THE NORTH FACE 100KM TRAIL RUN SINGAPORE 2011

The much awaited race of my life is finally arrived! The North Face 100KM Trail Run Singapore 2011  !!

 

Been dreaming the race since last year and overwhelmed by it's popularity throughout asia pacific (including libya...). I've been inspired by bunch of running colleagues (syah, nik, kash, ian, yim, pui san and many others) as they've done it last year.

Training...sort of..

As an experienced long distance runner, my 'vision and mission' for this race is to finish within the cut off time i.e before 9 hours. Keep reminding myself that this is a trail run (lari dalam hutan) type of race and it's not a road race. They said trail run like twice the distance compared to road race..hmmm..

My training started in September...yeah...kind of late some would say..but hey, being a working father with no time to train would require a realistic goal in life. (uwek..)

 

yeay...this was my training...10km (kot) je...

 

Frim trail run training - something is missing...alone and lonely.. 

broga hill training...forcing non-runners friends to get their ass moving..

I've been putting a lot of effort on hill training...3 times to the summit per session should do the trick.

 Fartlek in between ...mmm...I like it!

Island Running..during team building...actually not running at all...mental training je..

High altitude running...cameron highland...14km (from Tanah rata to Hotel Equatorial and back)

1 week before TNF...

Training Summary - should be clocking 60 - 70km weekly

Reality : 30 km weekly (if I got lucky)

My Gear & Supplement

Hydration pack of 2 litre (stuffed my hydration pack with 1.5 litre of fluid is sufficient for 10km- no need to make it more heavier), 4 packets of power gels, Gu electrolytes soluble tablets..blister patch..thats it..

In view that every water station has GU gel, GU chomps...try to snatch whatever I can during the race.

The most important thing that I forgot : ORS...please bring at least 5 of it...

Strategy

Prior Race : days before - carbo load like crazy...eat a lot of fish (marlin if you can)

Hours before - should eat rice, but ended up with buns instead...(I sure die..)

During Race : keep hydrated, take power gel at every water station, early prevention for potential blister, taking a longer break to relief yourself, walk break when you feel like walking but try to minimize it, curse a lot, smile to other runners, take picture - phsycology effect, try to run with your buddy the entire race, enjoying the female runners - great motivation..big time!

After Race : sleep, eat, sleep, eat...

It takes 1 day for my body to recover from the fatigue...do eat above normal level

Before Race Day

Having dinner at Bali Thai , thanks to Kash's hospitality..wohoo!!

 muka macam harem...(all photos above taken from Ray's and Deo's collection)

Nice food, thanks Kash..

Race Day

Having Light breakfast

 Weighing station - must have a minimum of 1.5 litre of fluid

ceeh...muka ada senyum...

warm up session with abang Raydeo

 Panasss...wargh..!!

 At the starting point

Ooh..yeah...!! Thanks Ian for this nice running shirt...

 Ready to rumble!

Ni apa kuis-kuis ni?

Lihat perutku...rampingkan..?.

Team Macam Bagus

Deo dengan tangkap gambar jarak jauh dia tu..

Ray dengan gaya Kaki Terangkat dia tu...tak habis-habis...

With Frank, Ian, Ijam and Deo (Cakap la satu dua tiga bila nak ambik gambar)

Syahsully dengan imej fesyen tudung terkini, dapatkan di pasaran sekarang

 Cynthia Gan (in blue) : Best la Tempat timbang ni...

Kash : "I punya beg 3 kilo le...(bawak megi, air nescafe, nasi, roti gardenia, kari ayam)"

Muka deo dah cuak dah tu...atau dia tengah skodeng amoi..

About 300 plus...

 Good Luck everybody...

  Team RayDeo

First pit stop...

Apa barang baru 13km...dalam masa sejam setengah dah ni...

Cool down with icy water...

Team from ...korea, taiwan, japan...

Apa barang 16 km...!! So far so good...no cramp..Still got the energy

have a hill and we will break....fuh..penat, tinggi!!

Just keep walking and climbing...no one dare to run...

Apa barang lagi...19.4km...ceh...nak mati ni..!!

At 25km pit stop..pheww!!...I'm losing my mind, my body and my soul...while ian was having a good time enjoying the sun bath...huhu..It's time to call the love ones. I suffered a minor cramp on my flat buttock once I laid down on the bench..ouch!!

Why can't you be 30km? why do you have to be in decimal points?...urgh...700 metre to make it to 30km. These distance marker do look torture.

My goodness!! I've been running for 6 hours, it's 2.20pm...already past my lunch and afternoon nap.

wah..!! That hot...!!

It's not even marathon distance yet!!...Relax..

I suffered minor cramp here...I think..but thanks to Ian and his ORS...a live saver..!!

While other runners were cursing at Mandai (well, most of them), we on the other hand, 'pretend' to be happy..the above photo showed it all...keh, keh..(thanks sasha farina for this lovely shot!)

The man with 'NO complaint'...you can never hear Ian's cursing...except..'Yeeha', 'good run', 'that was good'..

Yeah...He's that special!

Runners down!! This what friends are for, when you fell on the ground, we took your photo.

Those roots and gravel will make you lost your steps and fall..so, do be careful..

Finishing is near...few steps away...(alamak..muka...tension semacam je)

Eh...finished already?...apa barang...

Finished at 7 hours 58 minutes. The North Face 100km Duo was one hella hot and longest run I've ever done! Running 50km on trail, gravel, tree roots, soft red ground was not an easy feat but...it's possible.

For me it's one hell of an achievement due to lack of mileage, I remember once Ray said to me , "it's not the quantity, It's the quality" (of the training). So, train smart...

Something That Get Me Motivated :,

 Taken from Singapore Blade Runner's FB - "IF I CAN RUN, SO CAN YOU"

Singapore Blade Runner on 'unrunnable hill' - determination and succeed.

SEREMBAN HALF MARATHON 2011 - LET'S KILL THOSE HILLS!!

 
Managed to get bib from Mr Ronnie See (spirit of pia) for this race the night before at a discounted price..he, he..thanks Ronnie.

Never expect that I would run becoz I never register and moreover, I had plan for a trail run that Sunday.

The thing is (tiru lawan bersawang syuk), there was no preparation for this race :

Training : zero mileage

Carbo Load : what's that?

Meal before run : half energy bar

Endurance drink during race : gatorade

Power gel : No

Injury level : No

Fitness level : doesn't feel fit

Determination : 100%

Warm up : walking from car park (less than 500m)

woke up at 5.00am : %$#@!

At the starting line, met with fellow runners - Karen, Yim, izuan, shanaz, nana, azuria, zuki, lawrence, halmi, all of them are speedsters! With a reputable training mileage on their belt gave me the jitters.

The strategy :

I supposed to run at a much slower pace in view that I have no training but what I did was running a bit fast and try to maintain until I puke blood.

...and there's this uncle

At 10km (i think), I tried to match up with this uncle from kelab road runner ipoh (printed on his vest). Immediately he became my pacer.

decide, commit, succeed (Ian's Corporate Athlete's motto)

Managed to pace with this uncle till the end (estimated pace at 5.10 to 6.00 kot...damn hills!)

There was no way I will maintain that crazy pace on my own if not for this uncle. The numerous times of side stitch attacked and actually I'm running with pain (Just remember to inhale and exhale like a horse!). I will not let go of this uncle!! - a sheer determination.

It's amazing how your body can do amazing thing!

This was the uncle, with me pursuing behind

Not bad at all

That's wrapped up my road race running event....and now..lets hit the trail!

I'VE BEEN ROBBED !!

It was a fine monday morning, I woke up at 5.45 like i always do. Took my shower. Woke my daughter up for her morning school.

I went downstairs to pack things up as it was already 6.30am. My wife and kids were all in the living room watching TV. As I get things prepared, I realized my wallet went missing. I remember puting my wallet inside my sling bag (yeah..I have one) and hung it on the wall hook. But it wasn't there.

Its was one hell of a search - under the sofa, under the tv, the car porch - my wallet was no where to be found. Suddenly, my daughter said,'eh mana laptop?' (where is the laptop?). All eyesthen focused on the coffee table where our nice toshiba laptop used to be. It's GONE!!

saya kena aniaya dgn bapak..

Before we get into a scary conclusion, I'm still searching for my wallet here and there. Finally, the truth revealed and I had to admit that my house had been broken into. The laptop, my wallet, daughter's handphone..etc..etc..were stolen.

We realized that a few things had been moved away from their original position. My wifequickly checked for  her purse, fuh, what a relieved! The purse was still there. She always bring her purse upstairs.

sayalah murid contoh..

Come to think about it, I've locked the fence, the grille and the sliding door (well..unsure about the grille though) but I normally did. Then I remembered putting my car keys (whole set with house key) on the dining table. The table is within reach from our UNLOCKed window panel.

The post mortem was : I put the car keys on the table, the bloody thief climbed up the fence, the car porch was well lit, he saw the keys, slide the window panel, took the key, opened the grille and sliding door, then helped himself with the valuables...

 

rileks-rileks

It was all due to my negligence. I took for granted what I practised - left the keys on the table and it can be viewed from quite a distance. Moreover, our window panel's curtain was nicely shaped - in the name of decoration.

tension sebab tak boleh masuk internet dah..ha, ha..

Immediately called 911..eh..bukan, 999 (too much Crime Scene & Investigation). The patrol car came, few word of wisdom from the 'yawning' policeman. Lodged a police report. Waited for the inspector general investigation officer to come and take photographs (who came at 3.30pm..ceh..!).

 ni masa serius tengok kat pc, tapi sekali dia senyum...mak ai..

Replaced the IC - done (free - due to robbery, snatch theft, natural disaster etc)
Replaced the licence - done (free - have to meet their officer, long wait but worth it - RM20 saved!)
Replaced the ATM Cards - Failed (they don't accept temporary IC..bluek!!)
- CIMB - bring your birth certificate and your licence to any branch, they can do it.
- MAYBANK - bring your IC and birth certificate tothe branch of origin i.e where you open up your account - if at Kelantan you have to go there la?
- PUBLIC BANK is the worst - No way jose'...! (until you get your original IC)
- the trick - transfer your amount to your spouse using internet - abis cita..

apa barang curi rumah orang..minum milo la best..

Moral of the story/ advice from the Police dude :

1) Don't put your keys which will be visible from outside (wek..malu..malu..). Hide it at a secret spot that only certain people will know
2) Distraction to the robber - use old wallet/purse as a dummy..at least put 'duit saidina' inside
3) The robber can easily lift up your glass sliding door to quash the 'lock-key' position. Put a stick at your glass door's railing to jam it, so it can't be slide from outside.
4) Additional inner key lock at the grill, they can't try to cut it with gigantic steel cutter from outside
5) Hide your valuables
6) Try to get a guardian dog, or a wolf even better..werewolf..(human and beast -2 in one)...marvellous!!
7) Don't block your ATM Card immediately...but soon. Transfer your money to your spouse's account (CIMB will block your ATM card WITH your CIMB clicks facility - beware)

I've learned my lesson. Glad that the robber(s) don't disturb our family upstairs. I still can hug them..yeay!!

STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON 2011 - RUNAWAY BRIDE

I just completed my 7th Marathon last 2 weeks at Phuket Marathon. There was no training prior to Std Chartered KL Marathon in order for my body to fully recover (uwekk)..

So, the excuse of no training for a marathon is...'to dress up like a Bride & Groom'!

This year's marathon was a bit different as I thought I'm able to finish a marathon without training targeted at 5:30 but naah..

Team up with Ms Mawar who had accepted my 'proposal' to be my Runaway Bride. There was no plan actually as the idea just popped out of a sudden.

I concurred that 42km was one hell of a distance (still respecting it). Mawar suffered 'hamstring-going-to-strike-soon' at bukit bintang area (23km-ish) but she still moved on (I salute her on this).

Mr Onn..63 years old...doing his full marathon. (zack, do you still want to quit at 40?)

Mawar Strategy - you pick a target infront (traffic light, road signboard, distance marker or even water station), you run towards the target, stop, and walk, pick a target, run, stop, walk...

hey..it helped!!...She admitted that she had insufficient training..don't we all? (ha, ha..)

The running with skirt group and pacers...wonderful people!!

aftermath - still in good running condition

say 'hi' to photographer

I'm sure this is not 'Gold Coast Marathon'

with Mr Deo - in 4 hr 31 min ! gila..

 

Gedik Girls

 

Gedik-gedik? - irwan, kau buat apa tu?

with Wan azmi - atas bawah 2XU. Power!

With Azizi iskandar from JB - susah2 je datang KL..

syah avatar..power!

Kak J from Singapore. Her 3rd marathon in a month.

 

 Mawar, me, Kak June and Karen Loh bumble bee..

Completed the marathon in 5 hr 47 minutes. Yeah..not too shabby indeed..

Azhar Elmiza Ahmad - 4 hour!!

izuan : 4 hr 27 min..!! gila lagi..mampos aku nak kejar..

The girl in pink is Marlin Zaini.    Far right is Fiki

round applause!!