ENERGIZER NIGHT MARATHON 42KM - RISE OF THE FALLEN

Few complaints about the Organizer, why, why and why?...There were not even a matured decent tree to provide the shade from the sun, the starting point and finishing point is too far apart, about 1km, the parking areas were too far apart, it takes one hell of a courage to even walk after the marathon.

Save the trees...save the earth...if not, it will look like this...

Thanks to the blistering sun, i now have a black and white stripes on my back!! The starting point, i called it, the 'zombie Land' ..There was no one here! not even a passers by to cheer us... it really2 demotivate for my dying spirit...42km some more.

Being undertrained after the bareno run 2 weeks earlier, i tried to concentrate on my nutritional intake. Pump up the carbo, iron, magnesium etc....well, at least you can do is eat..

Heading towards the finishing point...1 km away...hooray...

more picture...

more picture...

the guy who beat me...green vest..

At the starting point..not enough shade...the pom-pom girls with a tag line "let our skin go"

Its a hot, hot, hot...the starting point...

Powered by energizer..

being forced to be with the battery...my source of power...

Its hot and dry season and we are good to go...

with Kak J...our international marathoner...nice hair...ultra marathoner Mohd Fariz wearing cap 3rd from left

My sweet moment...personalized bib number..

its not a sardine...its a running club...

Enough about the complaints. At the starting point, mingle with a few friends. and the battery mascot. and the pom-pom girls. Start running at 6pm. A hot and sweaty one. 1st km reached the water station. My target is 7 minutes per km all the way baby...meaning that i will finished about 4 hr and 40 minutes....and so i thought....

The finishing point....kelab komuniti Tasik Cyberjaya..

Let us look around shall we...

greeny and peaceful...

what a nice lake...just you and.. the creepy sound of crickets...

Start running a little bit overdose...pacing averagely 6.46 minutes per km. At 1hr 38 minutes, stumble upon hamidon an elite runner,  he started to walk, he said no more energy. A hilly course most of the route take its toll when i succumbed to an unexpected muscle cramp at the back of my knee at 30km. Feeling tired, a slide show pictures of my family, my kids, office work, my friends juggling into my head. I just want to say that i'm sorry for letting you'll down...

I sat on the pavement stretching my legs, put a little bit of pressure with both of my hand at the back of my knee to relief the pain. I knew its only for a temporary measure. "You have to stop, if you continue, you will have a pro long injury". Even a sweet and lusty amoi also cant help you this time". You are all alone at no mans land.

I  pick up the pieces and pull my self together. With a little bit of encouragement from many of my fellow marathoners who passed by and said "are you ok?", I stand up and started running...and limping...and walking...for another 7km!!!

And that where my nightmare starts. Helplessly I am watching one by one people pass over me..sadly 3 girls wearing tudung, long sleeves and long pants (and a handphone at the back pocket!) took over me. I surrendered!! This is not my night...this is not my marathon...i try to improve but i cant... i'm sorry...

5km to go...been walking all alone, no one beside me...somehow, my legs feels light, the pain is not so great like a moment ago..and i asked myself..."are you ready?"...I answered .."yes, im ready!".

RISE OF THE FALLEN - at 38km and 4km to go, i started running at slower pace and maintain the speed to save the turbo energy. I take off my vest and running half naked just to be more extreme and to light up my spirit. A ray of light had emerged from afar when i saw that 'tudung' girl infront. She didn't go far after all. Tremendously, my energy came out from within (the 'force' like in Star Wars) i try to speed a little bit. Without notice, i managed to overtake the 3 tudung girls....ooo..yeah...

Final push, 2km to go...maintain the speed...overtooked few more runners with pride and dignity..including khairul from chap ayam runners...a word of encouragement from him "go bro, go!"..

The finishing arch is on sight, few hundred metres more....try to push myself  "you have been trained for this, come on!"

Finally!! My journey come to a fantastic end! clocked 5 hours 24 minutes (6 minutes behind personal best). The GPS garmin 405 watch  indicated that i've been running for 40.83 km only. Is it true? yes it is..according to missjewelz website.

To all my fellow marathoners, thank you for your support, your encouragement, your participation, your pain and your endurance, we all share the same. Thank you.

My message to all marathon wanna be : DON'T GIVE UP! YOU CAN DO IT!!

To all amoi who overtooked me that night : you haven't see nothing yet.