SHAKIRA-Whenever,Wherever,we're meant to be together I'll be there and you'll be here

I feel unfit.

 

Having run less in the weeks after the 15k race, I feel my condition which I have worked so hard to attain in the last few months, draining away. 

 

I’ve been able to complete my speed sessions at Kampung Pandan; but I don’t think that is any indication of my state of fitness. 

 

Maybe I feel this way because I’ve been pretty tired and lacking sleep.  Maybe it’s all in my head.  I don’t know.

 

Anyway Saturday was the Pacemakers Anniversary Run.  Venue- KLCC park.  Time- 730am.  It was to commemorate the 1^st anniversary of the formation of the Pacemakers team, an unofficial group of runners from all walks of life.   The initial idea of its founder, Ronnie See, was to form a team (named “Der Pacemakers”) for the Penang Island Relay.  Initially there were a few “members” in the team.  But when that race clashed with another race in KL, most of the “members” opted to go for the KL race instead.  Still, Der Pacemakers was already formed by then and so it remained.   The months went by and as more runners went online, Ronnie’s newly set-up blog became a focal point for online discussions and chats.  More friends were made within the running community, which expanded rapidly, and so did Der Pacemakers team.  Currently there are 27 “members” of Der Pacemakers, but more importantly, many new friends were made.  For my part I was introduced to a whole new group of friends who shared the same passion as me- running.  So, the PAR in my opinion, was not only to celebrate the 1^st anniversary of the formation of Der Pacemakers, but to celebrate the friendship and bond that we as runners have forged in such a short period of time.  Let’s face it, many of us didn’t know each other 2 years ago!

 

For the PAR 2005 I was the designated checkpoint and Luggage man.  Arriving at 615am, I put on my running shoes and lost track of time chatting with Kevin Chow, Petalingrunner, Ronnie, Adam and the rest.  I was supposed to run the “volunteers” run!  By then it was almost 640am and I managed to run 5 laps before deciding to stop (I didn’t want to!) to carry out my volunteering responsibilities.  It was about 705am by then.  I got changed, and some of the runners handed their luggage to me.   I was then given a clipboard together with the list of runners whose names I had to mark down provided they passed my designated checkpoint, which was the 950 meter mark of the KLCC park.

 

The turn out was wonderful- everyone was there! 32 runners in total, but with the volunteers and runners families, etc, it was a sizeable group.  We had designated photographers in Woof and Tey; Adam, CM, Ronnie, Siew Mooi were also the other volunteers.

 

The race was won by Khoo Yit Kiat, but the overall winner was Ah Toh, due to a “technicality” which only Ronnie can explain.  I don’t want to be accused of not explaining it properly!  From a volunteer’s perspective, everyone were really putting in 110%- the pace of the 1^st lap said it all! Ah Toh ran it in 4:53, while the rest averaged in the region of 6:30 I think.  Even Jason Lim ran the first lap in 6:03!   Still, the KLCC route has a “slow killer” effect.  It is somewhat undulating and the only “flat” route is between the 800 meter and 900 meter mark.  The rest of the route is either run downhill or uphill. 

 

After the race, prizes were given to the participants, and we adjourned to the nearby Lotus Restaurant for breakfast.  Breakfast was paid out of the fund.  All in all a great way to spend the morning.

 

Didn't run on Sunday. 

 

Something interesting happening this evening- the people from Star Metro will be interviewing us, the Pacemaker group.   Keep a lookout in the future Star Metro editions for a write up on us. 

 

Breakfast at Pelita was with Jamie; then lunch at Citi Square was with Jamie, Kenneth, Newton, Li Sar, Wen Dee and Geraldine.