Seremban Half Marathon

Pre-race winners?
















































It is intriguing to run an unknown route where one does not know what lies ahead. On Saturday afternoon I decided to run this event with Ben Lim after TM Wong offered us 2 spare bibs. It’s been years, since I last visited Seremban.

By 6:15 a.m. we were at the Seremban Municipal Hall, ample time before the race starts with Choi, Ronnie, Lai, Ryan, Tey, Geraldine and TM Wong participating as well.

There was no barricade at the starting line. Choi helped me to hand in the registration card. I have not run a distance of more than 7 km since NB Pacesetters 15km. This run will certainly force me to go the distance.

The start was a quiet one with no announcement or speech. Paced with TM Wong and we chatted about hiking. The first 10km was rather flat with many petrol stations offering toilet breaks.

RM1 water

I was puzzled why there were people by the roadside selling water at RM1 per500ml bottle. At the official water-stations, I wondered suspiciously why the “drinking” water was scooped from a large pail (like those used to wash dishes in coffee shops.) and redistributed into paper cups.

Strong sulfuric acid odour permeated the air from the nearby latex producing rubber plantation factories. At one stretch I could smell pesticide spray!

12 km

After making the turn back to town, I struggled to maintain pace on the hilly zigzag road. My left tibia problem had resurfaced. I thought I could get away with it, as it was bearable in GE30k and KLIM07 but not this time.

The pain worsened as the perpetual hills continue to torment. With every 2 kms, my pace dropped from 6.5 to 8 to 9 to 10min/km! I was walking more than running, stopping twice to apply the analgesic cream Counterpain from Red Crescent.

I had thoughts of quitting/DNF as I was afraid forcing it may lead to permanent injury. A major intersection was unmanned and generally there was very minimal traffic control on the road. Some cars whizzed past me just inches away on the narrow trunk roads.

RM2

I have been carrying RM2 in many races and today, for the first time I finally got to use it. At km-20, I went to a Caltex petrol station to buy a refreshing bottle of water. I apologized to the cashier for the sweat drenched 2 x RM1 notes.

With the stopwatch showing past the qualifying time, I tried to run whenever I can. 2 young muscular B category runners were seen walking together in front of me and I wondered what caused them to stop. As I slowly jog past them, one of them uttered it was pointless to run as the qualifying time and medals are over.

Lost

When I finally reach the town area to a T-junction, I had absolutely no idea which way to turn. Where the hell are the Road Marshalls? I asked the schoolchildren which way and they pointed right. Then when I reach the place where we started, again I had to ask for directions where is the entry to the Padang. It was silly probably because I was not a local.

End at last

Tey spotted me walking from outside the fence and called me to run into the Padang. With his SLR clicking away, Ben was waiting for me at the finishing line to go for breakfast. The day before I SMS him he would have to wait 1 hour for me to finish but I manage to reduce it to half-an-hour….hahaha.

I clocked a personal worst of 2:47:46. Despite finishing over the qualifying time, I received a certificate and a quality Selangor Pewter medallion.

I think I would have to lay off 21kms until my mileage and legs strengthen.