The Standard Charted KL Marathon is the biggest and the most famous running event in Malaysia. It is an event where all running communities gather and meet up. This year, I managed to join. Last year, it was cancelled due to the haze.
My flight from Kuching was at 5.30 pm and I touched down Kuala Lumpur 7 pm. It was 8 hours before the race. And I was nervous! Every Full Marathon always feel like my very first.
As early as 2 am, 2 hours before the race, thousands runners started to gather at Dataran Merdeka. We were all too excited for the race to start.
Let”s take wefie before run! yayy!
He managed to pace me for the first 21km 😉 Thanks Hadi.
Full marathon flagged off at 4am, and it was a long crowded queue at the starting line and the first 2 kilometers,it was just run easy pace since it was too crowded. I started to run at my own pace at kilometers 5 when people start to distance themselves.
I maintained my pace between 6 to 8 min/km until kilometres 21. By the Fajr time, I was already at Kilometres 16. It took 10 minutes to perform solah at the water station since we have to take turn. After the prayer, I continued to run. As I passed by the Duke and Akleh highways, the pace drop to 9 min/km. If you aim to finish sub 5.30, you can maintain this pace towards the end. Always watch out that the pacers for 5h 30 mins do not take over you.
Don’t forget to smile at the camera!
The water stations were available at almost every 3 km, provided with cold water and isotonic drink. It was very convenient for the runners because they could choose how frequent they needed to drink. As for me, I would drink although a sip at every water station. Water station is one of my motivations to run faster. I would try to run faster to reach the next water station.
Congrats Kak Eliza for doing PB in HM today! Keep it up!
Overall, the route was mainly Duke highway, Akleh highway and hilly route at Bukit Tunku at the last 6 km before the finish line. How I wish was wearing a pair of roller blades whenever I was close the finish line. The weather was too hot.
I was wearing one of my favourite outfits – Burgundy heather, pink Iman Hijab and Black Riada Pant from Nashata
The finishing line is almost there! Never give up! Pic by : AKU, WONG
I managed to complete my 9th Full Marathon in 5 hours 16 minutes with no injury. Alhamdullilah!
Yayy I make it!
After the race, I was very pleased to meet some hijabi runners. Most of them just finished their HM. They finished strong too.
They did well today 😉 Congrats guys!
Running events are where runners get to meet each other
This is my beautiful and strong Iranian friend,..she did 4 h 30 min for FM..congrats Reem!
I was very happy to see people running,..either young or old, skinny or obese,..they choose to run. Lets keep running and be inspired!
I flew back to Kuching at 3:15pm feeling accomplished.
Till we meet again 😉