Boon Lay. I started my jog from 3.45pm onwards and the weather was really hot… : (

The route that I took include Brickland Road, Bukit Batok Road and Boon Lay Way and the I need to endure my way through Boon Lay Way under the hot sun.

When I reached there, I bypassed the Jurong Central Park where I saw many people flying their kites and enjoy their weekend afternoon. I rested for a while at the Park to observe the kite flying before visiting the Jurong Safra Club there.





















































(Kite Flying at the open field at Jurong Central Park near Jurong Safra)


Brief introduction of Jurong Safra Club


This S$43 million new Jurong Safra Club was officially opened in late May 2009 and it is the most expensive one compared to the other 5 safra clubs, covering a total area of 14,300 sq m. It is more of a family oriented clubhouse and it featured a largest 3 storey high indoor playground, a 9000 sq ft children gym, first children’s swimming pool with interactive water elements, EnergyOne Gym with full IPPT facilities and a wide range of F&B outlets.





























(View of Jurong Safra)



After that I rushed home from there for bathing before going out again from my nephew’s BD, but I did not expect that the restaurant that we were going is at JP. Haha :”D How I feel I don’t have to go back home first and go to the restaurant straightaway.

















(Route that I took)





More information on Jurong Safa Club




http://www.safra.sg/clubhouse_jr.aspx?pageid=437



http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/430390/1/.html



http://www.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20090520-142622.html