The Tortoise And The Hare

The Tortoise and Hare ran a full marathon on Saturday night. And just like the classic tale, the tortoise was actually the one who was better than the hare. ^^

This year's Putrajaya Night run marked a nice pogression for us. For me, I did 10K in 2011. It was the first run I signed up ever (but it became my second 10K run ever). Both Zaini and I did our half-marathon there in 2012. It's full marathon for both of us in 2013. We both did our second full marathon there. ^^

It's a rather foolhardy run for both of us, going into Putrajaya Night Marathon. Both of us were seriously undertrained for this and because of it, we kinda plan to run this as part of our LSD. Just run and have fun. Fun, we certainly had!

I figured we would not have lotsa photos during and after the race (being one of the last runners to arrive won't help with taking photos after the run. HAHAHA) so Zaini and I took lots before the flag-off.

With Maggie and her "anak buah". Maggie won 3rd place in the Women's Veteran Half-Marathon category, that night. Congrats Maggie!

Cool running/cycling couple, KZ & Zafuan. Congrats on another half-marathon and all the best for Powerman next week!

With speedsters and femes people : Nick, Jamie, Kew & friend. Got crazy people in there who ran a full marathon at Putrajaya Night Marathon and then continued running at Adidas King of the Road a few hours later. Fuiyo!

 Encik Kura-Kura with the awesome Tey!

Weng was there too. Hope you managed to better your RJM timing, Weng!

With "Idot Si Siput" (that's what she puts on her bib HAHAHA), Aizat & Azmi.

An inspiration, Fuad and Ming Wai. I remembered I first bumped into both of them during MWM 2013. Fuad ran it and Ming Wai I met at an "independent water/refreshment station" where I had some seriously nice cold grapes there. :-)

Gold man was red man that night. Lucky it wasn't oil man (orang minyak)! Hew hew hew

We started off very easy. Zaini had asked me whether we want to follow the crowd pace and I told him we'll take it easy. No need to push.  Never mind we got passed by other runners. 

It was truly one boisterous and cheerful cheering crowd on Jambatan Seri Gemilang. Even "abang api" was there. Those flame swallower are always around before the flag-off of Putrajaya Night Marathon and they were there on the bridge with the flames to support us runners. HAWT!

Saw some super heroes around KM4. They were urging us to run faster and I told Superman to fly me with him instead. LOL Thanks folks for the support. 

I had thought of stopping for a drink at KM7.5 water station and skipped the earlier water stations but it turned out the water station was in the middle on an incline on Jambatan Seri Gemilang so I told Zaini I'm not stopping as it would affect my momentum and we continued on.

After we passed Seri Saujana Bridge, the half-marathon runners had caught up with us. The leaders had already passed us earlier on. A lot of them, friends and strangers gave us a thumbs up, encouragements and even complimented our outfits. Thanks peeps! It sure was nice to see your smiles and encouragements.

I was feeling good and felt that the 8min/km pace was manageable. Zaini and I managed to run together up to KM12.5 when he got some blister issues, despite taping his feet and told me to run ahead and keep a lead and he'd try to catch up. Knowing full well that he will, I ran ahead but mindful of not going too fast despite still feeling strong.

Saw a fellow runner who told us earlier that he wanted to better his RJM timing walking and tried to pull him to run with us.  We ran together a few hundred metres before he ran ahead. 

After KM10 onwards, I made sure I stopped at every water station. The volunteers were GREAT! They were cheerful and never ceased to encourage us even late at night at the last few water stations. Thank you for braving the cold, drizzling night for us runners. 

Though at KM17.5 one "Boy"'s encouragement was like hmmm... He went "Go Auntie Go. Run like a bunny". Seriously boy? I then went "he called me Auntie?????" to the girl standing next to him. LOL But really lah. I'm not yet 40. People in the 20s should totally stop calling me Auntie. Hmph!

From KM15 onwards it was rolling hills galore. Loooooooooong hill. I managed to still run non-stop until KM24. It was like a mental torture to keep on seeing inclines after inclines... Zaini caught up at KM25. I was trotting, pretending to run and he just easily walked beside me.

He told me he was feeling too hot and planned to take off his compression shirt. So there was a strip-tease moment on the route, with me holding his stuff that he took off. Specs, vest, tortoise shell..

By this point, I started to feel the affects on under-training. One moment I was feeling good and strong and then, fatigue seeps in. I tried to run 1KM then walk while Zaini kept a lead with his really fast walk. He walked for almost 30KM that night and still managed to be faster than me!

We decided to miss out on the bananas served at KM12.5 but stopped to enjoy the watermelon slices at KM27.5.  Not much left for us stragglers but we were still able to eat some. It was a godsend! 

 

100-Plus anyone? Midnight and the volunteers were still hard at work. 

Even the road marshalls cheered us everytime runners pass them, and some of them were at lonely stretches. If I were them... scared wor. Hahaha

A bit further up ahead, the faster runners were seen on the other side of the road looping us. A shout of encouragement from them was sure great. Thanks!

We made a u-turn at KM30 and proceeded to finish the last 12KM. "Just" 12KM but it felt never-ending. I was already in drama mode by this time. At KM25, when Zaini told me that his blisters gotten worse and he wanted to cut short his run; I was feeling a tad remorseful about signing him up for this. It was like " what have I got my husband in to?" Then by KM38 I was like "I don't want to do Penang Bridge Marathon la like this!!!!!! This is not fun!!!!" LOL

By KM30, it was no more 1K run 500m walk but whatever run I can do before walking. I just tried to keep moving and not lose sight of Zaini who were up ahead. Zaini asked me earlier whether he should slow down for me but I told him to go ahead and keep a lead. I need him to make myself not be too lazy or too slow.

Didn't manage to catch-up with him until we reached KM35. He was waiting for me there, at KM35 water station. My lovely, lovely Krazirunners sistas were there too, waiting with an assortment of refreshments. I perked up significantly at the sight of them. Thank you thank you thank you for waiting and for the cold coke and the sweet grapes. 

Thanks so much Bett, Nannoor, Millie and Hanim! What's more amazing is their selfless act. Bett is pregnant but still supported not only her husband but also us. *muaks* The others had ran half-marathon that night and yet still waited fo me. I'm sorry I made you ladies waited long.

By this time I already knew a sub6 marathon won't be in my reach anymore. I walked more than I ran but I still tried hard to not lose sight of Zaini but he was getting farther and farther away from me.

Skipped the final three water stations. I wasn't thirsty and I don't want to lag too far behind Zaini. By KM39, I think he was already way too far ahead for me to see him.

At the last water station, with another 1km to go, I saw Zaini motioning me to hurry up. He was there waiting. I shook my head and told him to go ahead without me but he wouldn't budge. "Just 1K to go. Run", he said. I did for like 100m then I stopped. "I'll run when we're almost to the finish line", I told him. 

200m metres from the finish line, I did. I jogged.

Photo credit : Bett

There were people clapping, encouraging us. There were friends running beside us. Some took photos. It was very emotional. I sure was filled with emotion and happy. You guys made me totally forgot the pain finishing the last 100m. 

Zaini probably could've PBed his time at River Jungle Marathon, which he did last month. But he waited for me. 

Photo credit : Bett

We ran together to finish in 6:15:54 (according to my Timex). Thank you hubby for sticking with slow me. 

Oh yeah, the finishing wasn't without some silliness. Hubby warned me that he'd do this so I was expecting it.

Tortoise kena crawl la kan? But photo wrong la. Tortoise should finish in front of the hare, right?

The lovely, lovey ladies who waited till 2am despite finishing theirs much much earlier. Bett, congrats to Malek again on his first FM!

 

One final photo session.

I was happy to run this with hubby. Poor hubby despite taping his feet still faced blister issues. For me, I am glad that I didn't chafe this time. Despite the time-of-the-month, I was lucky I didn't have too bad of a cramp to deal with. The weather was awesome. The crowd was great. The friends more so. The volunteers were the best. Thank you to the organizers for a smooth race.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A GREAT NIGHT.

Thank you hubby for doing this with me. 

So are we or aren't we doing Penang Bridge Marathon now? Hehehe