You can call me Al

35km LSD was never a success eversince I trained for a marathon. Why? Beats me. Nope. Wrong answer. I knew the answer right at my finger tips but not wanting to spell it out my lips. Or perhaps ask my limbs? Don't bother. Attempting a 30k mark in training was never easy and I never succeed. It was my third shot and yet again I had to raise both my hands and yield.

Nearing that particular thirty figure in a training, the end result would be...nobody, as if no buddies. Yep, that's the way it is. Weekend warriors, either battling another race, another kenduri or perhaps burnt out from weeks after weeks of long constant pulsations. My case was never an immunity neither. I came 90% prepared and 10% redha (8% cheat and 2% goal).

A party of three and I was the only soul having a 35k at task. Det and Saiful will only have to head out to Hartamas and back - nothing close to 30. I on the other hand will have to spend the rest of my morning, as before - solo. However, the story took a slight turn. It rained approaching Plaza Damas climb. An unnoticed smirk across my face as I asked Saiful, "What's our next plan dude?" We decided to turn back and took a pit stop across Duta Tropika - a nasi kandar restaurant. A five minutes break for refuel and the rain subsided. Endless gray all the way back to Bukit Aman.

The second running chapter was tuned to the melody of music compilation. Yes, fortunately I came prepared with an anti-boredom weapon. Should be a 3 laps of 4.5km Carcosa loops. An extra lap substituting my Hartamas loop. My first Carcosa lap was brought by Mister Mister which followed by Taman Rusa climb charmed by Paul Simon. Another round of Carcosa with Angel of Harlem by U2 while I ended my agony, sacrificing my goal at 28km with Don't Stop Believing by Journey - poignant? Sheesh...

Perhaps, I should just be thankful that I was given the blessing to run. And recalling my top chart of the day would be Mr. Paul Simon himself.

A man walks down the street
He says why am I soft in the middle now
Why am I soft in the middle
The rest of my life is so hard
I need a photo-opportunity
I want a shot at redemption
Don't want to end up a cartoon
In a cartoon graveyard
Bonedigger Bonedigger
Dogs in the moonlight
Far away my well-lit door
Mr. Beerbelly Beerbelly
Get these mutts away from me
You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al

A man walks down the street
He says why am I short of attention
Got a short little span of attention
And wo my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family
What if I die here
Who'll be my role-model
Now that my role-model is
Gone Gone
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
All along along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al

A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
He is surrounded by the sound
The sound
Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphanages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen! and Hallelujah!

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al