Post Ramadhan B2B Race: ENR and NMGRR
Training were lacking. My hope of upping the ante went to the drain big time in Ramadhan. The maid were not around until the 8th day of Syawal, so no training was possible during the break. Been envying other people who managed to pull out some training. The 1st work week was crazy, but good enough that it was over soon. So 3 training run was possible before the 2 races. 1 being the Rat Race 2014 qualifier. Lucky there are more runners in the office now, so I dragged them along to the qualifying session. I wouldn't be even making my way there, if it's not for them.
The qualifying session was held on Friday. So it would be a 4 days straight of running, 3 being hard workouts (have to treat the races as workouts instead of races, due to the lack of training and keeping injury at bay). Very less turned up on Friday, so everyone was selected, haha... But it was timed still, for the sake of team setup. Not sure which team I ended up in. There were only 2 girls, me and Alice whom present since I dragged her along. The guys went all out at the start. I didn't warm up enough and pushing the maximum is way not an option. I had enough lesson learnt from the last Fire Fighter Half Marathon. Always have 10 mins for warmups and no matter how enticing it can be, it will only backfire you if you go otherwise. The end result, managed to overtake 3 guys and finished with a slightly worse timing than my last 5km PR during Shape last year (last year's Shape's was 29.03 with 5.46 pace). Considering the lack of training and the unintentional favourable pace outcome, it was something to be joyful about. Didn't plan on pushing too much, knowing there would be a 5km race again tomorrow and an 18km right after.
The day after is the Energiser Night Race, with the hubs being more excited this time due to the complimentary headlight. It was one of the most crowded race ever. I've never experienced line being that congested before. WhatsApp not sent, calls didn't get through, the network was toggling between no data coverage to Edge and sometimes HSDPA. There was nice foreworks though, launching the each od 15km and 5km races. When it started, there simply was so many people. There's no room to run, you had to squeeze around, weaving yourself through people in order to run. It was like that for almost 1km. I aasumed I was with the earlier packs, since I managed to leave many behind and space was ample in the end. Left the hubs around km 2 to 3. Reserved my effort as well for tomorrow's 18km. But I would still expect to at least equalise, if not beating the qualifying time. But that didn't happen. Jess made it there, despite all the doubts of whether she can make it and what nots. Too bad that we didn't get to meet at all. But the crowd was huge, and the timing is short, making meeting up is next to impossible. But glad that another race is in the books.
The next day is 1of my most anticipated races. Any long races is much anticipated. Left home at 10 mins to 5 am, when the race would start at 5.15. Managed to reach at the venue 5 mins earlier even, just enough for some slight stretching. I tried to make sure that I was at the front, but after it started, quite a number of people took me over. I had maintained an easy effort throughout. Even if there was a push, it was quite slight. I was so worried and wondering about the level of Bukit Jalil hills, that I had reserved my effort almost all the time. Being out of race and out of long runs for so long has depleted my confidence level. Even with the last 1km to the finishing line, I was very sceptic about pushing all out. But it was definitely an enjoyable run. Didn't feel the dread and the push whatsoever. The time seemed to just flown by. And unlike most of my races, I didn't have any to cling on to, except for 3 individuals which I spent quite sometime running along. Overtook the 2 girls upon getting closer to the finishing line, and got left behind by the guy. But he was still within my sight upon reaching the finishing line.
The verdict for both races;
Worse than rat race qualifier for ENR
Improved from 20th to 18th for NMGRR (2nd to 3rd series) at the worst race pace (6.38)
Not a very good race result, but contempt nonetheless. Hoping that work and other commitments will not get in the way of the marathon training further.
Addendum:
This post is posted late. But I couldn't be bothered amending the contents. DiGi is sending 3 teams to the KL Rat Race 2014, and I'll be in the first team. The lead has very high hope for this year's Rat Race though, so it will be scarrryyy.
And the NMGRR 3rd result is as follows. Improved to 18th. okla
The qualifying session was held on Friday. So it would be a 4 days straight of running, 3 being hard workouts (have to treat the races as workouts instead of races, due to the lack of training and keeping injury at bay). Very less turned up on Friday, so everyone was selected, haha... But it was timed still, for the sake of team setup. Not sure which team I ended up in. There were only 2 girls, me and Alice whom present since I dragged her along. The guys went all out at the start. I didn't warm up enough and pushing the maximum is way not an option. I had enough lesson learnt from the last Fire Fighter Half Marathon. Always have 10 mins for warmups and no matter how enticing it can be, it will only backfire you if you go otherwise. The end result, managed to overtake 3 guys and finished with a slightly worse timing than my last 5km PR during Shape last year (last year's Shape's was 29.03 with 5.46 pace). Considering the lack of training and the unintentional favourable pace outcome, it was something to be joyful about. Didn't plan on pushing too much, knowing there would be a 5km race again tomorrow and an 18km right after.
The day after is the Energiser Night Race, with the hubs being more excited this time due to the complimentary headlight. It was one of the most crowded race ever. I've never experienced line being that congested before. WhatsApp not sent, calls didn't get through, the network was toggling between no data coverage to Edge and sometimes HSDPA. There was nice foreworks though, launching the each od 15km and 5km races. When it started, there simply was so many people. There's no room to run, you had to squeeze around, weaving yourself through people in order to run. It was like that for almost 1km. I aasumed I was with the earlier packs, since I managed to leave many behind and space was ample in the end. Left the hubs around km 2 to 3. Reserved my effort as well for tomorrow's 18km. But I would still expect to at least equalise, if not beating the qualifying time. But that didn't happen. Jess made it there, despite all the doubts of whether she can make it and what nots. Too bad that we didn't get to meet at all. But the crowd was huge, and the timing is short, making meeting up is next to impossible. But glad that another race is in the books.
The next day is 1of my most anticipated races. Any long races is much anticipated. Left home at 10 mins to 5 am, when the race would start at 5.15. Managed to reach at the venue 5 mins earlier even, just enough for some slight stretching. I tried to make sure that I was at the front, but after it started, quite a number of people took me over. I had maintained an easy effort throughout. Even if there was a push, it was quite slight. I was so worried and wondering about the level of Bukit Jalil hills, that I had reserved my effort almost all the time. Being out of race and out of long runs for so long has depleted my confidence level. Even with the last 1km to the finishing line, I was very sceptic about pushing all out. But it was definitely an enjoyable run. Didn't feel the dread and the push whatsoever. The time seemed to just flown by. And unlike most of my races, I didn't have any to cling on to, except for 3 individuals which I spent quite sometime running along. Overtook the 2 girls upon getting closer to the finishing line, and got left behind by the guy. But he was still within my sight upon reaching the finishing line.
The verdict for both races;
Worse than rat race qualifier for ENR
Improved from 20th to 18th for NMGRR (2nd to 3rd series) at the worst race pace (6.38)
Not a very good race result, but contempt nonetheless. Hoping that work and other commitments will not get in the way of the marathon training further.
Addendum:
This post is posted late. But I couldn't be bothered amending the contents. DiGi is sending 3 teams to the KL Rat Race 2014, and I'll be in the first team. The lead has very high hope for this year's Rat Race though, so it will be scarrryyy.
And the NMGRR 3rd result is as follows. Improved to 18th. okla
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