make way for marathon virgin

i still remember my 1st run. it was 9km run for Orange Run organized by BHP, back in 2008. from there on, i never stop. one after another run i joined for the excitement of collecting running vests and medals. it was the usual 10km run, upgraded to 15km run, until i started running 21km beginning this year.

the ups and downs of the runs are shared with my buddies. met/make new friends also along the way. ok dah takyah emosi

when the registration for Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) opens, me and akzam decided to register for Full Marathon (FM). its 42.195km, twice the half marathon. akzam said, if we don't register for it, we will never do it.  so the tak bersungguh-sungguh training began. registered and ran for 2 running events every month since after raya. bootcamp, running bootcamp and own training (sikit aje). 

4 dec, the FM day is finally here! went to Singapore on saturday, collected race pack and i said by tomorrow im a marathoner!! since it is my 1st FM, i just wanna finish the race, either running or crawling.  secretly i was aiming for 6:30 but wasn't possible coz i hit the wall at 34km.

the race starts at 5am, flag off from Orchard Road.  there were 20,000 runners for FM category. it was jam packed until 6km mark it finally ease off. i was pacing slow, managing at 7-8km per hour. when i enter ECP, i know its going to be the longest 20km run along the beach. it was boring, a lot of runner started walking. there were not many distance markers along ECP. i don't know how far i have run, how far i have to go. as soon as i enter the ECP, the sun is up and expected to be roasted anytime soon.

as soon as i see the bright spot light at the end of the route, i know im at 21km, the u-turn. 3:11 at 21km. not bad for a busted knees runner ahaha. i keep on pacing although i know its getting slower. I MUST REACH 30KM AT 5hrs. anddddd I DID! stop for a bit to eat banana. 10min later, continue running.

i read online, many people hit the wall at 30km. the legs are tired and at this point where muscle rub,  energy gels never seem to work. but luckily i was still pacing. but after 30km, its already 10am, and the sun was blazing hot. i was dehydrated and the next water station seem so far away! my pace is getting slower and slower. after the water station at 33km, i started walking. my knees were ok. but my tapak kaki is membunuh punya perit. dang it. another 9km to go!

i decided not to exert myself takut mati di tengah jalan, so i walked. walked lenggang kangkung. texted adie and bikjah along the way. im fine im fine im fine. since it was so blazing hot, i know i am roasted under the sun. a lot of runners have taken off their tees. seriously kalau ada orang telanjang pun mungkin takda siapa peduli. 

final 4km! lebih terasa nak pengsan. i cried along the way. mom called and asked whether i have finished. i keep telling myself that i can do this. almost there. akzam is waiting for me at the finishing line. kesian dia dah siap lari 6jam, kena tunggu kura-kura ini habis lari hehe. for all i know, i have another 500m to go. this is when i started running again..because there's a lot a cameras coming towards the finishing line! hehe camwhore tegar. lap air mata dan lariiiii!

so i did it. 42.195km in 7hr51min. timing tak bagus mana but i finished it! avoiding sweeper bus. itu lagi tak bermaruah. thanks for all the support i received...i love you all!!

the route

discover rocktape. muscle taping rocks!

walking towards start line. jam packed with runners

Pace band. rip these off when i hit the wall

marina bay & singapore flyer

I DID IT!

BANGGA!

i have probably ran 300km this year. mak aih. time to get new shoes. :) :)

the marathoner, 

Oimira :D