Taiping Heritage Half Marathon 2011 (8th HM)

 

This event was my second Taiping Run after last year Raya Run coincidently on the same date (NineEleven – 9th Sept).

The RBU contingent that made the road trip to Taiping comprised of Yim, Deo, CatMan, Izuan & yours truly.

The race kit collection was smooth eventhough some of the RBU members forgot to bring their printout confirmation paper, no biggie – just show them MyKad, check through their computer and it’s all done under 10 minutes. After that it’s Makanthon session through out the day and night. After lunch with Chicken Chop, we decided to add Pasembur special and Cendol Kacang to our bellies. We ended our so called carboload with Raya Dinner hosted by our very own celebrity chef – Ian. Thanks Ian for your hospitality and delicious Mee Kari – terbaek di Kamunting!

Lights off at 1130 pm for me, while CatMan and Izuan finally slept at 1 am, god knows what they’re up to in the wee hours of the night/morning…. Woke up around 4:45 am and it’s raining..oh oh

Found out that Yim already woken up much early and we had to wait for CatMan & Izuan before leaving Bukit Merah Laketown around 5:30 am, we arrived at race site few minutes after 6:00 am and it’s still raining :(

At 6:15 sharp the HM runners were flagged off, met Dr Julin and Dr Wan while queuing for the mobile toilet. There were many familiar faces at the starting line, Chap Ayam Runners, KC, Ian and others.

When i started the race i did not even have time to stretched, so i decided to take it slow and easy. I started with CatMan and soon after caught glimpse of Yim and Izuan – Yim was wearing Baju Melayu complete with Sampin and Songkok – matched the Raya mood festival.

I started running with them before Yim blasted off into the morning darkness, decided not to follow Yim turbo speed and paced with Izuan through out the race. It was cold and wet race that morning!

The legs felt heavy and i just ran my comfortable pace (happy pace), i just considered this just another LSD towards TNF next month. In addition, i just ran a HM distance LSD at FRIM last Friday and on Saturday driving the RBU contingent to Taiping, i don’t think i have enough rest to recovered to pushed for a PB.

Around 4 km after the last hill going out of the Taiping Lake, we decided to pace these group of runners in front us. My legs are now warms up to run my usual pace and it was around 10km when i decided to let go these runners coz they’re getting faster and my lungs couldn’t keep up with their pace. As Izuan was wearing Garmin GPS watch, i inquired about our pace – it was 5:30! damn no wonder i’m having problem following these fast runners pace.

I could see that Izuan was struggling a bit during the run, might be the lack of training mileage but he made it up by his youth endurance. We decided after taking our Power Gels to pace and then overtake slower runners in front of us. All these while running we’re looking for Deo, Izuan stated that he might be in the front group chasing Yim or the Kenyan. It was so unlike him to start fast in any race, he normally a slow starter before warming up his turbo Cheetah’s engine.

After 12 km, we made a U-turn and found out that there were many runners already in front of the pack – saw Edan, Yim and others, but no Deo! Where the hell is this guy? I took a b anana from a water station after u-turn and could see other runners from the other side, first it was KC – wow he’s getting faster nowadays, then CatMan pacing with Luvis, after that Doc Julin with Doc Wan, and then…Deo! What??

Both of us was surprised to see him back there – he must have some sort problems or took some toilet breaks. But he was getting faster, oh no..now i remembered Bidor when the Cheetah started his turbo engine after 10km. We guess it’s a matter of time when the Cheetah will eventually overtook us.

We kept on running, pacing and overtaking other runners in front of us, i didn’t need to stop at the WS as i was carrying a small bottle of 100plus and the rainy conditions did not forced us to consume unnecessary hydration. BTW the WS was applenty and they’re giving bottled mineral water instead of cups.

Running near Kamunting around 18km, we finally catch up with Ian, he was running alone and getting slower. We urged him to join pacing with us as we tried to break the sub-2 barrier.

I kept on watching my watch as we getting nearer to finish line, it was now or never! I predicted it’s going to be a close call, this is the first time i totally ignored posing for the cameraman as i was focusing to complete this run under 2 hours. As we came about 200 meters to the finish line, there were many short distance runners walking and jogging slowly which impeded my final push to finish line. I even had to shouted to them to make way for me as i was frantically running and watching my watch as the time fly towards the end of 2 hours.

It was close…damn freakin close! We all made it, Izuan first before yours truly and Ian followed close behind. I completed in 1:59:40 at 61 position (Men Open).

Finally after 8 Half Marathon i made it under sub-2 timing. The best thing is that it’s unexpected sub-2 PB as i was lacking proper training and abandoned my core trainings since Sundown Ultramarathon. The other runners came few minutes after that and i’m happy to report that the RBU contingent went back happy with their limited medals, none left without a medal around their neck.

The medal is heavy and beautiful, it’s a quality medal from Malaysian standard.

The organisation of this race is sufficiently good, congratulation to Kevin Ooi in promoting this race.

I will be here next year for the run and the Makanthon. Sorry to Doc Julin & Doc Wan as we had to postponed our Raya visit to your house – please blamed it on the iPad lucky draw :p

We went celebrating our run afterwards at Mak Jah’s Mee Udang at Kuala Sepetang…Keless kau Jah…