The JPMCC run generated a sense of excitement, it was an opportunity to run in Singapore and it’s my first Team event, representing Citigroup. It was very kind of CitiClub Singapore to accommodate and sponsor our participation. 3 of us, Jamie, CS and myself drove across the Straits of Johor on April 28 to be part of the 6700+ runners in 210 companies competing in the inaugural JPMCC.
At the Padang
We parked at Suntec Tower and had a rather late lunch at 2:45 p.m. Earlier, I made the mistake of missing the Food and Rest area prior to entering Tuas Customs. The Padang was next to the beautiful Esplanade Theatres On the Bay. Overlooking the Marina Bay is the Merlion, the famous Lion Head fountain landmark.
We were early; the weather was hot and humid. After scouting the area, we easily found the Citigroup tent. Met up with Jessie Toh, the friendly CitiClub coordinator who had been so helpful in getting us into this event. Mee Peng’s cousin, John came right after work to meet me. John was also a photo enthusiast. He helped us took numerous shots of the event with CS’s Nikon D100. In fact, he was literally the “official” Citigroup photographer!Jamie had the honor of conducting the stretching exercises for the Citigroup runners!
At 5:45 pm, Jamie and I moved to the narrow barricade. I could see the twin 2-sided Digital Stopwatch above the Starting/Finishing line, a sight I have never observed in all my previous runs. After speeches from the officials and a Lion Dance performance, the countdown begins. It was not the usual gunfire but the blare of a horn. The Run has begun!
5.6 kms
This was the first time I felt being pushed and brushed aside from behind. This could be due to the narrow road. I deployed the same strategy i.e. to start-off strongly since it was a short run. After the 9th minute, I felt pain on both sides of my abdomen. “ Not again “, I told myself because once this happens, I will be sure of not doing an above average timing. Common sense told me to walk but that would affect my pacing. I continued to run at a slower but steady pace. Experience told me the pain will ease away later in the run but it did not happen! At one point, I felt my nose was watery and it may have been a mild nosebleed but thank god no blood oozed out. It was humid. This was also my first race ran on an afternoon.
Towards the end of Republic Avenue, the route U-turned and took us to the costal Marina Promenade tarmac. This appeared to be the home run. There were overhead signboards indicating the 4th and 5th kilometer mark. Many runners increased their pace. I was slowing down! The lingering stomach pain did not go away. My body felt like an overheated engine. It can do no more. I thought the Hong Leong Run was hectic but this was worse.
Last 100 meters
After passing the Esplanade Theatres, I could hear cheers and music from the finishing line area, probably another 300 meters to go. I line myself for the one and only “acceleration”. As I turned towards the right, pom-pom girls, photographers, supporters were cheering the runners on both sides; this inspired me to sprint the last 100 meters, zigzagging and overtaking everybody in my path.
This has to be my fastest last 100 meters in a Run! “Why couldn’t I do this in the last 1000 meters?” a question I posed myself. I guess I was afraid of the consequences of going beyond the limits of my stamina and endurance.
I crossed the finishing line in 37:27 mins. Each individual runner has to self-record his official time on a sheet.
Fruits, Oats and Buffet
Ample food and drinks were laid on the table for the runners. There was no rationing of food and drinks. There were apples, bananas, oats bars, mineral water, fruit juices and chilled canned drinks. CitiClub even organized a mini-buffet for us. I must have drunk at least 7 cups of 100ml apple and orange juices! (Wished they had chilled beer!)
World Class
I went back to the finishing line to look for John and it was there I saw the spirit of comradeship and sportsmanship. In KL, immediately after the Run, there is practically nothing to do unless you are the top runners awaiting the immediate prize presentation and that happens when the rest of the runners are still struggling to finish the run.
In this race, the JPMCC organizers waited until the LAST runner crosses the finishing line before any prizes were presented. After the 60th minute, the pom-pom girls, supporters and organizers were still there to cheer and applaud the last batch of runners/walkers. Who says you can’t Walk the entire course in a Run?
This was the best-organized and most generous sports event, any sports event that I have ever participated. The organizers must be highly commended for setting such high standards and professionalism in this world-class event.
Goodbye
We thanked and bid Jessie and her teammates goodbye and started our long journey home. I drove John back to Woodlands and crossed the JB border just after 11 p.m. From JB, CS drove all the way to KL. He was the most alert amongst the 3 of us. I tried to keep CS company but when Jamie started snoring, I started to fall asleep as well. We stopped at the Ayer Keroh Rest area around 1:30a.m for teh tarik and had a quick preview of the photos. Although it was just a few hours ago, we still had fond memories of the event and the friendship made.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Power Run 2004
After completing KLIM 2004, the regular jogs became less time-orientated and more of a leisure. The push to run within the 80-minute qualifying mark was no longer a benchmark. Surprisingly, by running relaxingly, the endurance improved and it was less agonizing to maintain a continuous run.
Back in office, my colleague, CS dropped me a registration form to participate the Power Run on March 14. There was also the Hong Leong Charity Run originally scheduled on March 21. I was interested in the Charity Run. The Power Run was similar to the KLIM and participating one after another would be overdoing it (Just Do It....but Don't Over Do It?) according to my loved ones. I contemplated about it and finally decided to join both as another office colleague told me to "Just treat it like a normal Sunday jog".
So, it is back to "training" again but really I was merely following the exercise 4-times a week regime. I notice my running lacks power especially when approaching a hill. I practice running a little faster at the beginning rather than the opposite. This is to give myself a psychological edge that I was clocking faster times in the first few kilometers hence fooling the brain into believing that the body had actually adapted to a faster pace. Will it last? The Power (running with the theme?) Run is the test.
5:00 am again
Since it was the same run again, I did not encourage Mee Peng to accompany me to the Power Run but she opted to go (check out the guys??!!). Woke up at 5 am and by 6:45 am we were already at Dataran. The first thing I wanted to do was to look for the loo. I went to the Dataran car-park basement, the toilets were all locked. From a distance I saw there were mobile toilets near the Gombak River and gladly walk towards it and to my despair it was also locked. Damn! I started asking around including a policeman, and was directed to another Dataran basement, which to my disappointment was completely locked and smelled of urine! Finally, the Power Shoes sales booth personnel showed me the correct location to unleash the "warm-up" (10-min searching) session.
Sound System
The organizers have installed full concert-sized loudspeakers to keep the participants informed. No more lackluster loudhailer, which was hardly audible in KLIM. This is a major improvement! 10 km-ers were allowed into the barricade at 7 am but I choose to sit for a while because of my weak back and also to keep Mee Peng company.
I notice this time the barricade was somewhat, 250 meters behind the startup of KLIM which means it could be an additional 800 meters (Note: After the run, I estimated the distance is very likely >11kms, probably 11.4 kms).
7:15 am I entered the "Kandang Kerbau" and was looking for the CitiRunners (Jamie, Newton, CS and William). Found them and had a photo taken for the first time without the "wet look".
Over-Powered Run?
With the high-powered speakers, this time I could hear the countdown, 5....4...3...2...1...Bang! I immediately ran to the right side of the road to position myself for the video recording (can't blame an avid photographer!). I avoided running into a crowd and tried to find space between runners. I looked behind and saw Newton's distinctive yellow-striped singlet.
After the Bank Negara turn-off, I was slowing down at the Jln Ismail gradual uphill. Newton caught up with me and we had a short conversation. At last, I was having company! However, he had to slow down because of a muscle pull and told me to carry on. Just before the Tennis court, Newton was back and I was glad his muscle pull was nothing serious. I skipped the 100 Plus drinking station as since the 2km mark, I felt an urge to attend to nature's call (prostate gland enlargement?). There was an opportunity to do it at the Jln Duta road, as there was a nice high fence to go behind but choose not to (shy) and thought it was just another 30+ minutes to finish.
Tongkat Ali
In the midst of challenging the Duta hill, Newton and I begun to chat about the shapey and steady lady runners (take the mind off the hill). One of them was wearing an orange singlet with a "Tongkat Ali" advertisement. I wanted to use her as a marker since she had a very consistent and graceful pace. After trading leads, Newton and I overtook her. Newton pointed to me there is another nice yellow clad lady runner about 50 meters in front. We were at the steepest point of the hill. We ran up with full gusto to catch her but the moment we caught up with her, she accelerated away.
After the cat and mouse run, we were descending downhill and Newton advise me to take advantage of the potential gravitational force. Newton took the lead and I followed. As I increased the pace, I suddenly felt a pain on my upper right abdomen. I wanted to walk but it would be wasteful since it was a very steep downhill. I forced myself to continue running with the hope the pain would go away. By this time, the agile "Tongkat Ali" lady had passed me with smooth rhythmic strides. I had a thought if the pain worsened; I may not even finish within the qualifying time. Was I overzealous in attacking the Duta hill or was it simply lack of stamina? I think it was both.
Newton was running at a superb blistering pace. As the vision of him and the fabulous ladies fade away, I struggled to maintain speed. After 8 mins, as I was approaching the Duta Vista Condominium, thankfully, the pain was slowly easing away. Once again, the Parliament flyover was there to intimidate the runners. I ran non-stop to subdue the hill. At the Bukit Aman traffic lights, I looked at my stopwatch, it was 1:05+. Jamie told me to try 1:10. Was it possible with 5 odd minutes left? …… GO FOR IT!
I sprinted about 20 seconds, slowed down at the roundabout as cars were crossing the junctions and were abruptly stopped by the traffic policemen. The drivers must be furious!
I saw an old man in his 70s in full running attire running slowly but surely. I commented, "Uncle, you are looking good!" and gave him a thumbs-up. He responded with a smile and a wave. I continued my dash towards Jln Raja with all there was left of me and thought this was the grand finale but was caught unaware that there was another 500 meters to cover; to the end of Dataran and U-turn back to the Padang.
As I approached the serene green grass, I saw Jamie and Newton calling me with words of encouragement and Mee Peng was again at the side with the camera. Unlike KLIM, this time, there was an official to take down the finisher's bib number. I looked at my stopwatch; it was 1:12:56. Later, CS and William join us for the now traditional "CitiRunners".
1:10?
I looked back at the race and figured doing 1:10 is an achievable target but to run it comfortably would require raising the human body endurance level. This cannot be attained overnight. It has to be nurtured. The body will try to adapt to better fitness standards, against the biological clock. I wonder where is the equilibrium? Food for thought.
Back in office, my colleague, CS dropped me a registration form to participate the Power Run on March 14. There was also the Hong Leong Charity Run originally scheduled on March 21. I was interested in the Charity Run. The Power Run was similar to the KLIM and participating one after another would be overdoing it (Just Do It....but Don't Over Do It?) according to my loved ones. I contemplated about it and finally decided to join both as another office colleague told me to "Just treat it like a normal Sunday jog".
So, it is back to "training" again but really I was merely following the exercise 4-times a week regime. I notice my running lacks power especially when approaching a hill. I practice running a little faster at the beginning rather than the opposite. This is to give myself a psychological edge that I was clocking faster times in the first few kilometers hence fooling the brain into believing that the body had actually adapted to a faster pace. Will it last? The Power (running with the theme?) Run is the test.
5:00 am again
Since it was the same run again, I did not encourage Mee Peng to accompany me to the Power Run but she opted to go (check out the guys??!!). Woke up at 5 am and by 6:45 am we were already at Dataran. The first thing I wanted to do was to look for the loo. I went to the Dataran car-park basement, the toilets were all locked. From a distance I saw there were mobile toilets near the Gombak River and gladly walk towards it and to my despair it was also locked. Damn! I started asking around including a policeman, and was directed to another Dataran basement, which to my disappointment was completely locked and smelled of urine! Finally, the Power Shoes sales booth personnel showed me the correct location to unleash the "warm-up" (10-min searching) session.
Sound System
The organizers have installed full concert-sized loudspeakers to keep the participants informed. No more lackluster loudhailer, which was hardly audible in KLIM. This is a major improvement! 10 km-ers were allowed into the barricade at 7 am but I choose to sit for a while because of my weak back and also to keep Mee Peng company.
I notice this time the barricade was somewhat, 250 meters behind the startup of KLIM which means it could be an additional 800 meters (Note: After the run, I estimated the distance is very likely >11kms, probably 11.4 kms).
7:15 am I entered the "Kandang Kerbau" and was looking for the CitiRunners (Jamie, Newton, CS and William). Found them and had a photo taken for the first time without the "wet look".
Over-Powered Run?
With the high-powered speakers, this time I could hear the countdown, 5....4...3...2...1...Bang! I immediately ran to the right side of the road to position myself for the video recording (can't blame an avid photographer!). I avoided running into a crowd and tried to find space between runners. I looked behind and saw Newton's distinctive yellow-striped singlet.
After the Bank Negara turn-off, I was slowing down at the Jln Ismail gradual uphill. Newton caught up with me and we had a short conversation. At last, I was having company! However, he had to slow down because of a muscle pull and told me to carry on. Just before the Tennis court, Newton was back and I was glad his muscle pull was nothing serious. I skipped the 100 Plus drinking station as since the 2km mark, I felt an urge to attend to nature's call (prostate gland enlargement?). There was an opportunity to do it at the Jln Duta road, as there was a nice high fence to go behind but choose not to (shy) and thought it was just another 30+ minutes to finish.
Tongkat Ali
In the midst of challenging the Duta hill, Newton and I begun to chat about the shapey and steady lady runners (take the mind off the hill). One of them was wearing an orange singlet with a "Tongkat Ali" advertisement. I wanted to use her as a marker since she had a very consistent and graceful pace. After trading leads, Newton and I overtook her. Newton pointed to me there is another nice yellow clad lady runner about 50 meters in front. We were at the steepest point of the hill. We ran up with full gusto to catch her but the moment we caught up with her, she accelerated away.
After the cat and mouse run, we were descending downhill and Newton advise me to take advantage of the potential gravitational force. Newton took the lead and I followed. As I increased the pace, I suddenly felt a pain on my upper right abdomen. I wanted to walk but it would be wasteful since it was a very steep downhill. I forced myself to continue running with the hope the pain would go away. By this time, the agile "Tongkat Ali" lady had passed me with smooth rhythmic strides. I had a thought if the pain worsened; I may not even finish within the qualifying time. Was I overzealous in attacking the Duta hill or was it simply lack of stamina? I think it was both.
Newton was running at a superb blistering pace. As the vision of him and the fabulous ladies fade away, I struggled to maintain speed. After 8 mins, as I was approaching the Duta Vista Condominium, thankfully, the pain was slowly easing away. Once again, the Parliament flyover was there to intimidate the runners. I ran non-stop to subdue the hill. At the Bukit Aman traffic lights, I looked at my stopwatch, it was 1:05+. Jamie told me to try 1:10. Was it possible with 5 odd minutes left? …… GO FOR IT!
I sprinted about 20 seconds, slowed down at the roundabout as cars were crossing the junctions and were abruptly stopped by the traffic policemen. The drivers must be furious!
I saw an old man in his 70s in full running attire running slowly but surely. I commented, "Uncle, you are looking good!" and gave him a thumbs-up. He responded with a smile and a wave. I continued my dash towards Jln Raja with all there was left of me and thought this was the grand finale but was caught unaware that there was another 500 meters to cover; to the end of Dataran and U-turn back to the Padang.
As I approached the serene green grass, I saw Jamie and Newton calling me with words of encouragement and Mee Peng was again at the side with the camera. Unlike KLIM, this time, there was an official to take down the finisher's bib number. I looked at my stopwatch; it was 1:12:56. Later, CS and William join us for the now traditional "CitiRunners".
1:10?
I looked back at the race and figured doing 1:10 is an achievable target but to run it comfortably would require raising the human body endurance level. This cannot be attained overnight. It has to be nurtured. The body will try to adapt to better fitness standards, against the biological clock. I wonder where is the equilibrium? Food for thought.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
How I Started Running
4 Times A Week & Beginner's 10 km
Every annual medical checkup, I am being told by the GP to exercise, “Do you exercise at least 4 times a week?” How is this possible when I am already struggling to do it once a week? After the last checkup where the Dr advised me to improve my HDL cholesterol level and the encouragement from my office comrades to join the KL Marathon, it is time to RUN (not run away).
High End Shoes
Bought a pair of Mizuno Strada shoes at 50% discount RM149 (list price RM299) at Lot 10. There wasn’t a choice as it was the only size 8.5 pair left. It is my first Mizuno shoes. I have worn Bata, Fung Keong, Power, Aliph, Ascot, Adidas, Reebok and New Sport (China brand - value for money) shoes before and all cost below RM120 perpair. Is this my first “high end” shoes?
First Impression
I always have a belief that shoes are overpriced because of their branding and design. I often wondered how good can a shoe be, just like you wear a RM10 vs a RM200+ crocodile T-shirt. The moment of truth has arrived. The shoes were so light it felt like a pair of slippers. When I walked to the main road, it didn’t appear to me as extraordinary. Finally, when I ran, the first few strides it became apparent that these are no ordinary shoes that I have worn previously. The shoes seemed to transform the bitumen road into rubber! Each step produces a bounce and a lunge forward. The level of shock absorption is wonderful. As the Chinese saying goes “One cent cost is One cent merchandize” (English: You get what you pay for).
Training
With the new armory, I was rather excited to see if the shoes made any difference in extending my jogging endurance. I was never a runner during my school days, always trailing behind others in cross-country events. In fact, I never fancied jogging because it is boring and I lack stamina. As one ages and approaches the 40s, the mindset changes. After having seen several deaths including my Dad's (god i still miss him!) and undergone a prolong period of chest pains (stress related), I decided to change my lifestyle to a healthy one.
Coming back to training, I ran the first ever 10 km with the Mizuno shoes in 83 minutes. The second run I managed a slight improvement of 80 minutes. Subsequent runs were borderline cases that are around 78-80 minutes in exactly 10 kms.
Uphill
The most difficult part of running is the uphill portion. Thoughts of stopping, giving up and not covering the intended distance always crop up whenever I struggle on a long uphill. This was my weakness. Then I remember Jamie's advise to adopt the Galloway Running (run-walk technique). The Gallo-running was effective in the uphill. One need not run non-stop but stop to preserve the strain on the legs and even the back (I suffer backache after 15 mins of running). The 1-minute walk can extend your endurance and can be construed as a "reward" for taxing the body. Once you are rewarded the body will perform better.
Well-being
There are many health websites that would tell you the benefits of exercising. There is no denying that after a good jog, regular runners would attain the "feel good” euphoria (endorphins?) but I wish I could make jogging more interesting. My wife, Mee Peng and I always go for a "justified" good makan after a short jog. Reward oneself with good food after a workout? It is also a good reason to wake up early on a Sunday morning to meet up with old friends and relatives. Gone are the late nights get together. Probably the greatest mutual feeling is seeing yourself, your loved ones and good friends maintain fitness and good health.
PowerBar
After reading Jamie's PowerBar experience in Singapore, I decided to try it myself. This bar appears to be grain based with a concoction of multi-vitamins. Vitamin B complex is a known source of energy booster. An old friend of mine ate half a bar and said it didn’t have any effect on him. Personally, after having tested a few Performance bars, I believe it can improve performance by maybe 5%. The bar has such high-energy retention properties that even after an hour of strenuous morning run I do not have the hunger for breakfast!
Gatorade
100 Plus without the gas? Not quite. Gatorade is a non-carbonated drink with 35 years history of producing isotonic drinks. When I first drank Gatorade I was amazed by how little one need to drink to quench thirst. Initially I suspected Gatorade had the strange ability of reducing perspiration and the frequency of emptying one’s bladder. Later, when I checked the www.gatorade.com website this magical drink has indeed been researched by professors to optimize body fluid functions!
KLIM 2004
Prior to the KLIM (Kuala Lumpur International Marathon), I measured the 10 km route and was surprised to find that it is actually more than 10 kms probably in the range of 10.6 kms. My running timing is bordering the 80mins qualifying mark; any additional distance will require more time. I was also concern about the 2 uphills: Starting from the Tennis Stadium on Jln Duta and the Jln Parlimen climb. Most of my runs in Bandar Sri Damansara are on a very gradual uphill. The gradient at Jln Duta and Parlimen were much steeper.
D-Day
I was glad Mee Peng, my wife was willing to wake up at 5 a.m to witness the KLIM at Dataran. She would be the camerawoman and also the motivation to do my best in the maiden run. I picked up Kenny, my brother and an old friend, Fook Shing. Parked at Dataran basement – initially we thought it was free but later had to fork out a flat rate of RM4, which I thought, was worth the money.
The organizers of KLIM could do with a lot of improvement because some of the instructions listed on the pamphlet were inaccurate. I do not want to dwell on it, as I am sure the organizers are aware of the discrepancies.
15 mins before time, Kenny, Fook Shing, CS and I entered the 10km barricade. I drank half a bottle of Gatorade to keep myself hydrated but not to a point where I need to go to the washroom. The loudhailer was simply not loud enough – being a first timer I was naturally curious as to what the organizer was trying to address. Kenny and Fook Shing have completed half-marathons before and they were completely relaxed. Later the Treasure-Hunt Champs, William and Jamie came to greet us. We could not find Newton and Tham. Jo Ee, my cousin was also there to wish us good luck. 3 minutes before start Jamie moved forward to the starting line and commanded “Cheong, do it in qualifying time!” of which I chuckled sheepishly, “It’s a tall order”.
The race has started and I didn’t even hear the gunfire! As we walked towards the starting line, Kenny cautioned us to watch our step, do not push and avoid being pushed. Fook Shing told Kenny to follow the leader. I asked him who is the leader and he said it was me. We laughed; knowingly none of us are good runners. As we approached the roundabout, a few runners stumbled upon the kerb and had a rather bad fall. Kenny asked them if they were ok. Apparently, when the runners leaped from the road and onto the kerbs, the sardine-packed runners behind thought it was a flat road hence the miss footing.
At the 1 km mark i.e. after Bank Negara I was losing sight of Fook Shing and Kenny. Each time I turn my head back I couldn’t see them, instead scores of runners ran past me at a rather fast pace. I was alone. I look in front to see if there were any familiar bib numbers but couldn’t see any. Just as I entered Jln Ismail, for no reason I started coughing uncontrollably. I could hear there were 2 or maybe 3 runners coughing as well. Was there something in the air? I do not know. Fortunately, the coughing stopped after I passed that area.
At the 4 km mark, Jln Langgak Tunku, runners were rushing to grab drinks at the drinking station. I remembered the pamphlet says White Cloth = Water, Red Cloth = 100 Plus. I saw no cloth. All were serving 100 Plus. I bypass this stall completely and focused on the start of the Jln Duta slope. Just before the Tennis Stadium/Duta Roundabout, I adopted a short burst of momentum run to overcome the hill. Once at Jln Duta, the entire 3-lane road was cordoned off for the runners. I observed the runners were on the left most side of the road; maybe they were afraid of cars. I decided to run at the center of the road as this gives me better ventilation and more fresh air.
The most dreaded stretch the ascending Jln Duta hill had majority of runners walking. I decided to walk for 50 seconds to rest my legs. For the second time, I again deployed the gain momentum run to overcome this steep hill only to be defeated 60 seconds later. By this time I was almost reaching the peak and decided to limp run slowly and catch up on the downhill stretch. There was this Thai runner who took the hill effortlessly only to stop halfway to take photos with his digital camera! I wish I had that kind of stamina – Marathoner-cum-Photographer!
As I past the Indian Embassy, had a glimpse of the Elites -The Full Marathoners were already making their U-turn back to Dataran. From about 15 meters, I could see a few ladies who were trading leads with me in the entire run. I decided to “accelerate” (can do it once or twice only). I was not out to overtake them but merely psyching myself up to run faster! I ran past a number of runners who where approaching the Jln Parlimen slope. At this point, I used the momentum run the third time and slowed to a walk of 50 seconds and then ran again. Despite being the last 2 kms, I observed almost half the runners were walking up the slope, probably conserving their energy for the final leg.
I crossed the Bukit Aman traffic lights and looked at my stopwatch. It was 1:08. I had 12 minutes to cover about 1-1.4 kms. A number of runners were sprinting downhill. I tried to run fast too but was held back by a mild stomach cramp. It crossed my mind what the F1 drivers had commented, “The Last Lap is the Longest Lap”. Towards the roundabout, I closed my thoughts of exhaustion and ran towards the Padang finish line with long strides (last and final “Acceleration”). I saw Mee Peng at the corner of my eye as I collected the certificate of completion from the official. Honestly, I couldn’t see where exactly is the official finishing LINE! There was no timer display at the end of the race or finisher’s placing. I looked at my stopwatch it was 1:14:49.
Kenny and Fook Shing were running without a watch hence no precise timing recorded but I think they were within the Junior Veteran’s qualifying time. Kenny was just a few minutes behind me. Met up with Newton, William, CS and Jamie later for a group photo. That was it; I have completed my first Quarter Marathon.
Conclusion
With the end of this event, I hope my jogging efforts would continue, not so much to improve my timings but more importantly to strive and maintain an excellent health. I hope by end of this year; the HDL cholesterol would show improvement, which would be my ultimate goal and Medal of Honor!
Footnote: Mee Peng video recorded the startup. Later she relayed to me the 7km batch of runners in the process of relocating from the 2nd barricade to the starting grid, those located at the back thought it was the start of the race or wanted to get in front and started pressing forward. In the confusion, a few runners trip and fell. I suspect the runners situated at the rear end may not have heard the megaphone instructions clearly.
Every annual medical checkup, I am being told by the GP to exercise, “Do you exercise at least 4 times a week?” How is this possible when I am already struggling to do it once a week? After the last checkup where the Dr advised me to improve my HDL cholesterol level and the encouragement from my office comrades to join the KL Marathon, it is time to RUN (not run away).
High End Shoes
Bought a pair of Mizuno Strada shoes at 50% discount RM149 (list price RM299) at Lot 10. There wasn’t a choice as it was the only size 8.5 pair left. It is my first Mizuno shoes. I have worn Bata, Fung Keong, Power, Aliph, Ascot, Adidas, Reebok and New Sport (China brand - value for money) shoes before and all cost below RM120 perpair. Is this my first “high end” shoes?
First Impression
I always have a belief that shoes are overpriced because of their branding and design. I often wondered how good can a shoe be, just like you wear a RM10 vs a RM200+ crocodile T-shirt. The moment of truth has arrived. The shoes were so light it felt like a pair of slippers. When I walked to the main road, it didn’t appear to me as extraordinary. Finally, when I ran, the first few strides it became apparent that these are no ordinary shoes that I have worn previously. The shoes seemed to transform the bitumen road into rubber! Each step produces a bounce and a lunge forward. The level of shock absorption is wonderful. As the Chinese saying goes “One cent cost is One cent merchandize” (English: You get what you pay for).
Training
With the new armory, I was rather excited to see if the shoes made any difference in extending my jogging endurance. I was never a runner during my school days, always trailing behind others in cross-country events. In fact, I never fancied jogging because it is boring and I lack stamina. As one ages and approaches the 40s, the mindset changes. After having seen several deaths including my Dad's (god i still miss him!) and undergone a prolong period of chest pains (stress related), I decided to change my lifestyle to a healthy one.
Coming back to training, I ran the first ever 10 km with the Mizuno shoes in 83 minutes. The second run I managed a slight improvement of 80 minutes. Subsequent runs were borderline cases that are around 78-80 minutes in exactly 10 kms.
Uphill
The most difficult part of running is the uphill portion. Thoughts of stopping, giving up and not covering the intended distance always crop up whenever I struggle on a long uphill. This was my weakness. Then I remember Jamie's advise to adopt the Galloway Running (run-walk technique). The Gallo-running was effective in the uphill. One need not run non-stop but stop to preserve the strain on the legs and even the back (I suffer backache after 15 mins of running). The 1-minute walk can extend your endurance and can be construed as a "reward" for taxing the body. Once you are rewarded the body will perform better.
Well-being
There are many health websites that would tell you the benefits of exercising. There is no denying that after a good jog, regular runners would attain the "feel good” euphoria (endorphins?) but I wish I could make jogging more interesting. My wife, Mee Peng and I always go for a "justified" good makan after a short jog. Reward oneself with good food after a workout? It is also a good reason to wake up early on a Sunday morning to meet up with old friends and relatives. Gone are the late nights get together. Probably the greatest mutual feeling is seeing yourself, your loved ones and good friends maintain fitness and good health.
PowerBar
After reading Jamie's PowerBar experience in Singapore, I decided to try it myself. This bar appears to be grain based with a concoction of multi-vitamins. Vitamin B complex is a known source of energy booster. An old friend of mine ate half a bar and said it didn’t have any effect on him. Personally, after having tested a few Performance bars, I believe it can improve performance by maybe 5%. The bar has such high-energy retention properties that even after an hour of strenuous morning run I do not have the hunger for breakfast!
Gatorade
100 Plus without the gas? Not quite. Gatorade is a non-carbonated drink with 35 years history of producing isotonic drinks. When I first drank Gatorade I was amazed by how little one need to drink to quench thirst. Initially I suspected Gatorade had the strange ability of reducing perspiration and the frequency of emptying one’s bladder. Later, when I checked the www.gatorade.com website this magical drink has indeed been researched by professors to optimize body fluid functions!
KLIM 2004
Prior to the KLIM (Kuala Lumpur International Marathon), I measured the 10 km route and was surprised to find that it is actually more than 10 kms probably in the range of 10.6 kms. My running timing is bordering the 80mins qualifying mark; any additional distance will require more time. I was also concern about the 2 uphills: Starting from the Tennis Stadium on Jln Duta and the Jln Parlimen climb. Most of my runs in Bandar Sri Damansara are on a very gradual uphill. The gradient at Jln Duta and Parlimen were much steeper.
D-Day
I was glad Mee Peng, my wife was willing to wake up at 5 a.m to witness the KLIM at Dataran. She would be the camerawoman and also the motivation to do my best in the maiden run. I picked up Kenny, my brother and an old friend, Fook Shing. Parked at Dataran basement – initially we thought it was free but later had to fork out a flat rate of RM4, which I thought, was worth the money.
The organizers of KLIM could do with a lot of improvement because some of the instructions listed on the pamphlet were inaccurate. I do not want to dwell on it, as I am sure the organizers are aware of the discrepancies.
15 mins before time, Kenny, Fook Shing, CS and I entered the 10km barricade. I drank half a bottle of Gatorade to keep myself hydrated but not to a point where I need to go to the washroom. The loudhailer was simply not loud enough – being a first timer I was naturally curious as to what the organizer was trying to address. Kenny and Fook Shing have completed half-marathons before and they were completely relaxed. Later the Treasure-Hunt Champs, William and Jamie came to greet us. We could not find Newton and Tham. Jo Ee, my cousin was also there to wish us good luck. 3 minutes before start Jamie moved forward to the starting line and commanded “Cheong, do it in qualifying time!” of which I chuckled sheepishly, “It’s a tall order”.
The race has started and I didn’t even hear the gunfire! As we walked towards the starting line, Kenny cautioned us to watch our step, do not push and avoid being pushed. Fook Shing told Kenny to follow the leader. I asked him who is the leader and he said it was me. We laughed; knowingly none of us are good runners. As we approached the roundabout, a few runners stumbled upon the kerb and had a rather bad fall. Kenny asked them if they were ok. Apparently, when the runners leaped from the road and onto the kerbs, the sardine-packed runners behind thought it was a flat road hence the miss footing.
At the 1 km mark i.e. after Bank Negara I was losing sight of Fook Shing and Kenny. Each time I turn my head back I couldn’t see them, instead scores of runners ran past me at a rather fast pace. I was alone. I look in front to see if there were any familiar bib numbers but couldn’t see any. Just as I entered Jln Ismail, for no reason I started coughing uncontrollably. I could hear there were 2 or maybe 3 runners coughing as well. Was there something in the air? I do not know. Fortunately, the coughing stopped after I passed that area.
At the 4 km mark, Jln Langgak Tunku, runners were rushing to grab drinks at the drinking station. I remembered the pamphlet says White Cloth = Water, Red Cloth = 100 Plus. I saw no cloth. All were serving 100 Plus. I bypass this stall completely and focused on the start of the Jln Duta slope. Just before the Tennis Stadium/Duta Roundabout, I adopted a short burst of momentum run to overcome the hill. Once at Jln Duta, the entire 3-lane road was cordoned off for the runners. I observed the runners were on the left most side of the road; maybe they were afraid of cars. I decided to run at the center of the road as this gives me better ventilation and more fresh air.
The most dreaded stretch the ascending Jln Duta hill had majority of runners walking. I decided to walk for 50 seconds to rest my legs. For the second time, I again deployed the gain momentum run to overcome this steep hill only to be defeated 60 seconds later. By this time I was almost reaching the peak and decided to limp run slowly and catch up on the downhill stretch. There was this Thai runner who took the hill effortlessly only to stop halfway to take photos with his digital camera! I wish I had that kind of stamina – Marathoner-cum-Photographer!
As I past the Indian Embassy, had a glimpse of the Elites -The Full Marathoners were already making their U-turn back to Dataran. From about 15 meters, I could see a few ladies who were trading leads with me in the entire run. I decided to “accelerate” (can do it once or twice only). I was not out to overtake them but merely psyching myself up to run faster! I ran past a number of runners who where approaching the Jln Parlimen slope. At this point, I used the momentum run the third time and slowed to a walk of 50 seconds and then ran again. Despite being the last 2 kms, I observed almost half the runners were walking up the slope, probably conserving their energy for the final leg.
I crossed the Bukit Aman traffic lights and looked at my stopwatch. It was 1:08. I had 12 minutes to cover about 1-1.4 kms. A number of runners were sprinting downhill. I tried to run fast too but was held back by a mild stomach cramp. It crossed my mind what the F1 drivers had commented, “The Last Lap is the Longest Lap”. Towards the roundabout, I closed my thoughts of exhaustion and ran towards the Padang finish line with long strides (last and final “Acceleration”). I saw Mee Peng at the corner of my eye as I collected the certificate of completion from the official. Honestly, I couldn’t see where exactly is the official finishing LINE! There was no timer display at the end of the race or finisher’s placing. I looked at my stopwatch it was 1:14:49.
Kenny and Fook Shing were running without a watch hence no precise timing recorded but I think they were within the Junior Veteran’s qualifying time. Kenny was just a few minutes behind me. Met up with Newton, William, CS and Jamie later for a group photo. That was it; I have completed my first Quarter Marathon.
Conclusion
With the end of this event, I hope my jogging efforts would continue, not so much to improve my timings but more importantly to strive and maintain an excellent health. I hope by end of this year; the HDL cholesterol would show improvement, which would be my ultimate goal and Medal of Honor!
Footnote: Mee Peng video recorded the startup. Later she relayed to me the 7km batch of runners in the process of relocating from the 2nd barricade to the starting grid, those located at the back thought it was the start of the race or wanted to get in front and started pressing forward. In the confusion, a few runners trip and fell. I suspect the runners situated at the rear end may not have heard the megaphone instructions clearly.
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