Green Moss Invaded UPM

Like really. At the Milo Breakfast Run 2013. In UPM.

 

See?

Somebody mentioned there were 8,000 runners this morning. 8,000 of them and I guess 5,000 were already in front of me. @.@

Flag-off was supposed to be at 7.00am (but I think it got delayed by a couple of minutes) and I only passed through the start line at 7.11am! Whaaaaa???

I know. I know. Should've arrived earlier. We actually went out early. The race venue is just 10 minutes away from our home but at 6.00am we got stuck in a jam at the UPM Serdang toll area to get to UPM. 30 freaking minutes just to enter UPM! Then, got to find parking pulak. Then, somebody (me) gotta go find toilet and pangsai pulak. But cannot go because toilet got no water hose so had to hold the need. Wuuuwuuuwuuu T____T

Poor random volunteer who got accosted by me for photo op. Almost time for flag-off already but still can play around. *slap forehead*

By the way, the friendly volunteers along the route were AWESOME! Thank you!

Finally starting. I purposely chose to wear that red running vest so that I can easily be found in photos. LOL

Happy running couple, Bett and hubby. Bett's hubby said hi when he passed me just around KM1.

This same Bett told me that the route has just a little bit of hilly section. Hmmmm... TIPU! LOL

First KM was done at super duper easy 8min/km pace. Cannot run faster unless I shove people aside. Managed to pick up pace a bit after that but there were more walkers to contend with at the inclines. Anyway, can't be too annoyed with the crowd/runners/walkers. I know what I had to deal with when I sign-up for this. This is an event that vies for a record number of participants. What can you expect?

Someone poked me at the back hard around KM3. One uncle wearing purple GE running vest. Was I in his way? Or did he mistakenly thought I was his friend? Dunno lah since after poking me sharply, he just ran ahead and patted a girl's butt in front of me (I assume they knew each other). If I was in his way, aiyah... no need to get physical lah. Got runners who were slowing me down also but I didn't shove them what... Chasing podium izit? Start in front next time OK uncle?

Up hill, down hill, all packed with people. Decided to skip the first water station but I think the volunteers did a great job distributing the water since no massive congestion there. Then there was the first checkpoint to contend with. I really don't understand why people need to stop/slow down passing checkpoints. Scared the scanner cannot read your chip? Oh OK.

The second water station was after the incline at KM4(?). I could forgo this water station as this was *just* a 7K event but what the hey. People are slowing down. Lane was full. Another checkpoint was up ahead a few metres from the second water station (more people slowing down and more congestion) so I drank 2 cups of cold water there. There were PowerBar water stations after the checkpoint too but I opted not to stop there. Already drank water lah!

It was downhill after that which was nice but again, can't go too fast. I love downhills. I hate uphills. The only reason I did reasonably well (for my standard) at Newton Run last year was because I can blitz downhill at sub5min/km pace (yes, really) then did a 12min pace uphill. hur hur

An ambulance passed through us runners when I reached KM6. Ooooo I hope it's nothing serious. Heard one of the university's guard remarking "tak boleh lari tapi nak lari jugak" which means "the runner can't run but is pushing too much to run".

Runners had to run from KM6 onwards to the finish line in a single lane road with the other lane jammed with cars. A few runners decided they want to run fast and ran outside the coned area which i think is totally dangerous. Please observe your own safety runners. There were cars. There were motorbikes zipping along. What happen if you got knocked down by a motorbike?

At the final kilometre, somebody said hi. He was like "Kak Lina? Hi! Where's your bunny ears". LOL

Thank you Afzan Afnan for saying hi. (errr sorry I got your name wrong. Maklumla, Women Senior. Old already. ekekke) Next time we take photo together-geder, OK? :-)

Almost finish already. Just a few metres to go. Errr... what's that big thing the girl is carrying?

Smile. Smile. Almost there. Gaya mesti ada despite the slow timing. Muahaha

Medal collection, water & banana counter were smooth. I got greedy and took 3 bananas and 2 mineral water. Haish.

Then, while walking towards the goodies bag counter saw this two crazy fellas. Rashid & Aizat did the KL Tower Sunrise Towerthon Challenge earlier, finished climbing 2,000+ flight of stairs then drove to UPM to run 7K. Dasat.

After drinking copious amount of Milo and got scolded by son because of it, we sat down for breakfast. You see, I still have a bad cough and I was coughing like my "tekak" want to come out and yet I still drank cold drinks? Hmmm...

Totally unhealthy breakfast choice. There were 3 RM1 coupons in my goodie bag (visitors can also redeem those coupons by registering at the registration counter) and we used it to buy 3 roti canai. Other unhealthy food choices available : char koay teow, nasi lemak, roti jala... and there were also fruits sold, sandwiches... To tell you the truth, I was hoping to see Nestle opening and giving cereals for us to enjoy. Tarak wor.

Minum Milo anda jadi sihat dan kuat! HAHAHA I heart cold milo served by Milo vans.

The route we did this morning. Only now I realized that there is a big "jirat Cina" or Chinese cemetery along the road to UPM.

Didn't manage to meet a whole lot of people after the run because it was way too crowded. But anyway, it was a nice event. Cheap too. I had fun. I should have done better but I didn't. Oh well. Not going to lose sleep over that.

Now on to the next race. Standard Chartered Fun Run. 8km. Next week, In Putrajaya. See you there! ^^