Line Clear: May 2009

Since the NB15k, i have re-focused my training away from running. Im giving my feet the well deserved rest after piling up the mileage of more than 100km per month prior to the NB15km. It might seemed a lot to some but it's actually just an average of 25km per week and approx 3.5km per day. If you break up your training into small portions, you will gain the mileage and base volume without even noticing it or suffer the agony.

Ive heard too many stories about plantar fasciitis, knee/ankle/heel pain etc and whenever i felt my body needs a break, i will listen to it. Infact, resting is a form of training too.

Anyway, for variety sake, ive switched to playing sports such as tennis, badminton, squash and golf in the past two weeks. This is also to kill the boredom and keep my mind away from swim, bike and run. Nonetheless, cycling is a permanent workout during weekends thanks largely to the reunification with an old uni buddy who'd recently being hit by the cycling bug. After 4 weeks, my buddy manged to cover on average of 60km per session on his sleek tyre MTB. I think the distance is not too much neither too little. Just nice to keep the body system active. Due to the volume of training, ive also lost another 4kgs in the last month. Every pound i loose, im a pound nearer to my target.

From my experience, running is one of the most effective way to loose weight. So, if you wish to shed that extra pounds, get a reasonable comfortable shoe and start walking/brisk walking and eventually run. It doesnt cost much and you can do it almost at all places.

There are a few races coming up this month but the ones that i may participate are Xterra (off-road triathlon) and Stan Chart (running). I havent decided yet (yeah, working life been taking my training time away, a lot) but i wish i have the can at least participate in one of them.

Above all, let's not keep ourselves glued to the tv or the couch. Force yourself out of the couch and get the butt kicking.

Will the real you please stand up? Please stand up.

This is a long-outstanding post. Didnt have time to update immediately. enjoy reading it.

I had only slept for slightly more than 4 hours before the alarm clock woke me up at 5am. Groggy head and body was tired. Maybe I havent fully recovered from the hard cycling training i had the day before and the lack of sleep and insufficient rest made it worse. My butt and right thigh were still tight. I felt a tinge of pain on my right knee as well.

I was contemplating of ditching the race until a reflection flashed in upon me on all the efforts that i had poured into training. The mileage, the hours spent, the agony, the pain, the recovery and many other sacrifices that went into preparing for the race. Can this be pre-race nervous attack? Sometimes one can easily forget all the hard work when facing adversity and choosing to quit is always the easy way out.

Anyway, after a quick breakfast - we left the house and got to Lake Garden at around 630am and it was still dark. Pitch black. As this was my first road run race, i was amazed with the number of runners at the park. Ramai giler siol.

Walking to the park, i had visualised the kind of run that i would do but it didnt help much as i know even know the actual running route!! Yeah, my fault. I should have asked people about the actual route then strategize my run. Anyway, it didnt matter because i didn't have any lofty target. I knew i had done enough training and personally, i just wanna finish the run. No matter how long it would take me to do it.

Race started at precisely 7am. I saw the Kenyans lining up in front and as the horn went off, within minutes they were gone already.

While i was treading slowly amongst the mortals at the back, I looked around and it was inspiring to see pakciks, uncles, oversized guys participating in the event. Running is for everybody - all ages, shapes and sizes. All you need is a sports shoe and you can grab anything from your wardrobe to wear as long as it is comfortable to you.

From starting point, the route took us to Memorial Tun Razak - Masjid Negara - Bukit Aman car park - Bank Negara - Tijani - Double Hill - Tugu Negara - Lake Garden.

In the first km, i was kinda warming up (yeah, i should have warmed up earlier) and people kept zooming and flying through leaving me behind like a sad tortoise. At times, I felt pathetic for not being able to catch up with them. But who cares, it's not about beating others. It's about beating yourself. I kept reminding myself not to be influence by the pace of others even if he's your friend. Azmar, Laif, CK, Juli, Adeline, Jamil, Mac and a few other LeTuangs passed me too. I kept the speed to my own capability.

I ran so slow and upon reaching the foot of double hill, i had resigned to walking only. Double hill had many others walking or running at walking pace. I guessed once you walked, you tend to walk again. I did just that. haha... sakit sket jer, naik bukit sket jer, terusss jalan kaki...

Anyway, I had two mini packs of Sunmaid raisins (one each at 6km and 10km) and Powergel (at 12km). Two water stations served plain water. i was like ?????? paid RM45 and they gave plain water only ker? Dah larrr, wa dapat singlet size M. Haiyaaa... at least they could have served isotonics at the 10km mark.

As we were approaching the hill before Tugu Negara, i paced myself against this one slightly bigger built guy. I noticed he was consistent all the way. I walked and jogged but kept telling myself that i should never loose sight of him. He practically became my target and followed his pace.

Upon entering Lake Garden, my legs were still good despite the stress pain which popped up once in awhile.

By now, i could hear the noise at the finishing line. In any race, every time i hear the loud noise coming out from the speaker, I would get pumped up. Suddenly, the adrenalin rushed right to the brim and the legs got the energy from i dunno where.

Wifey waited patiently from his man to cross the finishing line. Her first time she's withnessing it.

After almost 2 hrs (i didnt time the run cos i left my watch at home), very slowly - i crossed it. I lifted both my hands in the air while saying my quiet prayer to the divine. To some people, maybe there's nothing to shout about in completing a 15km run but not for me. For somebody who weighs more than 100kg, it was a big deal. It makes more emotional having wifey and lil sister waiting at the finishing line. I kept telling myself, i have my loved ones waiting patiently at the line and i must finish it. No two-way about it.

I punched my hands into the air. The feeling and satisfaction was unbelievable. I'm addicted to it. My inner self simply exploded in frenzy and no words can ever described it (or at least, i dunno how to put it in writing). The sense of achievement was in its purest form regardless whatever position you came in the end. Best....