Please visit the Pacemaker Captain PM1 website for the full results and the many PRs achieved.
A brief introduction to the Pacemaker group. The group was started a year ago by Ronnie , the founder and captain of Pacemaker. Over the past one year, the group has expanded to 27 members with one female member, the captain's former girlfriend, Rachel Lee. Now that she is married to PM1, I guess she will be a lifetime member of the Pacemakers :P
The night before I contemplated not running the PAR because of my current knee injury. But I thought I should at least try and walk if necessary to finish the 8 laps distance (10.4 km) around KLCC park. So it was to be that I reached the car park at 6.40 am near the mosque, inserted coins into the parking machine, only to find out I had 70 cents instead the required RM 1.00. *#^&@! I had to reverse the car and ended up parked at another place for RM 5.00.
As I was walking to the 700 m mark (start point). I saw our VVIP, "Datuk" Yaziz running around the track. It is a rare a sight to see a Datuk running instead of swinging a golf club and riding a golf cart but there it was for all to see.
A large group of runners were already gathered at the car park stretching and chatting. The mood was jovial with all runners getting ready for the start. To my suprise, Sim was also there - he came all the way from JB and then walked from Pudu Raya to KLCC. Now that is what I call a dedicated runner.
First we had a photo session with everyone with the Petronas Twin Towers as the back drop. Tey was the photographer who set his camera in auto mode so that he can be in the photo too.
At 7.26 am, PM1, ordered the runners to line up at the 700 m mark. A few runners dashed to the toilet to do the essentials before the start. One of whom was PM20, whom I saw bounding up the grassy slope to the toilet.
The seeded 6 runners lined up in front with the rest of us lined up at the back. Jamie the Dr joined the starting line just before the start of the run. The photographers, Tey and Woof were poised to shoot the photos. After a count of 5-4-3-2-1 by Ronnie and with "Datuk" Yazid fittingly holding the Malaysian flag, we were off.
Everyone was off running like a speeding Kancil and in no time, I found myself at the back of the pack. Seems like everyone was going to run for a PR this morning. Despite my earlier plan to to run slowly, I got carried away and chased after the runners in front.
After the first lap, a time checked showed I was running at 6 min 35 seconds per lap. Way too fast after a 1 week lay off but I had to keep going as no one was slowing down. So I keep on going at a pace which I knew was unsustainable.
Second lap time was still 6 min 35 secs. Too fast again but at least no one had overtaken me yet.
At the third lap, the crunch came as I stopped to take a drink from Ryan. I became and struggled to maintain pace. As I ran past Justin with a clipboard in hand to record the runners laps, he shouted some encouraging words to me. It helped me as I struggled to maintain pace. Further in front, I saw Newton running at a pace I rarely seen him run - he ran like a possessed Citibank staff chasing after shoppers to clinch a credit card sale.
Occasionally I glanced behind me to check who was behind me. Uhh, uhh, must keep going so that I won't become the last runner to finish. But nobody seems to be slowing down.
I think I gave up trying to maintain the pace after the 4th round. I started too fast and my knee was getting sore. Between the 4th and 8th lap, I walked a few times. Ajeep overtook me , followed by others.
Eventually, I ended up pacing with Kenny's friend, Michael. We ran, we walked and talked as the speedier runners went by us; Chen, John, Kenny etc.
Finally we came to the 8th lap, ran faster and amongst the cheering runners and volunteers, finised 10.4 km- the last runners to finish the PAR. Still I was quite happy to finish the race and my knee was not in too bad a shape.
After the run, came the drinks and bananas. It was getting a bit dark with signs of an impending rain, the prize giving ceremony proceeded quickly.
Some of the runners went back while about 20 of us walked to a mamak shop for breakfast.
In all, what a great way to spend a Saturday among those who share the same enthusiasm for running.
Thanks to the all the volunteers and Ronnie and wife who worked so hard to make the 1st PAR from a dream to reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment