Cold Storage Kids' Run 2011 @ Padang

We went for the Cold Storage Kids' Run held last month at Padang. Though I didn't have much opportunity to take many pictures as I would like during the actual run (it was way too crowded), I am quite pleased with the quality of those I took - Canon 550 is superb in capturing outdoor photos!

Actually, this is the second year I registered for the run but this year is the first time we ran. Why? Because last year, a freak incident happened before it came our turn to run. It was so traumatic for me that I didn't blog about it - I hate to recap bad memories.

For record sake, it went something like this: About 20mins before the run, cheapskate me decided to queue up for free iced Milo. Ying Ying was standing beside me when she suddenly let out a cry. For a moment, I was quite annoyed, wondering why she started to whine for no reason, in public somemore (i.e. lose face). Then she started sobbing loudly, complaining about pain in one of her eyes. At first, we thought some dirt had gotten into her eye. A passer-by even offered us water to rinse her eye. Upon closer examination, I realised there was a scratch of about 0.5cm on her corneal!!! Then hubby recalled there was a father queuing in front of us holding a balloon stick - he had tucked the balloon stick under his arms while he bent down to get his iced Milo. The sharp end of a balloon stick must have accidentally poked Ying Ying's unsuspecting eye. Unfortunately, we couldn't confront the balloon man because he had left the scene already by the time we realised what happened. :( We decided to head home because Ying Ying could not stop crying. On the way, we passed by a first aid stand and the KK pediatrician on duty examined her eye with a torch and confirmed there was a scratch and asked us to go to A&E. So we ended up at KK A&E about 30mins later. By then, the pain had subsided a little. The doctor checked her eye and the scratch was showed up very clearly after some bright eye droplets was adminstered. Luckily, it was only a surface scratch (the proper medical term is corneal abrasion) and she was prescribed some eye ointment. We went back to KK for a follow-up a week later and the eye specialist said the eye had fully recovered. THANK GOODNESS!

What a nightmare! It could be worse - imagine your kid blinded in one eye! Her/His whole life could be changed FOREVER! I was so upset that I even contemplated calling up the New Paper to report about this for purpose of warning other parents. I seriously think the manufacturer of balloon sticks should modify the design to make them more child-safe such as making the ends rounded or something.

Hence, this year, I reminded Ying Ying of the incident and warned her to stay clear of any balloon stick. To my surprise, there were none! Balloons on strings were given out instead! Maybe this change was due to the incident last year. The event organiser was aware of it because we had made an accident report while we were at the first-aid stand. One of their staff had called me twice to check on Ying Ying and I have feedbacked the danger of balloon sticks to her. Well, at least something good came out of it...

Back to this year's run - thankfully, nothing bad happened and we had a good run. Phew! I ran, or rather jogged with Pam Pam first, followed by Hubby with Ying Ying. Pam Pam tried her best to run and we brisk-walked when she got tired. There were a couple of times she nearly tripped but I was holding her hand and managed to pull her back in time. Meanwhile, Ying Ying ran so fast weaving in and out the crowd that hubby said he had trouble catching up.

Fresh and ready - all ready to set off!

At the Starting Point

Waiting in Anticipation


Ready, Get Set, Go!

Flushed cheeks after the run

Proud of her accomplishment!
Happy mummy and her tired girls

We didn't stay for the carnival games and activities after the run because we were turned off by the long queues for everything. Instead, we adjourned to Funan Centre to have KFC brekkie. Then I suggested we go for a walk to see the Merlion since we are in the area and the girls have not been there before. Halfway there, we stopped for some ice-cream. The Merlion was under construction but never mind, there was a minature merlion just in front of it. Then the weather got too hot and hubby had to piggy-back the girls because they refused to walk for long. On the back to the Parliament House where we parked, I couldn't resist us stopping at the Asian Civilisation Musesum for some err.... air-con. Finally, we headed to IL's place to have lunch.

What a fruitful Sunday indeed!