Subjectif…

After all the tedious and gruelling running sessions during PE for the past few weeks, we finally ran the actual cross-country yesterday! It started off with victorians coming to school in the usual yellow PE shirts and the muti-coloured house shirts. After the usual morning assembly, we started doing some stretches in the hall for about 5 minutes before all the JC and IP girls were asked to start walking to ECP. However we girls being girls were taking our own sweet time of going to the washroom to tidy our hair and ended up being shouted at before scurrying to catch up with those at the front. >.<.

The plan for the cross-country was that all of the girls would run the 3.2km route first followed by the boys running their 4.8km route. Those on long term MCs and those who were not feeling well enough to run acted as officials who stood by the sides of the foot-path at regular intervals to ensure that we don’t faint or in the case that we do, call medical over. Actually I think that they were there to stop us from cheating and taking short-cuts. As we ran (or walked), we frequently found outselves blocked by those in the front who started to slow down as there were simply too many people attempting the cross-country at the same time. Many of us ended up having to run in the sand around the foot-path so as to overtake those in the front.

Beads of perspiration, painful stitches, muscle cramps and aching feet were felt unaminously among all the girls. Short, gasping pants were heard around you especially around the half-way mark where we were running up a slope with the trees flanking the path. As we reached the bridge that connected VJC with ECP, many slowed to a walk as it was absolutely exhausting to run on the steep side of the bridge. The public was rather annoyed as they were trying to cross the bridge with their bicycles or pets while victorians were flooding the bridge, making crossing a slow and irritable task as victorians dodged them.

Finally we were on the last stretch of road leading back to school. With adrenaline and exhaustion pumping through our veins, many quickened their pace as salvation was near. When we entered the gate, we sprinted towards the finishing line at a dead run. Hearts hammering, we skidded to a stop as we queued to collect our position cards. Drenched with sweat, victorians headed towards the vendor that was giving out free cups of isotonic 7-UP which was generously provided by the school.

After the girls had their fill of refreshments, they proceeded to register their positions at the house tables/ cca tables and dropped their cards into the lucky draw box whereas those who were faster, was at the finishing line cheering for the boys. When all victorians have reported back to school, we proceeded to have the prize giving ceremony where fleet-footed top 20 victorians from each category will be rewarded for their agility and endurance. Interspersed between the prize-giving was the lucky draw where “lucky” students won normal prizes such as shoe-bags and peculiar prizes such as black fungus and abalone that seems as if they came out from a CNY gift hamper.

As the event drew to a close, the red shirts came out and led us in the mass dances and then we dispersed to have class lunches and og outings. As a JC1, this is my first time participating in VJC’s cross-country and I enjoyed it pretty much, the only suggestion I have is that next year maybe we can split up into JC1s, JC2s, and IPs so that we are not as crammed.

Cheers everyone, enjoy your weekend