Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2010

It’s my 4th HM and i felt calm and collected, not even a flicker of nervousness. I asked myself the night before the race, whassup dude? Still no answer until morning. I tried to sleep early but only managed to shut the eyes at around 10 pm and i sacrificed my world cup games for the early wake up at 3:15 am.

After quick shower and a bit of breakfast, the missus and i drove towards Padang Merbok at around 4 am. SCKLM is my missus maiden race – 10 km, she was not an athlete nor a runner before this. I just wanted to share and expose her to another world beyond the this one – the runners world. We arrived at Padang Merbok around 4:30 am and managed to park in front of the loo. Decided to empty our bladder first before walking towards Dataran Merdeka, met Sofian the Triathelete at the parking, exchanging hellos and good lucks, never met him before but recognised from following his blog. Everyone seems smaller in real life, except for Amsyah..he he. He’s bigger and taller in real life compare to his photos in the blog :)

Its starting to drizzle during our walks towards Dataran Merdeka, i quickly try to locate the surau and found it near the Selangor Club, but it’s occupied by runners sheltering from the rains. We rendezvous with fellow virgin runners there, my friends Zaidi and Farah (husband and wife tag team). They will run 10 km race with my missus. We then quickly located another surau near the food court behind the church, but somebody was sleeping in it. We then decided to perform our subuh prayers at nearby Jamek Mosque at 5:43 am.

I met Ijam at the VIP tent as the Full Marathon event about to start at 5:00 am, we cheered as the FM runner flagged off – to my amazement, there were thousands of them. It was raining quite heavily by then, i knew i’m gonna like this race, it was a good weather for me as i like to run in the rains. Ijam was running with a friend, who is doing her maiden HM race. Good luck Ijam, see you on the road dude.

With Ijam and Zaidi (virgin 10km runner)

I had a can of Red Bull and a banana prior the race and quickly made my way towards starting line after my subuh prayer, but then i had to visit the loo again. By this time, the line for the porta-loo was long, and the emcee started counting from 10 seconds for the start of the Half Marathon race, fortunately for me the other runners gave me their permission to cut their queue, thanks guy you’re amazing! I sprinted towards the crowd of runners after exiting the loo and found myself at the back of the pack as usual, the crowd was moving very very slow towards the starting line, after about 4 minutes i reached the gantry and the timing chip was activated, lost 4 minutes here. In the early few kilometres i had to zig zag around the runners to maintain my pace, i tried not to go to fast too soon, but it’s not an easy task, when you running with large crowds, you tend to pace faster than your usual. Met fellow FB friend – Ayob and fellow RBU Ilyana at roundabout near Masjid Negara KTM, said hello and maintained my pace.

By kilometre 5 (Jalan Syed Putra), the crowds was beginning to get smaller and it was easier to run without bumping into someone and slowing your pace. I had walk breaks at every stations, i am a stern believer in properly hydrating your body during the race. I bumped onto the Queen of FMV - June Malik after the water station at KM 14 (FM)/ 8.5 (HM) – Jalan Loke Yew. I could not missed her with the special FMV vest and she was walking, decided to cheer her up a bit by say hello and giving high five! After that while running i kept on thinking about her and i do hope she completes this Marathon, it meant so much to us runners especially the RBUs, that she and the rest of the FMV completed this race.  I had my banana break at WC KM 10 (HM)/KM 15 (FM).

I met my idol near the exit of Jalan Cheras at KM16 (FM)/KM 11(HM), i ran besides her and said hello, at first she didn’t heard me (must be engrossed with the Bieber songs..he he), then she responded and commanded me to do a PB..wahh i really doubt it this time as my feet felt heavy after KM 10, i wanna enjoyed this run and just maintained my pace, sub 2:30 for me will be just dandy, PB will be another time and i had registered lotsa races till the end of the year. I felt under powered this time around and soon after decided to take power gel at KM 12, i felt a little bloated as i took one too many cups at the WSs. I met Dett at KM 14 or rather Dett overtook me with his new striking red vest at Jalan Tun Razak, we chatted a little and told me that he met Ijam at the back. I think i missed  Ijam and Che completely during this race. Entering Bukit Bintang area was interesting, they were many cheering squads located here, i think most of the runners spirits were uplifted by the cheerings, thanks guys. I met another FMV near Pavilion, i think it was Az Hana, seems she was struggling and then i sneaked besides her and start cheering and clapping “FMV, FMV, FMV!”. She smiled and looked a little bit refresh, i do hope she made it to the finish line.

I am gonna remember this race for a very long time, i ran past lotsa iconic KL buildings structure during the run. Passing Petronas Towers made me thinking that i would  be nuts to run through these buildings in the past, normally i just drove to these places. It’s unimaginable that i could run the distances, in my younger days (young and sengkek days), i walks from Jalan TAR to Bukit Bintang, that was considered far by my standard back then.

I was near Kg. Bahru at Jalan Sultan ismail when all of the sudden Deo came and overtook me, man he had lotsa energy, he said hello and sped off, i cheered him on to run faster. I can imagine he’s in a hurry to loose his HM virginity..he he. You did a great job deo in your first HM, a potential sub 2 runners in the future. After deo, i noticed Ketua Reban sped past me. Am i getting slow or the rest of runners getting faster? i pick up my tempo and pace a little after that when we turned into Jalan TAR/Maju junction for the final 1 km. Near Pertama complex the 10km runners joined us and all of the sudden the road became crowded again, ohh no! i had to zig zag again to maintained my diminishing pace, some of the 10km runners were walking towards the end which posed a challenge to other runners trying to PBed their own records.

Running besides “the second wind guy”. Photo taken from Ijam.

Nearer the finish i noticed a guy struggling to maintained his run, i ran besides him and started to cheer him. “Come on man, you can do this, it almost finish”, i said. Then all of the sudden he somehow had a second wind and pushed his pace and left me behind, even i could not catch him now..he he. Arriving at the finish line at 8:32 am, i cannot believed my eyes – 2:17 timing, the digital board for HM stated, i felt my run was shitty and could do much better, but despite that it was really a good run. A check on the official timing confirms it.

According to Gun Time 2:17:47 was 2 minutes off from my PB recorded at Setia Eco, but if i considered the Net Time 2:14:37, i do have a new PB.

What do you think?

PB or not a PB?

In most races, Gun Time is considered the official time, Net Time is just for our record only.

Missus, Farah and Zaidi completed their 10km run with delight and were excited getting their 1st shiny medals. I was informed that a young runner in the 10km category collapsed and died upon arriving at the Hospital, it’s a tragic news indeed. My from point of view, the SCKLM 2010 was a success, despite the bib and baggage deposits issues, overall it’s a good event, water was sufficient and the volunteers was commendable for their job well done.

I left early and didn’t managed to see the rest of the RBUs and FMVs completing their races, managed to waved at Amsyah from a far and met Deo while waiting to collect my deposited bags. My feet was in pains right after the race, and i was crab walking all the way to Padang Merbok to collect my car. Upon arriving at home, i realised that i forgot to put the heel seats in my running shoes! No wonder i was in pains.

After lunch and few hours sleeps, i woke up fresh in the afternoon and realised the heel pains was gone, that was fast recovery. Normally it took one or two days for me to recover. I did not have crab walking anymore, felt the feet are much more better than before the injury as though i am walking free of injury. Seremban Half here i come, lets try for a PB this time :)  

  Good race at SCKLM 2010, here’s to FM at SCKLM 2011