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I remember this movie <Feel The Wind>, originated from the novel by Shion Miura. The movie is about how the 10 university students to challenge the Hakone Ekiden, one of the most popular relay marathon in Japan. In the movie, you can feel that it is not just about running, but the bonding and motivation among the team members. You will be draw into the movie so much that you can feel the heart pumping with the runners.
强风吹拂
After watching this movie, I have always wanted to try run a relay! To feel it, to taste it, what is like to not just run for yourself but for the team? The moment you pass the baton to the next runner, the anxiety to dash on the moment you receive the baton from your teammate!
There was the Asics City Relay on May, but too bad I was on company annual meeting, wasn't able to join. But lucky enough there's another option, PAR by Pacemaker Malaysia.
I must admit the ori intention of signing up for these relay runs was because of the medal, the medal from both Series 1 & 2 can be combine!! How cool is that?! So, because of this simple yet straightforward reason, we're in! Team Real Steel is in!!
Honestly, Team Real Steel was founded for OCR, so some of us not really a "runner" person. At the end, me, Vkey, YongYao, Wyekit and Nic are in for the relay run!
This relay is divided into 2 route - Series 1 and Series 2, which on 2 different weekend. One completed each series, can get a finisher medal. For the 2 medals can combine into 1. This year is the 12nd race, hence the name PAR Xll.
Race Kit Collection
Race kit was collected a week before the run, from Ultron shop in NU Sentral. The location is strategic, but parking is expensive! Lol~
Collection was ok, not like Flash or Quick-silver fast, because they only have 1 counter, but is within the reasonable waiting time. The total of team was around 200 +- little, and it is only on Saturday. Race kit consist of the running Tee by Ultron, sponsored drinks and BIB. The timing chip was on the baton which only collect on the race day.
Race Day - Series 1
The rules for this relay, and the most important one is - the first runner must be a female runner! Since I am the only female in the team, I got no choice but to be the first runner.
When we arrived on the start line, we see a lots of elite runners. Runners greeting each others, start warming up, like a gathering or carnival, the atmosphere was awesome!
My bro, Vkey aka Evil Trainer lead me for the warm up, then follow by the team warm up after we have collected our baton.
This was our first time and we station too far away from the start line, we can't hear what the emcee said from the start line/exchange zone. I almost missed the check-in, luckily was remind by Shwuni. Due to late check in, I was standing at the behind of crowd, and pray that i will not get stuck. Lesson learnt!
The flag off was on time, everyone was dashing thru the starting line. I try not to sprint as I know myself well that for me, it won't maintain. The route is 3.1km, sound short, but it was not "short and sweet" but "short and sweat", and gonna make you swear!
The first KM was ok, mostly flat road, easy to run with, and female runners start to spread up a bit. Then it comes the hill! Shortly after 1KM, we were diverted into the park route, and there was the hill to separate runners even more! Some runners start to walking up the slope, and those elite runner still sprinting like it was on the flat road!
Hills, not something that will scare me. Instead, I like to challenge it, but it doesn't means that I'm fast on hill. Tried to maintain my cadence and posture, slowly going up. After the slope, just relax the body, follow the flow to go downhills.
The torture doesn't end here! Immediately after the downhills, the Stairs to Heaven are there to welcome us. Literally, you might be going to heaven if you try hard to run fast going up.
Thanks to the stairs in my condo where I usually do my warm up, the front part still ok. I was able to bouncing up, but the last part I have to walk up to catch my breath.
Then the Heaven part comes, after the stairs, it is way to go home...ops, back to finish line! The road is slightly downhill, you can just relax the body let your leg to maintain the cadence and roll (if you are not pia enough)!
Approaching to the canopy, Vkey already waiting at the corner with Gopro.
"Run!! All out!! Just few meter only!" "Follow me!! Just follow my pace!" Try to run harder but really that was my limit!
The last 200m sprint
Then, the baton was pass 1 by 1 to the rest of my teammate, from Nic to Wyekit, to YY then to our anchor Vkey! The sense of accomplishment when our anchor crossed the finish line is so much different than other solo running.
The happy face after complete the run!
We set team target before the run and from there we further divide into individual target. However, we missed by 43seconds to our target. The overall ranking not bad but we want to do better!
We have 1 more week to the Series 2, which we heard that the route will be more difficult than Series 1. We will be back, coming back stronger and faster!
Hey Ya!! Jumping @ the start&finish line! Photo credit: RFF (FB)
Replacement Runners
The registration was done quite long time ago, if not mistaken it was like 6 months ago. And things does change along the time.
Nic got family oversea trip and Wyekit got his job offered in SG, hence they couldn't make it to the Series 2! T.T
We tried to find replacement runner but those runners that we know neither was occupied on the day, nor in other team to run the relay. Luckily Nic able to get Linglyee to replace his position.
When we digging our contacts to get another runner, here comes our savior! Samantha, we met each other during Spartan Training in DPC. We didn't know that we actually is in the same group - BlastFit until we chat thru whatsapp to run together when BlastFit training was cancelled.
Runner world is a small world, you met friends everywhere! She is so sporting and passionate, on the spot agree to join our team to replace Wyekit.
Samantha suggested to do a recce and training for Series 2 route, and thanks to her, I won't be so motivated and spontaneous to do recce like other race. It proved that recce did help during the exact day as you already know the route, and you can be more focus on just running. Just like the previous trail run in FRIM, when you are familiar with the route, you run better and more confidence!
Race Day - Series 2
Lesson learnt from last series, we arrived earlier, get a good spot as our "base" and collected our baton.
Like last series, my position is the same - first runner! Then follow by Samantha, Linglyee, YY and anchor Vkey!
As this was the second time, I feel less anxious because getting more confident after few recce but more stress as our team target still the same 1hr30mins with tougher route (because of the hills!!). I did my warm up and immediately check in the starting pen earlier to get a good spot!
Vkey and Samantha was outside the pen to cheer me up (but they actually keep trying to pressure me not to slow the team down! XD)
This time, the organiser become more strict on the changing zone, because previous series the area was in chaos! Personally I think it is good to be strict, for both safety of runners and teammate.
The event flag off on time, and runners were running like shooting arrow through starting line!
This time, I was in the middle, not as fast as those elites, just follow the crowd, but when i check my watch, the pace was like 4:50! OMG!! It was too fast!! I don't want myself to puncit at the Demon Hill!!
After a few recce, I knew that it will be starting with a short slope before approaching to the Demon Hill. I tried to gain some momentum at the downhills rolling after the little hill to go up Demon Hill.
Honestly, hill never easy for me, I always so lazy to lift my leg high during running. I have to remind myself of the advice from Samantha and Vkey, tried to run at least constantly going up the hill.
This time, the stairs after the Demon Hill is not that bad compare to the previous series. The steps are not steep but it was wider, and test your footwork/agility! Lol~
When I tried to run up, some steps I don't know whether to make it like 1 step or break into 2 steps!
After the stairs will be downhills rolling, and here I saw one of the puma Pacer - Sabrina was in front of me. I think I'm too used to follow pacer, automatically I tried to follow her. =.=
Don't play play, I tried hard to follow her but she was too fast for me to catch up! Good thing is I did tried and used her as my target! Even though at the end I really "eat dust"!
It is always fun to chase after someone! *Yes, Nic, dun get slack, I will always behind haunting you!*
The "honeymoon" end so soon by another hill! The "no stop" mentality kept me running (or slow jog?!) up to the hill make to the Panggung Anniversary. I knew here was the last bit of the run, but before that there's still a little slope at the roundabout just before heading back to the starting line.
You can hear the cheering and shouting from here and you know you're close! Forcing myself to continue running at the roundabout, and try to speed up after that!
Vkey was waiting immediately after the playground with his GoPro again, and shout at me the same thing!! >.<
The last bit to bring all out! Photo credit: AKU WONG (FB)
The last bit i tried to run faster even though from the video I didn't looks like running fast! Lol~
Samantha was there waiting for the baton! And that's the spirit to pass on till the anchor runner!
After my run, I become the one holding GoPro to get everyone's "All-out Face"
Team spirit - Cheering for the anchor! #不要慢过我 Photo credit: Victor Chong (FB)
I'm happy that I got improvement (maybe of too many downhills) but not satisfy!
We should take this as annual exam for Real Steel other than the Burpees Challenge! This would be another good way to keep us moving!
YongYao - JanC - Vkey - Linglyee - Samantha
Post Race
This Relay Series is by far the most fun and most photographers on the route ever! We really appreciate the dedication of photographers in the event! Those photos are priceless and our most valuable memory!
Relay is fun! I wanna do this again! Not just this series, but other relay as well!
Running in team give me the strength to run faster and further (just faster these series), and the joy of completion is double, triple or even quadruple.
The Steel x The Shadow
The combined medal from two series!
Race Summary
The overall team results:
PAR Xll - Series 1
PAR Xll - Series 2
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