SCKLM2011

A friend, Kamal, has been asking me to join marathon since some time ago. For this Standard Chartered, he has suggesting me to join him for 5KM fun run. I went to check on the web site, it's quite costly especially passed the early bird registration. Instead, I saw the word 'Volunteer', after exploring it, it seems quite interesting. Thus, I signed myself up.

It was quiet for awhile unsure if I have been chosen. Then, came the email saying that I have been chosen and will be involved in Route Marshal. The email read that I need to go to Bukit Jalil stadium for a training a Saturday before the run, and on the event itself,I gotta be at the stadium at 10pm on Saturday and the work won't finish till 1pm on Sunday. I read the mail again and again disbelieve on the time required. Thus, I rang up and they said, ya, NO mistake, it's correct. So, I started thinking, should I withdraw.
The training Saturday came, I went for the training. More of a briefing, it finished within 1 hour. Still, I was thinking, should I go for the real day? At least, I make a friend. :)

The weekend. So, I have decided to attend. Well, since I have not done this. It would be a different experience. So, I went to the Putra Stadium/ Hall for the 10pm registration. Then, changed into the volunteer t-shirt. We were given some small snacks and a movie to watch. Then, we were gathered according to our team at 12am. We were (supposed) to be given briefing by our team leader. But, my team didn't get any briefing. We got a bag filled with food and drink, hat, whistle. So, we continued to wait till 2am to be depoted to our station.

Each team covers a radius of 3KM. So, our team started at Sg. Besi highway till the turning at Dewan Pustaka which is about at KM12. We were there waited since 2.30am and the race only started at 5am. So, the first runner would only arrive at our place at 5.30am, fastest. So, we were there walking up and down, feeding/ donating our blood to Mr. Mosquitos. It's a long night and morning. Long wait.....

At 5.45am, traffic police and the official workers riding their bikes came to our area and told us to get ready, runners are coming. So, we stood up (trying as we were exhausted after a long night) awaiting for the runners. The runners from Kenya. Their pace is really steady, a group of them. Even the females.

Then, we saw more. Instead of doing the marshal role, we were more of supporters. :D We saw pacer at 2.30hr, 3.30hr, etc. carrying a big ballon with them. And we saw different ones wearing different costumes. It's facinating and eye opening. I was trying to spot some friends who participated in the run. Well, it's too dark and I couldn't see anyone. Also, I was struggling to open my eyes. We literally sat in the middle of the road trying to cheer them.

Though the road was closed, we also saw how Malaysian still force their way through. Driving attitude definitely needs to improve. Guess what? The bigger/ more expensive the car, the greater the attitude problem. sigh...

So, I believe we finished our duty at almost 8am. Where a bus came to fetch us back to the stadium. Waited to get our token (RM40) of appreciation, sandwich, I went home. I was really tired. Not the work, but, the waiting time.

Overall, it's a good experience. :) And well done to all runners. A big thank you for all volunteers.