Penang Run 2013

I was riding my scooter to my friend's house and as I stopped at the junction near Farlim, a banner caught my attention. Not the 'Home + Care' of course... but the 'listen listen listen'. It has nothing to do with this overly repeated words but what was in the content below. It's a statement asking the organizers to stop Penang Run which will be held on the same day as Thaipusam. Besides this issue, this run was also featured on The Star cover page over a controversy issue on using the word 'Penang'. I may give my opinion on the above issues but I rather stick to real deal, the race. =)

The banner at Farlim

Zoom in

 This is my first run for the year 2013. I did asked a few friends to sign up this race with me and as usual I get disappointing replies. In fact, I do many races alone which is not a good thing because you may feel like pulling out on race day. This happened a few times to me before. =/ Since Jason missed his 10k at the PBIM last year. I asked him to try out the fun run which was only 4k. He agreed and voila, I have a friend with me for this race. Mine starts at 6am and his at 6.30am.

We collected our race bibs right after our Ipoh trip.

My Running bib

Jason stayed over at my apt the night before the race. I told him we have to leave my apt by 5.30am latest. I set my alarm at 4.50am. But we failed to stick to the plan. We left my place at 6am! The reason why we were late is not because I couldn't wake up but I didn't want to wake up. I actually woke up at 5am, I could feel the soreness on both my legs due to Innebandy!Co's physical training at Bukit Dumbar on Saturday morning. Besides adding 3 additional laps, we had 5 uphill sprints. My muscles couldn't recover in time. On top of that, I cycled and went hiking on Thursday. I was pushing my body to the edge.

I started procrastinating in my mind. I told myself to just sleep in and pretend my alarm died on me, since Jason is still asleep. I can blame him when he wakes up. Haha! I tried to sleep but I couldn't, my mind was already up and active. My mind is ready to race but my body is not. At 5.50am, I went over to my parent's room, woke Jason up and start scolding him and rushing him to get ready. There are times your body just don't feel like doing something, that is when your mind comes in and knock some sense into it. You just don't spent RM40 and missed the race. You get out there and start running you lazy bump!

I don't have the best preparation before race. I had no breakfast, no gels, no drinks, nothing. I just put on my shoes and go. Jason rode his bike and I directed him to USM. As we reached the stadium around 6.15am, I don't see anyone. I quickly hopped off his bike, ran to the track to activate the timing chip and started running on my own. It was really lonely when I hit the roads. It was dark without any wind and I never study the route earlier on, so I don't know what road I'll be running on.

10minutes later, I caught on to same of the runners. Not many but a handful of them. I caught them as I turn right into the road heading to INTI. It was hilly. I remembered doing a bike ride there before and it was hardcore but now I had to run up there. I was thirsty by then and it was only 15minutes into the run. I was really tempted to ask water from fellow runners but I just hanged on. Not long after, I reached a water station, I grabbed the whole bottle as I needed water. I needed it to not only quench my thirst but to wet my hair and make it look good. I had a wake up hair do, it's really bad. You can tell I just woke up by the look of it.

The hilly course

Continued picking up pace and I overtook one by one. In fact, I overtook runners till the end of the line which was always my ultimate goal. Based on my last 21k, I knew I had to be discipline with my pace and be consistent. When I see runners sprinting pass through me or overtaking me, I have the urge to follow them as I could pace them but I knew I won't have the legs to follow them till the end. But most of this runners will sprint and walk, so in no time I will be in front of them again. I ran and stayed strong. My breathing was calm and cool, that was a good sign as I did not struggled like my last run.

As I reached the last 5k mark, the race got harder. I started to struggle a little bit. When we passed Tesco, I could picture the route to USM. I knew there was one long slope because we used that road to get to USM that morning. As I approached the last hill, a lady ran beside me, we didn't say a word to one another but I was expecting us to finish strong together. Her pace was strong and consistent, that kinda gave me a last boost to finish it. We climbed together, and our speed maintained, but it wasn't for long till she fall off. I was alone again, I dug deep. I continue meditating. The chinese drums were banging and rolling at the peak of the climb. Alas, downhill and flats till the finishing line.

I was really glad that I did not stop running throughout the entire 17k. It was hilly and it was tough. Unofficial time of 1.46. I targeted 1.40 but I did not factor in the hills. So I guess it's a pretty good timing. One thing I have to add is, if it wasn't because of the physical training we did at Bukit Dumbar, I wouldn't have felt so strong at the climbs. I guess the investment paid off really well. I don't think I would wanna run the Penang Run again. That's my body talking but my mind is still the boss. hehehe.

Jason completing his first 4k

With his certificate of achivement

A 'kiam chai' cert

Yours truly, Jason, Eong Peow & Eong Yet

17K finisher's medal

A comment from a friend who ran that race

I was really glad to met the Lim's brothers. I've got to know this great guys from my club. They are currently playing for team Livestrong and I'm really happy to have committed players like them joining us. Eong Yet who finished the 17k gruesome run, yet still came for training, played his hearts out at out friendly against St.Paul and showed no sign of fatigue Respect! I know I'm not that young anymore. ><

Photo found from a blogger. Running towards the finishing line