PHOTOS BY PM TEY
8 November 2009 - Manjung Perak
8 November 2009 - Manjung Perak
Run 11km - Bike 64km - Run 10km = FUN
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Another tough race in my book.
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Was looking forward to dip below 4 hours - a good target since I did 4:01:14 with much lesser training last year (http://cheekaimun.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html). But strong cough medicine taken on the Friday prior to race day Sunday had affected my body so much that I felt weak when I started warming up for the starting gun.
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Took 1st 11km run EZ with a 5 minute pace. Things turned bad 20km into the 64km bike ride - I had body ache. Not due to fatigue but the feverish type of body ache. Contemplated on quiting at end of 1st 32km loop but stubborn me - I just made the u-turn @ end of 1st lap and headed out for more suffering.
Another tough race in my book.
>
Was looking forward to dip below 4 hours - a good target since I did 4:01:14 with much lesser training last year (http://cheekaimun.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html). But strong cough medicine taken on the Friday prior to race day Sunday had affected my body so much that I felt weak when I started warming up for the starting gun.
>
Took 1st 11km run EZ with a 5 minute pace. Things turned bad 20km into the 64km bike ride - I had body ache. Not due to fatigue but the feverish type of body ache. Contemplated on quiting at end of 1st 32km loop but stubborn me - I just made the u-turn @ end of 1st lap and headed out for more suffering.
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Things got worse in the 2nd loop. I was overtaken so many times, I thot I was gonna finish almost last. Thot of quiting lingered in my mind. Such big difference from last year's race - when I felt strong on the bike.
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Told myself to quit the race, if I have cramps at end of the bike. Strangely my leg muscles held up nicely, altho the body still feel weak. It was quite late in the morning & the sun was scorching hot.
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Stubborn me (again), I slipped on my running shoes, put on my running cap, walloped some Power Gels & set out to complete the damn race with another 10km run. By then, many who overtook me on the bike were already walking. I wasn't running fast but it was good enough to regain some positions lost on the bike.
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The pain was there, but I found myself repeating the chorus of the song "Pain Is So Close To Pleasure" (Queen). Regaining the positions lost kept me going.
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I ended the race in 4 hours 11 minutes & was good enough to rank 13th in my age group (out of 60) & 137th overall (out of 600 or so).
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Very satisfied with my result - altho slower than last year but timing was secondary. Overcoming the pain & the loud silent voice from within that kept repeating "Quit, Quit, Quit!!" is an experience I can always fall back on, in tough times outside triathlon.
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Despite the pain, I guess I am gonna keep doing Powerman for as long as I can. Somehow, its the pain that kept me coming back - something only my fellow die hard triathetes would understand.
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1 comment:
4:11 is a good time le...congrats...
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