Down memory path with the spirit of pia!

It was an awesome morning to welcome the new year with a race at non-other all time favourite Lake Garden. The smell of fresh botanic and deer dung enveloped Tapak A starting line with more than 200 other enthusiast runners. Der pacemakers guys hold this event every year. Since it hit the calendar with an ideal long weekend break, it's a good chance to get those running legs more milage for future events.

The race was simple, kept at a controllable crowd participation and yet successful. Big successful events born from small ones like this. I hope they keep up the good effort in serving our running community though I believed that it's no easy task organising one.

However I was a bit on the low side approaching the scene. Feeling a bit sluggish from unfocused mind & unsleepy night as I yawned my way towards Bukit Aman parking lot. Met Shuk and we were both excited upon seeing familiar faces to begin our day. We have Der Pacemaker guys, Chap Ayam Runners represented by more familiar faces & a new group, Cari Runners.

We completed the 3.08km loop in 4 laps which included 4 times cursing our knees up the 170 steps towards the memorial. Pace was inconsistent and my heart rate was zoning in the lactate threshold, a strong consequence from unprepared self. I was having difficulty to get a negative split at every lap to which I concluded the race with a 1:13:53 feeling exhausted, which reminds me that for next upcoming 30k will be another curse if I stayed undisciplined.

Despite all the sweet agony and a few more minutes blending in with new friends, I recalled all those moments down memory path as I ran around the lake. I was never born a runner but I loved the motion of being free. Though I started off running or perhaps jogging (as they defined it 20 years ago), it was totally meant to keep fit.

The serious running and getting into the habit only bugged me last year when I decided and successfully flamed the spirit with a few other buddies into signing up for the SCKLM. Spending more than 18 weeks into the program was enduring. Three evenings in a week squeezing time between afterwork & home, logging more milage as we went. Finding time was even more demanding than running it. Lake Garden witnessed our camaraderies. At times, we were the only souls left when dusk approaches as we cooldown & stretched by the playground chatting away with Ronnie & company. On weekends, Petronas Sri Hartamas was our hangout. Pounding those hills & enjoying Bukit Tunku's gorgeous landscapes. We get to know Glucosamine & I was a dictionary for hamstring for once. Hah! We knew the meaning of core, the greatness of carboloads & recoveries. We grew so leaned until people say "kau ni sakit ke?".

Yes, we trained hard & we deserved the glory of finishing our first marathon. It was no easy mission but somehow I honored the implications. I agreed with Bill Rodgers, winner of 4 Boston & 4 NYC Marathons: "The marathons can humble you". I held to it eversince & wishing I have the strength to do more.