CERITA SAYA,ZAINI...: April 2019

31 March

21km, FO at 1.00 a.m.

Did not plan to run here. However, when I realised that the date was still in school holiday and I have not spent time with my kids away from Klang Valley other than watching a movie last Monday, I decided to use my rarely free weekends lately with them at the highland.The idea came when I a friend could not run at the event and wanted to let go his bib.Once I saw that, I quickly looked for a place to stay and booked a an apartment.Then confirmed with my friend that I wanted his bib.It was truly a surprise for my family but excited in the same time although my second daughter could not join us this time.

With Ashraf when I collected my bib

Thanks to bro F Ashraf Ismail for helping to take the race pack for because I was worry not to be able to reach there by 6pm. It was fortunate,despite leaving KL at about 11am something, we reached Tanah Rata at about 3pm with the traffic all the way was not as bad as I anticipated.

At the event venue on Saturday evening after we arrived at Tanah Rata

The first time I joined this event and also the first time for me to run at the high altitude route with about 16 degree Celcius temperature as I was told by some friends.With the expected total elevation of over 1000m, I was slightly worry to overcome the uphills with my very lack of strength workouts for my lower body due to my failure to maintain my weekly gym sessions for the last 3-4 months.However, I took that as the challenge for the route and for the first time I will run with a long sleeve inner body tight due to the expected very cold and freezing ambient during wee hours.So, the plan was just to run under 2:30 and will try to maximize every downhills at pace 5-6 because I know that the best I could do at every uphill would be only at pace 7.

For the first time as well, I had to run with a headlamp which is the mandatory item as informed by the organiser for each runner for safety reason.I bought one about 3 years back for an early morning hiking but did not use it since then.When I opened the package a night just before the FO, only to find out it was quite big and I knew I won't be comfortable running with it.Then, after I shared that at my FB page, my friend Aznizan Mohd Ali notified me that he had one more extra smaller one that he can let me to use it.I quickly said yes and agreed to get it from him before the FO.

I spent some time with my family in the evening at Cameron Lavender Garden because it was my second daughter's wish to go there.Then we had a dinner before returning to the apartment for me to have a short sleep at about 8pm.'

Family time at Cameron Lavender Garden

Left to the venue at about 11.30pm in my car although initially I just wanted to walk.Reached the event venue few minutes after that and bumped into some friends, took photos and chatted with them while waiting for the FO time. I truly believe I made the right decision to wear the inner long sleeve tight and wore a vest for that night because it was quite cold to me.It was little drizzling as well just about before the FO time.

At the venue before the FO

Honestly. I was very anxious and also nervous before the FO and all the chatting with some friends truly has calmed me a lot. Each participant was checked by the crews on duty on their headlamp before they were allowed to enter the FO area.

And finally, we were flagged off!

It was a very slow run in the packed crowd along the small road to leave the field and then to the normal road surface. Again, I did not study the route and what I expected was just a lot of tough uphills and also downhills that I can make up my lost time at all uphills.

More drizzling came just after the FO and after about 300m, there was the first uphill.It was almost pace 7 from pace 6.Then the uphill continued and I was just tried to keep running slowly managing the route with pace 7 when I reached 2km mark.Then it came the downhill and will my legs were still fresh, I ran comfortable at pace 5 for the next 2km.I skipped the first WS because I felt still good to continue in the cold and lower humidity ambient.

Then, there were mixed of uphills and downhills until runners reached the Brinchang town between 8km and 9km.I was happy because I still able to maintain my pace according to the plan.Pace 7 for every km that has some uphill was the best I could and if really want to improve on that, strength workouts to strengthen my lower body joints and muscles are what I need to do with some discipline again.At this stage and age of my running adventure, I have been quite comfortable with my breathing, steps and cramp and hydration controls while I am running.On top of that, I do enjoy more of my runs now either my regular solo/group runs and at events.

Surprisingly at 10km of the run, I still felt very much fresh and the typical hot and humid during night runs at Putrajaya and KL areas was totally forgotten.From 9km to 10km and then the U-turn, was actually the route from Brincang Town towards the KEA Farm market that very challenging uphills and nice downhills to me while cruising the route duirng the wee hours.However, at the hald way of the 21km at this stage, I still felt very nice and fresh to keep running despite take much much lesser water at each WS.

Yes, it was truly a different type of experience.At that time and moments, suddenly I was thinking how would feel running at places such as Tokyo and other countries. I felt less thirsty and also much more comfortable to run at every step. Now I understand why so many runners clocked their PB time away from Malaysia at countries with cold weather and low humidity ambient to run.

There was the final long uphill route between the after 14km and 16km where truly need to push myself.Then 21km runners interfaced with 10km runners who made their U-turn.

After that, the remaining distance was all about downhill route before the final short uphill just about 1km something from the FL.

For the overall route, other than along the main roads at Berinchang town towards KEA farm market and the final stretch to the FL, it was quite dark and having the headline worn by all runners was very helpful to make the road surface more visible for the eyes. It was the best decision by the organiser to make the headlamp as the mandatory item for safety purposes along the route. It was a night run anyway. and expected to be dark at some areas along the route.

Despite it was dark mostly along the route, there were enough water stations and water suppy provided for plain water and isotonic drink. Also sufficient traffic personnel and crews available at each turn and junction to guide runners .

Finally, I finished my run in 2:19 which is within the targeted time and I could not ask for a better result than that.It was a challenging and exciting experience to me that night.One of the main reason is I have never thought one day I will run and finished a HM run at Cameron Highland.I must say that it as a quite comfortable run for me as well as I did not face any difficulty at all from the start to the FL.

It was also nice to meet some running friends again at the event before and after the run at the venue and to take photos together.

With friends after I have finished my 21km run

It was a very well organised event and it has made it into my highly recommended event lists for me personally and for others.Everything was smooth and easy for me from the time I reached the venue and until I left at about 4am to return to the apartment.

The best part for me at this run is the opportunity to experience running with the cold and low humidity ambient which is quite unique because we could not get is most running events in Malaysia.The elevation of the route also provided extra challenge for runners to overcome.

It was another great first time running experience for me and an awesome weekend for my family as well which made my last minutes decision was worth it!

To come back to run here? Surely yes next year...In sha Allah.It is not a regular event to join elsewhere in Malaysia and well done to the organiser for the such great time and experience!

On Sunday morning, I spent some more time with my family at MARDI Agrotech Park before we left Tanah Rata at about 10.30 am. Then a short stop to enjoy a cup of tea with tea plantation scenery at Bharat Tea on the way down to Tapah. We were lucky to avoid the potentially massive traffic after the school holiday at PLUS highway as well and safely reached home at Nilai at about 4pm.