Without fail the night before every PJ run there would be a dinner function. This time it was my cousin’s wedding in Klang. My uncle, a retired ex-army intelligence personnel was in the same table. He was the only person guzzling the beer and wine. Knowing I was a drinker, he asked why the hell was I drinking water. I replied rather proudly I would be running the half-marathon in 9 hours time. He looked at me with a smile and said “Heng, the alcohol will give you a boost. Do you know I ran my first marathon in KL back in the 1950s? I was a student then in RMC (Royal Military College). I finished in 17th position. There was no water-station (?). I kept the certificate somewhere”. I told him he should look for it and show it to his grandson, Marcus whom he adored so dearly. Actually, I am rather curious to sight the certificate myself! 1950s???
Past midnight, when I was about to doze off, Mee Peng asked me to forget about the run and watch the World Cup instead. I mumbled something and went into deep sleep.
4:30 a.m
It’s time to do the jingle. Took the chocolate Powerbar, which was not as sweet as the other flavors. Left home at 5:50 am reached the stadium 6:10 a.m. There seems to be fewer cars this time round, could this translate to fewer runners?
Did not bother to hand in my registration card. I could not find the regular kakis.
Shortly after the start Newton came up to me and once again we are able to pace together. Reached the first water station in 25mins. After the Motorola flyover U-turn I developed a stomach pain right on my navel. Newton slowed down to wait for me but I didn’t have the tenacity to keep up. Told Newton to go ahead. Judging from the number of female runners in this category, this year’s participation seems to have dwindled.
After the Subang roundabout I waved to Jason, Kenneth, Jamie, Tey and Newton who were in the opposite direction. Found a place to take a leak under the Aerobridge. This is the first time I stop mid-race to ease myself! What a feeling.
My target is to reach the Subang terminal U-turn as quickly as possible because it will spur me to hallucinate I am zooming on the home stretch. Stopwatch clocked 1:36. All this while I contemplated whether I should eat my PowerGel. In the end I didn’t. My stomach was a bit bloated since breakfast, just didn’t feel like eating anything.
The Wall
Somewhere after the Sg. Damansara bridge, I began to walk-run. I lost my sense of speed, endurance and finishing instinct. Saw a barely conscious injured runner leaned by the side of the Saujana flyover with both knees badly bruised. Not sure if he tripped himself or hit by a vehicle. Another runner, policeman and an official were trying to keep him awake to get him into the ambulance.
Walking Tall
This is the race I walked the most. Just 600 meters from the finishing line, Mee Peng called me from the sidewalk bench. I put up a smile and restarted a run for the camera. Thanks to Newton who was clapping and cheering me to the finish. I clocked a personal worst of 2:34:09.
It was a strange finish. It was more of a relief from exertion than exhaustion. The pain was not so much in my lungs or legs but my stomach and left shoulder (heart related?). In the evening, a fellow marathoner sent me an SMS advice that I should take whatever is on the plate the night before the race.
Later in the week, I realized my legs were not as sore as expected.
3 things I did differently in this race:
(1) I ate abalone the night before
(2) I did not take PowerGel
(3) I peed mid-race!
Thrice Beaten Never Sigh
This race proves long run training is essential. I survived up to 14kms after that it was a decaying end. Perhaps too many halves had made me slacked and complacent with what the body has to offer. Nevertheless, it is still a distance accomplished and hopefully many more to come.
