Race to Param

First day of Ramadhan.
This time last year I had about 3 days of running in total. It took me months to feel run-able again, and I suffered greatly in the subsequent runs.

Unlike the pros, I am not putting speed above whatever daily role as a husband and father, so squeezing all the runs this year will be a challenge. Today, is an acid test for the remaining 29 days of fasting and running, and the ones after the Aidilfitri, and navigating between the open houses and endless roti jala and ketupat pulut kacang merah. 
Hydrations and fuels during sahur and iftar, demanding work, runs, terawikh, and tucking the girls to sleep etc - all in 24 hours of time.

Dear wife dragged me out of my slumber, and I forced in few handfuls of rice with something-something, some dates and lots of water.
Truthfully, I am not a fan of conventional sahur and its spreadful of food and drinks. I just have whatever I normally have for breakfast - cereals and all. I know, boring!


The road barely inching away on both sides as I exited the office, all geared up. I had a window of an hour to squeeze in 7k at the park. Either KLCC or Kepong Metro seemed like impossible to reach. Now I wished I had a bike (ok, enough poking... motorbike).

The traffic was at its heaviest around 5 p.m., understandably. But I secretly wished that our non-Muslim friends would be more generous on the road at this time. You guys do not exactly need to rush and hoard the road at this hour, lah kan...

wind gush on approaching Stonor Park and Park Seven


Parked my car, had my run, or rather T.O.F (time-on-feet) of a full 7k - first 6k doing a faster 30mins and a cool fast walk for the remaining klick. 
Good run, no sign of fatigue whatsoever, although felt dry on the lips and throat. I almost accidentally stopped at a water station, oopps...
Weather was good, it started with few drops of rain but it stayed overcast throughout. Between the 300th - 600th metre, the wind gush was strong, it slowed down my pace by a tenth of a second... chewah! (ok, it was not). And it was good not having youths spewing off cigarette smokes in the air in your directions for a change.

I was out of the park just after 7, and the traffic was so free! Suppose the majority of us were already at the tables, or making the final turnaround to the kuih lapis stall, or frantically fight for the last ayam golek available. I managed to pick wifey at home, and picked the kids before iftar. 
The first thing for iftar was dates and 100+ (for the run)! Sedapnya...

oh, dah kurus pahala puasa ku...

Had time for Iris and her biking just after iftar, showered and solat etc, and the terawikh was like interval trainings, and home to get the girls to bed. The thing is, we Malays are minorities in our flats, as the majority of Pak Arab took the charge for terawikhs... felt a little like my old town in Wigan last time :D.

I fixed a simple chicken pasta dish for supper, and dozed off while watching CSI. I lost track whether Grissom and Sarah were back, or was it a rerun from whenever.

Acid test - tried and tested. 

Comments

Yimster said…
The beginning is always the harder to get into gearing. Sounds like you're on the right path there bro. Chin up.
Gerb said…
hadoi..boleh lari 7k lagi tu. Ayam golek tu kalau kalo tgh lapar rasa macam makan sekor pun tak cukup.
IJAM said…
mak ai, sempat lagi training tu...
sabar di bulan puasa...ye tak?
EnAikAY said…
That roasted chicks look much better than what i had in my dreams.
And i don't mind getting this for my birthday, instead of a cake.

P/s: text size has reduced a bit, easier to read, good point. and few photos have made their colorful appearance, double good point! (tapi, jgn la selalu letak gambar2 yg menggoda iman mcm ayam panggang tu...)
June Malik said…
text size reduced not good for my young eyes lol, keep up ur running syah !
Diket said…
Had to pass CSI, I think it was a rerun. CSI Miami new season better :)
Datuk sudah mula berlari, which means kita mesti terus motivate each other!
iamsyah said…
yim - how are you getting on with the remaining 8 weeks to TNF? ajak2 lah kalau LSD, buleh join :)

gerb - ayam golek tu, ricik-ricikkan, buat sandwich pun sodap :D, tapi sabar ye, iman nak makan kalau kat Param mmg nipis hhheeh
iamsyah said…
ijam - slow-slow je... ntah bila nak kejar pace kau pun ntah le...

nik - ok noted. tapi kalau bagi sekor ayam, kena le share, wa pun nak jugak. gambar menggoda iman tu acid test bai, tengok kau tergoda ke tak.
nnt ijam superimpose gambar amoi ngan ayam pangang tuh hehehe

june - thanks. eh tak sempat baca your haatyai report lagi lah... mebbe lepas terawikh today kalau tak tido hahahah. how's your planned run after sahur?

diket - think it was. Sarah made a comeback, not Grisham :)
aku lari maintain je... nak naik beskal belum ada hehehe oooppppsss, habis di situ ye... hahahhahah
Yimster said…
syah, you got me there. I dont quite have a plan for the remainder 8 weeks or so. A long 42km LSD this Sunday, and hopefully credible mileage a week (say 50km weekly plus LSD). Besides that throwing in the usual core/strength exercise weekly plus biking. Think I want to do night cycling now. I am shaking now ... adoi.

You guys cant do the jungle marathon LSD but please include me with any night LSDs. I am desperately slacking! Ammah! <- pinjam ya Diket, Yikes! <- pinjam ya k.june lol
iamsyah said…
ala... I'll miss the jungle marathon to balik kampung laaa... what to do.

am heading to Putrajaya this saturday for a 25+, hopefully. what about haza?

my saturdays will be putrajaya LSDs, will update soon if you wanna join :)
ziff71 said…
6km in 30 minutes! Ammah! Tersangat power! Keep it up bro, nanti nite LSD calling2 lah :)
Yimster said…
syah, dont think I can do a 25+ this saturday and finish it with a 42km on sunday lol. Pengsan but as ziff said, calling2 lah when there's one. Would love to join. Haza? Errm dunno bout her plans but I presume there's a secret treneng somewhere :)
kookykash said…
Yim: Did I read you right running a 42km this Sunday? Make sure you guys dont increase your mileage suddenly yah, recipe for injury. Love your knees, feet, etc.

Guys I wont be able to join any of your runs this ramadan. No energy and time to travel far2. Will run my own. All the best for your training!
iamsyah said…
ziff - nak kejar balik bukak puasa maa... ok will do, this wiken ada kalau mau join :)

yim - i know... careful on your full LSD this sunday, takde road marshalls tu :)

kash - takpa, we cilok during POR lepas raya. Ian kata first POR on 3rd Raya? muntak ketupat laaa
Yimster said…
Kash, yup unofficial full marathon 42km (or a bit more). More like a LSD where I will take my sweet time to finish around 6 hours or so. Not to worry, I still love and want my knees!!!

Syah, most definitely, thanks. Hopefully running in a small group will help out a bit. Calling2 lah for upcoming LSDs :)
Anonymous said…
Syah, nice shots! And, no your sahur is not boring lah, much like mine. But I am beginning to feel we need to eat sahur more and buka poser less?

Anyway, you got a point there. Ponteng too many days during ramadhan, then binge on pulut and santan and gula during raya, then padan muka when we want to pick up the fitness!
iamsyah said…
yim - ok kawtim. will update soon

haza - alamak, I am a believer of plagiarism, and do not acknowledge its author hahaha, simply because I hate to bring my cam when running. those are pics off the web :D

agree with more on sahur and less on iftar. easier to roll into office and sustain for the day.

how are you doing for project TNF?
Fong said…
hehe, i think u r doing just fine.. body later will get adjusted, then u may even increase ur training =) listen to your body =) gud luck for TNF

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