adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 Day 2/2

We crossed the start line waving our hands in the air hoping that we would be caught by any of the official cameramen. Now is the best time to be on camera as we were still looking good. Hahaha .. :)

As I stepped forward, my newly bought fuel belt slipped down my buttocks. I supposed its still not yet adjusted to “field” conditions. I quickly pulled it up to below my waist level and gave it a little pull on the loose ends. It now sits nicely there.

Everybody’s mood was high. Or rather high mixed with some degree of tiredness. Generally, most of us were programmed biologically that now is the time for the body to rest. Yet, we were now embarking on a long 42km run. Crazy, this is what some people will call us. But we knew better as we were doing what we liked.

Since the Passion Run last weekend, I have been questioning myself on whether if I have been running the wrong way. Am I concentrating on the right things when I run? I looked back at how I ran for my few previous races. Reminding myself again on all the lessons that I had learnt and mistakes that I had committed. I realised that maybe I should not focus too much on the individual 1km splits along the whole route. Instead I should try aiming for timing for the 10km splits. This would greatly lessen the mental stress as I have lesser split timings to meet. Only 4 10km splits compared to 42 1km splits. Yes, maybe doing this would help. I would also rely more on my “feel”. Feeling for my body, for the route, for the surrounding. This “feeling” was also mentioned inside Dean Karnazes’s book 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days.


The start off was low and I was going at 6:00 – 6:15 pace. Some of us were more courageous by going at a faster pace. We made 2 right turns and were on the way to the main road. On our left were the participants for the 21km heading back to the finish line. They were finishing while we were just starting.

1km: 00:05:43

As we were running, we heard some voices on the loudspeaker among the crowd heading back to finish line. “Please keep clear. 84 coming through.” We saw a police outrider trying to clear the road a short distance behind him was a thin guy drenched in his own perspiration and running steadily forward. This was the champion of the 84km category and he would go on to set a new record for the event.

We also saw the 4Hr pacers leading a group of runners speeding past us. Wah .. so fast ah .. if I had followed them I would have died off earlier along the way.

2km: 00:05:56

There seems to be head wind as we were running so I tried to find somebody whose build was similar to mine and running at around the same pace as me. I managed to find that guy and closed in behind him. He helped to block out the wind. Yeah! The pace seems comfortable. Yet, it seems to be getting more and more comfortable. I checked my garmin and it showed 6:30. A little too slow so I broke away from him.

3km: 00:05:59

We reached turned left into the coastal road. Running along it seems easier now as there were so many people around you. I met Benjamin Wong and we exchanged words of encouragement.

I did not really bothered about the pace at I am running but just relied on my feel. There were people who were overtaking me all this while but I just kept to my own pace. We could feel the humidity running at this hour of the day and soon I was drenched with my own sweat.

4km: 00:05:51

5km: 00:05:51
Time: 00:29:23

6km: 00:05:50

7km: 00:05:25

8km: 00:05:23

9km: 00:05:08

As I neared the 10km mark, I had to increase my pace slightly to keep on schedule. I tried not to stick as close to 58 mins for the first 10km as much as I could. I did not want to go beyond 58 mins. Neither did I want to cross the 10km mark with too much a buffer as this could translate into me running too fast.

10km: 00:05:04
Time: 00:56:45

Next, we went into the east coast service road. As we turned in, I saw a tentage on our right. How I wished I could just go in there and lie down to sleep. Ha .. :)

11km: 00:05:54

12km: 00:05:24

Going past National Sailing Center, we were now on the tracks of ECP. This is familiar ground to many who always run along ECP, except that it is in the dead of the night now. As we made our way to the U turn point near Fort Road, we were cheered on by the event volunteers as well as numerous groups of people located at different locations to support their friends.

13km: 00:05:21

14km: 00:05:35

15km: 00:05:39
Time: 01:24:09

Reached by the cable ski park.

16km: 00:05:27

17km: 00:05:50

18km: 00:05:22

Saw the Mac. Our usual starting point for our weekend training runs.

19km: 00:05:22

20km: 00:05:25
Time: 01:52:03





Went passed Big Splash on our right. From this point onwards, I seem to have difficulty keeping the pace.

21km: 00:06:10

U turn near Fort Road. Starting from here, things began to go downhill. My pace is dropping.

22km: 00:06:33

I noticed more and more people are starting to walk. Not sure if its due to the fatigue of running at night.

23km: 00:06:29

There was this ang moh in yellow top running with me and we were sort of chasing after each other. I would overtake him and slow down. A short while later, he would do likewise. We seem to know that each of us is chasing after the other. There is always this "link" between runners as we run. An unspoken connection that helps to push each other forward. There was this connection between the 2 of us now. Both of us knew we were both tired but we still kept pushing forward. This was like a sort of silent encouragement for the other party that went: "Comon, I'm ahead of you. Keep up with me!"

After a while of the silent encouragement, we broke the silence.

"I want to see you keep overtaking me." He told me.

"I dont want to see you behind me." I replied him.

He slowly picked up his pace and went forward. This time I could not catch up with him anymore.

I am exhausted. Really exhausted.

People who saw me at ECP during this stretch would later on tell me that I was in a bad state.

"I've never seen you looked so exhausted before." One of them told me.

24km: 00:06:56

25km: 00:06:54
Time: 02:24:48

26km: 00:07:50

27km: 00:07:34

28km: 00:08:21

Aileen overtook me at this point.

29km: 00:06:49

Strangely, I started to feel some form of energy flowing to me. Not sure if this was what people called second wind. I have heard something about it before but never really experienced it. I had the energy to pic up my pace now.

Ran passed the back of National Sailing Center.

30km: 00:06:35
Time: 03:02:12

31km: 00:06:50

32km: 00:06:11

Reached National Service Resort & Country club. Proceeded into the park connector.

33km: 00:07:39

Saw Kah Wan along the canal. Finally arrived back at the coastal road.

34km: 00:06:45

Unfortunately, my source of energy was winding low. Either I depleted them too fast, or they only arrive in short supply. I was starting to struggle again.

35km: 00:07:53
Time: 03:36:51

36km: 00:07:11

37km: 00:08:38

More and more people were overtaking me. I was coming to a crawl. Eating the gels did not seem to help.

38km: 00:09:12

39km: 00:08:00

Reached the right turn leading back to Changi Exhibition Center. Final stretch!

40km: 00:07:28
Time: 04:17:54

I forced myself to open up my strides and pace up. It was going to be a long, long 2km.

41km: 00:06:26

I kept running and running. Legs were screaming at me to stop. But I just kept going.

42km: 00:06:06





Net Time: 04:32:36

Placing: 111/3218

10km: 0:56:38

21km: 2:02:14

30km: 3:02:41













Looking back, I did not start right. Did too fast. Aileen also told me I went to fast. Well, another valuable experience gained.

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 Day 1/2

*loud drum roll*

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 has arrived! Last year's Sundown was my first full marathon. So rightfully, this year's race will be my full marathon first year anniversary. Hahaha .. :)


The route for the full marathon.

The location of the race site was changed this year. We would start at Changi Exhibition Center, make our way to Fort Road through ECP and back to the Exhibition Center. The whole route is generally flat and straight, especially along the coastal road.

I suppose the most challenging portion of the route would be along the coastal road. It a never ending straight road lined with countless lamp posts. I had did 4 weekends of midnight run at ECP and coastal road in preparation for the race. So I understand the agony of running along that stretch of mundane and straight 5 - 6km of road. The worst is we have to go through it twice. The second time would be the most trying for most of the participants I believe, including me as I would find out later.

Since the previous weekend, I have starting to get pre race jitters. Its the kind of feeling you get when you are about to embark on your first marathon. Its strange that I still experience such feelings now. Also, I have been hyping up myself for the race. Not in the physical sense but the mental part. I need to think and feel positive about myself and the race. Its like what they say about blocking out the negative. Having only positive thinking in your mind. Its not easy. However, at this point in time, all we can do is to believe in ourselves and the trainings we had.

I had an early night yesterday. Slept at 2330Hr. Yes, its considered early in terms of my own standard. Woke up at around 0830Hr and went down for breakfast. Trying not to do much for the day. Lunch was a little heavier. Bak Kut Teh with 2 bowls of rice. Logged onto the net after lunch. The community was flooded with well wishes from fellow runners. Everybody is excited about this race. It could be understood as SDM is 1 of the only 2 full marathons in the local running calendar. I remembered the slots for the full marathon were snapped up within a month after registration opened last December.

Now is time to pack my stuff. Took out all my essential race stuff and laid them out. Checked through them time and time again to ensure I did not miss out anything.


The gear for tonight.

Attempted to take an afternoon nap at around 1500 Hr but I could not fall asleep. I was tossing around but I keep thinking about the race. I remembered looking at the clock and it was showing 1600Hr. I tried to calm myself down by taking in long and controlled breaths. It helped a little. However, it was still a while more before I really fell asleep.

By 1730Hr, I was up. The sky seemed to be covered with dark clouds. "Please! Dont rain!", I silently hoped. In 30 mins time, the 84km ultramarathon would start. I could imagine the excitement going on at the race site now. Jacqueline was the only person I know who would take on the UM. Its her second time some more. Brave girl. There are actually others who were running as much times as her, if not more. Jeanette Wang would be running it for the third time. Nope, they are not crazy. Its just plain passion for the things that you liked. Doing the things you liked. I believed only if you were "inside the loop" would you be able to understand.

People had asked when is it my turn to run 84km. I replied them I am not ready. Not ready to take on the months of preparation. It takes tonnes of effort and time. 1 day .. 1 day I would take it on. Notice I did not say when. :p

Dinner was fried rice followed by a cup of ice mocha at Starbucks. Need some caffeine to last through the night. At around 1900 Hrs, I logged onto facebook. There were already updates from my friends at Pasir Ris MRT. It seems there was some problems with the shuttle bus service. My friend's FB status said that the queue was so long until it snaked around White Sand. That's real long! At this time, it would be the people taking part in the 10km and 21km categories trying to get to the race site.

His friend was replying him and the 2 of them were responding to each other quite fast. So their conversation became sort of some live situational updates. His friend said she had arrived at the MRT and 1800Hr but the time was now 1945Hr and yet she was still not on the bus. I am guessing there might be some traffic jam at the race site as there were road closures and the road was also only a 2 lane in each direction. My friend advised me it better to come to the MRT now as the shuttle bus queue was very long and it was not moving at all. I SMSed the rest to meet earlier at 2130Hr at the MRT. Hope the situation would turn better later.

My friend signed up for the 21km and its supposed to start at 2100Hr. He only managed to reach the race site and start the race 2200Hr.

I took a cab down and reached Pasir RIS MRT at 2130Hr. The rest had already arrived and started queuing.


Waiting for the shuttle bus at the start of the queue.


They were just a few person behind us.

We waited almost 1 hr for the shuttle to arrive. Everybody was eager to board the bus and get down to race site ASAP. I met Benjamin, Dawn and Emily on the bus. Dawn and I were from the same dragon boat team last time. I had stopped rowing to concentrate on running. I understand from her that a lot of the team members I knew had stopped going down for training. It seems all of us had moved on to pursue some other interests in our lives. I am glad she was still enjoying rowing now.

Along the way in, we saw participants walking out towards Changi Village. Maybe they had waited in vain for the shuttle bus to turn up. We arrived at Changi Exhibition Center at 2300Hr.

On site, the race mood was floating in the atmosphere! There were runners who had returned from their 10km and 21km races. There were runners like us who were waiting for the 42km to start.

We quickly got ready our running stuff and geared up.


Eager to go!


With Sandy.

As we were depositing our bags at the bag disposal tent, I started to feel a slight feeling of nervousness mixed with sleepiness. I dont know how to accurately describe it.

We made out way into the starting pen. At around 20 mins to midnight, I took a packet of gel. The MC was trying to raise everybody's mood for the run.


All ready.

We heard an announcement that the leader for the 84km was about 20 mins back to finish line. That's so fast! Given that its a night race which makes it more difficult, he's incredible! He would be on his way to beat the race record.

The clock ticked by bringing us closer and closer to midnight.

10 ..

9 ..

8 ..

7 ..

6 ..

5 ..

4 ..

3 ..

2 ..

1 ..

*airhorn!*

The race has began!

Carbo Loading for Sundown

Pasta de Waraku at Square 2.


We were betting on the total time of each other's full marathon timing. 8 of us running.


Posing inside the New Balance outlet.

I left early while the rest went to Brian's house for Wii and a night movie at AMK. I need the sleep lah.

Agreed that we would meet at Pasir Ris MRT tomorrow at 2200Hr to take the shuttle bus into Changi Exhibition Center.

100Plus Passion Run 2010

Today is the Passion Run. Signed up for 50km Duo with Shuqin. Each of us are supposed to run 25km. But she hurt her leg so would not be joining us today. The rest of the guys were also either in Europe or Bintan.


There was shuttle bus services arranged for the participants at Stadium MRT. Meeting Joanne there at 1500Hr.


The crowd was getting longer.


Inside the shuttle bus travelling to the starting point at ECP carpark E2.


Group photo before the run.

I planned to use the first 25km of my full marathon strategy today. Sort of as a full dress rehearsal for Sundown Marathon next weekend. That would be the same strategy I adopted for SCHKM .

0 - 5km: 6min
5 - 10km: 5.5min
10 - 15km: 5.5min
15 - 20km: 5min
20 - 25km: 5min

That means I should be finishing at 2:19. I would be keeping a close watch on my pace for each km. Trying to keep as close to the pace as possible. Every 30 mins there will be a 1 min walk break.

The race was supposed to start at 1620Hr. There were 3 waves at an interval of 10mins. When we arrived, we were too late for the first wave. We were ready to start at the second wave. However, we were standing at a distance behind the starting line. So the organisers closes the second wave before we could cross it. In the end, the remaining runners all started at wave 3 at 1640Hr.




1km: 00:05:49

When we started, everybody else seems like going forward very fast. We had to constantly monitor our pace to prevent us from increasing our pace too early. Things were going on fine.

2km: 00:05:58

I was running together with Joanne when she complained she has some breathing difficulty. She told me to move off first.

3km: 00:06:08

4km: 00:05:59

I saw Jacqueline among the runners going in the opposite direction. She seems to be smiling as she was running.

5km: 00:05:58
Time: 00:29:47

Everything seems fine at this moment.

6km: 00:05:57

We reached the U turn point near Fort Road.

7km: 00:05:33

I saw Joanne on the opposite side running towards the U turn point. She seems to be doing fine now.

8km: 00:05:35



9km: 00:05:32

10km: 00:05:32
Time: 00:57:52

Since the run was held at ECP, the route was familiar to all runners who ran there regularly. Along the route, we passed by the BBQ pits where families had began to start their feast and BBQ-ing. The smell of the food was alluring.

11km: 00:05:52

12km: 00:05:33

At this point onwards, I was supposed to keep at 5.30 pace. But I could not keep up. Each km was late by a few seconds. Went passed the start point going towards NSRCC.

13km: 00:05:36

14km: 00:05:38

We passed by National Sailing Center.

15km: 00:05:34
Time: 01:26:24

Saw Jacqueline again as we were going in opposite directions. She seems to be in a little struggle. We waved at each other. No more strength to call out names now.

16km: 00:06:03

Reached the U turn point at NSRCC. At this point, I was supposed to be doing a 5 min pace. So I slowly paced up myself. I know I could not immediately increase my pace to 5 min and it was also very dangerous as I risk bursting off my energy if I do so. It always better to slowly ramp up to reach a certain pace.

17km: 00:05:20

18km: 00:05:20

Reached the service road. Now we have to clear the 4km loop along the service road. Think I saw a girl who looked like Seow Yen.

19km: 00:05:19

Saw NG from NB Runners.

20km: 00:05:35
Time: 01:53:38

Reached the 2nd turning point of the loop. I had already started slowing down. I could not keep up with the scheduled pace anymore.

21km: 00:05:41

22km: 00:06:04

Cut back into the ECP tracks. Pace is dropping by the moment through every step that I took.

23km: 00:05:53

24km: 00:06:19



1 more km to go. Forced myself to increase my pace.

25km: 00:05:26

Finally found myself able to increase my pace at the last stretch.



Gun Time: 2:44:39
Net Time: 2:23:45

Total Placing: 115/867
Gender Placing: 99/660
Division Placing (Male25-29): 14/130


With the finisher medal.




Had meant to use this race as a warm up for adidas Sundown Marathon next weekend. Yet, it seems I am unable to keep up with the pace I set for myself. I was wondering what's wrong with myself.

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 Race Expo

The race expo for Sundown starts today. Had heard my friends who went in the afternoon complained that the queue was very long. I had planned to go and collect my stuff after work today. I had made some mental preparation that the queue would be long. However, things were much worse than I had imagined.



When I reached there at around 1900 Hr, there were so many people around and the queue had formed into a long winding snake that went 2 full rounds around the whole of Level 3!

Seeing the long long queue and after being told by the helpers that we may need to wait for at least 2 hours, I was planning to go back and return tomorrow. At this moment somebody patted me on the back. Looking around, I saw Mel from NB. She was also here to collect her stuff for her 21km. Since there is somebody to accompany now, I decided to stick in the queue to get my stuff.


We were on the "outer" circle on the left side. There was still an inner circle (right side) which we would later move into.


The turning point for the queue. We used 1hr 10min to reach here.


Our ending point of this "race".






The end of the queue. The helpers were there to close the queue and ask people to come back another day.






Playing the "guess the number of" game.


Our queue was for the UM, FM, HM and the team / corporate 10k. This is the queue for the Women 10k.


Reaching soon.

We were in the queue for 2 hrs before we could collect our race kit.


Got this separate event tee. Its nice!

100Plus Passion Run 2010 Race Entry Pack Collection

美麗新世界

09th May 2010

is there space for the ice mocha .. ?? ..

01/10 120mm NSmen Towed Mortar Course

Today finally out pro from the mortar course. It has been a long month. We went in on 7th Apr 2010. First we learnt how to set up and operate the director. Following week, the operators came in together with the guys taking the modified mortar commander course. From then on it was every day mortar, mortar and mortar. From learning the characteristics of the 120mm mortar and the mortar bomb to the different mortar drills (stripping and assembly, action front, cease fire, camouflaging, record zero line, crash action, etc), the stores we carried out increased by the day. Not to forget the manhandling of the mortar where we had to push the mortar around, strip it, carry the parts up a slope, assemble it and push around, then push up the slope again. Thank goodness, during the 1st half break interval the weather turned to Cat 1 so the exercise was cut halfway. We also had the 2D1N summary exercise at the last week and also the mortar live firing at the end of the course.

This 4 weeks just reminds me of my NS trainee days. When I WAS fitter. However, I am sure glad that I have been running to keep fit. If not, these few weeks may have been worse.

I enlisted on Apr 1999. I was assigned to BMTC School 1, Alpha Company, Platoon 1, Section 3. We were the first batch of recruits to use the new camp facilities for the whole BMT duration as it was just completed. New big twin door cupboards, new shoe racks, KingKoil beds, everything was new. Back then, I wanted to go OCS. I also almost sign on as an army officer under the Local Study Award (LSA) scheme. The contract was placed right on front of me already. However, I did not take it up in the end as I thought this kind of life was not suitable for me. We had a 24km graduation march on the last day of our BMT just before marching into the parade square for our POP.

After a few days of block leave, we went back to receive our postings. I was posted to SISPEC. I was disappointed. We had our fair share of the horror stories of SISPEC. It was called School of Infantry Specialists but it is also called Suffer In Silence Plus Extra Confinement. We marched from our company line with our full packs and duffel bags to the parade square to be picked up by the people from SISPEC. It was a long bus journey from Changi to Pasir Lebar Camp.

The Pasir Lebar Camp at that time was still the old camp type. Double deck beds with sponge mattress, small green cupboards. Our bedsheets were those that need to tie knots at the two sides. We began the 12th Basic Section Leader Course (BSLC). I was in Delta Company, Platoon 2, Section 1. 10 weeks of training beginning with the infantry section organic weapons, namely the M203, LAW, SAW. After we passed the technical handling tests, we started with the group trainings. It was proceeded with section trainings. There was group live firing, several different section live firings. The SISPEC training made our BMT training pale in comparison. We were also taught how to navigate, set up basic signal sets and communicate with them using voice procedures. Towards the end of the course, we touched a little bit of platoon level trainings. There was also a height confidence course. We were given responsibilities and we learnt how to handle responsibilities.

Also added into our training programe every other day was physical trainings. Runs, IPPT, fast march, SOC. My physical fitness had always been poor. I kept failing my IPPT while the rest of my platoon mates were passing them. Luckily, I always manage to come back in time for SOC. Those who fail to do so had to run a 2nd round.

Training was very tough. We were toughened up. There were 2 main exercises where we went through. Nutcracker which was a 3D2N defense exercise where we had to dig individual shell scrapes and fox holes through the night. Grandslam was a 3D2N exercise at Tekong where we did section attack missions.

There was still chances for us to crossover to OCS. I was still hoping that I can make it. In the end, I did not make it. 2 of my section mates managed to cross over.

After the BSLC ended, we were given corporal ranks. We would be assigned new postings again. There were 6 companies conducting the BSLC. Some will stay back to do the Advanced Section Leader Course (ASLC) while the rest would be sent out to other formations. Life at Delta was real tough and Delta would be conducting the ASLC too together with Golf so I was hoping that I would be posted out. However, I went to ASLC and was back again at Delta Company. New trainees from other companies were also posted in. So now we have old friends, new friends and the same old environment.

ASLC training, I would say, was more fun then BSLC, though as tough. In ASLC, there was an advanced height confidence course where we did flying fox and sky ladder at Hendon Camp and repelling at the location outside Hendon. Training now focused entirely on platoon level. You ask anybody from an infantry platoon and for sure they will know what is "Gap! Gap! Gap!". There was Fighting on Fortified Objectives (FOFO) where we learnt to fight in a net work of trenches. The most fun would be Fighting in Built Up Areas (FIBUA) at the Lim Chu Kang area. There was Grandslam 2, an major platoon level exercise that included heli insertion where we had the chance to sit in a Super Puma.

The training was also 10 weeks. We were supposed to go ROC at the end for our summary exercise. However, at that time the 921 Taiwan earthquake happened. Our trip was cancelled at the last minute when we were almost done with the preparation for the trip. So everything which was supposed to be done in ROC, we did it in Singapore. For the navigation exercise, our company was split into 2 main groups of 3 - 4 men each. 1 group would start from Pasir Lebar and make their individual way to Yishun, finding the many checkpoints given to them along the way. The other main group would start from Yishun back to Pair Lebar and my group was one of them. I remembered we were dropped near Orchid Country Club.

We slowly went from Yishun to Mandai to Kranji to Lim Chu Kang and back to camp. It was a 3D2N exercise. 1 step too many, I began to feel a pain on my right foot on the 3rd day. I could not move as fast as my teammates and I was dragging them down. In the end, when we were left with a few checkpoints, they asked me to stay at a spot and wait for them to search for the checkpoints. i forgot how long I waited for them but the feeling of being left behind due to an injury was not nice. After they returned, we started to move back to camp. I remembered when we reached camp it was already past 2000Hr.

The next day, I reported sick. it was the first time I reported sick ever since I enlisted. In the past, I would endure through even when I have cough or flu. I would just drink more water then proceed with the training. In fact, I was contemplating on whether to report sick the night before or join in the final exercise 2 days later. My section mates advised me to do so as my right foot was already swollen. There was also a painful feeling when I pressed down on it.

I was given excuse lower limb and given an x ray appointment. I only joined the final exercise for the first couple of days at Lim Chu Kang and Mandai as an "enemy". When they were preparing to move to Tekong, I was sent back to camp so that I can go for my x ray appointment. The results showed that I suffered a stress fracture. A hairline crack on one of the bones on my right foot. When I showed the x ray film to the MO, he said he will put me Out of Course (OOC). I pleaded with him not to do so as I did not want all 5 months of training in SISPEC to come to waste. I almost wanted to cry at at moment. Luckily, the MO agreed not to OOC me. He just gave me excuse lower limb for 6 months.

The guys came back from Tekong about 1 week later. Now, training was almost completed. It was just left with the Skill-at-Arms competition and ridgeline live firing, both newly incorporated into our training programe. I did not take part in both due to my injury.

One of the guys told me our PC told them I was still able to pass the course even though I did not participate in the final exercise as I had already done enough. However, as I did not go for the final exercise, he could not award the Silver Bayonet* to me. The SB went to another guy in my section instead. In fact, I thought he deserved the SB much more than me. I was grateful to my PC for letting me pass.

* The best trainee of the whole cohort will receive the Golden Bayonet. A selected handful of others will receive the Silver Bayonet. This is similar to the Sword of Honour and Sword of Merit of OCS.

Now, the only thing everybody was waiting for was the POP 1 week later.


This was our BSLC platoon photo.


Our ASLC section.


The guys at the start of the Skill-at-Arms competition.


Resting in our bunk during lunch time for the POP rehearsal. Notice the tan lines on our arms and foreheads.


Our section doing dekitting the night before with our section instructor. All of us were sunburnt on our arms and face and had dried and cracked lips due to the parade rehearsals.


There was no time for photo taking during the duration of the ASLC. This was the only platoon photo I had taken before our POP.


Our section.

Those were my NSF trainee days.



For the mortar course, I received the best trainee award. No prize money thou. Just a medal. Its actually nothing much to boost about. No pay increment too.