Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009: Finally sub 4

Anxiously waiting to start...

Running along Jln Tun Razak...

Long from Klang and he did a sub 4 marathon first time. He later thanked me for the pace. I think both of us worked together to get it done.

Woke up at 3:45 am. After some breakfast, took my black bike and zoomed off towards Dataran Merdeka. I noticed the wind was blowing and the sky indeed looks like it's going to pour. And rain it did, when I was halfway on my destination on Loke Yew road. I was actually drenched when I reached.

But there was no time to waste. Went to deposit the bag and sat down to squeeze as much water from the socks. Met with John and wife, Chris, Sam, and also Abu just before the start. While we were waiting, a slight rain poured for a few minutes. I was just hoping things wouldn't get worse.

5 am sharp, and the horn went. As usual, the first 1k is jam packed. Everyone is just starting their engines for the long way ahead.

The route went towards brickfields, and u-turn towards loke yew. Then it's all the way to cheras badminton court and back to Jln Tun Razak. For the first 10km, I was hoping to maintain a 5min per km. It was slightly off a few minutes by then. At 12km, I clocked 1:05 just as I entered the mosque for dawn prayers. There were already a few going in. Time for prayer was 3 minutes as I exited and proceeded to run along Jln Tun Razak.

As I went through, I realize my right foot was manifesting a blister due to the wet socks. Pain slowly grew out from every step. I choose to ignore it. There were some Klang road runners with orange-t I was chasing. Well not really chasing, but pacing with. I soon overshot them. I think Jason Thiang was on a mountain bike all along and encouraging us to go faster.

After the Pahang Roundabout near Hospital KL, the turn went into KL area, name kampung baru, KLCC. And the funny part is, I hardly remember where I ran. I was just focusing on getting 5min/km at every marker. I didn't pause to take photos or savour the KL urbanscape. It was just pure focus on getting the pace right.

I did remember a spanish runner (was obvious from the spain flag from the back) who I thought was pretty fast. He was breathing hard, and pushing it was every step. I choose to open up my stride. The blister was a pain, so this was a way to minimize the pounding. He would soon went off in front.

As the morning light slowly crept back, I found myself running towards Petaling Street for km 30. Then a young man (Long) came running side by side. Obviously we were pacing each other. I overshoot him, but he'll keep on sticking. We had a few chats, and I said we'll do sub 4 hour if we keep to this pace.

As we went overhead up the road along Jln Istana, the Malaysian ugly mentality was there for all runners to see. The police had blocked the entire road so that we could pass to run on the near right side. There were horns and shouts of dissapproval. Malaysia, I thought at that point, is still a 3rd world country. I don't remember any Malaysians shouting words of encouragement or cheered for us. The only person I remember was an Indian chap clapping for us before 39km. The rest of supporters are foreigners.

Not to be discourage from all this, we keep on running, side stepping the shorter distance runners. Heck, most of them was jogging leisurely, and we were the ones out pacing them. We know what is at stake.

As we went up towards the hill at the government complex, I told my friend this is the last hill. Then it was off towards the city blocks for 39, 40 and 41km. Funnily enough I though 41km marker is a bit short. Then Long had a faster pace and left me. It's ok because I was beginning to slow down from all the hard running and also the blister.

When reaching Dataran merdeka, amazingly all the pain, fatigue and tiredness went away. It was time to celebrate the moment. I estimated that sub 4 is possible because I had a margin of 1km to make it.

Finally made the whole marathon in 3:55.

Congrats to all marathon runners, either slow or fast because 42 is not a piece of cake. You know you've overcome all hardship to earn this. There were some bad comments on the slow packs, and agreeable they should have thought about it better. I think many Malaysians non runners have no inkling on the hardship of marathon runners. If they did, they would have cheered at least.

Here's an idea, politicians can jump start this. Instead of doing the Dancercise (obviously Dance Exercise), our PM wife could have opted to run at least 10km. Besides a free slimming course, I bet it will gain nationwide publicity and also a better respect for runners.

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Results:

Name:	STEVE YIP (MAS)
Net Start:	04:58:11	Category:	Full Marathon 42km
Net Time:	03:55:02	Position:	153 (087)
Finish Timing:	03:55:02.69

Race Day: KLIM International Marathon 2008

3.00 am sharp, and I was up staring at my watch. For fuel, I had a banana, 2 piece of bread and milo.
I had like 5 hours of sleep, but wish I could still sleep more. Luckily, it's not everyday I had to do this, or else, I'll just not sign up for crazy starting time at 4.30 am.

Met haza, Geraldine, tomatoman, stupe, karen, and john (3:16). This time, I was not as nervous as previous year.
The gun went bang at 4:30 am, and soon, all runners were moving slowly out from the starting line. The wheather was pretty humid, and no wind. I quickly settle on my usual pace of around 5 to 6 min/km. The road is still long, and there'll be no point pacing with others who are faster than you. The rule to remember is that you are on your own.

Around 20km, I did a pit stop for dawn prayers just in time.

Things started to look bad from this point. I had a left knee pain, but I just keep reminding myself, it'll go away, or with phrases such as "no pain no gain"...yea rite. By 30km, thanks to powergels from support staff over there, I gulped one of those uneasy food. Then my pace slowed considerably.

Actually, I could have forced myself to run faster, but I didn't. The heavy traffic on the road, with buses and trucks, and cars, provided a not so nice scene to run on. Where's the cheering? Where's the malaysians who should wake up and cheer for these marathon runners, who are "killing" themselves over 42k? Marathons in other countries provide such a great atmosphere, with people lining up, holding signs, cheering, and performing. While here, it's just a run in common KL taffic. Given any choice between hulu langat and KL, I'll run hulu langat where the monkeys could cheer me on.

At one point after the pahang roundabout, there's not even a path for runners. I had to walked on the green grass above the tarmac, while a bus is hogging it.

Things start to look better with the remaining 8km, but I was not going any faster. Moving yes, but just for the sake of completing. The faster the better. At 6km mark, I saw tomatoman on the right side coming back from the u-turn. Pretty fast I would say. He would make it sub 4.

With the remaining 2km, and all the way downhill, it was a mad dash, as I try to ignore pain and fatigue. I never knew Bank Negara looks so awesomely attractive.

Crossing the line at 4:09:10 was below what I target, but that'll be another challenge later. At the least, much better than 5:27 last year.

To all runners who had attempted the full marathon, take good rest, and lets rock Sundown...

Marathon is peanuts?

I always get "Marathon should be easy for you" remarks. Wait, that let me ponder for awhile. Is it easy? And I've always try to think what to answer. Marathon is not easy by the way. It's 42km of running. Try asking the average joe to run that, and you'll get a blank stare saying "no way...why run? i've got modern transport....".

For the record, I have only ran one measly marathon until now. And it was anything but easy. I remember pushing myself to run continuously (yes..non stop) until 35km. And then, the worst happened. Legs were shaking, knees in pain, .... and not an ounce of energy to finish the race. I ended up walking.

Anyone who wants to run a marathon, has to be able to complete 30km the least. The rest, pray hard.

But frankly, after running ultras, I find marathon still a challenge, but not something I look forward to. I'll just come to the starting line, then run, and if I can finish within a time frame, that's it. I am happy as can be. I felt this way, because I know I can finish it. It's just a matter of how much time needed. That's why you got runners running from one marathon to another, to improve on their timing. And comparing timing is the usual chit chat among runners. Faster time, bigger ego.

Oh well, anything sub 4, I'll be up in the sky.

KL International Marathon 2007

My first marathon ever...I have been training hard for this.

But I have never attempted a 42 km. The furthest non stop run was 31km. And I felt like shit after that. Anyway, let's see how far I could go. If Dean Karnazes could run 200 miles non stop (and yea...it's 200 miles..not KM....1 mile=1.6km....go do some math), 42 would be peanuts for him.

Anyway, the nite before, I tried to sleep at 9.30pm...but no sleep could ever get into my head. Even counting sheeps won't lullaby myself to sleep. 2:30am, I just got up...and drove to padang merbuk. It was 3:00am. Even the officials are not there yet.

I manage to met Rudy from Holland, running for the B class...quite a nice chap.

Also met some singapore die hard runners...hehe...I can only recall Raihan.

Ok, 4:30am came, and the officials shot the pistol marking the start. Everyone was not rushing, knowingly 42 km is a long way to go. Nobody wants to fall now. My only hope is, my knees will bring me through...and not pain so fast.

But what surprised me is, after like 3 km, men started to run off to bushes to pee....wtf...

Perhaps they overdrank themselves, and need to let lose. But certainly now it answers my question( the peeing runners on SMART tunnel run on The Star).

At the 20km, just right at the drink pit stop, is a mosque. So I quickly did my subuh prayers there.

My short pants was actually a bit too short to cover, but I already put my longer tracksuit the nite before. I must have startled some mosque goers at that time, but I got no time to explain.

Ok, the next 10km, was the part I slowed down considerably. Heck, the pace I was running, and the other guy walking is the same. I tell myself, something must be wrong. My pacing is too slow. The fact is, I have been hitting lots of hills in my training. Yes, endurance is build, my pacing is gone.

When reaching 30km mark, I saw some guys handling out power gel. But I opt out. I guess I can't gamble on my system. If I couldn't take it now, for sure I will take the ambulance...DNF....no way.

the last 12 km was hard, as this is uncharted territory. I have not ran longer than 31km. But I vowed to run non stop. Alas I could only make it until 38km. Then I walked...

Both my legs where in pain, the knees especially. If anyone...whoever wants to know pain and fatigue...I'll tell them go run a full marathon.

Then, 2 guys (one raihan), caught up with me....we chatted...and they were telling how singaporeans must go do fitness test. There were a few test...and running is one of them.

Finally, after bank negara, I started running...don't want to walk to the finish line...

And yes...I finished it....my time: 5:25:44

Time sucks...but next year...I vow....less than 4 hours...