Through The Jungle And River

Well, technically not; because on Sunday Sep 1st, marathoners who did the River Jungle Marathon ran on asphalt but they passed by a very scenic route and enjoyed nature.
What a nice route right? Misty route. Flowing river. Quaint Malay village. Oh yeah! A killer climb of 5km to tackle too! Awesome!

I was supposed to run this marathon but as injury made me take a running rest, and with Doctor's order to rest 3 weeks when I saw an orthopaedic on Aug 14th, Zaini volunteered to run on my behalf. I was skeptical at first but finally agreed on a condition that he needed to do at least a 3hour run and gauge his ability. But he insisted and did whatever nonsense advise I dished out to prepare for it. For example, he asked me my training plan and I told him that at this late stage, all he can do is to prepare for endurance so he just ran for the mileage. He did a LOT of hill work too.

With less than three weeks to train for a full marathon, it is kinda suicidal to do it. But though he doesn't train for any races (unlike a certain person), Zaini runs regularly. Usually around 3-5km on a weekday and he can walk for hours and hours. You should follow him during our vacation and you'll see that he has no trouble walking from 8am-8pm and after Raimie & I went back to the hotel room, he usually went out again to sightsee alone. 

Yeah, running a full marathon without proper training (this fella's longest LSD was 20K) is not advisable. 

Pre-Race day.
We spent the morning part walking around Taman Saujana Hijau and meeting up with fellow runners. Thanks again Arman & Suzie for the awesome Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik!
Evening was spent traveling to Klang for my nephew and niece's birthday party. Then, did some shopping and only arrived home after 8pm!

Race Day.
I woke up at 2am to prepare sandwiches. Zaini woke up at 3am and we were out from home at 3.30am. 

The atmosphere at the race venue was festive. Everyone was happy to see everyone. Met a whole bunch of people there.
Happy faces before the race.
The start went with a bang, literally. With fireworks. Hope the neighbours didn't get mad at us! LOL

I already planned to station myself at one of the water stations but before starting off our walk, Raimie played around first.
Posing with the title sponsor's car.
Playing and feeding random cats too.
Raimie and I walked 5km to the second last water station at KM38.
To keep boredom away, Raimie helped out at the water station while I pretend to take photos of runners.
A runner arriving KM38. Love them. When they see me, they gave thumbs up, smiled and some who walked actually obliged my gestures to make them run again so I can take photos of them... running. This, despite them already tired and exhausted running 38 kilometres! *muacks*
While Raimie and I were enjoying the fresh air and the company of KM38 water station volunteers waiting for the arrival of runners, Zaini was pounding the tarmac. I got feedback from runner friends on his whereabouts. Most remarked at how cheerful he was.

He ran the first 11km before getting to the dreaded hilly section. 

Plenty of runners were picking up speed reaching KM8 but not without reason. There's a surau at the stretch and most Muslim runners reached it just when the Azan for Subuh prayer was heard. A stop there for them and then off they went again. Thanks Millie for the update.

His first 3K was a slow 8min pace. Then he picked up pace running a 7:30min pace for the next 3K. Took more time for the next 9K with a total time of 1hour 1min. Slowed down as he walked uphill during the looooong hilly climb and ran downhill doing 23min for the next 3K.
The slow uphill wasn't due only to him speed-walking. The water stations and fruits stations kinda made runners stop and grazed for food. Water stations were abundant. There were supplies of gel too, apart from water and isotonic (Revive and Gatorade). Fruits station was a hit!

Bananas were offered. There were also langsat, rambutan, mata kucing and even DURIAN offered! Yes, runners ate durians halfway through their race as those two photos above were taken around KM23. 

Photo credit : Kam & Khairi. 

Zaini brought along a packet of GU Chomps, two packets of GU gel for the marathon. He also took two whole Japanese cucumbers along. In the end, the only refreshment he needed was the cucumbers. He munched them during the run. 

Damn cheap compared to buying gels, I tell you! LOL

Zaini got a cramp at around KM30 making it a bit painful to run so he settled with power-walking. Power walking that took him around 27-28min to finish a 3K split. 

Pebbles got into his shoes at some point and it made the blisters that had developed on both his feet (the heels) popped which made the run/walk more painful. He had slathered Vaseline on his feet earlier but I guess it wasn't enough. Poor hubby.
The route and elevation.

For me and Raimie, we stayed at the water station until 10am and started our walk back to the finish line. Along the route, I'd stop and still take photos of runners about to pass us. Bumped into a few familiar faces who hollered and said hi to us too. Thanks guys! And good job as those were runners doing a sub 5:30 run.
A few hundred metres to the finish line and runners can see more supporters. There were plenty while they were running a long the route too. The VW cars went up and down the route and there were supporters in the cars giving encouragement to runners. Awesome!

Registered cheer crews/supporters even got a t-shirt and a cap too, by the way.
Zaini arrived at around 11am, six hours after the start. His full marathon, and he did it at 6:06! Congrats hubby! We're so proud of you!
Me, Raimie and Zaini and.. some grapes I brought along. Hahaha

Thanks Rashid for the photos! Bila nak update blog?
Some langsat at the refreshment station at the finish line. Runners were also given Nasi Lemak, Bihun Goreng, Gardenia bread, watermelons and more drinks. No Milo though. Not that we mind.

We hung out for a bit, waiting for friends to arrive at a nearby stall.
 
A photo with the ladies. Three ran. The Cat Lady did her first full marathon and did it at an awesome time too! A sub6 first full marathon. Much respect to you, Gai! More so because she just recovered from an injury.

The rest came to support fellow runners running that day. Two came after training at Bukit Gasing. The lady in the cycling jersey cycled along the route with her husband giving support and cheer to runners. Gotta love them!
More photos, with the guys too.
A medal, a finisher tee and a volunteer tee. There's a Golf cap somewhere but Raimie staked claim of it.

It end up that Zaini can't wear the finisher tee as the bib was registered under my name so it was a ladies' cutting shirt. Instead, he was wearing that volunteer "Think Blue" tee today. Pity him. I guess if he want a full marathon finisher tee, he just have to do another marathon! And under his own name!

More photos of RJM over at my FB page. Check it out! Sorry it wasn't much. Didn't have much memory space left and I didn't expect that I'd take a lot of photos!

Comments

  1. Tak aci ni!!!!!! Running also got durian to eat..kalau me I dengkur there liao

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Should have called you lah!

      Then we all can party durian there and pretend to run also! LOL

      Delete
  2. So touching la....he ran on your brhalf. .. :)

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  3. U think he won't ah??? Mbe he will go and register quietly then baru let u know. Lol.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah.

      But he told me that he did this only for one reason.

      And he has no need to prove anything. :)

      Delete
  4. Oh, sorry to hear that you couldn't run for that marathon. But I can imagine how strong you are for participating in such an event. I couldn't even run for 100 metres.

    I admire your spirit though. Although you didn't run, but you walked and together with your beloved hubby. I wonder how old are the two of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I walked with my 11y.o son.

      My hubby ran earlier and was much farther ahead than us.

      We stayed and helped out at one of the water stations instead.

      Both me & hubby are almost 40. ;)

      Delete
  5. I've friends who cycle and ride big bikes, but I only know you, who runs. This is interesting. And what makes it more interesting is... you guys had fruits on your way? Hahaha!

    The route was surrounded by scenic nature. It's beautiful Lina.And don't worry about the finisher tee. You and your hubby can hug it at night. Haha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Fruits, local fruits for the runners at this run. Made the marathon so special, right? Not to mention, crazy fun. :)

      Maybe I'll hand the tee! LOL

      Delete
    2. I mean, hang. I'll hang the tee ;-)

      Delete
  6. Congratulation to Zaini on completed his first marathon! And he is really fast! Any plan for next? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He said no. I asked whether he wants to run MWM and he told me :"what for?" LOL

      Congrats on another marathon in the pocket for you, Neoh! :)

      Delete
    2. May be the dose or timing not right yet.
      Give him some time to settle down and give smaller dose of running poison one at a time... then he will not able to resist any more ;P

      Delete
    3. Hahaha... Yeah, maybe. ;-)

      Delete
  7. Ladies should find this kind of hubby, who will do anything for his better half including running a marathon...hehehe

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    Replies
    1. Ni ada sorang eligible ni. Apa lagi, ladies! Single ladies, I mean. :P

      Delete
  8. wah!!! can have durian while running?? is durian know to be able to replenish energy for the runners?? haha.. then there should be something like durian flavor 100 plus lah~~ :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Now that's a novel idea. A durian flavoured isotonic! :P

      Delete
  9. eih, that VW cheerboard (or whatever you call that).. you did not show us what you have written on the board for Zaini dei~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forgot to take a photo of the finished one. It went AWOL when I put it at the finish line. The unfinished one got la. But sadly, most people didn't get what I wrote cos they don't know who Mo Farah is. :(

      Delete
  10. so good lah, running on your behalf and successfully completed his very first full marathon!! sweet for sure is Mak Glam's most bottom of the heart!! :)

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  11. congrats to Zaini! His very first marathon! Well done!

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  12. CUCUMBERS?? I thought it was for his eye mask while climbing the slope or something hahahahhaah!

    what an interesting idea. :)

    congrats to him! did he swear off marathons or vying for another try? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. or a cooling mask while on the run? Wakaka

      He didn't swear off from doing it. Didn't indicate he'll do another too. Completely ambivalent when I broached the idea of running with him at MWM. Huh! :-P

      Delete
    2. I oso wondered about the japanese cucumber. First time dengar cucumber being consumed during marathon ;P

      Delete
    3. But Koreans & Japanese do eat them as snacks while hiking. It provides both fluid and keep hunger pangs away. ;-)

      Delete
  13. YEEEEEHA, ZAINI! Congratulations!

    I'm getting a bit concerned about Nara: between you and Lina, the zebras and I are going to have a tough time. I've decided to increase our chocolate rations, because clearly we'll burn more fuel than I originally calculated. :D

    I was grinning almost as widely as you two while reading this post. You both win first prize for jolliest smile while running.

    Though I still think the best photo is the one that didn't make it into this post: the red Beetle! ^^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The red beetle is special so it makes rare appearance.

      Don't worry. That fella does not want to run Nara. He'll carry the chocolate stash for you. ;-)

      Delete
  14. Congratulations again Zaini!!!!!
    Crash course training...but timing is not bad. Not bad at all!!
    I cannot imagine how proud you must have felt the moment he agreed to run on your behalf, the training that he was willing to put in at the last hour, the whole 42.195km that he completed.

    Tough guy, your hubby ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kan? Who does a marathon with a month's training????? I kept on telling him he's setting a bad example. :-P

      Seriously, when he first told me he'll run it, I was worried. But yeah, am so proud of him. He upped his mileage and ran the marathon wisely. :-)

      You're one tough lady yourself, Millie! Congrats on your second FM! :-)

      Delete
  15. Well done Abg Zaini for his extraordinary FMV journey last RJM. It's truly a heart felt yet noble act of him to run on your behalf. He's definitely a suami mithali... I'm definitely will look for this kind of qualities in my future wife! =D

    I was amazed of his sheer determination and tried to keep up with his super power walking pace, especially the last 5KM... Really really inspiring... Given adequate training, i'm sure he'll hit the sub5:30 if he keen to do another FM and get his finisher tee n medal =D

    So job well done, *pat2 on his back... Rest well and should have some self reward for his awesome accomplishment in terms of new running shoes, eh? =P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nak cari calon mithali, kita pun kena tunjuk contoh mithali jugak. It work both ways. #poyotaksaya? ;-)

      Pegang jer kasut tu. Tak reward n tak beli pun. :-D

      Delete
    2. Eh Sis memang isteri mithali, tambah2 lagik bulan nih bulan besday n anniversary u guys berdua kan... Should be a joyous n grandeur celebration one... Sooo romantic woo! =D

      Mula2 memang pegang2 dulu, recce2, survey dulu, ek... Later on can buy some kalau hati berkenan, buat adiah bezday pon molek dah tuh... ;D

      Delete
  16. I am shocked to hear durians being served! I would hentam and fart all the way!! Muahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha.

      I better not run behind you, Anay! :-P

      Delete
  17. How come you are still resting and not running? It has been many weeks now. Get well soon!

    Don't be like me lah. My left knee cacat due to road accident and my right thigh got tendons ripped after do squats. Anay macam orang tua!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. following doctor's order lor. I do plan to run a long time so I'm being patient. No point of showing that I'm "macho". :-D

      Delete
  18. Zaini lost soooo much weight after the runs!! He looks like a college student now. Hee hee...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He lost 10kg during puasa...

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    2. lost 10kilos? ada rahsia nye.. share pls... nak kurus :D

      Delete
    3. Lessen sugar intake. Easy for him sebab dia mmg suka air kosong jer. Hard for me coz I've a sweet tooth.

      Delete
  19. Wah! Eat durians halfway during the race?!

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  20. Zaini ran this marathon?!!!

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  21. Good that you are not running this race. Better to rest and have complete recovery before attempting another race than to injure yourself and affect many future races!

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  22. Amazing feat! ..and I want those durians!

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  23. Makan durian mid way is something new! LoL! Cool!

    ReplyDelete

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