Sunday : 22 May NB-Pacesetter 15 km race

I first heard about this race from Azwar in 2001 or 2002. He was raving about the excellent race organisation and unheard for race in Malaysia, a post race breakfast. But he also said it was tough, very tough with lots of undulating roads from start to finish.

After having missed the previous years 15 km races, at 10.00 am on Saturday morning I was at Taman Tasik Perdana 10.00 am to collect the race bibs, vest and race instruction. My right knee was giving me problems again but I hoped by Sunday morning it would be alright. Met Ryan Teoh as I walked towards the car park. After leaving the park, I went the Giant Supermarket at Kelana Jaya. For lunch I had Laksa which I shared with my friend. It was 2.00 pm when I left the supermarket. I was planning to catch Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith at TGV cinema, Bukit Raja shopping centre. Drove very fast to get there in time.

On Sunday morning, my right knee was still sore but I decided to go ahead with the race. I reached the Bukit Aman car park at 6.15 am. I thought I was early but I was wrong - the car park was filled to the brim. For some 15 minutes, I drove around looking for a place to park the car. Finally managed to park illegally along a road. But I had no idea where I was and how far it was to the starting line.

I saw some runners walking and I just followed them. In fact there must have been hundreds.

Everyone was suited in the requisite high tech gear; Coolmax , Dri Fit T-Shirt running vest and short. There was not a T-cotton shirt in sight that is except me ; I was wearing my frayed No name Blue colour T-shirt and Brooks shorts. Compared to the other runners in their gear, I looked like someone from Ulu (Village).

I felt a little bit intimidated by the super super runners around me. This was after all a race among peers, the hard core runners and tri athletes. I felt a little out of place wearing my T-Shirt even if it was made of Coolmax. Everyone walked purposely towards the starting area, everyone looked sleek and fast enough t0 outrun a Rottweiler dog. Except me.

While these negative thoughts swirling in my mind, a familiar voice greeted me. It was Steven and his brother. He pointed at a the hill where we would soon run up. Hill - so early in a race ? I felt more relaxed after the chat and reminded myself to be more relaxed. No point to worry about it now.

Near the starting line , many familiar faces were around; Ajeep, Ronnie. Azwar, Ryan Teoh, Jason, Jessica, Yong (my long run training partner), Kenneth, Justine, John, Kenny and Sim (all the way from Johor Bharu) . Almost everyone was there except Jamie as he went to Bangkok for a holiday. Later heard he had run a 5 km race and finished in the top 30. Newton was not there as well - on holiday too.

The starters were divided into 3 barricades; below 60 mins, 60 to 90 minutes and above 90 minutes. I went into the 60-90 minutes section.

The race started at 7.00 am. The runners surged forward only to be slowed down to a walking pace because of the narrow crowd. Some desperate runners resorted to running on the grass to bypass the traffic jam. I was content to run slowly to warm up.

Soon we reached the hill which Steven had earlier pointed to me. It had looked steep but I found it was easy to run up with hardly any effort. I say Yong, Ajeep and Jessica further up and wanted to catch up. But I could not make my way past the slower runners. Frustration!

Near the top of the hill, I quickened my pace and got pass the slower runners. I ran fast to catch up with the the 3 runners I mentioned. I caught up with Ajeep and Jessica. Yong was running strongly further ahead.

The initial route alongs roads leading along Bukit Tunku. I did not have much trouble and reached the 5 km mark in about 25 minutes. Overtook many runners along the way to the more challenging Bukit Tungku. This was a familiar route for my Sunday morning long run. It was harder to run with more hills but I still managed to keep going. Overtook Stephen somewhere along this area and met Karim here too. A sub 1 -1/2 time seems to be achievable.

The worst stretch was up very steep roads leading to Sri Carcosa. I almost gave up but had to walk as my I felt the beginnings of of a cramp in my left leg. Ajeep, Jessica and Yong was nowhere in sight.

Things were better after passing the challenging stretch. I recovered and increased my pace in short burst. At the 10 km water station, I caught up with Yong. We ran together for a short while but my "rapid pace" sin caught up with me. I had to walk again for some time.........

After recovering, I began to run again. The road back to the finishing line was along Bukit Tunku again. It was not going to be easy. I mustered my determination to keep going but sometimes had to walk. Eveytime I walked hordes of determined and persistent runners overtoook me. The cheerleaders helped to keep me going - I just wished they were wearing shorter skirts and jiggling the poms poms more vigorously.

As I went pass the Tugu Negara,the road was downhill to the finishing line. With great relief, I coasted downhill to the Taman.

A signboard appeared shwoing 500 m. I ran faster and counted down the distances, 400, 300, 200, 100 m. Then I crossed the finishing line, received my medal and staggered passed the officials on shaky legs.

My time : 1 hr 22 minutes 43 seconds.

I knew I could have run below 1 hr 20 minutes if I had not walked for about 6 minutes. But sometimes we can't run a perfect race and there have to be compromises.

After the race, the runners met each other , talking, reliving the race, taking photos and gossiping like old men in a kopi tiam (Coffee Shop). Old men sitting in a kopi tiam don't run 15 km on tortuous roads on a Sunday morning. We did.

Talked to Yong later about running the double "Double Hill" route sometime in June.

My thanks to the Pacesetters clum members who organised this race and the volunteers.