Event: Ipoh 7 Bridges Run 2017
Date: 30 July 2017
FO 21km : 4.00 a.m
2nd edition with the first time 21km distance
Was not in my calendar initially but added when the idea to run away from KL in July came into my mind when I planned the back to back challenge.It was planned to close the month with a traveling with my family as well as our weekend outing.
Did not have specific preparation or training for this and I was treating it more like a recovery run from the back to back HM runs at MHWH Night Run and PJHM a week before. I was only able to have one 15km run in the middle of the week and 5km run on Saturday morning before the event to build some fitness before arriving in Ipoh.
Started my journey from KL after doing some works at the officea and met someone for an appointment.Was not able to collect the race kit myself because of the appointment that I need to attend but I was glad to have a running friend Azis from Penang who helped me for that. Before leaving for Ipoh, I went to collect my race pack for the Semenyih Eco Trail Run 3.0 on 8 August the following week. I took it from him in the evening after I have arrived in Ipoh.
For the venue of the event, I know the location of Kinta Riverfront Hotel because I have stayed there before but I was not sure exactly how far it would be from my hotel this time, Cititel Express Ipoh.The Google map showed me it is about 1.6 km and that means most likely I need to drive to the venue.
I arrived at the hotel at about 5.30 p.m.After checking in at my room, I saw from the window that the venue is just a walking distance from the hotel. It was also nice when I bumped into quite many runners who stayed at the same hotel this time. Among them were also my running friends from KL and other states as well from the updates of their FB status.
I did not plan to tour the Ipoh City in the evening because I came with my wife and our 4 months old baby and his 3+years old brother. At about 6+p.m. I went out for while and just to see how the event venue look like while my wife and children were just resting at the hotel. However, nothing was there as I saw the front part of the hotel was still with normal traffic with moving and parked vehicles. I assumed they will prepare by the midnight. Over here I bumped into a friend from KL as well Ahmad Johan. Then we walked together to the convenient store nearby while having some chat going back to the same hotel that both of us stayed for the event.
I had a good sleep from about 10.00 p.m. and woke up at about 2.45 a.m. Left the hotel to walk to the venue at about 3.10 a.m. It was only a few minutes walked and when arrived at the venue, the crews were still installing the timing chip equipment at the starting line.
The arrangement for the event was the FO was at the in front of the hotel and the FL was at the other side of the Kinta River, about few hundred metres from the FO area. There were some runners already arrived and what truly surprised me was there were vehicles being parked exactly at one side of the FO area. I expected the FO area should be free from all vehicles and in the same time, some vehicles are still passing the area the crews were still working at the starting arch.
It looked like no traffic control and management at all at the FO area.Vehicles started not to enter the area when more runners arrived and some how left no more space to enter.
To add to my shock, I was told that there was no facilities provided for runners to keep their bag at the event venue. With the GPS watch, I did not plan to run with phone this time like I did during the last two events but luckily I brought my waist pouch to keep my phone with me. Also lucky because I did not bring my wallet as well in the small bag which I planned to keep it at the event venue.
This another basic requirement that the organiser must consider in the future.The luggage keeping facilities which is provided at almost all events I participated so far.
It looked like no traffic control and management at all at the FO area.Vehicles started not to enter the area when more runners arrived and some how left no more space to enter.
To add to my shock, I was told that there was no facilities provided for runners to keep their bag at the event venue. With the GPS watch, I did not plan to run with phone this time like I did during the last two events but luckily I brought my waist pouch to keep my phone with me. Also lucky because I did not bring my wallet as well in the small bag which I planned to keep it at the event venue.
This another basic requirement that the organiser must consider in the future.The luggage keeping facilities which is provided at almost all events I participated so far.
At the FO area I met Zul Hakimi who arrived long after me. Then I bumped into a friend for the first time face to face, Hafiz from Perak. He said he has been following me at the social media. Just before the FO I met Ismail Ahmad again from Penang. I met him for the first time at SCKLM in May and we became FB friend since then.
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| Zul Hakimi |
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| Hafiz |
The flag off was smooth and started slowly from the middle of the pack from the front pack runners.
I did anticipate the route would have plenty of hilly areas by with 7 bridges that need to dealt with by runners.
The first 1km was fairly flat surface.The funny thing was I forgot to start my run at my GPS watch until almost 1km.This may be due to the chat I had with other runner before the flag off.After all, I was still not truly familiar using the watch and this run was only the 3rd run I used it from the week before.
I felt good at the start and was able to maintain pace 5 for about 8km.With the early flag off, I did not have to stop for Subuh prayer because I was quite confident to finish my run early enough to pray after I reached the FL.
My initial personal goal was just run under the 2 hours 10 minutes and with pace that I ran at the first half, I believed I would be able to do it.
As I ran further, I started to realise that the anticipated hilly areas along the route were not as challenging as I would imagine. The elevation was not that much or tough because bridges that we need to overcome were just the mix of overhead and bypassing roads with some normal bridges crossing rivers within the city of Ipoh.
However, I still felt the route was still interesting to me especially when I was running for the first time in Ipoh.
My only concerns about the route throughout the run were about traffic control and lighting level that might have compromised the safety of runners.
I was also totally shocked to see the crews were totally not ready at the first WS where runners had to wait for them to unpack the cups and poured the water with no table provided yet.
There were some policemen controlling the traffic at major junctions and entranced/exits along the route but most of other part of the route were left with no safety cones and also with insufficient lighting.Crews on duties were also looked insufficient and not properly trained to control some moving vehicles seen at some stretches.
On top of that, all water stations were with insufficient lighting too and mostly in the dark.
My run was fairly comfortable until I entered the second half of the distance. That was the time and later the duration when my energy started to feel so little left to maintain the pace 5. My pace gradually dropped to pace 6 mostly and some pace 7 until I reached the finish line.
So, in short I decided not to push myself back to run faster and continued with that pace for the last half of my run.
It was simply because I had the believe that I still could get my targeted time.Thanks to the better pace that I had during the first half that allowed me have more relaxed run to the finish line.
I guess I knew why I could not push myself further but whatever the reason was, it did not hamper me to enjoy my first HM run in Ipoh.
I ran much slower at the last 2km and the last few hundred metres to the FL was the route along the Kinta River and we had to passed the hotel again. It was very shocking to see when runners were left to run in the dark from the moment we entered the road along the river with no crews at all to guide us.
Then suddenly I can see more busy crowd in the dark with very little light were waiting in front of me. I thought we were about getting closer to the FL but as I was getting closer and closer to the crowd, I heard the voice greeted me with congratulation for finishing the run. Only then I saw the finish line the arch and crews were ready to mark my bib and handed over the medal. I could not even see their faces clearly in the early morning darkness.
Then suddenly I can see more busy crowd in the dark with very little light were waiting in front of me. I thought we were about getting closer to the FL but as I was getting closer and closer to the crowd, I heard the voice greeted me with congratulation for finishing the run. Only then I saw the finish line the arch and crews were ready to mark my bib and handed over the medal. I could not even see their faces clearly in the early morning darkness.
Only after that and I arrived at the finishing area, things changed where I could see more people in much more lighted area.
We were welcomed with the counter get the finisher tee and followed by banana, plain water and toufu fa provided for all finishers.
We were welcomed with the counter get the finisher tee and followed by banana, plain water and toufu fa provided for all finishers.
The first person I met after the FL was Jansen Yong with one lady runner who ran with me for the last few km to the FL. Then I met some more familiar faces such as Abg Azman Ali who introduced me to his friends as well.
Then I quickly went for my Subuh prayer at the mobile surau provided by the organiser next to the same area.The mobile surau was quite nice and with enough items provided to perform the prayer.
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| Jansen |
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| Azman Ali and friend |
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| Ahmad Johan |
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| With fellow runners and 2:30 pacer |
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| Met with Azis again after he just finished. |
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| Ismail Ahmad |
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| With new friends.Runners from Ipoh. |
Then I bumped into bro Ashraf and it has been some time since the last time we met at a running event. Then I met another FB friend for the first time, Poksu Adie as well and I took photo with both of them.
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| Poksu Adie and bro Ashraf |
Then I mingled with some more friends and then I saw Kak Nora Hashim, my senior and ex-schoolmate and also the wife of bro Ashraf.
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| Bro Ashraf and Kak Nora the running couple. |
Not long after that I decided to make a move and returned to the hotel to have some rest before driving back home with my family. On my walk to leave the venue, I bumped with other regular running friends such as the speedy Dr. Adzyan and the popular Mohd Azmi@MA@GME.
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| Dr. Adzyan |
I took some more photos to end my memory at the event venue at the flag off arch.
The time recorded at my watch for my run was 2:06.However I knew it was for less than 21km and I need to wait for the official result to confirm whether I have achieved the under 2:10 or not.
The official result showed my actual time was exactly 2:10 and I am fairly satisfied with it for my first time participation in the event.
My overall comments about the event as a 21km runner...
Good points:
1. Nice route.
2. Nice arrangement after the finish line.
3. Nice designs n colours for event and finisher tees.
4. Nice venue with a lot of surrounding and nearby hotels for out station runners.
5. Nice and comfortable praying facilities for muslims.
Good points:
1. Nice route.
2. Nice arrangement after the finish line.
3. Nice designs n colours for event and finisher tees.
4. Nice venue with a lot of surrounding and nearby hotels for out station runners.
5. Nice and comfortable praying facilities for muslims.
Improvement needed
1. Clear the FO area from any parked vehicle.
2. To provide safety cones especially along the route at areas where not manned by traffic policemen or crews.
3. Prepare proper table at each water station.
4. Provide plain water and isotonic drink at each water station and after the finish line.
5. Traffic controls at dark areas especially when no safety cones available and there are moving public vehicles.
6. Provide km marker for each km.
7. Extend RPC to 8pm or 9pm on Saturday for outstation runners.
8. To have a warming up session such as zumba before the FO.
9. To have the photo booth with board instead of just hanging banner.
10. Prepare better lighting at each WS, main junctions and entrance to the finish line and at the finish line itself.
11. To provide wet sponge with cooled/ice water and not with warm water.
12. Provide the luggage keeping facilities for runners.
1. Clear the FO area from any parked vehicle.
2. To provide safety cones especially along the route at areas where not manned by traffic policemen or crews.
3. Prepare proper table at each water station.
4. Provide plain water and isotonic drink at each water station and after the finish line.
5. Traffic controls at dark areas especially when no safety cones available and there are moving public vehicles.
6. Provide km marker for each km.
7. Extend RPC to 8pm or 9pm on Saturday for outstation runners.
8. To have a warming up session such as zumba before the FO.
9. To have the photo booth with board instead of just hanging banner.
10. Prepare better lighting at each WS, main junctions and entrance to the finish line and at the finish line itself.
11. To provide wet sponge with cooled/ice water and not with warm water.
12. Provide the luggage keeping facilities for runners.
I would conclude the event is just as an average in the organising part and very interesting and fairly enjoyable for the route part.It was nice to run circulating the Ipoh City with the mix of old and new buildings, rivers and some green views too along the route. With the improvements for items that I highlighted above, it could become another must participate event for me and my family in our runcation trips plan for 2018.
Overall, it was another nice running trip and short weekend family outing for me. The Ipoh 7 Bridges Run ended my July challenge with the successful back to back night and morning half marathon at MHWH Night Run and PJHM respectively as another major accomplishment in my personal health and fitness regime.
Now, I can feel that running half marathon runs is no longer a difficult thing to do already as long as I keep myself healthy. On top of that, I believe at my age, to run a 21km distance consistently under the 2:30 is much more enough for me to do it to keep me healthy and fit for life.To be faster from what I have achieved now is no longer my main motivation to keep running to prepare myself for any event.It would more to ensure I can keep my runs comfortable, injuries and cramp free and etc where I do not have to suffer in pain or health problem to finish every run at any event.
Now, I can feel that running half marathon runs is no longer a difficult thing to do already as long as I keep myself healthy. On top of that, I believe at my age, to run a 21km distance consistently under the 2:30 is much more enough for me to do it to keep me healthy and fit for life.To be faster from what I have achieved now is no longer my main motivation to keep running to prepare myself for any event.It would more to ensure I can keep my runs comfortable, injuries and cramp free and etc where I do not have to suffer in pain or health problem to finish every run at any event.
" To stay healthy and fit, no excuses and just do it!"
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