Kill 'em all - Metallica (NB15 Version)

The podium finishers wannabe

Pardon me for the entry title. I'm not trying to address it in a brutally manner or being 18SG but this one should go like a mission or something i.e. Operation Delta Force or in Malaysian version - Operasi Tenaga Delta or terbitan Delta, Longman or maybe Fajar Bakti? Nothing more than a "short" race story of mine having a twitch with the approach in grasping a better timing - trailer macam gempak.

There you go, another NB15 done. Twice already since I started last year. This year PACM also decided to shift the venue from Tapak A, Lake Garden to Padang Merbuk. I wonder why? Perhaps there's more privacy and less disturbance to the public as compared to Lake Garden. Parking wise, same issue la and lately cars broken into are nightmares for each runners attending races here. Yim had the issue again within six months after his first. Sorry bro.

As usual, I opted to rempit to the race since it's in KL. The best way of course. Hit at the exact spot besides the starting line. Det parked next to me. Women's category was about to start and our arrival made me a bit clumsy to change into running gears next to hundreds of ladies. Aiya! Act selamba je la. Julie call out to me exchanging stories about belated friend Ngae - he passed away the day before. Heard it was from brain tumor that had him since a year ago.

Then another lady runner threw me a question about the Gatorade drink I held in my hand. "What's that? Is it supposed to make you run faster?". The Gato was in a small bottle I loaned from Det. I guess she was thinking it's a mixture of super duper fluid that can change me into Mr. Flash! "It's Gatorade la. Cannot go faster, you need to train for that but it helps you with hydration and electrolyte...". Before I could finish, she dissappeared into the jestering crowd and ready to rumble. Or was it due to me starting to bore her?

Made my way into the Men's crowd pulak scouting for familiar faces especially fellow bloggers. The heat and adrenalines went wild when suddenly some latecomers from the Women's Cat passed through. We were shouting and cheering to every one of them. Some responded like they were casted for the morning show and some looked like they were gonna explode and cry. Hehe! Funny la. Eventually Yim, Det, Shuk, Nizam, Ijam and Zairin were in the group. Only Nizam and me were sailing the Black Pearl - pirates remember? Aye aye Captain! Zairin seemed so determined to nail this race, which explains the registration I guess. A few of us wearing the Project 84 t-shirts were in the middle of a sea of light green vests.

Flagged-off about 10 minutes later and I was already running alone at the back from the group. No one was insight. A glimpse at the HR showed 91%! What's that?! Was it the initial hill or the jitters that made it jumped? HR dropped to 70% as we turned into Istana Selangor. Phew! Saw Haza by the corner and addressed my morning greet to her grey pants X) and stayed focus to maintain the HR towards Tugu Negara and into Jalan Parlimen. Nizam and Ijam were beside me.

First hill at Commuter Station, gradual incline with a slight radius- neglectable to most Bukit Aman - Sri Hartamas weekend warriors. Flew by like the morning clouds. Chewah! Caught up with Det, seemed still adjusting his pace. A smirk crossed my cheek for a "lambung". Hehehe. Right infront of new Bank Negara, we made our attendance noticeable in the middle of a serious morning crowd. Yells and jokes flew around, fast one which ended less than 3 minutes before we were gulping to see the next long granny after first WS. Det and Ijam stopped for their drinks but mates of Black Pearl don't deserve any, so we continued cursing the incline.

A guy overtook me in the middle of the granny which I think caught my attention with his so un-matched attire. Nothing uncommon actually but the white headband like runners wear in the 70's and a pair of three quater tights with green race vest just hit me and IT overtook me right in the middle of a climb. That was so not cool. It was so irrational of me but I was deliberately creating the issue just to pace him throughout the climb and show him who's the champion - talking about short term goals in races eh? Get one, kill one - every step of the way. As we peaked, I was hoping that he gave way for the descending part upon hearing his laborous breathing. Good chance dude! Go for it. Increasing my stride slightly downhill towards the mouth of the dragons.

Double Hill in reverse is rare but PACM really loves this place. It never bore you even once. Always with the tweeting sound of escalating heart rates in sync with the birds. Melodious enough to enjoy the killing hills. Time to shut off the striding posture for a while and swing the arm as I place my feet on the wall one in front of the other. Next target, a quite familiar figure. I noticed this chap from previous races. My best bet, he was my junior in secondary school. Placing myself a few metres behind him throughout the monstrous climbs and way down to rumah P.Ramlee junction.

Slightly made way towards him from behind, shoulder to shoulder and in a rock kapak tone I asked, "Bro, tanya sikit". He seemed surprised and confused - of course la suddenly a stranger approach you right after Double Hill. "Kau dulu budak E.C. eh?"  Thats stands for English College in JB. He nodded and with second look at me, he knew that I am a familiar face. "Aku Rahimi. Ye la kau E.C. jugak kan?" Something like that, I don't actually remember that quick and short conversation but a silaturrahim was bonded in this run. I am thankful.

I don't intend to stay long so I waved to him for my departure. Slightly regretting, now I have to leave him and keep on striding or he'll catch up and that would be a bit embarrassing. Hahaha! Karut! Anyway, the Tijani stretch was a bit of my favorite during LSDs - flat, cooling, shady and a short steep climb smacked at the end of it. Good chance to throttle a bit more. Then I saw Nik Arief - possible new target. He was in the middle of a good pace. It took me a while to slowly closing in from 200 metres to 10 metres - from Mahameru bridge to Sekolah Arab. I never did caught up with him but it was a good pacing. He stopped at the WS but yours truely still hanging on to the Gato.

It was the second round for Jalan Sultan Salahuddin - 70's White Headband granny and this time I have a few Mat Sallehs to tease, three of them. One at the front was shouting for the other two to tag along for the final push to Padang Merbuk - my guess was two more kilometres. Hurdling the climb, they went up the peak and descended to Mahameru. I was nowhere to have any intention to cast my final line at this juncture though. Passed by the marshall with the roti horn and another playing to an ununified music - a short gesture to them trying to be friendly. However, there at the bottom of the Jalan Parlimen incline, perhaps a click away to finish line, I saw my catch. The Go Zone theory I read recently was put to test. These foreigners had slowed down for the climb and some opted to walk. Yeeha! Way to go bro! Slightly increasing my stride at the climb and swooshing by them with a ticklish heart and a smirk. I was juggling between finishing strong, surviving this last 500 metres and yelling to myself  "Why is it so long la?".

Upon entering Padang Merbuk, I heard a loud laborous breathing distance away behind me. My tiny feeling says, those guys ain't giving up and perhaps they shuddered after being lambung-ed - perasan pulak gwe. The horrific melody closing in at the last 5 metres and this Mat Salleh overtook me like a school kid chasing a lolly-pop. I obeyingly gave way considering my status quo which perhaps he deserve a tiny little face plant just right before the gantry for being so arrogant.

Straight to my bike for more Gato and wondered around the venue for friends and chats. Second silaturrahim was made here. Met my cousin, been awhile after her marriage - four years? Perhaps she preferred to stay below the radar. Her hubby ran the NB15, that's great. Running and jejak kasih seems to be getting along quite well. I was shouting to an old friend while having nasik lemak (thanks Shuk for the coupon) moments later. He used to be a rugby player but now a runner and a mountainbiker! That is way out of line. At least we are talking the same wave length. And guess what? Happened to be, Rahimi my school junior is Det's cousin! Aiyo! Very close cousin, the one that you can smack on the head and remains cool. The WORLD is just awesome. I stayed for the remaining moments until the crowd subsided at the starting line with Det, Haza, Kash, Rais and Farid CAR. The ultramoms were talking logistics and I chipped in some ideas - mostly nonsense.

A race is still a race, but at this juncture, short races like this seems like a great slot for a runners' get together. Ain't it beautiful? Well, closing in on the race timing - which was my initial things before drifted away with the Operation Fajar Bakti, I clocked a handsome improvement.

The bold and the beautiful

NB15 2009 (38 y.o.) - 1:29:24 P5:58

NB15 2010 (39 y.o.) - 1:24:42 P5:34

NB15 2011 (old goat already) - 1:15:00?