Bonkers LSD

I just went bonkers at KM12 yesterday. The mind just couldn't give any signal to the body to continue running. Instead it gave a big "WALK" sign and walk I did for most of the remaining 6km. Was it due to the pace? Was it due to the long ascending runs at Section 13, 8 and 7 and the dreadful thought of facing the coming hills at Section 12 and again the Kelab Shah Alam's hill? At the blue mosque's roundabout, I almost decided to make a de-tour to "Kedai Kopi" Tasik Shah Alam with a plan of having a sumptuous breakfast and later call wifey to pick me up. In the end, it does not really matter. The walk gave me the chance to "muhasabah diri".

You have a long, very longgggg way to go dude!

Sundown

I became aware of this event sometimes at the end of last year. That was the period when I started contemplating to do a half marathon in 2010 and began to check for more information on the running events for 2010, where I stumbled upon this event in other runners' blogs.

With quite a number of races scheduled this year around Klang Valley and coupled with my doubtful commitment in attempting a 1/2 marathon run in the first half of 2010, I came to a conclusion that running in the Lion City is just a bit ambitious for a novice runner. With that in mind, I just striked out this event from my list.

There was however a little twist of circumstances that made me re-visit the idea. With the pshycological confidence gained from my maiden 20k run in NB Pacesetters in January this year, the thought of running in Sundown 1/2 marathon was obviously tempting. But when I wanted to register on-line, I was dumb founded and assumed that there was a technical glitch in the event's website as I was repeatedly navigated to the registration page for women 10k category. It was only a while that I realised that all the other categories were filled to the brink...hahahaha. Frankly it never crossed my mind that registration for a running event would be closed almost 6 months before the race day! 2 months may be but not 5-6 months before. Obviously I applied a different standard for a race in the city state down south.

Again I have to strike out this event in my new prepared list. A bit of a dissapointment but with PNM (which later I skipped due to the knee injury) and ENR to be held in the first quarter of the year and later SCKLIM scheduled sometimes in the middle of the year, would be sufficient to keep me motivated.

In the interim, I started to read more and more runners' blogs. It did have a direct impact on me, not just in keeping my interest intact in running but provide the much needed inspiration from others' running/physical adventure, trial, tribulation and achievement. Sundown marathon, with the Ultra-marathon, being the the icing of the cake, is just one of the events that should not be missed, with few blogger friends attempting the Ultra category and many others doing 1/2 and full marathon.

After successfully and safely finishing the 1/2 marathon in ENR, I decided to try my luck in getting the bib for Sundown. There is no other better place to go that approaching the famous Mr. Ronnie See, PM1 of De PaceMakers, requesting for his help. I didn't see him putting up "my advert" on his blog but I know that by any chance, if there is someone who wishes to sell his Sundown Marathon bib, Ronnie will also be the first person he approached.

After nearly a month of silence from Ronnie and my half hearted attempt to get the Sundown bib from other means, I started telling myself not expect too much until last friday evening, just before clearing my desk for home, I received an sms from an unknown number with a message "please check your email, ronnie". For whatever reason the name "Ronnie" didn't ring any bell in my head. I was pretty sure that this Ronnie is not my client. A tele-marketer I guess but how this guy knows my email??? So I replied "Who is this?" Immediately after I sent out the reply, my HP rang and its from an unknown fixed line telephone number. 'Hi, Is this Ziff", the voice sound friendly though. I answered in affirmative but with an obvious tone of confusion. The guy then asked me whether I got a sms from Ronnie. Aiyooo, this Ronnie thingy again! "I am sorry but Ronnie who?" I answered. "Ronnie See........u know the DerPacemakers..PM1", the guy replied. "Ohhhhhhhh..that Ronnie". It was like a xenon angel eye E46's headlamps on top of my head. By that time I could guess the main subject matter of our next conversation. To cut the story short, this very friendly and nice chap by the name of Raymond decided not to run in the coming Sundown due to lack of training. He registered for the Sundown after completed the SCSIM 2009 and since then, had lost the momentum due to work commitment. He contacted Ronnie and the rest is history.

Since I am new to this "bib transfer", do i need to produce a copy of Raymond's ic/passport and authorization letter to collect the race kit or the registration slip alone will do? I know that for the Pacesetters' organized event, the sole registration receipt would suffice but again I don't want to do a same mistake of applying a wrong standard at a wrong place.

In the meantime, I need to get my lazy bum to run.........arghhhhhhhh.

On the road...

I am flying to Kuching again tonight. Will be there until Wednesday. It is just another working trip but if based on precedents, as in previous trips, highly likely I will fail to control my apetite, again. Though I had passed those "melantak" or "mentekedarah" days but my food intake will subtantially be more each time I am on the road. And I am already flunked my first test now with the first 10k done with a plate of brayni and pan mee dry consumed at the lounge. The next 15km mark will be the meal to be served during flight and I guess by wednesday I will complete a makan marathon (but no worry guys, this marathon needs no training and my pace will be a slow and steady one :). I hope I will have the time to shop for 10 rolls of kek lapis india before flying back. Training? hmmm...may be i'll do few laps of swimming at the hotel pool, if time permitted ;-)

Energizer Run 2010

ENR is the second race i entered this year after the NB Pacesetters 20k in January. Though if we just round off 21.1km to the nearest tens, the answer would be 20k but NB Pacesetters 20k was not technically a 1/2 marathon run (whats more with the 19.4km distance recorded via GPS by some runners). Because of that I treat ENR as my maiden 1/2 marathon attempt.

As per my previous post, my principal target was to enjoy and complete the run injury free. That means a slow and steady run all the way (i can't run fast anyway :)). With that in mind I found that my pre-race jitters were minimal as the pressure of recording any PB is irrelevant.

I was supposed to have TT with the other bloggers i.e. Che, Yim and Rayzeef (another Razif) but this time around my race day prep was a bit hire wire (last minute thingy) and though Cyberjaya is not my playground, I proceeded anyway to find parking area p7 without any map guidance. After a few circles of unintended sight seeing, I finally parked at the StreetMall (only then i knew it was opposite P7!). I have to extend my apology to Che, Yim and Rayzeef for a DNS to the TT.

On the race itself, I don't think there is any special report that I could dashed here. Same story, from gun off tried to maintain a slow steady pace, which also mean ignoring the other runners. The first 10km was quite OK with no excessive tiredness or injury to be concerned of. I stopped and re-hydrate at every water station where by KM15, I felt a bit bloated and started to feel the light stiches at the right side (a case of too much re-hydration possibly?). Luckily the stiches went away after a while by slowing further my pace.

At that point i think a finishing time of 2hr 30 min was achieveable if i continue running with a slower pace all the way to the finishing line. This is where I started to appreciate the importance of adequate distance makers (especially the route is totally alien to you), which sadly were apparently lacking last night. Without knowing the remaining distance I started to, rather than reduce, increase my pace up to (later i think around) KM18, where I succumbed to the mental challenge of running with no ending sight in my mind map. I spent quite substantial/precious time walking in the last 2km, which I should at least do baby steps (like i did in NB 20km) until to the finishing line.

My spirit was lifted a bit when i started to hear the drum beats and made the effort to do the final for slightly less than 1km run to the finishing line. Result - 2hr 46 mins. Am I happy? The answer is yes. Happy that I completed my maiden 1/2 injury free and finally officially earning my cap as a snail pace 1/2 marathoner. Would the once UNTHINKABLE feat of doing full one day come to my mind? I think you can guess the answer :)

Note - It was an awsome sight watching the full marathoners completing the challenge. Also had the pleasure of having an early morning supper with the blue calves gang at the StreetMall after the run. If anybody knows someone is selling his bib for Sundown 1/2, please tell me :)

Just another rambling......

It has been quite sometimes since my last post. Yes, I am guilty on the charge of just being too lazy to update my blog but I think I am still actively being a kaypochi in other bloggers' blogs :)

There's nothing much to be updated anyway. On the working side, the intensity started to grow a bit with a new assignment that came to my desk. It was actually a reactivated assignment and no question needed to be asked on who should handle the matter as my initial was forever there on the file's reference. It is quite an interesting assignment involving a development of a processing plant and based on previous experience, once the ball started to roll, the works' intensity will be high with several project's timelines that need to be met, including the document that I am attending to.

Still it is not an excuse to ditch the training programme albeit with adjustments made here and there to suit the available time (and partly because of me succumbing to the M syndrom). At the end of the third week of March, below is the summary of my training (or lack of it) for the month:

(a) Week 1 - Spent 4 days in Kuching, Sarawak. My first time there actually :). Total distance done in Kuching was 10.5km (6km on the threadmill and 4.5 km along the waterfront). The kek "lapis india" - a cadbury layered kek lapis, was really good and bought 5 rolls for stock up at home (will buy more in my next trip). On sunday done a 17km super slow LSD, the longest for the month (as well as post NB Pacesetters 20k).

Staying at Pullman, a 3 months old hotel

Views at the Waterfront

(b) Week 2 - done 7km at the lake garden on Wednesday, 8km at my residential area on Saturday morning and 4.5km on sunday morning around Swiss Garden Damai Laut (went there for my family's school holidays vacation). Met the King of Multitasking - Mr. Ian at the hotel during breakfast on the check out day.

(c) Week 3 - done 7km on Tuesday and 9.4km on Wednesday, both at the Lake Garden. On Saturday run with Ian, Syah, Syrim, Che and DayO at Tasik Shah Alam and completed roughly 11km+. I joined their POS (swimming session), which supposedly should be held at PADE but have to be moved to kelana Jaya pool due to the MSSM competition organised at PADE. Actually I am more of being a kaypochi again for the POS hehehe. Struggling to complete even a 50m non stop. Total distance done not more than 350-400m i guess. On Sunday, royally flunk the morning run and end up going to the wet market with wife. Had to ditch the evening run due to the rain (and mostly because of the lightning...better not guys!).

(d) Week 4 - This Saturday is the ENR. Plan to do a 8-9km run today at the Lake Garden after work if the weather permits and then rest until saturday.

In essence, the LSD mileage was a bit dissapointing but my target for the ENR, as NB Pacesetters 20k, is to enjoy the run and finish it within qualifying time injury free. Hopefully the weather will be cooler and less humid compared to the PNM (as i was told). So guys, see u at the ENR this weekend :)

A Hard Sunday LSD (or so i called LSD)

With the current hot spell, it will b easy to just blame the weather. But no, its not the weather. May be it did affect a bit of your run but it should not be made an excuse. I am not going to whine about the knee injury as well. Hey, i was completely off from running for a little less than 2 weeks, far from a month.

The stark reality is I am struggling with my weekday and LSD run post NB 30km. Number does not lie (of course it can be manipulated) but from my free downloaded Endomondo Sports Tracker, I'd done better in my LSD trainings pre NB 30km.

So, I was huffing and puffing to complete my LSD this morning covering a distance of mere 14.4km. The pacing was similar with my 18km LSD done before NB30km (I have tweaked a bit the route for today's menu to include more ascending runs) but the difference in effort between the 2 LSDs is still glaring . It was hard enough for me that i took almost a 10 mins re-fuel break after breaching the 10km's mark. On the positive side, the knee was not giving me any problem (alhamdullillah).

I might not be able to do a back to back LSD next week since i will only be back in KL late friday nite from my working trip to Kuching (I will be there for 4 days) but barring any circumstances, I will do my LSD on sunday and attempt to complete at least 18km. In the interim, I will run indoor in Kuching :)

Have a nice week ahead everyone!

Hitting the Track Again

The Entry a Night Before

Tomorrow i plan to join the LSD organised by Ian/Kash at Bukit Jalil. My first LSD in a group. All this while i run my LSD (and most of my weekday's evening run) alone. I think my injured knee has fully recovered based on my recent 3 runs (5-8km). Lets see if the knee can take the 20k pounding tomorrow. I will run slow and safe. I think its time that i run with fellow runners if i wanna improve my running. Hope will find my way to that park tomorrow!

The Run

Bukit Jalil is quite far frm Shah Alam. So i went out early, around 5.30am. After checking out the google map, i was pretty confident that i could find the way to the park. I reached Bkt Jalil around 6.05 am and stopped at the shell station opposite the junction to the park for my morning call and subuh prayer. Since it was still dark and compounded with my lack of familiarity with the area, I waited the others at a different car park. I knew it was not the intended meeting point since after 4-5 minutes i could see none of them around. A few minutes later I saw Fong. I guessed she was searching for the others and when i saw her running to the other side of the park, i followed suit. It was DARK around that area and i lost her. So i ran back to my parking area but then decided that since I'd reached the place, I would start doing my run and hopefully i will bump into anyone of the GBS members during my run.

So i started my super duper slow run around d park clock wise i.e. going the same direction when i followed Fong. It was a correct decision since i bumped into Ian and Nik from the opposite direction. Said hi and followed then. Wahlau! Laju nyer dia org nie. The ascending run seemed effortless for them. I maintained my pace, if not x sampai satu loop sure aku dah pancit. after a while heard someone calling my name. Yes, it was Kash. She was with Zana (hope i get her name correct), Ian's trainee. Thanks kash. If not i will run by myself today :).

I ran with Kash and Zana. Yes, it was good running with others. Then bumped into Yim and later met Nik, Ian and Fong at the starting point and then we went for our second loop. Most of the time, I ran at the back with Zana (she said she is a newbie but she was doing very well (note to Ian- U shud convince her to do 1/2). Kash did reduce her pace once in a while so that me and Zana didnt left far behind.

I started the 3rd loop at the back since i took a longer walk break to eat the chocolate coated date that i keep in my pocket. Frankly tiredness already creeping in. I up my pace to catch up with the others. Yes, I struggled in my 3rd loop. Breathing was heavy. My target was at least to finish 4 loops but I called it a day after finishing the 3rd loop together with Ian and Zana. Nik, Fong and Kash proceeded to the 4th loop. Rested with Ian, Zana and Kash's daughter with 100Plus drink and jelly sponsored by Kash. Thanks again Kash! Yim the power runner was there as well after finishing his 15k run. He will have a 7k race tomorrow. Good luck. Chit chatted until Nik and Kash finished the 4th loop. They will have the POS session afterwards. I have to skip that since i could only swim kampung/badak/dog style only. May be next time guys (Note- when i got back home, wifey informed that she has a plan to bring the kids to Shah Alam aquatic centre in d afternoon and I happily obliged to follow. In d end, I will still have to show of my kg style today :)

Conclusion

It was my first run in a group and i really enjoyed it. GBS members are a friendly bunch of ppl. Running with them also re-affirmed my own self assessment that I need to increase the intensity of my training if i want to improve my run. There is a big gap between me and them. Even if i could not attain their current level (they will continue improving for sure), at least i could adopt the same level of training commitment and that would already be a personal achievement!