Oren Sport Run 2013: The Curious Case of a Noob
There are actually some areas/routes that organizers love to pick as their location. Dataran Merdeka & Padang Merbok in KL which the runners will actually run at the same route at Pekeliling Tun Abdul Rahman is such an example. There are also some odd location that Iqbal & myself like to pick just for the sake of variation. It is just the case with the Oren Sport Run 2013 which had being held in Pandamaran, Klang.
The main reason that Iqbal & myself chose to run at the event was because we want to get our cousins Ika & Cima to start running. Since both of them lives in Klang, I thought choosing an event near their home will make things easier for them. Ika even agreed to join us in the first place as she was the one enthusiastically suggesting us to invite her for a run. But she bailed out in the last minute, giving lame excuses. That really taught me not to trust a lawyer's talk again.....
The starting point for the run was at the Kompleks Sukan Pandamaran, Klang which is only 15 minutes drive from Pakcik Dee's house. The run had been organized by Oren Sport, a sport apparel company. The shirt that we had received is actually a normal wearable shirt that we could use everyday instead of a sleeveless running shirt. For me that is a plus since I have so many running shirt & the problem is that I can only bear to wear them when I'm running in the evening. It is worse for Iqbal. He only wears them when he sleeps. He can't bear the embarrassment of wearing a sleeveless shirt out in the open.
The running event for the Oren Sport Run is separated into 2 - 5km & 10km. The 10km event started at 6.30am while the 5km will start about 30 minutes later.
It seems that the organizer had selected one of the town council people as the emcee since the one that they selected was an old dude who spewing words like these:
"Everyone need to send their acceptance card. It seems that there are not a lot that had sent their cards, so you have a big opportunity to get the prizes if you send your."
and
"The 10km event will start soon. The participants for the 5km event please clear the starting line. If I see any of you, I'll drag you & you will be disqualified."
Seriously? After that I realized that apparently there was a lot of students that joined the run. Most of them in the 5km event.
The event doesn't have a timing chip so when the horn being blown to start off the run, Iqbal & myself start our own time with our watch.
Even from the start I knew that I can't give it my best for the run. There are 2 main reasons actually. The first because I had went to the I-City Waterpark just yesterday with my family. We had a blast at the water park & I had spent a lot of my energy. The second is because after the run, I need to drive back to JB. Since the next day will be a working day, I had no choice but to drive 300+km back to JB on the same day.
I saw Iqbal passed me just after the starting line. Hmmm, there goes my chance to beat him on this race. It is quite strange that Iqbal can run faster than I can because physically he is quite rounder in the middle section compared to me. Since I just want to finish the run, I didn't push myself to catch up with him. Maybe if I run continuously without stopping for a rest, I might catch up with him just like I did with the last run - New Balance Run. (That didn't happen - I stopped a lot during this race. Hahah)
One of the bane running an event in Klang is that the routes that they choose usually roads with quite a heavy traffic. You really need to be careful watching your back during the run because what usually happens when you're running a long distance, you tend to be engrossed in yourself, focusing in your running & oblivious of your surroundings. Compounded with the negative attitude of the car drivers in Malaysia, it will be a sum of tragedy that waits to be happening.
There was an intersection which separates the 5km & 10 runners. Strangely, the organizer decided it is OK not to put a poster to inform the runners of the separation intersection. They decide that their volunteers that manning the intersection can do the job.
Well, they can't. The volunteers that they had picked was so soft. I found one of the volunteer (which by the way is just a kid) shouting with all his might but what coming from his mouth is a very soft instruction:
"Pleaseeee usee this sideeee."
Alahai lembutnyeeee.
So what happens at the intersection? Some of the 5km runners who had been deeply engrossed in their run didn't hear the volunteers shouting at them to go to the correct road.
"Hey, miss!!! 5km here!!!"
And when they do realized their mistake, they crossed the road dangerously. One of the runners nearly being hit by a car. Wallaweey.... Thank god nothing bad happens.
The route that we took goes around some residential areas plus some shop houses. Interestingly, there were some posters of a local council election that will took place in the area. Some old 'uncles' and 'aunties' dressed impeccably with political slogans dons the posters. This area is the where a certain Malaysian political party that loves to be an 'astronaut' won previously in GE13, I think because I saw a lot of their logos throughout the running route.
Ironically, the one thing that they should be focusing for the community had been left behind. It hard not to notice all the rubbish that didn't being collected in the area. Even the drains were littered with waste & the large drains choked with them. After being in power for more than 5 years, if they can't do it better, are they the better alternatives?
One scene of one of the poster with a rubbish bin below it full with uncollected waste says it all. Malaysians still stuck with rhetorical ideas in 2013....
This race have a lot of noob runners compared to others that I had joined in the past. I think because there were a lot of high school students that joined the 5km event. How do I knew they are noobs? You can guess by the way they ran. Unless you're an African dude, you don't ran with all your might when you're only reaching 3km. Especially when you looks like might fall anytime soon, running unstable to the right & left.
But there was one noob that caught my attention. How does she caught my attention? (Yes, it is a girl unfortunately). I noticed that every time I passed her, she immediately continue running again even though she was actually walking before that.
It might not be noticeable if it was just one or two times, but after the forth time I wondered to myself. Does she think I'm a worthy threat/opponent to her? Since I didn't stop for rest in the early stage, I passed her several times. And each time after that she will continue running again & passed me back.
After the fifth times, it was already 4km on the mark. This have become personal. Suffer on your own peril, noob!!!! That was when I strengthen my resolve & running fast ahead of her. Good riddance!!!
There were 2 drink stops along the way. But both of them were useless. I know that the fee that the runners need to pay for this run are low, but can't you just give us some isotonic drinks? This is the first time for me that the organizer failed to provide adequate drink stop for the runners (after the Penang Bridge Run last year). Mineral waters don't quenched the thirst, it makes it worse for us runners.
Anyway, back to the noob. Unfortunately, after 5.6km my legs gave away. The effect of spending time at the water park yesterday already rears its ugly head. I walked about 400m & planned to split the rest of the run into 2km+2km to finish the race.
After 6km, much to my disbelief the noob catches up to me again. Say what?! I though I had left the girl long behind. Continuing with my plan, I start running again for another 2km passing the girl in the process. Booyaa!!!
At the last 2km stretch, the runners need to run beside the main road. At this stage, it seems the organizer didn't put much effort to control the safety of the runners. When I arrived at the 9km mark, the main road become narrower & the traffic became heavier.
That is when that I decided to walk all the way to the finish line. The danger of running beside a busy road is that you may not hear the vehicle approaching. It is not just because you have the music blaring in your ears from the mp3 player, but more because you already becoming engrossed with your run. For safety purpose, I chose to walk rather than risking having an accident.
Iqbal, who apparently had finished his run start contacting me from the hand phone as I reached nearer to the
finish line. I just make my phone silence, much to his annoyance. He even phoned me twice. Alaaa, taula dah sampaiii....
Making it worse, guess who passed me at this point? The noob girl!!! WTH?!!!! When does this suffering will end?!!! She was just like a zombie, need to be killed over & over again.
Being beaten by Iqbal is bad enough and I'm not going to be embarrassed by a noob. Gathering all my energy, I started sprinting to the finish line. Afraid that the girl will pass me again, I use all my remaining strength to finish the run.
When I finished with a horrendous 1 hour 27 minutes, Iqbal gestured at me:
"Baru sampai?"
Damn.
At least the medal is beautiful....
RUN RATINGS - OREN SPORT RUN 2013
Organizer - 2/5
Hate to spill the gut but the clearly the organizer was not experienced in handling a running event. Less emphasis on safety, no clear route posters along the road really spoils the run. There was no isotonic drink at the stop either.
Kit & Goodies - 3/5
The shirt was OK. The goodies was OK, but not something special that you will remember for a long time.
Route - 2/5
The roads were dangerous & there were some foul smells coming from the drains & rubbish along the way. Why did they chose the route of all the place in the world?
Overall Experience - 2/5
I just wish that not all the runs in Klang will be this bad in the future.
The main reason that Iqbal & myself chose to run at the event was because we want to get our cousins Ika & Cima to start running. Since both of them lives in Klang, I thought choosing an event near their home will make things easier for them. Ika even agreed to join us in the first place as she was the one enthusiastically suggesting us to invite her for a run. But she bailed out in the last minute, giving lame excuses. That really taught me not to trust a lawyer's talk again.....
The starting point for the run was at the Kompleks Sukan Pandamaran, Klang which is only 15 minutes drive from Pakcik Dee's house. The run had been organized by Oren Sport, a sport apparel company. The shirt that we had received is actually a normal wearable shirt that we could use everyday instead of a sleeveless running shirt. For me that is a plus since I have so many running shirt & the problem is that I can only bear to wear them when I'm running in the evening. It is worse for Iqbal. He only wears them when he sleeps. He can't bear the embarrassment of wearing a sleeveless shirt out in the open.
The running event for the Oren Sport Run is separated into 2 - 5km & 10km. The 10km event started at 6.30am while the 5km will start about 30 minutes later.
It seems that the organizer had selected one of the town council people as the emcee since the one that they selected was an old dude who spewing words like these:
"Everyone need to send their acceptance card. It seems that there are not a lot that had sent their cards, so you have a big opportunity to get the prizes if you send your."
and
"The 10km event will start soon. The participants for the 5km event please clear the starting line. If I see any of you, I'll drag you & you will be disqualified."
Seriously? After that I realized that apparently there was a lot of students that joined the run. Most of them in the 5km event.
The event doesn't have a timing chip so when the horn being blown to start off the run, Iqbal & myself start our own time with our watch.
Even from the start I knew that I can't give it my best for the run. There are 2 main reasons actually. The first because I had went to the I-City Waterpark just yesterday with my family. We had a blast at the water park & I had spent a lot of my energy. The second is because after the run, I need to drive back to JB. Since the next day will be a working day, I had no choice but to drive 300+km back to JB on the same day.
I saw Iqbal passed me just after the starting line. Hmmm, there goes my chance to beat him on this race. It is quite strange that Iqbal can run faster than I can because physically he is quite rounder in the middle section compared to me. Since I just want to finish the run, I didn't push myself to catch up with him. Maybe if I run continuously without stopping for a rest, I might catch up with him just like I did with the last run - New Balance Run. (That didn't happen - I stopped a lot during this race. Hahah)
One of the bane running an event in Klang is that the routes that they choose usually roads with quite a heavy traffic. You really need to be careful watching your back during the run because what usually happens when you're running a long distance, you tend to be engrossed in yourself, focusing in your running & oblivious of your surroundings. Compounded with the negative attitude of the car drivers in Malaysia, it will be a sum of tragedy that waits to be happening.
There was an intersection which separates the 5km & 10 runners. Strangely, the organizer decided it is OK not to put a poster to inform the runners of the separation intersection. They decide that their volunteers that manning the intersection can do the job.
Well, they can't. The volunteers that they had picked was so soft. I found one of the volunteer (which by the way is just a kid) shouting with all his might but what coming from his mouth is a very soft instruction:
"Pleaseeee usee this sideeee."
Alahai lembutnyeeee.
So what happens at the intersection? Some of the 5km runners who had been deeply engrossed in their run didn't hear the volunteers shouting at them to go to the correct road.
"Hey, miss!!! 5km here!!!"
And when they do realized their mistake, they crossed the road dangerously. One of the runners nearly being hit by a car. Wallaweey.... Thank god nothing bad happens.
The route that we took goes around some residential areas plus some shop houses. Interestingly, there were some posters of a local council election that will took place in the area. Some old 'uncles' and 'aunties' dressed impeccably with political slogans dons the posters. This area is the where a certain Malaysian political party that loves to be an 'astronaut' won previously in GE13, I think because I saw a lot of their logos throughout the running route.
Ironically, the one thing that they should be focusing for the community had been left behind. It hard not to notice all the rubbish that didn't being collected in the area. Even the drains were littered with waste & the large drains choked with them. After being in power for more than 5 years, if they can't do it better, are they the better alternatives?
One scene of one of the poster with a rubbish bin below it full with uncollected waste says it all. Malaysians still stuck with rhetorical ideas in 2013....
This race have a lot of noob runners compared to others that I had joined in the past. I think because there were a lot of high school students that joined the 5km event. How do I knew they are noobs? You can guess by the way they ran. Unless you're an African dude, you don't ran with all your might when you're only reaching 3km. Especially when you looks like might fall anytime soon, running unstable to the right & left.
But there was one noob that caught my attention. How does she caught my attention? (Yes, it is a girl unfortunately). I noticed that every time I passed her, she immediately continue running again even though she was actually walking before that.
It might not be noticeable if it was just one or two times, but after the forth time I wondered to myself. Does she think I'm a worthy threat/opponent to her? Since I didn't stop for rest in the early stage, I passed her several times. And each time after that she will continue running again & passed me back.
After the fifth times, it was already 4km on the mark. This have become personal. Suffer on your own peril, noob!!!! That was when I strengthen my resolve & running fast ahead of her. Good riddance!!!
There were 2 drink stops along the way. But both of them were useless. I know that the fee that the runners need to pay for this run are low, but can't you just give us some isotonic drinks? This is the first time for me that the organizer failed to provide adequate drink stop for the runners (after the Penang Bridge Run last year). Mineral waters don't quenched the thirst, it makes it worse for us runners.
Anyway, back to the noob. Unfortunately, after 5.6km my legs gave away. The effect of spending time at the water park yesterday already rears its ugly head. I walked about 400m & planned to split the rest of the run into 2km+2km to finish the race.
After 6km, much to my disbelief the noob catches up to me again. Say what?! I though I had left the girl long behind. Continuing with my plan, I start running again for another 2km passing the girl in the process. Booyaa!!!
At the last 2km stretch, the runners need to run beside the main road. At this stage, it seems the organizer didn't put much effort to control the safety of the runners. When I arrived at the 9km mark, the main road become narrower & the traffic became heavier.
That is when that I decided to walk all the way to the finish line. The danger of running beside a busy road is that you may not hear the vehicle approaching. It is not just because you have the music blaring in your ears from the mp3 player, but more because you already becoming engrossed with your run. For safety purpose, I chose to walk rather than risking having an accident.
Iqbal, who apparently had finished his run start contacting me from the hand phone as I reached nearer to the
finish line. I just make my phone silence, much to his annoyance. He even phoned me twice. Alaaa, taula dah sampaiii....
Making it worse, guess who passed me at this point? The noob girl!!! WTH?!!!! When does this suffering will end?!!! She was just like a zombie, need to be killed over & over again.
Being beaten by Iqbal is bad enough and I'm not going to be embarrassed by a noob. Gathering all my energy, I started sprinting to the finish line. Afraid that the girl will pass me again, I use all my remaining strength to finish the run.
When I finished with a horrendous 1 hour 27 minutes, Iqbal gestured at me:
"Baru sampai?"
Damn.
At least the medal is beautiful....
RUN RATINGS - OREN SPORT RUN 2013
Organizer - 2/5
Hate to spill the gut but the clearly the organizer was not experienced in handling a running event. Less emphasis on safety, no clear route posters along the road really spoils the run. There was no isotonic drink at the stop either.
Kit & Goodies - 3/5
The shirt was OK. The goodies was OK, but not something special that you will remember for a long time.
Route - 2/5
The roads were dangerous & there were some foul smells coming from the drains & rubbish along the way. Why did they chose the route of all the place in the world?
Overall Experience - 2/5
I just wish that not all the runs in Klang will be this bad in the future.
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