Personal experience at Borneo Marathon 2014
This is not my first time taking part in Borneo marathon as was there last year for FM. But this year do not see many familiar faces at the race. Could be due to the long weekend or other races but only managed to see Mohan before the race begins.
The race route remains mostly the same as last year as so i thought until 20 mins before start of the FM flag off are we told that the FM will start outside of the stadium. Last year was inside Likas stadium. At 3am sharp, the FM was flagged off. since the beginning is the same, decided to go slow. During the warmup session, my left knee cap starts to hurt a little so thought go slow is a better choice. From Likas stadium, run pass the sabah trade centre towards atkinson clock tower. Suddenly need to visit the toilet so went for the water/aid station after padang merdeka. As there is a stretch which is not well-lighted, got a runner hit the depression on road but thankfully no injury. Still too early in the race.
With excess water out of the system, feel like a bird and started running a little faster. Between karamunsing complex and kian kok school, there is a slope that will turn into the expressway. I attempted to relax my head/arms and take shorter steps to save energy while maintaining my pace. It proves critical later. After Kian Kok school water point, I started to take 100 plus mix with water from my hydration bag. I train with my hydration bag so top it up the day before with plain water. It proves to be a difference as the race progresses. After the school, it's back towards likas stadium. By this time the 21K runners are just arriving at the stadium with some of them cheering us on.
After likas stadium, its towards Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) the water/Aid points are spaced 2KM apart from each other with one table plain water, one table 100 plus, one table plain water, last table 100 plus. I do like this arrangement as no need to have mix-up of 100 plus and plain water. Reminds me of SCMHK and SCMTW water point stations setup. The volunteers also shouted out earlier what they are holding so just go to the one needed will do. Inside UMS is the in-famous UMS hills which is needed to clear before can go out of the campus. So i went into my same method for clearing the expressway earlier. This time I was traveling up the hills while other runners walked up. For every up hill, there is a down hill so i was in a better position to travel down faster. No need to have brakes since pace is comfortable and relaxed. In my mind, I was telling myself to continue moving despite the slopes. After 4 hills later, I was out of UMS and toward 1 Borneo shopping mall. The bulk of the FM runners are just entering UMS so gave them some claps to push them on. I also saw the morning light on the horizon so think that with my pace, i should be able to aim for either 5 and below. The route remains the same until the u-turn last year. this year u-turn is near the industrial estate which is some distance from the previous u-turn point.
My heart nearly sink as a result but since already clear so much, no way i will stop. From the beginning of the race, I had split the race into 4 parts of 10K each so its easier to encourage oneself. After the U-turn, its 31K (i think, cannot remember) so just press on. The sun is up and behind me. From then on, I was splitting the distance further into 2K each and will see my sportstracker app at 34K to see if i am still on target or not. The 34K mark is outside 1 Borneo shopping mall and the app shows i just took 3hrs 53mins, which means i have 1hr to clear 8K as long as i continue my pace. With determination to make this my run my PB its a do or die trying from then on.
As its return journey back pass UMS, the HM runners are coming out walking so have to ignore them and continue. To make things worse, the water stations has run out of paper cups so it's drink from the bottle which i took some slip of 100 plus and mix with my hydration bag water. it continued to the end of the race with the last 2 drink station completed no more water and with the morning sun up, i pity those running without any hydration belts, bottles or whatever. The junction after the city mosque remains jam with cars and the traffic police this time round stopped the traffic on both sides so we can cross and go towards Likas stadium. No increase in pace but have to say 'excuse me, make way' for those walkers as i run past them.
At the stadium, there are some extra cheering local running group. One runner ran pass me and stopped outside the stadium. I have to tell him the end point is inside the stadium, not outside. I was already running on empty and was increasing my pace to finish it. so close yet so far. My torchlight which i attached to my hydration bag came out at this point n i have to hold the torchlight in its porch while i dash to the finish. As quickly as it started, it ended when i cross the finish line. I stopped my app and it reads 4hrs 57mins. guess I was too wasted to jump up so just save the record first and go to the FM area where they served iced milo, orange juice, eggs, toasted bread. Had the ice cold milo and orange juice. Heard on the PA, the champion for FM open female is from Singapore.
I think the reason for a better run this time could be a combination of reasons below.
1) Familiar with the route for most of it
2) Taking of Durian cake with banana the day before. provides the stored energy without the need for gel until the 34K
3) 5 hours sleep the night before
4) Cool May weather. The morning weather was cooling
5) More hill training at Upper pierce and BTH
For whatever reasons, just love getting a PB for humid weather so the training pays off. :)
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