Malaysia Women Marathon–the banana stories

I have ran 21 Marathons, including 8 Ultra Marathons. It’s about time, i give back my energy and time to the running community as volunteer.

When the Race Director of MWM (Karen Loh) approached me to supervise the Fruit & Drink Tent for the event. I immediately said yes, i always wanted to do behind the curtain work, i’m proud to be involved in this historic event as volunteer and unofficial pacer to remarkable 52 y.o. lady which i will tell you later.

My job was simple, to provides each runner with a bottle of drink, apple, banana and brand “inner shine” after they cross the finish line and getting their medal.

Looks like easy job right or so i thought.

I arrived at i-City (the event venue) around 5 pm Saturday. I got to work right away, calling the respective drink and fruits suppliers.

The lorry that delivers the bananas and apples was lost in getting to the race venue. After an hour, the lorry finally arrived around 8 pm. I was left with 27 crates of apples (150 apples each) and 47 crates of bananas (100 combs each). That’s 4,050 apples and 4,700 bananas. The bananas need to be separated from the combs. I was horrified of course, it’s a lot of Bananas to begin with….

Azmil and Cikgu Fath were the first volunteers to arrived just before 8 pm. Later, we bought knifes and gloves at local supermarket in Shah Alam. The cashier was a bit concerned and asked us, what we gonna do with the knifes and gloves that night? We just laugh, there’s no criminal intend – but we do look suspicious lol

Azmil had to leave early and promised to be back at the venue before 2:00 am, and we need to sort out 600 bananas before 2:30 am for KM 32 water station. That’s leave me and Cikgu Fath to sorts out the Bananas ourselves.

I was given 10 volunteers for the task of the distributing the items, but these volunteers will only arrived 3:30 am that morning.

I had no choice but to call upon our le Sabun brothers for help, although i explained to them that they will not received the crew t.shirt as late addition of volunteers. They came anyway to help – i loves these guys, the camaraderie's among runners is the best.

We stay up all night and work until morning; arranging tables, moving endless boxes of water, apples, bananas and other stuff. Talking about Bananas, we had all night to separate (cut with a knife) the bananas comb to individual banana. It took us most of the night to separate/cut the 4,700 bananas.
I used to have blisters running, now i have blisters on my palm due to that bananas process lol.

Azmil and his friend came around 2 am. Zinov, Arman and his wife came earlier to help out. With these guys help, we managed to sort out 4700 Bananas by 3:00 am. I gave my red MWM Crew tee to Cikgu Fath – coz he work the hardest that day.

The tent and it’s layout was in it’s correct place by 3:30 am, the rest of volunteers arrived at that time. My job to supervise the tent was made effortlessly by these wonderful volunteers. Even Nurina and her two sons came volunteer at the tent.

But all that lack of sleeps and the tiredness was gone as soon as we welcome each one of you lovely ladies at the finishing line. Your face expression in completing your own race was priceless and made our day as volunteers.

Congratulations to each and everyone of you lovely ladies, especially the FMV, and great job pacers! My job was not done until i completed one last deed.

I promised Kak Tiff to pace and get her to finish line few days before the race, i only managed to paced her few km to finish line due to my task as volunteer. I quickly change into my running gears when the finisher was getting less and less. After i put Azmil in charge while i’m gone, off i went to the road in finding Kak Tiff. I found her just before 41km water station, i was planning to pace her at 30km but there’s too many runners came back at finishing line at the time.

I’m glad that Kak Tiff still run slowly but strongly when i found her, i can see that she was glad to see my face at the time. At this particular time of the race, all you need is motivations more than water. I paced her for the remaining of the race and i was glad that she still can talk about her day, it was a looong day she said  lol. Talk about strong lady, this is one tough cookie. She said she could not feel her leg anymore and was in zombie mode, i just accompany her and waved to the cars on the road to give us some space – making sure her safety is top priority.

Sure enough, she made it to the finish line to the roars and cheers of many runners and supporters. I’m sure she will inspires many runners to do Full Marathon distance soon, at 52 she proved that age is just a number. You young guys out there, on the couch – you ran out of excuses not to run a Marathon. Tie up your shoe laces and see you on the road soon :)

Congrats Kak Tiff, i always knew you are stronger than you think you are. Enjoy your coming days as Marathoner, you deserved and earned it. Until then see you guys next year edition of MWM.

Special thanks to le sabuns ultra for helping us with the bananas, special award must goes to Cikgu Mohd Fathudin the "banana man".

And not forgetting the lady behind this historic Marathon event – Karen Loh, congratulations. Others only dared to dreams, you made it possible. You put Malaysia on the running map of Marathon World. In years to come, i am proud to say that i was there when they started the MWM.

Congrats Marathoner

Photos:  Tey, Team Pacat,  Khairi Muin, Zaini, Azlan Aiman