SCKLM 2010

Unlike the Sundown which we were well prepared on the logistics of getting there and settling in, we were hardly prepared for this and had to rely on our (well, Nisa's) experience from last year. She knew it would be crowded and that parking would be a problem. The start was at Dataran Medeka but we went straight to the spot behind Tugu Negara to park our car. We parked at practically the same spot as last year and walked quite a distance to the start. A little late, we had to jog/walk there but no matter. For the marque race of the KL calender, it was very very crowded; even though our race had started, it took us some 7min to clear the start.

This is the "problem" with running in the marque race. It really is the highlight of our season since we regard ourselves as Malaysian runners and we would not miss it for anything; apparently, this was what all runners felt as well and our category (10k) was full of runners, more so because there were the recreational runners and those that wanted to take in the atmoshpere as well. Nisa and I was joustling with the crowd right up to (I think) 3.5k into the race and it was hard to settle into our race pace. All hopes of a PR disappeared and we were left to just take in the atmosphere. If there is anything we learnt, it was to squeeze our way to as far front as possible, just so we get a good start (and let people overtake us, rather than we, them). Like Spore races, there were people who choose to run together and did so in a line, effectively taking up the entire width of the route.

But I did miss this race last year. It was to be my inaugural KL marathon but I was not permitted to travel anywhere because of the bloody H1N1 scare. I did get the racing tee last year but this year's is miles better!

As I plodded along for the first 3.5k or so, I had to zig-zag my way through the crowds. Nearing the first timing checkpoint (you need to run over the sensor in order that your split may be captured - and also to verify that you ran the course and therefore deserved your medal), I almost ran into a traffic cone! The route was funnelling from 4 lanes into 2 and I did not see the cone as I tried to avoid the crowds. This was not to be the last time because the route kept encountering bottlenecks and everyone slowed down at those points.

No route around Dataran Medeka would be complete without making a loop into Lake Gardens. The hills there that I once dreaded are now slopes; I took them with a slightly slowed pace but I kept going. Coming out of Lake Gardens, back down Jln Parliament, loop around Sogo and its back to Dataran Medeka to the finish.

The race was almost perfect, except for the crowds. The weather was cloudy and there was enough water all round. In fact, I added another component to my pre-race routine - reading RW the night before for inspiration and mood!