Klang Run 2006

The last time I ran a 7km race was the Olympic Run 2004. I must admit I am a lazy person when it comes to race registration. Thanks to the Pacemaker League Captain Ronnie See and his friends who are ever so helpful to register on behalf of others. It is people like them who spur others to run in races.

I try to make it a point to run a new race or route every year. Klang is 42kms away from my home. I got up at 4:45 a.m sliced up the freshly baked bread, ate a banana and drank the 5-in-1 tongkat ali ginseng coffee. No powerbar or powergel. I will be relying on herbal power. Left home at 5:45 a.m, by 6:05 I was already approaching the NKVE Bukit Raja Toll - too early. Parked at the club house stadium. The atmosphere was very relaxed, no barricade, no ribbons, horses, live band singing, runners came with children to run in the team event, almost like a family day.

Less Fats please

Racers no matter what shape participated. There was a category for paraplegic. This is encouraging and a positive approach to promoting a healthier lifestyle. The obviously obese VIPs who came in batik and slacks but wore sporty brand new Mizuno wave shoes. Perhaps, the Wave technology could help them to lose the excess fats.

At the starting line, I surveyed the C-Category runners and found C255 was the biggest number. With a total quota of 150 medals, I must run within 60 percentile of the Junior Veteran group. My thoughts were 50 minutes qualifying time for 7 km is achievable (this proved otherwise!). The teenagers as young as 13-year-olds were group together with the seniors, the oldest being 77-years-old. The organizers gave an award to the oldest participant!

Right after the count down, we zigzaged squeezing through a narrow exit. I programmed myself to run at 6min/km pace. The teenage runners were sprinting like there was no tomorrow. The older runners were cruising like I want a better tomorrow.

The route was an interesting one with many shortcut opportunities. We ran on an old look-alike WW2 bridge running parallel and just beneath the main bridge, crossing the foul smelling muddy Klang River. I observed the seniors skipped the water-station while the juniors wallop the 100 plus. There was one segment one could see the "S" double U-turn. This is where the controversy started. Since no ribbons were used, some runners cheated by cutting across the divider pavement. I remember overtaking a tall burly loud wheezing C-category runner only to see him reappeared some 100 meters ahead of me! Perhaps he has mastered the art of teleportation. Perhaps he wants a medal; Medal of Felony.

When my stopwatch clocked 40mins, I assumed I should be very close to the finishing line. Another uphill and I should be heading back to the stadium but alas that was not the last hill. The final and steepest uphill was the last km. 10km-ers; Draco Loong and Boon Seng greeted and overtook me. Both were very strong on the hill. Boon Seng was the one who helped me register for this race.

48 mins

2 minutes left from qualifying time and I was still ascending the Sulaiman Park hill. Is this route 7km or 8km? In front there were 2-3 runners in my category, all gung-ho and not giving in to walking. Weaving through the cars, which were courteous enough to slow down almost to a halt, I ran on a narrow 2-foot width gap path between the drain and the cars to avoid traffic obstruction and to shorten a 90-degree turn.

C for Consolation

Coming downhill, it was the approach to the stadium. C255 was in front and just when I tried to put up a sprint, he accelerated away. At the finishing line, there were so many alphabets: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J.... until I had to slow down to count from left, 1-2-3...yes...3rd lane for C. Some runners ran into the wrong lane.

The official gave me a tiny dark green piece of paper, which read C-103. I think it meant 103rd position. I walked towards a C-tent, handed the slip and collected the certificate with a medal inside. I have forgotten to stop my new Nike Triax stopwatch, which by now had run past 52mins. I estimated I must have completed around 51-ish mins. The organizers continued to give the certificates and the remaining medals. Mee Peng had completely missed me. I saw her extending her neck glazing at the horizon waiting and probably worrying if I had passed out!

This would be my first medal received not merely for finishing but within position. It’s a small consolation for a lucky mediocre runner.

PJ Half Marathon 2006

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.

PaceSetters NB 15km Run 2006

Pacesetters volunteers should be applauded for sacrificing so much time and effort in organizing quality races. I came to know volunteers “camp” at race site the night before the event to guard the goods and prepare the necessities.

Woke up at 5 a.m. I decided to omit my usual cereal based breakfast consisting of Oats and Nestum as I remember reading in the Singapore Marathon handbook that advised avoid fibrous food. Took a banana, Powerbar, 2 multi-vitamins, milo + soya powder + nescafe + milk powder and few sips of Excel.

Left home at 6:20 a.m. I parked near Tugu Peringatan and took a 5min walk to Padang Merbok. When I reached the grounds, the pen was already filled with a sea of blue-vested runners. Officials were seen hurriedly ushering the runners, the race was about to begin and there were still runners walking from Bukit Aman.

I look for familiar faces especially Newton who will be pacing with me but couldn’t find the regular guys. Near the starting line, I finally met somebody I know, Tey and asked if he had seen Newton and Jamie of which he said no. It was a long and packed pen. Just as I was contemplating whether I should walk back to the rear, the race director started the countdown.

It was a downhill start. I ran up the pavement to avoid the crowd and leverage on the momentum. I told myself to run like a half-marathon with reserves in mind for the multiple hills.

Bare-footed lady (BFL) was back. Slim, elegant and popular. Many runners chat with her in Cantonese. I observe her heels and noticed they were neither black nor hardened. BFL and I are almost same pace in our previous encounters and she always has the uphill speed advantage.

Upon entering Jalan Langgak Tunku a familiar figure appeared on my right. It was Kenneth. After exchanging a few words, Ken took off like a rocket. A female runner wore a striking multi-chimp-faced pair of shorts. Such pajamas-style attire is an instant attraction. Perhaps the Penguin group could follow suite.

Double Hill

Back in 2004 Nike 15km Run I was caught by the steepness of the Laman Tunku hill stretch. At that time, I tried to outrun it. This time I paid respect to this bully by putting my head down and took one step at a time.

The race leader had lapped me somewhere at km-7. After the hills, it was a gradual downhill towards Jln Mahameru. Jamie came from behind and said I was running fast. Since it was a downhill, I was able to pace with him for a short while before he took off. After Kementerian Pertanian it was the infamous long and curvy uphill. I slowed down but maintained steady pace. Perhaps Newton would meet up with me at this stretch for a chat and motivation I thought.

Female volunteers were seen cheering with laminated A4 placards. This is good effort. I remember teenagers were doing it back in the 2004 run but this time I only see people my age doing the cheering. Where is our youth power?

After drinking half a cup of Powerbar Endurance isotonic at the 3rd water station I felt energized. Near the Kenny Hills bridge, a race marshall announced 10km. Stopwatch displayed 1:03:02. I calculated a sub 1:40 finish is a feasible target.

Entering the final stretch after the Istana, a recognizable bandana clad Caucasian runner ran past me. This is the same runner in last year’s PJ Half Marathon where his alternate fast walking and running technique helped him pulled through the last km. It was this guy who had influenced me to adopt the mix walking and running tactic instead of forcing a slow run when the leg is kaput (limping).

Last km

A group of 3-5 runners were attacking the Tugu Peringatan stretch. Nobody was slowing down. I change my stride to longer strides. It worked. In the zigzag ending I overtook back the Caucasian runner and another lady runner who looked at me in puzzlement. Just 10 meters from the finish line I overtook another 2 runners. I must say I learn this from Sifu after watching his finishing video.



Feeling a bit disorientated I walked side ways and forgot to collect my coupon and medal! The moment Mee Peng saw me she reported the group was looking for me before the start and also why I always forget to join the finishers queue. She was afraid I might not be positioned correctly. She is my strongest critic.

Later met up with Newton whom I apologized and the rest Dinesh, Jamie, Ben, Choi, Ryan, Ronnie and Loong.

Retrospect

I did not expect to finish in 1:33:31. I was looking at 1:40ish. What happened? The turning point was the last 5km. I sustained a 10km pace for the last 5km. I haven’t been clocking increased mileage, that’s for sure. Was it the jungle trail running and hill climbing? Was it the step machine in the gym? Or was it my homemade high protein flour bread?? I don’t know.

While driving back Mee Peng surprised me by shaking my hand to congratulate me on the race. Perhaps she was the reason.