My 10th SCKLM

Last post was a year ago when I just started my job...again. It was rezki. However, His plan was better. My job lasted for 11 months when I decided to end my contract slightly before a year. The management changed and I don't see any future sticking around. Would be better I left. Hence, it's been 4 months now unemployed. Though with freelancing jobs now and then, things are not quite sustainable. I am looking and applying jobs here and there.

OK skip the ranting. I should be thankful, I can still enjoy the free time doing things that's beneficial and to my likings. I ran again at the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2019 for the 10th times I guess. Nope, not the marathon distance but merely an effort that I am obliged to commit which is the 21km. An event that shouldn't be missed by old and new runners. The only time that we can run on almost all roads in KL without harassment from motorists. Though I heard that some unlucky runners were hit by drunk drivers somewhere at MRR2. What a mishap?

When haze was gone only a few days before the event, it was a superb blessing for the country and especially us participants. However, some marathon participants were a bit reluctant due to under training and thought of the non-haze days were tough lucks for them. It was raining as early as 3.00 a.m. when the marathon runners had to beat the cold night making their way to Dataran Merdeka. I left home around 4.30 a.m. as usual by motorbike. The most efficient transport for marathon events. The rain had stopped but the cold was still hovering around the start line.

The crowd was superb mass. Thousands. I get the news later that day, they gathered 40 thousand runners in all categories. Such a huge upgrades from Malaysians.

Nothing new for me except accompanying Amir Nauf for his first running event and his first half marathon attempt. He's is young and energetic. Without a doubt he could finish strong. However, I decided to start with him from Pen 4 though I registered myself for Pen 3 - targeting 2:30, he seemed a bit nervous.

Two other friends from my college days called. We met up seconds before the gun went off. We decided to run together. As usual, this old kidney needs to lighten the load. Only 100 meters from the start line, I had to pee at the mobile loo. I can't afford the shaking bladder throughout the run.

The route remain the same as of previous years. Fajr prayer was early. I saw runners exiting the race course to perform prayers at Medan Tunku, Masjid Dang Wangi and by the road sides. I managed to reach Masjid Kampung Baru.

The early rain opened up to a beautiful morning. As we reached DUKE Highway, we met up with the marathon runners catching up their 30KM mark. The crowd grew until we reached Jalan Duta Hockey Stadium when the marathon runners turned into Bukit Tunku. I still remember my last marathon when they took me to that same route. It was the last 12KM and was solitary. Back then, participation for marathon category was less. Hence, the last few kilometers was less company. The hills in Bukit Tunku was mentally challenging.

However, we the half marathoners were served with Lebuhraya Mahameru ups and downs as well. All the way from Jalan Duta to Muzium Negara. With my running buddies, we stopped at all water station and paced ourselves again. At one of the hills, as I continued to run slowly up, they decided to walk.

My plan to survive to the end without walking worked out well. Though the overall average pace was slow, there was no special target for me in this race. I just wanted to be part of the biggest marathon in the country, just like what I did for the last 11 years.

Lari

Aku rasa by this time, majority topik perbualan ahli sokan amatur tanahair dah banyak berkisar sekitar acara-acara besar yang semakin hampir seperti KL Marathon dan IronMan Langkawi. Both acara ini dah gempak sejak 6 bulan yang lalu semasa perlancaran registration. Memang jatuh kategori gamat dan gegak gempita especially bila ramai merebut slot early bird. If not, depa akan jadi angry bird sebab yuran semakin naik. Tapi kalau dah register tapi memain nak training, hangpa boleh jadi dead bird.

IronMan Langkawi pada 27-September ni tinggal lebih kurang 16 hari lagi. Ada la beberapa rakan yang akan berjuang demi nama kampung halaman dan status quo. Acara sukan berprestij ini memang menjadi rebutan kepada mereka yang ingin membuktikan kecekalan diri mengharungi acara triahtlon jarak jauh. Memang cekal. Bukan sahaja acara tu sendiri, malah persediaan juga sudah cukup untuk memerlukan perbelanjaan wang ringgit yang banyak dan lebih banyak lagi ialah pengorbanan masa.

Swim 3.8km + Cycle 180km + Lari marathon distance. Melihatkan jarak-jarak tersebut dah boleh membuatkan aku pitam memikirkan latihan yang perlu dihadapi. Betul. Segalanya bermula dengan niat dan program latihan. Dah settle kedua-duanya, then ber-doa aje di hari acara. 

KL Marathon pulak tinggal lagi 30 hari. Sedikit masa dahulu, tarikh keramat 12-Oktober ini sudah tentu menjadi acara yang aku look forward. Sempat lah jugak 3-4 musim aku menghabiskan masa untuk sukan larian jarak jauh ni (mula dah abang nostalgia). Hat yang ni pun memang memerlukan persiapan latihan yang mantap. Bukan cukup sekadar lari petang pusing tasik. Hujung minggu kena repeat LSD (long slow distance). Ada masa kena buat strength training pulak. Paling koman, nak kena allow 6 bulan baru mantap. Itu aku. Lain orang lain pendekatan. Buat masa ni, aku nak main kejor-kejor dengan anak-anak pun rasanya boleh mengah.

Tapi secara lumrahnya manusia biasa ni, memang begitu lah prestasi kita. Tolak tepi yang profesional, mereka menghabiskan masa lebih 12 jam sehari untuk berlatih. Kita yang kais pagi makan pagi ni, max satu jam sehari dan mungkin 2-3 jam on weekends. Maka, dengan modal masa dan komitmen yang ada, kita dah boleh jangka outcome nya. Kalau nak ber-competitive sangat among rakan taulan tu, lupakan aje lah. 

Sometimes aku notice people would easily get carried away dan take it to the next level. Among others seperti competitiveness, seriousness, mental-ness dan berbagai-bagai 'ness' lagi. Dah tiada konsep moderateness atau kesederhanaan. Sedangkan itu yang kita perlu tanam dalam jiwa kita. It is OK untuk hangpa berlumba pada hari acara tu sendiri tapi rasanya tak perlu sampai tahap nak 'overly secret training', perang psiko, bermegah di lama sosial tentang 'pencapaian latihan hari ini' dan macam-macam lagi lah.

Sifat ujub, riak dan takbur mudah sangat menjadi bisikan di hati bila kita menceburi bidang-bidang sebegini. Elakkan. Sebab ia mudah menggugat ketauhidan. Pesanan untuk diri aku sendiri jugak. Ahli sukan profesional pun jarang aku lihat mempunyai sifat ini, kenapa kita pulak?

Sebagai penggulungnya, aku ucapkan selamat berjuang di acara masing-masing. Tapi jangan lupa, walau sekuat mana pun kita, sebagus mana pun kita, sehebat mana pun gadget kita, selaju mana pun kita...jangan sekali-kali kita lupa tujuan kewujudan kita di bumi ini. Anta faham? Keras nampak abang long...? Keh keh keh.

It Humbles You

Chooop! Aku nak kepochi sikit walaupun aku tak akan berlari kat SCKLM Ahad nanti. Tapi aku masih boleh rasakan kehangatan event day dan kedinginan yang kawan-kawan dah mula rasa suspen & kalut. Biasa la tu. Nak pi renew permit bibik kat imegresen pun suspen.

Dah lari a few marathon pun, rasa kalut tetap gak ada. Unless kalau marathon tiap-tiap minggu tu dah kategori lain la. Untuk average Joe & average Jah macam aku ni mungkin jugak kurang rasa kalut sebab dok busy kerja & supir anak-anak. Bedebak-bedebuk sedor-sedor race day dah dekat. OK gak tu kan? Tapi, persediaan tetap kena ada beb. Nak berlari jauh tuh. Pusing satu KL tuh.

Macam-macam soalan gak la aku dapat. Kak Esah la, Kak Limah la, Kak Piah, Kak Senah, Kak Joyah, Kak Jenab (bukan Catwoman Chap Ayam Runners tu), Kak Halimaton Saadiah. Semua kak tapi pak takde pulak yang bertanya. Hehe. So, untuk kak-kak & sesaper je lah or even untuk diri aku sendiri next time aku sign marathon, ni haaa....secubit garam untuk yang perhaps boleh digunapakai:

Tinggal lagi 5 hari beb. Boleh la pelan-pelan carboloading. Amik aje portion macam biasa tapi lebih kan menu yang high carbo & kurangkan or elakkan food yang susah nak cerna. Aku dulu maintain aje makan nasik siang malam cuma last 3 days baru jadi mamat Italian makan pasta. Nak lahap seminggu mau lidah berpintal macam fetucini kang. Jangan pulak kalut, nervous breakdown last day tu pi ter-over lahap sebab takut takut tak cukup. End up stomach upset esok pagi. Bye-bye aje ler PB or even run itself. Sia-sia je training turun naik Hartamas 12 minggu.

Lihat sini untuk wiki carbo loading : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbohydrate_loading

Hydration: Maintain macam biasa gak la cuma last few days tu boleh la tambah perisa sikit dengan electrolyte. Kalau tak boleh telan ORS paket tu, macam-macam perisa tablet ada. Nuun, Camelbak, Shotz, Nathan. Even pagi kat Dataran Merdeka tu aku bawak sebotol mineral boleh minum sikit-sikit sementara tunggu start. Botol boleh buang terus lepas tu.

Part dressing ni elok la pakai apparel & gear yang dah biasa meghoyan kat LSD tu. Kalau nak sia-sia kan training, boleh la try benda baru. Hehe. Sekarang attire pun semua dah macam pro. Setakat suar ketat tu dah common la. Elok la tu, tutup aurat & boleh singgah solat Subuh masa marathon nanti. Yep, if route same as last year, boleh singgah Madrasah Al-Tarbiyah just before Stadium Badminton Cheras. Last year aku siap tinggalkan kain pelekat a day before so pagi tu terus sarung je. Lepas tu dok cari Nik dalam jamban yang gelap gelita. Hehe. Sorry bro, terkonang sikit cito lamo :]

Errr...kalau agak2 nak baru nak cuba bawak cap or cermin mata hitam Oakley, tak yah la kot. Berat benda alah tu semua boleh cecah 50kg bila dah sampai KM30. Kot nak campak kat kedai runcit boleh gak tapi masa tu la saat & ketika mentari memang dah mula menyinar & menikam.

Food & drink: Yang ni memang kadang-kadang pening sikit beb. Macam biasa, makanan ruji powergels or Gu gels or Hammer gels. Berapa paket Pak? First marathon dulu aku bawak 5, pastu ada belen satu pulak. Sengal. Kedai Powerbar bagi free satu kat Petaling Street. Perisa cekelat. Habiskan aje terus, kan senang tak yang buat berat poket. Kalau target 5 jam, boleh la bawak 4 paket for every hour. Powerbar bagi free satu kat KM30+ kot. Boleh check route map untuk fuelling station please. But then last year aku kurangkan, bawak 3 aje. Seingat aku at 21km baru aku bedal first gel, lepas tu maintain every hour + yang free tu. Itu aku la. Masing-masing lain citarasa. Lagi pun Kak June ada bukak kedai runcit kan? Lagi sempoi! Oh! Minum air at setiap water station tu sudah mesti. Bukan togok segelas penuh or 2-3 gelas. Kembung berkocak dalam perut, naik LRT ler jawapnya. Cukup sekadar basahkan tekak, especially time nak makan gel tu. Apa nak risau, water station every 2.5km kan?

Eh! Petua yang boleh kata mujarab. Aku memang maintain sampai la ni. Bawak tablet ORS masa race day. Bawak sebijik dua. Normally cramp datang merayap bila dah cecah KM25 ke atas. Biasa la tuh. Pop setengah bijik dalam mulut & hisap macam Dequadin sebaik aje mula terasa bisikan cramp. Layan aje buih-buih sparkle dalam mulut. Sedap gak, macam asam boi. Tapi jangan la sampai berbuih kuar mulut, pastu buat-buat menggelupor tepi jalan kan? Hospital Besar KL dekat dah tu.

Pace notes kalau boleh bawak memang senjata terbaek. Mujarab untuk menjaga pace supaya tak tercangkuk dengan kaum yang terlalu laju or tersangkut dengan kaum yang terlalu slow. Unless ada kaum yang memang pace sama all the way, tapi jarang la. Even pacer bertauliah kat KL Marathon tu pun masih belum perfect. Klik sini untuk pace notes yang boleh di-print & jadikan wrist band http://www.marathonguide.com/fitnesscalcs/PaceBandCreator.cfm.

Sila refer widget caps sebelah kanan blog ni. The second one. Itu memang menjadi guide aku setiap marathon. Guna aje citer kanak-kanak kura-kura & arnab. Start slow & habis bertenaga. Tak yah nak poyo tengah ramai-ramai tu nak berdesup mula-mula pastu bonk kat KM25. Takde makna dah lepas tu. Jauh perjalanan tu & banyak masa boleh catch up. Bukan apa, bila tekan awal-awal ni, potensi cramp menyerang awal tu ada. Unless dah memang dalam training ada buat strength workout takpe, tapi kalau nak mission nak cross finish line dengan senyuman & injury free, pastikan anda tepek pace notes bior terang.

Oooop! Cukup dah. Berjela bercerita. Macam terer je kan? Aku sekadar berkongsi berdasarkan pengalaman yang tak seberapa ni & pengetahuan membaca. Mudah-mudahan ada yang boleh pakai, ye tak? Semoga kawan-kawan semua sukses di KL Marathon dan Sundown Ultramarathon Ahad nanti. You can do it! But remember, Bill Rodgers pernah berkata "The Marathon can humble you". Ia bukan alat untuk kita bermegah or poyo sebaik completion. It's a journey yang telah membuatkan aku kenal betapa tingginya langit & betapa kecilnya aku & betapa kompleksnya ciptaan Allah yang mencipta tubuh badan kita yang selengkapnya ini.

OK. Sila layan lirik lagu masa aku attend kursus bina semangat 15 tahun dulu. Keh keh keh :]

Jika kau fikirkan kau boleh

Kau hampir boleh melakukan

Jika kau fikirkan ragu-ragu

Usahamu tidak menentu

Jika kau fikirkan kekalahan

Kau hampiri kegagalan

Jika kau fikirkan kemenangan

Kau hampiri kejayaan

Engkaulah apa kau fikirkan

Terkandung dalam pemikiran

Kau fikir boleh melakukan

Fikirkan boleh

Percaya apa kau lakukan

Tabah apa kau usahakan

Bertindak atas kemampuan

Engkau boleh

Julie JeweLz for Japan

OK saper kenal Julie angkat tangan?! For sure kenal punya, Julie dah tentu lebih terkenal dari aku, in fact lebih power ooo. Setakat any event triathlon dia sengih je, aku pulak yang terkebil-kebil. So Julie ni or lebih dikenali from her blogger's name missjewelz akan berlari Sundown Ultra 100km sama macam abang Zack Yui, RaYzeef and bro KA kita nanti. In fact ada lagi geng lain tapi aku maybe confuse which one doing which one not.

So Julie ada extra sikit selain dari extra banyak, distance ultra yang dia akan lari bulan depan. She's running for a cause. A charity cause untuk fund Japan under the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) as the NGO partner. Seronok kan dapat lari sambil doing some good deeds? The devastation that hit Japan was too bad. Just imagine if kita juga di timpa nasib yang sama. Not just us, our loved ones, our kids, our orang kampung yang jauh dari kita, our running routes, our beautiful cycling playgrounds, all gone hanya dengan sepetik keputusan Allah s.w.t. So, untuk kita mendapat bantuan permasalahan kita, sekali sekala kita kena jugak tolong orang demi insan sejagat. Amin.

Dear Shakhir,

I will be joining the band of runners doing the ultra marathon next month in Singapore. In conjunction to that I will be running for a charity cause which I have initiated, and dedicated for the victims of the devastating Japan tsunami and earthquake. For your info, I am working closely with Malaysian Red Crescent Society raise fund for this very cause.

Would appreciate if you can share this intention with the rest of our running (and non-running) community via your blog, if possible. You can do this by either sharing the link of my Sundown Ultra preview or merely pasting the post on your blog.

To give you an overview of the charity program, kindly read the following :-

Salam and greetings,

Dear friends,

Introduction

I will be running my maiden 100km road event at the Sundown Ultramarathon 2011 in Singapore next month. It will be my longest running event, as I have never done anything above 42.195km in a single day. The last long 'run' event I did was the Sabah Adventure Challenge(SAC) where I ran a total of +/- 70km of trail over 2 days, coming in 4th after Singapore, Hong Kong and France trail runner! The longest walk would be ages ago at the Penang 12hours Walk where I walked nearly 60km. I have been preparing for the Ultra event for nearly 4 month now,intermixed with several other events (SAC and Kenyir Triathlon) and it is merely a month away before I stand at the start line in Marina Barrage, Singapore to run my longest !!

As I go on with my daily life, whether walking or running, I thought it would be more meaningful for me to run the ultra for a cause. For that reason, I am happy to share with you that I am initiating a charity cause dedicated to the Japan tsunami and earthquake victims. And while we have gone through the phase of mourning of this tragedy and expressing our condolences to our brothers and sisters in Japan, you can extend your good intention through this charity cause I am currently organizing called 'To Japan, With Love'. It is never too late to lend a helping hand.

The Idea

The idea is to get donors (that's you!), whether corporate or individuals, to come in as pledger. Each meter pledged is worth RM50. For individuals, you are free to pledge any distance (and amount) that you wish to. All donations are directed to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami fund.

Among the written Benefits : a chance to have your names printed on the official t-shirt along with other sponsors. Names will be mentioned on the event website ! The official T-shirts will be given out to donors of more then RM100, after I complete the ultra marathon. This is due to the tight budget that I am working this charity program on ! 2x Exclusive postcards designed by missjewelz herself for donations below RM100.

Un-written Benefits : Plenty. God Bless !

Why it matters to missjewelz

missJeweLz is the pen name I use when I blog. I realize that something as simple as running can do and make a lot of difference in one's life. Through running I discovered that I do have that will power in realizing something that I wish or want, whether in sports or in life generally (Hey, you do too !). Through running, I have developed my sense of 'self' and 'others'. While there are time where we have to think or 'our' selves, it is that balance between 'self' and 'others' that matters. Achieving that balance is tricky especially in this century where it is mostly about satisfying others, or the extreme opposite; self-indulgence. Through running I have met, ran and exchanged stories with so many friends. Through running and the sharing of what I do (running and sports la, what else!) I have inspired myself and plentiful of others to keep on going no matter how the difficult the course may be. If there is a will, there is surely a way. I am sure most of you can relate to this.

I do not have any other skills that I can make use of to the benefits of others. A degree in Psychology does not translate to better the lives or many others, yet alone my own. But one thing that you and I may have in common, is that desire to finish that running, triathlon or duathlon distance since we are committed to it, and I don't see why we can't join 'forces' to make a little change in someone else's life. A good change.

I am committing myself to a distance of 100km, and I want to invite to YOU join me to make this run a meaningful one. Do join this cause to aid the affected Japanese victims and help rebuilding their lives. Amen.

The sponsors and partners

1.Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) is my official NGO partner, and my contact person is Ms Suhana, who I am working closely with to ensure that all goes well pertaining to the donations. They have endorsed and authorized this charity program !

2. Powerbar is my official sports nutrition partner.I have collected my sponsored goodies (coming in the form of Powerbar Performance bar, gels and endurance drink) from Totalfield, Powerbar's official distributor . Thank you also to Totalfied for the nice pink drifit Powerbar T !

3. Pacesetters is my official running club partner (Footloose - will definitely have a scribble on it once the run is completed)

4. Sponsors :- made of both corporate companies and individuals. If you think your company is interested to contribute to this cause, do let me know. And apart from that, do hook me up with the corporate comm. department or person-in-charge. Tax exemptions are compliant to all companies which donate to this charity fund ! (Thank you in advance for the help)

How it works

While I am organizing this on a low budget, (sorry, I can't afford any PR companies/agents at the moment), there are no fancy-nancy promos. Just a straight-up relaying of information, and simple procedure of how you can donate, which I have listed below: -

1. Fill in the individual sponsorship form (follow the instructions!), transfer the fund to Malaysian Red Crescent Society's 'MRCS INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FUND' via Maybank Account No – 5144 – 2210 – 2657. SAVE the transaction receipt.

2. Forward a copy of the filled individual sponsorship form AND a copy of the transaction receipt to kilausuria@gmail.com and suhana@redcrescent.org.my

DONE !

For any inquiries, feel free to reach me, Juliana at kilausuria@gmail.com or this email address. Any updates will be informed via email, blog and also through an upcoming website ! Kindly read through the attachment for more details. Would appreciate this if you can forward this email to your friends. Sharing is caring ! :)

JULIANA ALI @ missJeweLz

017-3323 451

http://missjewelz.wordpress.com

SCMS 2010 - Edisi saja cari pasal

Tu dia aih! Aku dah register bulan nam lagi tuh! Punya lah aku scroll dalam yahoo mailbox dok cari confirmation slip. Tu dia, nuun jauh di bawah. And dalam dua minggu open, dah penuh. Even early bird pun tak sempat nak bertelur!

Gedebak gedebuk, tup-tap tup-tap sampai dah. Program letihan tak seberapa. Dah ler recovery dari Powerman punya ler lama. Hampir seminggu lebih. Simptom-simptom fatigue memang ketara saperti mood swing, tak lena tidur, hidung berair dll. Aku juga hampir demam over the weekend. So terpaksa miss satu LSD. Untuk itu, aku hanya mampu buat satu je LSD seminggu sebelum SCMS. Cukup lah sekadar basahkan tekak. Memang aku tak bubuh target yang mendongak ke langit. Aku tau kemampuan buat masa tu, jadi takde tekanan untuk aku berlari buat julung kali di Temasek sejauh 26 batu. Yang penting spend time dengan kawan-kawan & aku sumbat jugak family vacation untuk ke Universal Studio sekali. Yep, untuk masa-masa yang akan datang, aku akan teruskan projek 2 dalam 1.

Aku sampai JB awal sikit, kononnya nak rest secukupnya. Jumaat whole day aku chill balun masakan ibu tersayang yang dah jatuh kategori carbo-overloading. Disebabkan Deti terpaksa bail out last minute dari race, aku buat adhoc program perjalanan untuk masuk Singapore seawal Sabtu pagi yang gelap. Hitched ride dengan bas rombongan Azmar. Dapat pulak rezki aku tiket terlebih masuk USS, so ronda hampir setengah hari dengan Azmar. Hujan lebat di USS pagi tu sampai ke tengahari. So kepala aku ada sikit ting-tong. Walaupun ting-tong, aku sempat bedal nasi bryani Pharaoh sepinggan kat situ sebab rugi kalau tak guna meal voucher.

Kami cargas ke Marina Float untuk collect bib & meet up dengan Ziff, Ray, Kak June, Az Hana, Zaki. Ada jugak jumpa Rustam, Suhaimi & beberapa Klang runners. Kami dok berkampung ler kejap kat dalam tu dok buat kecoh. Geng yang baru sampai semua dah lapar, so the idea ialah 2 in 1. Lunch at Novena Velocity. Tu dia! Pandai je aku atur program. Depa semua pilih Kenny Rogers dan aku balun untuk second round lunch. Perut dah mula sendat, kaki dah memang sedia lenguh, mata pun ada sikit-sikit berat.

Segala yang lemah tadi terus lenyap bila kami mulakan projek tawaf dalam Velocity tu. Tu dia! Ada la dekat 10 kedai sukan dalam tu. Ye la 10 kot tapi yang pastinya memang banyak di bawah satu bumbung! Huru hara dibuatnya kontinjen RBU petang tu. Macam komunis serang Bukit Kepong! Mula-mula dok alim lagi masuk sama-sama. Tapi lepaih 2 kedai, masing-masing dah tunjuk belang. Habih berterabur buat destinasi sendiri. Ada jugak yang masuk kedai 2 kali sebab tak puasa hati. Tiap kali belek barang, mesti tekan handphone convert harga. Lol! Yang murah kami sambau, yang mahal kami jadikan sempadan. Nak kata shopping sakan tu idak ler tapi aku cuma beli sepasang stokin secara adhoc sebab stokin yang aku bawak lencun kena hujan pagi tu. Barang lain setakat pegang, belek, tengok harga & cium tapak tangan aje. Perbelanjaan berhemah orang tua-tua kata. Pukul 7 baru ler masing-masing insaf & kami beredar ke reban masing-masing untuk gantung kaki & simpan dalam freezer.

Aku & Azmar dengan belas ehsan Ziff dapat la berbumbung di York Hotel belakang Orchard Road tu. Ada la 500m ke starting line. Aku dengar kaum lain pun dekat-dekat jugak. Malam kami merayau dekat-dekat je untuk dinner nasi padang kat Lucky Plaza & tewas dengan nafsu punya pasal, sambung pulak bedal burger McDonald - ni dah kes bela hantu raya beb. Lol. Kaki yang dah memang lenguh memang ler mencari pasal untuk esok yang penuh penyesalan.

3.30am bukan main liat nak bangun. Ada jugak 5% dalam hati nak aje terus tidur, bangun kul 9 sambung jalan-jalan - teruk betul. Lol. Apa nak jadik, jadik lah. Aku cuma nak merasa macam mana agaknya berlari dengan jumlah 20 ribu orang buat full marathon distance. Sampai je Orchard Road, tau dah aku. Punya la melaut! Tak putus manusia beb. Siap ada first and second wave. Walaupun dah flag-off, ramai lagi yang lepak-lepak tepi jalan. Aku & Ziff masuk second wave & hampir 20 minit sampai starting line. Tu pun termasuk ler jalan-berhenti-jalan mode. Muka familiar tak jumpa kecuali Sara CAR & Tey yang jerit kat aku dari tepi railing. Best sikit dapat tengok muka kawan-kawan.

Tapi itu hanya sementara. Aku pace dengan Ziff dalam gelap dingin entah jalan mana kami lalu. Pusing sana-sini. Ada yang lebar, ada jugak sempit. Memang tak payah nak zig-zag mengelak ler, buat penat. Layan je tapi terasa macam dok pusing-pusing kat situ je. Kami terpaksa berpisah bila aku decide untuk melawat toilet sebelum KM10. Hajat kecik je walaupun gesa-gesa hajat besar sudah mula tunjuk petanda. Tapi aku dapat catch up balik dengan Ziff lepas tu & layan pace aku sendiri.

Part lalu kat F1 pit and depan float tu memang hebat nampak. Segala apa pace note aku dah prepare semua dok tinggal kat JB. Hampeh betul. Hanya berbekalkan powergel + GU & 8 lagu kat dalam MP3 anak aku. Ni semua cari pasal nombor dua la ni. Sebaik aje masuk area East Coast Park, langit dah mula cerah & jalan mula sempit sikit. Aku dok pilih toilet untuk hajat kecik kali kedua. Tak pernah dalam sejarah aku dok buang hajat macam ni punya kerap. Apa dah jadik nih? Dengan ribuan manusia, setiap toilet memang gerenti kena beratur & telan at least 10 minit. Selesai kes toilet, aku decide untuk pasang lagu and layan sampai ke distance 21KM. Entah berapa lama aku berlari layan lagu, baru aku teringat aku lupa tekan stopwatch lepas keluar toilet. Cis! Habis ler entah berapa timing aku.

Ni je yang sempat aku rakam sebelum Marina Barrage. Memang lawo.

Runners yang seberang sana yang dah u-turn dah bertambah ramai. Memang sah aku dah ketinggalan. KM25 tahap kebosanan dah mula bermain di akal. Mau jalan or mau maintain lari? Nak sampaikan KM28 untuk habiskan East Coast Park pun dah mula menduga kecekalan. Aku mula mengatur langkah berjalan sebaik aje lalu area padang golf. Part lalu area construction tu aku tabah untuk berlari sebab panas yang amat & route pun tak menarik untuk layan jiwa. Sebaik nak sampai Marina Barrange, permandangan & angin laut cukup best untuk aku teruskan berlari-lari anak. Ada part aku jalan, ada part aku lari. Memang total opposite dari KL Marathon.

Jambatan yang tinggi dan panjang tu kompom aku jalan sampai atas. Bukan tak boleh berlari tapi saja malas. Turun jambatan aku lari tapi sebaik aje nampak route tu dok pusing balik, kekecewaan melanda. Aiyo! Ada 6KM lagi dan aku rasa satu jarak yang sangat-sangat tak sabar aku nak habiskan. Aza dok potong aku masa aku dok makan angin. Semangat dia. Bagus. Last jambatan at last KM, aku nampak Aza & depan sikit Ziff! Fuiyo! Aku kena tapau dengan pelari tegar batch baru. Caya ler. Aku atur langkah untuk catch up and bagi semangat sikit sedangkan aku pun dah tinggal habuk je. Aza & Ziff nampak bersemangat & kuat menghabiskan marathon diorang. Aku hanya akur untuk follow belakang slow-slow cross finish line.

Tapau 2 botol air, 2 tin 100plus, collect medal & finisher tee lepas tu dok berkampung bawah pokok dengan kaum yang lain. Tak dapat jumpa Ray & Ijam untuk salam lambungan. Dengan kaki yang dah terasa macam batang balak, Ziff, Azmar & aku melangkah ke MRT station untuk pulang ke hotel sekadar untuk bersihkan diri & check out. Langsung tak sempat nak lelap seminit dua. Ziff terus naik bas balik KL at 3.30pm while Azmar, Zaki & aku layan nasi bryani Zam-Zam sebelum pulang ke tanahair.

All in all, event memang mantop. Crowd memang giler ramai. Kalau la rakyat Malaysia yang gemuk-gemuk kuat makan & berpenyakit tu dapat berlari macam rakyat Temasek ni memang best. Aku nampak diorang kat sini berlari dah macam outing. They are having fun & at the same time challenge diri sendiri. Yang competitive tu ada jugak tapi tak seramai yang casual. Memang sepanjang hampir 6 jam & sejauh 42km tu, keliling aku tak kurang dari 50 orang. Kalau kat KL Marathon hari tu, sampai Tijani dah sunyi sepi jalan tu. Even berjalan kat Orchard Road tengahari tu nak balik ke hotel dengan pakain lari pun aku tak rasa pelik sebab ramai lagi yang lain macam kita orang.

By the time aku sampai KL siang tadi, result pun dah kuar. Memang betul-betul makan hangin keluar asap tahap gaban punya performance. Ni semua gara-gara cari pasal punya pasal. Hehe. Untuk sahabat yang sama-sama berjuang and cemerlang, setinggi tahniah untuk kalian. Teruskan berlari marathon! Sebaik aje cross finish line, tobat dah nak buat marathon. Sehari selepas, dah mula gatal fikir pasal Borneo. Cheh!

Ranking : 5267

Gun Start Time : 05:00:28
Chip Start Time : 05:19:54
CP10k : 01:36:40
CP21k : 02:57:57
CP21k : 02:59:34
CP30k : 04:10:45
Chip Finish Time : 05:42:06

Revisiting Temasek

There you go. Arrived safely in JB 12.30 a.m. last night amidst the continuous drizzling along the 300km. And now typing this with the smell of chicken curry from mom's kitchen. Carboload or spice up? Hope I don't fall into feeding frenzy and got all spicy until race day. That would be disaster.

My second race in Temasek will be this Sunday. Sundown was test water only, running the half distance and experiencing the much-talked about awesome race events perfectly organised. True that but hujan batu di negeri sendiri kan? When it comes to races that require travelling, a checklist is a must. I don't want to end up missing vital stuff especially when I have 5 hours on the road in foreign soil somemore! And I need to travel light also. And the list goes on with some logistics thrown in for transport and lodging.

The initial plan was to run slow. Not setting any ambitious target considering the tiny commitment I gave towards training and even smaller is the milage logged. Thinking about it will only give me the chills up my spine, hence I will just run non-stop at whatever pace sustainable. It would  be senseless to go into battle without a mission, so I have prepared a pace note targetting for anything below 5hr30min. Achievable? Cross my fingers. The best part is, I have the rest of the RBU peeps whilst sharing the battlefield i.e. Ziff, Ray, Zack, Ijam, Yim, Azmar and many others. Definitely the Chap Ayam Runners will be there as well.

Good luck to all friends running the Temasek Marathon! Thanks to the rest of the peeps for the wishes.