Photo by : Mr. Leong Kwan Weng - After the Run.Brooks Half Marathon Breakfast Run – 29th January 2012
The run is organized by TBJRC testing the revised half marathon route, however runners wanted to run the 5Km & 10Km routes are also welcome although the routes are the same as last year.
I arrived at the stadium 5:30 am sharp, almost everyone registered to come were there. Since this was a close invitation run, I knew roughly who will be there this morning. First person I saw from far is Julia Lim, the fastest endurance lady runner trained in the Taman. Later during the run, she told me that she will be moving to PJ and will not be training in the Taman any more. The others were Papaya Lee, Fat Keong, Dai Wei, Chan Sir, John Heng, etc. It seems like all fast runners from TBJRC were here. Runners from Desa Petaling and Chap Ayam made up the rest of the crowd. It was closed to 50 runners in total.
The run started just over 5:45am after our president gave a briefing and introduction of the TBJRC runners to our friends. CCP just drove in as we left the car park, not too surprise to see him because he had indicated that he may come.
John Heng led the way as he is the only one in the leading pack who knew exactly the new 21KM route. The rest of us only have some idea and knew that the 1st 5Km and the last 5KM are the same as last year but the middle part of the route was reversed and changes including running into the housing area avoiding the main roads.
I start the run with Julia Lim, tailing John Heng, Fat Keong, Dai Wei and Chan Sir, followed closely by Papaya Lee and some of the faster friends of TBJRC. Since this was not a competition, everyone took it easy and the pace was reasonably comfortable. However, I have other ideas and wanted to test how fast can I go after my recovery from the recent sickness. I want to test my current form with Dai Wei, the undisputed champion in TBJRC and those rising stars including the very physically strong Fat Keong and Chan Sir whom most TBJRC members regarded as some of the best runners. I took over the lead from John Heng at around 2KM by increasing the pace slightly. My prediction was right, Fat Keong and Chan Sir did not allow me to lead so they also increase the pace and three of us running side by side until 5KM when we reached IMU junction. I pushed a little harder and Chan Sir just dropped behind but Fat Keong holding running at my side. I heard (foot step sound) few runners are closing the gap and was a bit surprise because I think only Dai Wei is capable of closing the gap. I was curious so I turned back and see who were so close behind us, of course Dai Wei was there and the other runner was Aircon Liew. Later I found out that he was late and managed to catch up.
The run getting interesting while 4 of us were leading but other runners seem to disappeared from behind. I pushed harder and soon at the 8KM mark, I was only running side by side with Dai Wei. Fat Keong and Aircon Liew were chasing hard around 50 meters behind. I pushed even harder trying to take the lead but Dai Wei easily match and neutralize my effort. However at the 10KM point, Fat Keong and Aircon Liew were no where to be seen and Dai Wei and me were guided by the security guard entering the housing area. This will be the part of the new route and both of us were not familiar. At around this point, Dai Wei decided to take over the lead but I was not letting go, and pushing to my limit to follow him.
Soon we reached the water station manned by Lim Ming Huat, Dai Wei grasp a bottle of water from Lim and he sped away. I was at my limit and couldn’t match his speed so I was left further and further behind. I still managed to keep the gap within 300m when we were in Taman Esplanade but I lost him after turning out to the road leading to the Golf Club. I knew that it was only 3 to 4 KM more to go but I could not push harder because I was feeling the strain within my body. Hold on to my pace and manage to finish the run 2 or 3 minutes behind Dai Wei.
Gauging from my performance today, I guess I am almost fully recover and I should be able to take on the challenge in my next race.
