#jpmcc

Corporate Challenge 3.5mi finished officially in 20:45 for 123rd place. A touch slower than I thought I could do, but it was a warm 75F at gun time, which is the hottest weather I’ve run in so far this year. The awful course also has three hairpin turns in it, which just kills your momentum.

My first experience at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge was in 2009 where I was a member of Team Lucasfilms in San Francisco. After a 10-year hiatus, I am finally offered the chance to participate in the 16th edition of the Corporate Challenge as part of Team Microsoft in Singapore.

After weathering the rain and thunder that threatened to dampen the festivities, the event organizers were finally given the approval from the authorities to proceed with the run. With over 12,000 runners competing in the 5.6KM challenge, tensions were high and everyone was eager to reach the starting line to begin their battle towards the top of the leader board.

Once the air horn was activated, I just ran as fast as I could, for as long as I could, while navigating through the sea of people like a pinball zigzagging through a machine filled with obstacles and pitfalls. Before I knew it, I was already at the finishing line, trying to catch my breath and a glimpse of my fellow team members.

The event organizers were prompt in announcing the race results and I am pleased to report that I achieved a new personal best of 35.21 minutes for the 5.6KM race with a pace of 6.17 min/km, shaving over 50% off my timing set in 2009. This result has certainly motivated me to try to improve myself in the next edition.