A Tempo Run That Didn't Happen

I wasn't planning to do any run this Saturday. When a group of lady runners wanted to arrange an LSD session, I declined. Didn't think I'd be able to wake up that early on Saturday morning and do a 15K run.

Because, I plan on doing soemthing fun till late night on Friday.

But then, Nannoor got us interested in this run, a "mere" 7.8K organised by Uniten students. Plus, it's for charity. Nannoor helped me to sign up and I figured, even if I can't wake up on Saturday morning; the money isn't going to waste and all procceds from the run will go to MAKNA.

Arrived 7.20am ish, blur blur made our way to the Uniten's library lobby. While walking, a friend of Ezzard; Rashid said hi. :) Friendly chap but pity I didn't take a photo with him. He has mine (with him, after the run) so Rashid - share share na... ^^

At 7.50am, still yet to start. Scheduled flag off? 7:30 am. Not as if they were waiting for any VIP to make a speech or anything. Waiting for the two Akademi Fantasia "stars" to arrive kot.

While waiting, met these lady runners. Chit-chatted a lot (late flag off mah), go to toilet, drink water, bla bla bla "kutuk" runners who were putting their game face on. Ahahaha!!!! By the way, the "kutuking" part was done with Zaini. The ladies are all nice. ;)

8am already, sun so high and what time is it? "Senam"robik time. Zaini forced me to join so that he can a take shot of me doing it. Warm up can la... but I don't do static stretching before any run; which was what were done that morning. Why? I realised early on when I started running regularly that I am injury prone if I do static strecthing for warm up. My warm up just consisted of easy run and maybe a set of strides (and usually during a race; is the first KM on the run. Lazy bum me. hahaha) Stretching for me is AFTER a run.

Then, we were "ushered" to the starting line. 8:20am, still have to listen to dunno what that boy emcee was talking. Then waited for the two stars to be introduced and take their place at the front of the line. Hot already la wei!!!!

Fairy surged ahead and I was just behind Nannoor for the first KM. Caught up to Nannoor reaching the first km to egg her and tell her that an auntie (in VFF no less) had managed to smoke both of us! I bet the auntie will say - see the leg lah! Hahaha

Ngam ngam 1K, Nannoor wanted to pick up pace and asked me to follow her. She's doing a HIIT program for this run and she's sticking to it. Me? I wanted to do a tempo pace, 2K warm up and 6K tempo pace. Well, that was the plan la.

Reaching the second KM, I was like - "lemme warm up a bit more and maintain this easy pace for one more KM. I'll pick up pace after KM3". By this time, Millie passed me and ran steadily ahead of me.

Run, run, run some more then got shocked that I had dwaddled for way too long - I ran slowly for 4.2K already! Alamak! By that time, I was silently cursing the hot weather. PANCIT!

Started to pick up pace, caught up with Millie; marveled with her at how an "uncle" (who must be a staff of Uniten - one of the lecturers I think, as guards were clapping for him along the route) ran slowly and steadily yet was always in front of us. Followed Millie's pace for a bit until I lose concentration (after being sarcastic to one of the volunteers - I'll tell about it later). Just as I picked up pace and heading downhill - and only at 5KM mark, aik? A girl was giving out placing numbers? I actually blurted out : "Finish already? Under distance ni, Dik!" Pocoyo nyer.... Muahaha

The advertised 7.8K run was actually only 5.2K! *slap forehead*

Amongst us ladies in our group, Nannoor was the first one to arrive. Her HIIT program went well.

The one who didn't even run on tempo pace despite her plan to do it that day was a slow second. Got totally dissed by Zaini about the slow timing. huhuhu 

psssttt... the "uncle" I mentioned about earlier in this post was that guy in white pants. ;p

and Millie who wasn't far behind me

Group photo!

I brought along this to share-share with the gals but in the end, didn't even had the chance to open the pack. This is folks, my race fuel. heh heh

For a 5K run, we spent like 2 hours there, 1hours+ waiting to be flagged off, then the run itself, then waiting to get our medals. The students told us the medals were going to be given out during the closing ceremony but I can't help noticing that some people (including white pants uncle) got their medals and cert. Confronted the students at the medal counter and was told they gave them put for people in a rush. What the?

I told them "eiiiiyyy... anak akak kat rumah tu sapa nak jaga, kalau akak tunggu lama-lama kat sini? Uncle yang you bagi tadi tu nak rush pegi mana? Bagi bagi" which basically means "I have a son waiting at home. I need to get back soon" - it's a more diplomatic translation of what I said la Ru. heh heh

But actually no rush la. Got our medals (the rest of the ladies went to claim theirs too) and of course, must take photo with medals afterwards. Take here, take there then only go home.

Zaini didn't take any photos of us with the medals, so I have to wait for the ladies to upload them and share. ^^ 

Also, Rashid; if you are reading this- nanti upload FB the photo eh? I don't have any photo taken with you. Zaini told me you were gone too fast. Maklumla, 7th placing runner, kan? ;)

Whine time!

Before I start whining, I do apologize to some of the students volunteers there for having to deal with me. But you can't be a smart-ass too. Especially not with aunties, you know.

The race was a small race. Really small race. I don't think the students spread the word around about this event too much. 

• They still accepted on-site registration which probably one of the reason for the delay of flag off. Plus, with such a small turnout for it; I suppose the organiser was still hoping for more runners to drop by (after 30 minutes of the advertised flag-off time)
• OK, so it's an event organized by students. Late la? Really? My son's school always start events on schedule. 
• Late flag-off on a sunny day meant we ran with the heat. HOT! Got fried! How am I supposed to survive 42.195km at BIM like this?????????
• Already late and the emcee still want to talk and talk at the starting line. Haiz 
• Unnecessary "odour" inhaled. My god. These youngsters didn't take a shower (or wear deodorant at the very least) before going out ke? Dizzy man...
• Checkpoint ribbons - way too many of them. And the ribbons were cut into 5cm strips. Where am I supposed to stash it? Plus, what's the point of the ribbons, adik-adik? At the last checkpoint ribbon giving spot, the two girls didn't even made the effort to hand out the ribbon. I had to stop in front of them and ask them whether they want to give me the ribbon or not. o.O  9.00am already. WAKE UP! WAKE UP! Be alert.
• a 7.8K run that turned out to be just 5K? Engineering students has no device to calculate distance meh?
• Nannoor told us that the route is realtively flat. Really? Undulating route, more like. I should have referred to Doc Julin's post about running there in Feb for reference instead. Jahat Nannoor ni tau! huhuhu

Zaini told me to stop whining to "cover up" on the slow and very uninspiring run that I did. I guess he's right. *slink away in sadness*

Anyway, it's not all negative and complain-complain here and there at the race. The organising student body (or whatever you call them) gave out nice goodies bag at the start of the race. Generous even.  I met that group of lady runners finally. So yeah, not a waste of an outing at all. ^^

Anyway, good job for doing this for MAKNA so you deserve a clap. *clap clap*

A new t-shirt to wear (for Zaini), a cert and a medal to boot. What's not to like?

Since I had such an "easy" (yeah, right) run, cannot be lazy and must do the scheduled 15K tomorrow. No excuses! Serves me right!