KL Marathon 27 June 2010

Pics will come later

It was the best organised KL Marathon ever (no mean feat that). Thank you to the organisers, SCB and the numerous volunteers (many from Pacesetters).

TIP

My wife took part in her first "race" in Malaysia, the 5km family fun run that she did with two neighbours of ours. All of them enjoyed the day out. We will try to do this more often which is much better than just waiting for me for hours.

MEETING FRIENDS

We have a wonderful sport, its just nice to exchange pleasantries with so many of our friends. The greetings started the moment I got out the car.

Before the run: a blog reader, Wai Mun, TSB, Major Kalam & Nurina, Azmar, Dicky, Ralph Justin Dixon, Jenny Lim Kui Eng, Lyn To, AJ, Yusran, Keat Seong, Ong Boon Hin, C.K., Adeline, Paul Lee, Peter Chan.

During the run: Nik, John Tan (cheering us), Jap Sam, Ariff, Colonel Lai, Randy & Ivie & K.K. Lee, Meng (5hr pacer), another runner who also had on the "running in memory for Ngae" number, the Power Bar people and of course the many new friends we made on the run.

After the run: May Senn, Mac, Awaluddin & friends, Connie and Elaine (my wife's team members).

MY RUN

I wasn't quite sure what to expect before the run. The average time for my last eight Marathons was 7 hrs 47 mins. Yes I am a crap runner. But secretly, before each race, we always hope for that "dream race".

The first 20 km was fine, comfortable pace and no pain in the thighs. Then the tightness in the thighs started to come. The Half Marathon people started to come by. They were flying. I was feeling embarrassed that people I know would come storming by. Luckily the route for the runners split at the KLCC traffic lights. No embarrassment I thought.

But I was slowing down. Between 25 km and 30 km I was really slow. I couldn't find a running position that had no pain.

At the 30km mark, I made the best decision of my life. Lets throw all caution to the wind, go for broke and try to go sub five hours. So it was heads down, arms throwing and just mental tenacity the whole way. I overtook a lot of people the last 12km. It was stress and doubt the whole way. Can I maintain this? Can I get sub five? Why is the route turning left (Dataran is on the right)? I must have looked impressive to Randy, Ivie and KK. I hope they didn't notice the road was downhill at that point. I called my wife, "Sweetheart I am about an hour ahead of schedule, standby with the sarong".

4 hrs 56 mins and I could see the finish arch. Put on the sarong, ran down the finish chute pumping the heavens in honour of our brother watching, NGAE. This simple tribute actually brought a tear to May Senn. She is a lovely person and has a hip Dad to boot.

My time was 4 hrs 57 min. The finish area is always a lovely moment of our lives. There was my wife, Adeline, Peter Chan, Paul Lee, A.J., Meng, SK and so forth. We heard that Mac was lying flat out on the table and trooped over to see him.