Race Reports

I got a backlog of race reports to write. I probably summarized the whole thing......

1. Race 1 - Standard Chartered KL Half Marathon (24 June 2012)

This is one race I shouldn't have done. Not so much for the race itself but for me particularly. I haven't been training much (as usual) and doing a distance longer than 10km will be a different league. I could finish the race comfortably if I don't push hard. However, I ended up with an injured left foot yet again after the race. Couldn't walk properly for the next 3 days after the race. Till today I can still feel the pain, although lesser now. I didn't do much running after that. It wasn't the same plantar faciistis injury I had on my same left foot but more of the outer left side of the foot. Getting old I guess....injury here and there. 

I took the race easily. Car pooled with Mr & Mrs Wong, then parked my car near Padang Merbok. It seems like I'm getting used to starting from the back of the field. Gone were the days where I try to squeeze myself to the front of the pack to get better placing and a good start.

As the gun went off, it took me more than 2 minutes before I reached the starting line. I went really really slow at the start. I caught up with Raymond Tan (my neighbour) and also fellow Dutamas Runners, Seng Chor and Chae Yin. We chatted a little, took some photos but as the sky was still dark, the photos came out blur.

Along the way, met many friends, chatted a bit before I up my tempo little by little. Well, my foot started to hurt a bit after couple of miles. After spme 11-12km I decided to go faster as I wanted to finish faster to rest my foot. I had to stop when I reached Kpg Pandan roundabout to stretch. Pain was bearable then, so I went ahead.

I followed one of the ekiden relay runner, who was running a 5km leg, as pacer. It felt nice to run side by side with another runner at a faster pace. Haven't done it for a while. Well my pace didn't last very long though.

As I approached the finish line, I met Azri who was carrying the 2:00 half marathon pace balloons. I crossed the line slight above 2:00, but minus the delayed start, I probably finished under 2:00. I felt okay at that time.

But the pain got worse by the day and the next morning, I found myself limping as I walked. Till today, I still feel it. 

Race 2 - The Intermark Charity Tower Run (7 July 2012) 

Going to cut this one short. I am happy that I took part in this event. Partly because the building is actually where I work and it is always nice to try out some new events. I started ok till I reached about 13-15 floors where I started feeling breathless. I started walking up the stairs and it just went round and round like no ending. Luckily I didn't pass out. Reached the finishing line at 59 floor and the officials took us up to 62 floor where the helipad is and took photos for finishers for their certificate.

Standing with the fast runners (from left): Raymond, Casey, Cecil and Don

Race 3 - BHP Orange Run (15 July 2012)
This was just a fun run so I started from the back and basically took photos along the way. It was good to take things easy and just run. Not being competitive once in a while is actually good to keep you motivated in running. Sometimes runners trained so hard they get burned out. Anyway the event was to unveil our new Dutamas Runners official Ts.

Race 4 - KPAC Trail Relays (21 July 2012)
I just thought of setting up a team for fun as we haven't had one for a long time. Team line-up was supposed to be me, Seng Chor, Paul and Wei Li. However, Paul was not able to make it to the event, so we had to SOS David and luckily he was available. Nevertheless, we did quite ok though not in the Top 10. It was certainly a challenging event with so many stairs/hill climbs! We finished in 1h26m21s.

Seng Chor, David, Wei Li and me

Displaying proudly our medals

Trail Run @ FRIM with KC Leong's group

Had a great run today with KC's group and and also those training for TMBT '12. I think those doing it are kind of crazy....50km-100km in trails. Anything more than 42.195km for me is already far enough.

Yin, Yvonne & Me

The Trail Running group today - KC Leong on the far left (blue vest)

Foot is still giving me problems at times but I still can run through. Hopefully I am not damaging it further. Hoping to make my training runs more consistent. Coming home late sometimes makes me lazy to change and head out for a run. I rather sit down on my sofa and switch on the TV and chill out.

Most of the runners are at PAR 8 Relay Run happening just a few kms away at Kepong Metropolitan Park. Nowadays, I am just so slow I don't feel like competing. 

I just finished watching the Olympics Mens Marathon and the race was won by Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda. A surprise winner, beating two fast Kenyans in the field. What a win!

Kiprotich crossing the finishing line

Track & Field events attracts me more than any other events, except maybe tennis but disappointed that Federer lost. But at least he won his first medal in singles.

David Rudisha certainly gets my vote for the most outstanding performance. Instead of the usual Olympics wait-and-see tactic, he just tore the field apart right from the gun and broke the World Record time of 1m40.91sec. Here are some recent articles about him:

1. David Rudisha: Irish missionary best coach I ever had

2. Usain Bolt v David Rudisha over 400m is not impossible, and would be a lot of fun

Rudisha with his WR time

Of course, Usain Bolt again proves that he is the best sprinted in the world when everyone doubted him after finishing second in both 100m & 200m Jamaican trails behind Yohan Blake. He was just a class of his own when he won both the sprint events plus finishing with a world record time in the 4 x 100m relay. I mean why wouldn't it be a world record with so much sprint talents.

Usain Bolt after winning the 200m