Weekend - Race 5k & 8k ~ The Holmes's

Venue: Precint 4, putrajaya
Date: Saturday May 26th

R, H and I joined the running race last weekend. We hadn't planned at all earlier but since we found the race has no fee, we filled out the form online in the last minute on the last day of registration date May 15th.

Training?? No. I jogged a few minutes for two days within 2 weeks. I totally wasn't serious about it. In my head was just running for fun. Truthfully this is the first time 5k for me. I wish I had ran 5k in the US last time but I just ran 1 mile (1.6km) for a few times there. I absolutely had no idea running 5k in the hot weather here. This race was organized by Standard Chartered company and it called funrun 2012.

R and H competed 8k started the race at 8 am and mine will be at 8.15 am. So 8k runners ran first.

Photo from standard chartered funrun

When the organizer announced the 5k participants to get ready at the starting line, it was a jam-pack. Hell! I hate crowded, mixing with people that I never know where they were coming from. Observing faces of people around me hardly motivated me.

I was alone in a crush. About 3 minutes to 8.15 am I remembered I had no warm up. My stomach unexpectedly upset in the early morning made me rush to the portable toilet when we arrived the place. I ended up with a couple of stretching exercise before race. My fingers clenching together while thinking how do I gonna perform during the race. My plan was running slow without stop. It was weird when I didn't feel nervous like I felt at the race in the US.

I ran slowly when the race began. It was great sightseeing around putrajaya area especially crossing the bridge and watching how the people acting during race.

Some of them walking, running fast, tighting the shoe lace and talking. I definitely had fun running but one thing bothering me was the sunray directly started heating up the surface of the roads. It was hot at 8.30 am. I couldn't imagine I soaked up under the sun while running and the heat from the road really dehydrating me. I ran all the way until I hit the hilly part.

My body completely sweat, toasted and finally I decided to walk. A water station just right at the corner of the hilly part. Literally I had ran about 3km, I guess. Grabbing two cups of water certainly one for drink and another one ...I was thinking to pour water on my head but I worried my tshirt got wet so I poured it all over my face. I ran and walked altenately along the hilly area. Damn it! the hot weather and hilly road crazily challenged my mental to stop runnning.

Running down the hills was an easy part and I had to stop again when a lot of the runners were walking on the path in front of me. I saw R at the side of the road and he was looking for me. I bet he just finished his 8k race. Seeing him from far energizing me up to pass the runners. I ran faster when I saw the sign read "500 meters to go". He saw me and running with me. He was totally supportive to get me running to the end. We ran side by side. I love that moment. I couldn't say a word while he was saying I did it good. When I passed the bridge it was another 100 meters and I flew away to the finish line leaving him behind.

I felt really good after running. I couldn't believe it, I did it. I finished at 8.56 am. So I ran around 41 minutes for 5k.

I chilled out myself with 100 plus drinks and looking for R and H. I am glad that R and H finished the 8k race good and we took some picture together.