PJ HALF MARATHON by Chee Wee
Sunday 18 June 2006

Journey to the Starting Line

On Sunday, 18th June 2006, I had no trouble finding the Kelana Jaya Sports Complex (KJSC) in a half-awaken mind stage! I didn't engage a deep sleep because of the late World Cup games. At 3am, I would clearly hear the loud noise & announcements made at the mamak store which is no far from my house. I tried to ignore it but it didn't work. I just closed up my eyes & let my mind wondered.

Reaching the KJSC at 6am, I could see the car parks were filling up fast & I didn't manage to find a parking lot. So, I just simply parked my car along the road leading to the main street. Later on, KC told me that there were plenty of parking lots at the other end. Next time, I will take more efforts to search a proper place to park my car.

I spotted some familiar faces & there was a big crowd around the stadium. After deposited my beg at the depository counter, I found that it was hard moving around the area. I met Francis in the toilet & thanked him for helping me on the registration; otherwise, it could be troublesome to come all the way from Jln Ipoh to the KJSC for the bid collection on Saturday.



I heard that about 6,000 runners were expected to take part in this year's PJ Half Marathon compared to last year; it was a totally different atmosphere. Apparently, the organizer said that this year's turnout was way above the expectation; it could be mainly due to the celebration of City status for Petaling Jaya. Anyway, the race was set to be an entertaining & exciting one. We were entertained by the dragon dance & a group of young cute cheerleading girls. Certainly, the annual PJ Half Marathon event is well-known of its friendly atmosphere.

In this race, my ultimate goal was to finish it within 2 hours & second goal was aiming to have a better finishing time result. Two weeks before the D day, indeed I had a bigger dream wanted to dip below 1:50. Unfortunately, I was caught up with a bad flu & cough on 5th June. My throat was seriously infected and my fitness level was effected. I was quit upset with this unwanted happening & realised that the leap would not be materialized.

Even till the race day's morning, I could feel the nose was blocking & my breathing pattern was uneven. Nevertheless, I told myself to turn up for the race & knew that I would have a hard battle to flight in the PJ Half Marathon as I didn't train much through out the last two weeks. No a single long run.
I told Jason Chin about it when we met at the entrance of the Stadium; my last run was the recent 2nd Pacemakers Anniversary Run at KLCC. Hopefully, my reserve energy & mentally power could help us to compete & complete the race. I crossed my figures to pray for an enjoyable run & told myself that "to take it easy" while standing at the start line with KC, Weng & Jason.

My PJ Half Marathon's Journey begins…

I started my stopwatch at the sound of the gunfire. Here I came…finally taking up the challenge to run the much awaited PJ Half Marathon race. As usual, I started with my own pace. Intended to do a slow pace, but everybody seemed to take it seriously & run on with a fast pace. I just followed the crowd & lost the control of my own pace. It always happened this way to me.



After turning up to the Federal Highway, I couldn't spot KC & Jason; not sure where were they. So, I was actually running solo. It was boring & dry at this distance as no much thing or excitement to look at except making sure not stepping into any pothole. Quite stressful when I was running with a heavy traffic at this hour especially along the federal highway; runners were running side by side with traffic & they have run through few stretches of roads were in total darkness & under construction.

At the Freescale interchange, I was heading towards the U-turn at the well-known bridge in PJ & running on the pavement. I stopped at the 1st water station which was located at 4km mark for 2 cups of 100 plus drinks. They were so many runners didn't stop for a drink. I could feel that so many of them were passing by me...like the wind!

After the U-turn, Ben from Singapore called me; he was fast from the back. I wished him all the best as he could finish the race below 1:35. Not a surprise that he zoomed pass me. Cars and buses were all over the place; I were breathing in so much of carbon monoxide. Somehow I wasn't disturbed by the presence of these vehicles since I just ignored them & kept up with my steady breathing.

In the next 2 kms, I was striving to keep up my own pace; then I spotted Yee Choi, then Khee Meng (my regular running partner) who encouraged me to run faster & told me that I could complete the race within the target of 1:45 finishing time. I was so afraid that I couldn't maintain the pace. At the start of the Subang flyover, I took my time to neutralize the hill and run a consistent pace downhill. But, I felt pressure to run at this pace. I could feel that my body has evolved and produced extra adrenaline (epinephrine) when I was feeling threatened (just like this situation). This could make my heart pumping more blood to over muscles to enable me to flight & run with my strong energy.

After a 2nd water station, I started falling behind them due to the cough & uneven breathing...bye-bye! my running friends. Last year, at this junction, we were hit by the heavy rain. This year, we welcomed the sunny Sunday morning which was good to me. When it is raining, it may have two side-effect; one is getting into a deep trouble as the shoes were be totally wet; this might be causing us with some blisters. Not to mention that our running vests & pants were becoming wet & heavy. Putting us a cold condition! But, having say that, it may cool down the body temperature which allows one to excel the run. In spite of all these, frankly speaking, I was really enjoying the run with a moderate rain.

Right after the 3rd water station, I met two pacemakers, Justin & Kenny. We were running together for a short while & we have a short chat. I told them that I just did an extra-ordinary move by letting a hot stream falling down from my wet running short through my right leg which I have never experienced it. Kenny responded that "no wonder, I smell something." Then, he suggested that it would be a good idea to wear a diaper in the future races, to avoid stopping time for a pee; I quickly thought that it could be like a "Superman Return" - running with a underwear outside the running short. This may give a chance to be granted a best dress-up award for a run.

They slowly & steadily overtook me. This spurred me to follow their pace until the Subang roundabout. I just followed them closely and soon realized I could keep up the pace. Feeling bad but what could I do! Nothing, particularly nothing...

After passing the BP station, reaching the Subang roundabout, from the opposite road, I could see the half marathon fast runners (elite runners) who had already u-turned back from the Terminal 2 & heading back to the Stadium. I couldn't shout & cheer for those runners whom I could recognize & know as I was losing up the control of my breathing & momentum of running. I was breathing very hard. If one were running beside me at this moment, one definitely could hear the puffing breathing - short & quick & loud breathing noise.
Nevertheless, I gave my high thumb-up to those running friends. We acknowledged each other in a mutual understanding of fighting spirit. I was sort of giving myself some encouragement as I could still see them before reaching the U-turn at the Terminal 2. That could mean that I wasn't too far from them & a high possibility that I could make it below 2 hours.

After making the u-turn, I could see those runners coming from the opposite side. I also put up the thumb-up to them. But, Tey, the pacemaker did it differently by shouting loud out my name & giving me a solid encouragement word - GOOD! It really encouraged me to push harder & keep on my running pace. Thank you, Tey for doing that. Otherwise, I could slow down & eventually gave up from running to walking as I was very tired & weak in the mentally & physically...no joke, man!

Salute Tey who was currently having a knee injury but still showed up for the race; this is called a sportsmanship. Hope, he will have a speed recovery & back to action soonest.

Before the 16km mark, I was looking forward to the 4th and last water station. I was in a joyful mood when I drank few cups of isotonic water. Knowing there is anymore water station in front, I carried a bottle of water to run over the flyer. I spotted Ryan Teoh who was also struggling to overcome the flyover. I offered him the water but he didn't take it. I guessed he was recuperating and reserving his energy for the last few kms which was a right strategy as he handsomely overtook at the last 300 meters in the stadium. I gave him a thumb up; well done, my friend.

Actually, I ran and kept wondering where the entrance of the stadium was. There wasn't any runner in front of me until I turned in a road, leading to the MAS's training center. Finally I entered the stadium, about another 300 meters to the finishing line, I run on the red track & felt so good to be finished within 2 hours as I could see the big clock at the center of the Stadium, just clicked to 8:22am.



At the last 100 meters, all the sudden, Ang Chee Kiang, the treasurer of Pacesetter Club ran and strode strongly to overtake me, as well as another runner. They were very strong & no way I could counter them. Hence, I was feeling clam & didn't react to the situation as I was already exhausted. As a matter of fact, I was running out of strength & power to run the last 100 meters. It was alright as I was so glad that my goals have achieved & accomplished with my own style. While I was waiting to collect the finisher medal from the official, Francis & Sonny were busy promoting the Mizuno 10km run.

Before leaving the Stadium, I drank few cups of 100 plus & Milo drink & then said "good bye" with some running friends. On the way home, driving on the Federal Highway, I was thinking to stop by one of my favour restaurants - Sri Paddin, at Jalan University for the "teh tarik" and "roti canai" for a simple breakfast before going home. What a great Sunday morning to begin with!

Conclusion

What was my finishing time for the race? an unofficial time 1 hour 52 minutes & position 105. It is a same finishing time as last year race except a different position number. Overall, it was a fun & healthy run for me. I shall return for the next year's PJ Half Marathon race. Hopefully, my level of fitness is at a better stage.

Cheers,
Chee Wee

To read other PJ Half Marathon reports, please click here KC & the Sunshine Runners