SCKLM weekend

Le Sabuns Ultra Breakfast Run @ KLCC Park. “The Sarong Run”.

I started the weekend with our le Sabuns Ultra Breakfast run at KLCC Park on Saturday morning. Normally, we hold our monthly LSD at PoJ, Putrajaya. Since it’s the week of KL Marathon, we decided for a fun run in Sarong around KLCC Park.

About 20 runners turn up for the breakfast run, it’s a warm up for the Marathon the next day (Sunday). After the run, Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik was served. Thank you Team PaCat for sponsoring the food and other runners that brought their pot luck “kueh” and bread/bun.

It was so much fun that we decided to do this again in near future. Please join us next time.

SCKLM 2013

The race started at 4:28 am, according to my GPS watch. According to the official stats, we had the biggest runners registered – 33,630 with 3,207 running the full marathon distance. I remembered few year back, to get 1,000 runners for FM is quite difficult. I guess it’s running boom time here in Malaysia.

I started the race with the idea of running a happy pace, i haven’t ran for about 2 weeks – since Sundown Ultra 100km. I was giving my knee a break, hopefully after 2 weeks the knee would be better.

SCKLM is the annual event where you want to be, this is where you meet all your friends in the local running circle. It’s just like a school reunion, just happy faces before the painful but enjoyable 42km run.

The route was the same as last year, weather that morning was nice – but last year was better with the drizzling rain.

Welcoming friends from Singapore a day before the race – the Freedom freaks

I started the run with Cikgu Syed it’s kind of SDU reunion. There were many runners, i just ran and maintained my slow pace at this beginning of the race. I met many runner friends that i haven’t met along the way, it’s kinda nice race.

After 5km i felt that my legs was getting warmer and decided to push a bit faster, met Shanaz the 4:30 pacer and Nik around Sg. Besi Highway just beside the Sg. Besi Airport. These pacers looked strong at 7km.

Clocked my 10km in decent time 58:21 mins, running on Jalan Istana towards Dewan Bahasa, suddenly pacer 4:00 led by Richard Tang passed me. I decided to try and hang with this group for a while, i’m sure i couldn’t maintained sub-4 pace with my pathetic training mileage recently. Finally after about 2km, i had enough. I saw 12km WS and gave myself a lame excuse that i need to pee and let the sub-4 ballon go.

After that quick stop, i felt much better running at my own pace. I saw Frank around Jalan Loke Yew, about 14km. I wasn’t looking too good, he replied when i asked that he had side stitch. I completed 15km in 1:29 hours, not too shabby i said to myself. That’s the last time i felt good running SCKLM.

After that 15km, my knee pains come back to haunt me. I did a lot of walking and jogging after that. At some point, i was thinking of giving up and get a taxi and go home. But i just braved the pains, gritted my teeth and just shuffling forward.

I absolutely love this photo of me running beside KLCC Tower. Thanks to the photographer.

I completed 20km in 2:06 hours before turning into Jalan Bukit Bintang. All of a sudden while pacing Carol, someone shouted at me and asked  “is this your second loop?” I wonder who’s the funny guy, cracking joke this early morning?

I turned to the voice and was taken aback,  i’m staring at a black figure – it was Batman!

It was actually Ben Swee dressed in his Batman costume. He overtook us so very easily, maybe he was flying as my eyes were deceiving me. The way he ran was so effortless, one of this days i gonna hop on a Bus and attend one of his clinic in SG, so i would learn how to run like a Batman lol.

It’s was bright day when i reached Jalan Tun Razak, still there are so many FM runners around me. Now i can see the ugly side of Malaysian, the impatience motorist. Come on it’s Sunday, stay home and sleep it in. Announcement of road closure for SCKLM has been in the media these past month. I long for the days when SCKLM will be on par with Berlin or Tokyo Marathon, where crowds gathers to cheer runners not the opposite as we have today. Long way to go, keep on dreaming brother. Completed my 25km here in 2:32 hours.

My knees was killing me, so stopped at every WS and asked the medic to spray my knees. It helps a bit to keep the pains at bay. I completed my 30km at Jalan Ipoh in 3:04 hours, i was thinking to myself that after this it would Jalan Kuching before arriving at the FMV WS.  Thinking about that excited me and made me run a bit faster.

Jeff and I around 33km – Jalan Kuching (Photo: Siew Chee Meng)

Thankfully i met Jeff Ooi dressed in bath rope around KM33, so pace with him. I said to Jeff “are you running from home eh?”, which replied with small laughter. He was running in costumes, so this year he decided on running with a bathrope. Great to have these costumes runners, at least they don;t take themselves running marathon so seriously and competitively. I said to Jeff that there were many fast runners that day, we could see a lot of runners in front of us, with this pace they would finish within sub 4:30 hours. Which is good for the sport, more people taking up healthy life style and started running.

My pains and knees are now numb, i just pushed that pains at the back of my mind – all the way back. SCKLM was not only my trainings on mileage but mental training as well. Good for upcoming Ultra race. I completed my 35km at Jalan Kuching with 3:38 hours timing.

It was such a joy arriving at FMV WS, i haven’t seen KJ for quite some time since RJM this year. This is the FACE of passion, KJ took over from where Kedai Runcit Kash was used to be. Thanks KJ and FMV, you influenced and inspired many runners – i know, i am one of them. I know for  fact that you sell your soul just to be able to run a marathon again, but god has plan for each one of us. Your back injury robbed you from the sport you loves but your passion that keep us going the distance. Everytime i ran SCKLM, i looked forward to that special Kedai Runcit at KM 37. See you next year KJ, same place same time – maybe i might push a stroller with my kids in it just to make it a bit challenging.

All smiles before pit stop at Kedai Runcit FMV

Jalan Tunku was my training ground before i moved to new place last year, i really missed it and i know the route like the back of my hand. So mentally it help in knowing where the inclines and the downhill areas. I hit 40km in 4:10 hours after Bank Negara and just before entering the roundabout nearing Dataran Merdeka. I could hear noises, as soon as i saw the group on 10km runners in front me – i said shit! There will be a lot zig zagging running in front of me – dang!

The final 2km i pushed a bit as i wanted to finish this 26th Marathon a.s.a.p, my knees were killing me and i was a bit hungry. My apologies if i bumped to some of you 10km runners, you guys were everywhere on street. I crossed the finish line in 4:23:07 (official time), surprisingly 6 minutes faster than last year.

I could say i PBed my SCKLM, but last year i felt stronger and easier. This year i felt crappy all the way after 15km, well a marathon finish is still finish. Rank 291 out 3,207 runners aren’t that bad, i gladly take it. I’m grateful to be given this chance of life to pursue my passion and inspires other to follow suit.

Congrats to all finisher regardless of categories – but especially to the first time Marathoner, FMV no more. I also would like to extend my congratulations to friends taking part at 40th Berlin Marathon, you lucky runners ran and witnessed a new Marathon world record broken there.

Pro:

• More runners taking up the challenge and run the Full Distance - 3,207 runners.
• More and frequent Water Stations, thumbs up!

Con:

• Kuala Lumpur Motorist! Please grow up.
• Finisher Tee could be more higher quality (hint: SCMS still the best medal and finisher tee – quality wise)