I Bonked!

I did an abysmal run on Saturday night. It took me 2hours and 5minutes to finish a 15.5K race!

I had planned to just bum around on Saturday so as to “conserve” energy for the night race. But it was not to be. On Thursday, we received a note from Raimie’s school stating that there is Saturday replacement class that he needs to attend.

Zaini and I will usually wait around (“lepak”ing at Bangsar actually) until Raimie finishes Saturday classes instead of returning home and going out again to fetch him. That Saturday was no different. After sending Raimie to school, we drove over to Lake Garden. No running, but we walked around and Zaini accompanied me to recce a route I was interested in, but not sure where it leads to. So we walked the “Bird Park” loop together.

I figured that a walk would be nice since my head felt heavy since Thursday and was hoping a walk around the park would clear it. What I got was a case of hay fever though. Started sneezing and nose turned into a faucet, dripping everytime I looked down. Nice…

Wasn’t worried much about it though. I figured I just pop in a couple of aspirins and with a quick nap, I’d feel better. I usually do anyway, so I did just that upon reaching home. Nap, woke up, made some sandwiches for the boys and the showered before getting all prepped-up for the night race.

The day was bright and sunny when we made our move to Sepang International Circuit at around 6.00pm. Such a hot evening, after overcast & cooling morning.

Getting to Sepang International Circuit was a breeze. Ample parking. Support crews were very helpful navigating cars. Actually everything was efficiently smooth at Energizer Night race. Non-existent queue to collect the headlamps because it was done really quick. I have to say, awesome job by the organizer for this race! Everyone helping out in it deserves a big pat on the back! Great job guys! Smooth sailing from start till finish. I wish I could say the same about my running.
Starting the race, it took me 30secs to pass the starting line. I can’t stand the heat running with the packs so I guess I wasted a bit more energy running on the outside track (read: more distance) to feel the breeze. Then, we headed outside the circuit. I did the 5.5K loop around the circuit on pace, did it 30sec faster than target as a matter of fact and was feeling OK.

I had this game plan. Run conservative on flat ground, try even-effort pace (read: shuffle along) the hilly parts and let loose on the downhills. It worked on the track but things went haywire after that.

The cheering crew was awesome especially at the “mist arch”. It was really nice to run through the cooling mist and fun to high-five’ing and giving thumbs-up (and waste lots of energy… kakaka) with the volunteers there. Happy lah, got people shouted, “looking good leng-loi”; even if it wasn’t meant for me specifically! LOL

Managed to do my run according to plan for the first two inclines (the steep one kinda reminded me of PICC hill) but then I got stomach cramp. At first I thought it was just side-stitches so I decided to run through the pain. But the whole middle abdomen started to pain. Oh yes! I forgot to mention, I was purging a bit and had to visit the loo twice before the start of the race. Almost had an accident pooping in my pants, actually. Eewww! Zaini said so when I told him about it before running to find the nearest toilet. Kakaka

No biggie, I thought. I always needed to visit the loo often before a race anyways.

Back to the race - after the tummy cramp hit me, the run wasn’t fun anymore. I tried to run it off, but it never went away. It cramped even until I finished my run. It cramped up while I was sitting in the car. No good. Ugh.

I don’t know how many inclines we had to face that night but it felt like all we did was going uphill and downhill for eternity! @.@

My slow, steady run turned into a shuffle and then turned into a walk. At first I took comfort that I was still passing others while I speed-walked but the comfort wasn’t for long, because speed-walking turned into “it’s hard to even walk” kinda walk. I forced myself to shuffle along when we reach flat areas and to push it a bit going downhill but then, it was rather dangerous to breeze through the downhills because of all the human traffic that were slowing down.

I was too busy cramping up anyway, to even want to bother weaving in and out of the people in front of me so I just followed the rest and walked here and there, while shuffling when I felt like it. The good thing about the run at the time was, I stopped coughing and sneezing altogether. Ah well… you win some, you lose some. Hu~

By this time, I didn’t even bother to check my timing, my splits or my pacing. All I wanted to do was to get to the finish line in one piece!

I didn’t stop at the water stations that littered the course (they had it every 2K which was very generous) until the last two because I brought along my own bottle. At the last two stations, I relished the cool sponge and literally took a shower with it! LOL Yup, I made myself soaking wet top to bottom with the cold, wet sponge distributed. I wasn’t the only one doing it! The sponges – instead of throwing them aside, I stashed them between my shoulder straps (both of them) because I thought of Raimie and his arts & crafts projects. He needs sponges. Why waste when I can recycle these sponges? Right?

I think I reached the 12K mark in 1hour 40min+. We were already entering the circuit again so I figured I should try and shuffle faster to the finish line as I can see it from where I was at. But horror! Despite looking like it was near (because of the looping), the finish line was still 3K away and I wasn’t feeling like I could continue running for 3K. It was shuffle, walk, shuffle until I reached the grandstand area at the last K.
Tried to push a bit and did a semblance of a run for that final kilometre. Zaini, my ever dependable hubby took some shots of me pushing towards the finish line. It did look nice on photos finishing off “strong” but I wish I was strong throughout the run.

Gone through the finish line 2hours 5minutes after I started (which was 20minutes off my “ambitious” target time), was handed a bottle of mineral water & my certificates of participation along with words of congratulations. Then walked off to get my goodie bag which contained not only my finisher medal but also a cool black Energizer t-shirt and snack pack. Zaini likes the t-shirt it seems. ^^

While plenty of the runners still lingered around the pit-stop area, I made my way out of the circuit. Saw a few runners crab-walked up the stairs going out from the tunnel. Ahahah…
The first thing Zaini said when he saw me was “I thought you said you should be finished in 90minutes? You took way too long. It was more than 2 hours!” What a welcome greeting!

I usually felt pretty happy after a race, regardless of the timing I did but I was feeling really down after this race. Zaini opined that it was due to the fact that this time I cared too much about my timing and pacing. I guess so.

But then, I wasn’t happy that I was unable to run (slowly or otherwise) for the whole distance. I guess I would’ve felt better if I can just shuffle along instead of having to resort to walking. Uphill or otherwise.

Lesson learnt: more hill repeats for me. Lots of it. What I’m doing now is simply isn’t enough. But of course, I have to start running and training again.

At the moment, I am not feeling like I want to run anymore. I just want to sulk in a corner and be miserable for days.
Actually, I spent the whole Sunday sleeping and clearing the headache & flu away. Am I feeling much better? Not really.

Do I want to go out and run? Not really.

I bonked. I need some time I guess before I return to running again. Boo!

Comments

  1. owh, this is the Saturday Night Run? I got few friend join this hehe

    Anyways . . . dont stop running ok! U must encourage me to run too XD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why you din follow your frens there. Can meet up. Can run slowly together also. xD

      Delete
  2. oh, no wonder the First Lady has been so quiet these few days.. hope you will get well soon!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. but oh, you are writing this LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG post!! i guess you are at least 90% recovered already??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looooooong winded post to make recovery faster.

      Better let out all the steam and then move on... xD

      Delete
  4. never mind the timing lah gadis.. you have tried your best right?? and it's that you are running to the finishing line..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the problem...

      I don't think it's my best effort. I should have been more mentally strong to break the pain. :(

      Delete
  5. don't get demotivated and quit with just this little unexpectation yet.. there are still more runs for you to achieve better results!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now, no mood already.
      *go sulk somewhere*

      Delete
  6. sorry ah, i really gotta confess i didn't read word by word.. just speed reading only lah.. haha!! see, i am very honest~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You better come again and read every single word! Naughty you!

      Delete
  7. Came to give you hugs
    Get well soon *pats Lina's back*

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's cooler to run in the night. You get to run round the Sepang international circuit wor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, it's hard to run at night. It's humid. Air also not fresh!

      But plus point - I got to run at Sepang International Circuit. How cool is that? Who needs four wheels? ;)

      Delete
  9. run if it make you happy, don't run if you feel unhappy
    Prof:dengar cite orang sebelah tak lari ari ni?
    Arale: ye lah tu, hahaha...
    lawak tak?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gi duk diam2 main notebook tu. Shhh...

      If I'm unhappy, org sebelah pun bakal tak gumbira jugak tau.
      Prof : dengar citer orang sebelah kena marah hari ni?
      Arale : yelah tu.
      Lawak jugak tak?

      Delete
  10. u hv done yr best..be happy and rest well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Rested well already I think but still feeling down. :(

      Delete
  11. Oh sorry to read about this! Not a good run for you this time eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A suffering run more like.

      This is the first time I actually just wanted it to end, instead of soaking in the run's atmosphere.

      Delete
  12. Maybe it has something to do with your flu? Lower immune system leads to lower strength and endurance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dunno.

      Maybe. But I still wished I didn't do as bad as I did that day.

      Delete
  13. Don't know about you, but for me, I can't go jogging or exercise when I am having the flu. It just makes my condition worse. I need plenty of rest, like sleeping the whole day! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sleeping seems to make me feel worse. But then, I can't help nodding off to sleep the whole day Sunday.

      Hope everything will be OK by Tuesday!

      Delete
  14. Quick response while waiting for a student who's late.

    Hayfever? Hayfever messes up everything! No wonder you couldn't reach your target time!

    PS Remember "If"? You'll be breaking records soon! More later ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How dare that student make you wait! xD

      I was ready to scratch my eyeballs out that Saturday morning. Ugh.

      Yeah yeah yeah... I'll slink away and read that poem now.

      Delete
    2. I was extremely happy that he was late. I could read a certain green book! :D

      I can't even manage a smile when I'm sick, so you no can do marathon when you don't feel lekker, ah!

      Delete
  15. However! Sulking is allowed! So is grumpiness! (^-^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have done both in this 24hours. Mood still not uplifted.

      No mood to indulge in chocolates too. Something mus be WRONG!!!!

      Delete
    2. Chop wood, carry water. Carry on with the mundane everyday stuff. Save chocolate for another day. Hope tomorrow is better! ^^

      Delete
  16. Good days and bad days of running. Btw get well soon, sucked to be sick during race day. And I'd do the same thing, loo before race many times lol. Anxiety XD;;;

    ReplyDelete
  17. Just like the race route, there are many ups and downs, and you were not feeling well anyway. Have a good rest and I'm sure you will come back much stronger. Happy running.
    KY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kah Yen.

      It's just that I'm feeling that I'm just giving excuses for a mediocre run. :(

      But I'll dust myself up and run happy soon... I hope. ^^

      Delete
  18. You should give yourself a break :) There's always gonna be one off race day. Nothing good rest wouldn't help and the next time, you'll get your game on.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hey, but you did finish the run! I thought you did great - by my layperson standards.

    Hope you are feeling better, Lina.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Need to finish lah... otherwise how to get back? Malu lah naik ambulance! So drama. LOL

      Thanks for the wish. :)

      Delete
  20. hope u'll do better next time sweetie.. and make sure ure healthy then too.. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fingers (and toes crossed)! :)

      I have another race in two weeks' time so I hope I'll fare better at it than the ENR 2012!

      Delete
  21. The 15.5k route is much tougher than the 42k, you did very well. Don't worry, only 2 more months before the SCKLM, with the training and effort pumped in you will sure doing better by then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have been prepared to tackle hilly routes. I haven't been doing much inclines lately other than running up the PICC hill once a week. That's simply not enough!

      SCKLM is so near, that's why I am more down. I'm having serious drop in confidence whether I can do a 21K. :(

      But I'm going to look for you, Nick, Kah Yen and others for motivation. ^^

      Delete
  22. No worries, the SCKLM half marathon route doesn't have hills, just inclines here and there but be prepared for the humidity.
    I totally get the feeling of , " I've could've done better." I get that all the time after a race but no worries, there'll be other races to prove that.
    Cheer up Lina. Brush it aside.
    Roll your eyes and say " whatever" and get back training for your next race.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the heads up!

      Will do so, Doc!

      Almost back to normal self anyway. ^^

      Delete
  23. "I don’t know how many inclines we had to face that night but it felt like all we did was going uphill and downhill for eternity"

    exactly!!!
    T____T

    But yeah, ENR'12 was great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kan? Race was great. Atmosphere: awesome.

      Kalau lah my kaki + heart also awesome that day. hu~

      Delete

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