SCKLM - The Loooong Run

Place - Bukit Rimau, KK and Kemuning Utama
Distance - 42.2 km
Time taken - 4:40:25 (At least I have an easier target time to beat for PR in KLIM)
Time - 6.00 am
Date - 30 May 2009
Weather - Beautiful with a refreshing breeze and cloudy....until 9.45am.
The plan - to try completing the full distance, regardless of time.

I had this run on the books for this week and was originally planning to do it on Sunday. However, with a special trip planned for the kids, I decided to give my Saturday golf a skip to this round.

Not a good idea. I came back from Singapore at 9.30pm and didn't really get a good night's sleep, probably only about 4 hours.

I was up by 5am to go through rituals of preparation with the food, drink, plasters and what have you not. I prepared 2 750ml bottles of 1 can Red bull + 1 can of 100 Plus each and filled them up to the brim. I'm not a big fan of 100 plus due to the gas but that was what we had at home.

I was feeling pretty sluggish but I was more or less running on auto to just try and do the run. Priority was not too get injured and not to suffer cramps. The one I suffered last Sunday, coupled with the slight sprain took almost the whole week to recover. Even now, there was a slight soreness.

With procrastination taking precedence, I only managed to step out and start my run by 6am.

By the first 2km, I got all the kinks worked out, especially on my right achilles tendon. I added the loop around the Kota Permai golf clubhouse to get the mileage up by the time I got back to the house.

By 10km, I completed the 2 loops around the lake, with an eye out for those "missing" tiles (once bitten, twice shy).

As it was a Saturday, traffic was much heavier compared to Sundays. I had to keep in mind not to get mowed down by maniacal motorists.

I completed the first 20km in good time (within the 2 hours target). I finished the gel pack by 21km mark and felt pretty good at that point.

After passing Chung Hwa primary school, some fatigue was beginning to settle in. Some doubt on whether I could complete the 42km crept up as some pain was developing in my ankles, especially the right.

By the time I reached back home to get my refill, the fatigue level was rising quicly. I finished the 2nd gel by 32km and was falling back to the power bar just in case I needed it.

After 35km, it went all wrong. Pain was developing everywhere and twinges of cramping were coming on more frequently. By 37km, I was already walking more than running and it was more of a mental battle by then.

The suffering went down a notch when I walked and jumped up 2 notches when I started running again. The last 5 km was probably the slowest I've ran since a year back. Come to think of it, they were probably the slowest 5km I did EVER!!

With the last 500m closing in, I hobble, shuffled and finally jogged to complete the distance. I was satisfied that I did it, although the time was way below expectations.

The real suffering began after reaching home. I tried very carefully not to maneuver, bend over or make any sudden move that may result in a cramp (that's what happened last week). With 2 ice cold 100 plus in the fridge and my wife having prepared ice in the freezer, I spent a good 20 minutes soaking my feet and gulping down the cans of 100 plus. For good measure, I took rehydration salts with 2 cups of water.

I made a point to weigh myself and I lost about 3kg in water and what have you not for that run.

Guess all of that worked as I didn't suffer any headache or light headedness, and at this point, after 2 hours of completing this run, still feel pretty good.

I'll probably be a sotong for the rest of the day. I can only thank my wife for supporting me with this "habit" and take care of things for today.

From now until the BIG day, I've only have 1 more long run which I plan to do with der Pacemakers on 13th June.

Looking forward to next week's KPAC half marathon. Not sure whether I should take it as a race for PR or just part of marathon's training...hmmmm

From this day onward, I'm a self certified masochist...er (unofficial) marathon runner