NB Pacesetters 15km 2010

This event was my very 1st 15km race ever and i wasn’t looking for anything more than completing the race with decent timing. I woke at around 5:30 a.m. and after my subuh prayer and lite breakfast off i went with my car. I looked at the time it showed 6:10 am, damn i gonna be late, i had no other choice than to put the pedal to the metal this early hour, thankfully there’s less car on Sunday morning. I reached Bt. Aman car park and found out its full to the max, i had no other choice than to park further down at Lake Garden car park.

I jogged all the way to Padang Merbok and bum into Haza and Tey along the path to the event venue. After exchanging the normal pleasantries, i made my way to the baggage tent and deposit my bag pack. I found the other half of Team Kiasu stretching and chatting with someone at the other end, he was wearing customised white shirt in support of Project 84 (creating awareness for autism) by Kash. I left Yim with his friend as i went looking for loos to empty my bladder. At 7 am the women category was off and running, the men category started at 7:15 am, i found Zaki with KA and some Chap Ayam runners at the starting line. Zaki was very stylish that morning, wearing customised Oakley sunglasses..phewitt.. We’re at the back the pack like always, i haven’t seen any other RBUs around, maybe just like Yim they at the front group waiting for flag off. Then about 7:15 am, we’re off and running (of course..he he), Zaki asked me to be their pacer for the day, no biggie guys, just follow my lead.

The kiasu team – A1001 and A1002 (Photo - Yim)

The first few kilometres started fine with me until we reached the wretched HILLS..it took a lot my energy there, the first few hill was ok but the hills after halfway mark ended up with me walking..sucks big time there! After about 7-8 kilometres i had to stop and literally walk coz i could not breathe, i walk and took a long and long breathe of air before feeling okay to continue on. Well i need to buy one those heart monitor thiggy one of these days. I saw Tey and Haza few kilometres after starting line taking photos of our moments of misery..he he. After that i couldn’t spot them anywhere during the race, well almost couldn’t spot them…after the water station and behind some really thick bushes at the side of the road, i noticed a camera lens..too late, we’re ambushed by Haza..nice spot to camouflage Haza, you’re getting good in hiding the camera..he he and thanks for the photos.

Ambushed by Haza

Few kilometres during the race, i saw this tall veteran male mat salleh wearing green shirt and long white socks running in front of me, so decided to make him my pacer for the day. He wasn’t running fast, but he was steady in his pace, so during the race i overtake him few times and later especially after the hills i found out he was running in front of me, i have no idea when did he overtook me – maybe during my walking breaks at hills or water stations. Still near the end he was leading in front me and gaps was getting longer about 200-300 meters and i haven’t seen Zaki or KA anywhere, maybe they’ll passed me a while back during the Syaitoon hills (i really hate hills). My race was really starting 1.5km before the end, after the hills it was only a flat route, and i told myself i really wanna chase this lanky mat salleh and made my day, i was feelin great, heartbeat ok! breathing ok!

So off i went for power finish, i took longer stride and faster stride, it was near the National Monument and i can still see my pacer about 60 meters in front of me, during this time i overtook more runners slowing down, i reached the junction into Padang Merbok and towards finish line, my pacer was about 20-30 meters in front and i could hear music getting louder and louder, i up the tempo and psyche myself to run faster, during which i sort of like screaming like a mad man..sorry peeps if you were running during that time and vicinity..he he. Finally, i managed to overtake him before the turn to right for the finish line, i could hear the crowd applauding loudly for us runners around the finish line, one the front runners decided to race with me towards the finish line..good i said power finish, i guess i managed to overtook about 20-30 runners during those last 1.5 kilometres.

I met Syed right after i crossed the finish line, i haven’t met him before this. (only in cyber world). Thanks bro for saying hi to me, coz you looked different from photos in blog/FB. Later i met Ijam with his missus near the big NB 15km billboard, i asked about the rest of the RBUs, he haven’t seen most of them especially Zaki and KA. After collecting my medals and took my cold iced Milo i waited near the finish line and after drank my second cup of Milo i finally noticed Zaki and KA arriving at the finish line. I went over to see them, but only met with KA, Zaki was gone somewhere in the vacinity. I searched for the rest of RBUs, no Yim in sight and the others. I made new friend while queuing for my 2nd round of Milo, found out that the guy just starting running this year, i encouraged him to enter more races in the future.

Unofficial results are out at Myraceonline. Runners you could check your result there. I completed the race with the timing of 1:40:49, nothing to shout about but it’s good to be back running races..yay.

Out of breathe – hence the walking break. Favourite spots – waters stations and hills.
Photo courtesy of Haza.

 With Ijam. Thanks bro for taking my photos

Unique finisher medal NB15km 2010

Stats for NB Pacesetters 15 km 2010 (Unofficially results)

Category Men Open

Time : 1:40:49

Splits : 47:33:52

Position: 306/711 (Category), 503/1077 (Gender-Male), 592/1502 (Overall).