SCKLM2012..An emo, happy run..

More than 24 hours after a half marathon...I had visions of writing this blog post as I ran yesterday. Figuring out exactly how I was going to write this. And now, I can hardly recall the stuff that I wanted to say. I totally enjoyed the run...Keseronokan total! I thought I wouldn't. Ever since my friend TSB passed on last year, my running pattern has suffered...not that I am putting the blame on what has happened. I got busy and the mileage somehow got tapered along with the rut of life.

This Japanese guy ran a full marathon playing that horn...Amahzinggg!! (pic by Teh EngTiong)



My RunningKaki and I try as much as possible to run regularly and in May, we even managed to travel to Sabah for the Borneo Run, albeit just a 10k for me. We stayed in a hotel near the starting line just to avoid the early morning rush. Wise decision, indeed. Citin Hotel at Jalan Masjid India is a nice, comfy inn. We came down for the 6am gun off at 5:45 am and still got to the starting line on time. The atmosphere was fantastic. 28,000 people all gathered with one mission. Finishing the race! Last year, I started the race with TSB, while my husband did the 10k. So glad that this year, hubs  ran the halfie with me...along with the rest of the RunningKaki, although I didn't see them at the starting line.

The cheer squad near the finishing line (pic by Tey EngTiong)

I passed the starting line at approximately 6:07am. With the lack of decent training, I told myself that I'm gonna take it real easy. As I was running, passing through the same route that I did with TSB last year, I tried to recall the point where he told me to run ahead, as he was slowing down. At that point, this year...I could just recall him smiling.

As I quickly shake away that memory, we ran on. Both, me and hubs...sometimes he's in front, and sometimes I overtook. The same pattern went on for about 8km, where I ran and walked without music..was just enjoying the scenes, the morning KL hustle bustle, the breathing of the runners, absorbing it all. I kept affirming :

"I am running easily at the KL Marathon.This is what this body is made for" and that affirmation went on till the end of the race.

After the 8th km mark,I took my Double Espresso 2nd Surge Ultra Energy Gel. I usually drink coffee before a run, but yesterday morning...in the excitement totally forgot to buy any the night before. Thank goodness for the gel. I usually eat before a run as well, and at the 8km mark was feeling quite famish. First time trying the brand, not that I ever needed to consume one with the normal 'training'. Also started playing some music on the iphone. By this time my RunKeeper tracker has totally gone kaput, dunno what went wrong.

I have a mix collection of songs in my iphone, which I hardly update or listened to unless I get totally bored with the view. Have always enjoyed running without music and better still while chatting with fellow runners. Running with TSB, taught me that, him always providing the chatter.

Here's my play list:

1. Beggin' - Madcon

2. Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder

3. Breakout - Swing Out Sisters

4. c'Est La Vie - Robbie Neville

5. The Climb - Miley Cyrus

6. Don't Stop Believing- Journey

7. Here Comes The Sun - Beatles

8. Higher - Taio Cruz with Travie McCoy

9. I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Nik Kershaw

10. Walking On Sunshine - Katrina and The Waves

11. Lean On Me - Glee cast version)

12. Loose Yourself - Eminem

13. My Wish - Rascal Flatts

14. Stand By Me - Ben E. King

15. Drops of Jupiter - Train

16. Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts

17. Where's The Party - Madonna

18. You Gotta Be - Des'ree

A few songs that got a repeat was Loose Yourself, Lean On Me , Walking On Sunshine and My Wish. And I'm a running singer...Can't help it. I would run and sing, loud enough. I figured, if I sing, I would have to run faster from the people who had heard me sing..LOL! By this time, I was not sure if my husband was ahead or behind me. If he was near, he would probably run away from embarrassment anyway. double LOL!

A little after KM 14.5, there was a commotion by the roadside. A guy had collapsed. being the kepoh that I was, I went near and saw that the chap, a big built, tall guy was already foaming at the mouth and the emergency squad was trying to revive him. Masyallah,I hope he's alright.

I slowed down to a walk..Lean On Me was on. And again..I sang..and Eminem came on. and Katrina again, the Rascal Flatts, My Wish...and suddenly it just happened just after that 15.5 mark, I sobbed, sobbed and sobbed...A deep feeling of sadness. If not for the sweat, people would have noticed this tudunged runner, sobbing as she tried to run. All I could remember as I cried was visions of my first born Aisyah, my second born Imran and my late friend TSB. The dearly departed and the living loved ones.

MY WISH - RASCAL FLATTS

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you want to go,

And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you left,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish. This is my wish

I hope you know somebody loves you

May all your dreams stay big

Must be the words that got to me, must be the taste of sweat, must be the tired legs, must be the heat...Emo much..AlFatihah for all our loved ones..living or otherwise.

The last 5km, I chatted to some people, took some pictures and sang. At 3km before the race ended, Desree came one... And I sang...

" You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold

You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard

You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger

You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm

You gotta stay together

All I know, all I know, love will save the day"

I had a lady clapping as I sang..and singing along..Adrenaline made people do wacky things. Paced with a few people, a Thai lady around my age..until she had to stop and walk, a boy with a Rastafarian beret whom I asked if the beret made his head warm and he said he has long hair and continued to show me his hair. I saw a guy cheering his girlfiend on, running along side and encouraging when she slowed down, I saw a guy with a deformed arm and people almost double my weight and age. The cheering squads with all the funny message boards were a refreshing scene.

Placards with funny encouragement (pic by Tey EngTiong)

Saw Tey, the most dedicated runner, photographer, cheer leader... at the 21km mark shouted at him and he yelped back " Leng lui!!!" Made my day, Tey! And just a little above 3 hours, the race was over for me..Last year's timing was better, but I'm happier at this year's run, ran with memories of last year’s. My RunningKakis were waiting. Hero of the day was my husband, as he walked the last 30 minutes with an injured RunningKaki brother.

Happy, happy me...

The RunningKakis (pic from AnepzAli)



All is well. Only aches remain today, which we don't mind. Reminds us that we are alive.. Alhamdulillah.. Till the next race..