It is my second ½ marathon race in KL this year and unlike Energizer night race and Sundown marathon it was a more interesting race running through the heart of the KL city and certainly more challenging as it involves a number of up and down slopes, but luckily they were not really long and steep ones. I would always hope to do well but because of the terrain, I felt getting a PB would be tough, although I still hope for a 100min half marathon PB. This time round I was better prepared mentally, knowing my fitness level better especially after what happened at Sundown marathon, I will expect myself to slow down after 5 – 6km.
Just before the race I managed another rush to the toilet before I did a 2km warm up run, I was a bit late to the start point but still managed to have some quick stretching but with no time left to move further up front. Anyway I felt it’s okay as probably no PB for me today :P. But most importantly, this time round I make sure I am properly rehydrated after my warm up runs, a lesson I learned from after my recent Sundown Marathon warm up.
As the race flags off at 6:15am it took me slightly more than 2mins to reach the start point. My first km of 5min/km was way below my intended half marathon pace of 4:45min/km, no choice as I was behind groups of slow human walls. Luckily things started to pick up from second km onwards as I managed to dictate and maintained my 1:30hr marathon pace. Feeling good and comfortable with my pace as I took 23:36min to hit the first 5km mark, feeling glad especially after a slow start to the race.
As I was mentally prepared, I tried to keep my pace really close to 4:45min/km, I was hoping that I could hold out longer. Soon it was 10km and I took 47mins, and as expected I was slowing down. I knew I could not go any faster but to keep as close to 4:45min/km as possible. Nevertheless I was glad to have hit the halfway mark.
The race from 11km onwards was a test of my discipline to keep up with my race pace, especially the up and down slopes making it really difficult for me to maintain a consistent pace, but I felt not too bad as I still managed to keep it under 4:49min/km, at least with an average of 5km from 10 to 15km very close to 4:45min/km.
The race is always tough after 16km as I needed some extra push factor, it was more motivating to run with others at my race pace and along the way I found some “pacers” as we run for about over 5 to 6km pacing and pushing each other to the limit. But soon my pace eventually deteriorated to 4:55min/km before I managed to pick up again with 3km to go, it was where I managed to make up for some lost time with a faster pace of 4:29min/km before I decide to slow down a little as I felt the need to reserve some energy for the final push.
After 20km I felt 1:40hr finish is no longer possible but I thought I will just run as fast as I could, and surprising that I could continue running faster and faster at 4:23min/km and with the crowds cheering on I managed to round up my final 270m in 48secs with a pace of 4:05min/km, and as I got closer I notice that the my gun time was showing close to 1:42:50hr soon as I cross the finish line. A quick check on my garmin and it shows 1:40:40hr, certainly a pleasant surprise especially when I was really slow from 16 – 18km.
It was a pleasant surprise as I never expect a PB, not when after only one month ago when I just got a PB from Sundown marathon and moreover I never thought I could do it on uneven up and down running route. Lastly and most importantly it was achieve with a negative splits, however it would better if I can keep a more consistent over the last 6km as 1:40:38 finish would not be possible if I had not run faster at 19km and 21km onwards.
| Rank | BIB No | Name & Category | Gun Time | Net Time |
| 42 | E-06356 | Kenneth Goh Hiong Hong | 01:42:51 | 01:40:38 |
5k split (Garmin)
| Lap (5km) | Time (min) | Avg Pace (min/km) |
| 0-5 | 23:36 | 4:43 |
| 6-10 | 24:02 | 4:48 |
| 11-15 | 23:50 | 4:46 |
| 16-20 | 23:51 | 4:46 |
| 21-21.27 | 05:11 | 4:05 |
Split | Time | Distance | Avg Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 01:40:40 | 21.27 | 04:43 |
| 1 | 00:05:00 | 1.00 | 05:00 |
| 2 | 00:04:40 | 1.00 | 04:40 |
| 3 | 00:04:40 | 1.00 | 04:40 |
| 4 | 00:04:35 | 1.00 | 04:35 |
| 5 | 00:04:42 | 1.00 | 04:41 |
| 6 | 00:04:44 | 1.00 | 04:44 |
| 7 | 00:04:54 | 1.00 | 04:54 |
| 8 | 00:04:45 | 1.00 | 04:45 |
| 9 | 00:04:47 | 1.00 | 04:47 |
| 10 | 00:04:52 | 1.00 | 04:52 |
| 11 | 00:04:47 | 1.00 | 04:47 |
| 12 | 00:04:43 | 1.00 | 04:43 |
| 13 | 00:04:49 | 1.00 | 04:49 |
| 14 | 00:04:45 | 1.00 | 04:45 |
| 15 | 00:04:46 | 1.00 | 04:46 |
| 16 | 00:04:48 | 1.00 | 04:48 |
| 17 | 00:04:55 | 1.00 | 04:55 |
| 18 | 00:04:49 | 1.00 | 04:49 |
| 19 | 00:04:29 | 1.00 | 04:29 |
| 20 | 00:04:50 | 1.00 | 04:50 |
| 21 | 00:04:23 | 1.00 | 04:23 |
| 22 | 00:00:48 | 0.27 | 02:57 |
