The Great Borneo Series 2018: First Race - Miri Marathon 2018 (MM2018)
August last year in Kuching, after finishing the FM I left with 2 big jealousy – first, I was not in the first 200 finishers to earn the special finisher tee, and second, after completing both BIM and KUMAR but did not register for MIM, I missed the opportunity and the right to earn that big-shining-golden ”The GBS Medal”. That was a real feeling of incompleteness! And that has to be a mission for me for 2018.
Once registration is open back in Oct 2017, I have got mine done for Miri Marathon 2018. My wife Rismawati also jumped in and registered for the 10km without the need for second asking. I fully understand that as she was still very excited with running after completed her very first event 2 months before that (at KUMAR 2017). We both end up registered for the complete Great Borneo Series 2018.
Travelling preparation – “BORNEO” means it will not be a cheap and simple travelling plan. It will be crossing the South China Sea, and we need those “Everyone Can Fly” guy or probably the “Smarter Way To Travel” (caveat: no retiming please!) or “Truly Asia” guys. For MM2018, the date coincides with the one week school break. The kids quickly come into the picture, and the cost calculations quickly become a headache. But we could not find much attraction for the kids in Miri (hey guys please advise us on this, for future may be). So we decided to book our travelling itineraries secretly. During the process, we had many conversations with the kids like “Kiddo: Dad where are we going? Dad: Nowhere, why? Kiddo: So that AGODA for what dad? Dad: hmmmm, nothing. Go do your homework.”. Eventually, we managed to book our flight and accommodation and start counting days and training.
Training – My take, this is the most difficult part of this hobby! Period! Running gears is very much a matter of choice (which is plenty) - go shopping, go online, do some reading, ask opinions, do some try-outs and good chance you will end up more than planned. The actual race? U can just leisurely run (Anonymous Runners: forget the pace just run), work harder to beat your running buddies, push for your PB, or worst may be DNS or DNF! But training? Hmmmm.
For my case, the Training Plan always started with the intention of being selective in events to participate from October 2017 till the race day. That was a 5-months period – more than sufficient for a proper training plan even for FMV (usually takes around 16 weeks of training and mileage building. I had a bit more than 21 weeks before the MM2018). In fact, I managed to reduce much of the habit of checking out of new and incoming running events, avoiding all the temptation of "click and pay" then you will suffer. Earlier, I have already registered for PBIM2017 in November 2017 and I still have a good time for training. But plan has always been subject to or equal to changes. In between, I could not help it but registered and completed the Twincity in Jan 2018. Hey I still have 8 weeks to spare for training, so why worry?. As time goes by, my monthly mileage already very far from the 200km target. The highest was in Jan 2018 with 164.3km (including the 42km from PBIM2017). By end of Feb 2018, after so many excuses, I was struggling to add more mileage, only adding about 84km a drop by half, and it is already coming to taper week. The longest run I had after the Twincity was a 14km World Urban Run in Feb 2018.
The week before the event, I had initially registered for a 10km run at the Bukit Jalil Half Marathon 2018 just to help the muscles ready for the big event, and I had another bib for 21km category (for our podium hunter - Isey). Couple of hours before the race he decided to choose pillow over pavements and just too lazy to participate the race. That keep me thinking of just enjoy the 10k or challenge myself if i can stand the 21k. Eventually I changed my mind at the very last minute, at the venue itself to run for the 21km. It was a big gamble and I got what I asked for. Just after 8km, I already had a painful right leg – (vastus lateralis?), but managed to complete the race around with 2:22. That gave me 2 conclusions: lack of training is equal to injury but slowing down the pace may still give me chance to complete the distance.
With less than one week to go, I was hoping the pain will disappear on its own, but for sure I would reject any suggestion to visit the physio again!. During the week, I applied the Acustop Cataplasma around the pain parts and take some left over anti inflammation meds I have got from the specialist during my last injury. While the pain reduced, I got mouth ulcers all over, which was equally painful and very disturbing pain even sipping down some water, let alone getting a proper carbo-load.
So there you go my preparation: training is nowhere near to be ready, lack of hydration and carboload. The only one left for me was the spirit to fight and the courage to witness the outcome.
The Day finally arrived!
Gone all the drama and it was finally the travelling day. We (Ris and I) were quite occupied with work and some home matters and it was ZERO mileage for the week to the event. The good news, my big brother Dulmi will also be joining the MM2018, and I am excited to be meeting him and probably finishing FM together. And my 2nd brother Risman also agreed to fetch us at the airport (all the way from Bintulu). It was like a mini gathering and that was really a good reason to be excited, regardless whatever going to happen during the race.
We were already at the airport about an hour from the boarding time at 6:20am, and KLIA2 was quite crowded (it was school break time). We decided to go straight to the gates and have our coffee inside. Moments later Esther (from our Anonymous Runners - AR) joined us for drinks, and then met with Zaini Jai (also from AR) just before boarding. Well this is already another bonus for me - couple of AR friends at MM2018.
I was so sleepy and not much that I recalled during the flight except the announcement by the pilot saying the we will landing shortly and expected to arrive Miri 5 minutes earlier than scheduled. I wonder if the plane break any speed limit, but it was a smooth journey except that we were a bit overly excited. Ris, Esther and I were given verbal warning from one of the Immigration Officer for taking wefie at the Immigration Que and shown us the no photographs sign. At arrival hall, Esther had to wait for another friend from Mommy Rocks, departing 30 minutes later than us. Zaini got new running friends, staying in the same Anno Hotel. We all parted our separate ways and Risman already waiting to fetch us. The first thing in my mind was breakfast, so he drove us to this nice Restoran Fairuz (a.k.a Restoran Al-Asna Sdn Bhd) for roti canai with chicken curry (recommended), then to the mini stadium for REPC and then to the hotel. We stayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel which I think is a very good choice - good service, nice breakfast, comfortable room, beautiful ambience and most important is the location - only about 8 minutes walking distance from the event site.
Along the way some names (hotels, shopping malls, etc) getting more and more familiar such as Boulevard and Imperial. After late lunch and packing some extra pizza and some famous kuih lapis sarawak, its time to fetch Dulmi at the airport. It was already 6pm and getting late. We should be having some rest for the next day rest. But we went to Emart about 30 minutes away from the airport for ikan terubuk. I am not really a fan of any local specialties including the fish, but really enjoyed the time spent catching up with them. It was a decent market, got our terubuk and garam bario, and get to know couple of local vegetables that we have not seen before such as terung masam.
The Race Event
REPC - when we arrived around 11am, the que was already building up. But it was really smooth and well organised one. The usual booths for sponsors and sport merchandise, accessories, power gel and etc.
Venue - the event site (FO and FL was located around the Stadium Miri (not inside the stadium. I wish they would change at least the finishing line inside the stadium to make it more grand, in the future). We also struggled a bit looking for the bagage service and eventually found it inside the mini stadium. But all in all it was a good venue and management.
Flag Off - simple warm up with Zumba, then FO, rightly so! We dont need long opening agendas nor political or VIPs speeches. We just want to sweat it out running the distance.
The Race - ahhh i quickly fall in love with the route, in the beginning at least! Almost flat all along, u would be singing with joy until KM32-35. Starting in the middle of the pack of runners at flag off, my target was for a slow run, maintaining pace 6-7 while observing any sign of muscle issues. (At SCKLM2017 I only managed 11km before deciding DNF with ITB issue link). Along the way, I passed by Esther and Linda to catch up with the 5:00 pacers, and they both seems enjoying a steady pace for their FMV. (The both eventually finished with an impressive 5:25, and Esther was on the 13th placing in her category)
I felt good with this past mid-night run passing through Pujut area, Kampung Tulang and Miri River before turning back from Lutong to Kampung Pulau Melayu to the Miri Stadium for the first tranche, almost completely a flat route. Weather was just perfect too with clear sky and stars. Still no sign of cramps or pain, though I managed to avoid the temptation to up the pace too early. Along the route, plenty of WS, plenty of road marshal especially at the roundabout(s), police traffic and medic too. For some dark area, they had car parked with lighting on the road. Great organisation!
At 21km, I was on 2:17, and mathematically sub-5 is well within target. At 32km, I was on 3:32 and I was thinking about a little push for the last 10km. Then I saw my brother Dulmi with his red “Tawau Runners Club” tee. He was already at walking pace, and asked me to continue running. I can understand that, he has not been feeling well for about 4 weeks and similar case with me, lack of training. I remembered he said before the race "we are runners. we just run. klu tak larat stop tp mudah2an larat".
BUT, never take marathon for granted - respect the distance. Marathon is meant to test your endurance. You have to earn it, stop complaining if you dont meet the game rules.
MM2018 presented the last 10km with a steep 2km uphill climb around the Tanjong Lubang to the Kampung Luak area then downhill before a 2km flat route to u-turn, and then repeat the same uphill and downhill from the opposite direction. By then I have already lost much of the fighting spirit, walking most of the time. My right leg decided he had enough, already painful for each bend, and I could not run anymore. But, I knew that somehow I will make it to the finishing line and it will still be within the 7 hours COT. The last 3km was a flat road but really like a no ending road, and the final 2km, was crowded with runners from other categories already joining the pack to the finishing line.
I crossed the FL with 5:13 with average pace of 7:20. I am proud to earn this golden Miri Marathon 2018 medal, the first of the Great Borneo Series 2018! "Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever" and the fin tee remind us "WORN with PRIDE"
Ris (10km) and Dulmi also completed their run in one piece and we all give a big thumbs up for the event.
A marathon that will be in my running list!
