Never Again!

That's what I told Zaini after I finished my Seremban Half Marathon. No, not never again running a half marathon or running but I told him I won't ever ask him to drive me over to Seremban to run in this race again.

There were a small number of female half-marathon runners at this event, but every time I saw one of them before the start, I went OMG! OMG!
1. The runners were all fast and seasoned runners
2. This race only gives out limited amount of medals.
OMG! OMG! Omaigad!!!
But I have to give credit where credit goes.

Pros :
  • Punctual start. A member of Negri Sembilan royalty flagged us off and yet, he was there before 6.30am! Respect. Other members of VVIPs in Malaysia should take heed of YAM Tunku Dato' Seri Utama Naquiyuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar example and follow suit on time management.
  • Ample water stations, stationed at every 4km and also cold sponges too. If I'm not mistaken, there were three sponge stations. Gatorade was served!
  • Cheerful student volunteers manning the water stations, ever ready to pass us cups of drinks.
  • Sprays were also available at most water stations and at the finish too.
  • Plenty of officials taking down runners numbers along the route. (Is it a pro? eheh heh)
  • Very patient Seremban drivers. Yes, some of them whizzed past us but none honked at us. And at junctions, most actually slowed down and gave way.
  • Nice route despite me getting conned thinking it is generally a flat route. Hahaha
Cons :
  • Except at certain junctions, no road marshalling. We ran at our own risk, making sure we kept to the left to avoid getting run over by cars. By the way, NTV7 Feel Good Run wasn't such a feel good run today as 3 female runners were ran over by an unknown car. o.O
  • Some of the traffic police were more keen about letting cars move on, than they were at making sure runners cross the road safely. I had to wait for a freaking 2 MINUTES(!) at a junction while the cops ignored me and other runners there and kept on letting cars pass. I finally had enough and ran away from the junction to a stretch that I can safely cross the road without the cops' assistance. No, I don't appreciate the unwanted "rest" that I got courtesy of the cops.
  • Merged with the school kids doing the 10K at the last 2K and boy... imagine sharing a one lane road with cars and motorbikes (and lorries) AND a gaggle of school kids who were having fun doing their Sunday walk, completely oblivious to road safety or road etiquette, let alone about runners' etiquette.
  • Nobody bothered about me at the finish line. I wasn't even sure where to head to or what to do after crossing the finish line timing mat. The Women's finish area had a white banner thingy obstructing the way so I hesitated there. While standing to find another way to pass through, a female volunteer finally noticed me and passed me my cert, medal and a lucky draw coupon.
  • There were plenty of vendors selling ice cream and whatnot. But the Milo vans were packed with kids and I think that was the only refreshment booth at the field, apart from another one serving... diluted grape flavoured drink(?)
  • No snack packs. We were given a lucky draw coupon instead and I got a snack pack. Oooooo bestnyer! 
When the half-marathoners were flagged off, the road we ran was filled with kids walking hand-in-hand happily oblivious that half-marathon runners were barelling through. I tapped a few on the shoulders and told them to move to the side. At that time, I wasn't annoyed at them (yet) but was worried that someone might run into them and both (walkers and runners) could get hurt.

The first km was a mess for me. My running skirt/tight kept on slipping down and I had to keep pulling them up. To make matter worse, I was wearing a rather short 2012 Penang Bridge Marathon vest. *slap forehead* Buat malu saja. Uhukhuk

Approaching an incline at around KM4, I met a lady runner (and marathoner). Girls being girls. We were like "hey! I have that same skirt" and "Yeah, bought it at MWM expo" that sort of talk. LOL 
My lovely boys waited for me at KM11. Zaini took shots of other runners (and me, of course!). Raimie ran with me for a few metres to give encouragement to me. Love them to bits, I do. ^^
This is how we run. Side by side with vehicles.
Raimie joining the "runners". Or should we say, school kids on a Sunday outing.

I really had a beef with some of the kids at the final 2km. I was already in a foul mood for taking a forced 2minute rest at the junction because I could not cross the road, courtesy of the "helpful" traffic people who just ignored me and a couple of other runners. I don't mind waiting to cross safely, BUT for 2MINUTES????? Standing under the sun for 2minutes when you already ran 19KM and all you want to do is to finish and rest????

It was here, at KM19 that half-marathon runners merged with 10K runners. School kids up ahead!

Just as I was running up an incline after the junction, in front of a Petronas station, two boys saw fit to run side by side me. They were talking in Tamil but the gist was, they were making fun of this auntie and wanted to outrun me. You want to show you run fast, go ahead la boys. But you DO. NOT. HAVE. TO. KEEP. BUMPING. INTO. ME and obstruct my way. By the way, I totally smoked them after 100m. *smirk*

Then, at the final 1.5km, it was almost impossible to run. I tried. When it was a downhill stretch. But again, some kids seems to take offence (or maybe got excited) and decided to sprint ahead of me each time I passed them. Again, you want to outrun me, by all means go ahead. BUT. PLEASE. DO. NOT. SPRINT. AND. STOP. RIGHT. IN FRONT. OF. SOMEONE who is also running. It's dangerous. Both of us could get hurt.

The one lane road going down was packed with school kids and they were completely disregarding their safety and was hogging up the lane. It would be OK if the road was closed off to traffic but it wasn't.

I really marvel at Seremban drivers' patience because despite these morons causing them a traffic jam, no honking were heard. AT ALL.

As I was running towards Parkson, I felt a bit confused. Tired is one thing. Seeing the front of Parkson completely filled with people and nobody showing the way to the finish line is another. Runners blocking the road right before the entrance to MPS field was another matter. I shouldn't be the one to say "excuse me, I need to pass" when all I want to do was finish, right? 

Oh yeah, before I forgot. Kids... If you start your 10K "walk" even before the half-marathoners were flagged off, don't you think that you're cheating? I noticed a group of them when I was running the first 3K. Zaini noticed a number of them too, all wearing the K and L bibs. Bravo kids!

Some of you may say that this is a small thing. BUT you start doing something bad small first before moving on to do bigger wrongs.
Can you see the massive crowd at the tent area and also the long queue in the forefront? Those were part of the 10K crowd.
Tired la...
This is the only photo I took with other runners there. I was feeling so tired and grumpy... I didn't want to linger any longer. Congrats Edan on your win!
Thought wanna eat breakfast at A&W but sooooooo many people!
So we ended up having a Subway breakfast. Well, the boys did. I can't seem to eat (was feeling vomitty) so I only had a cup of coffee.
My certificate of completion, a Royal Selangor made medal and my lucky draw goodies. They don't give out mineral water to finishers but instead I had to redeem my lucky draw coupon to get this. Haish.

Comments

  1. Sorry for misleading you about the flat route thingy. Me too felt terrible about the final stretch cause I think it's not that bad at previous years. Don't think I will return next year :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha no worries.

      Good job on your run, Neoh. And thanks for saying hi during the run. ^^

      Delete
  2. What a long post ranting out all that pissed you. I hope you feel better now. Well, running in KL and NS sure makes big difference!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But one thing for sure, Seremban drivers are more patient than the KL counterparts.

      Delete
  3. Well I am not surprised to hear the prince was early. I have always been fond of the Tuanku Jaafar's family, all good PRs one and Glam Glam like Mak Glam now. Hihihihi....

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  4. I was shocked to see you guys running alongside the buses and cars. So dangerous! Any mistake can mampus one!! I would scream and drag Letchumi home if I was there to see her run itu macam.. Aduhai! Mak Oi!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That one... Actually I still feel ok. Runs with my running group also like that. We just need to be aware of our surrounding...

      Delete
  5. I have kira your rants:
    7 Pros and 6 Cons! Next year you can run again lah! 7/6.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yummy! Eating healthy at Subway!

    This morning Letchumi baru cakap to Anay that they world today has more Subway outlets than McDonald's!!!!!! Hard to believe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But with all the sauces we like to dump on our sandwich, it might be not that healthy after all. :-D

      Delete
  7. For a moment I thought you were giving up running. :P

    Good job on completing the run despite the obstacles!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Finish of course I must. ;-)

      It was an experience.

      Delete
  8. Yeah I was thinking the same too after the race. It felt like a dejavu with all those annoying school brats were hogging the last 2KM, just like in last year Penang Bridge's... Urghh, I almost ran into a plumpy Chinese girl who was crossing the road at the downhill section... Terrible!

    It was a hot race nonetheless, lack of marshalls especially at the major junctions, police x boleh pakai punya lah, I despise that particular policeman too...

    Well hopefully things will be getting better next year, I wish!!! Kudos to you btw for the pewter medal n not too shabby timing... U were fast around KM3! Sayang Xsempat amik pic together2 and exchange some gifts... ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laju the first 3km jer. Lps tu semput! Ahaha

      Good job on your run!

      We need to set another date to meet next time.

      Delete
    2. Tuh yang tokojut den bila terjumpa Kak Lina after 3km... Sebab saya tengah stragel lari time tuh... Hahaa...

      Yeah, some other time then... Kena on standby mode tuh... hehee... =D

      Delete
  9. "I totally smoked them after 100m. *smirk*"

    Long live aunties!

    PS: I know disorganized stuff irritates you (oh, me too!), but I can't help grinning when I read your rants. You make me miss home. (^0^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not too sure now (as I am typing this in a more calm mood) whether it's the chaos that irritates me or because I didn't get much free food there. Heh heh

      Delete
    2. You should've clobbered those kids over the head and stolen their rations and pocket money and, ag, everything! :D

      Delete
    3. don't put ideas in my head.

      Tempting though. :-D

      Delete
  10. Maybe not so experienced in organising such events. Send your views to the organisers and hopefully, they will improve next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The event happen to be one of the oldest HM events in Malaysia.

      Delete
  11. Wah...panas jugak ye semalam. Nice medal, Lina! Job well done. Sabar je la budak2 tu ye...kecik2 dah mengelat. Jgn la sampai besar mcm tu jugak.
    I hope your shoulder is better.
    I still don't have my ramadhan training plan in place... :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kan? Kecik2 dah buat mcm tu. Might as well takyah jln terus. Lepak je kat A&W tu... Dahla ramai yg terang2 smoking. :(

      Shoulder feel a bit better today jadi kita tangguhkan lagi jumpa doktor tu... Adui.

      I ingat my Ramadhan running plan will be just tempo runs kot. I realised lately I can't even focus holding a certain pace for long stretch of time. O.O

      Delete
  12. one for sure, A&W make a lot of monies that day...$$$

    ReplyDelete
  13. i think yesterday when i was walking at the field, i heard the organizse said "ini lah model half marathon yg patut di contohi oleh penganjur yang lain"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *snort*

      Serious?

      But for a HM event, the number of HM runners are way too low every year.

      But credit must be given also la for the many many officials taking down our numbers along the route, despite the race having a timing mat checkpoint at halfway point. Kat SCKLM pun takde. Haha

      Punctual pun punctual.

      Dapat minum Gatorade.

      :-P

      You lari mana semlm? Seremban too?

      Delete
  14. aiyoyo so much rantings about this SHM?? then next time must be more selective about your run lah, don't just simply click and register everything till that somebody also not aware which runs you are taking part~~ :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now, I also not sure what race I signed up for unless U look at my organiser. LOL

      Delete
  15. now that you are Mak Glam already, must be selective on what you run.. just like famous actors don't simply go for every mundane casting but only Hollywood Class A production.. hahaha!!

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  16. glad to hear that the VVIP from the royal family of NS was punctual, and was there even earlier than the flag off time!! now, that's someone all the VVIPs out there should learn from!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes! Absolutely!

      Kedah MB caused runners to run under the hot sun because a running event in Kedah was late waiting for his arrival, 1.5hours late! O_O

      Delete
  17. aiyo, dangerous lah, running alongside cars and buses and trucks!! but i guess polite and patient riders in Seremban didn't actually caused threats to the runners huh?? if that would be in KL/PJ, then it would be another story i guess..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yalah, if we run like this in KL or Putrajaya, sure kena knocked down already; O.O

      Delete
  18. that bottle of mineral water and that packet of yam yam were what you got as snacks with the coupon?? hahaha.. but not bad lah, at least you get a RM120 Brooks voucher, at least 50% of your next new pair of running shoes right?? :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got a lot of that RM120 vouchers, left unused. :-D

      Delete
  19. wow, you have done it again! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  20. congratulations on the medal :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. standing there two minutes?? no wonder you are pissed off

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right?

      usually during races, runners will be given way otherwise what for stationed traffic police at a not so busy junction with traffic lights????

      Delete
  22. the two kids mocking you tu u sure they are just mocking and not trying to hamsap you ah? why kept bumping against you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No lah, the way they ran was unstable... Looks like Form 1 or 2 boys. Just happy main main. But damn, it was annoying but lucky they ran out of steam fast. Auntie ran 19km already still can outrun teenage boys. LOL

      Delete
  23. how to run with so many kids obstructing the way. should have do different timing or what la

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We start different timing but the finish sure will bump one.

      It's normal and I usually don't mind them but at this race, the road was small; it wasn't closed for traffic; and the kids were way too many.

      Delete
  24. Wow! Half or full marathon, them seem like hard works! I wonder when I would have that determination to run?? But well done and keep up the good work Lina!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure you do. :-)

      But start small first and work your way up once you feel confident.

      But yes, it is hard work. But it is also FUN! :-)

      Delete
  25. Jangan lar marah-marah. Asal you have done the race and experienced it. We all have our good and bad races too. Congratulations on finishing! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha

      Just want to let off steam.

      OK already. :P

      I'm not like you... So +ve despite the chaos of Salomon run. I guess I must put in more races to feel the zen. ^^

      Delete
    2. Well, I was upset at first but what can you do. At that point of time, you know the damage is done. So we all just make the best of it. But if it's HM or FM; lain cerita. Lolx!

      Delete

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