Komtar Tower Run 2023

I signed up for this on the last day of registration which was also the last day of year 2022. There were 3 categories: elite, competitive, and non-competitive, and the run would start the race according to these categories, start with elite, then competitive, and lastly non-competitive. However in the end, everyone would still be grouped into the same ranking table. To join elite category, one needed to provide proof of physical ability, such as sub 25mins 5k or equivalent. I didn't have any of those proves, so I joined the competitive category while I could start as early as possible to avoid crowding at the staircases.

It all started at 7am. They flagged off participants at a certain interval, elite at 15s interval while 5s for the rest. The wait for my turn at the starting line turned not to be not that long. I heard from some people who joined the previous editions of Komtar Tower Run, the number of participants was not as many as before. As usual, the wait at the starting line is always filled with adrenaline rush, even for smaller race like this one. The whole idea I took on the challenge was to get in the groove of racing again, to prepare myself for bigger races later this year. This one was kinda for me to kick start this year.

the wait at the starting line

At what should be around 7.40am, my turn was up. I flied through the majority of the climb, only starts to pay attention on the floor count at 40th floor onwards, where I could start to feel the lactic acid accumulating in my legs and exhaustion started to kick in. By that time, it was already 2/3 of the way through. To be honest, it wasn't much of a mental challenge, may be I was used to longer run. I remember I overtook many people, I don't remember any water stations though. Brief, I was feeling real good and just before I realized, I was already reaching the finish line.

After the finish line, I walked around for quite some time before I sat down, mainly because I didn't want muscle cramp and walking and stretching for awhile would cool the muscle down gradually. As a Penangite, it is embarrassing to say that this was the first time in my life on top of Komtar Tower. The view was magnificent accompanied by the many colours of the sunrise and the cooling morning breeze, it was glorious.

After short break and some photos later, I headed down, got changed, and went to the nearby Chowrasta market to have my breakfast. It was quite pleasant to walk around Georgetown this early morning. Then after that I went back home for a nap.

Congee for breakfast

The result was out after my nap. Surprisingly I was 41st/298 overall. I didn't wear a watch nor any tracker for the run. So I had not idea what my time was. So to see my net time for climb was only 12mins, I was impressed. Meanwhile, the number one was still the number one, Soh Wai Ching, with a net time of 7mins, way ahead of the 2nd place, outclassing everyone else in the field. Initially, although my target was to finish only, I was secretly hoping for a time less than the double of the first place winner. So I am more than satisfied with the time of 12mins.

the official result of my time

Literally me when I saw the official result after my nap.

Anyway my first objective of the year 2023 is sealed and done 😎