Sunday June 3, 2000. D-DAY

PRE-RUN

I couldn't sleep well at all!

The alarm rang at 3:30am. I readied my gear and all, and at 4 am drove to USM. Runners were already heading out in droves! Saw cars being turned away from entering USM, so I parked in front of some shops and headed on foot. Near the Sunny Point intersection there was already traffic congestion due to road closure.

Hah! I brought a bag! Lesson number one, travel light. Just bring the registration card, your coupons, and car keys. Don't lug yr running shoes around (although the slippers came in handy later).

So there was this long queue in front of the USM main gate where we were supposed to register. At the gate, a race official asked me for my card, which I produced. Then I was asked, "Where's your number?" I said "In the bag..." He said "Wear it now". Lesson number two. I was supposed to show it to him before he can give me the starting wristband (yellow) but he gave it to me before seeing my number anyway.

So I got in. Changed into my running shoes. The announcement came to proceed to the Minden gate. I left my bag with a brader at the Milo Tent and proceeded, forgetting to bring my pace chart. DUUH!

Hey!! Isn't this supposed to be a half marathon? Why don't I see everyone stretching or warming up? Most are sitting down, idling and chatting, some are lying down catching some pre-race zzz's. Only about 5% are doing warmups and stretches. I'm no expert but I see a lot of bouncing stretches. Wooo, not for me.

Also, near the Minden gate, people were peeing away near the longkang because the toilets are so far away.

At about 5:20 am the Minden gates opened, and the runners milled towards the starting point. I let the crowd go first, stayed behind, was in the last 100 crowd. By the time I reached near the starting point, the run had already started. There were so many runners that we had to walk a bit before I broke in a slow jog. Passing by the Kompleks Belia, it was already 5:40am and Fajr time is in. I went and did Fajr prayers at the Kompleks Belia Surau. Two runners did likewise.

MY FIRST HALF MARATHON RUN

After prayers, about 5:45am, my run officially started from the Kompleks Belia Gate. Started with slow pace. Surprised to find many are only walking. I suppose for them it's just a chance to sightsee and walk the bridge. Pace was quite steady, I think at 8km/min pace. I passed the walkers and start/stop joggers/runners easy. The first uphill at the center span was okay. Somewhere about here the race leaders of the women's half marathon passed me. Wow they were going pretty fast.

Almost to the top of the span I came to the first of the 5k water stops. Walked and grabbed two cups of water, drank them and continued running. Downhill was a real pleasure, feet did not hurt at all, everything was really fluid, smooth sailing and In-Sync.

I think at about 1:20 I reached the other side and came to the second 10k drink stop. I thought, hmm not a bad pace. If I could maintain the pace maybe I can finish under three hours. At this second water stop I grabbed three cups. Drank two and a half, and poured the rest on my head. I'm now turning back the other way, and on the entry ramp back onto the bridge the race officials handed out the second and final wristband (green). I am slowly running out of steam as I approach the second uphill, I thought I'll just walk up and continue running on the downhill. But my fatigued legs got better of me, also my toes, especially the little pinkies were starting to hurt due to friction with my socks. Just before the uphill I broke into a brisk walk. Tough uphill! Halfway downhill was the 15k drink stop, grabbed 3 more cups. Ran on but only for a while, my pinkies were really starting to hurt by now. After the downhill it was a run/walk affair until the pinkies hurt so bad I had to stop and loosen up my shoes. Ouchy!!

1km from the end my stopwatch showed 2:55 and I knew I could not make 3:00 even if I tried with my feet in this condition. So it was a painful walk down the exit ramp, and only nearing the USM main gate did I break into an agonized jog for my final "sprint" to the finish line. I found my lane, and to my surprise the race official asked for my wristbands and handed me out a finishers medal and cert (yahoo!).

YES! I have now officially become a HALF-MARATHONER!!! And I have a cert and medal to prove it. Hehehehehehe!!!

POST-RUN PAIN

All this made me forget to stop my stopwatch (DUUUH!) and I limped my way to retrieve my bag at the Milo tent, eager to get out of my painful shoes. Then horrors! My slippers were missing. My feet was aching so bad than I took off my shoes anyway and walked barefooted, retracing my steps back to the spot where I changed into shoes in the first place. Luckily my slippers were still there.

It was then I stopped my stopwatch. It showed 3:15 something, so minus the limping about I must have finished in 3:05 or something.

The next half hour was limping and queing up to get free drinks. Two cuppa iced coffee. 1 can hundred plus. 3 cuppa ribena. Boy do I feel bloated after that. After getting the free hamper I walked around. Hung out by the first aid station where some were being treated for sore muscles, torn tendons, etc, etc. Gruesome! There was a lucky draw at 10 am but since I never win anything anyway, I headed home, tired, in pain but in great spirits. Hey, I'm a HALF-MARATHONER!

POST PENANG BRIDGE GOALS

1. Rest for two weeks of absolutely no running

2. Start to train again and build up for a "half-marathon readyness". This is equivalent to week 2 of the training calender, ie two regular runs of 8k and a long run of 16k a week.

3. Officially enter this year's FIZ 10k run scheduled on 5th August 2001 (hey my birthday!)

4. Enter KL half marathon next year (march 2002)