Run Forrest Run 2014: Running with a Sweatshirt

The first run for me this year would be the Run Forrest Run 2014, organized by the UPM students from the D12. I took the opportunity to run at the event since I'll be having a company training that week. It'll be killing two birds with one stone.

The run was on the 2nd March, Sunday. Since it will be organized by students, I didn't put much expectation after the disastrous MCS Fun Run last year. But since the fee was only RM30 and there will be a finisher medal (not plastic), I see why not. It'll serve for me as a returning since the first run that I ran was here in UPM for the Mizuno Wave Run back in 2012.

As I was approaching Sungai Besi, the sky was turning dark and grey - much like a haze was covering KL. It was the dry season. I had to put the air-cond on full blast during the car ride because it was so hot. Is the haze the side effects from the cloud seeding procedure? Will it effect my run tomorrow? (A few days later, it was revealed that it was an actual haze that enveloping KL - not because of the cloud seeding).

All my worries were dashed when we arrived that morning at the Bukit Ekspo in UPM. The sky was clear and the breeze was cool. Not surprisingly there are not many runners on this event. This is just a small event by the way.

So far what I see is good. Even though there are not many runners, the vibe is great. This is not a half ass effort job. They are not perasan sendiri organizing this event. The running bib had been distributed to the runners when we registering. 

A proper start sign

Waiting for start off

After a 10 minutes delay since they want to wait for late runners to arrived, we off!

For this year, admittedly I have changed a bit with my running style. I'm not going to attack the run chasing for my best time (like in 2013) or trying to endure the run without resting (like in 2012). I have done all that and pushing it further is not fun any more.

Starting this year I want to be 'less is more'. Less run but with better appreciation. I am equipped with a new gear this time, courtesy of my brother in law - the new GPS watch. This means that my left hand is free to hold my compact camera.

We could see who would win the run right off from the start - it's the Africans (no surprise there). There were some of them joined this run. When I was having my short run warming up before the start, I could see them high-fiving each other.

I imagine that they said this to each other:

"Look at all these loser runners. We will crush this run!"

And crushing the run they are.

It was clear that none of us Malaysians will stand a chance. They already have an advantage of 1km even from the start.

The roads that we went through in the beginning was not very torturous. 

Flat roads ahead.

By 2km we arrived at the first drink stop.

After that it starts get challenging. From this moment there were a lot of hilly areas. And Iqbal was already 15 minutes in front of me. Ah, don't care lah.... I want to take some photos first...

We went through the golf course area. While we're running the golfers looking at us like we're some bunch of deer entering the village.

Golfers on Sunday morning

After that the route bring us to some fruit farm behind the student's resident apartment. The route is short but very challenging since it was a hilly area. I was walking all the way in the farm.

Uphill road to the farm

Uphill challenge to the farm

Everyone I saw was already walking

This is duku

It was already ran 5km by then. The event t-shirt that I wore already drenched with sweat. I had made mistake. I should just wear the spare running vest that bring along. The t-shirt that had been given is not suited for running.

Finally when we start to run on normal flat roads in front, I was relieved. Now, I can finally run seriously and catch up with Iqbal.

Finally - flat roads!

When suddenly we start climbing some hills again. All of my hopes to catch up to Iqbal were dashed. My GPS watch showed that we only ran about 6km. There will be about 4km more to run.

Panjat bukit lagi?

Then suddenly the route took a weird turn because it seems that the finishing was already near. 

How come? My GPS showed that it was only 7km at this point. It is suppose to be a 10km running event.

At the end of the finishing line, my GPS showed that we only ran 7.42km. Honestly even though usually I will cry foul to the organizer, it does felt like I was running 10km with all the hills & my sweaty t-shirt.

My new GPS watch showed 7.42km.

Sweating like hell

RUN RATINGS - RUN FORREST RUN 2014
Organizer - 3/5
Considering that the organizer are the students, this is a good effort. It didn't felt something was off with this event compared to the usual runs.
Kit & Goodies - 2/5
The shirt could be improve. Pls no more cotton shirt. Even though it was a steel medal, the design was very generic. There were two drink stops and both of them were mineral water.
Route - 2/5
The concept was there - forest, green. The hills was challenging but not too risky for injury which is great. But why the distance had been reduced significantly to 7.5km?
Overall Experience - 3/5

Another run that had been organized by students that almost barely passed my expectation. It could be worse, but it didn't. Nothing worthy to remembered, but I did only pay RM30 for this event - so yea!