Monday, June 27, 2011

Standard Chartered KL Marathon (21km)


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
Men's Open - Half Marathon (Men)

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
Summary01:40:4021.2704:43
100:05:001.0005:00
200:04:401.0004:40
300:04:401.0004:40
400:04:351.0004:35
500:04:421.0004:41
600:04:441.0004:44
700:04:541.0004:54
800:04:451.0004:45
900:04:471.0004:47
1000:04:521.0004:52
1100:04:471.0004:47
1200:04:431.0004:43
1300:04:491.0004:49
1400:04:451.0004:45
1500:04:461.0004:46
1600:04:481.0004:48
1700:04:551.0004:55
1800:04:491.0004:49
1900:04:291.0004:29
2000:04:501.0004:50
2100:04:231.0004:23
2200:00:480.2702:57

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