NB 30km - my maiden 30km run ..

After approximately 4+ years of running races, and three "bad" marathons under the belt, I could not believe that I actually felt nervous on the eve of this race. Anything above 10km still makes me feel nervous..

Truth #1 - this was my first 30km race. 2006 when I first started joining the GE race, my first 20km race then, I clocked my best 20km time and then 2007, deteriorated (but still 20km), 2008 even further deteriorated (and still 20km), and 2009, DNS because too busy with work.

Truth #2 - this was really the most prepared longer distance race (longer than 20km) I had ever been - I had done a slew of end 2009 races - from Mizuno 11km, Klang 12km, Penang 21km, SCSM 21km, Malakoff 12km (hilly), Putrajaya 12 hr walk and at least 3-4 double hills and also last three weekends Hartamas 20km. In my history of running, I have never been so focussed.. and it was not even for this race. It is for the upcoming Putrajaya Night Marathon, and the "goal of the year", at least try to get under 6hr decently for a marathon. The only part in all these "training" was that I never made it past 20km.

Truth #3 - I even managed to sleep before 10pm the night before to get plenty of rest for this race, but I was nervous like hell - it was after all, almost 3/4 a marathon.

The day started pretty well - I managed to get a few good hours of sleep and woke up early as intended and drove to Bukit Aman at aroun 425am, getting there just in time to find a pretty good car park, it was almost full, another 10 more cars it would be full. Managed to walk to Padang Merbuk, had a chew of half a free Power Bar (this was probably a life saver also).. and made the loo before managing to at least meet Claire, who was running her first race after SCSM 21km.. thumbs up to her.

The route was horrendously hilly, but I had a newfound realisation - I actually sucked on downhills and did decently on uphills because of the increase in Hartamas runs meant my knee was sometimes more stressed during downhills and through the LSDs I also acquired a better appreciation of running up hills without walking. Because the route was a warped version of everything the Pacesetters team could throw at us, it was quite hard to determine the km distances.

For the first 10km, we ran through the palace through to Tugu back to Jalan Parlimen, and then the usual Pacesetters route to Hartamas took place. The first water stop was at the start of the Bukit Tunku hills, near the Arabic school, after Lanai Kijang / Bank Negara little hill. I'm glad I took some water at the first water stop, because it would be until almost 10km before the next water station. The next 2kms up to the crossover of Jalan Mahameru was very creepy as usual. I had only gone through this route in the dark with Per-li on one of the LSD runs when we were there before 7 and it was still dark. The thing about being dark was that this route was PITCH DARK. You could not see the runner probably 20feet away, and if you try to do so, to watch for the runners ahead, you will be straining your eye and it becomes dizzying after a while. The good thing was that all the way till Jalan Duta, it was like automation for me, because this was my regular training route (wow, I can actually say regular now!). With us having done about 2km upfront, the Jalan Duta point became approximately 7.5km, which was good news.

Meng ran past me at the istana, so I thought I was doing good, since the IM guys are all taking it slowly, but their slow is my really fast. Running through to Hartamas and at approximately 10km mark, Keat Seong said hi across the road. I was surprised because this meant I suspect they were about 5km ahead, which translated to me being very slow. By this time, I suspected that the water stations were not really ample, and actually contemplated stopping by Petronas for gatorade. It did not help that at least 4-5 people passed me with full bottles of gatorade on their hands, and I had to labor up to 10km to have a gel.

For 10-20km, it was rather uneventful, except that the 2km loop reversed did not deter me in circling hartamas, it was actually quite pleasant. At approximately near the new Istana, Boone overtook me and I joked to him this was sap sap sui compared to Klang Penembak run. The untaken route around the square was new, but relatively ok, so was the one around the lembaga peperiksaan. At the corner of the downhill from the loop, Chee Hon overtook me (he was running 20km) and nicely told me that the 30km route has additional loop .. heheh .. I chased him away ..

The first time I stopped to walk was really at the double hill, when I realised that in turning to the double hill route, there would be no water for a long long while and I was incredibly thirsty by then, having the last drink about 10km away. Displaying a lack of respect for double hill, I tried to run, but only managed to "slog" through up till the turning back down the hill, when again I got annoyed because the power bar guys gave away free gels , but there was NO WATER in sight. So in annoyance, I ran downhill a bit, every corner looking for the final merge and the water station.

So, down we went, got some excel isotonic, gulped my 2nd gel, and then felt an immediate stomach cramp so could not run for another 1km+.. which was ok because it was tijani 1 and then more hills..

To cut a long painful story short, I managed to jog the rest of the way there onwards, from 24km onwards.. I knew the race brings us back to Jalan Parlimen for another loop around bank negara.. and by then, I was just interested to come in before 4hrs 15mins qualifying..

Finished the race .. and guess what? No more finishers tee and no more milo. The no more milo annoyed me more because the 2nd loop around Jalan Parlimen I was dreaming of sugar boost of milo..

Halfway through the race, I was thinking of postphoning my first marathon for this year, Putrajaya Night Marathon. Finish of the race, Chee Hon reminded me via SMS that I could logically make it for a sub 6hr race if I could finish another 12km in under 1hr 50min. Which is indeed do-able...

Post race, I had the most amazing recovery - I was actually in more pain than 20km LSD runs, but recovered in less than 2hrs to feel really good, and up and about walking happily much less time than the LSD runs. What is the reason? I believe it was a few possible combination - having enough rest, a better dehydration the day before, and after the race (despite having little water during the race), my 2XU decompression shorts (maybe), the carbo load the night before, the power bar I ate before the race, and maybe even just adrenaline.

Whatever it is, I need to repeat this for another 12km in 3 weeks time or pull out...

PS - one interesting thing, I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of beautiful lights more during running. A few great photo-opps:
1) Bangunan Matrade - this building in the rising sun is just too pretty
2) The masjid up the first hill in route to Hartamas - this building is always awesome with the morning lights
3) Ray of sunshine along Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, between the crossover to the route through to Tugu. The sunshines through the three is usually split in rays, and if taken with a filter, it will come out magical
4) New- amazing leaves falling during the run just before tugu - the leaves being golden reflected the light nicely - just like those falling leaves in Avatar movie..
5) New- morning red clouds across the new istana negara, if only the construction can be avoided...