On the KL Towerthon 2011

The first time joining this event. Thought parking would be a problem, so I headed to the Weld as early as 5pm and spent some time in McD stuffing myself. Then hang out outside the mall, sucking in as much carbon monoxide as I could, while enjoying the sun-setting.

Was told to registered by 7pm when we collect our running kit. But the starting line was a bit confusing. Runners were asked to go into the gathering 'cage' down a slope in an open area.

But the good thing is, the organizer must've had lots of past experience and taken a lot of things into consideration that they are letting the runners out in batches of 300, according to their bib number. So the first batch of 300 runners from the Men's Open were then gathered to the front cage, getting ready to be let out by 8pm sharp. Thank God I registered early...

Because after running up the steep slope to the base of the tower, we had to climb up some 2000+ stairs to reach the observation deck. So by the time we got to the base of the tower and got into the staircase, it was more or less climbing instead of running. The staircases were kind of narrow, and true enough, it can only hold 2 people side by side. But of course, who would wanna climb the staircase like that? Therefore, it was one by one, slowly up the stairs.

I managed to get up to the 12th floor without stopping. What a feat. The higher you go, the lesser you get the crowd. As in, the participants are finally spacing out. So it was quite an easy climb. Or maybe because I cheated. I was pulling myself up as well. And before we knew it, it was already the 22nd and organizers were cheering. TH00 to the top in the last 3 levels was very a very brief climb, maybe because we all knew that was the end of it.

So I finally walked passed the door into the observation deck, from the starting point, in about 30 minutes. Not quite an impressive timing, considering the fastest that I heard before I left, was a Kenyan clocking 13 minutes.

But then again, it was a great event. At 25 bucks, we get to go up the tower via staircase. The experience was awesome. The view of the city at night, was breath taking. Tried taking some photos, but the camera phone wasn't really capturing what we saw, but to have some blurriness. Then again, I don't ever think I would get the SLR along in any races. I might've just slipped it off and spoiled it.

Then again, if I were to be bitchy, I could still pick on some minute stuff and complain. Maybe not so much of the organizers, but definitely about some of the participants.

Getting down from the tower via the elevator, for one. People are pushing and squeezing and cutting queue and gosh, it was just plain humiliating. What's more, some of the elevator coming up carried foreign visitors! And there was this bloody endorphine overload kids whining about being tired nearly dying needing to get down ASAP. I just felt like slapping them.

I walked down the hill alone, taking in the evening air. It's definitely a first in this part of town. Not exactly fresh air, but sometimes being alone helps cool down the troubled soul. Especially since what happened earlier. Whatever.

Saw the tower lighted up at night. Nice view. Couldn't believe I got to the top via the staircase. 22 floors, 2500 steps. I couldn't get the maths either. I thought it took about 4 flights of stairs to get from one floor to the next, and each flights averagely have 10 steps. So even by that, there're only 1000 at most. Then again, I don't think anyone's counting when people are gasping for air.

But honestly, it wasn't as bad as it was publicized. There was actually ventilation in the tower. In between certain floors, when you stop at certain top of a certain flight of stairs, you actually get the air-condition. To me, it's only made worse when one guy started screaming "Oooooh!!! Aaaaahhhh!!! Nearing the top!!! 4 more to gooo!!!! Move ittt!!!!" that I nearly replied with a "SHUT UP!" Tried so hard to leave him further by climbing faster, but the echoes were... effort in vain. Bloody guy has a big vocal cord.

Came down to the starting line in time to catch the flag off for the youngsters category. Gosh they were FAST! Damn fast!

Finally reached home at 10pm. Took my own sweet time walking. Parking in the Weld, after all, was 2 bucks per entry after 1pm.

The medal? Well, it does look nicer the more you look at it. LOL. The front was sort of embossed. The rear was...

Yeah. Empty. Then again, it's not like I'm displaying both sides.