Define Your Inner Strength....Putrajaya Night Marathon

The day has come... this is the time to realize my dream... running my first marathon....10km...

Woohoo!!  I've made it! I've done it! Although I didn't get any prominent place, well, at least I've finished it.  The proud time of my life....

I've gained some satisfaction through this experience.  I knew I could do much better in time lapsed... but it is never too late to start anything new, right?

me at the front of Istana Kehakiman building where the event held.

Best of all this marathon held at night time.  No heat scorching down at you... no excessive sweats running through inside your shirt... but nothing at all can stop me at that moment.  I'm just excited to start my first marathon.

As early 6.30pm we reached at Putrajaya. (my sister-in-law also participate this event but only 5km).  We immediately parked our car at her office which is very nearby to the Istana Kehakiman building.  We perform Magrib prayer at her office and left all the stuffs there.  How convenient.

The event started with the Full Marathon (42km) departure at 8.00pm, followed by Half Marathon (21km) at 8.30pm.  Then come the 10km category. Anxiously and quite nervous I gathered together with other 10km marathoners at the starting line.  All of us were wearing a champion chip tighten tied at the shoelace.  This is important to record timing of your run.

The Full Marathoners have just started running their race...

there they go!

the Half Marathoners start the race later..

Then the sound of a blast followed by fireworks can be heard & seen far in front at the line, (I was located way back but not last) which indicate the race has just started (at 8.40pm).  Slowly we at the back walking patiently, some jog (like jog at the same spot) to the front line.  When my feet (with the chip) touch the line, I can hear some scanned-like sound be heard indicate your time has started recorded.  I immediately set my wrist timer and run!  hehehe... I'm exaggerated here... actually just jog slowly with set in mind 10km ahead to finish.

for 10km and 5km shared the same start/finish point.

During the run I can see straight far in front (like 4km) the PICC building sited.  That is where we will run around before coming back to the finish line.  Okay, I said.  Not that very far yet... I can managed.

during my early running... view in front of me...

I've tried to run as far as possible without stopping.  Need to test my stamina even after recovering from high fever last 2 days, didn't trained myself for couple of days.  I've realized that my strength has decline, my breathing were short and... I'm mad of myself.  How can this happening to me at the very early run?!

The race must go on... by hook or by crook, I will finish my race.  Faster or not, I will never stop.  I've continued running, walking, running, walking repeatedly.

I run alone.  Nobody there is going to support me unless I find some motivations around me.  I must push myself to the limit.  I looked at other people and tried to follow their footstep.  Set my own milestone and tried to beat some runners at the front.  Sometimes it helped...

running uphill towards PICC.  you can see a group of BSN people cheering and supporting the runners..

While you running uphill, the Half Marathoners were running downhill on the other side...

It feels like never ending run after you passed PICC, you started to blamed the organiser for making mistake us running for 21km route. hehehe... please bear in your mind, you are running for 10km, okay...:)

They provided 3 water stations to satisfied your thirst quench. The first station were offering mineral & 100plus drinks, while the other two you couldn't find 100plus except mineral only.  I don't know how to drink while you were panting and puffing all the way.  I only managed to take a sip or two before you throw the paper cup to the roadside.

a group of school band were playing music instruments to cheering us..

Until at one point I felt an excruciating burn at my right toes, where the chip was.  It was unbearable but I need to move forward.  Still continued thinking what might caused it, I never stop walking at that point.  Realizing my hand phone was on my right pocket, I assumed there must be an electrical wave was going on there.  Immediately I've changed the hand phone to the left side pocket.

I'm already more than half way to the finishing.  I can see written 7km on the side of the road with white paint.  I almost there.  Finally I can see the PICC building again but at the rear side.  Again I was running up the hill, and the group supporter (which before there were 3 groups, now only one group left) with exhausted face cheering for us again while sitting...hmmm... it seems that they were also tired cheering while we were the most exhausted from running.

we have reached to one of the prominent bridge at Putrajaya. 

Then you can hear the sound of noise become clearer.  The lights were even brighter.  I can see the finishing line.  I must run to finish this shit!  But my leg were too tired and heavy.  Oh man!  I need energy!  Walking even faster and finally I found the courage to run, very slowly.  When the line become nearer I run even faster and over passed the runners in front.  Then, I'm done! I have made it!! I heard again the scanned-like sound meaning they were recording my time once I step on the finishing line.  Then there were three lovely young women welcoming me and presented me a certificate and a finisher medal.  What a race...

There were lots of booth you can attend to.  They gave you a snack pack consists of plain bun, 'kuih' and ... I don't remember the other one plus a mineral bottle.  Slowly I sit down at an empty space to goggling the whole mineral bottle. (now I realized that I was very thirsty).  I couldn't even have the desire to eat at that time.  And slowly again I walked towards Milo van to get their free drinks.  I grab 2 cups.  If only my other hand were not too occupied carrying the snack pack and the certificate, I could grab 4 cups instead.  I was so thirsty...

But then I saw the 100plus van offering free drinks too.  Man,  I don't have any hand left to grab those.  What a pity... then I remember I didn't stop my race time at my wrist watch. Damn!!  Quickly I stop it.  Oh well,  I just have to find out in their website for the official results later.  Thanks to the champion chip.

Thanks to my sister-in-law too for waiting before we go back home at 11pm.  She too have this exhausted face from 5km run...

my collection from the race..

* the next day I browse from the official website and the results were in.... my official time was 1:56:07 and my ranking was 1037 out of 1120.  Oh well, I can do better next time... definitely!