2XU Compression Run 2015

The supposed 3rd race, 3rd HM post Naela, had to become the 1st post Naela.

If you're in Malaysia, it's no news that 2 major running events in Malaysia was cancelled due to the haze. SCKLM2015 being the first and BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon 2015 being the second. The haze is one of the worst this time. It has been a common issue for as long as I can remember. But it seldom got prolonged to this extend. Schools were also closed for the most number of days ever. Final exams were interrupted, businesses suffered, costed lives for some very unlucky ones. It was terrible. So the running events were definitely not spared. However, we thought SCKLM would be the only one affected, but as it turned out, it wasn't. The weather was quite ok the week after SCKLM, but it got worse again on BSNPNM week. Tough call for the organisers, and tough luck for the runners. As if it knows when to struck itself and piss runners and organisers off. The Hari Sukan Negara did go on uninterrupted. SCKLM should have been held on that week and day, to commemorate the first ever Hari Sukan Negara and what better way to have it than with the biggest, yearly sporting event in Malaysia itself. Runners were outraged, and the SCKLM was back to the originally determined date. Who knows, that is the date that the race was never meant to be on. I know the frustation of those who had worked so hard and was on their most fittest form . Opportunity doesn't come twice, or at least not quite the same. But it may be a saviour as well, since due to the haze, trainings were less, so runners will in the end get into the race not fully prepared along with an unhealthy condition to race in. So the cancellation was necessary. Both SCKLM2015 and the BSNPNM2015.

The weather got especially bright and clear the Saturday before the race. Visibility was as far as can be. It's this kind of moment that you'll be able to realise how beautiful and what a huge blessing it is to just be able to see the clear blue sky, and crisp white cloud. For the first time after sometime, accompanied by my precious baby, a race flatlay was worthy to be put up.

Since this is only a half, not a full, and this is my second time being a nursing running mommy, everything is quite easy and in order now:

• Enough hydration as you will clearly need tons, since you are breastfeeding. Normal water consumption should be at least 2 litres. 1 litres is for the milk, so 4 litres in total should be consumed at least.
• Enough fueling as nursing as it is, already consume additional ~500kcal. For me 2 packets of gel might be enough. 
• Minimal to zero caffein if you must. Had opted for the Gu gels, since they have the no caffeine options. You will definitely consume caffeine in the end, since you most probably be consuming energy drinks provided by the organiser later on.
• Proper breakfast in the morning. I decided to have the japanese sweet potato as my breakfast since it's rich in carbo, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and blood sugar regulator (I just googled that up). So I had steamed it even the night before. Would definitely be cold the morning after, but it's necessary.
• Prepared my vitamin bottles on the breakfast table (obimin, spirulina, VCO, could have been honey as well, if I didn't run out of them). VCO is really an energy source. It converts food into energy easily, especially if you are on an empty tummy. 
• Prepared a tumbler for me to mix my instant coffee in the morning.
• Prepared my protein mix that consists of black bean, black sesame and protein powder to be consumed after the race,
• Of course put all my running attires at one side.
• Looked for the race venue on waze, as it's a totally new venue at the Kompleks Sukan Air Putrajaya. Got an estimate of the journey duration and made some estimate on when to start leaving home, just in time.
• Looked for the Subuh prayer time. With that information, I managed to perform one just right before leaving home, with complete running attire on. 
• Let the baby latch before you leave and prepare pumping items the night before and put it on the table together with other essentials (make sure that pump is fully charged, pumps parts assembled, so you won't have to be rushing and forgetting things in the race morning).

Such a long list and to-dos. But despite the preparation, I still forgot about 1 tiny thing. My heart rate strap, was without the heart rate transmitter. Quickly grabbed hubs' transmitter. Put everything in the car. The thing with using a new transmitter, it needs to be synced with your watch again. So that's what I did, during the commotion. Everything was in order in the end. Once Subuh time started, performed the prayer and was able to leave home right after. Put the pump on and drove while at it. 

I managed to reach in time with quite a decent parking spot. Alhamdulillah. Lucky I did some very light stretching during bath time, as I clearly hadn't enough time before the race started.

Started with the normal and cannot fail race strategy. Ignore others, follow your own comfortably relax pace. William passed by just a few moments after race started (started few minutes after gun time due to the crowd, I reached almost exactly in time). Then, off he went nowhere to be seen. I was almost totally in my own little world until it finally got brighter. It did seemed to be taking too long to get to 5km. My heart rate had even started to scream itself (I set the alarm to sound whenever my heart rate reaches max. It was still very early for me to reach that level. Everything felt easy not sure why the heart rate got jumpy. Maintained my own pace, managed to find another runner to tag on to like always until sometime where he met his buddy and seemed to slow down since then. The heart rate never seemed to behave, so I decided to take it off. So much pointless chaos in the morning, only to be discarded in the end.  

I then carried on. It was not 10km yet but I saw the top runners already made their u turn. There was nothing better to do than to look towards the other side. I then saw a very familiar figure. It was Cecil, the ironman friend. It was no surprise really, seeing him already making his way back. The Putrajaya road was so big but I tried my luck of calling out for him, and he did hear me. 

I cruised on further until the 10 km, to the u turn point, caught up with more people until finally caught up with William at maybe about 13 km. Was so excited of course, greeted him but sensed that he might be needing his break, so I went ahead. Not too long after, passed by Bovin, another fellow Digi runner. He seemed to be needing his break as well. These 2 guys had just participated in the 10km Puma run the night before. Yea, it was a mere 10km, but I know since the distance being short and being competitive runner like they are, they might have had quite a hard race the night before. And it surely made a race difficult the morning after. Have to say that it sure felt good getting to catch up and overtake other runners one by one. But of course that's their strategy to start strong. I better stick to mine of finishing stronger. 

The race seemed like forever to finish. It finally got to the lake area, which surely indicated that the finish line is near. But since the distance marker been showing the remaining distance to be somewhat 1km further than my watch, I knew this must only mean that it was gonna be over distance. Over distance should be fine. But being over by almost 2km was not. I tried to contain whatever energy I had left, in order to ensure I have enough to the end. I knew I had reserved it well, but my mind couldn't hold it further. I succumbed to walk breaks. Once the walk breaks were in, the mind would never stop asking for more. I have been managing it well throughout the first 20 km but failed in the remaining 2km. The walk breaks I mean. So it had costed me some minutes. My earlier target of sub 2:15 had an even worse outcome of more than 2:20. Had I managed to omit the walk breaks, I could have met the sub 2:20. 

Bumped into few on the final few kms. And the most epic one was of course with aida. She was up front with the husband. Quickly caught myself up with them, greeted and took them over and she was there at all of my finishing photos.

I didn't even wait for her to finish. It was a mere few seconds really. It didn't occur to me plus I had to find some space to stretch out. Quickly weaved myself through the crowd and into the backyard. Went back into the finishing area for some refreshment or if they have anything on offer. They didn't have any, except for some 100 plus cans. Got to the medic area and quickly grabbed some ice. It was a very good thing that I got to ice myself almost immediately. And this will become my finishing must do moving forward. The legs were painfully throbbing while driving back but it wasn't as bad at later part of the day. I had wanted to leave after I got myself some ice, but bumped into Bovin and later on Cecil. Cecil apparently had 6th placing despite starting 3 mins later than gun time (podium finisher's talk, 3 mins from gun time is such a huge thing). I once had joked with him before that I would finish the race when he had happily finished showering at home. True enough, I finished almost 1 hr later than him. He had stayed on only cause of the prize giving session.

I didn't waste that much time still. Made my way to the car which was much further than I had this morning. The starting venue and finishing is different but I like it. Only then did I realise that I may have had some blisters and broken nails. Walking was painful not because of my leg muscles, but from the toes. The newton fate, either not that suitable for me or it's a tad too small. It was around 9:30 when I started to drive back and was 10:15 when I reached home. It felt so good, getting to get home that early. One of the blessings of being a solo racer. So trouble free and need no concern for others. What matters more is I have my race completed, and got to get home to my baby the soonest. 

As for the race itself, I felt it was ok, nothing has particularly harmed me so I wouldn't whine about the shortcomings as much. But I do agree that it could have been better. Some unlucky ones might have suffered from the lack of organisation. While the water stations were consistently put up, some seemed to be not getting enough water still, mostly due to the lack of cups. The energy drink was also served quite late. Some runners commented about salt tablet as well, but I don't think the event should be especially blamed for the lake of salt tablet. They could have provided a banana at the very least though along the race. There was no banana nor energy gels throughout the race so it was a big issue if anyone came unprepared. Almost the mishaps of the 2 year's back race. There was no banana even at the finishing line. I was fueled well for the race. All the morning rituals and race fueling had worked well. What didn't work was only my race pace and time. I was ok with the 2:21 hrs, but definitely not ok with the 6:22 pace. I had a much better 6:18 virgin halfie pace in SCKLM 2015. 6:19 for 2XU Compression Run 2014. Sigh. But it's good to hear that others felt it tough as well. Cecil was complaining that he had a crab walk the morning after the race. So it was a tough one. However, elevation was only 240m. My normal training run route for a mere 13km already yields 331m. I was badly hurt with the extreme humidity that morning. It felt hot, despite being quite a cool morning. May be it was just my body, due to the milk production and all. The finishing shirt, I don't like it as much. I specifically asked for men's shirt, since ladies' would be just too small. But the sizing and the wide design just make the shirt even more, unpleasant.

Now, It's about 2 weeks post race. I will have another race this weekend. The pain on the toes seems to disapper, but if course, the toenails turned bluish now. As long as I can fit into my stilts and run comfortably in the running shoe, it should be fine. Hope to have a better race this weekend then.

2XU Compression Run 2015
Date: 1 November 2015
Venue: Kompleks Sukan Air Putrajaya
Post Partum Progress: 15 weeks post partum
Distance: 22.22 km
Time: :2:21.27 hrs
Pace: 6:22 mins/km