NOTES FROM IDOL CHARITY RUN UKM 2017

IDOL CHARITY RUN 2017
DATE: 25 March 2017
Venue: Panggung Seni,DECTAR UKM Bangi
Organiser: Kolej Burhanuddin Helmi, UKM

Joined this event with mainly because both of us graduated from UKM and I used to stay in Kolej Burhanuddin Helmi for 2 years.It has been always in my calendar to run at least one event at UKM every year and for 2017, this was the one unless there will be other interesting events this year.

My goal for this event was just as one of the runs for me to build up for my double FM runs in May.After two out station runs in the last two weekends, this Idol Charity Run was supposed to add the km that I will achieve my for weekly km target for at least 20km after my 7km recovery run at KL on last Wednesday and 6km on Friday morning.

Did not expect too much in term of the organising of the event because the experience at UKM Victory Run by Kolej Tun Hussein Onn last year was not the good.It was really like "student level" event last year where they clearly wanted to show that they are just students and could not do any better.

Arrived at the FO area at about 6.30 a.m with my wife.Later joined by other running friends Alif James, Aznizan and Abg Shahrim.Then I performed about 10 minutes warming up workouts with my wife nearby the FO area.

With my super senior from UKM, Abg Shahrim.Both of us are MUFC fans.

Before the flag off

The FO area looked OK with the Start/Finish Arch was already there.Glad to know that they provided timing chip for 12km fit run category but not for a typical 5km fun run category.As expected I did not see that many runners and my eyes told me there were only few hundreds of th from all categories.

The FO was done just slightly few minutes late. Managed to squeeze myself among the front row crowd.

Seconds before the flag off.

I started my run in a fairly relax manner until I was caught by surprised when I saw we were ushered by the traffic policeman on a bike to leave UKM area through the main entrance at the junction with the traffic light.
It was me who did not have a good look at the 12km route map provided at the FB page by the organiser.I thought the route only to circulate within the main campus area like two previous events that I joined at UKM.However the idea to run outside the campus was not bad either and still made me exciting as we were running towards Bandar Baru Bangi.

On the first 1km,I managed to position myself among the top 10 front runners.There was only one category for 12km men which was men open and that meant I was running among much younger runners who were mostly students in the same category.

I overtook Alif just before reaching the 1km mark and gradually gaining my momentum after that.I still could hear the NRC indicated me that I was running at the pace 4 for the first 2km but could not hear all notifications clearly after that due to the noisy traffic along the route.

Running within the Bandar Baru Bangi was not strange to me since I have joined MPKj runs twice before but what truly scared me was there was very minimal traffic control along the busy road by the organiser.Traffic policemen and crews were only seen manning runners at main junctions and roundabout.

No safety cones at all seen at all along the route and runners had to really careful to seen vehicles that coming from the front and at am some areas vehicles that coming from their back.To me almost the whole portion of the route circulating some parts of Bandar Baru Bangi was truly very risky exercise where vehicles were driven in fairly high speed expecially at the long and downhill stretch of the road.

I saw mostly lady crews were stationed at some exit routes and junctions along the route but all of them position themselves after runners have passed each exit road point and junction and not ushering or showing direction to runners.It showed they were not told what they were supposed to do other than just being stationed there.

This is something that truly need to be addressed seriously by any organiser especially by students because safety risks along the route that faced by runners are the responsibility of the organiser to take all precautionary measures.It must not be taken lightly regardless of the event is for charity or commercial and  organised by students or professionals/organisations.

After 3km distance covered,I believed I was still within the top 20 runners and I have managed to gain my comfortable pace and dealing with some uphill and downhill stretches along the route felt very relaxing and enjoyable.

3 water stations were provided and that was sufficient for a 12km distance.I had a nice chat with one younger runner after the 5km before he slowly disappeared from my sight about 1km plus after that.

The 12km route covered almost 90% of outside UKM campus area and returned to the campus through the same point and later to finish the remaining few hundred metres along the Chancellary building, Kolej Dato  Onn, Kolej Tun Hussein Onn and ended through a downhill towards the finish line.I still felt so much gas left and did my final sprint about 400 metres to the FL and then stopped my NRC that clocked 1 hour 5 minutes for my run.So glad to regain my normal average pace 5 for short distance runs lately after "losing" it since I finished my first FM in January.

I saw Alif finished just behind me this time and I did not realise that he has been running very close behind me after I overtook him at the early stage of the run.

After collecting my medal and other stuff, I looked for a spot near the FL to wait for my wife and my other friends.

With Alif after we reached the FL.

While waiting for my wife, I had a nice chat with one guy who was waiting for his daughter to finish a 5km fun run.
Then I saw my old friend from the same batch and faculty Sukri arrived to finish a 5km run.We often communicating via FB but this time it was a little bit interesting to meet again face to face at a running event at our 40s.We took photos together and he told me he ran about 3-4 5km at events lately and will join a 10km run in SCKLM 2017.Glad to know one more friend at my age has started  running as one way to stay healthy.

With my old friend Sukri at the finish line.

Not long after that,my wife called me and she has already crossed the FL.Glad to see her running again after being very occupied lately with her works at the school. She told me that when she arrived at the water station for the 5km route, cups were not ready and could not stop to drink.That was another low point of the event other than the traffic control at the 12km route.
She finished her run in a fairly good time at her standard at about 55 minutes over the 5km.
Then we took some photos at the FL area to mark our 3rd participation of running events at UKM since last year.

Her happy faces after the run.

Next was my  favourite part again.Waiting for other friends to finish their run then taking photos together.Glad to see all of them also finished their run comfortably.

With Alif and Aznizan.

My meal to refuel myself after the run.Nasi kukus ayam kampung!

The official result was made available online in the evening on the same day.I am so glad to record a new PB for a 12km run from the previous 12km run at AXA Hearts in Action Run at Cyberjaya in September 2016.

It came as a bonus since I did not have any specific target for this event.However I do believe the time that I spent to fully recovered from the back to back weekends out station runs at PIM and ASHM really helped my body especially my legs to feel fresh and comfortable again to have a good run.

Other than two key points that I mentioned earlier, the event was fairly smooth until I left the venue at about 9a.m.

Next...17km Hulu Langat Trail Run 2017 on 2 April.My favourite trail run for me to have another good run while enjoying the off road challenges surrounded with the green natural environment.