RSM HIKERS: January 2010

First time knew the event about 2 years back (2007) but I did not take part due to increase in registration fee (RM50) after closing date. After that I always have enthusiasm to join this competition in Penang but unfortunately it was not organized in 2008 & 2009 as the event was shifted to Putrajaya. Thanks to the organizer who has able to continue organizing it after stopping for 2 years and also able to fulfill my wish of joining this long waiting event.
Thought walking is easy especially for me, a regular Penang hill hiker so I joint the event this year with the high spirit of aiming to complete 50laps as the target and 40 laps as the minimum and even believed that target can be achieved easily.
The unattractive monetary prizes made me thought that this year the participant will be less compared to previous here but it supprised me when the organizer announced that it is a new record of participant as it attracted 740 peoples which is more than the Putrajaya 12 hours walk event with about 720 peoples which offered a better prizes.
On 9th Jan 2010, without enough rest and no dinner, I rushed to Esplanade and reached there nearly 7pm to collect my bib # and Tshirt. Met my friend in front of City Hall who also joint the event then chit chat with him near the starting line while waiting for the flag off. Closed to the flag off time, saw other friend stood beside the starting point to give us a moral support.
The race flag off at 8pm after some explanation on the rules by PAAA member and speech given by YB Lydia Ong. This year there is no champion chip used as compared to previous year and all the laps counting were done manually by a group of school children and PAAA members. Organiser provided 10 stickers to be stuck on a piece of paper for the first 10 round to avoid any miss recording as the number of participant crossing the line is huge during first few round. Anyhow, after few laps, an old untie approached me and complaint that they recorded her completion lap wrongly and she want to give up as a protest for her loosing laps. I felt pity to her as she really make her effort to achieve the minimum required laps but it was gone just because of some error of recording or counting.
The first lap seems to be easy and able to achieve 7 mins/lap. Met another friend during 3rd lap. Same speed maintained until 6 laps and suddenly realized that I need to slow down as time only elapsed for 1 hour and still remained 11 hours. The food and 100plus served at 9pm but I only able to consume 100plus after 8 laps as the queue is very long and decided to rest every 8 laps. My time reduced to 10 mins/lap after 15 laps and again stopped at 16laps. The left leg heel started to form blister and has to get plasters from St John members. Continue to walk after drinking and until 12 mid nite decided to stop at 22 laps to take some food and drink but only banana left.
Again has to stop at 26 laps when the leg start to feel pain due to blister has grown bigger and another blister formed at the right leg toe and heel. Rested for about half an hours by applying the counterpain cream and have a own massage. Later, decided to continue the long journey as the night is still young. When I got up and started to walk, you can really feel the pain and is difficult to widen the pace but this feeling disappeared after about 500m and you can speed up again.
At about 2.15am, I already achieved 32 laps and has to take a rest as the knee start to feel pain and also the unbearable pain from the blisters. At this time I only realized that I am not fit to be a race walker for a such a long distance. Motivated by another 18laps to hit the target, I continued the walk again after resting for 15 to 20 mins but the pace was really slow at about 17 mins/lap. Completed another 4 laps to total 38 laps, feel the pain was unbearable and decided to change the shoe with slipper which I thought better in term of less friction and cooler for my feet. After changing the slipper, the pain even feel worst and nearly unable to walk and took me almost 20 mins to complete a lap. I decided to give up the race after 39 laps and the time was just about 4.30am. Find a place to rest and the tiredness really tortured my mind as I can’t sleep at the open public place. Finally decided to sleep at organizer designated sleeping area but still unable to close my eye as many peoples keep walking in and out. After an hours of open eye dreaming, decided to sit outside to watch other walker walk passing. At 6am, the final round of food was served and only this time, I have chance to enjoy the food as many peoples still dreaming. Met See Tong who has completed 47 laps and decided to join him for another 3 laps. After 3 laps, stop for the breakfast again and rest. Continue the final laps at 7.35 morning. The race finished at 8am sharp and all participants requested to queue at start/finish line to receive the medal and certificate.
The prizes giving ceremony and lucky draw started at 8.30am but most of the participants already gone home to rest. Pity my friend who has completed 68 laps which should be in the top 3 but the official result only showed him achieved 53 laps. Finally, wasted another 2 hours thinking of bringing a lucky prize home but end up went home with empty hand tired body.
I used to join the same event again and again from year to year but for this event, it is too tough for me to challenge it again. Ha ha ! Now only I realised race walking is not easy.