My second Full Marathon in Kuala Lumpur.

Should be the first to take a picture here on 28/9/19

Long queue to collect running bib at PWTC

On 28/09/2019 I completed Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Full Marathon in a Gun time of 7hours 10 minutes but a net time of exactly 7 hour. I considered this run a tough run due to the hilly track along Bukit Tunku and also the late start which made us slower runners exposed to the scorching sun for our last few hours of run. It was stated that the cut off time for full marathon is 7 hours 15 minutes but it seemed the cut of time followed the time of the digital clock at the starting line or gun off time. It is not so fair those runners at back of the pack who crossed the starting line 10 to 15 minutes after the gun off. In fact there were 2 more cut off times , one at 21 km and another at 32 km. Three bus load of runners did not make it to the 1st and 2nd cut off time and were seen sent back to the starting point. 

Landmark at starting venue

Stand behind the 6 hours pacers even though I am much slower

I did not run well in this marathon because I went to the  starting venue too early. I was at Padang merdeka around 1:15 am. Perhaps I was the first pariticipant to arrive because I could only see volunteers and no other participant at that time. The starting time for full marathon is 3:45am which meant I had to wait for 2 hours and 30 minutes. In fact I was feeling a bit hungry near to the gun off time which affected me psychologically. I went to the starting venue early because I was worried I could not get  transport from Bukit Bintang where I stayed if I started out too late. I initially thought of taking a grab but ended up taking a taxi instead who charged me RM20 for the short trip. He sure had overcharged because he was very happy when I pay him the fare because he was seen kissing the notes I passed him. It is good sometimes to be a Santa Claus to make people happy. The road in the initial part of the race was not really level even though it is in the city centre. I had to run slowly fearing that I might step on uneven ground. The big crowd and hot weather is another factor that prevent me from slower than my usual pace. . I like the part on Duke highway which stretches for more than 10 km with excellent pacement  but that was the time I was strucked with fatigue. I had to employ the technique of heavy breathing to relieve my tiredness and kept me going forward.

There are quite a few places of slope and I followed the crowds by walking up the slope but ran down the slope at slightly faster pace. Perhaps it was the slope that made me suffered slight pain in my left knee. I tried to keep running slowly in the last 10 km as I did in my previous full marathon in Borneo Marathon but fatigue just did not allow me to keep on running without walking. Even though I had consumed 6 energy gels and 2 pieces of banana but those energy enhancers just did not help to improve my performance.  

The organiser had really lived up to its reputation as a good organiser because they provided more than sufficient water and isotonic drink, cooling stations with sponges and many first aid stations. The commendable part is the provision of 2 energy gels and 2 banana at different water station. The shortfall of this marathon is despite all the precaution yet there was an accident involving 2 faster runners who were  knocked down by a lady driver high on drug. Luckily their injuries were not life threatening but it would be a big blow to them because they might not be able to run again in the very near future. 

Hard earned medal

Even though I just managed to beat the cut off time by 5 minutes but I am still happy with my achievement. What matters most to me is to complete the full marathon within cut off time and earn myself the medal and finisher's tee. While collecting my running bib at World trade centre, Taipei Standard Chartered marathon organisers were seen handing out brochures to invite runners to run in Taipei Standard Chartered marathon. I was surprised they had to come so far to invite participant because marathon in Taiwan usually sell out very fast. Perhaps it is due to the Hong Kong unrest and the prohibition of mainland visitors to Taiwan. I finally decided that I would grab this golden opportunity to run in Taipei which I had yet to visit. I would just register for half marathon which has a cut off time of 3.5 hours and within my reach. See you Taipei Standard Chartered Marathon on 19/01/2020. 

Visiting Tian Hou  temple with two Chung Ling Classmates