Malakof 12 KM Run - TTDI Dec 21, 2008

The last SMS from Azad the night of 20th December reads " Meet infront of Puteri Restaurant, TTDI. The school is too far from the start point". I did not hear a word from Halim. I guessed, he knew where the place was.

I slept late that night. I searched around for my RM140 tight pants I used in the last Malakof UM Run-cycle-run event, but I could not find it. I settled with my swimming tight shorts covered by half-cut Adidas pants. I was a bit excited for the run, nevertheless, I started to feel that the pressure was on now; which it was supposed to be for Azad... Well, I guessed, it's not!


At 6:30 am, I reached TTDI and Halim SMS me saying that he was at mamak's stall already; he did not know where Puteri Restaurant was. I picked up Halim and drove him to the restaurant while Azad called and said that he and the gang were in front of the old Jaya Jusco / KFC area. I already parked my car and we waited them to reach us on the way to the starting point. We observed and guessed that over a thousand people around the area at the very early 6:30 am there.


Getting our registration no. ready, we were off for the run. Azad commented my new Nike; and I at first did not realize that he was on Crocs instead of his normal new Balance shoes. Later that instance that I knew he forgot his running shoes and settled with Mafiz' Crocs instead!!! The pressure is on!!!


There was a last minute change on the route. Instead of running 12 kms through the Penchala Tunnel, we were detoured to 6 km run for two circles around KLGCC area and Taman Tun. I hate running in circle simply because I know who's infront and I have to repeat the same hill I struggled the first time!...



When we took off, Azad was well ahead, steaming fast to finish the first 6 km circle. Hayyaa.. I was struggling on the first KLGCC hill when he passed by. Not too far though, when I was about to complete the first circle, Azad came by on the way back ahead of me about 200 meters. Boy, he was fast!! Never before in this year's marathon, I pushed myself so hard to get it done with!


When heading for the 7th km, I let Halim overtake me on the KLGCC hill. Halim seemed very fast and steady while I was exhausting my energy. By the time I was approaching the turn-around point for the last three kms, Azad was ahead of me about 400 meters. This time, he was holding his Crocs. I thought that he was really going for lighter run...he was running only on his socks!!




At the end, I admitted that Azad was a faster runner. At the finish line, I was 400 meters behing Halim and Azad was 100 meters in front of Halim. Thus, I submitted to the final result of being 500 meters behind Azad. I did a better timing for this run ended up at 1 hr 45 minutes for 12 km ( average speed of 6.86 km/hr). Before heading home, we pekena teh tarik, 100 Plus and roti 'tulur'... for this one, I paid them all. Congrat Azad!! We do again next year!!

Congratulating Azad for his victory on this challenge!!