From left: Farid, Me, Nik Raiha, Khairol and Azri
The Mens Marathon winner : Julius Ndiritu Karinga (Ken) 2h 17m 02s
What can I say about SCKLM this year? This is my 2nd marathon (actually 3rd if you count the one I ran in 1995 where I DNF). The experience that I felt during the 1995 (Sibu Marathon) was just too much that I told myself I won’t be attempting any more marathons for a long long time. There, I gave up only after 21-22km. At that time I had never run a distance further than 15km I think. But when you are young, you always feel you could do anything. I tried and failed miserably. I know I can run fast in middle distances, so I thought running a marathon won't be that difficult. Nothing prepared me for the cramps I had during the run, so in the end I had to take the ambulance back. My quad muscles (both legs) cramped so badly that I could see the muscles actually contracted. It was scary and painful.
I don't know why I registered for the full distance in 2003 KLIM...maybe it was the persuasion of some the Permaisuri Pacesetters members that got me into it. I did train for it but I was lacking in mileage...I probably did 1 or 2 30km. I think it was only one. I could only remember the one I did during one of the 30km practice run that Pacesetters organised. Other than that, I was only doing 20-21kms. Usually training was with Don and Tai Kit, but most of the time, I could not follow their pace.
If you asked me why I registered for this year's full? Well, the answer would probably be the same as in 2003. I don't know.
Why do I hate so much about marathons?
1. The distance is so long - I can't really focus in longer distances races.
2. You need a lot of time to train for marathon - the long runs
Anyway, in my mind, I always thought I can do a sub 3 hours marathon one day, if I put in the effort, so I thought maybe this could be the time to do it since I have the time to train for it. Standard Chartered being the main sponsor this time, and also Otacgon as the new event organiser this year, it was a change from Ambank/FTAAA combination in past years. I thought the change will be good but I was wrong. I am not keen in writing it here since it's already well publicised in Facebook-SCKLM, or even in The Star
Training seriously for a race is something I have not done for a long time. I guess it was when I joined Southern Bank/CIMB Bank in mid-July 2005, that work began to take my time away from basically everything. I tried the GE30km in Jan, just for the kick of it and did well without much training. I clocked 2hrs 20mins for that run, but I wasn't thinking about SCKLIM yet. I guess it was the urge of breaking the sub 3 hours that got me signing up for the run. I started my training only at the end of March. Training went fairly smooth although I skipped a lot of my runs at times, but the effort is a lot more than the last 4 years combined. I've only signed for a few races during the run up to SCKLM as I wanted to put in the mileage. BHP Orange Run, Bidor Half Marathon & Klang Pacers Half Marathon. I also did a charity run in Kuching, a week before SCKLM (This was last minute sign up).
It was raining just before the start of the race and that was welcoming although I don't fancy getting my shoes wet. I wish we had started the run before the rain came, could have been better that way for me. Anyway, I thought the cool weather will help me set a good time. I’ve already gave up hope in clocking a sub 3 hours after 2 failed attempts at the half marathon to clock below 1h 25m. It started ok for me for the first 21km. There were couple of runners who overtook me before the 10km mark, but I was fairly confident then that I could get back at them later in the race. Ben Swee overtook me at 10km mark but I didn’t go with him as I was cautious not to increase my pace till later in the race. I was just waiting for the time to make my move.
Sadly, that moment never came. Instead, I could feel my pace slowed after the 25km mark. More runners overtook me. Then Simon Cross went passed me at KLCC, couldn't respond. I just told myself to wait, but I could feel that the cramps are coming in. Then my thoughts started replaying my KLIM '03 where I had cramps at 28km and had to walk and run from that point onwards. I just told myself to slow down my pace and it'll get better. When I reached KL Convention Centre, I started thinking, "What the hell am I doing here? Why did I sign up for the marathon? Why did I sign up for Melbourne Marathon? I must be kidding myself thinking of doing a sub 3 one day!!"
I slowed down a lot more and at 32km mark after taking Power Gel given by the volunteers, my legs just gave up on me. Cramps, legs feeling heavy, I just started to jog slowly, still determine not to stop as I would definitely start walking if I did. And it was a torture coming into the crowds from the 21km/10km group. I had to be careful not to zig zag around too much thru the crowds, as I knew one wrong move, my cramps will really hit me. In the end, I just went outside the controlled lane just to save myself from the zig zagging, putting myself at risk of getting hit by a car from behind. It was a drag from there onwards. At each water station I just took two cups of water (1 100 Plus & 1 mineral water). Also, wipe some water on my quads, but it didn’t help my cramps.
Seeing Dataran Merdeka nearing was a welcoming sight coming out from Bank Negara. However, finishing line was still around 2.5km away. I still can’t increase my pace at all. Saw the U-turn, but it wasn’t for the full marathoners. It’s was for the 21km runners. Not even the second U-turn, which was for the 10km runners. After I made the U-turn I saw my time was nearing 3hr 30mins. I tried slowly to increase my pace and really pushing it when I was passed by Tang Song Hua, who is a very fast runner (probably wasn’t his day today). I stuck with him and then passed him and pushing hard to at least beat the 3’30 mark. When I saw my watch and also the time board showing 3’30 and counting, I just slowed my pace to the finishing line. Stopped my watch, 3h 30m 23s. It beat my previous PB (3h 35m 20s) by 5mins.
It was raining just before the start of the race and that was welcoming although I don't fancy getting my shoes wet. I wish we had started the run before the rain came, could have been better that way for me. Anyway, I thought the cool weather will help me set a good time. I’ve already gave up hope in clocking a sub 3 hours after 2 failed attempts at the half marathon to clock below 1h 25m. It started ok for me for the first 21km. There were couple of runners who overtook me before the 10km mark, but I was fairly confident then that I could get back at them later in the race. Ben Swee overtook me at 10km mark but I didn’t go with him as I was cautious not to increase my pace till later in the race. I was just waiting for the time to make my move.
Sadly, that moment never came. Instead, I could feel my pace slowed after the 25km mark. More runners overtook me. Then Simon Cross went passed me at KLCC, couldn't respond. I just told myself to wait, but I could feel that the cramps are coming in. Then my thoughts started replaying my KLIM '03 where I had cramps at 28km and had to walk and run from that point onwards. I just told myself to slow down my pace and it'll get better. When I reached KL Convention Centre, I started thinking, "What the hell am I doing here? Why did I sign up for the marathon? Why did I sign up for Melbourne Marathon? I must be kidding myself thinking of doing a sub 3 one day!!"
I slowed down a lot more and at 32km mark after taking Power Gel given by the volunteers, my legs just gave up on me. Cramps, legs feeling heavy, I just started to jog slowly, still determine not to stop as I would definitely start walking if I did. And it was a torture coming into the crowds from the 21km/10km group. I had to be careful not to zig zag around too much thru the crowds, as I knew one wrong move, my cramps will really hit me. In the end, I just went outside the controlled lane just to save myself from the zig zagging, putting myself at risk of getting hit by a car from behind. It was a drag from there onwards. At each water station I just took two cups of water (1 100 Plus & 1 mineral water). Also, wipe some water on my quads, but it didn’t help my cramps.
Seeing Dataran Merdeka nearing was a welcoming sight coming out from Bank Negara. However, finishing line was still around 2.5km away. I still can’t increase my pace at all. Saw the U-turn, but it wasn’t for the full marathoners. It’s was for the 21km runners. Not even the second U-turn, which was for the 10km runners. After I made the U-turn I saw my time was nearing 3hr 30mins. I tried slowly to increase my pace and really pushing it when I was passed by Tang Song Hua, who is a very fast runner (probably wasn’t his day today). I stuck with him and then passed him and pushing hard to at least beat the 3’30 mark. When I saw my watch and also the time board showing 3’30 and counting, I just slowed my pace to the finishing line. Stopped my watch, 3h 30m 23s. It beat my previous PB (3h 35m 20s) by 5mins.
After the finish, I just sat at the first aid tent, rubbing ice on my quads, took me a while before I could walk properly.
Some of the notable achievements from friends I knew:
1. Abdul Azri - a surprised package. He just had a knee operation this year and due to his determination in training came in with a sub-4 hours time. 3h 57m 47s
2. Tan Ooi Keat - he swears by his new Garmin watch really helped him. New PB. 4h 44m 14s
3. Yong Su Mei - beat her old PB by 20mins. 4h 55m 25s
So, Melbourne Marathon, here I come?!
