Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 Route (Full Marathon - 42KM)

There. The final route for 42km is out in PDF format from KL-Marathon's website and I came across this video from Zul Hassan's Facebook wall (thanks bro). Perhaps this would be a great opportunity to review the route, visualise it, strategise for pace, hydration and food, solat or maybe pick up a point to burst for the final glory to the finish line. I wouldn't take any chance ignoring this precious informations considering the route is smack right in the middle of KL where most of the roads and landmarks and perhaps the terrain are known to us. I successfully made full use of this kind of informations for my first marathon in 2009 (kinda - after being off target by 14 minutes). I failed in Energizer Night Race.

Looking at the overall view, this year's route had adjustments at the first quarter, third and the last. It still goes through the city at the second quarter but the remaining of it are more of a cityskirt. Expect flat and long stretch of road like Sungai Besi Airport, Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Ipoh and Jalan Kuching. These roads may welcome ugly traffic in late morning especially Jalan Kuching when we are at the 33km mark.

Also expect some inclines to the terrain be it the natural topo or bridge ramp. We can anticipate the Seputeh climb from Midvalley to be easy since it will be at the first 5km. I am more concern with the rest of the bump at the later stage of the run when tired legs and cramps start creeping in. These would be expected when climbing the Jalan Duta - Segambut roundabout, the Tijani short steep one and the last one to curse, would be the short climb at KM39 (Jalan Sultan Salahuddin) where we need to make a stupid U-turn.

So, let's walk the route shall we? Following Brader Trafik would be a bit too fast la :)

First 10km would be a stroll in the park stretching from Dataran Merdeka to old train station passing Muzium Negara and into the heart of Brickfield for a smell of spices. We shall go down to Jalan Tun Sambanthan (expecting Subuh time around here) and up Seputeh before hitting the flat Sungai Besi Airport going back into town. A bit of an incline at Bellamy ramp (10K) and roll down to Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka before another flat straight out at Jalan Loke Yew.

Jalan Cheras (badminton stadium) and Kg Pandan Roundabout should cover the remaining distance towards 21K at Jalan Bukit Bintang (Pavillion). There's an incline here, so watchout those breathing and pace - take it easy and enjoy the city scape since daybreak should've started by then. These will include swirving through Raja Chulan (KL Tower), Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan P.Ramlee (Picolo Mondo?) and KLCC before crossing over onto Yap Kwan Seng. That should cover another 4km before hitting Jalan Tun Razak along General Hospital - expect fumes and honks from early morning traffic here.

Jalan Ipoh will cover another 4km and here we shall feel the 30K big bang. I would prefer to save whatever juice in those legs for this part. Yeah, NOT till the fat lady sings. Map says Powergel will be provided here - hope they have tangerine or strawberry banana and not choc. I would expect this stretch will be a bit boring since rows and rows of old skool shops lining the street. Anyway, just run la dude.

The worse have yet to come but I would expect it to be a tiny hazard. After running of more than 3 hours, Jalan Kuching at 8.00 a.m. can be quite a nuisance and pollutant. Well, this 3km stretch should pass by in a brisk when we look forward for the escape into the lush cool greenery of our LSD playground, Tijani. We are fortunate since we will be running in a familiar territory at this last quarter despite that particular painful U-turn at Sultan Salahuddin.

One could plan for the last push when hitting Jalan Raja Laut (DBKL office) to the rear of Sogo and U-turn at Pertama Complex. With all those striding sets and running gait workouts, this last kilometer back to Dataran Merdeka will be useful. Don't forget to smile while finish strong at whatever the timing is because fellow friends and love ones will be waiting and cheering for us. Remember, this is a JOURNEY.

p/s. Map also shows water stations at every 2KM which I presumed will be mixed between plain water and isotonic - cross my finger while typing this part. On top of that, I hope weather will be perfect.