Hopefully, this is the worst HM. I was walking after 6km of run. At times, I wanted to run and tried to run, but can only hold for awhile before I have to walk back. I was really thinking DNF, but I couldn't find runners sitting aside waiting to be carried back, so, I just walked back painfully.
In the beginning of the run, I didn't feel any different. The only thing was, for the last few training seasons before the race, my heartrate elevated easily. Typically, my heartrate was ~135bpm when I ran at 8 min pace. However, for last few seasons, my heartrate was close to 150bpm even at 8 min pace. So, I have decided to take it easy this time.
However, after ~6km of run, I started to feel dizziness when I looked down, and I felt the dryness of my lips. Since my friend sent an article on people die while running with one of the symptom is lack of water. As I was worry about my situation, I started to walk/run a bit in 7km. After having a drink, I tried to start running but the dizziness feel when I looked down still remained. So, I decided to just walk until the end.
The thinking of DNF started to surface up in my mind. I was looking around to see if I can find any runner sitting beside the road waiting for transportation to fetch them back. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any. So, I just kept walking and told myself to stop if I see DNF runners. While walking, I started to wonder I can finish the HM before the cut0-off time. This is the 1st time I had that doubt in my mind for HM distance.
Eventually, I finished the distance at 3 hour 19 mins, 10 mins before cut-off.
When I think back, these are the possible issues I had for this race:-
1. Lack of water: From all previous races, I will need to pass out urine before the race and then after 1 hour+, I will need to pass out urine another time for HM distance. For this time, I don't feel the urge to pass out urine and even for the whole 3 hours + walking.
2. Lack of rest: For this time, the day before, I still visited Taiping Zoo with family and only reach Penang ~4pm. While trying to sleep at 7pm, I woke up 8+pm and couldn't sleep again until the race started.
3. Higher heartrate: For some reasons, my heartrate was higher at typical pace, which I still have no idea of the cause.
I can have solution for the first 2 possible causes but not the 3rd one. I can only monitor the progress of the 3rd one and hopefully the medical check out in Feb will have some hints.
Fuel:-
1. Instant noodle with eggs 2 hours before the race.
2. 1.5L water 2 hours before the race.
