NB Pacesetters 20k Run 2010 - A New Beginning

First I wish to record my thanks to Yimster, Syah, Shaq, Che, Diket n Haza for u guys' words of encouragement as well as those tips and advises. When i got up this morning at 3.40am, I had a feeling that this run would bury my Malakoff Run's nitemare. I didnt have a good sleep though i retired to bed quite early. Wife woke me up (she is doing her master course and due to all of her classes were at nite, she is having a bit of problem to sleep early after reaching home and that explains Y whe was still up at such ungodly hours this morning). For today's run, i decided to experiment a bit on my breakfast menu. Asked wife to prepare rice porridge with a bit of veggie. I prefer a hot meal for my breakfast this time around. I think the meal was Ok, neither too heavy nor too light.

Reached Bkt Aman around 5.10 am. Whilst waiting for fajr prayer, i decided to do my warm-up at the car park. Just like the other runners who performed fajr prayer at Masjid Bkt Aman, I need to run to Padang Merbuk for the gun-off.

My game plan for the run was pretty simple. Mind my own business and keep to my pace. I didnt set any ambitious target in d first place. The primary objective was to finish the run with a doable pace (I have to take into account the hills) and hopefully i could finish within the qualifying time.

I am very pleased to tell u guys that i managed to keep to my game plan from the start to the finish. Never exert myself too much at any point of the run. Infact I have to thank Haza as she was my unofficial pacesetters at km13-14 :-) (without her knowledge ok). But starting frm KM14 something, I felt a slight pain at my right knee. I knew the cause and it was due to my own foolishness. On my last training round, for no logical and sensible reason, I sprinted on the last 200 meters downhill to Padang Merbuk. Though i did feel a slight pain at my right knee, i think i had fully recovered with the 3 days rest prior to the race day.

The pain started to effect my run at the last hill climb before exiting to jn Mahameru. I dont think i have any other viable option except reducing my pace. With more than 70% of the distance covered i would not let the pain destroyed this self redeeming run!

Not to make the pain becoming worst, i took a brief walk break but determined to run all d way to d finish line once i reached d downhill to Jln Mahameru. Thank god, with a snail pace, i attacked the Wisma Tani Hill and by the time i turned to attack (again with a snail pace) the Istana Selangor Hill, I already know that i could beat the qualifying time. The downhill run to the finish line was such an enjoyable moment and when i cross d finishing line, i put up my hand in joy for finishing in................2 hrs 27 mins (handtimed).

I know its a so so timing for a maiden 20k but the priceless part of this run is that I managed to get back myself esteem of being a runner.......a snail pace runner.