New Balance 15 KM Run - May 18, 2009

For the first time in my life, I took part in this "brutal" 15 km hilly challenge around Bukit Tunku area and back at the Lake Garden. At 5:30 AM, when I woke up, I thought of quiting but when Halim said he was ready to get up and meet up at Tugu Negara, I was zapped with energy and curiosity of my willpower. Halim had to detour to Talisman office to collect his running shoes which he forgot to take home on Friday before we both met at Tugu Negara parking area around 6:45AM. Many people already rushed to the starting line while Halim and I took our time to get geared up.


When we were at the starting line, all men category already took off. We sneaked in between the ladies and ran crossing the official starting clock line for time registration. Halim and I were joined by one more runner to begin our 15 km run out of the lake garden area. We were lucky as our marathon's favorite photographer, Mr Tey captured three of us running behind all men categories, essentially the last in line, while we were ahead 10 minutes infront of the women cetegory. Barely 20 minutes we were running on steady pace, the first lady passed by us like a rocket as it seemed. Then, more and more ladies overtook us...of course, I kept ensuring myself that I would not be the last...

After 1 hour 5 minutes, Halim and I reached our 8 km distance (half way) and it was my greatest achievement so far. Given if it were a 10 km run, another 20 minutes I would have reached the finish line and perhaps clocked myself at 1 hour 25 minutes... It would have been my new 10 km record run so far!!! But, life isn't always as what we wanted. The next 7 kms were hell...very short distance flat or downhill but most were exhaustingly hilly.... Halim gave up to run with me and he paced up leaving me 2 kms behind... Little that I knew during the run, Halim was cursing his decision all the way to take up this 15 km run... and leaving me behind was his way to show "...what the heck, you wanted to try 15 kms, just take this.." kind of lesson to me.

My experience beyond 10 km run was totally new. My feet were swelling and I could feel that both legs becoming elephant legs, sort of speaking. The soft Nike running shoes felt as if I was wearing Flinstone's rock solid slippers while my fingers were all swelling and numbness started all over the critical body parts. Deep down in my heart, I realised now why Hj Zailan from Planning Department quit running after completing his 42 km Singapore night marathon last year. I made the right decision to as for now to just get acclimatized with 15km run first before I can upgrade to half marathon.


I finished ahead of a dozen few and clocked myself at 2 hrs 40 minutes while both Azad and Halim perhaps clocked at 2 hrs 20 minutes. I made it, dude!!!! and it feels great!! Of course, getting back to the car park was another "painful" experience, the feeling of every part of our body being shaked up was overwhelming for the whole day!!!