KL International Marathon 2008

This year the KLIM organizers have generously added an extra hour of qualifying time for the Full Marathon, making it 7hrs. I signed-up immediately the moment I read it in the form. I believe there are many runners who are determined to finish the distance regardless of the time. The setback was once the qualifying time was over; traffic control will be withdrawn leaving the slower runners very much on their own.

Eve

12 hours before the race, we visited my mother-in-law in Klang who was feeling unwell. We paid a call on a Chinese Physician who offered me a glass of black Chinese herbal wine. I asked the Sinseh will the alcohol affect my running tomorrow. He boasted in China, Chinese athletes drink tonic to boost performance. I chuckled and gulped the bitter dark elixir.

I know how important it was to eat well especially the night before a race but somehow temptation overcame me. I drank the famous Klang Chong Kok coffee; half boiled kampong eggs, toasted butter-kaya bread and fried cucuk udang. I normally avoid caffeine in the eve of a run to avert sleeplessness.

True enough, though I went to bed at 9:30 p.m, I could not sleep until close to midnight.

2:30 a.m.

Got up and was glad I had at least a few hours sleep. Eating the banana Powerbar this time was like Fear Factor food. It was too sweat and sticky. I don’t have this problem before.

4:30 a.m.

This year the group seems larger. I mentioned to Jamie, it appears anybody can run the Marathon because you can see the runners come in all shapes, sizes, age and attire (including full Spiderman suit).
I found the weather a bit warm at this hour of the morning. As the gun went off, I trailed behind Choi and Jamie and wish them luck as we step on the electronic matt.

Somewhere at km-3, Tey passed me. A lady runner caught my attention with her teasing shorts drooping precariously. It is like those low trendy Jeans that we see very often that bares the lower back.

After the km-5 drink station, a Chinese lad probably in his late teens or early 20s runner, carried a big polycarbonate bottle with his 2 fingers and his other hand, a rollup map. I was afraid he may not know what he had got into or maybe he had unknowingly registered in the wrong category.

I reached the 10km mark in 1:16:50. I was 2+ mins faster than last year. My thoughts were to go for the next 10km one minute faster.

Somewhere along Jalan Cheras, probably km-17, I was beginning to lose pace. My tummy felt uncomfortable, it wasn’t a stomachache. The perspiration trapped around my belly wasn’t drying fast enough. Not sure if it was the Adidas vest. I quickly went to a petrol station for a leak and rejoined within seconds with a hope the situation would change but it didn't. By now the lad with the plastic bottle had overtaken me; never judge a runner by his antics – this lad can run.

A Wall too early

When fatigue and nausea manifested, fear creep into my spine because the symptoms were much more pronounced this time round than last year. My rhythm and resilience slackened. I calculated, with 25kms to go I have to tread cautiously if I want to survive. Pushing ahead and ignoring the signs may lead to DNF.

I reached the 21km mark in 2:47:37. 4 minutes slower than last year. Francis Cheng, the 74-year old runner stopped somewhere at Concorde Hotel to massage his cramped legs. I offered him my analgesic cream. I too was also beginning to develop twitches and cramps, a result of the earlier tell tale signs.

Approaching Dataran and U-turn to Jalan Raja Laut, Lim Tow Suan from Klang Pacesetters and a lady PACM cheered me on. I look ahead and behind me, there was not a single runner in sight for as far as 200 meters. I was alone.

A Mat Rempit motorbike almost hit me at a junction along Jalan Raja Muda. He tried to beat me to the crossing.

30 km

4:14:42, I am way off my mark. 11 minutes slower than last year. A mid-20s Indian runner whom I befriended while we run-walk and treaded leads for the last 10km was eager to finish within 6 hours. He asked if it was possible, I replied frankly at current pace it is unlikely and estimated finishing around 6:20. He was not wearing a watch and relied on me to time-keep. He managed to pull away eventually.

Cramps

I was shocked when I found there were at least 5 runners waiting to cross the busy Jalan Ipoh-Mahameru crossroad. This should not happen. After waving at the cars, I took the lead to sprint across, mid-way I had a severe cramp attack on my right calf. The police looked at me, smiled and gave a gesture if I was ok. I skipped with my good leg and limped across. The drivers who noticed my predicament, stopped to let me through.

Keep going!

I manage to garner a bit of speed though not much after PWTC and caught sight of the no-watch Indian, the water-bottle Chinese lad and a Malay runner who had crooked knees. The 3 of them had acquainted one another and motivating as a group to toil on.

I was closing on them in the last 5 kms but they picked up speed and were soon out of sight again.


40 km

5:56:09. I must have been doing over 10mins/km. Met Nordin who said he hit the wall at km-30. He said his lungs just gave up on him. We spoke normally with no signs of exhaustion but yet our legs couldn’t move.

Finished at last!

Photo courtesy of Tey Eng Tiong.
In a marathon, it is always a huge relief to see the finishing line.
2 buses greeted me head on, that goes to show how late I was!
It was easy to spot Mee Peng and Tey Eng Tiong by the side photographing as most of the people had left.

It felt great completing despite a much slower time.
The extra hour enabled 96 runners to finish within qualifying time.

Net time : 6:15:54
Gun time: 6:16:55

Removing the champion chip for instant refund. Good idea .


Ryan

Francis Cheng