A Night Fun Run In Cyberjaya

A first for me. Running the route, that is. My first time running in Cyberjaya, running in the Firefighters Cyberjaya Night Half Marathon last night.

I didn't exactly jumped to register when it first opened. The inaugural event was held by a first timer if am not mistaken and I do have this thing about just joining any race organised by any Tom, Dick & Harry. Anyway, that later changed and I registered on the last day of the early bird (or last day of registration or something...)

There was a bit of glitch come race kit collection day. While the 10K runners could collect their race kit the week before the event, the 21K runners had to collect theirs on race week. Friday or on race da itself. Something to do with the event t-shirt, I heard.
Unlike other road races, the organiser provided different coloured tee for the 10K and 21K runners which is actually kinda cool for me. You can differentiate the different categories just by a glance at their t-shirt.

Some runners grouched about not getting a half-marathon finisher tee. For me, I don't need one. Go run 42K and get one la, Bub! Run a bit also want all sort of things. Later race fees go up, complain also. Haish.

Race day. It rained heavily in the afternoon in my neighborhood. Was feeling apprehensive about it as if it rains then this would be my second run in the rain in a week's time. Habislah my red Adidas. Hohoho

Good thing the rain had stopped by the time we arrived the Balai Bomba in Cyberjaya, the race venue. 
Wasn't feeling hungry so instead of having dinner, I just had half of a croissant and a cup of cocoa drink before the run. 
Awesome meeting with a respected "lejen" runner. 
With GC members.
Important thing to do before a race. 1. Go to toilet 2. Take lotsa photos with running kakis. All checked. ;-)

Flag-off for 21K was at 8:15pm. A bit congested at the start line as the 10K runners were standing around behind the start/finish arch too. Crowd control should be applied next time here so that 21K runners aren't held back by the 10K runners. 

I ran with the GC members for the first 2K before lagging behind. They were way too fast for me. I was doing like 20min for my first 3K. No no no, don't want to risk a pancit and suffering run so I slowed down considerably after the 3rd K mark. I wasn't planning for a PB or anything this time, Haven't been running much so I am just treating this as my long run training.

The route was nice. It's not flat but nothing too steep either. There were inclines littered along the route to make it less boring for runners. There were a few stretch of unlit road that we had to run through but the organiser had thoughtfully placed a few trucks with ermm... disco lights to guide us. Nice gesture but it did make me feel kinda dizzy. LOL And there were a few stretches that runners had to run carefully, along construction site. 
Some runners seem to think that hurling negative comments and scolding people their right just because they paid tho... Hurmmm...
Didn't stop at the first water station (WS) as I usually only hydrate at KM10 but I did stop at the second WS at KM6 mark because I want to take photo of the above sign. Stop already, drink a bit lah... ;-)

The traffic was a bit heavy along the strecth from KM6-8 because of the residential area and there weren't any coned-off road for runners. A cause for concern; yes but any of you ran MWM 2013? We had to deal with much busier traffic there with not so much of a marshall holding up the traffic for us.

At least at Cyberjaya it was like 70% traffic free route that we enjoyed last night. 
Before the KM9 WS. At KM8 mark if not mistaken
Yup, sure I was sweaty (and most probably smelly too) by this time. Stopped at WS3 and there were runners asking for 100-Plus. There weren't any but we were told that the next WS will have some.
Had expected WS4 to be at KM12 mark but turned out it was after KM13. I ran taking note of the distance markers that were placed at every 2K along the route so I was expecting the next WS will be quite near when I see the KM12 distance marker and picked up my pace only to kena run another km for my drinks. Adui. Hahaha

WS4 had only water and no isotonic too (can imagine runners complaining about this) but there were bananas served here. Saw a few familiar faces at the WS enjoying their bananas and taking a bit of a breather.

At around KM14.5 just after a climb, I nearly fell as I tripped on a spilled hardened cement. The effort to not fall flat on my face kissing the road somehow caused me a pulled muscle. My butt was hurting so I decided to walk it off. By this time, a runner friend passed me. She was running/walking strong despite a worrisome ankle pain.

Looked for medic/spray (there were ambulance stationed along the route and marshalls on bikes) but no luck... so I thought what the heck... If I just continue to walk, it'll take so much longer to finish so I tried to jog the pain off. Faster finish this. Pain - think about it later lah. 

The next WS was at KM17 mark I think. When I reached the WS, the volunteers apologised to us because they ran out of paper cups but they were quick enough to pour drinks into empty bottles (just enough for one runner to drink) so we won't have to chug our drink from a full bottle. No biggie la. I told the volunteers so. 

Some runners took a whole bottle with them I guess as I saw bottles still quite full littering the road after the WS. What a waste. Here's a question? Why can't we stop and drink at WS instead? 

We ran until a junction approaching Shaftsbury. It was quite confusing as I thought we'll be running straight ahead though that would mean the route being under-distanced. However, saw a police traffic motioning runners to turn left. If there's no traffic police/marshall most runners would just run straight ahead.
At KM18. "You're not slow. You're just enjoying the course" ^^
By this time, I saw the faster runners already looping back and that did picked my spirit up. We're almost there! Yeay!

The last WS was at KM19 mark. They also ran out of paper cups but mineral water was aplenty. I had 100-Plus here. I heard afterwards that some runners complained about the lack of water stations and about WS running out of drinks so I guess I was lucky because I managed to hydrate properly along the route. WS at 3K apart is quite OK for me. Generous even.

From KM19 it was a climb towards the finish line. Blergh. Decided to walk it and jog on decline. 
If you can walk around the mall for hours, why not try do it outdoors once in a while? ;-)
At KM20 mark. Yeay. 1K more to go. Happy happy joy joy LOL
"Abang macho sedang menunggu. Hurry up" LOL
And then, I finished! Yeay.

Finished, got my medal (which I promptly stashed in my pocket) head out and thought of waiting for friends. But son was almost dozing off by the roadside and hubby told me to hurry up. Went back in to check for my snack pack. There were cakes, soup & bread being served, along with hot tea. No fruit left though. Didn't fancy eating them so I head out and we went back straight after that.

All in all, a good run for me. The race is of course not perfect. There were hiccups but for a first time effort, the race organiser did a commendable job.

They did apologise for the hiccups. And constructive suggestions were duly noted.
  • Water stations could be improved
  • Separation of 10K crowd from the starting line when 21K are flagged-off
  • more visible distance marker (the size of a billboard?) as plenty of runners seemed to not see them
  • checkpoint ribbons should be placed at KM18 or so when runners need to loop back to finish their run. It's too easy to cut short the run at the KM17-19 stretch.
Kudos on
  • separate colour tees for 21K and 10K. I loike
  • trucks with lights at unlit stretches 
  • marshalls - along the route and on bikes
  • friendly volunteers
  • and oh yeah, nice looking medal. :-)
While Mommy was running, the two boys enjoyed dinner at one of the stalls at the Bomba station. A nice addition to the event was stalls selling food and even clothing items!
and of course, they checked out the Bomba's exhibition too. Even got to get on a fire truck. Nice. ^^
Thank you to race organiser and volunteers and also friends who supported us that night. I had fun.

A sidenote : this is my 12th half-marathon done todate. The next run will be Back to Endurance, a 12hours Ultra. Looking forward to it! ^^

Comments

  1. I like those quote along the "run" it's really make the runner have the motive to continue till the end!!! And the medal looks so cool, not like what I expected it always in circular shape, hehe!!!

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    Replies
    1. School medals are still round.

      Road races medals are seldom round. ;-)

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  2. Love those words they prepared, funny yet can be very motivated!

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    Replies
    1. Yup. A nice motivation for runners :-)

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  3. congratulation for finish 21 km running, sure i can't finish....
    very interesting motivation banners..heee

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  4. Night run is better than day run as cooler I guess.

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    Replies
    1. Not really. Just no sun to burn you ;-)

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  5. Thank you Lina. Really appreciate it.

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    Replies
    1. I had fun. What wasn't perfect can be improved next year. :-)

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  6. Smlm anda amat gagah.. tahniah..

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  7. Same same, for me go toilet first... hehe...

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    1. Settle most important thing first ;-)

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  8. oh, interesting!! the earlier run you had was with the firemen in the day.. and this night run with the firefighters also.. or was it just the name, I didn't see any hunky macho firemen posing together with Mak Glam?? hehehe~~

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    Replies
    1. because tarak jumpa hunky firemen. Arrived late and went off early. :P

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  9. love those banners to keep the runners entertained throughout the night and to keep everyone motivated.. and yeah, that medal is certainly very awesome, and great too to be able to get on a fire truck!! nice ^^

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  10. Kak Lina, I didn't see you last evening!!!

    With that said, I also did not notice almost all the nice banners you took photos of. The price of running in the dark sans glasses.

    Good luck on your ultra!

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    Replies
    1. Aaaaaaaa and I missed you too. Aisey, kalau tak can jumpa kan?

      How was your run? Good I hope ^^

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  11. wow, congrats and that's a nice medal!

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  12. For a moment there I thought you were saying first time running at night but think back...couldn't be ah

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  13. Hahaha so many funny msg /sign . Sure interesting. Eyes sure keep on a look outvfor those.

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    1. Yalah... & makes the route much interesting to run. :-)

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  14. Well done , lina ! You are really a marathon runner ! I guess most of us just rest and tidur on a Sunday night. Yeah, the organiser should buck up !

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    1. Thanks Chris.

      But this one only 21K run la. Not yet marathon. Haha

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  15. I saw you! Wheezing by in kelisa laaa tgh cari parking hahahaha

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    Replies
    1. Adakah anda yang berwarm-up di tepi kereta di kawasan park & ride? ;-)

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    2. Memang park kat Park & ride area, tapi takde lah meng warm up pun. Org lain kut :D

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    3. Hahaha should be you la tu yg I nmpk kot. Mengwarm up tu saja je tulis. Ekeke

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  16. I was giggling at the witty signs :) Such a fun run!

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  17. Love the signs. Yang paling witty I pernah tengok. But then again I tak berapa byk masuk races pun nak tgk2 signs lain huhu
    Congrats Lina, another HM under your *SPI*belt! It wasn't quite a fun run for me...ingatkan lepas hujan sejuk la sikit...not. And I was 'working'...but not that hard, apparently.

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    Replies
    1. Saja la you Millie.... you've ran in plenty of races la ;-)

      Ni your tempo workout ni. Hihihi

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  18. Night run must be so much more fun since the weather is not so hot. My son tried a night run some years back too.

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    Replies
    1. But nothing much to seen & hard to take photos lol

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  19. Hi Lina. Congrats on finishing the race. That medal really looks nice.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks ;-)

      Really cool medal, right?

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  20. Cool! I love their silly quotes that could motivate the runners! All runs should do that too.

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  21. 21Km - You made it! Congrats! I really wished I could run 21KM but my legs are stubborn.
    I think all medals should be made different so that they look more interesting to admire.

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    Replies
    1. Plenty are different Anay. It's an attraction for runners too ;-)

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  22. Wahhh best rupanya event FF Cyberjaya nih... Nice la running tee nya... Kuning floro gitu... Sayang sekali xdapat join sebab xpernah berpeluang lari d Cyberjaya lagik... Routenya cam best je, traffic free... Harap2 ada lagik tahun depan pliss... Nice writeup Sis Lina... =D

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    Replies
    1. Best or not an event tu very subjective kan... For me, I like low key events like this. More on run less on hoopla.

      Kalau tak clash dengan race obersea next year, join lah ;)

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    2. Me too, love low key events like Pacat Team organized too.... Kesian baca komen2 geng2 runners newbie yang duk bash macam2 kat organizer yang 1st timer nih... Looking forward to join this event next year... Kita lari2 untuk fun fun saja... stress free... =)

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