Setia Eco Half Marathon Race kit

I arrived about 10.30 a.m. this morning to collect my race kit at Setia Alam Welcome Centre, not many peeps around, maybe it’s still early or maybe most of the peeps are in Singapore for the Sundown Marathon.

I was a bit annoyed with the race kit collection system organised by Marathon Shop peeps, first you need to show your email print out to a special counter where they ask your to find your name in the list, when you found your name they ask you for your ascending number in the list. Then they will give you a card with another number which comprises your receipt, reporting card and vest + bib collection. You going to have a problem if you can’t find your name. The process was smooth after the first counter, when you have this card you can collect your bib (two bibs for each runner, front and back), vest and bag. By the way, the vest is based on first come and first serve basis, if come late to collect your race kit, the NB vest might be out of stock.

A few runners in front of me was also collecting race kits for their friends, which was ok but they were taking too much time in locating their friends names. This is dumb system! i’ll tell you that, why don’t the organiser uses the system like the previous NB 15km, which was superb. Maybe we can give a little face to the organizer – Marathon Shop as it is their first running gig, but we expect an improvement after this, after all it’s not free..

One thing is missing…important thing!

TIMING CHIP..there’s no timing chip for this event.

  Bib collection counter – according to categories

Sample of the running vest – Men in blue, Women in orange and green for 10km and 4 km categories. 

Vest collection counter

Free bag

Vest – front

 
Vest – back (runners are given two bibs each)

Receipt and reporting card for the race

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).

LSD@Putrajaya

I was informed earlier that there will be a simulation of Sundown Marathon on Saturday night organized by the usual suspects of Running Bloggers(RB). Although i’m not taking part in Sundown, i could use the LSD as part of my mileage towards preparation of SCKLM. Ijam did convincing marketing job in promoting this running-get-together through his messages left in all blogroll listed in his’ blog…good job Ijam..he he

Group photo before the run (Photo taken from Haza’s FB)

I arrived at the Palace of Justice just before 9.00 p.m. and soon after Yimster arrived, followed by others Running Bloggers Diket, Nik, Shuk, Zaki111, Ian, Ziff, Syed, Khairul Anuar, Sharafali, Che “Glowie” and others (i might forgot some of them). There’s about 14 runners running their LSD that night, i met most of the RB in the flesh for the 1st time that nite, except for Ijam, Zaki111, Che and Yimster. Kash and her husband arrived later followed by Haza all the way from Kelang, but Haza was there NOT to run but came to support bunch of us running our LSD – well the camaraderie between us runners is something special if not magical.

Photo taken from Ijam’s blog 

After the “official ceremony” of taking group photos, the LSD was off and running at around 9.15 p.m. lead by Kash. I’m at the back of group with Che, Ziff, Ijam and Zaki111, the others was in front doing much faster pace than us. The route of the LSD is about 10 km or 11 km, starting point from PoJ towards the Putrajaya Mosque and then reroute back towards the PICC. Although it rains earlier in the afternoon, the Putrajaya weather still humid when we started running, after a while we’ll drenched in sweats. Most of the guys did 20 km to 30 km LSD that night, Che did 1 loop (10 km) and i ran about 15 km of Putrajaya, i just started recovering from injury and this my 1st week training and i do not intend to push too much too soon. It’s a nightmares having injuries and miss out of all the fun running!

The rest of runners stopped after 1 loop for toilet and drinks break, but i continued on completing half of remainder loop. As i about to complete my run, i ran into the rest of the runners starting their second loops. Most of them still in jovial mood running, that’s the difference between running solo and running in support group. I thought i saw Shah somewhere in the group, he must came later on.

I had few minutes after the run talking to Frank, he’s doing another Ultra in Sundown. He shared some running and shoes tips with me, thank you Frank and best of luck in Sundown. Ziff completed his run soon after Frank continued another loop, he told it’s pretty fast for an LSD and he even made a PB in his pace that night…he he. Congrats Ziff! I had to leave early for early morning drive to the north, but i had great fun running with these beautiful peeps, lets do it again soon and how about suggestion of pot luck LSD – everyone brings fruits, waters, curry puff etc..

New Balance Pacesetters 15km Run – Race kit

The venue for this race kit collection is at New Balance concept store in Sunway Pyramid, a bit peculiar place for a race kit collection which normally took place at big open space or big hall.

I arrived at the venue around 10.45 a.m., which is a bit early as the instruction in the email stated that the counter will only open at 11.00 a.m. But, when i walked into the store there’s already few people queuing up collecting their race kits – i must say Pacesetter really improve this time.

Running vest for the event with different sizes were displayed near the entrance of the store, runners can take closer look at the sizes before deciding on the suitable ones. I must say the vest sizes were a bit bigger than i expected, even the “S” size looked big. I decided on “S” size although this is a strange choice for me as i normally wear “L” size. Later i tried the vest and found out that it fit like “body fit”, not too small or too tight, just nice. The “M” size should be looser fit vest for me.

I took a queue after that and presented my email printout of the “registration confirmation slip” to the Pacesetters volunteer and got my race kit smooth and easy – no drama at all like the previous “ENR” race collection fiasco.

The race kit consist of

1. Personalised bib with the No. A1002 and my name written at the bottom of the number. Very nice bib, exactly like the ENR bib package. (Yimster were given bib No. A 1001 – the very first runners to register for the Men Open category).

2. ChronoTrack D-Tag timing chip exactly the same like ENR 2010. Good choice for the timing chip, i really dislike the championship chip used by Pacesetter in last year Malakoff 12km race (my timing was not registered into the final list of finishers thus deprived me of the Malakoff certificate – with photo and timing).

3. Green NB vest for men

It’s a bit expensive paying RM40 for 15km race, but overall i’m happy with race kit and can’t wait to see what the medal look like.

Ok peeps remember the venue have been changed from Tapak A, Lake Garden to Padang Merbuk. Hope to see most of you there :-)