Solo LSD

Sun Jan 17, 2009

This is the day I did my own LSD in Taiping. My running group in Penang is doing a 23km, but this weekend is one of those weekend that I need to go back hometown. Not wanting to miss a long run training, I planned to do a 2hr run. I've never done long run alone, and I've never done it in Taiping before despite us having a nice Taiping Lake Garden.

I told mum that I wanted to run from our house to Lake Garden in the morning, and she can join me there later, but she insist that it is not safe to run alone on the road at 6am. There has been a number of snatch thieves and robbery incidents in Taiping recently. But what is mum supposed to do for 2 hours in Lake Garden? She could run, but not 2hrs...

At last, mum decided that she would go Bkt Larut for hiking. It takes about 1hr 40mins to go up to 3rd shelter and down. At least she don't have to wait so long with nothing to do at the lake.

I started the run just before 7am, from the foot hill of Bkt Larut running out towards the lake. Mum went hiking. I was holding a bottle water, to be drop somewhere that I'll be passing by often, making it my water station. I didn't really plan which route to take the night before, I follow my heart and wherever my legs takes me. Don't have to worry about knowing how far I went because I have Garmin watch and footpod to do the recording. Save a lot of time trying to measure the route in Google Earth.

I managed to discover a 5 plus km loop, part of it along the edge of the lake, as well as passing Bkt Larut foot hill where mum parks her car. So I get to check on her car every loop I went. 5km a loop is just perfect because I need to take water about that time too.

Along the way, I met other (pro) runners, who I guess is also doing LSD. From their attire and their running form, I'd guess that they are regular runners, and good ones too. Coz they wore worn out running clothes, not branded ones that look new. And with that age coupled with that pace, I think they are pro. I saw 3 that meets that criteria, too bad they were all running in opposite direction from me, if not I can try to follow them.

First loop feels great, second loop not too bad. One of the (pro) runners that I bump into for the n-th time gave me a thumbs up sign in my second loop. This happens after more than an hour into my running. He said something too, which I couldn't recall exactly what he said. I think it sounded something like 'good run' or 'you are good'. I am slow in reaction, only able to give him back a thumbs up sign and a smile.

Third time I passed by foot hill, mum's car not there anymore. We have agreed to meet at our usual car park near lake. At that time I was starting to feel tired, already covered about 15km. Further down the road, met 2 walking guys, one of them also give me thumbs up sign and said some words of encouragement. This time, I manage to say 'thank you'. Never know that Taiping people are so friendly :)

It was getting hot at 9am. The sun was up and there are more cars on the road. I had to push hard to reach car park. Mum was there waiting for me with a smile. Yeah! I did my first solo LSD in my hometown. 19.5km in 2hrs 04mins.

Afterthought
I found that it is cooling and refreshing to run in Taiping Lake Garden, I don't get that kind of coolness even when running at a much earlier time in Penang. Maybe this route is new to me, I never felt bored during the 2hr run. It clears up the mind and I could totally forget about work to focus only on running. Running not only keeps you healthy physically, it is good to the mental too. What's even better? You get to eat your fav food without guilt ;)
Now, where's my favorite siow bak!