Flattened By The Hill

Well, some may say it's not even a hill but a mere incline... Yeah, running in the CICM Responsible Care Run saw us climbing up a gradual incline that was like, 3KM long. 3K of going up! Ugh!

Here I go again, with another 21K run, after the Putrajaya Night Marathon two weeks ago, where I also did a half-marathon distance. You think Putrajaya undulating route was bad? I think CICM route is worse! But don't get me wrong. I love it despite the abysmal timing I did. ^^

I woke up at 3.30am and quietly went to get myself ready. Zaini woke up around 4.00am and we woke Raimie up at around 5.00am. Took 40 minutes to travel from our home to Setia Alam. First order of business, searched frantically for the toilet. Oh! It was located way back...

Pee first and then made my way to the starting line. Here I am in front of the finish line muching a free powerbar. They gave out powerbars generously here and even gave some to Zaini and Raimie! o.O

The starting line was next to the finish line and seconds after this photo was taken, the annoucement for Category A (Men Open) B (Men Veteran) and C (Women) to report ourselves to the starting line and pick up our first checkpoint ribbon. No timing chip for this run, so sendiri time sendiri punya run, wokay?

At the starting line. I never liked to be right in front but somehow was standing there waiting for the start of the race, just behind the eventual champion of the Women category. @.@

I only wanted to maintain a 7min+ pace so by the first KM, I think I got passed by every single runner of the 21K distance that morning! huhuhu

12km to go and what I saw in front of me? A stretch of road that went up, uP and UP! Waaaaaa!!!! I told myself I'd try and run up to 8 lamp posts and then stop and walk if I can't deal with the incline. Managed to run up OK but then I was faced with more incline. Oh what the????

Decided there and then to "experiment" and did Fartlek a.k.a speed play as the route was getting rather monotonous with nothing much to see. I ran 10 lamp posts at 5.40-6.00min pace, slow jog and walk a bit. Thereafter, it turned into 1K run, 10 lamp posts fast and 5 lamp posts walk.

 

7K to go. Sun was up brightly by this time. Hot! Hot! Hot! Borneo International Marathon suddenly came to mind. uhuhuh

These icy cold sponges was a godsend. I stopped to get my water bottle refilled (I refilled it three times during the run! The water station volunteers were so helpful. Thank you peeps!) then stopped to enjoy a "sponge bath". Took my time wiping my hot, sweaty body with the sponges because they felt soooooo good.

From KM15 onwards, I was running either in front or at the back of this one guy in compression and when we were approaching KM18, he passed me again and actually said hi! :) By this time, the sun suddenly decided to disappear and the weather turned overcast. Thank god!

He left me behind quite far after that, but with that 1K run, 10 lamp post fast and 5 lamp post walk, I somehow managed to overtake him and stayed in front when I approached the finish line. There was this other lady, decked in black too who kept passing me (and getting passed) that made me picked up my pace and left her behind when we were approaching the final 1K. To both of you, thank you. You made my run more interesting today.

Anyway, I do need to mention too that the race marshalls and volunteers at this run were absolutely awesome! Well, except for the Rela uncle at the last junction who didn't even bother to stop incoming traffic for us runners and we had to cross the road when it was finally clear and by looking left and right! Yeeeee... o.O

Approaching the finish line. Must look good running. Must look good running. Screw timing! Muahaha!!!! 

But seriously, one reason I love looking and scouring for my running photos is not for me to see how good I look with my cheesy "V" sign but rather I view this as the one opportunity to see my running form. Arms too wide apart? Stride too small? Heel striking? etc. How else can I see how I run being documented other than by photos taken by Zaini and other photographers? Cheesy "V" sign is totally a must though. Hahaha

Official photographer told me to raise my arms, so raise lor... Why? Need to have the bib number visible for identification later. pstt... lucky armpit is cleanly shaven already!

Obligatory medal shot with son. He helped his daddy today distributing some flyers. Such a good boy, no? ^^

Breakfast! A choice of either fried meehun or nasi lemak + Gardenia waffles. Freeflow of watermelon slices. Eat all you want. Vico drinks. Revive isotonic. More powerbars. Wow! Kenyang!

The top 10 winners of 21K Women category.

Memento of this run : 1. Pewter medal

2. Huge huge blister. Even worse than the one I got for 2012 SCKLM's. No blister for the two 21K run I did previously though.

My left foot encountered a sharp stabbing pain when I picked up pace to make a strong finish at the final KM and unfortunately, it is still painful now. I hope it's nothing serious. I have back-to-back races this month. A 10K next week and a 21K in two weeks' time. Oh dear.