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.

Comments

  1. That was awesome, Lina!

    Take care my friend, maybe you need to consider a good rest before going for the next race.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ECL.

      Yeah, I think a bit of time-off and putting my feet up is needed. :(

      Delete
    2. Go for foot massage! Go for pedicure! Pamper those feet~~

      Delete
    3. Not now. Kaki still in so much pain. I know why it is. I was compensating the side that got blister and strike on the side that had no blister more and in turn, cause pain there.

      Hobbling around today. But it's getting better. Hopefully can jump around tomorrow. hahaha

      eih, why become nightowl tonite?

      Delete
    4. No starfishing... kekekeke~

      Delete
  2. Oh, help, it's still pitch dark when you start running! (@_@)

    You struggle uphill, woman, coz you're not running in high heels lah! :p

    That blister looks painful, and I really hope the stabbing pain isn't serious. Give your feet some TLC, ne!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do wake up before the sun rises. I am a jungle woman too, remember? ;)

      Imagine if I do this in heels. The ankle will be swollen and be like an elephant's feet tomorrow! LOL

      It is rather painful... but well, part and parcel of doing this, I guess. xD

      Delete
  3. Ouch!!! Blisters hurt... Uphill? Alamak...flat ground also, I already pengsan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha...

      Pengsan then can just roll down the hill to finish! Or naik ambulance! Glemer! LOL

      Delete
    2. hahahaha, i was imagining if STP rolling down the hill.. the runners behind him sure all like bowling pins.. all kena naik ambulance lah~~ :D

      Delete
    3. lol .. it is a strike... X to STP

      Delete
  4. Flyers? What kind of flyers, kak lina? Another running event? I heard that the Dragon Back Run will be held next Jan 2013... Lots of rolling hills to roll ourselves up n down...

    Btw, Congratz Kak Lina! How's your timing? Got a PB this time around? That big old blister looked painful to me... Speedy recovery kak Lina... It's time for mkn2 kambing time huhuuu...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dragonback is on Jan 20th. Nak pegi ke? Nak pi Setia Alam ni pun dah kena bebel tau. Almost 100K mileage for the return trip! ;p

      Takde PB nyer... I pelari yg pemalas... hahaha

      Wowweeee makan kambing? Beshnyer... Nasi Arab ke? xD

      Delete
    2. Hehee.. Kalo g Penang boleh, apala sgt Kuala Selangor nih Kak Lina huhu.. Tackle him with your sweet talks n charming asset, for sure he'll melt n agreed with your passion.. Hehee u guys shud head up to the Fire House up the Melawati Hill, lots of monkeys n lotong to give feed... Besh k!

      Wahh Kak Lina wat HM d PBIM... Super awesome Kak Lina, speedy recovery ok... I'm still down with toncilitis, sore throat, dizzy spells... Must see doc today...

      Delete
    3. Take care. Rest well and makan ubat, okay?

      Hahaha... iyer ke I pegi PBIM? keskesks

      Delete
  5. Congratulation on completed another 21k! No worry about the timing and I think we all had some fun this morning.

    Have some good rest and let the leg heal first before you continue. See you in Penang 2 weeks later :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We certainly did! Hubby met with your team/friends this morning, right? :)

      Hahaha... yes yes. See you in Penang. Provide the foot heals in time lah. Hubby is threatening me to cancel it, if the foot hurts real bad. Adui...

      Delete
    2. Yup, Zaini said hi to me when my team waiting for the result.

      Take it easy, just turn it into a makan trip if unable to run in Penang :)

      Delete
    3. Pity didn't take photo of you & team. ;)

      If I can't run next two weeks, Zaini refused to drive all of those 5 hour to Penang!

      So I'm going to be a good girl and make sure foot healed by Nov 18th. ^^

      Delete
  6. Congratulations! Running uphill for kilometers? Ouch. Kalau I lari naik bukit I could feel my lungs sort of makin mengembang hehe (bukan bukit pun, incline je pun jadi). Oh, hari panas, yes, BIM! Do we need to get sunnies? Tampak lebih bergaya :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ala... since I cannot wear contacts, takleh lari penuh gaya with shades. kakaka

      Yeah, looooooooong incline that streches for KMs. Good for "lung expansion" training, I suppose. kakaka

      I told my hubby I'm running this route and this distance again next year and challenge that blasted incline and shadeless route! ;)

      How's training for PBIM?

      Gi buat LSD dgn Nannoor ke?

      Delete
    2. Yup tadi pegi presint 14 dengan kawan I jugak, park kat terminal bas tu (why did I had a tough time finding it when I knew where Presint Diplomatic is and tempat bas tu tepi jalan je). Nannoor had to wait, kesian dia :(.
      The weather was on our side, nasib baik! Kalau tak mesti dah ala2 BIM jugak.

      Delete
    3. Nice.

      Lari naik bukit ek?

      Minggu depan buat lagi ke? :)

      Delete
  7. congrats! You did it again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow, already woke up at 3:30am?? hmmm, was i sleeping or still awake?? haha, good lah, you really so healthy..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wake up at 3.30am where got healthy. weird ada la! Hahaha

      Delete
    2. Why do you woke up at 3.30am? Over anxious? You should have sleep longer and get Zaini to wake you up the same time as Raimie~~:p

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    3. Must wake up early on race day. Make sure lausai, pee, makan hours before the run. Then, of course have to drive over to race site. ;)

      It's perfectly normal for runners to wake up at that time on weekends. ;p

      Delete
  9. hahaha, very true lah.. put aside whether you are admiring your V-signs or not, with those photos you know how well your running form and pose are lah.. so how do you rate yourself?? :p

    ReplyDelete
  10. so nice lah, free flow of watermelon slices and also the vico and revive!! oh, my favorite lah.. and this time around nasi lemak or fried beehoon?? yummy~~ no taufu fah?? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Different race organiser mah... xD

      Nice right? Paid only RM45 registration fee, got t-shirt, got pewter medal, got lotsa fun and lotsa makan too! Plenty of freebies at sponors' booth too!

      Delete
    2. But not worth for me leh. Almost kaput to complete the run, blisters all over my feet, maybe need volunteer to bring me to the finishing line, lol! That's what I foresee myself in the run.

      Delete
    3. hahaha...

      It's a sense of pride. Wrong but you know lah, we can be crazy sometimes. xD

      The doctor took one look at my foot and ask whether I've been out running. Yup but "just" 21K lah Doc. kekeke

      Delete
  11. OMG, that blister!! ouch, looks painful lah.. and you somemore have back-to-back run!! and that blister is RED, too much friction and the owner of the foot is still not doing something?? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doc gave me cream to make it dry up faster already.

      I wore the wrong kind of socks. I knew I got the wrong sock on after just 3K running. ;p

      Delete
  12. aiyoh, where are the HHBC?? how come i am the only one here, and somemore so late already.. all went starfishing already ah?? tsk tsk tsk..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sunday is a relaxing day..
      rest and eat le..

      Delete
    2. This HHBC busy till half dead la.....wanna poo also not time now baru got time come chat

      Delete
    3. SP all tired from jogging, cleaning house and grrrr grrrr. Where got energy to spam.

      Meow...
      Haiyo why so busy? Don't forget to take time to pee & poo also. Cannot just go around and eat without discharging them too! LOL

      Delete
  13. Blister.. I really hate blister..
    that is why I always go for a good shoes and a good pair of socks..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's kinda inevitable when you put in a lot of mileage on your feet.

      My shoes and socks are ALL good. ^^ expensive to boot too! LOL

      It's just that even with anti-blister socks, some works better than the other. :)

      Delete
  14. Running is fun but girl must take care yourself..
    last time I read some articles saying that running kills.. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anything also can kill. Naik kereta also can mati but we still ride around in them, right? xD

      Delete
  15. lol .. so you must shave your armpit bulu for any race... good nice and clean ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, must look nice and clean to look good in photos, you know. ;)

      Delete
  16. yesterday kat Publika can see a lot of people running. Got police traffic and all...was wondering if you were there :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ye ker? Didn't know got running event there.

      No lah.. I was at Setia Alam yesterday. Now eksen already... I like 21K distance than all those shorter ones... Short runs means kena lari fast. SEMPUT! LOL

      Delete
    2. Ops! Must be the Live Great Run la... I was looking for a run that start at Publika. Silly me. ^^!

      Delete
  17. salute la those runners. Go uphill ask me to cycle already tired. This one up hill running . Lagi teruk. Must have lot of stamina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can walk la...

      Hills are good to make one runs stronger and faster. But it is NOT easy! :)

      Delete
  18. lina, you woke up 3.30pm, did you take a nap in the afternoon later? I can survive with so little sleep la!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got my 6 hours sleep already la. I went to bed at 10pm the night before. :-D

      Delete
  19. I can see you really have so much passion in running. I salute you so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's just a fun thing to do. :-D
      gotta salute the people who tagged along for me to run this ie hubby & son. <3

      Delete
  20. Congrats and I agree with Neoh, let the leg heal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know I should... but it's gonna be hard to be patient and rest. ;p

      Congrats on your Powerman outing too! :)

      Delete
  21. Lamp post as? Counter?

    Is that your own metric or it's sort of ISO one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lamp post count is a way to motivate oneself to keep on moving forward when both the body and mind feels fatigues already. It's something to look and count.

      This is taught to newbie runners at the My First Run Clinic I attended on Saturdays. We used it to motivate Raimie do 4K runs. :)

      Delete
  22. Gadis petai is so friendly she even can make friend while running :)

    But it's like we have some target to chase during the run. Er, donkey chasing carrot - like in the cartoon? Kekeke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually me not friendly one...

      But men always are. ;p

      Delete

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