PJ Half Marathon

Sunday. PJ Half Marathon. My goal is to go under sub-90 mins for 21km. It's a personal milestone that I have not crossed before. After the injuries that i sustained in the beginning of the year, spending time in awfully slow recovery, and gradually picking up my training in late July again, I know this goal is attainable if i can do my best. Even though I did not taper for this run (I ran two loops of Klang Gate the day before), I felt my legs were in good condition to finish 21km in a good time.

Warming up before the run.

The start!

The first 8km was smooth and I was doing a sub-4min/km pace. There were a few runners within visible distance in front of me but I did not have any urge to overtake them. I guess I was conserving mentally for the second half and I also felt I should not push myself too hard in this run for fear of burn-out before TMBT the following week. Besides, one thing I dread about running is the mental torture that comes when you are trying to outrun the person in front and vice versa. The ensuing tug of war between the two of you would easily drain you of your physical and mental energy. This is not a sprint for goodness' sake. Just run easy and push at a right time. 

I felt I slowed down in the next 8km. Somehow I just did not have the motivation to push hard, so I continued running well under my aerobic threshold. No panting. No gasping for air. No stiffening of calves or quads. Just easy cruising. I saw Yip passing at the opposite side way before I reached the U-turn. Wow he was running fast!

In the final 5km, I knew that I was approaching the end, so I started to pick up my speed. I promised Mao i'd return before 8am (the run started at 6.30am sharp). In the final 2km, I saw a Kenyan lady in front of me. I overtook her and continued all the way to the finish line. 2km to go with just 8 minutes left. In the last 100m, there was another 21km runner in front and I sprinted hard to overtake him as well. Finished in a time of 1:29:45. 18th place.

Personal target reached, promise fulfilled. It was a good run indeed!

Lord, thank You for allowing me to run again, and to finish in a good time. I don't suppose this personal milestone is of any significance in the world's eyes. But in my heart, I know full well it's You who enabled me to run again and for that, I give you thanks. Help me to run even harder after You!

 Sprinting for the finish

 Shararudin - Top Malaysian runner. Got to know him during the run with Kilian.

Yip - my running buddy.

Photo with Yip Weng Tak. He finished in an amazing time of 1hr22mins.

Our Kenyan friends!

Richard and I.

Mao and I. Her support meant a world to me.

Week Summary Log (24 - 30 Oct)

24 Oct (Monday)

Am - 13.5km (1:01:23)

25 Oct (Tuesday)

Am - 13.5km (59:55)

26 Oct (Wednesday) 

Am - 31km (3:21:20) ~1500m elevation (with Yip Weng Tak)

27 Oct (Thursday)

Rest

28 Oct (Friday)

Am - 16km (1:34:10)

29 Oct (Saturday)

Am - Klang gate
1st loop - 47:26
2nd loop - 48:10

30 Oct (Sunday)

Am - PJ Half Marathon 21km (1:29:45)

Total: 95km (8hr27mins)
Average: 5.34 min/km

Run or not?

Last week after completing the TNF 100 Singapore, I told myself I was done for this year. TNF 100 was much harder than expected, a lot of it due to the intense tropical heat that i was not used to, and I remembered telling myself that i was not prepared to run another 50km in the same condition again in the near future. I called up Avtar, the race organiser for Borneo Ultra-Trail Marathon to ask if I could transfer my entry to next year. He said it's certainly not a problem. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that i could finally have the rest that i needed for the time being.

Last night, after hearing how Kilian Jornet won the Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon in the closest race ever with Marco from Italy, I felt something stirred within me. Kilian was more than 3 mins behind Marco at the half way point (i.e. the peak). Everyone knows that Kilian is well-known for his ability to run down at a extremely fast pace, but 3 mins is just too big gap to catch up. Notwithstanding the fact that Marco suffered a fall on his way down, Kilian finally beat him in the last 1km by 44 seconds. What a amazing feat for Kilian. He just completed the home run for this year's five continents project - TNF Australia (Australia), Western State 100 (US), Ultra-trail Mont Blanc (France-Italy-Switzerland), Table Mountain Challenge (South Africa) and now, Mt Kinabalu Climbathon (Borneo).

Putting these world-class trail runners aside, I also saw a few familiar runners' names in the finishers' list. These are the runners that race frequently in KL, they are great runners. I also noticed the large number of runners who did not finish the race because they exceeded the cut-off time. I wonder how I would fare I had gone to Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon. Almost immediately  I could sense the competitive demons whispering ungodly voices in me.

That night, I found myself revisiting the decision to run the Ultra-Trail Marathon 50km in Sabah in November. What do i lose if don't run? What do i gain if i do run? Is it for pride, achievement or glory that i am seeking for? Is it because I am inspired by what KJ did in Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon, and i think i could do the same? Is it to establish my name in the list of ultra-runners in Malaysia? I don't know.. One thing i do know. If these are the things i am seeking after by running the race, i would still be left wanting because the answers to life's deepest questions aren't found there. It's not there. I could spend my entire life toiling and searching for significance but I won't be able to find it, at least not in human achievement. Even if i do, it's temporary, and as shallow as a bath-time thought or a noon-day flower.

'All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory like the flower of the field.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord remains forever.'

                                      1 Peter 1:24/Isaiah 40:6-8

I wonder what Jesus would tell me if I share with him my decision to run. Deny my desire to run and focus on my studies (since my exams is getting nearer and my preparation is far from adequate)? Run but don't base my motivation on temporal glory that vanishes as soon as I leave this country? Or He might say: You decide yourself using the wisdom and spirit that i have given you. Glorify me in all that you do.

I won't make a guess about this, because i know my human understanding is just too limited and finite to comprehend the grand plans God has for our lives. Running or not running do not make me a better person, or Christian. It is the motivation and motives behind it that ultimately matter.

I am going to leave this aside for a while. I trust that God would reveal enough for me to make a decision in due time. Lord, humble me and teach me according to Your truth. Don't let me sway away from You or be blinded by that which doesn't last. Lead me to the rock that is higher than myself, and in the way that's everlasting. In Christ Jesus's name, Amen.

Running with Kilian

I am definitely going to remember this day for a long time to come.

Running with the moutain legend - Kilian Jornet himself. At a tender age of 23, he has achieved what most of us could never imagine or dream of. 3 times champion of Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc 100 miles (2008, 2009 and 2011), winner of Western State 100 in 2011, 3 times winner of Mt Kinabalu Climbathon (2007, 2009 and 2011), winner of Northface 100 Australia 2011, Table mountain challenge in South Africa and many more. Even then, he is one of the simplest and humblest persons you could ever meet. He would share about his experience, his childhood home in Pyrenees and the mountains that he loves to anyone who is willing to listen. His love for the mountains and trails and his spontaneous approach toward life and running are what set him apart from many others.

Kilian and I

Running with the legend

Greg (left), the marketing manager for Salomon leading another group of runners. He finished 7th in Mt Kinabalu Climbathon 2011.

Listening to Kilian

Kilian's new prototype shoes.

After today's run, I am definitely impressed with the charisma, humility, simplicity of this mountain runner. While many would aspire to be like him, I think what he would have wanted is for everyone he has the opportunity to come into contact with to have a sense of love, wonder and appreciation for the mother earth. He is heading home after this for a month break before his skiing season starts in December.

Bye for now. Hope we can meet again in the future. All the best Kilian!

Week Summary Log (17 - 23 Oct)

Recovery week.

2 x 1hr run of 12km each.

TNF Singapore

Finally the day arrived for Jeremy boy and I. We both have prepared ourselves very well physically and mentally this time. Winning was not part of the agenda at all. In my heart, i know full well that the most important thing is to be able to complete this run together with Jeremy boy, and through suffering and hardship, strengthen our friendship and partnership further.

We were quite excited before the race. It was our first time running TNF Singapore. Seeing so many runners wearing all the different gears, cool-looking Salomon shoes, hydration packs and attires, we both laughed at ourselves for simply wearing a pair of light-weighted New Balance MT 101, mizuno shorts, university running jersey, a cap, and two hand-held bottles. 'It's the heart that counts, not the external', we comfort ourselves.

During the weigh in, we were horrified to discover that our two-handheld bottles only weighed 1.3kg! So we quickly went to look for things to stuff in our handheld bottles - Jeremy found some rocks and i stuffed the Ginseng bottle that was in the goodie bag into my bottle. :D After they allowed us to go in to the confinement, we took those things out and started to prepare ourselves.

The gun went. Off we ran!

This is my first time running under such hot sun. During my training, i had not done a proper run under the hot sun before, so I really suffered this time. Besides the signage was terrible. I got lost a number of times and I was so frustrated coz I was losing a lot of time. For some incidents which i don't want to mention here, i also felt that the top four runners of the 100k duo category have no sportsmanship and integrity. It is really sad that runners view each other as enemies or rivals rather than friends.

After 40km, I felt i had hit the wall. I certainly walked a lot then. Tried to dig deep to look for motivation to go further. I was playing 'amazing grace' in my mind to remind myself of this gift of running, and how it's purely by grace that i could run again.

Finally, after much walking and running, I completed the race!

Not long after, J boy finished it as well!

Yo ho!

Almost done!

Finally! Shouts of excitement and relief!

Finished in a time of 5:15:02!

J boy finishing not long after!

J boy finishing in a time of 5:35:46. Mission accomplished for team infinity milers!

We both couldn't believe that we had just completed a ultra-marathon together

Cooling him down.

To infinity and beyond!

My most faithful supporter and my love. :)

J boy and Amanda

The support crew at the finish line. Thanks to all!

Celebrating my eldest brother's birthday later in the day (the guy in white top in the right side of the photo)

We later found out that we got DQ coz we did not pass WP 2 where time was taken. Well, can't blame us coz the signage was poor and i was just following other runners. I realised that all runners that ran between 5hrs to 6hr10mins (some 26 of them) got DQ too. I think the organiser must have felt weird that no one was crossing WP 2 for a long time so they started directing runners to the correct route. If we didn't get DQ, our position would be third overall.

Even with this setback, I must say we both have experienced something special together. This bond of brotherly love and the personal milestones that we have crossed. I definitely am going to miss all the times we trained together, running up Gunung Nuang, getting lost there, running in Bukit Jugra, Taman Bukit Jalil,  Bukit Gasing etc. To me, he is always a great brother, friend and runner.

After this, J boy is going to start working as a houseman in Teluk Intan Hospital. As for me, I need to start studying for my final exams (to graduate as a medical student) in Australia too. I guess our journey shall end here. Hope the next adventure for us would start soon!

I just want to say a little prayer for him - that God would continue to watch over him, guide him in his path, and give a heart that burns with passion for Him and His people. Also to grant him an enduring mental stamina for the tough work ahead as a houseman, and to give him strong legs as he would never stop running. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Week Summary Log (10 - 16 Oct)

10 Oct (Mon)

Pm - 13.5km (1:00:07)

11 Oct (Tues)

Pm - 8 km (40 mins) + 800m (2:32) + 400m (1:11) and 400m (1:18)

12 - 14 Oct (Wed-Fri)

Rest

15 Oct (Sat)

Northface 100km duo - 5:15:01(5th place if not DQ)

16 Oct (Sun)

Rest

Week Summary Log (3 - 9 Oct)

3 Oct (Mon)
Pm - 13.5km (1hr)

4 Oct (Tues)

Pm - 13km (1hr)

5 Oct (Wed)
Bukit Gasing - 5km (30 mins)

6 Oct (Thurs)
Gunung Nuang (21km) - 4:45:00

7 Oct (Fri)
Pm - 12.3km (57mins)

8 Oct (Sat)

Am - Bukit Jugra. 1km uphill - 9:22 (new PR). 1km downhill - 4:25
Pm - 30km (2:41:00)

9 Oct (Sun)

Sabbath rest.. :D

Total - 68.8km of running (5hr38m) and 28km of mountain-running
Average speed - 4.91 min/km

Week Summary Log (26 Sept- 2 Oct)

This week only consists mostly of recovery run.

Tuesday - 14km (1hr)
Thursday - Gunung Nuang 4.8km (31min)
Saturday - 2.5km (12min)

J boy and I before Gunung Nuang training

Harn sprinting ahead

J boy pounding downhill

Finishing together

The end of the training