Malakoff Run 2009

If I managed to carefully remember why I signed up for this run was, because the event took place relatively near to my house. The second main reason why I signed up was, to grab some additional ‘event mood’, as a preparation for a boost start for 2010 season. Without any races properly selected and scheduled throughout the months, one would easily get bitten by M bug again.

Where the event took place.

So, I signed up, and turned up at the event location with a peaceful feeling that I can run that 12km regardless of what the timing was going to be. However, it was something down there that was giving me a torture for the first most important half an hour timing window on that lovely Sunday morning.

I lost all the focus I needed for the run.

I even lost the mood to snap many photos that morning.

Well, to start off the story, I arrived at the equestrian resort 20 minutes before the gun off, after doing a 10 minutes warm up run from where I parked. It was still pitch dark, but so many runners were already there. Some rushed to the toilet, some just hang around with friends, while some were already at the starting line. In the havoc darkness, I managed to meet few friends I know, said hi and we shared good luck wishes with each other.

Bro Ayet and his buddies.

With Din and TSB.

No Kenyan runners this time. These runners were already standing at the start line half an hour before the start, or maybe earlier than that.

Managed to spot Shuk. He was already sweating out, indicating that he had done a good warm up. I lost him after the first 1 minute of the gun off.

I would say the organizer did a very well job, noticeably on the emcee part as the vibe of the race morning was kept high in the air with the continuous announcements made by her. The PA system was very good too, that I believe everyone in the 300m radius could hear her very clearly. Well done.

If I’m not mistaken, there were four portaloos, two for each gender, prepared for the runners. But the queue, OMG! I guess the organizer could do better in the future by doubling or tripling up the facility. Let say if on average one person spends 1 minute in the portaloo for a small leak, just imagine if you are at the back of the queue with 20 more runners in front. Can you wait?

10 minutes before gun off was where I started to feel the torture. There was something inside me that can’t wait any longer to get out.

Anyway, the count-down which then followed by the gun off was done right on time at 7am. Feeling very uncomfortable, I started my stopwatch as I stepped on the timing mat (we all had the timing chip strapped on our shoes for time recording) and began my run with the crowd.

The run route along that Jalan Beringin was about 30% ~ 40% hilly. Thank goodness for the few trail runs I did earlier, tackling the hills this time on the road was not that tough. At least that was what I feel, with my slow pace running.

As much as I wanted to make this 12km run a fast one, I can’t focus on my run for the first 20 minutes. With every few steps I took, I was praying that I can find a place to relieve. At one point, I almost wanted to just give up. It was painful. I’ve seen many runners took a small leak behind trees, or bushes, or behind bus stops during marathon, but for a big leak as was in my case, no, no, no. No bushes or trees can be my savior that morning. I need a proper toilet.

Only after 20 minutes running, I went to settle what I needed to settle the most. Thanks to the security guards at TM building alongside Bandar Damansara who allowed me to use their toilet. So, I lost a good 4 minutes there. Then after, I get back into the running, smiling this time.

Ok, now I can start to enjoy the run and start taking some photos, the two things I wanted to do that morning. Searching for the toilet was not supposed to be in the plan. But sometimes, shit happens to be forcing you into the state where even the strongest of all brain and body cannot control it any longer. You just need to let the shit it go.

Please pardon my language.

To cut story short, I was unable to run in my best mental state condition. So, I took it pretty leisurely and just log it as one of my LSD training. I did not go all out, but I still pushed up my pace once in a while, here and there.

“I like men chasing me”. Now, where can I find a tee that says “I don’t like to run, so stop chasing me!”?

I saw one uncle running shoe-less.

Thank you TM (where I spent 4 minutes settling my ‘business’).

Randomly shooting those running behind me.

If I’m the one who is pancit, who to call?

Checking my time as I passed through the first loop, I know I can just forget about my aim to clock sub 1 hour. Clocking a sub 1 hour means, I should maintain a running speed of 12km/hr, or pace-wise, I should maintain a 5min/km pace. I was half a minute pace slower than that. Argghh.. geramnya!!!

Tu la, sapa suruh malas buat interval training?

On the last biggest climb in the first loop, I even dropped to a walking pace for a while as I lost my breath. But, I made a promise to myself that I won’t walk again after that on the second loop, which I proudly managed to do.

The biggest climb of the day, where many had to surrender into walking.

As I reached the top, I took another shot while looking back at the long inclination I just ran up.

Getting back towards the equestrian club where the finishing line was, I had a second boost and started to makan sayur bayam sayur kangkung sayur kubis sayur bendi sayur timun sayur togeh another few runners. If only I can run that fast from the starting line all the way, sigh.

The view as I ran towards the finishing line.

Though I’m feeling shy to put up my unofficial timing here, but for the sake of logging my race, here’s my timing:

Total time including toilet break: 1h14m28s
Total time excluding toilet break: Should be around 1h10m, or faster (so I hope).

Anyway, this will be a new benchmark for myself. I want to be able to run faster than this though.

As usual, after the race is where we have the opportunity to meet and make new friends. I mingled around after collecting the medal and returning the race chip, chatting with friends and catching up on each other while taking more shots here and there. I was also proud that three of my ex-schoolmates joined the 7km run for their first time. Well done to them all. Join me in more race events in the future ya!

We used to share 2 years in our lifetime studying at the same place, back in 1994-1995.
We all managed to sedut perut for the photo shoot, except for that preggy mother. Kesian dia, ahahaha.

Very organized ‘one-way’ street done by the organizer. Starting with chip return and medal collection counter, to a fruit counter, to food counters and exit.

At one glance I thought we have to follow our categories to get the food, which was cool. But on a closer look, there were four menus combination that we can choose, double cool!

Azmar, AJ and Bacin.

The Chap Ayam Runners with their usual post-race gathering. Their numbers are growing big as we speak.

ShahM in the middle. Thanks for visiting my blog. And nice to meet you too.

As a short side note, I always and only consider my blog readers as blog readers and as friends, and never as blog stalkers or whatsoever which may hold some negative meanings. There was one occasion where I felt so much offended when I approached one blogger and introduced myself, and that blogger said “Hey, you stalk my blog ah?”. Anyway, it was an old story and I’m sure that does not represent all bloggers. So don’t worry, please do come and say hi to me if you happen to see me at any event. I would love to meet in person all my blog readers, as I’m sure there are plenty of things we can share and learn from each other.

I’m not sure whether I dislike putting high target to myself, or whether I dislike short distance running like this one (because I cannot run that fast). But, there was something bothering my mind with my poor performance last Sunday morning that I hammered myself hard on yesterday’s training with a 50 minutes fast running covering three big laps at Taman Kebun Bunga here in JB (should be at least 9.5km or so), followed by a 40 minutes swimming session.

Now I feel relieved and thus, managed to blog this up.

With the NB Pacesetters 30km run coming in fast, it’s time to clock more LSD runs. There’ll be only three weekends left.