Twincity Half Marathon - 21 Dec'14

This was my last race for the year. Due to lack of mileage, I decided to take part in half marathon. It's a first marathon to cover 2 cities i.e Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. Thus, the organisers got a group of runners to advise on the organising matters.

I didn't had time to go to Cyberjaya to collect my race kit, but they were kind enough to distribute on the race day. The race started on time. I was at the 3rd row in front, which made me to avoid the slow runners. I didn't want to exert myself as I didn't had much long runs for the past few weeks.

Upon reaching 3rdkm, the disaster started. I tripped and fell flat on the ground. Ther was a kind runner, whom manage to gine me a helping hand. My left knee was bruised, and my right elbow was hurt.

The water station was nearby and ther I saw an ambulance. I asked them for 1st aid kit, but they only had ice. They suggest me to take the ambulance and go to the finishing lane, which basically means, I have to giver up the race.

But, I'm there, npt to quit but to finish the race. It's now mind over matter. I continued the race. It's not how strong you start, its how strong you finish. The good thing was, there was adequate water stations at every sector.

The second agony started at 8thkm, when, there were no street lights and it was pitch dark. Probably We would have run 4km without lights. To kae it worse, there were no signages and marshals along the route.

I was about to take wrong route at km 12 and km 16. For the last 5km, I was merely riunning alone, as there no close challenger in front of me, and thre runner behind me was atleast 500M behind me.

As I reach a point, I saw the distnace marker says 2km more to go, but my watch only shows 17km. Looks like thay have placed it at wrong place, which also made me to run faster for longer distance. At final 500M, I saw 2 men in front of me, just around 100M before finishing line. I sprinted as if there's no tommorow.

Upon overtaking, the runner shouted.."wow..u r like superman...".

Finally, I finished the race at 24th place. If I was not disturbed in between, I could have had better timing and placing.

Upon finishing, there were more agony. No isotonic drinks, only one 500ml bottle was given. Next, the medal collection place was next to mee hoon stall. Thus, after finishing, we were filled with the smoke of the mee hoon goreng. It really shows, organisers are amatuers.

Anyway, Though the race was a disspoinment, but I'm happy that I have ran and completed the race at new location.