National Geographic Earth Day Run 2018

Two weeks after I participated in the SCKLM 2018, I was at it again -  going to another run, this time - the National Geographic Earth Day Run in Gamuda Walk, Kota Kemuning. The annual Nat Geo Earth Day Run, a running event that benefits environmental causes began in 2007 in Taiwan, followed by a second edition 2010 in the Philippines. By 2016 the run reached Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

In 2018, the running community collectively ponders... where will it be launched? Malaysia has not made it to the list.up until now.. Are things about to change?

If you guessed the that this this year’s National Geographic Earth Day Run is to be held for the first time in Malaysia, you were absolutely spot on!

It was held last Sunday 23 April and I'm glad I was able to secure a spot, as places were limited (4,000 according to RaceXAsia.com). As a subscriber to the Nat Geo channel, I was ecstatic to see the advert which announced that the Earth Day Run would be launched for the first time in Malaysia and I have been waiting with bated breath for the registration to open.



The event organiser is Fox Sports Sdn Bhd and official venue partner, Gamuda Land with supporting partners Unifi, PetroSains, Stadium Astro, Nivea Men and Fox Sports. 

The Malaysian Nat Geo Earth Day Run's aim is to create an awareness for the public to protect our planet through renewable energy consumption, reducing plastics, and continued education on how to lower our carbon footprint. The organiser stated in the race guide that water stations would not be using any plastic bottles; instead, participants are advised to bring their own water bottles for refill. Nat Geo does walk to talk when it comes to protecting Mother Earth.

I entered the competitive15km run. The other category is the 5km fun run which was equally as popular with the registrants. Runner's entitlement include a Nat Geo logo-embellished black tee, a bladder that comes with a hook which is handy to use for this run, a jute bag, and a runner bib with timer chip. finisher medal and an e-cert. Good value for money, I'd say for a run associated with the name of an international organisation.

The run itself was well organised. There were plenty of marshals on duty to ensure the safety of  runners. They were having a good time, as evident in the big smile on their faces as they cheered us runners on, giving high-fives; I got a much needed boost from a group of young ladies at the U-turn of the halfway mark in front of the Gamuda Sales Gallery.

There were elevations along the course, but none that would make you consider throwing in the towel. Though it's a competitive run, most runners are well aware that unlike the other franchise marathon/running events, the Nat Geo run is for a greater cause than chasing a new PB.

After crossing the finish line, I visited the booths in the race village where there were entertaining games to try out, free ice-cream to be claimed, discount vouchers, freebies and also a presentation by the PetraSains team. The exciting activities, along with photo opportunities on stage and in front of the props, kept the finishers occupied until the announcement of the winners.

All in all, the Nat Geo Earth Day Run was a success and I'm glad to be a part of it. Furthermore, I have bragging rights for not only finishing the 15km run and bagging a finisher medal, but also for being a steward of the Earth.

Race pack

Not crowded on the course in this run

With host Hansen

A large finisher medal, a symbol of one's potential

Relive 'Morning Run'

Summary: 

Gun time: 1:26:59

Net time: 1:25:27

Pace: 5:54

Ranking: 102

Ranking (based on gender): 90

SCKLM Celebrating 10th Anniversary

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM) is without a doubt the biggest running event in Malaysia. In its 10th edition this year, the event garnered a total of 38,000 runners who thronged the Dataran Merdeka in the early morning on Sunday,  8 April.
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I noticed that the Standard Chartered KL Marathon has grown bigger, better and more popular over the years since I participated in the race for the first time in 2014. Year after year, I have been coming back for further distances, from 10km in 2014 to the full marathon in 2016 and 2017. The race was cancelled in 2015 due to the haze. The popularity of the marathon is evident in that slots were snapped up this year in just a few days after registration was open to the public. I remember back in January, the outcry from some of my runner friends, encountering problems with registration, took to social media to vent out their frustration over overwhelmed servers which could not cope with the number of registrations on the first day of registration for public. Luckily for me, I managed to reserve a spot for this year's special edition, being a loyal supporter of the event. The benefits of being loyal to your favourite running event in the country...


And it was an amazing race day! Everything was top-notch. The weather was good, the volunteers in high spirits and the runners! I saw runners, young and old (young at heart), of varying sizes and colour and of all abilities - the SCKLM proves that running is something which resonates well with running enthusiasts in Malaysia... Furthermore, I noted there runner from overseas, their nationality indicated on their running bib.

I loved everything about the SCKLM app. First up, there's the live tracking feature so I could keep track on my relatives and friends (and my running role-models) who were also running on that day. I was notified every time when the FM runners whom I was tracking crossed a 5km checkpoint. The icing on the cake for me is the runner photo feature -  the runner's photos automatically appear on their profile as the race progresses. I was glad that I could view photos of me running - yes, actually running and not standing and posing for the camera after the race. Not all the photos on my profile had me in them; some of the photos showed runners that I can say were definitely not me! Perhaps the technology needs to be improved. Granted, this photo feature on the app saved me a huge amount of time from having to scroll down album after album in search for a photo of me on Facebook. 

I ran in the half-marathon this year, which means that I have finally completed the trifecta of 10k, HM and FM in the SCKLM. The route was enjoyable with a mixture of inclines and downhill paths, but mostly flat paths along the course. I was placed in pen 3, standing way behind the start line, I only managed to reach the start line 10 minutes after flag off. The congestion in the first two km's was a little unnerving for me as it can be a danger to run too close to other runners, but thankfully there were no mishaps.

I salute Dirigo events and all of their staff and volunteers for pulling it off. I'm sure other runners would agree with me that we, the participants were rewarded handsomely by Standard Chartered and their partners on this special occasion. It was indeed a celebration in style for the 10th anniversary of the SCKLM. Well done to all parties who made this event a success.. and heartiest congratulations to all the finishers!

Runeasy: Our shoes for this year - Nike Lunarepic 2 Low

Relive 'Morning Run'

Summary:
Distance: 21.4km
Pace: 5.58 /km
Gun time:  02:21:46.04
Net time:  02:09:18.21
Rank: 176

Carrying the Flame: KL2017 Torch Run

It was quite simply an amazing and exhilarating experience. Being a torchbearer in KL 2017 Torch Run exceeded all my expectations.

Application

I decided to apply to be a torch bearer in the KL 2017 (29th SEA Games & 9th ASEAN Para Games) when I learned about the Torch Run from friends in a running club. That was back in April. After sending in my application online, I got busy with my training for the SCKLM 2017 (read my blogpost) and didn't put high hopes that I would be picked by the organising committee (Malaysia Organising Committee KL2017, MASOC).

In July, I was shocked when I received a call from a lady who said that she was from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and that she was calling to inform me that I have been selected to be a torchbearer in KL2017 Torch Run. Still reeling from shock when she congratulated me, I managed to articulate my gratefulness for being selected with a genial  "Terima kasih... ini berita terbaik."

I found out that I would be one of the forty torchbearers running in the Hulu Langat leg of the Torch Run on 3 Aug, the penultimate day of its journey in the state of Selangor. After Selangor, the torch will go to Putrajaya and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur where it will eventually be brought into Axiata Arena (formerly the Bukit Jalil Indoor National Stadium) to light up the Games Cauldron at the opening ceremony of KL 2017 on 19 Aug.

Torch Run Day

The day started at 11 a.m. with a briefing by the organising committee. At the briefing venue, I met the other torchbearers including a businesswoman, an athlete, an officer in the civil defense unit, a musician and a student. I realised the group present was as diverse in their background as they were in their running ability. With the exception of a VIP, the other runners were everyday people like me. And it was good to learn that these runners represent the diversity of the communities in Malaysia.

The official t-shirts were distributed after briefing on the technical aspects of the run. While some did not get their preferred size because the organizers were unable to accommodate pre-order requests - in the end, most if not all managed to find a t-shirt which fitted reasonably well. Thumbs up for the design of the t-shirt which comes with a v-neck and the colors of Jalur Gemilang. The fabric felt comfortable on my skin. I was assigned No. 31 which I carefully stuck on my running shorts.

The weather was mostly cloudy all morning and it turned out to be a blessing for the runners. I was concerned that it might be too hot to run at 2 p.m. on a sunny day. The event coordinator informed us that we would have to run - rain or shine. The show must go on! Around 1 p.m., it started to rain. Concerned friends messaged me to ask if the run would be cancelled. I assured them that it would go on and that it was still early so there was no reason to be worried. Furthermore, the rain would not dampen our spirit. Sure enough, by 1:30 p.m, the rain had subsided and us torchbearers piled into a bus which took us to the starting point in Kampung Bukit Sungai Puteh.

The route for the run is a fairly easy one except for a hilly stretch between checkpoints 3 and 4 on a 6.5km course. Most of the torchbearers accepted the invitation by the organizer to run the entire course at a comfortable, non-competitive pace.  There were two 100 plus stations along the route. At the finisher area there was a Spritzer water station and a Milo van.

My moment to shine

My turn to carry the torch was between checkpoints 4 and 5. When the whistle was blown to signal it was time to switch runner, I took the torch from the girl before me. This was it! My moment to shine. The torch was not light. Somehow I felt remarkably strong and held it up firmly in my right hand. A deep sense of pride coursed through every fiber of my being as I took my first step. And another step. And another step. I then trotted along after the media van and maintained my best running form in front of the cameraman. The space reverberated with chants of "Ayuh" alternating with "Bangkit Bersama" (Rising Together). At this point, I felt as if I was carrying the hope of the nation in the upcoming SEA Games, alongside all the other torchbearers behind me. "Malaysia" shouted the coordinator and the crowd responded with "Juara" (champion). It was an amazing feeling!

Nearing the hydration station, I could see a crowd of supporters gathered there and cheering us on. The screams and cheers became more frenzied as I passed the hydration station. And out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my colleagues. I winked at them and waved at their cameras. Feeling on top of the world at the sight of familiar faces, I whooped and waved to thank them for coming to support me. I could not hope for anything more on this monumental day. 

The 150m leg of the run in which I was the torch bearer soon ended. Truth be told, it didn't last long and I wish I could have longer contact time with the torch but I'm glad I savoured every second of the run. After I passed the torch to the next runner, I went over to my colleagues and took bursts of wefie shots with them before  re-joining the convoy. I stayed with the torchbearer group and ran till the finish point where the torch was handed over to the representative of Sepang district.

Running in the KL2017 as a torchbearer is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience and carrying the flame for 150m in the run is a moment I will remember forever. 

I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to do it. 

Until the next run..........

SCKLM 2017: Of Passion, Loss and Redemption

Intro: I'm still alive, just not running...

I've not been blogging since last November - did anybody notice my absence? So I've been sitting on the sidelines in 2017, not having participated in any races. The main rain for my lack of motivation was due to burnout, more a mental burnout than a physical one. Looking back, I registered for and ran at least a race per month for the whole 2016. The pressure I gave myself was too much, attempting to fit running events around work/life and before I realised it I found myself fallen over to the other side, that is to say, a Burnout. I felt a lack of desire to get out the door to run long after the festivities had ended. Furthermore, staleness was creeping into my running routine. A creature of habit, I would normally run on a specific day of the week at the same place, more or less at the same time. But by the end of January this year, I had not been running for two weeks and did not miss it. And it made me wonder "how did I get from being passionate about running, of having completed FM (which is like arriving at a summit of racing mountain) in the SCKLM 2016 (read report here) to feeling totally uninspired to run?

I did some soul-searching and realised that running made me happy in the past and I was still passionate about it. I can remember with remarkable clarity the times when I experienced the running highs, the exhilaration from the freedom with which I ran after a long, stressful day and the clarity of mind which comes after a run. Those were the rewards I got from my running journey. So I decided to change my running program in order to make running fun and enjoyable again. For example, I would spend more time to observe the people around me in the park where I go for my morning runs. I look at their faces and imagine how they're feeling while carrying out their activity. I count the number of trees I pass, I listen to my breathing and sometimes, I listen to a podcast episode or simple shake up my playlist on my phone.

Redemption runner?

I had a horrible run in my first Full Marathon in SCKLM last year. What I learned from the experience is that despite all the training that goes into preparation for it, things can still go pear shaped in a race. In my case, the unrelenting cramps in my calves and the broken toe nail due to ill-fitting shoes derailed my race midway in the course and I had to crawl my way to the finish, which wasn't pleasant. Blogging about my experience and connecting with other runners helped me through it greatly. However, there was a part of me that felt I had to right the wrongs and redeem myself after the poor performance in the race. So when the opportunity arose, I signed up for SCKLM 2017. The 9th edition of this popular running event was to be held on 21 May; the promise of redemption came early this year and I signed up for my second Full Marathon.

Running for a Cause

Losing my aunt in April this year due to her long battle with diabetes gave me another reason to run in this long distance race. My aunt was a fighter through and through. Her determination to fight the disease and to not give up inspired me deeply. Her son and my cousin, Mike is a seasoned marathoner; we both agreed to dedicate this upcoming run in my aunt's memory. Mike also agreed to pace me which was reassuring as he has around 30 FM titles under his belt.

Training 

With a sound understanding of marathon training from last year, I knew what needed to be done to prepare for the race: build up long runs and weekly mileage, do interval runs and some tempo runs in between, strength training and tapering. But unfortunately, my training fell on the sidelines due to work and evening classes (I enrolled in a Mandarin course). At 8 weeks to race day, I finally got my act together and did my weekly long runs every Sunday. Even though I ran short of the distance planned due to the scorching heat (for the record I'm not an early riser); the fact was I did the LSD every week for 8 weeks. To get inspiration and motivation, I joined group activities organised by the KLCC Runners Group. The ones which I benefited a lot from were the "Sunday morning LSD" led by Sam Seow and "Hill Training with Suresh Kumar".  For strength training, I joined the FGT classes run by the Fitness First Run Club.

Sam Leow leading the Sunday morning LSD at Desa Park City

Hill training led by Suresh Kumar at Tamn Tasik Perdana

FF Run Club's Freestyle Group Training at 1MK rooftop

Race Pack Collection

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon Race Entry Pack Collection (REPC) this year was held at Hall 6 of the KLCC Convention Centre. In addition to the REPC, the Prudential Healthy Life Expo made its debut and it did not disappoint with fun-filled and exciting activities throughout the three days of the expo from 18-20 May. There were more booths noted this year than there were in the previous years that I attended.

REPC was hassle-free

The race pack collection on Friday was smooth, thanks to the good planning on the part of the organiser. Runners were asked to email their planned collection day and time so that the organiser could advise participants on the peak and non-peak time for collection. I couldn't be more excited when I found my name on the honours list or what runners call the 'wall of fame'. The names of all registered participants of the FM of SCKLM2017 formed its logo and it's strategically located outside the convention hall for all visitors and non-visitors to the expo to see.

It's written on the wall that I will be running in the FM this year

Race Day

I took a Grabtaxi to KL Sentral  and got on the 2:20 a.m. train to Masjid Jamek on the Kelana Jaya line.  Understandably, I struggled to get out of bed at 1:40 a.m on race day and a demon voice in my head asked why I was doing this. The thought of going back to bed was tempting but give in to temptation I did not! The spectacle of enthusiastic runners in gear of various colour combination, patterns and design got me to come out of my doldrums.

On arrival at the Race Village in Dataran Merdeka, I proceeded to Dataran Zero to check in my bag.This year, all runners were required to empty the contents of their bag into a clear plastic bag. The plastic bag together with all of my belongings were sealed before me by a friendly man in uniform. This new procedure was highlighted in the race guide as part of the organiser's efforts to tighten security measures.

The starting pens were well posted and I was able to locate my designated pen - Pen 3 -  with ease. I also noted that runners were on time getting into their respective pens, thanks to the volunteers who ushered runners into their pens and not forgetting the good service in the LRT and MRT. Mike arrived shortly after me. He met me outside Pen 3 as we had agreed and we swiftly made our way to the front of Pen 3. After a quick warm up... the race was flagged off sharp at 4:00 a.m! Ladies and gentlemen, let the 9th SCKLM begin!

Mike and I in Pen 3

Mike and I started out strong and steady with a pace of around 6:50/km. We both felt the unusually warm weather from the start on Jalan Raja Laut. We sweated by the buckets just minutes into our slow run. At around 2k, the GPS on my Garmin went haywire as it recorded a pace of 2:09/km. I also noticed that the GPS went out of sync with the kilometer markers by kilometer One. When my Garmin beeped at 3km, I had in fact logged 2km according to the marker. This unsettled me slightly but as soon as I readjusted my focus on the kilometer markers instead of my GPS watch, I was back on track.

Basically the route this year is similar to last year's so I had the benefit of knowledge of the route this time. It makes a big difference to know the route of a race even if you're running in that for the first time. Mike and I ran steadily all the way till 20 km where we entered the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE). I looked and felt good and was glad that I had 20 km in the bank already. I remember feeling the niggles on the DUKE last year so whatever I was doing now, was working. I was careful not to change my pace or posture. Mike and I talked about his late mother - my aunt - and how because of the hospital visits, he was unable to put in as much training as he would have liked. In a strange way, in periods when we were both quiet, we felt her presence and it was an extraordinary feeling.

I took two cups of water or Lucozade Sport at every hydration station as I was aware of the amount of fluids I was losing from my body through profuse sweating. The stations were consistent - appearing every 2 km as shown on the map, and managed by friendly volunteers, some of whom not only handed the runners their drink but also cheered the them on. Also worth mentioning are the live performances of stripped-back acoustic music by artists who generously volunteered their time to liven up the atmosphere.

After collecting my wristband at the 30km checkpoint, I started to feel a niggle in my right ankle. I tried not to focus on it and soldiered on, dropping my pace slightly. But on entering Jalan Langgak Tunku in Bukit Tunku where hills would thrill or kill runners, things went downhill for me. I felt fatigue in both my legs especially the quads, followed by cramps - in the quads and calves. Memories of last year's nightmare started to haunt me. I quickly took out the bottle of CrampFix I was carrying with me and took two caps of the liquid in an attempt to relieve the cramps.

Pain is only temporary

I also saw a group of friendly supporters at a bus stop in Bukit Tunku. They had set up a stall there and invited runners to come and visit it. As I was battling with cramps, I limped over to the stall and was warmly greeted by a lady with shoulder length hair and a warm smile. She asked for my order. They had a variety of beverages on offer. Without hesitation, I asked for coconut water. She poured the coconut water into a cup for me to consume. I was heartened by the group's generosity and support of the huge number of runners. It definitely gave me a much needed boost at that moment. After thanking the team, I began my long trudge uphill along the very challenging Jalan Langgak Tunku. You may have heard from runner in KL that Bukit Tunku is only for the brave. As this point a good number of runners had passed me by.

Try as I might to push myself a little more, my legs would not allow it. Thereupon, I was worried that I might have hit the wall. The cramps were getting more severe. I decided to take another break and sat on a curb. My answer to my aching legs was in the form of Counterpain (yes, I learned from last year's experience and brought along a small tube of the ointment).  I rubbed the balm assiduously onto my quads in the hope that it would not only soothe my legs but also my emotional wound as the old wounds were starting to open up. Just then, a runner approached me and asked if I was experiencing cramps. He offered me some pills to take to relieve the cramps. He was friendly and appeared to know what he was talking about. So I grabbed the pills from him, swallowed two on the spot and took sips of water from his bottle. It was a nice gesture on his part (his name is Alex) and I felt recharged by kindness and possibly by the synergistic effects of Counterpain, CrampFix and the pills.

At Jalan Sultan Ismail around kilometer 36, the 5:30 pacers passed me by. They were carrying orange balloons and had music blaring off of them. I had earlier greeted Azhar (one of the pacers) and remarked that it would be great to finish the race with his team. So I kept alternating between trudging and walking... but not stopping. Later, the cramps were too much to bear and I took time out after passing Parliament of Malaysia. I had no answers for the cramps so I approached a member of St John's and asked if she would help me with my cramps. As she was still attending to another troubled runner, I sat down and tried to remove my shoes. That movement trigger excruciating pain in my quads and calves and I let out a cry. The young lady along with her male colleague rushed to my rescue, removed my shoes and gave my calves a good stretch. At this point (around 9:15 am), it started to drizzle and no sooner was I able to get up than my body was awash with rain. 

Wefie with Azhar before the race

Walking along Jalan Parlimen, a fellow young runner beside me asked if I was worried about the weather turning for the worse and the possibility of race being cancelled due to severe weather conditions. I answered that I would be disappointed beyond words if I wasn't allowed to finish the race as we were already in kilometer 39. The youngster soon took off saying that he was aiming for a 5:30 finish. I couldn't help but be inspired by his determination and then something in me clicked. I no longer felt the cramps in my legs and I was ready to run again. I picked up the pace gradually and found myself running at a comfortable pace, as fast as my legs would carry me, literally...  I was careful not to ruin the last 3km of the run..

I engaged in self-talk in the final leg and my mantra was "Finish strong" and "I can do this". Soon, I reached the Honda gantry indicating that there was only 500m to go. At 200m to go, I could see in the distance the cheering crowds at the finish line and my spirit soared. But I was also in pain both physically and mentally, but refusing to give up and recalling a quote earlier in the course "pain is only temporary, pride is for a lifetime" I dug deep, pushed hard and crossed the finish line.. with tears of pain, of joy, and relief that I managed to finish my second full marathon strong.

Pacers and their colourful balloons

Selfie before flag off

At my designated race pen

Running again at kilometer 39

Thank you for the coconut water

Porta Porties were in adequate supply

Facts and figures of SCKLM 2017

36,000          number of participants at the SCKLM 2017
9th                edition of the race
2:18:43         time posted by Cosmas Matolo Muteti from Kenya who won the FM Men’s Open
2:36:14         time posted by Elizabeth Chepkanan from Kenya who won the FM Women's Open
USD17,500  Prize money for the winner of FM Men's and Women's Open categories
7 hours         cut-off time for the FM category
8,000            number of runners signed up for FM category this year
1,700            number of running tourists
75                 nationalities participated in the run

My stats: 

Elevation gain: 524m   Max elevation: 111m

Result:
Gun time: 5:40:30
Net time: 5:39:08
Ranking: 974 out of 2108
Overall: 2909 out of 6663

Asics Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016

The Asics Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016 was the last race I ran for this year. As PBIM is one of my favourite events, I registered and secured a place back in April. With the experience of running 21km on both the Penang Bridge and the Second Bridge in the past two years, I signed up for the 10km this year as most of my running teammates preferred the distance (blog post of PBIM 2015) Looking back at my running journey thus far this year, I noticed that the individual 10km distance is missing in logs (the only other time I ran a 10k was in the Asics Relay the Night.)

One may be tempted to ask, "Is 10k a downgrade from the FM, HM and 12k?"

Not. At. All.

In fact, I like doing the 10km distance for these reasons:

-  it holds a special place in my heart as my first race back in  January 2014 was the 10km in the Marina Run, Singapore

- training for the 10k is less demanding compared to the HM or FM (let's face it - there are times when one doesn't train as hard due to circumstances or lack of motivation)

- I can run faster!!!

- I would not need to wake up at ungodly hours for the race (FM flag off at 1:30 a.m.)

- I can recover quicker after the race

- it is more social and less competitive for the average runner

Driving to Penang from Kuala Lumpur on the evening before the race was a nightmare. There was standstill traffic along the Tapah-Gopeng stretch for two hours which I found out was due to a major accident. The weather didn't help either as there were intermittent showers along the way.  Setting off my journey at 6 pm, the journey took eight hours to complete. The Penang Bridge was closed at midnight (which I was aware of but did not think I would not arrive in Penang by then) so I used the Second Bridge, namely the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge.

On arriving on the island city, I was unable to get on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway as it was closed for the race. Soon I learned that I was haplessly going around in circles as Waze kept re-directing me to use the closed roads, not offering any alternate routes. Exhausted and losing the will to carry on, I pulled over at the Lim Chong Eu expressway and asked the traffic police officer to direct me to the city centre. The man in uniform was polite and he gave me clear instructions to get to the hotel. Surprisingly it was as simple as following the signs to Pusat Bandaraya (City Centre).

I arrived at the hotel at 3:10 a.m only to find out that the hotel car park was full to the brim. I maneuvered my car around the choc-a-bloc with vehicles parked in front of, behind and around the designated lots. It was a total chaos. I drove out of the parking lot disappointed, but was greeted by an attendant who asked if I was a guest at the hotel. I answered in the affirmative and he said he would take care of my parking problem if I just left my car key with him. I duly complied.  

I woke up at 4:10 a.m fuzzy headed and made my way to Komtar by foot. I was lucky that there was a bus already waiting when I arrived so swiftly boarded the bus and off I went with the other enthusiastic runners to get to the race village. 

I don't remember much about the what happened before the race flag off due to the brain fog I was experiencing. Breakfast came in the form of a banana and a bun, though I can't tell you what filling was is it. I faintly recall a friend saying hi to me and I greeted him in return. He later reported that I came across to him and his teammates as cold and somewhat standoffish. Well, all I hope this post explains why I gave a less-than-enthusiastic peer recognition to his friends. Runners aren't immune to bad days.

The announcer praised the weather. The rain earlier had subsided and the cool weather set the perfect conditions for 14,000 runners gathered at the race corral in the 10k event. At 6:30 a.m. the race began.

Race:

I ran a comfortable pace for most of the course. The course was mostly flat except for the incline on the pathway to get on the bridge. Around 7 a.m., I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise view from the bridge and I slowed down to take it in. Many runners around me whipped out their camera phones to catch selfies. At the half-way point U-turn, I started to feel a strain in my legs and was worried with the knowledge that I would struggle to maintain my pace of 5:30. Nonetheless, I pushed myself further in spite of niggles in my legs. At a water stations later, I received a much needed break and a boost when a young male volunteer when collecting my paper cup into the bin he was carrying said "Thank you, 加 油！" That was the fuel I needed to get back on track to the finish line.

This shot does not do justice to the beautiful scenery I witnessed

Not long after I approached the Queensbay Mall area and I was excited in the knowledge that the finish line was within reach. Spurred on by the sight of many happy finishers around me, I pushed myself for one last time to counter my gradually decreasing pace. I ran, putting one foot in front of the other. And ran... It was a long, hard slog.. and finally, I crossed the finish line in under one hour. I was both happy and relieved that I completed the race.

Cheng Yee back in action

Team Amos, Danny, CY and CK

A hard fought victory for this year's PBIM

Official results:
Clock time: 1:02:11
Nett time: 59:17
5km point: 32:50
Category Rank: 181/3975