PJ Half Marathon 2011

This was my 10th HM, wow how time flies when you having fun running.

With the limited medals offered (only 200 – Men Open Category), i paid more attention on how to strategize for this race.

My target pace was like this:-

5km = 25 mins, 10km = 50 mins, 15km = 1:20 mins, 20km = 1:50 mins, 21km = sub 2

This mean that i need to focus, start strong and run really fast. Plus, i need to be there in the front of the pen when race starts.

As the race site, Stadium Kelana Jaya was very near to my house, i decided to jogged and warm up 2km to the start line.

The PJ Half have been around since ages and it’s an iconic race to say the least, finally i had the chance to run this event.

As i stand there at the start line, i know this would be a challenging race, as who’s who in our running community were there that morning challenging for the limited medals.

At 6:30 am, the HM runners were gun off by the race officials. I think i was going a bit faster at that early stage, it was easier to run as there were less runners up front. Reached 5km – the Sponging Station 1 after the u-turn at the Motorola Bridge about 25 minutes, i was on track. Yim came and passed me soon after that, damn i could not run fast enough before the Sarongman came. I tried to follow Yim’s pace, but the inclines going towards the Subang Airport route killed my ambition.

As i carried a small bottle of 100Plus, i did not need to stop at the Water Stations, saved me few precious minutes. Around 8km, i noticed my pace was getting slower and many runners came and overtook me, the legs wasn’t working as normal. I was looking out for the 10km mark which stationed the 2nd Sponge as a signal for me to consume my PowerGel.

I was taking my walk break while consuming the PowerGel, when all of the sudden Jamie, Frank and Alex ExtraMiler came passed me by like a flash.

Finally, i got my 2nd wind at around 13km, just before the U-turn at the Subang Airport. I was back running my normal pace, but it’s getting hotter now with Sun up in the sky. Unfortunately, that pace didn’t last long as i reached the inclines at Ara Damansara, i was back fighting the small inclines – without success!

After the final Sponging Station at 18km, i was running back towards the stadium. Ijam arrived soon after and we paced together towards the finish line. Entering the stadium was marvellous to me, it’s like a grand finishing – just like Marathon event in the Olympic.

Mission accomplished, a sub-2 finishing and limited medal secured. But, i was somewhat disappointed that the medal was not the same quality as the previous event. The limited medal before this was from Selangor Pewter with finishing position inscribed onto it.

Position: 132/330; Timing: 1:59:00, Men Open.

The final medal at position 200 was claimed by runner with the time of 2:07 ; that’s how tough Men Category were.

On the other hand, a bit analysis on Men Veteran Category. You need at least to finish under 2:18 to secure the limited medals. Oh well, that’s good news for me next year.