Rat Race 2005
On September 6th, 2005, I ran my second Rat Race. This was a charitable event organised by the Edge which contributes to several identified organisations, the interesting thing here is that it involves Corporate Malaysia, and we run in working clothes!
After having 'tried' the first race last year, it was indeed exciting to be participating in it the second year. When our Marketing superwoman Susan asked a list of people including last year's participant on whether they wanted to run, I was initially polite to say that I can go, but if anyone wanted to go they could take my place. However, deep inside, I actually wanted to go!
Then comes the practice part. The original race was on August 9th or something. I had hardly enough time to train and due to busy schedule had not run too much competitively for the recent months compared to last year, my only saving grace was all these climbing activities I had been doing preparing for the Mt KK trip on August 31st. So I was extremely relieved to hear the race was called off a couple of days before the race due to haze. Coincidentally too, the postphoned date suited me, but was just after KK, I was not sure if I could "survive" the knee killer climb and still run.
When I got back from KK, I felt generally in good spirit that I could recover for the event, but physically was tired. Went to the gym the Sunday before to persuade my legs to wake up, but to no avail, my body was physically tired. It did not help that the week before KK, I made a trip to Singapore, and the travel really pushed my endurance a bit more. So, I only made 2.5 km at the gym as preparation.... not good.
On race day, my usual style took over. I had such a big obligation to attend a meeting called from 2:30-4:30pm. Went into the room, and found 20 people attending, squeezed in a small room. Whispered to the organiser that I had brought along 'the right person' and that I wanted to be excused earlier. She was very friendly and did not stop me, but I cannot believe that I sneaked out at around 3:15pm! We were meeting at KLCC office at 3:45pm to go together in one car, as from previous experience, the parking did not really cut it when you arrive late. Note how amateurish we were, no warm up or photo taking ;-)
This year, because I was so gung-ho and 'experienced' and because I happened to be at the office the day before and ran into the rest of the runners, I convinced the team to dress similarly, and managed to at least get a freebie cap from the office. Best of all, the team chose yellow color, which was my lucky color!
Race day, Kah Soon, our partner and representative for CEO race, came about 20 mins before time, and took just a minute to "dress up". He actually purposely wore a tie for the event. Kah Soon was again modest when I told him he had to beat 10 position he took last year. He said he was suffering from over-golfing strain and just got reminded yesterday that the race was today.
We had a real marathon runner in our team but we've never seen him run. He was Kell Jay, a young staff, belonging to the same group as me and Peter (the other veteran). Okay, I'd be honest to declare that in addition to being the only lady, I am also the most senior member in rank and in age in the team. Which makes it a bit embarrassing as I'd bring down the team score, but of course, its the spirit that counts :-) So, Peter (who is in the same department as me) and I told Kell Jay that he had to take 10-20 position in about 20 mins in order to get promoted next year. If you are that age and your bosses tell you to run for promotion, I am sure you would!!! (He came in 17 position, at around 22 mins, chased by another of our firm's runner, who came in 18 position, geez, young boys are young boys....).
Kah Soon started first, and I was surprised he managed a 8th position in the CEO race, a couple of positions up, when I could see the competition this year was stronger! Then we were flagged off and away we went.
Running in long pants (non breatheable ones) and working clothes is no fun. Its worse when it is 5:30pm. The sun is really down onto the face, face dries up, and traffic fumes never smell so good. Furthermore, you have many kiasu people in more nicely dressed clothese blazing past and also cars with horns blaring. Every corner there was supporters, but none from my company :-( yeah, we knew earlier this would happen. It did not help that I did not want anyone from my team to come all the way to town to support me. But, yet, every corner I would run faster because there was an audience! In fact at the last punishing corner going up the hill to the Bursa, I encountered first the Deloitte team about 100m before the upslope, carryng banner for Deloitte. Being the competitor company, I ran faster. When I turned the corner I knew Susan would be there taking photos, so I flashed my cool smile (look at the photo :-) ). Its funny what motivation we can get from an appreciative audience!
Conclusion - it was a really fun race...! Would I race again next year? I am not sure, maybe if I am still in Accenture.... but the Rat Race is definitely the most motivating and spirit lifting event I participate for Accenture!
