COMPLETING MY DOUBLE FM CHALLENGE IN MARCH AT MIRI MARATHON 2018

Event: Miri Marathon 2018

Date :  18 March 2018

Venu: Miri Stadium

Category : FM Men Veteran

Bib Number : C-0780

Finally, the second FM event for my Sunday to Sunday double FM challenge arrived. Miri Marathon which is also the opening event for the Great Borneo Series(GBS) 2018 before Borneo Marathon in May and followed by Kuching Marathon in August. The arrangement for flight and hotel bookings already made at the end of last year for this Miri trip.

I arrived with only one 8km run after finishing the Pahang Marathon last Sunday. Honestly, still felt tired and I didn't think my body has truly recovered fully but that is the purpose of this self-created challenge. To see how my body to respond to the back to back FM runs. I also did not feel any pain or problems with my foot from my previous injuries and I concluded that I should be fit enough to finish another and achieved another personal goal in my running adventure.

THE ARRIVAL DAY
Went to Miri on Saturday alone but met my running friends once I arrived at KLIA2 who were on the same flight. Some of them were Hussien Mullar with his wife, Esther and Ibnu Omar. Esther told us her other friends Linda Zaini and Kak Su will join the event as well but will be on different flights. She and Linda will run their first ever FM this time at Miri.

With Hussien & wife and Esther at KLIA

Just after we landed at Miri, bumped into more of them from the same flight. Coincidently two of them, Nakata Meleha and TokLan HS booked the same hotel with me. So, we took the Uber from the airport and went to the RPC at Miri Indoor Stadium.

Landed at Miri with Esther, Nakata Meleha, Ibnu Omar and TokLan HS.

Arrived at the RPC venue early about 30 minutes. Took a rest while waiting.The RPC was smooth because I was among the earlier to enter the lane one it was opened. The arrangement was quite organised where runners entered at one entrance to the RPC counter along the properly fenced lane and then entered the booths for sponsors and other running stuff for runners to look and buy. There were also booths for Borneo and Kuching marathon for the registration.

At the RPC

From the RPC, we just noticed that the hotel is within less than 1.5km based on Google Map. So, we decided to walk to the hotel. Since it was still early to check in, we went to the shopping complex along the way and then we had our lunch.

Carboload #1 at Miri

After checking in, we had a rest at our room respectively and planned to have a walkabout in the evening.

From what I heard, Miri Marathon has a fairly flat route but with long distance for U-turn. Another big challenge is the sun will rise much earlier than in Peninsular Malaysia and runners can expect much hotter and also humid ambient much earlier as well.

I felt that when we landed at about 9a.m at the airport and the sunlight and temperature was already like during 12p.m. to 1.00 p.m. in KL.

So, I expected another tough run to finish but I was very positive that I will finish it. The only question left is with the COT at 7 hours, how long can I finish it. With just 3 minutes under 6 hours at Pahang Marathon, I knew it would be much tougher to beat that here. However, my goal was clear and I just wanted to avoid any drama along the route such as injuries or cramp.

After having another one round of meals in the early evening and joined by another friend Zaly Millipede who stayed in the same hotel.Then we had a walkabout from the hotel to the RPC venue. 

Joined by Zaly Millipede for the carboloading #2

I wanted to collect the race pack for a friend who missed his flight but unfortunately the RPC counter already closed when we arrived at almost 6.00 p.m. In between we took some photos at some landmarks and interesting spots in the city.

We had a look at the venue outside that stadium and we could see the preparation was still in progress but the FL arch has been fully installed there. We took photos there as well.

After that we walked back and stopped to buy some stuff along the way. I arrived at my room again at about few minutes before 8.00 p.m. Planned to sleep early and to wake up at about 12.00 a.m.

THE RACE DAY
From the hotel, we walked to the venue at about 1a.m from the hotel. The FO for FM at 2.00 a.m.

Met some more friends and made new friends at the FO area. Bumped into other regular running friends again from Peninsular at the FO area such as Azian Baharuddin, Zulhafizy and Nasa MK and also my Cassidy with his friends from Sarawak. Met a new friend from Kedah who used to be at 160kg Mohamad Fairuz and like me, stay running to keep himself healthy after losing his weight tremendously.

With Azian and my new friend from Kedah Mohamad Fairuz.

With my ultramarathoner friend,Nasa MK.

With Zulhafizy who was running at Pahang Marathon with me as well.

With Cassidy and his friends from Kuching.

Something unique was about the pacers. They were not with balloon like I often sees but with something like a hydrabag attached with standing bunting and long pole upwards. Almost all of us were wondering on how they are going to run comfortably with such thing. To me, they looked stylish and nicer with it although I was not sure about the convenience part as well.

Pacers with the no more balloon  to run with them

There was a short warm up session but I was just busy chatting with friends and taking photos after having my own warming up with some simple dynamic stretching workouts.

Did not have any timing target. I came to this event more with the excitement to run at Miri Marathon for the first time and to complete my double FM challenge.

Like last weekend in Pahang, the plan was just to stay at pace 6 as long as possible from the FO at then take it from there. I was just hoping that the foot and calf muscles pain not coming back this time.

MY RUN

The FO time was just about few seconds after 2.00 a.m. 

Waiting for the flag off

I did start my run at pace 6 from the start and felt very comfortable with my run for the first 3-4km and had a stop after that at a petrol station to pee. Here I took wudhuk as well to prepare for the Subuh prayer. A challenge to pray as well because I was told there won't be any mobile or praying facilities provided. Muslim runners had to find on their own any suitable place along the route such as at any masjid and petrol stations.

Then I was still able to maintain pace 6 until about 7km.Until that point, I still felt I can move on for few more km in pace 6 because I did not feel any pain at my lower body muscles.

However, my body said no. Towards reaching the 8km mark my body started to feel like losing its energy for me to stay at the same pace.

It just gradually slowing down and by the time I reached 10km, it showed the pace already dropped to 7. If at Pahang Marathon it started at about 19km, it happened earlier here in Miri.

Initially I was a little bit disappointed with my body because I felt like I have enough to recover from Pahang Marathon. I was also worried on how should I manage it because I was not even at 1/3 of the distance.

I quickly took my energy gel earlier than planned as well but it did not make much different after that.

I tried to push myself to maintain the pace 7 if possible after that but only lasted up to 15km.

This was the most crucial part of my run this time with my body already felt much weaker than I expected and with very little gas left despite my stops at all WS to refill myself with liquids on top of my energy gel. Mentally I was at the crossroad to choose to push myself further for the pace or just take as it is as my run progressed further.

This was also the time where I thought about sometime our body can disagree with our mind. For the first time after completing 5 FM runs, I suddenly felt worry whether I would be able to finish my run within the COT or not although the COT is for 7 hours because at 15km, I had passed the 2 hours mark at about 2:20 which I had never did before. With the expected a very hot and humid weather once the sun has risen with the heat from it light at the last 10-12km, I felt so nervous.

That led me to just carry on and just forget about anything other than finishing my run. I knew at that moment that I would be very much slower for the more than half remaining distance left but at least I must avoid other potential problems such as injuries and cramp as well.

My worry if I push myself too much because of the weakened body, I did not know what may happen and how to manage it. So, the following km, I did not think at all about the pace and just look at the total time when I reached every additional km.

One more thing is about my HP. Forgot to get it charged before I slept a night before and only realized that it was only about at 60% just before I left the hotel to the venue. So, after taking photos at the FO, I switched off my phone just before the FO to save the battery. I did plan to take photos along the route since this is my first experience running in this event and also in Miri. So, when I started to lose my pace from the 8km, at least I did not hear the audio indication from my phone about my ongoing pace unless I look at my watch. Mentally, it made the situation less disturbing to me.

After the 15km, I started to adopt the slow run and walk strategy to keep myself moving. I reached the 21km marker at about 2:40 and this was the time I switched on my phone again to take photos at that point. For FM route, the distance before reaching the 21km and 22km was the time runners had to pass the FO area again. When I was reaching here at the 21km, I heard the announcement from the FL area that the second finisher for FM was arriving. In the same time, also heard the emcees were talking to HM runners who will be flagged of at 5.00 a.m.

To pass the FO area again reminded me about the route at Twincity in January where we had to pass it at about 30km mark.

Although with the 2:40 at 21km was still quite alright timing to me but I was still worry because my body was getting weaker and weaker since the 15km.

Then between 22km and 23km, FM runners joined by HM runners in a big wave of much faster runners coming from behind us who were just flagged off. Here, I bumped into one runner that had been exchanging position with me few times earlier who looked in pain while walking slowly. I asked him when I was passing him and he told me that he felt like to have a cramp. I gave him one salt stich when he told me that he had none with the hope he still can avoid it. He also said he is from Miri and joined the event last year as well. Before I slowly left him behind me, he did remind about the uphill road just more km after that.

Not long after that, I heard the Azan and I started to find a suitable spot to pray. Found one spot just next to parking lot on the left side of the road. After the Subuh prayer, felt refreshed a little bit and I was able to restart with slow run until the 25km. By this time, we were literally running together with much bigger crowd with HM runners. Most of them were running and positively and naturally, it created the atmosphere and motivation for me to continue running. Stopped and took photo and recorded a short video at the 25km marker at about 3:50 time. With another 17km left, that timing really made me more nervous because I knew that I would not be able to be faster anymore after that.

Finally, FM runners arrived at the uphill road just after the U-turn marker for 10km distance route. It was a long climb to runners for FM and HM and most of us were just walking to pass the 26km distance and followed by the downhill to reach the 27km. While walking at the uphill, I started to see some runners running from the opposite direction and that indicated there will a U-turn waiting for runners after that. The only question in my mind was only about how much further for me to carry to reach it.

During the downhill I was able to run slowly with the intention to make up some time that may help me later to finish within the COT. I had a chat while walking again after that with one guy. Before he started running again and left me with my walk, he did mention about the U-turn that is quite a distance from that point. It was very demoralizing for me physically and mentally for me to hear that but I could only smile to him when we said that.

However, one thing quite obvious this time to compare with what happened at Pahang Marathon was about the muscle conditions of my calf and foot. This time I did not have the problem of the pain at my calf and the top of my foot. That allowed me to walk and run (although much slower this time) in much more comfortable way than the last Sunday in Pahang.

At this point, I also had the thought about the effects of the lower total km in the build-up to this double FM challenge. It took its toll at Pahang Marathon and I was feeling it more of the consequences at Miri Marathon. Despite having some disappointment within me personally, I tried to remain calm and positive to stay on the route and then finish my run.

The route after the 27km was mentally more challenging or in a better word is torturing. This was because I could see more and more runners were running against my direction from the other side of the road. In the same time, for every km that I have passed, I still could see any sign of the U-turn in front of me. Along this stretch, the surrounding started to become more bright as well with the sun was slowly rising higher on top of us.

I continued to run and walk along this stretch and impatiently to see where is the U-turn. Along the way I chatted with few more runners who walked and ran with me. Reached the 30km mark along this road at about 4:16. It means I had another less than 2-hour to finish the remaining 12km. On my normal FM run, that looks quite easy but I did not feel the same this time with my pace has already dropped into the mixed of 8-12 from the 15km. The only thing that made me felt still relieved was because my calf and top of my foot muscles did not harden as what happened to me last Sunday at Kuantan.

Finally, after that very long wait I saw the spot for the U-turn in front of me from the 27km mark to reach it just before the 32km mark. I stopped at the U-turn signage, took photo and also made a short video. Unfortunately, just after I made the U-turn, the battery for my phone totally gone and my phone switched off when I wanted to take a photo with a friend Nasa MK who just arrived from behind me. I ran with him for a while but later I just could not stay with his pace and saw him disappear from my sight slowly.

From the 32km was another long distance with the slower pace that was able to continue to run and walk before reaching the uphill area again b. What made me feel a little better was since the HM runners joined us at the route, the surrounding along the route was livelier with more crowd. At this stage, generally I can quickly identify among them who are FM runners and who are HM runners and most I saw running were HM runners.

This is another interesting part in all running events. Along the route we can see plenty of characters and expressions on how runners behave and manage themselves to finish their run.

After crossing the 33km, despite feeling so exhausted to continue under the scorching hot sun, I still felt relieved because I did not face other troubles with my body.

Along the way, my mind I had the opportunity to relook and reflect on what I was trying to do and I have achieved with the double FM challenge so far. The fact is, I have nothing to proof to myself and the attempt has been purely out of curiosity whether how far my body and mental can stand with it. Up to that moments, I felt alright because it did not do any harm to me at all and the only challenge is to manage my body to sustain the health and fitness level to finish it.

After crossing the 35km, I was very sure that I will finish my FM run above 6 hours for the first time. However, I was more confident than at the earlier stage for me to finish it within the COT.

I knew that I would be slower at this run compare to at Pahang Marathon and the only question left was how slow and how my body will respond to the weekend to weekend FM runs.

By the time to reach the uphill area again between the 36km and 37 km, the sun has fully arisen and I started to feel the heat from the sunlight and much more humid ambient. However, with the trees along the roadside, the sunlight still not fully hit my body directly. From the downhill after that, I was still able to run slowly but just after that, there was nothing to prevent the sunlight to heat all runners on the road and the ambient was already about similar to 12p.m. noon in KL. It was very hot and luckily, I was wearing my running cap to protect my head a little bit from the direct sunlight.

At this area also, I bumped one guy and started to have a chat. He was running a HM and also has been running and walking like I did since the few km before that. He is Roslie Rasit from Brunei and working with Royal Air Brunei. After that short chat, he started running and left me slowly behind.

Towards reaching the 39km, the route was already heading to the city centre again and then to the FL. At this stage, the ambient has become hotter and most runners were seen just walking along the road.

In between the 39km and 40km, I bumped into another FM runner and I started a chat with while we were walking along the road to the FL.

His name is Nicholas and was running his first FM. He is also a young entrepreneur from Kuching and flew to Miri just to join the event.

My new friends Nicholas from Kuching and Roslie from Brunei.

At this point, I felt I could not push myself to run anymore because I started to feel the initial sign to cramp at my right calf muscle. So, I just decided to walk until I reach the FL to avoid any trouble due to cramp or other potential injuries to my muscle if I push it further and harder.

After crossing the 40km mark, Roslie joined us again and three of us started to walk together and had nice chat along the way. Roslie is a father of two teenagers at 42 years old and Nicholas is still a bachelor at 28 years old.

We chatted about so many things from family, career and exchanging stories and opinions about the current issues and future of our own country.

At one point during the walk with my new friends, I suddenly spotted another lady runner who is a good friend of Esther and Linda, Kak Su. She was just walking to finish her HM run as well. We had a short chat and when I asked where were Esther and Linda, she told me that both had finished their run. I was amazed to hear that because both finished their first ever FM run in a very strongly under 6 hours.

After that, I rejoined Roslie and Nicholas to continue our walk and chatting. We became Facebook friends instantly during that walk as well and Nicholas promised to tag our wefie photos that we took together under the hot sun to the FL.

We enjoyed walking together to the FL!

Along the last 1km, we walked through the road that also passing the hotel that I stayed and there were some cheering crowd along the road as well.

The excitement to see the photographer at the last 1km to the FL

In less than 500m to the FL and after the last roundabout that runners have to pass, we started to hear the cheering noise and voice of emcees from the FL area. I ran slowly with Nicholas and Roslie continued to walk. In less than 100m from the FL, I heard the voice of Zaly called me and saw him snapping my photos. I looked like Zaly has finished his HM run quite early.

Photos by Zaly Millipede while I was closing to reach the FL.

It was not that too many crowd seen when I was running slowly to the FL but there were more people seen than at Pahang Marathon.

Something different at the FL was the clock at the arch. Instead of showing the running time, it indicated the actual clock time and as I was approaching it, it was about to reach the 8.30 a.m.Finally I crossed the FL at 8.29 a.m. and clocked 6:29 for my 6^th FM run, the 3^rd for 2018 and the first in the GBS. My personal worst FM timing so but it does not matter to me because the best part of all that, I avoided any drama along the route due to cramp and other new injuries.

Whoaahhh!!! I did it again! Felt so awesome about what I have achieved personally. I was able to overcome all the challenges from the build-up after the Twincity until I crossed the FL despite the not so ideal preparation to complete this double FM challenge as planned in March.

After collecting my medal and finisher tee, I bumped in Nicholas again and he helped to snap my photos with his phone at the FL with my medal and then I took his photos. Then we went to different spots at the FO area and both of us hoping to meet again at Kuching Marathon in August.

Then, I walked to meet Zaly at the spot where I saw him before that. He was still there and we stayed there to wait for Nakata Meleha and TokLan HS. Not long after that, we saw Nakata arrived and later Ibnu Omar who ran with sandal to the FL and all of them finished within the COT but Ibnu Omar just barely made it. Also saw Tharmendran finished his FM run here although he was not wearing any unique costume this time like he always did at events.

Good to see Nakata finished with no injuries or pain as well although he was just recovered from an injury. It was quite unfortunate as well when TokLan HS was not able to finish his run within the COT because he suffered pretty bad blister at this foot from the very early stage of his run this time. Despite that, his courage not to give and finish the run is still very admirable and inspiring to me. To me all of us were winners that day once each of us crossed the finish line.

After we took some more photos at the FL arch and photo booth, we walked together to the hotel. During the walk we met two veteran runners who just finished their run as well. One of them is more than 60 years old and finished his FM run that day under 6 hours. Respect and very inspirational! Once we reached the shopping complex, I decided to return straight to the hotel while three of them went to the complex to have some meals. I just felt too tired and needed the rest before flying back home in the evening while they will fly back to KL on Monday.

The uncle in white finisher tee is more 60 years old and ran under 6 hours.

I stopped at the convenient store on my way back to the hotel and bought something light to eat. Rested at the hotel and woke up at about 1.00 p.m. and packed my stuff to check out and to have my lunch before leaving to the airport.

About to leave Miri

It was very fortunate when I arrived at the food court nearby the hotel I met Zulhafizy with his friends who were having their lunch. Another nice coincidence was, he and another friend Haqeem were on the same flight with me to return home. So, I joined them for lunch and then took an Uber Cab to go the airport together with another friend Nazirul who was on the later flight in the evening.

To fly back home

THE EVENT

RPC

The RPC was smooth since I was among the earliest to reach the RPC venue on Saturday.

FO AND FL AREAS

A little bit disappointed because it was not in the Miri Stadium like the last edition as told by my friend. The FO and the FL were at separate locations but within less than 500m. Honestly, I prefer in the stadium like at Borneo International Marathon that I joined last year because it gave me different ambient and felt more special and unique experience to finish the run.

However, the arrangement for the FO and FL quite ok to me with not so congested for the FO and later after we finished our run. One thing which

I did not expect was the snack/meal for runners were finished when I arrived to get mine where only bottled mineral water left.

Iced treatment facility at one of the tents was also provided for runners after the FL.

WS AND SUPPLIES

No complaint at all about it. The WS provided for every 2.5km if I am not mistaken and more were available at the last 4km of the route. At each WS, at least plain water was provided mixed with WS that also provided isotonic drink, wet sponge with cold water and packed ice. Two WS provided energy gel as well.

For most of the WS at the second half of the distance, medic crews were provided and ready with the muscle spray for runners.

After the second half of the route between the 27km and 33km, there were water showers provided for runners as well. I am not sure how many but more than two showers.

There was one stop of water station but I believe was not the official one provided by the organizer but by just a group of volunteers who wanted to support runners at the event. The provided banana, plain water and coke for runners to have at after the 25km if I am not mistaken. Thank you, guys,

TRAFFIC CREWS AND CONTROL

Not perfect but almost to reach that level to me. There were crews with bicycle, motorcycles and cars see manning the route all the way although the number become less and less to be seen after the second half of the route. Most of the time, there were traffic crews along the way to control the moving vehicles to stay on the right and reminded runners to stay on the left side and in the left lane of the road. For main junctions and at traffic lights, there were enough police traffic personnel seen controlling the traffic for runners.

For some stretches that have no street lamps and very dark, there were crews with the bicycle provided with the headlight to assist runners to see the direction. There were also 4WD vehicles parked at some spot to provide additional light for runners to have more visibility for the first half of the route during the wee hours.

In short, I have little to complaint about traffic because I felt that safety have been on the road was quite well taken care by the organizer throughout the run.

MEDAL AND FINISHER TEE

Different color of medal and finisher tee for HM and FM categories.

I am happy with the design for both the medal and finisher that I received here. It looks awesome with the gold colored medal for FM finisher tee.

 FINAL WORDS

I must say that the event was beyond my expectation in term of how smooth it was organized from the RPC until I left the venue. It is definitely an event that I will recommend others to join and to have the interesting and challenging experience to conquer a FM run in Miri.

On top of that, I completed my first event FM run in Sarawak and successfully achieved my personal goal to finish the back to back FM challenge in March. The best part of it, despite having to deal with some injuries during the build-up to it, I did not have any new injury after the finish of both runs.

Alhamdulillah. Another accomplishment resulted from the healthy lifestyle.

A lot of lessons learned physically, mentally and also spiritually. Sometime we can be surprised with what we can do and achieve when the body is healthy in life.

"Everything is impossible until you make the decision, prepare and try it but understand and respect your limits in the same time"

Every runner was once a beginner.
Every marathoner was also a dreamer.
Every finisher is a winner.
Every try and failure is the lesson and stepping stone to be better.

Could only finish this note today, 22 March due to my busy schedule at work after returning from Miri.

Next...
Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2018 in 8 April and I will be one of the 10,000 FM runners to run in the 10th edition of the event.

See you there again....In sha Allah.