I wonder…..if it was the right attitude…

I thought the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 (SCKLM) which will take place this Sunday (June 27) would be my very first (and only?) running race but no...because last Saturday I took part in Larian Go Green for 7.5km distance organized by MKLand. That turned out to be my first ever running race!

K, AL and I came to know about this Larian Go Green by chance when we were resting after doing our weekly 20 loops (lie!) run at TTDI Park. “Nah, bakar lemak tu!” was what the abang said when he handed us the forms. Grrrr! So anyway, I was thinking...this would be a good training for me for my 10km SCKLM, it’s not a 'serious' but a ‘fun run’ race and the registration fee was only RM15, so…why not! I set a goal for this - to complete the race regardless of how long it would take me to do so.

The night before the race, I told myself I must get enough sleep. But I was tossing and turning maybe until half 3 and the next thing I knew the alarm went off at 5.45am. After the 2nd snooze button, I finally got up at 6.15am. Tummy didn’t feel so good. Oh no! I got attacked by the ‘Japanese’! What a bloody experience! ‘F#*k!’ My 1st curse word of the day! Should I back out? I decided not to. So, I showered, got dressed and made myself a cuppa. I didn’t eat any breakfast because I didn’t want to have a stomach ache later. Having cramps was already bad enough. But you can bet, my tummy was growling then.

I reached Damansara Perdana about 7am and met up with K and AL. The first thing I told AL, “After the race, let’s have roti canai!” Eheh! I changed into my oversized race t-shirt. I wasn’t sure if I could run comfortably wearing a baggy t-shirt but for the spirit of the Larian Go Green, what the heck! We were supposed to meet up with another two friends, N and AZ but after 15 minutes of waiting, we decided to hop on the shuttle bus that took us to the start line to join hundreds (around 250 - 300, maybe) other runners.

There were some ‘hard-core’ runners with their serious looking compression pants and/or tops and some were wearing the runners’ singlets from races or marathons that they had participated in. And then there were ‘just-for-the-fun-of-it’ runners, obligingly wearing the official Larian Go Green race t-shirts, like yours truly. And Oh! There were also a few African runners that would make you think, “That’s it! There goes my chance!” But regardless of who and what, the atmosphere was exciting.

N and AZ finally appeared and joined us, just in time to do the warm-ups. Music was blasting on the loudspeakers. They even played the Wonder Girls’ “Nobodi…nobodi..but chu” song to hype up the mood! A girl on loud hailer led the runners with warm-ups exercises. Some followed and some thought they were way too cool to follow (and I was one of them!) Quite an amusing sight that was! I imagined Aunt Ros was there in her red tee with that odious matching hairband, shaking her booty.... “Badan sihat, hati senang! 1Malaysia Sihat! Yo!” Oops!

Finally, the VIPs arrived. Speech was given, said our prayers, sang ‘Negaraku’ and at about 8.20am, the horns were blown. First, for the Women’s Veteran 6.5km, followed by for Men’s Veteran 6.5km, then for my category - Women’s Open 7.5km and lastly for Men’s Open 7.5km.

Some runners took off like crazy at the start. As I’m a newbie in running races and I have no professional training like William Hung would say, I wasn’t sure if taking off fast was the right technique but I knew I shouldn’t blow all my energy in the first few kilometres. Anyway, the first 500m (or was it 1km?) was going downhill, so, what’s the rush?

By the way, here’s a disclaimer: All distances or running time mention in this post are my own estimations. I don't accept any responsibility that may arise when the value reported here is incorrect. Also, I may or may not use the right running jargon. I’m a newbie. So, please excuse me!

Anyway, so AL and I ran at a steady pace for a good 1.5 km (could be less, could be more.) And then AL decided to walk for a bit. Chest pain, if I remember correctly was what she told me. She told me to go ahead. I just hoped that she would be alright. So, I continued running on my own until I reached the first water station.

“Wah! This is good! I’m not even that thirsty yet!” I took a quick sip, anyway, threw the paper cup to the ground and continued running. I felt like a pro already! Cheh! I think not even 1km ahead, there was another water station. I thought to myself, “Wow! Not bad! They have water stops every 1 km! I thought I heard it loud and clear this morning that the emcee said there would be three water stations? It must be more, then!” Well, whatever, it’s only my first race and I didn’t know what to expect, anyway. At the second water station, I realized, my running mentor, K, was not far behind me. Aiek! Suddenly I had the urge to compete and be ahead of him. My ‘kiasu’-ness kicked in! Muahhahaha! So, I took the paper cup and quickly gulped some water (and almost choked!), threw the cup like a seasoned runner once again and started to quicken my pace, giving no chance for K to catch up.

When I reached the main road in front of Metropolitan Square, I started to walk because it was going uphill. Here, I tried to stabilize my breathing...breathing deeply and slowly...the basic Yoga way (Like real!). As I reached the corner, I started to run again, going towards Flora Damansara, a landmark where we would turn back and head towards the finish line. Little did I know that it was one hell of a long road to reach the corner to turn back. I didn't want to push myself too hard, so I took a few walking breaks along the road.

I saw some runners running on the opposite road. They had made the turning. Damn! But those were the ‘real’ runners! You could tell from their outfits and their…err..err..legs. I struggled to keep up with the runners ahead of me. Quite a number of them were no longer running but walking. My kiasu-ness kicked in again. I started to look for ‘victims’ to overtake. And when I succeeded, I would smile to myself. Evil smile. And then a few meters ahead, I saw her! A small sized girl running wearing just Mary-Jane Crocs!!! (Mary-Jane or Malindi, whatever!) What the hell?!! Here I am running with proper running shoes and she’s not but she is ahead of me!!? This can’t be happening, I told myself. I quicken my pace, hoping I could run pass her but “Mary-Jane” was faster. Oh well!

I slowed down my pace and eventually started walking. I made the turning and was now on the trail towards the finish line. By now, the sun was glaring down. My mouth was getting dryer. I was effing thirsty! Water station was nowhere to be seen. I was cursing and cursing to myself, cursing the organizer for not being thoughtful enough to put the water stations every 1km! And then I saw “Mary-Jane” again. This time, she was walking with both hands on her hips. She was exhausted. Yes! My chance to run pass her had arrived. *Ting!* I turned on my kiasu mode! No, I didn’t dash like a mad woman but I ran slow and steady, hiding my own tiredness and moved by her, very swiftly. Well, I gotta do it in style! 100m apart, I let out a slow “Kah! Kah! Kah!”

Then I felt a piercing pain in my chest. I was so dehydrated. I started walking again and then there it was: the third and the last water station! Thank God! I think it was at the same place as the second water station or maybe the first. Yes, it was that far! A woman handed me a cup of water and I just had to be a bitch and said to her “Apasal jauh sangat?!” She just smiled. I didn’t expect to get an answer, anyway. I thanked her, nevertheless. I didn’t forget my manners despite how exhausted and upset I was.

I decided to just walk to enjoy every sip of the water. Heaven! I briefly chatted with a fellow runner and bitched about how far the last water station was. He totally agreed with me. And then he told me we were just about 200m away from the finish line. So, I told him, “Come! Let’s run then!” He told me to go ahead. I did. It sure felt longer than 200m to me. Then the same guy caught up with me. And towards the last 50m before the finish line, I brilliantly suggested to him, let’s sprint or (did I say let’s do the fartlek?) And we raced towards the finish line and we hi-fived immediately after we crossed it! Yippee Yay Yeay! I completed my first running race of 7.5km in (about) 45 minutes! I DID IT! *Clap*Clap*

Approximately 10 minutes later, K, arrived at the finish line. Wah! I actually beat my running mentor in my first ever running race! (Sorry, K, I had to mention it!) Now, where’s AL? I started to feel guilty for leaving her behind. Maybe she fainted or something, the thought was playing in my mind. 20 minutes later, I saw her at the finish line. Phew! Well done, sis! We then rewarded ourselves with a well-deserved breakfast at the mamak, together with N & AZ (who ‘disqualified’ themselves halfway through the race). And I had my roti canai. *Burp*

I wonder if being kiasu was the right attitude to have in a running race. I think I was just being kiasu to myself and not towards the other runners. I didn’t step on anyone’s foot (not literally). I set my personal aims (or targets!) and it was all about giving what I had to give in that moment and it did help me to work hard all the way to the finish line.

I wonder…if I would have the same attitude (and energy) for the race this Sunday. We shall see!