World without strangers

Wow! This is a delayed entry. After ENR, I spent my Sunday on a wedding road trip down south - even worse, it was a day trip. Two nights of body-aching bustles demanded for a double somersault on to the bed. So, I ended myself into zombie land for another day. It's either Zombie by The Cranberries or Zombie Kampung Pisang - your choice. I'd pick the latter considering I need all the humor in the world to rationalise my thoughts :)

My marathon story was non-the-less fiction but I took it as another social obligation achievement. I clocked 5:21, nothing to be pleased of which I overshot half an hour from my first. It was nothing skeptical when I knew I couldn't give more that I can at the last 7km. However, the friends and all other passionate runners that made the event livelier took my heart out. It was not just familiar faces but people that I see almost everyday from blogs and not forgetting a long lost buddy - bro Chot manning the Powerbar booth. The power of words works wonders.

Nizam and me arrived early so as to venture ourselves into the venue. Nobody we knew were there except for fellow CAR and I came across Crushio for a quick handshake and exchanging wishes. In fact we met a few more times on the race route and at the end of the event. All quick one. Thumbs-up bro. You never fail calling my name :)

Only at the starting line that everything went extra ordinary. Crowd was not that huge but it was full enough with passionate and friendly people. I almost felt like it was a fun run. It seemed everybody took it easy, no tense faces, no race faces just laughter and photo-post. There we were chit chatting - Shuk, Nizam, Nik, Ian, Kash, Syah, Haza, Doc Julin & Hubby, Azmar, Syeikh Jamil, Mo Bahir, Hailmi and lots more CARs. Perhaps it was the evening and bright day that made the start cheerful compare to a typical morning marathon flag-off.

We were flagged-off and the first 5km was easy going. I saw matured runners taking easy pace with more chit chats and jokes flying around. Either we laugh now or never. We were within sight of each other and shouts were thrown as we embraced the miles. Once in awhile the question appear "Eh? Mana Nik and Ian?". The four of us managed to stay intact until Maghrib. Shuk, Syah, Nizam and me had our prayer at the tent. The sunset view of the lake behind it was magnificent.

The 6km towards u-turn was manageable except that we lost Syah along the way. Finally we saw Nik and Ian pursuing their goals. As we crossed the timing mat at KM21, we were in doubt the distance was true. It seemed that we've been running longer. Nizam and Shuk ran ahead while I don't recall me slowing down or what but just enough to stay in-sight. The 30k mark will determine everything. At KM25, I glanced at the pacenote. Ayoyo! We were 15 minutes behind la dude! This can't be. Well, it happened. The steep incline back towards Sekolah Seri Putri took it's toll. I was drained. My buddies were long gone. At KM30 I saw a commotion by the road side. It was Hailmi whom suffered cramps. It seemed under control with other CAR buddies around. Nizam decided to tag along with them.

No more familiar faces from this side of the road, so I kept my head turning to the right hoping to see fellow friends in the half category. There were Crushio, Det, Akmal and Daud scattered throughout. The Stretch of Loneliness played mind game as I was struggling up the very long climb from Lim Kok Wing. I was relieved to see Mo Bahir enjoying a stroll as it was a tempting invitation. We walked and chatted about his IM story - 12 hours workout per week is not in my list for now :) The sound of emcee and drum beating seemed so close but not until a bystander gave a horrific statement of 7km to go. Choit! Let alone the absence of consistent markers.

I had to continue pounding for the remaining 5km all by myself when Mo decided to have a rest. He sat by the road shoulder. The ups and down and warm Gatorade added to the agony. Then I saw Dorris and Nik Raiha overtook me - there goes my machoism. Lol! Lady runners are getting consistent by the day. Thumbs up. Luckily I saw Yimster somewhere at a junction when I yelled out his name but the respond was vague. I knew the finish line is within reach. Suddenly I got the urge to push more pulak - talking about adrenalines. Slowly crossed the uneventful finish line. Nobody there except an uncle manning me to keep to the right lane. Inching my way to collect the goodie bag and rested myself with others, chit chatting while waiting for regrouping. Ziff joined us for late supper at the Street Mall - nice meeting you bro Ziff. The story went on and on until we finally called it a day at 2.00am and departed our own ways.