It’s hard to find the right mood or the right thing to blog these days. Perhaps the passion is slowly fading away. When I blog/write, I’d prefer to write something meaningful or rather significant (at least to myself or my own achievements) rather than some boring where-I-hung-out-last-weekend-and-what-I-had-for-lunch-and-dinner kind of post.
But one thing for sure – I will not stop writing :)
This morning I did my very first Half Marathon at the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2012. It was a very happy moment. I haven’t been running a lot until about three weeks before the event day. Throughout the three weeks, I attempted to train by running between 6km-9km every time I go out for a run. That actually helped a lot.
I knew if I didn’t train, the 21km would eventually kill me.
I was suppose to rest and eat and rest more the day before the run but I didn’t (more like, I couldn’t). I had to travel to Bahau and Seremban in Negeri Sembilan to settle some leftover tasks. Basically, I was out driving the whole afternoon till night yesterday. When I arrived at my friend’s apartment in Bandar Sunway it was already midnight.
I felt lethargic, but I knew how much I wanted to complete the 21km. So much that the insufficient sleep didn’t matter.
Last night, I ended up sleeping for less than three hours before waking up at about 3.45am and leaving my friend’s place at 4.20am to Kelana Jaya LRT station to catch the free shuttle bus. The full marathon had already started by the time I arrived at the Dataran Merdeka. I managed to spot a couple of LYN Runners who were in their infamous running vest. I’ve joined the group on Facebook for two months and it was the first time I get to know and meet some of them in person.
Fun people, really! Running gets less lonelier when you have friends! Haha!
Before I left home, I had some bread; and before the race started at 6.00am, I consumed a PowerBar and drank some Gatorade. In my waist pouch I kept three packets of PowerBar Gel and my smartphone for tracking purpose. The PowerBar and the gel really helped a lot. I took the gel twice – at KM12 and KM16, if I recall correctly – to gain more fuel in order to complete the run.
The SCKLM route wasn’t that tough in my opinion, as compared to the Energizer Night Race. I remember suffering through the last 5km of the 15.5km Energizer Night Race but for SCKLM, I was cruising all the way. One method I used was to rehydrate myself sufficiently at every water stop. After KM10 or so, I slowed down at every water stop, just to let my body take a short and quick rest whilst I rehydrate.
And with the help of a couple of PowerBar Gel, I managed to complete the 21km run without much complications. In fact, I increased my speed during my 21st kilometer, making it my fastest lap, according to Endomondo the tracking app on my smartphone – cos I was SO excited to cross the finishing line :D
The only complication I encountered after the race are some nasty friction burns on my body. I didn’t realise it until I went for a shower after the run. Damn pain can! :( Hope the burns recover soon.
Completing at 2 hours 27 minutes (unofficial time), I must say it felt really great even though thousands others were doing the same, or at even better finishing time.
To me, this is one of my ways of telling myself that impossible is nothing – because I’m possible.
