Sunday, September 7, 2008

Relay

I blogged about my participation in the DHL Relay 2008 previously http://roaming-alone.blogspot.com/2008/07/runchrun.html and team '4 Beast & a beauty' (which at one point nearly rename to 'fat girl & the slim boys') finally runs on 1-Sept in the relay.

This year, all participants received a turquoise colour jacket (unfortunately I have to take one that's a size bigger because they ran out of stock) and the down side is, all new hires will get turquoise colour running shirt as well, how 'great' is that?! Putting those 2 on, I feel like a walking blue LED.

This is the first time I participate in sports activities since I graduated. Some of my friends back home are shocked to discover that I really joined in the relay, lol...

There are about 20,000 participants each day for this 5 days running event. When so many people (and companies) are involved, even the running shirts turn into a 'competition' of 'who has the brightest colour shirt' and some are really bright (orange!). Despite we're not 'orange', a big bunch of people with the same turquoise jacket gathering together (which includes me, unfortunately) can be really funny to look at too!

Everyone has their running number pin on the chest but I chose to have mine on the back (I think it looks nicer, in a way & also because of some 'technical issues') and my team mates laughed at me. My team captain, Ib (whom I call 'Captain Ib') said I shall run backwards with the number pinned at my back :s

Pic: Some of my colleagues who are also in the relay. The 'beauty' of my running team is the only guy not in blue jacket (I still can't get over the fact I'm not the beauty being the only female) :p

Our company is considerate to provide lots of tit-bits (sweets, chocolates, chips) and free flow drinks throughout the event and also hired 2 chefs & setup a grill tent to provide freshly grilled meats, sausages with salad and breads as dinner after the run. Running, chatting, eating, laughing...it is fun hanging out with colleague outside work, everyone is in a more relax mode :)


Pic: The chefs in the grill tent
Actually, I didn't run all the time during the 5km relay, don't have the stamina to do it throughout the journey, was walking some (er...most) of the time. Unfortunately, Captain Ib took my walking video (& I'm the only one walking, how embarrassing), saying he now has prove to share with the group to explain why the team lost 15minutes compare to previous years' average completion time, lol...
Good thing is: I didn't break the slowest record, finished the 5km in 40minutes (10minutes away from the slowest). Nothing to be shout about though :p
Next year, even if I don't run, I'll still be there to make sure I take Ib's video when he looked like a 'dying chopstick' (his legs are so thin that he reminds me of chopstick and his face turned so red at some point that I thought he's going to be in trouble) & publish it on YouTube!
Will share the group picture of my team mates when I get it (hopefully in 2-3 weeks time) =)
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Update 8-Oct:-
Finally, my team picture. Even though my participation pulled down the team's average completion time but also make the team younger on average. They should be grateful for that :p

2 comments:

Finlands finest said...

Sounds like a fantastic race!!

Chun Har said...

the side effect is more torturing: some of my colleagues walk like a duck for few days after the race, lol...