Race Report: MPIB 2014

This was a simple short 12km race around double hills area and Padang Merbok. I love to run in that area, but with the raising crime rate and shortage of parking, I cut back my visit since 2013. Race will be a best opportunity for me to visit and run in this area comfortably. The training menu some how indicate a key long run of 26km on that day, hence I will need to start earlier to complete a 14km, then continue with the 12km race.

Started the day early around 5:10am and decided to park at the parking next to the Lake Garden Club house entrance. The area was still quiet and I was the 3rd car at the parking. Started in the Lake Garden loop and I only encounter 3 others runners. Later I found out part of the Lake Garden loop is under construction, may be this was the reason of less runners looping there. I too don’t like the looping, hence made the decision to heading out. Knowing that the race marshals will soon start to set up the route, I should have no problem to warm up on part of the race route. The warm-up took place from Jalan Parlimen – Jalan Sultan Salahhudin, about 4km each loop, and I did 2.5 loops (last loop cut short from Padang Merbok to Jalan Sultan Salhhudin). Total warm-up distance of 14km finished by 6:50am and felt great.

Towards the finish line, thanks Tey for the photo

After I changed to a dry vest and reached the starting line, the 12km Men category already flagged off, and the lady already lined up. I got no problem to start with Women category (over heard that Jamie said the lady whom started with the Men category will be disqualified, hopefully the guys were ok to start with the lady). The start line was packed, and the first climb rights after the start really slow me down (lots of lady started to walk...). Initially I was still ok to hold back my pace at relaxed 6.5min/km, but after dodging thru lots of obstacles, the fire built up. I decided to speed up after the climb, cruising with 5min/km pace at the descend part of Jalan Sultan Salahhudin, and started to caught few guys who started earlier. I kept the fire on and entered the Bukit Tunku area, completed the stretch with 5.4min/km pace. And I think I went bonked after climbed the incline of Jalan Sultan Salahhudin for the 3rd times. Pace dropped to about 6min/km, and finally finished the race in 1:09’15”.

 

I am happy to found another gear within. According to the training manual, the long run and the weekly mileages was designed to simulate the last 26km of a Marathon. If I could firm out the realisation of this new gear within to appear in all my races, I will be still pushing hard on the last session of the marathon towards the finish line, without crashed into the Wall.

Anyway, after few weeks of high mileages training, the body decided to login a complaint. The left foot suffered a syndrome that similar to extensor tendonitis. Need to slow down and have a day or two off from running.

Caught by Mohan during my post-run icing (while waiting the traffic jam to clear off)