I was not keen to join this run at first. Why? Becoz of the very high fees (RM89 for 12km). I know that the high fees comes with a free sock (worth RM89), but then again, I think there should be an option for runners who don't want the free socks. I've got tons of socks & I guess I just don't need another one, no matter what brand.
But Rudy was selling his bib (again) & I told him I just want the bib & I'll pass the rest of the racekit to him. We agreed on a price, so I guess I'm running this race after all. Compressport is another of those compression wear brands, from Switzerland. Perhaps that was why their products are very, very expensive. They focus on the triathlon market. Their running shirt was often used by Mynic in their runs like Sehati Sejiwa & MyBuddies run. This year Mynic's gonna use Compressport again.
Racepack collection
The racepack collection was at DPulze Cyberjaya. After receiving the confirmation email from Rudy, I went to collect the kit on Friday. 1st of all I was quite surprised to see there was no timing chip on the bib. For a race this expensive, the absence of a timing chip is quite puzzling. If it was just some run by a charity organization then maybe we can accept. But this is a running event organized by runners & sponsored by a running product! I'm quite sure a lot of runners would agree with me.
We were given a Compressport string bag, the running vest & the socks. After seeing the goodies, I've to say that it was quite impressive. & I was already telling Rudy that I wanted to keep the whole kit! It turned out that the vest fits me although it was a size S! Not for running though, maybe for weight training.
The socks is pretty similar to Nike's run socks, but it was thicker. I tried it on during my tempo run on Friday & I liked it!. It matches my Newton Triracer, the shoes I was gonna use for this race.
But Rudy was selling his bib (again) & I told him I just want the bib & I'll pass the rest of the racekit to him. We agreed on a price, so I guess I'm running this race after all. Compressport is another of those compression wear brands, from Switzerland. Perhaps that was why their products are very, very expensive. They focus on the triathlon market. Their running shirt was often used by Mynic in their runs like Sehati Sejiwa & MyBuddies run. This year Mynic's gonna use Compressport again.
Racepack collection
We were given a Compressport string bag, the running vest & the socks. After seeing the goodies, I've to say that it was quite impressive. & I was already telling Rudy that I wanted to keep the whole kit! It turned out that the vest fits me although it was a size S! Not for running though, maybe for weight training.
The socks is pretty similar to Nike's run socks, but it was thicker. I tried it on during my tempo run on Friday & I liked it!. It matches my Newton Triracer, the shoes I was gonna use for this race.
Pre-raceThis week I was already starting the heavy phase of my weight training. This phase, while the exercise is the same as my endurance phase, takes more time becoz of the heavy weights used & I don't do it in supersets. Each session takes about 90 mins including warm up. So this week I was pretty tired. & I had to do a session on Saturday, the day before the race.
I decided to use Newton Triracer for this race, the 1st time I'ma use this shoes for racing. I'd intended to use the shoes as my short distance race shoes (12km or less). I'd wanted to use it during the 100 Plus last week, but I guess 15km is a bit too much for this shoes. & to compliment the color of the shoes, I decided to use my green Mizuno vest. Mean, green machine...
Start line
The 12km flag off was at 7:10am, quite late. So I went to the start line after Subuh prayers. I got to the start at 6:35 & I did my usual warm-up. I felt pretty heavy during the warm-up, I guess I was still pretty tired from yesterday's weight training. My right leg also was pretty sore. My target for this race was to clock sub-hour. But I guess with the way I felt, matching my PB of 1:05 would be good enough. I've studied the course & there's a long climb just 2km from the finish, right in front of MCMC's office.
The race
Flag off was right on time. The first 3km was downhill & I settled into a pretty fast tempo of 5:05. The 1st 5K was done in 26 mins, I was quite disappointed. I had targeted 25 mins. That means I had to push it up a bit in the 2nd 5K, if I were to achieve my target. But after the 2nd water station (6K) it was rolling up & down with 1 pretty difficult climb. I did the 2nd 5K in 27 mins.
By now I knew I can't get a sub-hour finish. So I just pushed as hard as I can, even on the long climb behind Shaftsbury Square. I did the last 2.2km in 5:13 average. Faster than my 1st 5K pace, but it wasn't enuff. I finished in 1:05:33 with an average pace of 5:22. Faster than my Natura Run. But this time I was prepared for a 12km race. I had this thought of not pushing hard enuff during the race. I guess I was just too careful in the 2nd 5km. My tempo was okay, but I was afraid to push. I've got to address this in training. I can't be afraid in racing. Being afraid shows that I didn't know my limits. My the kind of experience I had, this can't be the case.
I was too occupied in finding a rhythm, forgetting to push harder in later stages of the race. For 3-4 races already, I can't seem to break 25 mins for 5K. I dunno why. Maybe my speedwork needs to be faster. The way I was holding the pace, it was as if I was running 21K, instead of whatever distance I was racing. 10,12 or 15K should be faster than this. Although I was doing PB in those distances, I'm not happy.
Post race
There was so much goodies handed to runners at the finish line, my hands were full!. We were given a bottle of water, a bottle of Lucozade, coconut water, choice of nasi lemak or bun (I took the nasi lemak) & best of all: ice-cream cones! It was like shopping at a mini market!
I met my friends from RTM, who finished earlier than I did. Then I went to change my clothes & went back to the start & found Cikgu Syed Syco. I sat down & chat with him for quite a while. He was running after a long lay off due to a back injury.
My next race is gonna be the Larian Bomba. This is a compulsory event for me, annually. & this year I'ma run as veteran. I'ma take it easy next week & hope to be fresh for Larian Bomba.
Livestrong, run stronger.
The 12km flag off was at 7:10am, quite late. So I went to the start line after Subuh prayers. I got to the start at 6:35 & I did my usual warm-up. I felt pretty heavy during the warm-up, I guess I was still pretty tired from yesterday's weight training. My right leg also was pretty sore. My target for this race was to clock sub-hour. But I guess with the way I felt, matching my PB of 1:05 would be good enough. I've studied the course & there's a long climb just 2km from the finish, right in front of MCMC's office.
The race
Flag off was right on time. The first 3km was downhill & I settled into a pretty fast tempo of 5:05. The 1st 5K was done in 26 mins, I was quite disappointed. I had targeted 25 mins. That means I had to push it up a bit in the 2nd 5K, if I were to achieve my target. But after the 2nd water station (6K) it was rolling up & down with 1 pretty difficult climb. I did the 2nd 5K in 27 mins.
By now I knew I can't get a sub-hour finish. So I just pushed as hard as I can, even on the long climb behind Shaftsbury Square. I did the last 2.2km in 5:13 average. Faster than my 1st 5K pace, but it wasn't enuff. I finished in 1:05:33 with an average pace of 5:22. Faster than my Natura Run. But this time I was prepared for a 12km race. I had this thought of not pushing hard enuff during the race. I guess I was just too careful in the 2nd 5km. My tempo was okay, but I was afraid to push. I've got to address this in training. I can't be afraid in racing. Being afraid shows that I didn't know my limits. My the kind of experience I had, this can't be the case. I was too occupied in finding a rhythm, forgetting to push harder in later stages of the race. For 3-4 races already, I can't seem to break 25 mins for 5K. I dunno why. Maybe my speedwork needs to be faster. The way I was holding the pace, it was as if I was running 21K, instead of whatever distance I was racing. 10,12 or 15K should be faster than this. Although I was doing PB in those distances, I'm not happy.
Post race
I met my friends from RTM, who finished earlier than I did. Then I went to change my clothes & went back to the start & found Cikgu Syed Syco. I sat down & chat with him for quite a while. He was running after a long lay off due to a back injury.
My next race is gonna be the Larian Bomba. This is a compulsory event for me, annually. & this year I'ma run as veteran. I'ma take it easy next week & hope to be fresh for Larian Bomba.
Ratings
Route (Challenging, unique) : 5/5
Organizer (Overall organization of race) : 4/5
Runners welfare (Water station, pre & post race facilities) : 4/5
Goodie bag (Content) : 5/5
Race tee (Quality, aesthetics) : 4.5/5
Medal (Quality, aesthetics) : 4/5
My performance (execution of race plan, finishing time) : 3.5/5 (new 12K PB)Livestrong, run stronger.
No comments:
Post a Comment