Crazy Race Weekend With a Shining New PR
The time is up, that crazy race weekend. I was very sceptical that I would proceed with both races. Definitelt I cannot miss BSN PNM at all costs, due to the finisher tee, which I so long for since last year. So KOTR would have a higher chance of being sacrificed. But I got excited upon the race kit collection day, after seeing how organised everything was. So I've firmed up my mind, I will strive to join both races. The weekend alsk kicked off with the arrival of the shiny new sony smartwatch 2. My turn was not up yet but I requested ermie to give me hers and she would get mine, when I got mine on Tuesday yippee
Aminsyah was not around for business trip. This leaves the logistic matters is another thing to worry of. Lucky, 1 is a night race, and logistic wise it's always easier with a night race (dont have to worry about what time to wake up, whether baby will be up that time and might delay my morning etc2). KOTR is just as troublesome. I have not joined the event before so im not sure of the whole setup, road closure parking venues etc. I then just think I could just gamble. For BSN PNM, I had muhd to accompNy me with the kids. Since it's a longer duration than shape's I suggested that he might as well go tp alamanda to kill the time. And so he did...but the bad part was he got stucked in the traffic light for road closure. I could have left the race venue earlier if it not for that. The good thing while waiting was that I got to do a proper stretching, which would benefit the most for the next day's run.
Once he reached, he stopped quite far and I had to walk quite a distance. Making reaching home even later. And the road was not clear yet. There was a lot of traffic and stoppage. The kids were already asleep at the back seat. I had to sit at the front seat and since I had no time to waste, I simply pumped while sitting in front. Everything was done quite discreetly, definitely muhd knew what I was up to but I couldnt care much that time. I just had to get it done and over with.
I arrived quite early at putrajaya on the contrary. I thought I would be late, with maghrib at home, and putrajaya being about 45 mins from home. But since I did not have parking problem to worry about and muhd drove fast, we reached in about 35 mins, slight jam only delayed us a little while. Bumped into Nan and managed to pass his gu, and off he and bismi moved to the starting line and I tagged along. There, it felt like the longest wait at the starting line ever. I am seldom early at the starting line, me having this JIT principle and all. There was no rain at the start, and weather was quite cool so everything was good, cos it can be really hot if not for the rain earlier on.
Ive maintained my pace alongside bismi and nan. As usual, they were quite fast at the start since they like to clear up their path first. Upon 2km maybe they started to a more stable pace. But I couldnt keep up, I went ahead. Thought that they wanted to tag along but of course they didnt.
The race was quite stressful. I didnt enjoy myself as much as I had enjoyed scklm. Scklm was very much stress free, maybe it was partly due to it being the first half, and the only thing that I had to break was to be able to finish it. This time, I still went faster than I think I should and also due to everyone was running faster than me. So as usual, I will always try to virtually pace with someone. Initially there was this very slim top to toe 2xu clad lady, but come ~km4, she slowed down. ThEn I virtual pace with a chinese lady with newton shoe, she seemed quite fast and I didnt want to push myself so hard too early on. Then I saw this guy who I believe 1 of the 24 running group members past by quite strongly, so felt more pressured myself. Then I saw a group of 4 men, in the end they seemed to be quite fast as well. So it was a lot of pressure, everyone seemed to be going so fast. But I still managed to maintain my composure and I cruised on, medium effort, carefully not push myself so much, so I would have much to spare in the end.
Around km8, I was about the same pace with this guy...his pace was about my comfortably steady pace, so I kept on pacing with him. After banana at km 12, he went ahead and up until 19km, we were playing catchup , he was always at the front and I just followed from behind, just to ensure that I wont be too far off from him. When we finally ran alongside one another, both of us made the gesture aahh it's you again, in a funny way. So we ran together until the finishing line. Upon reaching the finishing line, he let me go ahead and muttered cpngratulations I guess. These are 1 of the beauty from running. U bumped into someone you never know and yet you can relate and connect albeit in awkward circumstances. It was so nice of him that he thought I had a lot of practice and he said he had a hard time to keep up with me. Winning races or even have 1 of the top position is never in my wet wildest dream but that kind of recognition is enough to give me some sense of achievement and made me longing for more.
Between km 16 to 17 was one of the killest incline. And long..total elevation gain is its proof here. My thoughts were, as long as I dont walk, that is already good enough.
It was drizzling. I didnt even notice when it started to rain. My shoe got wet. Lucky it was not heavy. I think its even a blessing in disguise. Otherwise it would be so damn hot.
So good of the organiser to organise supporters here and there throughout the route. There were bands, percussionists, singers. And there were spectators at certain stretches and had their cars parked by the roadside.
After the race I was so tired to go around and have a look at what they have at the race venue. The goodies was quite a disappointment. I think there was no milo van. I dont fancy the colour of the finisher tee. But its expensive alright, especially when im sure it turned heads during the KOTR.
We only reached home around midnight. I had my 2 plates of rice, and 2 piece of panadols afterwards. Either that or I was just so tired that I managed to go straight to sleep. Alhamdulillah I guess. Endorphin has always made sleep impossible. That's why, it's only Allah's will that I could.
After having a lengthy recap, only then I realised that I had never officially update the result. I had not much hope and preparation over the race, but I roughly hoped for a sub 2.10. I didnt have a specifically detailed out plan, I just know that my average pace shoudnt go beyond previous pace of 6.19. That's why nike plus update is important as it gave me average pace rather than split pace. So I always had my pace in check. But I had no idea what pace I should be in in order to have sub 2.10 timing. Alhamdulillah, a new PR is recorded yet again. But I was too tired to enjoy it and everyone else got their PR as well so I think nothing really fancy there. But upon reflecting the moment again, I am so grateful that I was able to achieve such result. And I thank non othee than Allah, for all good things can only come from Him. Hope this is only the beginning to better races to come. But 1 thing for sure, as much as I am pressured for PR this time around, the more pressured will I for a new PR next time around
And that wraps the first part of the crazy race weekend
Addendum (12 May 2013)
The BSN PNM 2013 Half Marathon result is one of my proud running moments. I think it was the first time that I start to get a decent positioning. The number is still a lot, but my name was in the first page of the race result, on my 2nd Half Marathon, on my first halfie year. So let me syok sendiri for a while:
Aminsyah was not around for business trip. This leaves the logistic matters is another thing to worry of. Lucky, 1 is a night race, and logistic wise it's always easier with a night race (dont have to worry about what time to wake up, whether baby will be up that time and might delay my morning etc2). KOTR is just as troublesome. I have not joined the event before so im not sure of the whole setup, road closure parking venues etc. I then just think I could just gamble. For BSN PNM, I had muhd to accompNy me with the kids. Since it's a longer duration than shape's I suggested that he might as well go tp alamanda to kill the time. And so he did...but the bad part was he got stucked in the traffic light for road closure. I could have left the race venue earlier if it not for that. The good thing while waiting was that I got to do a proper stretching, which would benefit the most for the next day's run.
Once he reached, he stopped quite far and I had to walk quite a distance. Making reaching home even later. And the road was not clear yet. There was a lot of traffic and stoppage. The kids were already asleep at the back seat. I had to sit at the front seat and since I had no time to waste, I simply pumped while sitting in front. Everything was done quite discreetly, definitely muhd knew what I was up to but I couldnt care much that time. I just had to get it done and over with.
I arrived quite early at putrajaya on the contrary. I thought I would be late, with maghrib at home, and putrajaya being about 45 mins from home. But since I did not have parking problem to worry about and muhd drove fast, we reached in about 35 mins, slight jam only delayed us a little while. Bumped into Nan and managed to pass his gu, and off he and bismi moved to the starting line and I tagged along. There, it felt like the longest wait at the starting line ever. I am seldom early at the starting line, me having this JIT principle and all. There was no rain at the start, and weather was quite cool so everything was good, cos it can be really hot if not for the rain earlier on.
Ive maintained my pace alongside bismi and nan. As usual, they were quite fast at the start since they like to clear up their path first. Upon 2km maybe they started to a more stable pace. But I couldnt keep up, I went ahead. Thought that they wanted to tag along but of course they didnt.
The race was quite stressful. I didnt enjoy myself as much as I had enjoyed scklm. Scklm was very much stress free, maybe it was partly due to it being the first half, and the only thing that I had to break was to be able to finish it. This time, I still went faster than I think I should and also due to everyone was running faster than me. So as usual, I will always try to virtually pace with someone. Initially there was this very slim top to toe 2xu clad lady, but come ~km4, she slowed down. ThEn I virtual pace with a chinese lady with newton shoe, she seemed quite fast and I didnt want to push myself so hard too early on. Then I saw this guy who I believe 1 of the 24 running group members past by quite strongly, so felt more pressured myself. Then I saw a group of 4 men, in the end they seemed to be quite fast as well. So it was a lot of pressure, everyone seemed to be going so fast. But I still managed to maintain my composure and I cruised on, medium effort, carefully not push myself so much, so I would have much to spare in the end.
Around km8, I was about the same pace with this guy...his pace was about my comfortably steady pace, so I kept on pacing with him. After banana at km 12, he went ahead and up until 19km, we were playing catchup , he was always at the front and I just followed from behind, just to ensure that I wont be too far off from him. When we finally ran alongside one another, both of us made the gesture aahh it's you again, in a funny way. So we ran together until the finishing line. Upon reaching the finishing line, he let me go ahead and muttered cpngratulations I guess. These are 1 of the beauty from running. U bumped into someone you never know and yet you can relate and connect albeit in awkward circumstances. It was so nice of him that he thought I had a lot of practice and he said he had a hard time to keep up with me. Winning races or even have 1 of the top position is never in my wet wildest dream but that kind of recognition is enough to give me some sense of achievement and made me longing for more.
Between km 16 to 17 was one of the killest incline. And long..total elevation gain is its proof here. My thoughts were, as long as I dont walk, that is already good enough.
It was drizzling. I didnt even notice when it started to rain. My shoe got wet. Lucky it was not heavy. I think its even a blessing in disguise. Otherwise it would be so damn hot.
So good of the organiser to organise supporters here and there throughout the route. There were bands, percussionists, singers. And there were spectators at certain stretches and had their cars parked by the roadside.
After the race I was so tired to go around and have a look at what they have at the race venue. The goodies was quite a disappointment. I think there was no milo van. I dont fancy the colour of the finisher tee. But its expensive alright, especially when im sure it turned heads during the KOTR.
We only reached home around midnight. I had my 2 plates of rice, and 2 piece of panadols afterwards. Either that or I was just so tired that I managed to go straight to sleep. Alhamdulillah I guess. Endorphin has always made sleep impossible. That's why, it's only Allah's will that I could.
After having a lengthy recap, only then I realised that I had never officially update the result. I had not much hope and preparation over the race, but I roughly hoped for a sub 2.10. I didnt have a specifically detailed out plan, I just know that my average pace shoudnt go beyond previous pace of 6.19. That's why nike plus update is important as it gave me average pace rather than split pace. So I always had my pace in check. But I had no idea what pace I should be in in order to have sub 2.10 timing. Alhamdulillah, a new PR is recorded yet again. But I was too tired to enjoy it and everyone else got their PR as well so I think nothing really fancy there. But upon reflecting the moment again, I am so grateful that I was able to achieve such result. And I thank non othee than Allah, for all good things can only come from Him. Hope this is only the beginning to better races to come. But 1 thing for sure, as much as I am pressured for PR this time around, the more pressured will I for a new PR next time around
And that wraps the first part of the crazy race weekend
Addendum (12 May 2013)
The BSN PNM 2013 Half Marathon result is one of my proud running moments. I think it was the first time that I start to get a decent positioning. The number is still a lot, but my name was in the first page of the race result, on my 2nd Half Marathon, on my first halfie year. So let me syok sendiri for a while:
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