This year I ran SCKL 21KM Half Marathon for HOSPIS MALAYSIA:- Run For A Reason is an individual run for charity programme. I had the opportunity to embark on raising funds for a cause that is important to me. Run for a reason (RFAR) is a fundraising run which primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. A big shout to all my family and friends that contributed! YOU ARE MY REASON! This year, it was special and unique and well, when I can’t run with legs, I run with my heart, instead. Running for a charity can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. I had the chance to support others who are less fortunate than us by doing what I love – running! Furthermore, my impact will be immeasurable.

It’s not always about the competition, run for a reason.

I’ve always said that running is so much more than just running, and that we are stronger than we think. Run for a reason (RFAR) 21KM Half Marathon, proved to me, once again, how true this is.

In the hours before the race, I was slightly nervous. I didn’t know why. The race didn’t mean anything. But perhaps that’s just something I was trying to talk myself into believing. With every race we have that tiny ray of hope that something great might happen, even if we are under-trained. I wasn’t trying to set a PR or achieve a big audacious goal. I was just there to have fun , to run for a reason and spend the weekend with my “Sole” mate-hubby and dear friends. Why, then, did I have a few butterflies flapping around in my belly?

Race day always dawns early. I never hear my alarm the morning of a race. The adrenaline takes over and I’m awake, counting down the minutes until I leave our home, Seremban.

My expectations are low. Expect nothing. Experience everything. Write the story later.

Finding a decent warm-up space was challenging given the amount of people also trying to do their thing. To avoid the masses of people, and to be honest, needing the loo, I decided to run to the porta-porties and back and treat that as my warm up jog. As with all big city races, to get a decent position on the start line you had to begin queuing up for ages before the beginning of the race- something I hate as it puts all the warm up to waste by just standing still for 20 minutes. But needs must, and before I knew it the gun went off. BANG.

Prior to beginning the race I had delusions of being near the front- having seen a pace car and bikes earlier in the day. My vision of feeling like an elite athlete was dashed as soon as the gun went off when I was reminded that the fastest runners would be running around 65min… and I, well, wouldn’t. 

Never mind! I settled into a rhythm as the course took us through the streets of Kuala Lumpur. I tried to avoid bobbing and weaving through the crowd and focused on feeling comfortable. When my watch signaled we’d made it to the first mile, the number 8:09 was staring back at me. That felt surprisingly easy, I thought. Then the second mile was behind us: 7:53. Hmmm. I felt fantastic. Strong. I didn’t feel like I was running too fast and my breathing certainly wasn’t labored. I wanted to make sure my adrenaline wasn’t playing tricks on me.

It wasn’t.

The race route had brought runners through KL, passing through many of the city’s iconic landmarks along the way too. So it was a nice, scenic tour of KL on foot. The roads were fully closed and the organisers truly prioritise runners’ safety. For the first 5km the group I was running in stayed more or less together. A few people passed me. I passed a few people. We were all finding our own pace to run.

I was particularly impressed with the amount of manpower/traffic police invested to make sure there was help when needed. It was enjoyable to run on the road that we drive on everyday. The route led us to KL City Centre, KL Tower, Time Square, Pavillion, Bukit Bintang annd of course Merdeka Square. This 21km route also covers hills and highway giving runners a very good variety of views and city elevations to enjoy!

The first half of the course was completely flat. As we continued along the back half, I was met with numerous not-so-rolling hills. I continued to charge up them without fear or fatigue. Stay consistent. Do not falter. Strength is pain leaving the body.

Many runners stopped and performed their obligation. It was a nice touch, where many Muslim friends prayed by the road side. The water stations were well organised and the set up was really well this time around. Water at every stops and Isotonic every alternate. Medical assistance and help were present with sponging stations as well. Many bins were placed for runners to dispose the paper cups and all. But the mentality of runners are still not matured enough to understand that the bins are for them to disposed their rubbish.

Keep going, Chrisy! Keep going, Chrisy! Then my thoughts diverted to Cinderella…Why Cinderella? Because she is one happy motivated runner. Sleeping beauty- not a runner, snow white-not a runner, but Cinderella is a runner, although not the most practical runner, glass slippers and all. She is happy to stay motivated. Sure, she had struggles. Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated and to keep going…Cinderella started off with the same running issues everyone could have: a slave to housework, negative nagging family members, a stressful job and heavy work demand. Then she tossed of the glass slippers and went out for a night run. The rest is history! The moral of the story is “Change your impossible to possible and RUN FOR A REASON”!

As I turned a corner and started to ascend up a moderate hill into the AKLEH Highway, I found myself running directly behind a man in a grey shirt. Radiating from his back were the words “Pain is weakness leaving your body.” Having already passed the midway point of the half marathon, I welcomed any mental distraction to keep my thoughts away from the hard effort and focused on continuing to charge forward. I repeated the words in my mind a few times — pain is weakness leaving your body — before deciding I don’t agree with them. You see, the pain that comes from doing anything physically challenging that we choose to do when quitting seems more logical is all about strength, not weakness.

Hit the 10K right around 55:00 (Signages and markers were very helpful. It tells you from every mile marker to go straight, to turn left, turn right.) I was just running and not really concern about the distance (NOT!)…not as easy as it sounds when all your energy is going into moving your legs) and was feeling pretty good. The energy was awesome from the crowds.

Around the 15KM there were people standing with bananas, holding them out for us to grab. I decided I better grab one since the saying goes, there is always the first time for everything! I held it in my hand like a baton. I just tasted it. Somehow that taste helped me get through.

One thing that I have learned though racing in the past is that counting down to the finish is bad way to race, especially, in a long race. With that in mind, I set my body on cruise control and settle in for a long flight.

Uh oh…..just one more 1km to go, I feel my legs, hands, start to cramp, I’m worried because I can already hear the music and emcee and I don’t want to be the girl with “chicken noodle soup” legs at the end that can’t make it to the finish line. Plus, Kudos and a big shout out and thank you to all the official and non-official/volunteer Photographers! Without you, there won’t be any memories to keep and treasure! THANK YOU! It’s time to hedge, I started to walk, I decided that finishing with style is much more important than 5 extra minutes (LOL). I could hear the finish. It was a cruel sensation-my mind buzzing with the sights of Merdeka Square and the crowd cheering, singing and clapping, the experience, the pain and what I’d achieved.

One final KM and I will have finished! The true moment where I realized no matter how bad I may hurt, with lots of chaffing and aches and pains, how tired I am, I will be crossing the finish line- It’s a personal taste of freedom only a runner knows when you have crossed the hump and you finished strong! Grinning like an idiot and just loving every second of it and yet letting every second go by in a blur..Collected my medal! Horray! I DID IT! I RAN FOR A REASON: HOSPIS MALAYSIA! After I have crossed the finished line, I met hubby dearest who clocked 1 hour and 58 minutes- Sub 2 and he was seated with a 2 hour pacer….wooooot wooot, proud moment!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAN WK

The strangest thing happened at the race. While I was running, I focused less on the finish line. I started appreciating the run itself. Many of life’s regrets come when we look back and realised we were so focused on reaching the destination that we forget to appreciate the journey. Don’t get me wrong, at every stage in life, we should be growing and moving towards a goal! But unless you stop to appreciate where you are, you’ll wind up missing the whole experience! Life’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAN WK

Running for a cause can help put things in another perspective. Experiencing the hard training is something very small compared to the challenges faced by those who are struggling with real life dramas. This can help you find motivation for your training and also the problems you encounter in your life daily.