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!

One Malaysia Day with Giant Kids Run 2011

The day has come!  I have woke up early at 4.00 am just to prepare what it is to prepare for this Giant Kids Run.  My children were still sound sleeping and I'm still didn't do any preparation the night before.

• There were water bottles to fill with plain water, 
• the running jersey and the running pants were not sort out yet, 
• the spare shirts were not in the bag yet, 
• don't forget the towel for sweats wipe, 
• their socks were not choose yet, 
• breakfast to be prepare and foods to bring if they still hungry,
• and GOSH!! I didn't realize that the number tag on the shirt were supposed to be pinned, and I didn't have any!!!  I should have bought them earlier!

All those above are mama's nightmare and we were late for 20 minutes from the actual plan. (plus we have to stop by at the 24hours mart just to buy the pins).  For all the frenzy, we still made it in time...

waiting for the race to start.  it happened that my sister's children also joined the race.

We just couldn't believe there were so many people come to the Metropolitan Park, Kepong.  I mean MANY of them like around 100,000 people.  Maybe around 75,000 cars parked along the stretched of the highway.  We were quite lucky managed to park our car at the oil station opposite the park connected with pedestrian bridge.

No	Age	Approximate Race Distance
Category	4 – 6 Years old	700 meters
Category	7 – 8 Years old	1600 meters
Category	9 – 10 Years old	1600 meters
Category	11 – 12 Years old	3400 meters

When we reached, the 4-6 yrs old category was about to start.  I didn't register my little one for this one as I'm afraid I might can't cater all my children at one time. But it was fun watching those children running with their parents.  But a lot of case of missing children later as well as missing parents too!!  Luckily they have MC to make frequent announcement each time there are such cases, and they all safe and founded.

the 4-6 yrs old category...

the 7-8 yrs old category children were gathered while waiting  instruction to go to the starting line.

I took this picture in hoping to find my third child among all those kids before it start.

off they went!!

my son finished the race!! even though he didn't get a place, he was happy...

The 7-8 yrs category is the lot-of-accident category because parents were not allowed accompanied their children while running.  And the children were all excited to run and some of them pushed each other when the race started.  So many of the runners felt and injured.  What a pity..

While waiting for my son at the finished line, my second child is about to start her race, 9-10 yrs old category.  Luckily she and her cousin were in the same category.  My brother-in-law were there to arrange things while my hubby had to entertained my youngest at the park.  Luckily my sister were also helpful to look after the rest of the children.

I didn't find my daughter at the finishing line but I did see my niece running.  She was happy to be able to finished the race.  I found out later that my daughter finished the race ahead of her but almost get a place in the race.  Anyway she was happy with the race.

They showing off their certificate after the race...

Each runner can collect their goodies bag after the race include certificate, medal and goodies from the sponsors.

While waiting for the 11-12 yrs old category to start, my daughter and her cousins hovering around the park visiting sponsors booths.  And lucky for them when a reporters from local newspaper company wanted to interview and photo shooting them for the event which on the same day with the Merdeka Celebration day.  It was really fun for them as this was their first experience in such activity.

 

 

How wonderful they are!  But I didn't buy the newspaper the next day just to see if they have published them.  Poor thing :(.  However continue the story, my son's category has started.  His category for boys is the last race to anticipate.  The crowd were cheering and anxious to watch as they were about to run..

Waiting at the line. Just look at his sour face.  I think it was because of the heat...

The runners were almost at the finishing line...

Forcing to take picture.  He said he didn't enjoy the run.  "It is so tiring!!"

Oh well,  my eldest is a techno boy.  He just prefer sport in computer games.  Anyway, after the race, everybody get to enjoy themselves with the outdoor game which brilliantly the organizer provided.  And it is free!!

 





Here are more pictures for the memories to fond...

 

 
 

 

 

My Marathon.... Their Marathon...

With my 1st marathon due in 2 months, my children's marathon is just around the corner... well, remember the Giant Kids Run that I've told you guys before?  The one that I've registered for my 3 children?  Today is the day to collect their Race Pack which consist of race t-shirt and the race number each.

So we went to the Viva Home Mall shopping complex located at Jalan Loke Yew, KL.  I've never heard of them and never been there too.  Luckily it wasn't hard to find because it was just along that road with no confusing route.  You can see them from afar.

We reached there quite early around 11.00 am with easy finding car park.  The crowded is less and the queue at the Race Pack Collection booth is acceptable long.  They have up to 10 counters to encounter the demand but yet they face some technical problems causing the delays.  Anyway the booths from sponsors around are quite fun and informative.  They also provide race tips and games to accommodate the event for 2 days up to 9.00pm.

I face no difficulties in getting my children's race kit.  And I didn't stay long with my 3rd child were so hyper active demanding this and that (that's is so normal when we went out together).  We immediately went home and took some pictures of the proud moments...