AIC Putrajaya

Last Saturday I raced in what felt like my fist marathon ever. I haven't raced on the road, let alone a marathon since my accident back in the first week of May. So it's been a long time when you are used to racing a marathon nearly very weekend.

This was the first ever skating event of it's kind in Malaysia, a place where the sport is still developing. Although there were not a huge array of local skaters present there was definitely an international mix with skaters from Korea, Japan, Singapore, France, USA, Indonesia, Germany and myself of course from New Zealand.

The course was 7.5 km a lap around the very modern city of Putrajaya, Malaysia about 45 minutes out from Kuala Lumpur. The course was tough with a 350 meter hill each lap and a bridge that had to be climbed over twice in the lap. With not big numbers entered in the marathon the ladies and men started together and were allowed to mix. After the first hill climb the bunch split up and there were 3 of us left out infront. Kim Sik (Tiger) from Korea, Dimas Prasetya Putera from Indonesia and myself.

The three of us continued for the majority of the race with Tiger and Dimas battling it out for extra points on the hill climb prime and sprint prime every lap. The next skaters where Johannas Wihardja (Indonesia) and the second lady Eri Marina Yo (Indonesia). With the tough course everyone was spread out and for some it was a great challenge just to finish.

On the last lap I attacked over the bridge and broke away from the two other skaters and went on to win. Second in the ladies was Eri Marina and third Sylvia Setiwan also from Indonesia.