An Efficient Run

At Energy Efficiency Run, this morning; organised by the Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Energy Commission) in Putrajaya. There were two distances, 7K & 5K. 7K for Open category and 5K for Veteran (45 years and above). The staff and families of Suruhanjaya Tenaga ran in the Closed categories, 7K for Open, 5K for Veteran (40 years and above) and 5K for Junior (18 years and below).

I only got to know of this low-profile race through an FB friend, Azmi. No registration fee for the race (yup, you read right. FREE RACE) but it was a bit inconvenient to go to FTAA's office to register. Azmi told me he could help me register but another friend, Nita; informed me that Men Open category was already full, so he couldn't. She wanted to register and she helped me with mine. THANK YOU NITA!

The plan for the run for me was, just run the whole way. No target. No plan. I haven't been running the past two weeks and only did a 7.5K run on Tuesday. A slow 7.5K. So, I'd be happy if I can finish in less than 55minutes. Anyway, no shame in being slow. No shame in running slow and finish, whatever the distance. Right? Right... hehehe

Arriving to race venue, it's like the who's who of the running circle came in droves. Like, really! Even Yuan Yu Fang came and run! Shaharuddin, Malaysia's top marathoner was there. Sheela came. Nur Amelia Musa too. Moey... Whoah!!!

Sharing light moments with friends before the start of the race. It was a nice surprise to bump into Fuad. He's one of the friendliest and humblest runner I know. :)

The starting line for 7K at 7.30am and 5K at 7.45am. We were flagged-off punctually on the dot, without much pomp and ceremony. We were like, talking talking and then, BANG! Gun off! Lari! Run! I pushed Nita ahead and shouted, "go for podium" to her. heh heh

My start was slow. Didn't realize the runners ahead of me would actually force us at the back to run slowly, because of the small size of the race; but that's what happened. Although I had no plan to push hard, I didn't want to go too slow either so as I was unable to overtake on the road, I ran on the pavement. There were a few of us opting to run on the pavement for similar reason.

The route was flat, 99% of the way so this was rather an easy route to run in. There were two water stations for the 7K runners, which to me was quite generous. I stopped at both. Not because I needed any drink badly but because there weren't many runners at the water stations, so I stopped to keep the volunteers  "company". Stopped to take a sip and to thank them. Thank you  again ya, guys! :-)

Zaini waited in front of PoJ to take photos. When I saw him for afar, I was running almost side by side with a guy. Don't want photo overlap so I slowed down for Zaini to take my photos. After all, he came and lepak there to take my photos lah, not to be other people's photographer, kan? Muahaha...

The front pack runners. Top male and female. By the way, the lady in the photo; she's one of the mentor of Malaysia Women Marathon. ^^

Happy runners, pushing hard to finish :

We needed to run up an incline (a bump to most, but after 6K it looked like a hill to me!) the last 100m or so. Dang! 

It was a bit under-distance. My watch read 6.41K but I think it's probably less than that. I raked up a bit more mileage as I kept darting to the other side to cheer of faster friends when we looped each other. 

Run on right side, saw friend already did u-turn, dart to the left side, clapped & cheered them, dart to the right, saw another friend, dart to the left again. Repeat until cannot see anyone I know anymore. LOL

Finished well below my target finish time; which wasn't much of a target anyway and was completely happy about it. Hey! I'm up and about and running!

Then, oligatory after-run photos :

 

 

For a free run, the organiser was really generous. After finishing the run, we were handed a bottle of mineral water.

The limited medal was awesome. Heavy wor.

The goodie bag came with some Suruhanjaya Tenaga brochures, 100-Plus, banana, sandwiches, a pack of chicken nuggets and there was even a Brooks voucher! Cool! 

The Commission put up an update two days ago informing runners that they can exchange 2 old bulbs with 1 CLF bulb at the run. Double cool.

Then, whoever clicked "LIKE" the Suruhanjaya Tenaga FB page, gets a blue holder bag. Zaini even helped the Women Veteran champ to access FB and LIKE the page. teeheeehee

We hung around until the last runner arrived.

Awesome job, ladies! Keep it up and hope we'll see you again in future races.

While standing behind the medal counter after the finish line arch, we saw many runners who told us that this was their first run and they got their first medal. The proud face and sense of achievement was evident. I admire them. I know it's not easy to start this. And they did. Some people will just give excuses not to be active. I know a friend who didn't for fear of being ridiculed.

For me, fast runners or slow runners. You all earn my respect. Let's keep running, yeah? I will. ^^

For us who are already running - stop looking down at newbies and slower runners. We all have to start somewhere. ^^