Pahang International Marathon 2017 (PIM2017) - 12/03/17

#PahangInternationalMarathon2017 #PIM2017 #AnonymousRunners #FullMarathon #FM #42km #RunningHeWrote #Running

Target: sub-5 and to improve the last FM timing @ Cyberjaya

Result: 4:30:45, placing 9th in Vet Cat. 😜😜.

Summary: one of the best outstation running event 2017 and also a great boys-days-out.

Opening:

Despite earlier scepticism and worries that we could be dead running in thirst, we (initially 17 of us from Anonymous Runners, and eventually 7 made it to Kuantan) registered for this event with excitement to find out what is there for us. That's the benefit of being with a bunch of running craze people/group - we are always more than willing to take chances, open for new adventures and challenges. As it turned out, for most of us, it was a satisfying moment, with PB recorded (congratulations Mohd Yusnisan for the sub 4 FM, hell yeah that set a new benchmark to beat), more controversial own-set-25km category (oh yeah Marzuki Khalid never failed to present to us with puzzles to ponder), with unscheduled match-making mission for ehem ehem (classified matter), with misterious Ain the super friendly guesthouse owner, with the best patin lunch by our generous Mohd Habib Fadhullah and family, and lots more memories especially to the 5 of us.

Surely i am most grateful for such understanding wife Rismawati Syafrizal for the support. Of course it was not easy to leave my lovely family behind even though its a short trip.

Traveling:

The journey started exactly 11:30am on 11th March (11:30/11:03). The uber-on-trial driver Ismail Razali already waiting for us (VIP passengers) at the meeting point around 10:30am. Zaini Jai joined him later ard 11+. At 11:20am, as expected, Juki still trying his best running and jumping across the fences crossing NU/KL Central area and finally meet us barely 1 minute before the timeline. Well, we already warned him to be there punctual or bye2. NO COMPROMISE!.

Mael has been an examplary driver midway to Kuantan until we decided to stop for lunch. For the first time in his life he ate ikan patin with triple thumbs up as approval. The after-effect however, he suddenly became a NASCAR driver. From a calm 110kph he keep pushing for speed, even police car had to give way!. Reaching Kuantan, he only slowed down after witnessing fire-brigades in action.

REPC:

Then we proceeded to the nice Zenith Hotel for the REPC, and it was very smooth. Managed to stock up some power gel and salt stick. Isey was seriously considering the RM899 oakley shades, but decided not to finally. That would have been a perfect gift for his sub4 performance. Then just about leaving for the guesthouse, Juki requested for a stop at DIY store as he needed a new running pouch for this event. That will increase speed, he claimed. So we look at several options through Waze - the nearest was just 0.6km and the next one was 1.8km away. He insisted to go for the latter and we somehow hypnotised to take him there. I am not sure if he has some shares in that shop but we ended up also shopping there!

Guesthouse:

Ain (the owner) guided us through the not-so-tricky-but small road to the guesthouse. My brother Dulmi Mullar and his family of 4 (Meme OC Mois Le BleuMary (Mohammad Khairul Bin Dulmi) Mohamad Afiq already checked in there a day earlier. At the reception, i told this guy with Portugal jersey that we had a booking. He seems puzzled and a bit confused, so i had to call Ain again for help. (Btw, we did not have a chance to meet and greet Ain till we left). The man asked for my phone and he talked loudly to Ain "Long, ni sapa yang duduk 701, ni sapa pulak yg nak check in ni?" And after a while he smiled and said "ok2 clear tak de hal, anak saya tak bagi tahu betul2". Opsss that was actually the owner.

The guesthouse was quite basic but since it can accomodate all 5+1 of us in a room, its good enough for us. At RM150/nite that's a good budget. Somehow, we only get additional bed late that night. Isey and Juki had to carry the bed into the room, which reminded us to some important history in the country.

Once settled down, had lunch and then a brief walk along the Teluk Chempedak beach area for selfies. Juki decided not to join us playing with monkeys as he had better guitar topic to chat on with his buddy... hmmmmmm... LOL!!

Fad Ali joined us later that night too. We had good jokes trying to justify why do we take all the trouble to participate for such a painful running event. We event promise that was surely meant to be broken, that this will be our last one.

The Run:

FM FO was scheduled at 3am. Initially i was a bit confused reading some runners fb said it will be at 4am. But we all decided to be at the event site ard 2am, which was only about 2.6km from the guesthouse. The site was decorated with the usual sponsors tents, baggage counter, medic and etc. The only obvious missing items was mobile toilets, which is essential tu runners. Around 2:30am it was still very quite, even the MC's repeated calls for participants to join zumba felt a bit ackward. He announced that total participant was about 5k and 500 expected for FM. No wonder!.

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Flag-off was sharp at 3am, and supposedly started with Elite group then Cruise and the rest. But with such small crowd, nobody cares about the split flag off, just my guess, Nice weather throughout, road marshall and traffic all around to ensure the start a smooth one. I kind of really like the route, quite empty road in many parts, good road lights and quite straight forward with short elevation. So i wonder how juki lost his way and made a special 25km category.

I was not expecting the first WS at KM2, and suprisingly that was the arrangement throughout the route, WS every 2km. I can't even support the theory that too many WS will slow down runners, since many had recorded PBs in this event.

I was doing good for the first half, with sub2 as planned. But after KM26, my legs were too heavy to keep up with the pace. At some point, i have to stop for a re-start. Probably due to the lack of endurance training. No sign of cramp and i have consistently use salt stick. My only main concern was starvation, I felt so hungry and in need of food, especially ard KM28. Passing by mamak reminds me of teh tarik and roti canai, but I am not willing to take that risk. The throat felt bitter, i cant take any more gel. I was worried that i will not make it to the finishing line due to this hunger. At that point every step was a struggle, and finishing each km really like taking forever. Luckily they provided banana at km30. I sat down for a while and grab 2 pcs. At that time my lapse time was already abt 3:20, so if i can finish the last 12km around 1 hour or so, it will still be in a good time around 4:30-45, and below 5hrs is a very comfortable target. Such motivation keep me going, running slowly and avoid pushing too hard too soon. But then I have to answer nature's call, since i was hoping to see mobile toilet from earlier km. At km38 i just had to stop at petronas, and then continue to finish strong in the final 3km. Final result was 4:30:45, and i am happy with it!. Not my best but a good sign for the next run.

Congratulation to all finishers.

Congrats to Bro Hj Dulmi finishing sub5, Khai sub3 and Afiq 1:07 (impressive).

Very happy to meet with fellow runners Fakhrul Fahmy, Rozanor Nayan Nicx Ryme Nikshukri Nikdin, Mohd Azmi, Asaruddin Ariffinaruddin some new friends Alex Teo Kenneth Kuan and all the rest. Congrats for those FMV, HMV and all those with PBs.

Ikan Patin and a wrap:

As usual, after event its photo session. I think we took so many photo throughout this trip. Even better Fad is almost a pro photoks already. (Pm me if u need his photoks service, i take commision for his sweat... lol). After that we went for breakfast, and it was a cheat morning for all of us at McD!, Then we were back at the geusthouse for a well needed short sleep. By 12:30pm we were not yet ready, while Habib already waiting for lunch at his place. We only reached there abt 1:20pm and lunch was all served. What a delicious lunch set with ikan patin, tempoyak, ulam and etc. That serves perfectly after a long run. Unfortunately my bro n co had another plan and Amir Syahmi and gang also had to skip, so the menu for 15 was all for the 6 of us ..blurrrpppp. Thank you Habib and family, such a wonderful host for lunch.

Did i miss something? May be if... hmmmm... Never mind let it be our little secret! Kehekehekke...

We are full and its time to go home. Short stop at Benteng for more selfies then it all the way home. Juki and Isey and Zaini had a nice nap, while i kept Mael on check on the road. Reached safely KL Central ard 7:30pm.

Many thanks to the group for such a wonderful trip, love it very much.

Hope we'll do this again soon, Insyallah.