Seremban Half Marathon - The Third Time Around

I've never really liked Seremban Half Marathon, truthfully. I mean the route is nice and all, but there is nothing special about the race itself and I usually suffer finishing it. Yet, for the past 3 years; even with my own bad reviews, I keep coming back. Sucker! Hahaha

The route itself is undulating and can be quite a challenge. They aren't steep but you get them one after another. And the last hill at KM19 mark can really sap one's energy and suffer mentally.

Anyway, I entered this year's Seremban Half Marathon edition because I needed a 21K and I need to run it faster than my usual long run pace or my easy run pace. So I decided to rely on how I did during TM Fan Run and put a target average pace of 7:20min/km. 

But bearing in mind that I usually start slow and only pick up my pace after 3K, I only put  target pace of 8:00min/km for the first 3K.

We arrived the race venue a few minutes before 6.00am and the first order of business was search for the toilet. I needed to do both "job" before I run and went to the building next to the field to use the toilet. Apart from a nearby mosque, Muslim runners have the convenience to pray at this building too.

The Half Marathon category was flagged off at 6.30am and I met a few friends there.

Leen, Wai Ching (who managed to get 2nd placing for Men Open 10K) and Tengku Azeezoon who was pacing a friend. ^^

Flag off was at 6.31am my watch, but I only stepped on the starting timing mat at 6.33am. There seemed to be a lot more runners than previous years and there's an increase this year of Women Open 21K runners participating.

I didn't want to be too pre-occupied with looking at my Polar V800 watch and check my pace constantly so I set it to give me alert at every 3K I've done and run pretty much on perceived effort.

The first 3K felt quite easy, even with a bit of climb as we reached the KM3 mark so I was quite surprised to see that I did the first 3K in 21:14. Way faster than the 24min I had allocated for.

A runner said hi to me around KM4 as we were climbing up yet another incline. He was so nice and told me he read my blog and even welcomed me to Seremban. Awwww, thank you.

We chatted a bit about our next race - he's doing Kampar and I'll be doing Sungei Lembing. ^^

Later, another friend (the prez of a running group, no less) said hi as he passed me.

While I was slow at KM4 as we climbed a long incline, I managed to make up for lost time when we started going downhill towards KM5. Another incline at KM6-7 then it's downhill to get to the second water station located at KM8.

A friend said hi there as we stopped for a drink but I just smiled and raised my hand to acknowledge her and didn't stop to chat. Sorry! ^^! 

A cup of mineral water and a cold sponge to wipe off my sweat, and off I went again, still feeling pretty good and happy. So happy that I was singing a nasyid in my head. Not the "insaf" type but the #syukurselalu type. Hahaha

Seremban traffic sure was pretty busy today, compared to when I ran in 2013 and 2014 but have to give credit to Seremban patient drivers. Not a single honk was heard and they even made sure they drove with a gap past us. Thank you Seremban drivers for your consideration. 

The 3rd water station wasn't placed at the junction near Giant at around KM10 this year but was instead moved to KM11 near Petronas petrol station. Good choice. 

I also noticed traffic control was better this year with more volunteers and police manning junctions. Never mind there hadn't been any major incidences with traffic before this but I wish organiser would still place safety of runners as their priority. Just because no one got run over (yet) doesn't mean it'll stay that way.

KM10-14 was pretty easy with mostly flat section and I just maintained what I feel was a pace I can sustain for the next 6-10K, especially knowing there are hilly sections I need to tackle later. Two of them actually. A runner ran a bit and chatted with me at KM10 before going off as we crossed the road. It's always nice to have a bit of distraction while running and talk to people. Well, for me lah.

Another runner said hi and asked about hubby after KM12. Actually, he was the third person who asked hubby's whereabouts! Hahaha

No lah, hubby didn't run today. He and Son waited for me at the finishing line instead today.

It was at KM13 where I got to the the incline I dread and I decided to walk instead. My first walk break, for about 500m. I somehow felt relieved as I managed to walk as fast as other runners who were running beside me going uphill.

Then off I went, trying to cover the slower pace from the walk and managed to finish my 15K at 1:47 (target 1:50) so was quite happy with it. Especially since I was still feeling OK and not that tired yet. Perceived effort run seemed to be going well for me today.

But I decided to take a break at KM16 and took another walk break for a few hundred metres. Just got damn lazy and the stretch was HOT lah. Thirsty. Hihihi

A runner suddenly asked me for the time and it was 8.31am when we reached KM16.

I picked up pace afterwards and started running until I reached the KM19 mark where we had to cross a busy junction. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait to cross the road this time as there were two traffic police manning the junction.

From here, near two petrol stations, was where 21K runners converged with 10K runners. Hoards of school kids "forced" to join and complete their 10K. Hahaha

Bumped into the runner friend who had asked me about hubby earlier and said hi to him. He continued to run the last (steep) incline with another runner who had encouraged both of us while I chose to walk the incline.

A lady runner, whom I keep on either passing her or getting passed by her, patted my back to encourage me.

Knowing that I'll be able to make up for this slow time when we go downhill at the final stretch of the route, I just smiled at her and gave a thumbs up.

Sure enough, I managed to later catch up with her. We paced each other for a while before I started to push for the last few hundred metres.

As I crossed the road to get to the field to finish, I saw two friends taking photos in the middle of the closed-off road. Since I was being blocked by other runners and I want my photos taken, I weave through the crowd (instead of concentrating to finish), pose in front of them and then run towards the field. Muahaha

Photo credit : Leen AlKhatib

Hubby and Son were waiting for me at the finish line, as expected. As were a few other friends who stayed around to cheer for other runners.

My timing against the 3K split target written on my hand. Target 2:35, finished 2:29:33.

And didn't feel like dying finishing it. So I was really, really happy with my run.

And this was my personal record for Seremban Half Marathon. My best timing for this route. ^^

 The route we ran in, in Seremban Half Marathon.

The elevation map. Got a pretty good workout and some good hill training today. Hopefully, it'll serve me well when I do Pink 50 next week!

Got to the finish line and it was time for photos with friends! And new friends too!

What a great day!