Standard Chartered - Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2010

Finally, after a short preparation for this event, me and my friend, managed to finished it! We tasted the 10km of sweat, a bit of tears and foot blisters of my 4th marathon to date.

Its a fine morning.. a rainy, but fine morning. Good thing, the rain finished before we started our race. I just pity all those who join the 42KM run since the rain was on its mids when they started.

We arrived at the venue around 6am from my friend's house. The atmosphere is so intense when we reach there. There are lots of participants, from 21 and 10 Kilometers who are busy stretching and doing their pre-marathon routines. I just watch them and enjoy the moment. In my mind I say, "This is it, I'm not a newbie anymore.. I will surely love this!" Though my stomach and bladder isn't say so. They are nervous, nervous that I felt some butterfly in it and my bladder told me to go and search for a comfort room!

It was 6:52 when Me and my friends decided to queue on the starting area and condition our mind for the run. I was busy listening to David Cook's "The Time Of My Life" (not the "Dirty Dancing" theme, but the song he sang as his Final Song in American Idol) when the announcement was given for the race to start.

There are so many 10Km participants that it took us 2 minutes before we cross the starting line and record my starting time using our D-Tag attached on my left shoelace.

Run...

... Walk!

Run...

... Walk...

... was my technique earlier. I don't want to force my left foot which is still recovering from the sprain I got from the Badminton tournament last time. I am expecting to finish the race at an hour and 20 minutes, 20 minutes shy from my time on the last Marathon in Cyberjaya.

Its still early and here we was, watching the busy road of Kuala Lumpur while running. I'm counting if we are near to the finish line.. it looks like forever for me. I'm not aware of what song I'm listening to, or what song I have listen on my iPod anymore, I'm busy thinking where was my friends? Where was that drinking station after 4Km, isn't it 4km yet? Yep! 4000 meters and I'm already thought those things.. so Imagine what more did I think for the last 6km of the run!

Familiar places... KL Sentral, Indian Town, Police Station and now Jalan Sayed Putra. Finally, I saw the drinking station, and like the others who are thirsty, I queued and get my two cups of 100 plus from the table. I saw 4 portable toilet on the route but ignore to pee..

My run continue...

KL Railway station. I thought we are already near to the finish line because I haven't notice any "Mark Sign". I check my phone just to be surprised, 39 minutes? It's already 39 minutes.. I calculated 3 minutes more and I will reach the finish line.. that was fast.. what happen??? My mind was set that I am already near.. but it was a mistake! I haven't remember that we will cross the back of the KL Station twice as stated on the 10km map.

We turn left going to the Lake Garden, its an inclined area and it adds the burdens on us, runners. Most of us just walk and started to run again after we reached Jalan Cenderawasih and Jalan Parlimen.

It was in the last 2km to 2.5km when I noticed a commotion ahead me. It was, I think, in Jalan Raja Laut before Sogo Mall. Though still far, I saw a man lying on the side of the road, surrounded by some of his friend (I think). Some of them was shouting.. Mani! Mani! Mani! Many or Manie, I don't know what word they calling. Then all of the sudden I felt nervous, I thought that man lying there was my friend Manny who got separated from me earlier in the race. it was about 40 meters when I heard them clearly.. they are calling for Medics! Maybe their friends need someone who have oxygen... in my iPod, Regine Velasquez is singing "Babalik Kang Muli".

I passed near the group to check if its my friend.. Good Heaven, I thought... it's not him! Then my eyes got wet... Yes I cried! I felt sad about what happen on the guy there while listening to the sad music.. thinking, how if its me lying there? Or my friends? What will happen?

I pray that he would be okay.

I continue...

It's my final Kilometer, I saw the tents made by the organizers. I am near the finish line.. and this time, it's for real! My clock says, I been running for an hour and 15minutes, 5 minutes more! There are lots of people cheering for their friends, family and loveones. Other are just watching the event. Gathering pictures of the runners along the way.. and now my final steps! I crossed the Ark with a big happy letters "FINISH".

And everything are a very very sweet experience!