Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2009

I had more than my fair share to find myself in situation where ‘Why on earth I’m doing this’ and this was one of it.
I have lived with ‘I have to try this at least once in my life’ kind of stubborn rust that is encrusted in my brain and so far, so old, it’s still there. Which explains “Here we go again”.

My current colleague was asking me whether I wanted to join Standard Chartered marathon, or half marathon. My ex-colleagues had also mentioned about joining at least StanChart 10km run, but we never made it into reality.
Half marathon is around 21 km run, full marathon is 42 km run. Just for comparison, my jogging distance is around 2-3 km, that is after I make it regular. Before that, I felt like shooting myself when I ran just a mere 1 km.

Even now, jogging 2-3 km, I kept hearing voices in my head. Stop! Stop! Give your 1000-years-old radish leg a break. Sometimes I succumb, sometimes I ignore the voices. But I tell you, it’s very worth it to listen to the voices.. he he…

So to say, running long distance is not my thing because I love sprinting. 200m is the nice distance for me. 100-400m is also good distance but that’s the max. After that I would burn down, so marathon is never ever be in my list to do. On the other hand, it encourages me to do something I might be able to, in this concrete jungle setting where I have to stuff my other hobbies into ‘one-in-a-while’ shelves.

So I found this vertical marathon, and judging from my much younger, much skinnier, much fitter favorite activities, going vertical might be more of my cup of tea. (Please read the bold text again)

So I found the info in website, 1336 steps, 73 storeys race up to the helipad of one of South East Asia tallest hotels. When the registration time opened, I signed up before I got chance to procrastinate more. Preparation.. not as much as I want to, what I did mostly is to keep fit. I did try to climb actual distance in housing block, my colleague (thanks! :) even helped me to find highest housing block ---> less than half the height but it’s just not the same. A month before the actual vertical marathon, I had rows of hectic weeks and months in office so I almost didn’t have time and mood to exercise, together with overseas trip, knee pain, leg cramp and whatever whatever, I only have one thing to hope on the day, get it done and go home. Or maybe abort. Ha… I’m serious. I was a nervous wreck, more like when I was waiting for my turn to go on stage to perform on whatever school events (forcibly of course), or in waiting room waiting for dentist while big construction works being carried out next door (with all the drilling and hanky panky sounds). It would be much better if I have a participant friend with me, but whoever I asked avoid me like a plague ;p, lucky I had hubby who accompanied me, at the same time taking ‘sport pictures’, one of the fields we haven’t got a chance to try.

He said I looked pale and I felt my hands shaking, I guess those dare-devils days were over. I might be a wreck in the stage and dentist, but I was never scared in sports and adventures. Yah..the glory of age and working life have taken their tolls....sucks.

Anyway, after long waiting for my category, we were lined up 6 by 6. I gained 3 instant friends who shared the same rows, so it eased up my nerve even to the point that I didn’t feel it at all.

We were supposed to run short distance before reaching the stairwell. From there, we would start to climb. I didn’t run fast to ‘conserve energy’, I also took one step at the time to prevent too much strain in the beginning of the race. Whether it makes or breaks my time, I would only know when I have chance to try it out again in the future.

The beginning was easy; I sped up for what I thought about 9 storey, only to Holly Molly! when I saw I only reached 3rd storey. What!?!!??? Are you kidding me??!!
A while later I started to pant, and all tunnel vision started getting into me. I have recurring low blood pressure and this is one of the early symptoms before I really need to sit or pass out. But I have recognized that without shortbreathness, it should be alright to continue.

Along the way there were some ‘casualties’, people resting on the landing connected to respective floors, some were sitting, some were lying. I was sooo tempted to join them, all I had in mind was the convenience to just pass out.

Reaching around 28th storey was a very difficult mile stone. You have wasted almost all of the instant energy and yet it’s long loooong way to go. It’s not easy to take over someone because of the space and I tend to just follow her pace. The cement staircase, the greyish surrounding colors were like never ending nightmare. Once every few landing I think there would be some medical personnels. They would cheer us up.. come on, you can do it, keep going, 30 more storeys…hurray… it’s nice of them, but okay, it didn’t really encouraging what…we were sweating like pigs and they were having fun with their legs not moving! Why would we believe what they said?! Two contestants who were friend with each other stopped every once and a while to take pictures. There was also official mid landing personnel who asked us to pose for pictures but who would.. not me, told ya, I’m dying dragging my 1000-years-old radish up.

It was like never ending, I got blank mind but kept trying to walk up. Sometimes I rest the leg for few seconds but it was too good that I had to continue before I really stopped climbing.

One girl in my row in front of me was disappearing into thin air after 3rd storey, she looked like seasonal participants and very experienced. I took over only few people including two or three men from previous category.

Finally, reaching around 67,68..whoa…few more stories left, then I realized that it took longer and longer to reach each storey. From U staircase it became square with four landings, then there were more steps…aiyoh!!!
When I saw number 73, I saw the light (hihi maybe this is how heaven light looks like. Then I saw more personnels looking down and said..Almost!!! One more staircase!

One more?!! Excuse me, I thought it’s 73!!?!! Turned out there were still half a storey out there, and about ten meters to the finish line. Someone put the medal and another hand me cool mineral waters.

For running or every hectic activity, it’s always good to walk around before sitting down. I tried, but walked for awhile, I’d rather sit down. Boi tahan. At first I sat on the parapet, which is only about 30-40 cm high (hey, I think there is no other fencing!), then decided to sit on the floor because I afraid the fatigue would make me instable and being so close to the edge was not a good idea. The helipad was quite big, it was a very windy day and the sky was gorgeous. But I didn’t have energy for visual enjoyment as much as physical rest.

Of all things that could be painful; legs, hips, I only felt pain in my jaw and got cough attack. So much that I didn’t want to talk anymore although two of my instant friends in same starting row had joined me. Jaw pain, maybe because I unconsciously girthed my teeth? I don’t know.

Anyway, we couldn’t enjoy the time; they started chasing us down because the next contestants from another category would soon reach the top. Two personnel directed me to another stairwell. “Hah???? Stairs again??” My expression must be so horrible that they both laugh out loud. Just 3 storey down, then we could take lift. Say lah. I almost fainted. ;p

Joining back hubby, soon I recovered and we just sat around while watching another categories still making their way up. Lovebird category, most are couple side by side, hand in hand, although sometimes there were girl in front leaving her mate or vise versa. We saw one guy connected with line to his girlfriend/wife. Wah..they really meant business. But it could be dangerous lei..

Anyway, results from other categories were posted on board. It was like University time when everyone gathered around pieces of paper with small prints to look for needle in the hay. I was quite sure that my timing was bad, but pleasantly surprised to see that it’s included in top twenty. Very very happy. Will do it again? I don’t know, yes, no, maybe.

But certainly, I have made hubby swore that he would talk me out if I ever ever entertain the idea to join 42 km marathon just for the sake of doing it at least once in life.

Two months!

So!!
No upload for almost two months!!

Dang the hectic works, spoil my mood for everything!

But it shouldn't happen again, as I would lost my backup.
Anyway, would try to track back...slowly.... for the lost two months while backing up the current!
Cross fingers!