The alarm woke me up, I went down to prepare everything, woke up my wife who was very enthusiastic to help me taking the photo of crossing the finishing line, later I will show you the masterpiece of my wife. I do appreciate it because I did ask her to skip this race as she was so sleep-deprived due to the wedding as well, although not as intense as me, because I had to run here and there to capture some photos. Where are the photos? I need to ask from ChunChew.
I took 2 sips of Milo that I prepared for my wife and half hand full of macadamia nuts because I did not have anything for breakfast. Haih... in PBIM, I had classic Chicken McDeluxe value meal. Then, we drove to Nibong Tebal through the creepy Bukit Teh, Tasek, Valdor and reached the starting line just in-time.
Wife was trying very hard to capture a photo of me in the dark dawn at 6am, but the built-in flash did not perform well enough, all black and without me. I guess it is time to justify to get an external flash. :P
Met up with Dan, a friend that added me in Dailymile, we greeted each other and the race started in minutes. I'm not sure how to run a half marathon since I have not running any since the last PBIM 2010 which I have clocked 2.09, due to muscle cramps and blisters in the unforgettable rainy days. I started the race without any doubt, telling myself to finish it in 2 hours, because I did not foresee how well I can do it.
I started in intermediate pace, but I don't know how fast or how slow, it is a biological HRM. I did not see any distance marker until the first water station which people told me that that's the 5km. After a 2 glasses of 100 Plus, I picked up my speed and I told myself to catch up with whoever that I see in front of me. So, I tried as hard as I could, but I still try to suppress myself not to exceed the 'no-way-return' pace. It worked quite well.
Ran passed the 'highway' in front of USM Engineering Campus and towards Clock Tower at Parit Buntar town, and towards Bandar Baharu, then I was lost, I just followed the runner in front of me. I felt good when I went past a few runners and be able to maintain my pace until I see the side entrance of USM Engineering Campus again, I did not know how far to go and how far I have gone. It is torturing.
Then, we were directed to Bukit Panchor by the marshall but by that time, I was so weak, the pace dropped dramatically, I felt the heat underneath my feet due to the friction, I don't like blisters. The last few km were very bad, I could not hold the pace, but when I turned into the Nibong Tebal town again, I know that it is close, the most 2-3 km to go, so I had to keep running.
3 veterans ran passed me which I have overtook one hour ago, I guess. They must be laughing at me because I cannot hold up :P I saw the banner, the finishing line, I saw my wife, I ran in normal pace because I know that I cannot go faster than that already. I checked my watch at the finishing line at 1:52:14. A good result, but I asked my wife to wait there at 1:20. LOL... I told her after the race that I want to be the champion.
I'm a bit disappointed because I though I can go lower than 1:40. I got the ranking the 35 in the open category. Not bad, but can it be 3 only or 5 only? Never mind, I try again next time to come back stronger and faster.
No comments:
Post a Comment