GE Pacesetters 30k 2008

Date: 20th January 08
Venue: Lake Garden(KL)
Time: 6am
Distance: 30km
Terrain: Hilly


Last year run still live vivid in mind when the time come round again for 2008 race. It was a tough run last year. Without thinking, i decided to take part again. The hilly terrain, though tough, is calling me! I think i am crazy! For those that love the feeling of thighs/calves cramping and the way to the finishing line is still so far away. Still have to endure it! Curse and swear along the way to the finishing line will understand my feeling. Nothing is more shiok than a tough and challenging run. Of course plus good food and excellent kaki around, life could be just GREAT.


Meet at 5am at hotel lobby and we head off to Lake Garden. It took us 26 mins to reach the start point in darkness. Went over to deposit the bag and relieve myself at one corner of the park before meeting with various familiar faces along the start line.


Was still chatting with others when the run start. What an atmosphere, mechiam like kampung feeling...at least i think if i start to run during kampung days, these will be feeling. Bare footed, run on trail, life is carefree.


Started with easy pace and soon enough abit panting. I guess the start is uphill so feeling abit stress in the beginning is alright. It took a while before i feel more at ease. The hills come endless, whenever i hit the hill, i try to take it easy going up. CCF and ZBJ are around myself in the beginning. I guess they are taking myself as a guide not to start too fast.

Soon enough, they left me as i started to lag. Before first 5km, there is a casualty just before the water point. Someone fainted. I do not know he fell or not? When i reached there, he was already down on the floor and a few others are attending to him.

The first 10km is pretty okay. Subsequently it get worse, i try to control my pace, given my last year knowledge of the race, i think i did pretty okay. Right bottom of the heel start to give problem during this part.

Around 15km+, i saw kayano hugging the lap post :p We chat abit and run together. My two kneecaps start to hurts. When i reached 20km whereby the powergel was given out. It hurts pretty bad and i sat by the road side and put on the guards. Immediately the calves start to crammed up since it stressed different part of the muscle. It was painful. I have to endure 1-2 km before it get better. I think more likely the muscles get use to the pain. The calves are getting tight. Slopes after slopes, challenging but shiok!

The last major slope, i decide to walk up. Given the condition, i think walking up and leave strength to run later portion is more prudent. I didn't stop after that and manage to run strongly back to the end in 3:14hr. A good 10mins slower than last year.

Timing wise is a bit disappointed. But i am glad i came back. It is a challenging and good run! I enjoy it.

Saw alot of familiar faces at the end. Walking around looking for PM1, after searching for a long time, manage to locate him. Phew, at least the task is delivered.

A good <30mins walk back to the hotel. (3+30+3)km this weekend? :p