Orange Run 2006

It is rare to get free runs in Malaysia. The Orange Run was held at The Curve just a mere 8 mins drive from my home. Left home at 7a.m to pick up my brother, Kenny who was staying 4kms away. When we reached his house to our horror Kenny who is usually very punctual was still taking his shower! He overslept.

7:20 a.m

Drove the Wira like a Subaru Impreza WRX racing past traffic lights. 7:26 we were inside The Curve but could not find a way out of the building since all the exits were locked. We started jogging towards the Centre Court area and luckily that was the open food outlets walkway that leads to the starting point.

Lax

Within a minute, the FTAAA guy signaled the start. I ran off rather quickly. After Tesco, it was a left turn to Mutiara Damansara. Traffic control was very minimal, too minimal for comfort, which got me running cautiously. It is now becoming habitual whenever I cross a road I would raise my arm to warn and thank the drivers.

Alamak! HILLS!!!

I did not foresee so many hills from Kota Damansara to the new housing area Sunway Damansara. Beautiful houses. This is almost like the double hill maybe worse triple hill. Hill specialists will excel in this route. The morning sun was up. I was worried, not for myself but for Mee Peng who is doing her first 10km run.

Finished the run in 1:05:03. The official announced the finisher’s bib number through the loudspeakers as they come along. Amusingly, only ORANGE 100 Plus drinks were served. My whole head was drenched with sweat. Captain Ronnie came over to ask for my timing.

I took a bottle of water and walked back the opposite race direction to look for Mee Peng. A few runners smiled and complimented “Wah Boss! Cepat habis ah! “. “Bang, Jauh lagi kah?”. I said “Tada lah. Cari isteri“. Runners are such friendly people. I avoided walking on their path as it may disrupt their concentration to finish.

Hit by a Car

One of them relayed to me he saw a “budak” was HIT on the elbow by a car! He also reported the incident to a nearby policeman. This goes to show we cannot take for granted road racing is safe. I hope the runner was not seriously injured.

Finally met up with Mee Peng at the 1-Utama junction where we took a slow walk back. Kenny was having a feast with the unlimited free food: instant noodles with canned curry chicken, Cadbury chocolate biscuits, mee hoon and nasi lemak.

So much free food and they even gave a RM3 BHP petrol voucher. Generous organizers.