Monday, September 3, 2007

Shah Alam 10KM Run


Yesterday morning went to the Shah Alam 10K race, this was one of the worst race I ran not because I didn't do well, I still manage to finish No. 9 in the Sr. Veteran category although I (together with many more fore runners) were directed to run another 1.5 KM by the Road Marshall at the last roundabout. The slower runners were allowed to bypass the 1.5Km loop and straight went to the finishing point! So many slower runners were given the chance to get the cash prizes. Maybe this is a good way to motivate runners to take part in local road races.

Immediately after the race, you can hear many runners complaining and there were various versions of this mess up. The MBSA blame the SAAA and vice versa!!!

Waked up at around 5.50am and as usaull got to the start line just in time to do the reporting and a few minutes of warming up. The Man & Woman Open were started on-time, 5 minutes later, categories C, D & E were flagged off together. I started at the mid of the packed and I manage to zig-zag to quite in front. At around 500m, I saw Agnes and Tan from Subang, after saying hello to Tan, I surge forward and try to catch up with Tee and Radzmi (?). However they were running at a very fast pace especially Tee. After a few minutes, Tee was out of sight and I followed closely behind Radzmi and waiting for opportunity to overtake him. I did not have much confidence to overtake Radzmi because in most (or every) time, I could not follow his pace.

At about 3 or 4 KM mark, a Indian (I think his name is Bala) overtake me and soon I lost sight of him. However I still could see Radzmi about 100 meters in front of me. At around 6 or 7KM mark, I noticed Radzmi was slowing down and I knew that this will be the best opporturnity to sayur him. I surged forward with full speed and did not look back.

At the last roundabout(just few hundred meters more to the finish line), however the road marshall direct us to go straight instead of turning in to the finnishing line. Not too long after, I saw another road marshall riding a motorcycle on the other of the road leading a pack of runnrs. He shouted to everyone to continue and take a U-turn back someway down the road. There were a few police/road marshall stationed at the place that we did the U-turn and Tee was on the other side of the road after taking the U-turn. I kept the pace and ran back to the roundabout, I saw Radmi following behind and later I also saw Tan and Lok running towards the U-turn.

When I reached the roundabout again, I saw many people cutting in and run towards the finnishing line without taking the 1.5KM U-turn loop. The road marshall just stand there and couldn't care which direction the runners decide to take. When I reached the finishing line, I am surprise to see Mr Foo just in-front of me taking his No. 8 position finishing card. Although I could have a better position if the organizer, SAAA & MBSA with their road marshall, take the race more seriously and professionally. I was happy with my performance and I was richer by a hundred ringgit!

In the evening, I felt that I had rested enough and went for a LSD in Taman Bukit Jalil. I ran about 23 to 24KM for around 2 hours. I need these LSD to prepare for the Singapore marathon this December.

Total mileage for yesterday were about 34KM so I decide to take a rest today.