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MHWHNR Johor, 21K, 07 Jan 2017

MHWHNR Johor, 21K, 07 Jan 2017

Opening of 2017, a great start, a taste of painful cramp vs desire to achieve good result. Luckily managed to finish 3rd place Veteran Cat (C Category). in the final episode of the MHWHNR series. Not sure abt the timing since i forgot to save it at finish line and only realised it was already at 42:15km at my F3.

Sponsor: First and foremost I must thank you #Ultron #TeamUltron, #UltronKL, #MicroDry for this sponsor, the second time I was selected to represent Team Ultron and both for the outstation MHWHNR series (first: Penang). I also joined the Putrajaya slot and complete the tri-puzzle jigsaw with this JB slot. Having that in mind I always wanted to do well in this one, sort of repaying the trust from the sponsor. But of course its not always a smooth sailing cruise all the way, especially for an outstation event.

Travel Plan: The first hurdle was the traveling plan. After much thought and persuasion, permission granted by the queen-of-my-heart Rismawati Syafrizal for a solo trip to JB on her birthday. Dont ask how that was even possible 😜😜😜. Next, travel options - by train not feasible, by plane not cost friendly, some even suggest UBER KL-JB, but finally by bus seems a very workable choice. Initially tried to book through busonlineticket.com, but twice failed with payment method and they suggest using paypal. Well, that's the way u lost customer, we decide how to pay! Then i tried catchthatbus.com, and it works very well. I leave my option open for the return trip since catching bus to kl is not really an issue.

Commuting in JB: Friday morning, first time boarding bus through TBS and I am impressed, information and conveniences everywhere, and bus departed sharp on time. Reached Larkin Terminal ard 2++ and quickly looking for option to go to Legoland. This is when I appreciate UBER even more, car arrived at the agreed pickup point in minutes and I knew the cost ard RM18 upfront. While waiting, a taxi driver approached me and quoted RM35 for the same trip and asked me to nego!!! What?!! ok i am not going to curse on it but they sound like dinosaur coming to extinction, unless they change! Well, throughout this trip I used UBER a lot and all the way and I am very happy with it. Had nice conversations with all of the guys behind the wheel, got reciept for each fares which also being estimated upfront, and then u can always rate them accordingly.

Accomodation:

I used Agoda a lot to book accomodation (hey they accumulate points and it can be used to cover some of the cost). For this trip I wanted to balance the affordable comfort and nearest location to the event. So many options if budget is not an issue, and it can be in Iskandar area, JB, Gelang Patah or Bukit Indah. But I choose Lavendar Inn at Bukit Indah at RM60 per night with decentbrating in Agoda and the recent reviews sounds positive. Well, for me its a fair place to stay, stone throw away from Nusajaya IPD. Option for malay food quite limited ard the area though (pizza hut, domino, mcd, kfc all within some 15-20 mnts walking distance but none are my favorite), istead the area surrounded by many massage center and similar small hotels to choose from. A better choice, may be, those around the Bukit Indah Tesco/Giant/Aeon, which is also near to the Taman Rekreasi Bukit Indah, a nice round park to jog.

REPC: The only reason I have to travel on Friday was for the REPC, which was only open on Thursday n Friday. I dont have running buddy in Johor to collect for me (should start look for more JB runners). Managed to get contact from Mohd Azmi only just in case the need arise. Anyway, REPC was a bit weird in a good way as no crowd at all, no que and coupled with the almost empty Legoland. I wonder why the REPC not at the event venue at Puteri Habour area.

Venue:

FO/FL at Puteri Habour. Similar set up with the previous two events with huge AIA vitality tent and other sponsors including Petron, GoPro, Apetton, and others but i dont see Ultron's both. May be i did not look around properly. Personally i find this is quite a nice venue, just beside that beautiful habour, good eating places and they also provide temporary surau just for the event.

Route: Though the Iskandar area is not an area with congested roads, but running around the on-going construction area is a minus, a bit dusty. Otherwise, sufficient road lights, marshals and medic around, good milage markers, ws every 3km i think (a bit annoyed that i cant get the water cups properly from the crew's hand. Not sure if it will be better to leave it on a table or something). Elevation not that bad (2-42m), temperature a bit hot (27-33c).

Performance: Preparation for this event was not very good, managed to had good runs and mileage 2 weeks before but slowed down with taper weeks for the coming Twincity Marathon next week. Probably I should not join this race competitively, for LSD instead, but I just wanted to do well for the Ultron Team. Another mistake was the duel couple workout with wife on 29th Dec and then the Special BodyStep Class with Bryan Ho and Serra Lin on 1st Jan 2017. I had sore muscles the whole week and only start running again on Friday evening at the Taman Rekreasi Bukit Indah - a beautiful round park very nice for a run, i even tempted to do 10-12km if not with the coming race in mind. At the FO, I was very early securing the front line. Very sure there will be lots of photo n video from the official later. LOLz. Started comfortably with average pace of 4:45/km the first 5km, then maintain av pace 5+ throughout till the last 3km. I was pushing a bit hard on HR at zone 5 (ard 170) throughout the race. I knew that I am somewhere within the top 5 of the C cat all along until at km 15 when another runner told me that I am in 2nd place. Suddenly I have that extra motivation, thinking that this may be the only chance to be in the top 3 position in any competitive race, and I really wanted to do it. But, I have already felt both calf struggling. At this point I was so scared of looking back whose behind and whenever i had runners overtaking I will be looking at their bib to see if they are in the C category. Then At another runner from A cat tried to pace me at km17-18, keep motivating and cheering, probably he already sense my struggle. The only thing i can do is to keep telling myself to relax and avoid thinking about the calf. That helps a bit but not very long. Managed to maintain good pace till km19 when the cramp hit me hard, I had to stop and a runner from the opposite side run towards me offering some help. I told him that I am ok because i knew that once i get assistance the legs will refuse to work and allow that cramp get over me. After that i tried that hands up technique that i read somewhere and run slowly, then run with shorter (very short) stride but increase cadence. But the cramps keep coming and i stopped again and again, and that fear turn reality when another C runner passed me with comfort. I feel so down and told myself not to think too much about too 3 but more about improving timing. I dont know where is the next C runner but with the stop-run and cramp they will catch me soon. Then I passed the FO arch, knowing that's not the FL, which is abt 500m further down the slope. What a great combination of cramps and down slope ... geeee 🙄🙄🙄. At this time runners from 5k and 12k already combined with the 21k, so too many runners to check who had passed me. So i continue that quick short stride until finally I reached the FL. The crew put that potential winner tag around my neck and says "Congratulations you are in the 3rd position". What a relief, its over, its a joy!! Then photo shots with big winner smiles and yes chants.. I did it.

Ehhh what was my timing? I dont know actually, i forgot to save and close the run details at my F3 till i reach the hotel. Will do the record correction later.

Quickly after, went for a change to wear our Anonymous Runners shirt. This podium is also dedicated to the group. I found so much inspiration with them - "forget the pace, just run". I want to make sure to be wearing AR shirt throughout the Winners Presentation ceremony.

Oh ya... Got a chance to jalan2 to this nice FOREST CITY. Impressive!!

Adios.

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