Siemens Run 2008-06/07/2008

Dataran Merdeka,Kuala Lumpur.
What really worry a slow runner like me is the allocation of medals.It is quite fair to have 150 medals up for offer in the men open category but only 100 medals in the veteran category that combined both junior and senior veteran runners!There were so many participants in this morning event even though it coincided with the Ipoh International Marathon in Perak.Maybe the recent petrol price hike prevent some runners from participating outstation races.

It took me several minutes in queue to pass the reporting card to the FTAAA officials in exchange of a ribbon.The enclosure was packed with runners and soon the race was gunned off at 7.30 am sharp.As for this year's run,it was a new route.The first half of the race was the usual undulating course and the second half was much easier,descending the Jalan Parlimen,left turning to Sogo Shopping Center and Pertama Complex and back to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman before the finishing line at Dataran.

There were at least four water stations for runners to hydrate themselves,no complain about that for a short run.The best part of the race was the cheer leading groups comprise of youth in the Halloween costumes,the drummers,the brass band performance and cheers from public all the way to the finishing.

With my usual border line finishing,l had to keep my finger cross to win a medal.l noticed that there were so many green numbers(same category as me) in front,l decided to make a dash to the finishing line overtaking one by one in hope of winning one.As l line up to know my fate,an officer was busy giving out cards indicating the position of the runners,Albert Goh of Klang's Pacesetters group who was behind me, asked eagerly if we make it or not.Guess what,l was placed 97th-phew......

The actual distance of the race l believed was approximately 9 km only,judging from regular runners personal timing.



Runners in the men open category queuing for the position cards


Group photo of KPAC members


The finishing at Dataran Merdeka


Thalagavathy and Seah Bee Lian-both placed 6th and 7th respectively in the women open category


Kamaruzaman and Lim Pei Yen

Results at glance

Men Open Category-10k

No:065--41m 35s---Kamalan
No:080--43m 28s---Tee Choon Wooi
No:137--45m 53s---Loi Hin Kai
No:000--47m 43s---Syanizam
No:000--51m 15s---Kee Weng Keong
No:000--56m 09s---Kamaruzaman

Women Open Category-10k

No:006--41m 48s---Thalagavathy
No:007--43m 30s---Seah Bee Lian

Men Veteran Category-10k

No:008--36m 25s---Dhan Bahadur Thapa
No:013--38m 10s---Wong Soon Pin
No:024--40m 34s---Zainudin
No:028--42m 07s---Lim Boon Hwa
No:097--45m 55s---Tee Kuan Meng
No:103--46m 24s---Subramaniam
No:000--50m 44s---Ng Hock Lee
No:000--65m 23s---Yeoh Boon Cheng

Men Junior Category-5k

No:000--22m 33s---Khoo Kian Wei

Women Junior Category-5k

No:012--00m 00s---Nur Athika
No:045--24m 18s---Lim Pei Yen