Pessimistic forecast 2:30 (scared of hills)
Optimistic forecast 2:22 (based on best Damai Loop 20k LSD times)
Reach Jln Parlimen at 7:16
Reach Bank Negara at 13:10
Reach Petronas at 1:09:41
Finis at 2:10:59 ***PR 20k (mein timing)
Official time: TBA
Mein own mapping of the route seem to be short by 300m (?). Could be because couldn't see the road under them dense trees.
General Expectations:
The last LSD before the race was last Sunday's stupendous LSD (which made a clean sweep of all Damai loop PRs). So it was a good sign. Unfortunately during the week, a problem surfaced which prevented the maintenance runs. So, no runs at all between last week's LSD and the race. This meant that I was well rested. The question was: did I lose fitness over the same period???
So I expected nothing out of the race. At best, maybe just on par with the stupendous Sunday LSD timings. And as such, I didn't really psyche myself as I have done for earlier races. I was treating this as a "fun run". And oh boy, did it turn into a realy fun run. I had loads of fun. Last Sunday, it was a Stupendous LSD Sunday. So this Sunday turned out to be a Stupendous 20k race. Am I destined to be a Stupendous Runner?? (yeah dream on!!)
Race day:
Woke up 4:50 am & did the usual race prep. Supposed to be out of the house by 5:10, but omigosh, only made it at 5:25 am. So it was a mad rush to Lake Gardens. By the time I reached there, all the parking area were full. And I sorta got lost in the dark. Finally parked the car at the Bird Park. Then walked all the way to the race site. Reaching the gate down to the lake, the 30k race had already started, and faced a torrent of runners going up the hill. Soon it trickled down, and proceeded to the lake area. By that time Fajr was in. By chance, found a surau at the boathouse, & did mein fajr prayers berjemaah. Then off to the starting line. Some confusion on where the check in for luggage, et al. Asked the lady at the secretariat table, who pointed out "The Triangle". Checked in mein luggage. Then off to the kandang with a purple ribbon. Just barely 5 minutes before starting. So, no time to warm up properly. I wasn't worried, haha!
Then the race started. I was at the back of the pack. It was a half-walk half run kinda thing all the way to Jalan Parlimen. Then right turn, and now could properly get into pace. Started mein "Dani California" mind-tune. The route had changed slightly from published. The 20k runners now go straight up Jln Tun Ismail, instead of doing the loop at Jln Datok Onn. After Bank Negara it was uphill almost all the time. Kept to a steady pace & followed mein walk break intervals every 6 mins. I was trading positions with this Mem Salleh who I made a marker. We sorta traded positions many times due to me taking mein walk breaks. At about 5km there was the first water stop. Took just 1 cuppa and ran on. Reached the flyover over Jln Mahameru. Now in the Rich People's housing area (Jln Tunku). This part was also kinda hilly. Then reached Jln Duta. Left turn. Reached the traffic light. Right turn. And this was a killer hill going up & around the Masjid Persekutuan. At this point, saw the 30k race leaders, 3 Kenyans running abreast. Then after the masjid, it was downhill again, to some newly completed houses. And this point, mein Mem Salleh marker dropped out of the race (mebbe she wasn't even in the race). So I had to find another marker. I chose two Mat Sallehs running together. One had a white cloth around his head. So it was trading places now with these two Mat Sallehs. They were running nonstop at a steady pace & chatting. The route took us under the NKVE, and we ran thru the Hartamas area. Another killer hill. Then suddenly there was a left turn into some shoplots, and the second water station. Took a cuppa powerbar drink. Right before reaching Petronas I got another pink kara ribbon. At this point, heard the Mat Salleh marker mention "the second half is supposed to be run faster". At that point, I already felt kinda fatigued, & didn't know whether I had the reserves for the final pia.
After Petronas, there was right turn, and we now had to retrace the route. Also by this time, I came across this two athletic looking Melayu braders running together. One had a really skinny leg. Looks like they were getting panchited. So I was trading places now with the Mat Salleh markers & this two Melayu braders. All the way back to the Masjid Persekutuan it was a steady pace. By this time I had switched strategy. I no longer followed mein walk-break to the second. I took advantage of the downhill as much as possible & delayed taking the break. Only when it became an uphill I took a break. Reached Jalan Duta again, and back into Jalan Tunku. Somewhere along Jalan Tunku there was the last water station. And also somewhere along here, I realized my Mat Salleh markers were not overtaking me. They had dropped behind!! I became markerless at this point. Then, the skinny-legged Melayu brader shot past me. Never saw him again. We reached the Mahameru overpass. And this was when there was a constant downhill, and I really took advantage of it. Huaa! What a feeling, brader. Raised the pia level higher. And I found a new marker, and uncle wearing a green outfit running barefooted. Pia'ed down Jln Tun Ismail. When it became flat again, just beside the Bank Negara, I took mein last walk break. The last 2 km or so was gonna be non-stop, I decided. During mein walk break, barefooted uncle shot by me. After 1-min walk break was over, it was time for the final pia. It was uphill at first along Jln Parlimen. And I started to "hoo-haa" (borrowing DK's description) to keep the dreaded Demonic Side Stitch at bay. Almost nearing the Lake Garden entrance, I overtook the barefooted uncle. It was a crazy "hoo-haa" pace. Into Lake Garden, it was downhill all the way. But where was the finish line? Aiyoo! I was running out of steam! Then left, there it was! Raised mein hand up for the photo-finish & crossed the finish line, totally panchited. Someone passed me a card, i think it had no 146 on it (too panchited to remember!!). Stopped mein stopwatch.
What???!!
2:10:59!
Stupendous!!
Then down the chute another person took the card & noted mein bib number on it. Then went to claim mein goody bag, medal, drinks, nasi lemak, chendol, etc2. As usual I had no gang. I'm still running alone, haha!! Fast forward: reclaimed my luggage & went home, smile on mein face, for a superb & stupendous start to the 2007 running campaign!!
The good: 1st Medal! 20k PR! Good race organization. Challenging route. Just enough water stations. Mein first "professional runner" running vest (har-har!)
The bad: No distance markers. Route change not announced earlier. Still not good enuff to earn PM points, haha! (cut-off 2:10)
Lessons learned: Go to race venue early, otherwise no parking!!
So if the distance is accurate, then it means that I'm now capable of a 2:20 half marathon. Just 5 mins short to qualify for PJ Half medal (woo-hoo!)
First pic: me, starting at the Back of the Pack.
Second pic: the Mat Salleh Marker, and hey, the barefooted uncle in the green outfit in the background...
Sadly, mein photo finish pic is still missing. To un-photogenic, I guess.
