Good luck to all runners taking part at Borneo International Marathon (BIM) this weekend, especially to those running their maiden Marathon (FMV); Deo, Fazly, Izuan and others.
ENR doesn't count as it was under distanced!
I hope you will cherish and enjoy the memories of the maiden Marathon as i did at Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2010.
It was the best feeling in the world crossing that finish line, and don’t worry about the timing – you will always get better in time.
Bidor HM was my 7th HM and my 1st Bidor Run, definately not my last!
I considered it as LSD as i was absent from running after ENR due to two Ultraman loving hyperactive kids plus it was raining all afternoon last week (alasan: read malas training he he).
So i was expecting a slow run towards the infamous Bidor hills (they said). Although it is a small event in a remote village somewhere in Perak but it attracted a lot of good and fast runners, happy to met so many familiar runners including Mohan Maniac from SG, Dr. Puisan, Dr Julin, Dr. Wan Won, the Chap Ayam Runners, Pacemakers gang etc.
I started the run slowly pacing with Deo and greets familiar faces that comes our way, the weather was quite cool when the run started at 7:00 am for the HM runners. At some stretch of the road we could see a glimpse of morning fog, then we're treated to the nature smells of Bidor (you gotta run Bidor to experience and smells this exotic nature perfume).
Found out that most runners running the HM were quite strong and experience, i could not see any walkers during the run as compared with other local HM events, this is what i called our own local "Boston" run, majority of the runners put an effort to run their best here in Bidor.
We were surprised to catch up with KC after the 5km turn, KC is getting stronger with every run and did well completing his PB here in Boston...opps Bidor.
We maintained our geli-geli pace until 7-8 km, i felt loosen up and warm and upped the pace a bit and left the Cheetah at the back.
Deo catches up with me at the 10km, where i took a cup water to gulp down the Power Gel, this is where the Cheetah push his pace faster, i thought i will catch up with him during the hills run...no wonder it was called the infamous Bidor hills! The hills was endless, about 5km of it, when you thought there's no more hills suddenly it appeared! But nevertheless i quite satisfy with myself, never once stopped for walk plus overtook some runners during the hills run, this what i called "potong sayur ala-yim", thanks Sifu Yim for the tips on conquering the hills - short stride, fast cadence! got it :)
During the run i upped the pace to catch up with the Cheetah, but it seems that he ran even faster on hills compared to flat tarmac, did Deo also seek the advise of Abang Misai? Then i lost him somewhere during the 15km u-turn, damn this Cheetah not only getting faster but tactfully gone into hiding during the run. I guess this is what you paid for neglecting your speed works on week day :(
After the U-turn it downhill's run..yay! I did not catch up with Cheetah until the finish line when i greeted me with his camera. Found out later he was pushing for sub 2 timing which he did on his 5th HM, congrats Deo! Now the sky is the limit!
Completed my HM LSD with 2:08 timing, placing no. 60, injury free and still have plenty of energy :)
Kat sini rupanya ko Cheetah! Puas aku cari satu Bidor
Immediately after crossing the finish line, i collected my 1st Bidor Medal (big and beautiful medal) and the goody bag without drama and hassle-free.
This will be add to my favorite race list and must run event annually. See you next year Bidor, hopefully by then i tamed the Cheetah :)
More photos:
With Dr Julin and Dr Wan Won – Congrats Dr. J finished at 7th place women 10k (finally met them with Deo).
Yim hantar wakil ke Bidor kali ni, Congrats Hailmi from Chap Ayam, Sarong and Crocs shoes for HM.
The official results for 42km and 21km are out, just follow the link below:-
http://183.81.161.83/racekit/SearchResult.aspx
I arrived at SIC around 6 pm with Captain FMV Deo and we started the Full Marathon Race at 7:45 pm sharp. We ran slowly at the back of the pack with many familiar faces including FMV Izuan, Deo, Che Daud and Fazly plus seasons marathoner including KA, Hailmi Chap Ayam, Zaki Otoromen. Yim and Karen were running way in front in the leading pack with Ahmed Lamchanak and the elite runners.
This is my 3rd Marathons and my 2nd FM, hopefully by now I'm more wiser with the strategy in running the perfect Marathon.
Since my Nike+ gone bonkers, i used Nokia Sports Tracker GPS to calculate the running distance, after pushing the start button, i tucked my mobile away inside my SPI belt and ran without knowing my paces, i just ran with my heart and a happy pace.
Before the race – with the “Virgins” and non-Virgin Marathoners
After passing the tunnel into outside loops, i felt better and pushed the pace a little bit but not too much at this early stage.
The FM runners need to run 5 loops outside the SIC, i knew this gonna be a tough race when i met with rolling hills on the outside loops, damn! Night race always tough on me, the need to fight the fatigue, sleepiness and the humidity.
The first 20 km was tough, especially when tackling the hills, met many friends here including several Chap Ayam runners and Adam 1 Arm Runner from Singapore, we exchanged cheers and motivated each other during the run.
I got my second wind at the 4th loops, i tried an Enaikay's trick, i stopped at the water station and took 2 cups of iced cold water and put it onto my head plus washed my face with it, i felt refreshed and the iced cold water gave me a shock treatment to my body system. After that i stopped at every water stations for the customary iced cold treatment, during loop 4 and 5 i passed many runners that were reduced to slow jogs and walks due to either cramps or they hit the marathon wall, but these brave souls just moves and soldiered on – DNF was never on their mind.
Finally i passed Adam (strong and fast runner) at 5th loop just before the 2nd water station, i was chasing him from loop 1. Then i passed Che Daud on the next hill after that, he was still on the 4th loops. I gave some encouragement to him before passed on, he was walking at that time. I was so happy passing the 30 km mark and quickly did an analysis on my body performance, i found the legs still working fine! no cramps whatsoever! yay i guess the compression tight really work wonders for me.
I was elated on completing the 5th loops and going into the SIC, quick glance at the watch and it shows me 3:59. Yay another 5.5 km and sub-5 finish is possible provided no injury or cramps after this. I was surprised running inside the SIC coz it was eerie quiet! Where was everybody? No customary music or MC’s noise greeted us like the normal Marathon event.
Now or never! As i felt i still have some energy in me, I bravely tried to chase for the 4:30 timing and pushed my pace further a bit. I felt my hands almost going numb and the energy left my body as i came nearer to the finish line. At that point i felt i’m gonna fainted, it was 200 meters from the finish line - this is where i took reprieve and walks. Then my saviour came running from nowhere, i turn around and found Deo was running strongly towards me, immediately my spirit soared and join him for power finish. At the finishing line, we asked the crowd (mostly from other categories) to cheer for us, and they sportingly responded and cheers us like mad, we crossed the finish line side by side and held together our hands and raised to the sky.
We completed the ENR FM with the timing of 4:38 (unofficial).
Met Yim and Azu right after the finish line, Aza from the FMV greeted us with iced cold Gatorade, thank you FMV! Wished the Queen FMV could be here with us at that moment.
Spoiler alert! We found out right after the finish line that the FM categories is under distance by 1.595km (according to my Nokia GPS Sports Tracker). What the feck! We ran our hearts out and its not even a Marathon distance, i guess my new PB does not count for ENR. It's still 5:20 at SCSM 2010.
Congrats to all FMV Deo, Fazly, Izuan and Che Daud, you guys did great in your first Marathon despites of timings and the fecking ENR organizations.
What left of my bib after the race
Few more days before my 3rd Marathon.
Good luck peeps, see you RBUs, FMVs and Runners at Sepang soon.
Nite prep at boarding School somewhere in Muar, Johor.
Form 4, way back in 1988…
Can you spot yours truly?
