POSB Passion Run 2011

Our family went to support Faith at her first POSB run at East Coast Park Big Splash last Sunday morning. The reporting time for her age category was supposed to be 7-730am but we woke up late and only managed to set off around 730am. We only reached there around 8am. Luckily, the run didn't start on time - her category only started running at 830am!

I wished I could signed Angie up too but the youngest category was 5-6 years old. So we had to explain to her (a few times) that the race was meant for older kids and she could join in when she is older. She seemed to understand though I think she still felt a little left out because she kept looking at Faith's race T-shirt wistfully...

Hubby alighted us first because there wasn't any parking lot available - the cars were parked all the way to Fort Road. So he said he would wait for us at the carpark instead otherwise we would all have to walk really far later on.

I thought the venue could be better managed because I had trouble looking for directional signs to the correct reporting point. So we wandered around for a while, looking lost. Luckily, a kind mummy saw us and told me where to go because her kid was also in the same category. I had to ask another daddy to help carry Faith across the barricade because the reporting area was all cordoned off and it was time-consuming and troublesome to do a big de-tour.

This was the first time Faith would be running unaccompanied. Though I had assured her we would meet her after her run, I was secretly worried that I wouldn't be able to find her in the cr0wd full of children, all dressed alike in the same T-shirts. There were a couple of children crying and looking anxiously for their parents but Faith simply appeared nonchalant and indifferent (see pic below).

Then I overheard a wise mummy next to me reminding her son to stand up and continue running if he falls and to walk if he feels tired. Suddenly, I realised I should have said the same thing to Faith to prepare her mentally. And I had also forgotten to check on her shoes to see if she had velcroed properly. But it was all too late!!! Faith was already moving off with the rest of the kids. I crossed my finger and hoped she would finish the race in one piece.

Thankfully, all went well and I managed to spot Faith as she walked into the gathering area proudly wearing a finisher's medal (see pic below).

I had a hard time picking her up though I knew where she was. The logistics was terrible and there was no system (e.g. queues) in place for collecting the children properly. Parents clamoured to call for their kids' attention and simply lifted them off from the barricade. In the end, after waiting for 20 minutes, I decided to seek help from a kind helper. She helped me to call for Faith and agreed to my request to squeeze her out from a 'loophole' in one of the barricades at the back. (I think she took pity on me and 'closed one eye' because I was visibly pregnant with Angie alongside with me. Haha.)

After which, we met up with hubby who managed to find a lot finally because some runners are starting to go back. We passed by the Milo vans and the girls splurped up the delicious chocolatey beverage and had second and third helpings.

Despite having to jostle with the crowd, I am glad Faith has gained another experience of participating in a mass run. This was the second time - her first was at the Cold Storage Kids' Run back in May. Well, she will be running again before the year ends - I have already signed the girls up for the Kids' Dash in the Standard Chartered Run this December! This time, Angie can join in the fun too! :)