I started to run at KLCC Park in August 1999. My running target was simple : to become fit enough to climb Mount Kinabalu in December 1999. In those days, there were very few people exercising at the park and there were only a handful of runners (probably less than five). After one month of "running" I managed to run 2 km non stop around the 1.3 km lap.
Among the runners, one stood out; a stocky Chinese fellow. He was at the park every day of the weekday and he could run 6 laps (7.8km) non-stop. Every lap was run at nearly the same time. I confessed that I secretly timed his lap time. If I recalled, it was 7 minutes per lap (5.5 min/km).
It was not until the year 2000, I introduced myself to him. He said his name is "Yong". He said he had been running for several years and had even run several marathons. He was the first marathoner I have ever met. I could not imagined anyone being capable of running 42km but he said anyone can do it with consistent training.
I got to know him better over the years. After running for a year, I too was able to run 8 laps non-stop. Many of those laps and on many days I ran with Yong. On numerous days when I tagged along and he said it was it was an easy training day, I suspect he slowed down a bit for me to keep up with him.
Year 2005 was a big year for me : After running 13 half marathons from 2000 to 2004, I decided to train for a marathon in 2005. I asked Yong if I could run with him on Sunday morning for Long Slow Distance (LSD) run. He agreed and we ran several LSD together for nearly one year. He was very patient and slowed down his pace for me to keep up. The LSD route map is here.
Alas, in 2006 my chronic knee injury became worse after February 2006. After that I had to reduce my daily runs at the park. I never ran another LSD again.
I still kept in touch with Yong, sometimes having lunch together but it was no longer possible for me to run train consistently at KLCC park.
I found out Yong had passed away last Friday. The last time I met him was 3 months ago when I saw him running at KLCC park in the morning. He had switched to morning runs to better accommodate and balance family time with running.
Thank you, Yong for being a friend, your agreeable companionship during numerous 6.00 am LSD runs, countless laps at KLCC park and being the gentle, humble and patient soul you are.
My last LSD run with Yong was Feb 2006, one month before the KL International marathon, report is posted here.
Yong's photo is here. (photo at the bottom, he is standing behind the guy wearing the blue vest).
