The Virgin FM..finally
So I am finally a marathoner.
I was beyond happy just the moment I left the house. I was like, this is it, it's getting near. Seriously, logistic issues is a big concern for me. So having to pass that hurdle alone is a big accomplishment. I managed to sleep well, wake up on time (set alarm on ipad, phones, few alarms even, get hubs to call, in case I overslept) and Qaisar didn't wake up to disrupt my morning routine. Woke up at 2.30, finished shower and solat, then he was up. not taking it negatively at all, at least I got to nurse him, and he can fall asleep soundly. And that's what he did. Nursed baby, means, longer sleep, means happy maid.
Then the bro in law also notified that he was around. He reached at 3. Much earlier than I had planned. Havent even had my coffee. My ironman friend suggested to break the caffeine fasting 1.5 hrs before race. So quickly had it done, scrapped the bread for breakfast and had to rely on just the power bar. Ok that's it. No more power bar for me. Not liking the taste. Once in the car, i was beyond relieved again. Most of my logistical worries is safe and sound. After this it will just be the race. One thing I've learnt is that, for marathons, I won't need to warmup much except the dynamic stretches to loosen the muscle. The first few miles can be used as warmups to preserve the glycogen stores. But bad thing was, only managed to do SOME stretches while waiting for the train. Just remembered that I hadn't have my powerbar yet. From then on, I was mostly chomping on it while waiting and on the train. So not much stretches for me. Reached Dataran JIT. People had already lined up, and it was a long distance to get to the starting line. It was a huge crowd for a FM, and congested. There goes my stretches chance again. Then the horn blew and history is about to be created. I will finally have my FM in. Again, i was beyond grateful to finally be there, haze free and proceeded as planned event. So traumatised from the cancelled MWM earlier on. Well, let's just say that I was consumed with being grateful throughout the 1st 5km or more maybe, that I was finally, actually running the marathon distance. The race, timing, pace, event outcome is a totally separate matter on its own. Logistics and having to actually run one is a class of its own. Being blessed of the God's given opportunity is totally an understatement. Well, maybe it was just me. Maybe this might be my one and only marathon. I don't know. So it really means a lot.
My race strategy was to maintain 7 ish +/- kind of pace for at least 30km. And that worked well. I was totally enjoying every bit of the run. No huffing and puffing, hadn't pushed my cardiovascular system for 1 bit, and I knew I would have a lot to spare to power up and speed up. Throughout the first 30 km, my brain has been doing simple math throughout. It was easy. 7 mins pace means 1 hour 10 mins for 10km, 30 km should yield 3 hrs 30 minutes. And 7 minutes was added to each 10km block, at almost every kilometer. And this has occupied my mind really well. According to my Garmin (which I have stopped during prayer time), as I reached 30 km, I had 3 minutes before 3.5 hours. So that should have given me a lot of buffer.
Along the way before km20 to 30, I saw a lot of people started stretching at the roadsides. Was glad that I didn't have to. Little that I know that I would be one of those later on. Started to feel some butt cramping slightly before km30. It was slight, and I didn't think that it will hit me bad. But around the km30 ish area, where we reached the toll plaza of Duke maybe, I started to get some medication. And that was the first of many to come. It wasn't bad at all when it started, and it wasn't bad as I moved along as well, but I knew I had to settle it down, before it hit me really bad later on. And so it did.It was only meant as a reliever, but it turned out to be much required. as I moved along. Right after the Hockey Stadium and getting into Bukit Tungku area, that's when it started to get more unbearable. Come to think of it now, it was not a total unbearable, but I was afraid to push. My Garmin still showed 4.15 hrs with around 7-8 km to go. I knew my hope of getting a sub 5 would be next to none. The route as well was not helping at all. There were downhills, but there were uphills as well. In that kind of condition, the hills did nothing good at all. I had stopped at almost all aid station, getting either spray or oil. At some spots, where there would be a more discreet spots, I would boldly just spray or rub the oil right inside the pants. And it was a great relief. I think it was what kept me going. A lot of time spent not moving of course. But it was necessary. If i didn't have that much stops, I would have achieved the sub 5 maybe. My moving time was at 5:01. How close was that.
On a slightly lighter notes, bumped into few people. This one chinese which I always bumped into back in my bukit jelutong training days in 2012 which I had bumped at PJ dawn in 2012 itself, was there doing his marathon too. I caught up with him and his friend and surprisingly he remembered me. He seemed to have done few marathons already based on the slight chit chat we had. He asked about my baby etc, funny how you can just simply click, when you have never actually talked to one another. It was 2 years ago man. But I strode off ahead, I'm sure he was fine with his friend. Passed Izwah, Damien, Damien's friend which I just knew thru comments on Damien's fb (a digizen which had noticed me first btw). Passed by the barefooted uncle earlier on. Man, he was strong. Finished the BSN PNM the night before and doing his Full that time. And he took me over, strongly even, at about the final mileage.
I also ran almost consistently with these 3 ladies, they were my benchmark (been my benchmark of the photos taken as well). However, their photos were taken more than mine. That's a bummer. The probably Japanase gurl finally left me for good. the 2XU clad lady were strong at the start, but starting to get slower when the uncle took me over and I took her over as well. But the green coloured tudung girl was strong. I thought she was much younger, being that strong. If only I had the kind of mental to push it just a bit more, I could have at least improved my syok sendiri, Moving Garmin Time to sub5.
Solat
This is one of my major worry for any races. You need to start worrying about it the moment you get into the HM territory. Bought a travelling telekung last year, especially for SCKLM 2013. Didn't even use it much afterwards. After worrying about the solat venue this time around, and been crashing my head thinking about any possible petrol station along the route, once the route video was out, I was so thankful that they will have the prayer tent. Then, there lies the next question in mind; would they have the telekung as well. I almost thought that they would, but had prepared to carry the telekung along no matter what. And I have always hated carrying too much stuff while on the run, I've decided to just leave the telekung once I'm done there. I had to get a new pouch, as the existing one is just too big, all thanks to the hubs. Well, it may be useful for some other occasions, let's give it benefit of the doubt. Thankful that I had a good deal at it. It was on 50% less, so costed me only RM 19. It has proven to be useful for more than the telekung. At least I get to stuff all my stuff (1 earphone, 4 gels, 1 gu chomp, 1 pack of sunblock, some money and touch and go, power bar for breakfast and packed recovery powder). Yes, I carried just that on the train, everything was on me throughout. Since the prayer tent was put at the plaza, I had initially thought it was the Plaza's surau, but it wasn't. It was really a tent made especially for prayer. So it only meant that there will not be any proper ablution area. I had planned on preserving my wudhu' before leaving home at 3 (imagine how long have I hold my wudhu) until somewhat around 5km. Then I thought, arghh, screw it, at least I get to cool my body temparature down (well, nothing has specifically cancelled off my wudhu, not that I can recall of). Then, when I reached the tent, there was no water tap around. The volunteer couldn't help it much either. Spent quite sometime there. There was a mineral bottle, but it seemed to be owned by someone, and I had patiently waited until she was done. And she wasn't done fast enough. Screwed, I just used the water without prior permission. I believe it's of no use to her as well. While having my ablution, my lense had to come off, of all the times. Both sides even. I had never been able to put on my lense without any mirror before, how on earth would I be able to do it now. With sweaty hands, cleaned up with the limited mineral water, had the lense washed first before fitting them into the eyes. I was lucky, it got in. I had imagined that I would have to run rest of 31km lenseless. Glad it was over. Then, heard people were looking for telekung, and I had happily offered mine. That has made me left the place with a happy heart, and unnecessary 7 minutes spent (I didn't count, it that time, only knew it once the official time is up. Did my own math). So that was the drama I had for solat.
Fuel and Nutrition
I didn't overly had much liquid before the race started, in order to avoid having toilet break earlier on. Plus it happened too quickly anyhow, I didn't even have time for proper stretch. But I had successfully carbo loaded, hydrated and nutritionised (am sure there is no such word) even weeks before the race. I had quite a decent nutrition the week of the race since the whole family got sick. I was on caffeine fasting myself, so whatever consumed, has a good chance of getting absorbed (you know caffeine reduces vitamins absorption, don't you?). Was on honey lemon routine every day and night. So that must have meant something. All the unnecessary free radicals might have been off your system. So nutrition wise, I felt great. Race time fueling and nutrition, I had planned on half an hour gap for 1 piece of Gu chomp and start taking the gels once chewing might not be possible (my definition of this is the 2 hour mark, despite chewing was still very much possible). I had in the end skipped the 4th hour gel, as energy and fuel wasn't my issue at all. Having skipped that, I had consciously decided to take another gel which was my 3rd in order to give me the slight surge required at that awfully testing time of ~km37/38. Hydration wise, I think I had stopped at almost all, to avoid unnecessary dehydration later on. but not too much of it to avoid having toilet breaks. That seems to work fine. I could hold from going to toilet until at 11.30 am (Petronas stop by the bro in law). As I had many times mentioned, I brought some recovery powder with me. That seemed to be another disaster. I had purposely used a very thin plastic to store, in order to limit the space usage. That had backfired me, as somehow, maybe my sunnies had poked into it, and the powder spilled. That is fine. The one not fine was, in the attempt of cooling the not so hot body down (my point is, I don't actually have to do that, but did still since it seems like a logical thing to do in KL's heat), it had wet my pouch, shoes and socks. The powder got mixed with water and all my phone and my inside belongings were covered with purple mixture. I had some amount of it left still once finished. Once I was done getting away from the crowd (the crossroad of Jalan TAR and Jalan Pudu to be exact), I mixed the balance of the mixture with the given mineral water). And that was all I had until about 11.30, where only then that I had the strength to force myself to chew on something.
After race logistics
There's nothing in particular for this. But despite the throbbing legs, I had walked without sitting much to the masjid jamek station. Went through its long pile of stairs, underground and over to the other side.
As if my suffering wasn't enough, I had to cross over to the other side at Kelana Jaya station as well. The Kelana Jaya is also famous with its long stairs.
After the finishing line, my legs were throbbing and made even worse with the long and crowded path to the exit. The field was so crowded I just had to move on and it seemed to be a never ending task. Until I bumped into the lady that I finished with for MWM. She finished strong, good for her. Had no heart to make a conversation. Bumped into Faten later on, and had a good short catchup with her. Mazy called, but my phone was so flat, and filled with gooey purple stuff so andwering is out of equation. Plus it would mean that I had to go back, fight the crowd and the throbbing legs, in order to meet. I thought if I bumped into someone, it would be a bonus. To make an effort there, sorry, not now.
Of course, there was no tissue to clean my phone up. I really need to get it cleaned as I had to text the bro in law at the very least. So it was on my shirt then. Then, I think with God's will, somehow there was a bottle of mineral water outside of masjid jamek station. At least I finally got to clean my gooey hands in order to get the touch and go. The train was sardine packed as well. I don't mind not getting to sit at all, but not having enough space to move my legs around was what made it worse. Another lady was almost throwing up in the train. Lucky it didn't. And thanks to continuous fueling during the race and the recovery drink right after, I was quite well. Else, I would be just as sick as well. No gassy whatsoever. Other than the legs.
Back Home
My mind couldn't think much with the legs. I scrapped any ideas of buying any food. Once home only that I realised that I was so awfully hungry. Greeted with the kids saying that they missed me so much (have I been away that long I wondered). Baby was up as well, so of course, he had to be nursed. Off I went up, after only a short rest and icing on the floor downstairs. No food yet until now, but at least I had some fruit already. Tandem nursing with the baby. Baby asleep, off I went for my shower. It was already 1 pm with no food. I had difficulty to perform my solat, not due to the legs (the legs seemed to be better with the slight stretching and the icing. Having to walk more might have been the help as well), but due to my toes. My pinky toe was blistered. Walking were mostly odd due to this only.
Post Race
I don't particularly feel the need to be on MC. I was scheduled for training on Monday, so I really had to go to work. I only had to wear slippers for 3 days. I was back to my peep toe, sling back, 4 inch heels on the 4th day after the race. I got to squat even the day after the race itself. So my post race strategy seems to be quite well.
All in all, it was such a memorable experience, hence the detail recap of not just the race but everything that went around it in here. It wasn't as sweet as my first HM. My first HM was hold up as well due to haze, so did my first FM. I did so much better than I had ever imagined, for my HM and I did much worse than I had hoped for, for my FM. There are few lessons learnt here:
My Garmin outcome, which can tell about the time i took for prayer and the slight 1 minute I missed to at least make it to my own version of moving time sub 5 hr. 1st time almost 2300 calory burnt. That is more than normal people daily calory consumption. And look at the elevation, it's actually much more than in the route details. The official route info only mentions that it would be 360 m elevation gain.
Post Marathon Again
So now, 11 days post marathon, my legs were still not fully recovered. Of course, I had Bukit Gasing hike with the girls and my boys yesterday, and been doing this after that. The kids, including the baby was so happy when I do this and had definitely joint on board.
I was beyond happy just the moment I left the house. I was like, this is it, it's getting near. Seriously, logistic issues is a big concern for me. So having to pass that hurdle alone is a big accomplishment. I managed to sleep well, wake up on time (set alarm on ipad, phones, few alarms even, get hubs to call, in case I overslept) and Qaisar didn't wake up to disrupt my morning routine. Woke up at 2.30, finished shower and solat, then he was up. not taking it negatively at all, at least I got to nurse him, and he can fall asleep soundly. And that's what he did. Nursed baby, means, longer sleep, means happy maid.
Then the bro in law also notified that he was around. He reached at 3. Much earlier than I had planned. Havent even had my coffee. My ironman friend suggested to break the caffeine fasting 1.5 hrs before race. So quickly had it done, scrapped the bread for breakfast and had to rely on just the power bar. Ok that's it. No more power bar for me. Not liking the taste. Once in the car, i was beyond relieved again. Most of my logistical worries is safe and sound. After this it will just be the race. One thing I've learnt is that, for marathons, I won't need to warmup much except the dynamic stretches to loosen the muscle. The first few miles can be used as warmups to preserve the glycogen stores. But bad thing was, only managed to do SOME stretches while waiting for the train. Just remembered that I hadn't have my powerbar yet. From then on, I was mostly chomping on it while waiting and on the train. So not much stretches for me. Reached Dataran JIT. People had already lined up, and it was a long distance to get to the starting line. It was a huge crowd for a FM, and congested. There goes my stretches chance again. Then the horn blew and history is about to be created. I will finally have my FM in. Again, i was beyond grateful to finally be there, haze free and proceeded as planned event. So traumatised from the cancelled MWM earlier on. Well, let's just say that I was consumed with being grateful throughout the 1st 5km or more maybe, that I was finally, actually running the marathon distance. The race, timing, pace, event outcome is a totally separate matter on its own. Logistics and having to actually run one is a class of its own. Being blessed of the God's given opportunity is totally an understatement. Well, maybe it was just me. Maybe this might be my one and only marathon. I don't know. So it really means a lot.
My race strategy was to maintain 7 ish +/- kind of pace for at least 30km. And that worked well. I was totally enjoying every bit of the run. No huffing and puffing, hadn't pushed my cardiovascular system for 1 bit, and I knew I would have a lot to spare to power up and speed up. Throughout the first 30 km, my brain has been doing simple math throughout. It was easy. 7 mins pace means 1 hour 10 mins for 10km, 30 km should yield 3 hrs 30 minutes. And 7 minutes was added to each 10km block, at almost every kilometer. And this has occupied my mind really well. According to my Garmin (which I have stopped during prayer time), as I reached 30 km, I had 3 minutes before 3.5 hours. So that should have given me a lot of buffer.
Along the way before km20 to 30, I saw a lot of people started stretching at the roadsides. Was glad that I didn't have to. Little that I know that I would be one of those later on. Started to feel some butt cramping slightly before km30. It was slight, and I didn't think that it will hit me bad. But around the km30 ish area, where we reached the toll plaza of Duke maybe, I started to get some medication. And that was the first of many to come. It wasn't bad at all when it started, and it wasn't bad as I moved along as well, but I knew I had to settle it down, before it hit me really bad later on. And so it did.It was only meant as a reliever, but it turned out to be much required. as I moved along. Right after the Hockey Stadium and getting into Bukit Tungku area, that's when it started to get more unbearable. Come to think of it now, it was not a total unbearable, but I was afraid to push. My Garmin still showed 4.15 hrs with around 7-8 km to go. I knew my hope of getting a sub 5 would be next to none. The route as well was not helping at all. There were downhills, but there were uphills as well. In that kind of condition, the hills did nothing good at all. I had stopped at almost all aid station, getting either spray or oil. At some spots, where there would be a more discreet spots, I would boldly just spray or rub the oil right inside the pants. And it was a great relief. I think it was what kept me going. A lot of time spent not moving of course. But it was necessary. If i didn't have that much stops, I would have achieved the sub 5 maybe. My moving time was at 5:01. How close was that.
On a slightly lighter notes, bumped into few people. This one chinese which I always bumped into back in my bukit jelutong training days in 2012 which I had bumped at PJ dawn in 2012 itself, was there doing his marathon too. I caught up with him and his friend and surprisingly he remembered me. He seemed to have done few marathons already based on the slight chit chat we had. He asked about my baby etc, funny how you can just simply click, when you have never actually talked to one another. It was 2 years ago man. But I strode off ahead, I'm sure he was fine with his friend. Passed Izwah, Damien, Damien's friend which I just knew thru comments on Damien's fb (a digizen which had noticed me first btw). Passed by the barefooted uncle earlier on. Man, he was strong. Finished the BSN PNM the night before and doing his Full that time. And he took me over, strongly even, at about the final mileage.
I also ran almost consistently with these 3 ladies, they were my benchmark (been my benchmark of the photos taken as well). However, their photos were taken more than mine. That's a bummer. The probably Japanase gurl finally left me for good. the 2XU clad lady were strong at the start, but starting to get slower when the uncle took me over and I took her over as well. But the green coloured tudung girl was strong. I thought she was much younger, being that strong. If only I had the kind of mental to push it just a bit more, I could have at least improved my syok sendiri, Moving Garmin Time to sub5.
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| The uncle, the green colored tudung lady and me at far back |
This is one of my major worry for any races. You need to start worrying about it the moment you get into the HM territory. Bought a travelling telekung last year, especially for SCKLM 2013. Didn't even use it much afterwards. After worrying about the solat venue this time around, and been crashing my head thinking about any possible petrol station along the route, once the route video was out, I was so thankful that they will have the prayer tent. Then, there lies the next question in mind; would they have the telekung as well. I almost thought that they would, but had prepared to carry the telekung along no matter what. And I have always hated carrying too much stuff while on the run, I've decided to just leave the telekung once I'm done there. I had to get a new pouch, as the existing one is just too big, all thanks to the hubs. Well, it may be useful for some other occasions, let's give it benefit of the doubt. Thankful that I had a good deal at it. It was on 50% less, so costed me only RM 19. It has proven to be useful for more than the telekung. At least I get to stuff all my stuff (1 earphone, 4 gels, 1 gu chomp, 1 pack of sunblock, some money and touch and go, power bar for breakfast and packed recovery powder). Yes, I carried just that on the train, everything was on me throughout. Since the prayer tent was put at the plaza, I had initially thought it was the Plaza's surau, but it wasn't. It was really a tent made especially for prayer. So it only meant that there will not be any proper ablution area. I had planned on preserving my wudhu' before leaving home at 3 (imagine how long have I hold my wudhu) until somewhat around 5km. Then I thought, arghh, screw it, at least I get to cool my body temparature down (well, nothing has specifically cancelled off my wudhu, not that I can recall of). Then, when I reached the tent, there was no water tap around. The volunteer couldn't help it much either. Spent quite sometime there. There was a mineral bottle, but it seemed to be owned by someone, and I had patiently waited until she was done. And she wasn't done fast enough. Screwed, I just used the water without prior permission. I believe it's of no use to her as well. While having my ablution, my lense had to come off, of all the times. Both sides even. I had never been able to put on my lense without any mirror before, how on earth would I be able to do it now. With sweaty hands, cleaned up with the limited mineral water, had the lense washed first before fitting them into the eyes. I was lucky, it got in. I had imagined that I would have to run rest of 31km lenseless. Glad it was over. Then, heard people were looking for telekung, and I had happily offered mine. That has made me left the place with a happy heart, and unnecessary 7 minutes spent (I didn't count, it that time, only knew it once the official time is up. Did my own math). So that was the drama I had for solat.
Fuel and Nutrition
I didn't overly had much liquid before the race started, in order to avoid having toilet break earlier on. Plus it happened too quickly anyhow, I didn't even have time for proper stretch. But I had successfully carbo loaded, hydrated and nutritionised (am sure there is no such word) even weeks before the race. I had quite a decent nutrition the week of the race since the whole family got sick. I was on caffeine fasting myself, so whatever consumed, has a good chance of getting absorbed (you know caffeine reduces vitamins absorption, don't you?). Was on honey lemon routine every day and night. So that must have meant something. All the unnecessary free radicals might have been off your system. So nutrition wise, I felt great. Race time fueling and nutrition, I had planned on half an hour gap for 1 piece of Gu chomp and start taking the gels once chewing might not be possible (my definition of this is the 2 hour mark, despite chewing was still very much possible). I had in the end skipped the 4th hour gel, as energy and fuel wasn't my issue at all. Having skipped that, I had consciously decided to take another gel which was my 3rd in order to give me the slight surge required at that awfully testing time of ~km37/38. Hydration wise, I think I had stopped at almost all, to avoid unnecessary dehydration later on. but not too much of it to avoid having toilet breaks. That seems to work fine. I could hold from going to toilet until at 11.30 am (Petronas stop by the bro in law). As I had many times mentioned, I brought some recovery powder with me. That seemed to be another disaster. I had purposely used a very thin plastic to store, in order to limit the space usage. That had backfired me, as somehow, maybe my sunnies had poked into it, and the powder spilled. That is fine. The one not fine was, in the attempt of cooling the not so hot body down (my point is, I don't actually have to do that, but did still since it seems like a logical thing to do in KL's heat), it had wet my pouch, shoes and socks. The powder got mixed with water and all my phone and my inside belongings were covered with purple mixture. I had some amount of it left still once finished. Once I was done getting away from the crowd (the crossroad of Jalan TAR and Jalan Pudu to be exact), I mixed the balance of the mixture with the given mineral water). And that was all I had until about 11.30, where only then that I had the strength to force myself to chew on something.
After race logistics
There's nothing in particular for this. But despite the throbbing legs, I had walked without sitting much to the masjid jamek station. Went through its long pile of stairs, underground and over to the other side.
As if my suffering wasn't enough, I had to cross over to the other side at Kelana Jaya station as well. The Kelana Jaya is also famous with its long stairs.
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| Where I had to cross, when I could have easily being picked up right under |
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| The pile of stairs where I had to go up and down |
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| The lady from MWM. Check on MWM unbecoming here |
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| The agonied look |
Of course, there was no tissue to clean my phone up. I really need to get it cleaned as I had to text the bro in law at the very least. So it was on my shirt then. Then, I think with God's will, somehow there was a bottle of mineral water outside of masjid jamek station. At least I finally got to clean my gooey hands in order to get the touch and go. The train was sardine packed as well. I don't mind not getting to sit at all, but not having enough space to move my legs around was what made it worse. Another lady was almost throwing up in the train. Lucky it didn't. And thanks to continuous fueling during the race and the recovery drink right after, I was quite well. Else, I would be just as sick as well. No gassy whatsoever. Other than the legs.
Back Home
My mind couldn't think much with the legs. I scrapped any ideas of buying any food. Once home only that I realised that I was so awfully hungry. Greeted with the kids saying that they missed me so much (have I been away that long I wondered). Baby was up as well, so of course, he had to be nursed. Off I went up, after only a short rest and icing on the floor downstairs. No food yet until now, but at least I had some fruit already. Tandem nursing with the baby. Baby asleep, off I went for my shower. It was already 1 pm with no food. I had difficulty to perform my solat, not due to the legs (the legs seemed to be better with the slight stretching and the icing. Having to walk more might have been the help as well), but due to my toes. My pinky toe was blistered. Walking were mostly odd due to this only.
 |
| 1 of 3 blackened toe. A beauty isn't it |
Post Race
I don't particularly feel the need to be on MC. I was scheduled for training on Monday, so I really had to go to work. I only had to wear slippers for 3 days. I was back to my peep toe, sling back, 4 inch heels on the 4th day after the race. I got to squat even the day after the race itself. So my post race strategy seems to be quite well.
All in all, it was such a memorable experience, hence the detail recap of not just the race but everything that went around it in here. It wasn't as sweet as my first HM. My first HM was hold up as well due to haze, so did my first FM. I did so much better than I had ever imagined, for my HM and I did much worse than I had hoped for, for my FM. There are few lessons learnt here:
- Tapering goes beyond just the final week.
- Activity could have been reduced 3 weeks out for optimal muscle performance on race day.
- Even if tough workout or tune up race is required, proper recovery should follow suit.
- Longer training runs is essential. But since it's highly questionable for me still, I really need to squeeze in some legs strengthening post long workout.
- workout variation, in the weeks leading to the race, to aid recovery
- get in tune to your muscles. Try the stretches, if it feels tight more than it should, then something is up and it needs to be addressed first. If the long run doesn't feel just as good, then it's a good enough indicator.
So I take the bad outcome positively. We stumble, and we learn from it. Move on. Never thought of quitting, or regretting why had I signed up for it at first. I enjoyed it throughout despite the pain. Quickly thought of other races, just 1 week post race. It's quite a surprise how Karsten would have thought of even quitting his SCKLM HM, all due to slightly bad pace too early on
My Garmin outcome, which can tell about the time i took for prayer and the slight 1 minute I missed to at least make it to my own version of moving time sub 5 hr. 1st time almost 2300 calory burnt. That is more than normal people daily calory consumption. And look at the elevation, it's actually much more than in the route details. The official route info only mentions that it would be 360 m elevation gain.
Other SCKLM Runpix's result can be found there. Can checkout other people's timing (hee wickedd).
I only have 1 official marathon photos...grrr...fine, save my SGD 49 for it. Here are the official photos and few others taken from other photogs combined. Thanks Photog. I especially like the 4th photo at the corner...So innocent looking.
Lucky I have the video now. The last I checked, I didn't. At least managed to overtake few upon reaching the finishing. But of course, I don't have that fancy looking runner stride. Even my personal video starts with the lady whom I had constantly in pace with.
Post Marathon Again
So now, 11 days post marathon, my legs were still not fully recovered. Of course, I had Bukit Gasing hike with the girls and my boys yesterday, and been doing this after that. The kids, including the baby was so happy when I do this and had definitely joint on board.
I know now that I had weak legs, hence the above movement while going up the stairs (you know how I like to multitask). The stiffness is not too bad, but I know it's not too well yet. I want to be up and running already.
I have also been looking around for good post marathon tips. I especially like this one, and has put them into my own personal note, for easier reference.
Especially like the daily tips, until you are fully recovered. I take recovery seriously now. Have anticipated that I would not have a good race due to the legs earlier, and so it did, and has not been fully recovered until now.
Nonetheless, I especially treasure my Full Marathon. Especially like how jaws dropped after I told them that I had run a 42 km recently. Just like how they say it; Pain is temporary, pride is forever. Till then.
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