.: Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2012 :.

Last weekend, for the first time in my entire twenty-somthingth years, I took part in a marathon – Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2012 (twitter #scklm). Well, it’s not exactly a marathon per say, coz I just completed *shy to admit* 5km Fun Run, but it was, nonetheless an achievement for me (and perhaps a beginning of something?).

It all happened when The Husband’s colleague decided to do something healthy and challenged each other to sign up for the run. Yes, they do have an epiphany almost once every month about doing something healthy – like fruit diet, exercise, etc, but never really stick to it (should have guessed that history will repeat itself). One did signed up for a 10km Leisure Run, but The Husband thought that he should not be too ambitious and opt for the 5km instead. He asked me if I’d like to join, and at the spur of the moment, without giving much thought, I agreed. And he signed up for me as well. It was days after that I heard from The Husband that most of his colleagues chickened out, leaving him and the other colleague alone to complete the race. What’s even more insulting (in a joking manner) is that they are taking bets on whether The Husband could complete the race. One was even more daring to place a wager that The Husband wouldn’t even turn up!

Well, weeks before the race, I told my husband that we should at least train by jogging around the park nearby our place one of the weekends; at least just to get our stamina up and running, but weekends after weekends, we procrastinated with an excuse of something else more important to do, and before we know it, the marathon week was here.

I was getting a lil cold feet, coz the last time I put a pair of walking shoes on was exactly 2 years ago. Prior to my wedding, I was more physically active (again, this is all relative to my position as at today) as I frequent the gym almost three times a week, but that was all but a distant memory. I wasn’t exactly sure how far 5km was, but now that I recall back, I remember jogging on the treadmill for the same distant under an hour, so it couldn’t be too bad, could it? Well, then again, that WAS two years ago, and that WAS when I was more fit (well, as compared to now that is) and that WAS when I weight much lesser. Could my nimbly legs carry my obese body all the way, I wonder, doubting myself, once again.

I woke up to the sound of the alarm, and my body already wanted to give up then. Yes, I probably think that the biggest hurdle in this whole race is waking up. I salute those who woke up hours ago, probably at the time I went to sleep (2am) to prepare for the Full Marathon at 4am. But The Husband pushed me out of bed, and there I was dragging my feet, dressed up, still in zombie-mode as he drove all the way to Asia Jaya station stop so that we can take the LRT to Masjid Jamek.

Fast forward, the race for the 5km Fun Run started sharp at 8am. And I was taking my own sweet time, strolling for the most part of this race, and jogging every few minutes until my legs/lungs could not take it. It was not too bad as I wasn’t exactly the slowest, and then again, there isn’t really much space to sprint given that there’s a crowd of approximately 1,300 people sharing a narrow two lane road.

But while walking/strolling, whatever you wanna call it, it’s pretty entertaining to observe other fellow runners don in their “costume” running for whatever cause they believe it. Without saying much, I saw some in full yellow outfit (Bersih), a couple of Anti-Lynas, one don in a cow costume (Sharizat) and others. I also saw this little girl, about say 5 or 6 of age, weeping & crying out loud, complaining that she was tired about 3km into the race. Her mom was encouraging her, and other well meaning runners also pacify the little girl by giving words of encouragement. But the poor girl was still sobbing and crying. I tried to encourage her myself, and contrary to what I have thought, her mom said that this is the third time her daughter took part. Perhaps it’s the weather & lack of sleep that got her cranky this time round. I manage to bump into this mother-daughter team again, and it’s encouraging to know that she completed the race, in spite of all the (literally) tears.

One of the things I’ve learned too at this race is the power of encouragement & cheer. Saito College did a nice banner that says “Though time don’t last, but tough people do”. For the more humorous ones “You should not be reading this, you should be running”, “Naked cheerleaders 1km ahead”, “Tired legs are sexy”. It really encouraging I must say, truly underestimated the power of encouragement. Reminds me of a quote from the bible “Encourage one another, and built each other up”.

We manage to reach home, have a bath & was out and ready to crash baby Zac’s full moon luncheon! :)

Am now actually slightly motivated to join the Adidas King of The Road 10km run somewhere in Sept. Should I?