Monday August 13, 2007
By DEBBIE CHAN
 |
|
Made it!: I arrive at the finish line of
the PJ Half Marathon yesterday with a satisfied
smile. |
I remember the first time I
put on a pair of skates, it was some seven years ago when the sport
was the coolest new thing to hit town and being the adventurous
person that I am, I just had to give it a try.
Three months down the road, I got bored and seeing that none of
my friends persisted in the sport, I gave up too and that pair of
skates was then kept away hidden in the attic.
I never thought I would ever get on the wheels again but fate
works in funny ways, and I was given the task of participating in
the PJ Half Marathon along with a group of passionate skaters.
I only had time for one practice session before the marathon and
I certainly had my doubts. After all, it has been years and I was
worried if I had forgotten how to balance, much less skate. But when
I turned up at Skateline - a skating shop and school in Taman Tun Dr
Ismail, the instructors assured me that skating is a skill that you
would never forget, just like cycling.
After acquiring all my protective gear and a pair of skates, my
instructor Steven Tan took me to a nearby park to meet other skaters
who would be joining me in the marathon. Craig Lee, Ramesh Rama
Krisnan, and Michael Chen are all instructors with the school and I
felt relieved because if I should slip and fall during the marathon,
there would be the pros to help me.
I started slowly and was surprised that I could do a couple of
laps around the small park but I had zero knowledge of skating
techniques as I had previously dabbled in the sport on my own with
no proper coaching.
During the two-hour session, Tan taught me the ‘scissor’, which
was the basic move to slow down and stop by putting the right feet
in front of the left and tapping the back of the skate. Considering
the marathon will be on flat roads, the instructors felt that basic
skating and stopping would be adequate for my debut run. They also
taught me how to fall properly on the knees and elbows, as those
parts are shielded by protective gear rather than falling flat on
the bum. I fell twice during the practice session and on both
occasions; I was too panicky to fall right so I landed on my back.
The next morning, we gathered at the starting line of the
marathon. When the signal was sounded, I let the other skaters go
ahead as I decided that I should just take things slow.
Skating on the tarred road was a bit of a problem as there were
stones and uneven spots, which often made me lose my balance. I fell
on my bum again at the first turn, .
I grinned as I picked myself up and continued the run. Things
were smooth sailing after that.
 |
|
This way down: Tan (in orange) showing me
the proper technique of falling so as to prevent serious
injuries. |
I paced myself and managed
to maneuver turns without losing my balance and just as I was ready
for more, Tan proudly announced that I have just finished the 3km
fun run circuit. We decided that it was quite an achievement for an
amateur and that I should brace myself for the next challenge - the
Subang Jaya 10KM Run at the end of the month.
The coming circuit will be different as the route is winding and
there will be slopes to maneuver. For the next few practice
sessions, my instructors will be giving me a crash course on
tackling slopes and more advanced techniques of stopping and slowing
down.
So to all aspiring or experienced skaters out there, please do
come join me at the upcoming run or my weekly practice sessions at
the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Park. A group of skating enthusiasts have
already signed up for the Subang Jaya 10KM Run so don’t miss out on
the fun!
