I feel blessed and I feel grateful.
I feel much happier and definitely I am enjoying more of my life now.
My health and fitness transformation has reached the level where I personally difficult to believe it.It was something I thought is impossible.
My health and fitness transformation has reached the level where I personally difficult to believe it.It was something I thought is impossible.
I can now run comfortable a half marathon run. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2016 has become the event for me to mark the key milestone.
It is about a year since I started joining running events from the first event on 9 August 2015.
It has been a long process and in the same time it has been a truly life changing process with full of priceless moments, challenges and not to forget some painful experiences in transforming my body into a running body.
I wish I have started earlier and do much in the past because we have so much more to do for us to have better life in the future. I still remember last year in April/May,a friend shared a link to register for Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2015(finally cancelled due to haze in October that year).
I told him " Engkau gila ke nak ajak aku masuk lumba lari!".
Yes, at that moment, I felt it is impossible too and where on earth I will participate in any running event to race with others. But I did browse through the website and saw what was the event all about but never thought of participating at all. I did not participate finally.
At about the same time,I just started my efforts to improve my health and jogging for few rounds at the 400 meters loop at Dataran Nilai in early morning slowly has become my routine.
And now, SCKLM 2016 has become my one of the best memories in my life so far.I have finished a half marathon race in a fairly strong position as a newbie in this distance.
In this entry, I would like to connect all dots of my running adventure.You can see visually how I have progressed from an ordinary jogger to a half marathoner from the first running event I participated in August 2015 until how did I look like on the 7 August 2016.How I enjoyed my runs in all events that I participated since the first one on 9 August 2015.It was also in KL and very near to Dataran Merdeka where the start/finish of SCKLM 2016 which is at Padang Merbok.
The two photos below is the summary of my feeling when I was able to finish the race.It was a VICTORY to my health and fitness TRANSFORMATION.It symbolizes all the good feelings and personal satisfaction as the results of my efforts,commitment and discipline to CHANGE my LIFESTYLE for me to have a better life in years to come. I HAVE DONE IT FINALLY. I BELIEVE I HAVE DONE IT IN STYLE TOO with the strong finish in my first ever attempt to run a very competitive and the BIGGEST running event in Malaysia.
I paid for these two special photos below because the moment captured was so special and PRICELESS because I have no words to describe my feeling at that seconds.
Finally I did it! It did not come that easy too. Everything was fine until I twisted my left ankle in the Saturday morning. I have achieved what I have been dreaming to achieve since last year. Honestly I did not care too much with the timing although the time recorded was pretty good as a newbie in half marathon according to many of my friends from the running fraternity.They keep telling me that I am a fast runner at my age and I took all that as compliments and bonus to give more motivation to stay with this lifestyle.Stay healthy and fit through running.
Below is the e-cert form the event. I recorded 2 hours 8 minutes and 47 seconds for the half marathon distance, ranked 167th overall and 127th among Malaysian in the men veteran category. I do not know what is the total runners for HM race but the total runners for HM is at 9500 according to the official #SCKLM2016 website.
In this entry I would like to share my special moments from the time I crossed the finish line and while I was celebrating the achievement with my running friends who were among the 35,000 runners at Dataran Merdeka on that day.
The goals and strategy.
My goals were very clear.Firstly I wanted to finish the race and enjoy it.It was totally not a race against others or to create a personal best time.It was a celebration of the first year anniversary of my participation in running events as the mean for me to sustain my new healthy lifestyle.
With those goals in mind, my strategy was very simple.Learning from my training and runs as the preparation towards SCKLM 2016, I planned to run at pace 6 to 7 for the first half of the distance and then to keep it at only pace 6 until the 15th km.Next was to try to push myself to run at my normal pace 5 at the last 5 to 6 km of the race.
The above two photos was taken by my running friend, KU Wong who is also a good photographer for running events.I am fortunate that he managed to capture the moments of my last 500 meters sprint to the finish line.Normally I will smile and give my trademark two hands and fists raised but at this moment, I was truly in pain.I did not even see him because my mind was fighting with my body for me to reach the finish line at all costs.
I must give all credits to all photographers at running events for their efforts and commitment that have enabled ordinary runners like me to have their running memories captured in a digital form.
I was getting closer and I feel much excited and pumped. The ankle pain was something my mind was still able to overcome whenever I saw the camera.You run and you will know what I meant.
Between the 16th to 17th km at Jalan Parlimen. Suddenly I saw another running events' photographer, Rany Tan.After this route the pain at my ankle started to make me struggle with my steps to continue my run.
Seeing my own looks while I was running did make me realize how challenging the run itself. I thinks my body and face expressions can explain that naturally.
Not all are able to overcome their mind barrier to take the first step to start running like how I started about a year ago.
My run was according to my plan for the first 10-12km where was able to maintain at pace 6.The pain at my ankle returned when I tried to increase speed as planned.I knew that if I can make it to pace 5 in the second half of the run,I might be able to get my new personal best or closer to 2 hours at the finish line.
I took it easy when the pain was getting worse and I decided to start to accomodate the pain instead of keep pushing for improving the pace.Soon after that, I made my mind where my goal was only to finish it forget about the timing.I did not want waste months of efforts for training and preparation for the race to be ended with me reaching the finish line with the crews carrying me or in the ambulance.Then I continued my run with only one thing in my mind which is to finish my first ever SCKLM race.
The photos below were minutes before half marathon runners were finally flagged off.The atmosphere was just awesome and also with mixed feeling mentally.To deal withthat, I often talked or made friends with fellow runners to overcome any doubt or anxious feeling at the starting area.
I was one of them and I have my target that I will one of the finishers as well.Just go out there and do it because the race was what I have been prepared for months.
The view...a sea of runners who had one goal which is to finish the race and I was one of them.Hard to describe the atmosphere but it was all about one goal.To start the race and to finish it and we can see all sorts of characters and looks at the flag off area.
The moment when I was entering my starting point area.I chose the Pen 4 during the registration with estimated finishing time of 3 hours.Now I realized that it was not so wise decision.It means I have to start with the 4th group of runners for half marathon race.
However, I did not now what would be my time to finish the race when I registered. So, I chose the time that I feel comfortable with some tolerance because I was told for SCKLM, it has the cut off time at every checkpoint for all runners.If we could not make it within the stipulated time, we would not be given the medal.
After flag off, it took me until after the 2nd km for me to get my pace stabilized because it was too crowded for me to have my normal run.If I will participate in the next one, I will chose at least Pen 2 because now I know that I can run a half marathon under 2 hours 30 minutes.
I walked all the way from the hotel at Medan Tunku, Jalan TAR and joined other runners to Dataran Merdeka.The feeling when I reached Dataran Merdeka was electrifying within me.That moments I can see why SCKLM is truly the most anticipated running event in Malaysia.The atmosphere was awesome and I was one of the 35,000 runners to run that day.
Syukur and alhamdullillah. I woke up at 4am and my I did not feel much pain at my ankle and I decided to continue with the run.I felt so excited to go and could not wait to step my foot at Dataran Merdeka.
My last attempt to make my ankle to feel better before the flag off in early the next day's morning.Treated my swollen ankle with ice. I slept with ice tied on my ankle at that night.
I kept finger crossed and prayed that I would be able to start the race because I did not feel that I could anything else to ease the pain.
I stayed in KL that night.This was my first ever competitive HM run and it was SCKLM!
It has been a long process and in the same time it has been a truly life changing process with full of priceless moments, challenges and not to forget some painful experiences in transforming my body into a running body.
I wish I have started earlier and do much in the past because we have so much more to do for us to have better life in the future. I still remember last year in April/May,a friend shared a link to register for Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2015(finally cancelled due to haze in October that year).
I told him " Engkau gila ke nak ajak aku masuk lumba lari!".
Yes, at that moment, I felt it is impossible too and where on earth I will participate in any running event to race with others. But I did browse through the website and saw what was the event all about but never thought of participating at all. I did not participate finally.
At about the same time,I just started my efforts to improve my health and jogging for few rounds at the 400 meters loop at Dataran Nilai in early morning slowly has become my routine.
And now, SCKLM 2016 has become my one of the best memories in my life so far.I have finished a half marathon race in a fairly strong position as a newbie in this distance.
In this entry, I would like to connect all dots of my running adventure.You can see visually how I have progressed from an ordinary jogger to a half marathoner from the first running event I participated in August 2015 until how did I look like on the 7 August 2016.How I enjoyed my runs in all events that I participated since the first one on 9 August 2015.It was also in KL and very near to Dataran Merdeka where the start/finish of SCKLM 2016 which is at Padang Merbok.
The two photos below is the summary of my feeling when I was able to finish the race.It was a VICTORY to my health and fitness TRANSFORMATION.It symbolizes all the good feelings and personal satisfaction as the results of my efforts,commitment and discipline to CHANGE my LIFESTYLE for me to have a better life in years to come. I HAVE DONE IT FINALLY. I BELIEVE I HAVE DONE IT IN STYLE TOO with the strong finish in my first ever attempt to run a very competitive and the BIGGEST running event in Malaysia.
I paid for these two special photos below because the moment captured was so special and PRICELESS because I have no words to describe my feeling at that seconds.
Finally I did it! It did not come that easy too. Everything was fine until I twisted my left ankle in the Saturday morning. I have achieved what I have been dreaming to achieve since last year. Honestly I did not care too much with the timing although the time recorded was pretty good as a newbie in half marathon according to many of my friends from the running fraternity.They keep telling me that I am a fast runner at my age and I took all that as compliments and bonus to give more motivation to stay with this lifestyle.Stay healthy and fit through running.
Below is the e-cert form the event. I recorded 2 hours 8 minutes and 47 seconds for the half marathon distance, ranked 167th overall and 127th among Malaysian in the men veteran category. I do not know what is the total runners for HM race but the total runners for HM is at 9500 according to the official #SCKLM2016 website.
In this entry I would like to share my special moments from the time I crossed the finish line and while I was celebrating the achievement with my running friends who were among the 35,000 runners at Dataran Merdeka on that day.
The goals and strategy.
My goals were very clear.Firstly I wanted to finish the race and enjoy it.It was totally not a race against others or to create a personal best time.It was a celebration of the first year anniversary of my participation in running events as the mean for me to sustain my new healthy lifestyle.
With those goals in mind, my strategy was very simple.Learning from my training and runs as the preparation towards SCKLM 2016, I planned to run at pace 6 to 7 for the first half of the distance and then to keep it at only pace 6 until the 15th km.Next was to try to push myself to run at my normal pace 5 at the last 5 to 6 km of the race.
 |
| My trademark gesture but this one is the most special one so far because it happened just after I finish the race at SCKLM 2016. |
 |
 | |
| Seconds where I just finish the race and quickly I realized that I need to celebrate it! |
 |
The above two photos was taken by my running friend, KU Wong who is also a good photographer for running events.I am fortunate that he managed to capture the moments of my last 500 meters sprint to the finish line.Normally I will smile and give my trademark two hands and fists raised but at this moment, I was truly in pain.I did not even see him because my mind was fighting with my body for me to reach the finish line at all costs.
I must give all credits to all photographers at running events for their efforts and commitment that have enabled ordinary runners like me to have their running memories captured in a digital form.
Seeing my own looks while I was running did make me realize how challenging the run itself. I thinks my body and face expressions can explain that naturally.
Not all are able to overcome their mind barrier to take the first step to start running like how I started about a year ago.
My run was according to my plan for the first 10-12km where was able to maintain at pace 6.The pain at my ankle returned when I tried to increase speed as planned.I knew that if I can make it to pace 5 in the second half of the run,I might be able to get my new personal best or closer to 2 hours at the finish line.
I took it easy when the pain was getting worse and I decided to start to accomodate the pain instead of keep pushing for improving the pace.Soon after that, I made my mind where my goal was only to finish it forget about the timing.I did not want waste months of efforts for training and preparation for the race to be ended with me reaching the finish line with the crews carrying me or in the ambulance.Then I continued my run with only one thing in my mind which is to finish my first ever SCKLM race.
The photos below were minutes before half marathon runners were finally flagged off.The atmosphere was just awesome and also with mixed feeling mentally.To deal withthat, I often talked or made friends with fellow runners to overcome any doubt or anxious feeling at the starting area.
I was one of them and I have my target that I will one of the finishers as well.Just go out there and do it because the race was what I have been prepared for months.
However, I did not now what would be my time to finish the race when I registered. So, I chose the time that I feel comfortable with some tolerance because I was told for SCKLM, it has the cut off time at every checkpoint for all runners.If we could not make it within the stipulated time, we would not be given the medal.
After flag off, it took me until after the 2nd km for me to get my pace stabilized because it was too crowded for me to have my normal run.If I will participate in the next one, I will chose at least Pen 2 because now I know that I can run a half marathon under 2 hours 30 minutes.
I walked all the way from the hotel at Medan Tunku, Jalan TAR and joined other runners to Dataran Merdeka.The feeling when I reached Dataran Merdeka was electrifying within me.That moments I can see why SCKLM is truly the most anticipated running event in Malaysia.The atmosphere was awesome and I was one of the 35,000 runners to run that day.
Syukur and alhamdullillah. I woke up at 4am and my I did not feel much pain at my ankle and I decided to continue with the run.I felt so excited to go and could not wait to step my foot at Dataran Merdeka.
My last attempt to make my ankle to feel better before the flag off in early the next day's morning.Treated my swollen ankle with ice. I slept with ice tied on my ankle at that night.
I kept finger crossed and prayed that I would be able to start the race because I did not feel that I could anything else to ease the pain.
I went to Dataran Merdeka at about 10.00 p.m after I had my last meal of the day.I saw everything has been prepared and ready for the race in the morning where full marathon will start at 4.00 a.m and half marathon at 5.30 a.m.
Seeing and walking around the start/finish line and other areas for the big day, made me more and more excited to be apart of the next day at Dataran Merdeka.
It was totally unexpected!
When I was checking my running gears once I checked in into the hotel, I was shocked and stressful. I left my compression tight at my house in Nilai.It was about 5.00 p.m something in the evening. I was purposely came early by staying in KL to avoid any bad traffic into KL.There were plenty of roads would be closed in KL as announced about a week ago due to the event.To drive and leaving KL and coming back to the hotel would not be a good option because many roads towards the hotel were expected to be closed gradually from 6.00 p.m.
So, what was the solution?
The swollen ankle was the number one problem for me and after suddenly I realized I have problem number two to deal with.
I tried to stay calm and think.It worked and I came with the solution although it will make make me to use some of my energy to walk and rush with my swollen ankle.I knew that time I have to take that risk and wait for the next morning to decide to run or otherwise.
What I did was...
1. Applied ice on my swollen ankle for about 15 minutes.( Walked to buy some ice at the nearby convenient store)
2. Then I took a KTM Komuter to go back home at Nilai. I have to walk from the hotel at Medan Tunku to Bank Negara Komuter Station.Called and requested my wife to send my compression tight at Nilai Komuter Station.It took me about 3 hours two-way trip for me between both stations.In the same time I have to deal carefully with my swollen ankle. Now I believe that it was the best decision that have made that has enabled me to run the next day. I think I would have take many more hours should I decided to drive back to Nilai and making a return to KL.
Mentally and physically I was truly prepared for the SCKLM 2016. Months of training and participation in running events with variations in distance have build my body, mind and confidence level to take on the challenge.However, Allah always the final say to allow it to happen or not to happen in His way.
I went to the office on Saturday morning before leaving for an appointment with my client.Accidentally, I twisted my ankle when I walked through the staircase that morning where normally I use the lift to reach my room.I was quite painful immediately after that and I limped a little bit after that but I managed to walk with the pain slowly reduced when I sat down to have meeting after that.
I thought the pain will disappear gradually but after having my lunch, I saw my ankle was swollen when I checked it at the hotel where I stayed for that night.
That morning, I took a heavier breakfast for some carbo loading purpose as well. I ate nasi lemak,half boiled egg and less sugar tea.Then I took 2-3 bananas after about every two hours until dinner.I the same time I drank a lot of plain water.
As the normal ritual, I put on my bib number on the running vest or tee a night before the event. For SCKLM,I put it earlier and leave it my car with the cloth hanger because I would be staying in a hotel in KL a night before the big day
I did my last workouts on Friday night for the final physical preparation for the race.Just to keep the muscle active and final push for my knee and lower body muscles to be strong enough to last until the finish line on Sunday.
I was excited! I put on the vest with the bib on it.Ideally with my latest body size I should be S size for the vest but the registration done in April.I did not imagine I would move to S size from M byAugust but the vest was fairly OK on me although not a perfect fit.
I had doubts on when should I stop running for the training for the event on Sunday.I decided to have it on Thursday with just a light and easy run as the last LSD run to maintain my fitness.
I ran alone at Putrajaya for about 14km.
After the run, I felt that I was truly ready to run atmy biggest ever running event on the upcoming Sunday.
My muscles and legs were feeling so good and my focus was only to have a good run as one of the finishers where good timing would boost my confidence to be better after that.
The race pack collection was quite troublesome in term of the venue. For normal events sometime my running friends helped me to collect but for this one,I decided to experience it myself. Driving in the middle of the day and faced the massive traffic jam towards Kenanga Wholesale City building was not a pleasant experience at all.However, the moment I arrived at the RPC area in the building,all the hassle was quickly faded from my mind.
I was so glad to receive the race pack finally.The excitement has overwhelmed me until I was almost forgot to collect the race merchandise that I ordered online which is the reflective bands.I collected that but when I finished my run on Sunday, I also realized that I forgot to collect the Honda half marathon tee that I was suppose to collect during the RPC at Kenanga Wholesale City.
The atmosphere on the race day was so awesome and electrifying.It can felt from the moment I entered the Dataran Merdeka from a long walk at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
I guess everyone was feeling the same way when we started to mix with other over thirty thousand of runners before the flag off,during the race along the routes and after we crossed the finish line.
Now I know why SCKLM has been to most awaited running event by runners every year and many were so frustrated when it was cancelled last year.
Compare to other running events,I spent longer time waiting and chatting with my running friends after finishing the run.Being one of the thousands of runners at Dataran Merdeka with my running friends especially from Anonymous Runners Group made my day become more awesome.In the same time I made new friends as well.Yes...I was almost forgotten about my ankle pain again although I was limping a little bit while walking around the place.
It was totally unexpected!
When I was checking my running gears once I checked in into the hotel, I was shocked and stressful. I left my compression tight at my house in Nilai.It was about 5.00 p.m something in the evening. I was purposely came early by staying in KL to avoid any bad traffic into KL.There were plenty of roads would be closed in KL as announced about a week ago due to the event.To drive and leaving KL and coming back to the hotel would not be a good option because many roads towards the hotel were expected to be closed gradually from 6.00 p.m.
So, what was the solution?
The swollen ankle was the number one problem for me and after suddenly I realized I have problem number two to deal with.
I tried to stay calm and think.It worked and I came with the solution although it will make make me to use some of my energy to walk and rush with my swollen ankle.I knew that time I have to take that risk and wait for the next morning to decide to run or otherwise.
What I did was...
1. Applied ice on my swollen ankle for about 15 minutes.( Walked to buy some ice at the nearby convenient store)
2. Then I took a KTM Komuter to go back home at Nilai. I have to walk from the hotel at Medan Tunku to Bank Negara Komuter Station.Called and requested my wife to send my compression tight at Nilai Komuter Station.It took me about 3 hours two-way trip for me between both stations.In the same time I have to deal carefully with my swollen ankle. Now I believe that it was the best decision that have made that has enabled me to run the next day. I think I would have take many more hours should I decided to drive back to Nilai and making a return to KL.
Mentally and physically I was truly prepared for the SCKLM 2016. Months of training and participation in running events with variations in distance have build my body, mind and confidence level to take on the challenge.However, Allah always the final say to allow it to happen or not to happen in His way.
I went to the office on Saturday morning before leaving for an appointment with my client.Accidentally, I twisted my ankle when I walked through the staircase that morning where normally I use the lift to reach my room.I was quite painful immediately after that and I limped a little bit after that but I managed to walk with the pain slowly reduced when I sat down to have meeting after that.
I thought the pain will disappear gradually but after having my lunch, I saw my ankle was swollen when I checked it at the hotel where I stayed for that night.
That morning, I took a heavier breakfast for some carbo loading purpose as well. I ate nasi lemak,half boiled egg and less sugar tea.Then I took 2-3 bananas after about every two hours until dinner.I the same time I drank a lot of plain water.
As the normal ritual, I put on my bib number on the running vest or tee a night before the event. For SCKLM,I put it earlier and leave it my car with the cloth hanger because I would be staying in a hotel in KL a night before the big day
I did my last workouts on Friday night for the final physical preparation for the race.Just to keep the muscle active and final push for my knee and lower body muscles to be strong enough to last until the finish line on Sunday.
I was excited! I put on the vest with the bib on it.Ideally with my latest body size I should be S size for the vest but the registration done in April.I did not imagine I would move to S size from M byAugust but the vest was fairly OK on me although not a perfect fit.
I had doubts on when should I stop running for the training for the event on Sunday.I decided to have it on Thursday with just a light and easy run as the last LSD run to maintain my fitness.
I ran alone at Putrajaya for about 14km.
After the run, I felt that I was truly ready to run atmy biggest ever running event on the upcoming Sunday.
My muscles and legs were feeling so good and my focus was only to have a good run as one of the finishers where good timing would boost my confidence to be better after that.
The race pack collection was quite troublesome in term of the venue. For normal events sometime my running friends helped me to collect but for this one,I decided to experience it myself. Driving in the middle of the day and faced the massive traffic jam towards Kenanga Wholesale City building was not a pleasant experience at all.However, the moment I arrived at the RPC area in the building,all the hassle was quickly faded from my mind.
I guess everyone was feeling the same way when we started to mix with other over thirty thousand of runners before the flag off,during the race along the routes and after we crossed the finish line.
Now I know why SCKLM has been to most awaited running event by runners every year and many were so frustrated when it was cancelled last year.
Compare to other running events,I spent longer time waiting and chatting with my running friends after finishing the run.Being one of the thousands of runners at Dataran Merdeka with my running friends especially from Anonymous Runners Group made my day become more awesome.In the same time I made new friends as well.Yes...I was almost forgotten about my ankle pain again although I was limping a little bit while walking around the place.
Running friends
Without them, I don't think I would able to run the way I performed at SCLKLM 2016.
Runners do inspire runners in many ways.One of the best ways is by keep exchanging our running stories and how each other began to run for reasons that each of us know very well.
Anonymous Runners is fairly a small group of runners that I have been running with since the end of 2015. We are just happy runners who run for fun although some are pretty fast too with the tagline of FORGET THE PACE, JUST RUN.
Running Kaki Malaysia is registered running group with bigger number of membership that I joined as a member also in December 2015.The tagline for RKM is Leaving No One Behind.
In every running event that I participated, I also met new friends and the number is still growing where all of us are sharing one thing in common...we love running!
So, I did spend sometime after the race to hang out with my running friends and I guess the following photos explained everything about us and why we are running at SCKLM.
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| (From right)With a glamour runner Benz Azuri Malik, Habib and Naufal |
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| Friends from Anonymous Runners(from left)-Naufal from JB, Yusnizan(Isey), me, Habib and Hussien Mullar(the fastest among us) |
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| My office mate and ex-office mate |
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| A new friend from Kota Damansara.He is a cyclist too and taking run to improve his fitness for cycling. |
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| He is a Malaysian but already settled down in the US.Came all the way to run in Malaysia for the first time. |
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| A new friend and he is at his 60s. |
 |
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| Walking from the finish line to collect my first ever SCKLM medal as a HM finisher. |
The preparation...
Practice or training won't make us perfect but it will make us more prepared. To
run a half marathon needs training and preparation because no all can
run a half marathon.It has been my nature that I need to prepare for anything for something that have decided to pursue.The main objective is I must physically and mentally ready before I do my biggest run in my life so far.
The consistent runs and training with some body workouts at home since early 2016 has been the main contributing factor that has boosted my confidence level.Despite some positive encouragement and words from friends in running fraternity that I would be alright based on on progress and performances for months before, I must feel the that confidence.It has been my goal in 2016 that I will run at least in one half marathon race and SCKLM would be the best event to do that.Most of the time, I trained on my own and normally once a week I will run with my running group which often night runs after working hours.
I have no secret in my training regime and I often posted what I did regularly in my social media platforms such as this blog, Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp groups.
It has been the mix of running, body workouts and suitable and simple diet for my meals.
Before the 30th July night run, I have been running four time with a half marathon distance and three were solo runs and one with one of my running friends. I was twice in March and then in April and July respectively. What I did was, I tried to simulate the actual half marathon run with planned stops for water and banana.The idea was to make it as natural as possible where I do not have to take any other supplements such as energy bar or gel.Before every attempt I followed tips that I found online about the meals that I should take and physical workouts that I need to perform as well. The result of every attempt was very positive and in the same time I felt better after every run. These simulated runs have gradually given me more and more confidence that I am actually could run in a half marathon race.
A week before the SCKLM, I ran at my first ever half marathon
event.It was the Men's Health and Women's Health Magazine Night Run on 30 July 2016. However, I participated just to test myself whether I was truly
ready for SCKLM 2106 or not.I was given a complimentary pass to run too
under one project to promote energy efficiency lifestyle to Malaysians
for the building sector.
There was no pressure that I put to
myself in that event but I did pretty well.I was one of the finishers
with a pretty good time too at 2 hours 7 minutes on my first attempt.I
surprised myself and my running friends too but that performance has
eased a lot of my worries in the build up to SCKLM in the following
weekend although it was a night run.
The following photos are all my runs in the build up to my entrance to the official half marathon distance.These events are on top of my regular runs on weekdays or while I was not participating in events on weekends.I can see how much I have progress in my running and on top of that is HOW HEALTHY AND FIT I have become since I changed my life through running.
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| 10km Green Warrior Run at National Botanical Garden Shah Alam on 5 June 2016 |
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| 10km PD Coast Run on 4 June 2016. |
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| 3.4km x 3 Running Kaki Malays Watermelon Relay Challenge on 22 May 2016. |
 |
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| 3km Milo Breakfast Family Run on 29 May 2016 |
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| 5km x 4 Asics KL Night Relay on 28 June 2016. |
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| My 10k@UKM Go Green Run on 15 May 2016. |
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| 12km Compressport Challenge on 24 April 2016 |
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| 10km Fit Malaysia Melaka Run on 10 April 2016 |
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| 10km Hulu Langat Trail Run on 3 April 2016. |
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| 10km Malaysia Unity Run on 12 December 2015 |
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| 7km USIM Charity Run on 12 September 2016. |
The photos below was the first time I reached the finished line for a run for more than 35 years.It meant so much and that minutes and seconds have truly changed my life now!
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| The kick start of my participation in running events on 9 August 216.The 10km One Asean Unity Run. |
My takeaway
What I have experienced in this adventure from a jogger who has become a half marathoner truly opened my eyes and mind to many other things in life. When I look back the journey, I feel blessed that I have been able to make that big CHANGE at this age. At my early 40s.
I did all that for myself and the best part of that it has affected so much more in positive ways beyond my personal life.It has become not only improving my health and fitness but it has changed my life. At some points I felt like I was reborn. I found me with more purposes in my more exciting life in the way forward. I am a new Zaini now and physically everyone can see that as well.
What's next? Surely no turning back.It will be about how much more exciting life could be.
It will be about keeping it up and seek different challenges to make more great memories.
"Don't say no before you give a try"-Me
"Don't run to win against others but against yourself"-Me
This is my story from a jogger to a half marathoner who started to run just to become healthier.
What is yours?
What's next? Surely no turning back.It will be about how much more exciting life could be.
It will be about keeping it up and seek different challenges to make more great memories.
"Don't say no before you give a try"-Me
"Don't run to win against others but against yourself"-Me
This is my story from a jogger to a half marathoner who started to run just to become healthier.
What is yours?
