Jogging from Jl Riau via Jl Paus, Jl Sembilang and Jembatan Siak IV (Sunday, 14 April 2019)

Not mine: Culled from google map

Wonderful! This is the third day in the third week that I jogged more than 12 kilometers! 14 April 2019. I started Jogging from Lily Spring Garden at 5:25 am. Then reached the same spot at 7:05 am.

My usual routine is to jog 4 rounds around the subdivision within 20 minutes. But in order to speed up the removal of my tummy bulge, one of my resolutions is to jog at least once a week outside of the subdivision continuously. 

This Sunday, I was able to wake up earlier. Had a brief prayer. Brought an ID with me which serves as my identity in case accident happens. I also brought my rosary because I plan to recite it while walking in case  I feel tired.

So the jogging started. I jogged straight from my home in Jl Riau then turned left to Jl Yus Sudarso until I passed by Jembatan Leton Satu (1). It was still dark so I proceed with caution as most of the roads in Pekanbaru are not lighted. 

I passed by Jembatan Letton 1 and was disappointed to see a heavily burning pile of tires just at the other side of the river. The smoke was so heavy that I reduced my speed so that I would not inhale that fast.

I continued jogging and observed the landmarks. I was looking for the building with red letterings of Hawaii in front of it but I could not see. I was able to pass by some big restaurants and one Indomaret. I also saw a store named MM with a red theme and Isuzu outlet. 

I was thinking that if I could see that building then I am already near Jl Paus. Unfortunately, I was not able to see those letterings in front of bigger buildings. Then I saw a big KFC marker ahead which signals that I have already passed Jl Sekolah. After the KFC outlet was a huge intersection. I was able to see that the other side of the intersection is Stadion Kaharudin Nasution - Rumbai Pesisir. With this, I got a sense that I am already in Jl Paus. Still, to confirm my guess, I asked a bapak nearby where is Jl Paus and he pointed to me the same road I am targetting.

As I turned right towards Jl Paus, I saw a public minibus of Pekanbaru passing by way forward to Jl Yus Sudarso which gave me the idea that public buses can reach as far as that.

Not mine: Culled from Google map

Then I continued jogging until I reached the rotunda on the other side. Jl Paus ends at that rotunda so there is no other way but to turn left or right. Jl Paus is a busy road as there are many motors and dump trucks passing by. I turned right and targetted Jl Sembilang. 

I continued jogging along Jl Sembilang. It is an asphalted road with two lanes. The shoulders intended for pedestrians are not concrete. It is still a wild soil with some grasses growing. This road relatively ends in a small pelabuhan (port) but just nearby is the Road going to Jembatan Siak IV - the newly opened bridge connecting Rumbai and Pekanbaru. Just at the intersection of the road to Jemabtan Siak IV is Mesjid Istiqamah. and, upon reaching that corner, I turned right to the road and targetted the bridge. I walked for a while at the corner then since I saw some joggers approaching my place very fast, I also started to jog faster.

Not mine: culled from google map

I jogged continuously until I reached the two-legged bridge supported by big suspension wires. I tried to walk briskly while crossing the bridge. Then, as I see y watch, I got 20 minutes more before reaching 7:00 am. So I started to target that remaining minutes to reach Lily Spring Garden. But, I was not able to reach it because I cannot fully accelerate due to the many rough areas of the road from the bridge and along Jl Riau. The shoulder of the road intended for pedestrians is poorly maintained. There is not even maintenance, dilapidated pavement, some patches of water pouches, many manholes, and surprising motorists passing by. 

I tried to speed up but could only run feeling the heavy weight of my body and my speed is beyond my satisfactory. Still, I maintained jogging speed until I reached the gate of my subdivision. I was able to reach it at 7:04am. That was a 1 hour and 30 minutes combination of running, jogging, and brisk walking.

Distances:

1. Jl Riau Lily Spring Garden to Stadion Kaharudin Nasution: 5.8 km

2. Stadion Kaharudin Nasution to Jembatan Siak IV: 6.5 km

3. Jembatan Siak IV to Lily Spring Garden Jl Riau v Jl H. Juanda: 3.1 km

TOTAL: 15.4 km/ 1.5 h

SPEED: 10.27km/h

While I found jogging to be a healthy activity, I found some problems along the path that pose threat to joggers:
1. Pollution abounds in Pekanbaru area. This includes air pollution from cars and motors who are belching smokes.
2. The dumping areas for wastes are just near the highways, hence the smell overlaps and the wastes are scattered in patches along and around the roads, used oil spilled over the waterways.
3. A long stretch of the roads have no shoulders where joggers can pass when big trucks pass by. And, some parts have small ponds and holes and can be a source of accident for passersby.
4. And, there are no clear crossing areas, and if there are, motorists never go slow and stop when they see someone crossing.

There is just one stretch of road that is conducive to jogging, that is the one from Mesjid Istiqamah at the tip of Jalan Sembilang to Jembatan Siak IV. It has relatively low pollution along the way, there are very few houses and the air can circulate freely.

Below are the records of further jogging:

Second marathon date:
17 April 2019
6:05 - 8:10
Walked from Jembatan Siak 4 to Lily Spring Garden
Passed by Pasar Baua and bought fruits

Third marathon date:
21 April 20
05:46 - 07:05
Continuous run and jog with brief walking periods
TOTAL: 15.4 km/ 1.23 h
SPEED: 12.52 km/h