Promised a friend to write about my adventure in the recent KLIM- last Sunday. So here it goes:
I was wide awake even before my alarm clock rang at 4 AM! Today is the day that I’ve been waiting for. The day that will test my determination and physical strength. Been practicing for this event for the last 8 weeks. I’m nervous but yet excited to join the run today. Boleh ker aku nih??? How did I ever get myself involved in this 10km run at the first place? But what the heck, it’s too late to change my mind now. No turning back.
Took the LRT from Ampang Park to Masjid Jamek. Found out that each train was 11 minutes apart. Lucky enough my train was two minutes away. If not, I’ll be very2 late and might ended up being the spectator for the event. Arrived 5 minutes before 7.00 am. Jogged from Masjid Jamek station to the starting line, a quick warm up. Lucky I did my stretching before I left home.
Wai yoh!…a huge crowd of participants already waiting excitedly at the starting point. I knew it then that it would be quite impossible to find my friend there (yes, I’m supposed to be there earlier..sorry yek).
Registered myself and I was given a yellow ribbon. No idea what is that for-proof of registration?? Since this is my first time ever participating in such event, I was a little bit clueless. Looked funny to have the yellow ribbon around my neck. Felt like a running monk lak. So instead I tied the ribbon on my left wrist.
Joined the large crowd again after depositing my bag. I was a bit irritated by the person who manned the baggage counter. The run is about to begin and there were only one person handling the baggage and the queue was long. Why can’t they have more helpers there since they knew that the race was about to begin? But lesson learnt, next time, don’t bring any bag. Senang citer.
3…2…1..honkkkkk! The race has started! A slow start for me coz there were thousands of participants (old, young, school children) in front of and around me. There was no rush for me coz my aim was to complete the 10km course. To win? far than possible. First 20? Very unlikely..(my boss won the bet already – no RM499 nike shoes for me. Ceh!) To complete? Most likely..Within 1 hour 30 minutes? Can try…
The starting/finishing point was at Dataran Merdeka, so 10km was one big round around KL. Less than 2 minutes of running- just after Daya Bumi, I heard a guy told his friend – “mat kita dah lari jauh ni, hang call keta skarang, suruh depa ambik kita kat depan nu..” while pointing his finger across the street. I smiled because it was less than 500 meters and all the participants were not even sweating yet..hehehe..apara..depan la skit bang..baru give up. Ini mesti kes kena paksa lari ni.
The first 4 kilometers route was a bit alien to me, not familiar with the area. Going uphill and downhill again. Alih2 nampak Istana Negara across the street and by pass the Dewan Bahasa. But it was a pretty easy run, the air was still cool so I did not sweat much. But running criss crossing people could be a bit challenging. Takut terpijak kaki orang jer. I had to run in between the participants, trying to break away from the pack of people. In certain places the road became narrow, so I had to be very careful nak potong2 orang. Kalo ada side mirror like Stephen Chow’s movie – Kung Fu Hustle tu OK gak. (the scene where the fierce Nyonya chased after him, he looked at the reflection from the knife that was stabbed on his shoulder). The pack of participants began to disperse upon reaching a monorail station (don’t remember where). Took a 30 seconds walk to catch my breath and started running again.
Suddenly I realized that I was reaching Berjaya Time Square, not bad, I was still running. Upon reaching Imbi Plaza I could smell from far the stench of rubbish. Loya tekak. The good thing was, I tend to run faster. Running away from the smell and running towards the drinking station. Haus la….need water.
Slowed down at the drinking station at Jalan Imbi. No 100 plus..just pure plain water in paper cups, tu pun dapat 1/2 cawan jer. Continued my journey running towards Jln Bukit Bintang (yesss…my shopping street). Switched to brisk walk while going uphill in front of JW Marriot. I think I walked faster uphill than jog, dah letih dah. Saw a participant came out of Westin Hotel, gi toilet kot..heheh
Started jogging again in front of Lot 10, dipotong by few school children – suddenly felt so old and weak …budak kecik kanak2 ribena pun leh potong aku…to make matter worse…an old Pak Cik potong!!..slow but steady jer dia lari..hampeh…ceh..tak leh jadik ni..kept telling myself that I can complete the race.
So tukar gear, switch to running. Did not stop running..potong the Pak Cik while giving him some support, ‘ steady uncle..u can do it!’. A few participants there cheered him and gave him some support, everyone else around joined in…someone even said ‘ cayalah Uncle, you can do it!’. That was fun!
I only slowed down at the next drinking station, this time took a bottle of mineral water, bukak sendiri and drank half a bottle. Being a civic-minded person, I tried to dispose the bottle in the recycle bin nearby, unfortunately I could not lift open the lid. Letak tepi je and sped off.
Went through the Nike mist, nice but too short lah..cannot be longer ehh? Saw Maju Junction from far and I kept telling myself not to stop running. Turned into Jalan TAR- the most mentally challenged stretch, Skittttt jer lagi..not far..you are already at Jln Tuanku Abdul Rahman, felt that everyone else also were running faster – they might be thinking the same thing. So near yet so far. Saw a man yelling to every participants to go into line according to category, tak sakit tekak ke? Repeating the same thing over and over again. A simple signboard would do just good.
Saw Mom & Dad sitting at a corner near the finishing line. Had to lambai2 coz they were busy looking at other participants. Did not know that they would be there. Definitely a pleasant surprise.
Used my last drop of strength to run to the finishing line. Lari sampai kat org yg pegang cert tu.heheh. Clocked about 1 hour 20 minutes. Sweet victory!! Surprisingly I was not that tired, at that time I felt like I can run further (aiseyy..berlagak pulak). For a first timer, I felt very2 satisfied being able to complete the 10km in less than 1hour 30 minutes.
To conclude: I’ve beat the streets and made it! Serik?? Nope. Nak join lagi? Hmmm…a very tempting invitation!!
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