I kena hit by lazy-bugs, procrastinated until now~ Opsie~
Yes, you see it right, this is my first half-marathon, no joke! As many people were surprised, and thought i actually ran LOTS of HM or FM before! Nop~
The furthest i ever ran was 15KM The Energizer Night Run in year 2014. And it was my first ever run! Lol~
I ran often, for some people really think that i ran a lot, but compare to others, I am still so novice!
So, finally i feel myself is ready to take the HM challenge, and since it will be my precious virgin-HM, it must be a very happening event!
I decided to participate the Nike We Run KL 21km, not only it is a very happening international event, but I am a big fan of Nike as well!
I did not know the date, just asked my friend help me to register as I was away in Cameron Highland when the registration was opened. It was a day before my family trip to Taiwan!!!
When i knew it, almost gonna give up, I not sure whether i can still moving the next day as never run this distance before. Not sure how bad DOMS will be, or my IT bands syndromes will hit me again, etc!
Nike Malaysia organised weekly training i think like 3 months before D-day! Since it is free to all We Run KL participants (yeah, some are not were joining too), why not? The coaches were Coach Din and Coach Sue Teoh, my idol!! Follow her here!
My first Nike Training - Love the van so much!
New friend from the training
Not only we do running, but NTC as well! (Photo credit: Nike Malaysia & Emelda Trainer)
Emelda is the only certified NTC trainer in Malaysia! Great session with her~
After a few training, get to know other runners as well as pacers, it was really motivating! And I have make up my mind, die die also run! Even though might be crawling to the airport the next day! Lol~
Once i make up my mind, everything become clearer and smoother for me, I planned my own training, diet, etc. *According to my evil trainer, that's not enough, and I knew it myself, it was too last minute*
Evil trainer join me for NTC too!
Pre-race
The collection of running bib and shirt. It was at the Race Village of the exact day. The carpark lot beside NU Sentral.
Race kit collection start on Thursday until Saturday, the day before. The collection process was quite smooth compare to other people who go during lunch hour. Saw from FB the Q was so long until it goes outside the tent!
I was collecting for myself, Shwuni and her BF. Shwuni's bf race kit was no problem, scanned barcode everything done! Then when the volunteer check on their system, told me that Shwuni's kit was collect by someone else! I thought like ok, maybe her friend did collected for her and going to call her to confirm. Mana tau, the guy told me even mine also collected! Wat da F*?! Me standing in front of you and you tell me it was collected?! I really wanna flip table if this goes really bad!
Nike's team are so pro! The volunteer immediately report to their team leader/manager/superior, and this lady come and told me that they were checking on that now and asked me to wait for awhile. And she assure me that everything will be rectify very soon. Okay, I got no excuse to flip table! Lol~ they act fast and polite which I am impress with the team! Too bad I did not catch their name!
Then just a moment (less than 5 minutes I guess) she come back to me and told me that our kits were in the Information counter. =.= I got no idea why it end up there~ since everything was same as Shwuni's BF kit, then I assume it was just because we went to their training...gua... hahaha!
Race kit collection - perfecto! Even with just a little hiccup~ And it shows that the team is pro and they really brief their volunteers!
As usual, I was so nervous the night before and got insonmia... T.T I need a good night sleep!! It has been a long time I never have this problem! As I was used to those 5K, 10K and OCR! But HM, my first HM, darm~ So nervous!
Race day
Lucky for me still able to get 4hrs sleep...
Had my usual race-day breakfast! I really cannot go for exercise with empty stomach! I will be fainted in the middle of it, for sure!
My bro aka evil trainer send me to the Race Village as the parking there sure expensive and since it is just beside KL Sentral, I can come back by public transport, no hassle! As a return, I will fetch him to KL Sentral for his upcoming Viper Challenge @ Medini!
As usual, me so kiasu, reached there quite early. The Race Village still feel so empty and cold! I just wondering around, find a nice spot to sit and wait for others.
When I saw those pacers' balloons, in my mind, i wanna hit sub 2:30!!! Ok, we must dream big right? And my wristband actually was the sub 2:30 cat, so die die also wanna make it be true!
Then, it getting more n more crowded. Runners are here, ready to run the city!!
Bag dropped, down with another cereal bar, done business in the mobile toilet! All set and ready to go!
We are all set and ready to rock the route! I still looks so fresh and semangat now!
I feel like the starting pen that I'm in was 300m from the starting line! Lol~
I love the fireworks when we were flag off! Too bad, can't really admire it as we were so dying to run!! I am a bit panic when I lost vision on the pacers! Then i just told myself to run my own pace, enjoy it!
My starting was ok, try not to go on fast as I usually do! Thats why I need pacer! I always have the difficulty to pace myself! I will always go either too fast or too slow! Lol~ you can see from my strava record, my pace fluctuate so much!
I feel like I own the whole city as it was still dark, and roads was closed for us to run! Ok la, maybe own together with other runners. The feeling was so nice and I really miss that!
First water station was at KM3, and here's where i finally catch up with the sub 2:30 pacers!!! Bravo~ I tried from there to stick with them as close as possible! Because I put my phone on silence, and my Nike+ app without any voice feedback, so I do not know my avg pace and current pace! Just keep following~
Without knowing it, i was actually achieved my 5K and 10K PB! Lol~ sweat! =.=
I ran really hard to keep myself to keep with the pace, but i started to feel out of breath at around KM10. Soon after the water station at Lorong Kuda, after we passed PCMC, I start to fall off from the sub2:30 train! I tried to keep them in my vision at least I still able to see them in front of me and as a guidance!
Here comes the part that my lack-of-training consequence hit me! At KM15, my legs start to feel the pain from my hip and knee! My old friend IT-band syndromes coming for me! I might be running out of form due to my soreness and tiredness! I lost vision on sub2:30 pacers from there and try to motivate myself at least do not let sub2:45 or sub3 (not sure if there's sub2:45) pacers catch up!
Thanks to the sponge stations, I able to cool myself a bit, at least ease a bit of the discomfort of my hip and knee. As advice and recommendation of friends, I turned my ipod really loud now to distract myself from all these physical discomfort. I don't used to listen to music during my run. But this is a very good suggestion, as I tried to focus on the songs rather than worry about my IT band! Lol~
Honestly, from KM17 onward, I already so into my zen-world and i lost connect with the real world! *Coz my friend said he wave to me, but I totally didn't see that*
Just keep my legs running, my arms swinging, and control my breath!
And then, there was it! I am getting closer and closer to the finishing line! Runners, spectators, volunteers were cheering along the road, i think like 500m from the finishing line.
I saw it, the finishing arch is so close, it just in front of me! The last KM was so pump!
The moment you cross it, the mix feeling of proud, satisfaction and also the regret of myself!
I would have able to run better, faster! My official time is 2:41, but net time is 2:38. So it still 8 minutes more for me to shake off to achieve my ori goal, sub2:30!
Post-race
Get my finisher medal, bananas, and head to the cool down zone!
It was really like a festival zone, even though not as grant as other Nike We Run series!
It has ice-pool for runners to dip their feet, prevent inflammation etc. And also stretching service!
Sure I do enjoyed very much of all these services provided! Take my own sweet time to soak into the happiness with other runners!
Asyraf, know him from PNRC. we were chilling beside the ice-pool
How can you not enjoy this after the long run?!
After enjoy the time in the "festival zone", went to claim my bag. Change my soaked cloth (too bad they don't have finisher-T), and it is the time to drink my FitAID before heading home!
Seriously, one must try FitAID then you would know it does what it claim to be!
One day, I gonna be starting from this pen!
Shower, lunch, another stretch, and was thinking to take a good nice rest! But I am too excited to nap!
The whole run was replay in my mind over and over again!
This is no regret (only for not be able to achieve sub2:30), and indeed a very memorable and enjoyable first HM!
Thanks to all the coaches, trainer, pacers, volunteers, my running buddies, and other runners! Oh, not to forget photographer! Lol~
You make my first HM a good one to remember.
Aiming to achieve sub2:30 for my next HM!!! So, what next?
Nike Women We Run TPE maybe?
Run summary
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon