KLIM 2006 - Back to Basics

My aspiration and path to run my first marathon has been beset by uncertanities.

I have been training well enough, faithfully doing my weekend long runs until injury struck on Monday, 13 February. It was my fault really when I decided to do some speed training for a change. As a result, my already damaged right knee became much worse. I could only run maybe five times during the 3 weeks leading to the KL International Marathon. Sometimes even walking brought pain. Two weeks before KLIM, the pain and soreness had dissappeared -perhaps if I could recover in one week?

However all was not well yet. When I ran, my right knee became sore after just 3 km. Sometimes it would swell up for several hours and remain swollen for the whole day.

Just one week before KLIM, my knee injury improved with the swelling duration reduced to about 2 hrs on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, the soreness had dissipated too. On Friday, Ronnie passed me the T-shirt, bib, reporting card and timing chip.

The fate of my marathon debut was dependent my condition on Saturday , the day before KLIM. I needed to know if I could run for at least 30km. In the evening, at the Klang stadium, I walked for 1200m before running for 100m. There was no pain when I ran but when I stopped I knew something was wrong. For the next 2 hrs, my knee was swollen. There will be no KLIM for me.

Still at 10.00 pm, I pin the running bib to my running vest, made other preparations and set my alarm clock to wake me up at 3.10am. I tried to sleep but couldn't sleep until 2.00 am. Pre-race jitters I suppose By this time I was elated to discover my right knee was OK - no more soreness and swolleness. I was going to run my first marathon!

At 3.10 am, the alarm went off and I woke up. I did the usual preparations, had a bowl of oatmeal and toilet business. I tested my right knee by walking around the house. The soreness was indeed gone but the knee felt unstable. How far would I be able to run? 42 km is very long distance to walk even if I could do it on an unstable knee.

To go or don't go ? I agonised over it. Should I be more courageous and risk it? I wanted to run this very badly after undergoing 3 months of training. I have been a runner for six years and have yet to run a marathon Do it or not ?

Finally I decided not to run. I would have wait longer and allow my injury to recover. My first marathon would have to wait.

Later, I did go to KLIM in the morning but as a spectator and supporter. I stationed myself at the 40.7km and shouted encouragements to the runners. I took photos of my friends who ran the marathon. The photos which many were not focused properly due to my excitement t0 see them.

Many of the marathoners have completed the race beyond their expectations (see Jamie's report) and there are some who felt they could have done better. Still whether good and bad, running a marathon itself is no small feat. It takes determination and as much mental/ emotional strength as the physical effort to finish one. Perhaps one day I will experience it too.

Putrajaya marathon (10 Sept. 2006) anyone ?