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!!

LAGUNA PHUKET INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 2011

Done in 5 hour 2 minutes!!



Day 1

Arriving at the airport approximately at 8.00am (thai time). We have been swarmed by transportation dude who offered their services. We managed to booked a van for 12 of us, the cost was 900 baht (RM90-00), so, one person only RM7.50...weohoo!! (the actual cost for a taxi to Laguna is a whopping 600 baht @ RM60-00!). Better share.

fast dude, me, irwan, KA and pui san

At the airport with the 'Kaki Runners'

 

Sir, there is no one by the name of Mc Ijam here...

Race site - with a lake view..oh yes..

The shuttle service, they will be at your service anytime..thumbs up!

It's hot.. 

Nothing much to do at the hotel as the room wasn't ready, so, we head on to the race site for bib collection.

The barrier

The finishing arch

Mr Tay chit chatting with running friends

The 'deposit machine' - Nice isn't it?

 TNF Bangkok? first time next year..hmm..(the currency is not too 'situation critical' like Singapore)

The collection process took us only 5 to 10 minutes, less crowded and very pleasant atmosphere.

At 12.00pm, we checked in at the hotel, hooray!

Well, nothing much to do here accept swimming..(blah). We make our way to Patong Town for lunch. The taxi cost us 600 baht (RM60-00) one way to Patong, my advice : better share, rent a car/motorbike (35 minutes journey) or plan your trip wisely.

 Our taxi : No wonder the taxi fare cost us that much, the 4 wheeler got lcd tv !!..

 Subway at Jungceylon

 Patong walkabout

 Famous shopping complex in Patong

 Mat salleh Rempit

 I need this once in a while

 Unique bar

 Wooden House

 Hard Rock - yeah

 Hard Rock

Tsunami warning signboard

Day 2 - Race Day 

Race started at 4.30 am. Laguna Hotel Club is just less than a kilometer from race site, but there's shuttle 'tuk-tuk' for our convenience for marathon runners as early as 3.30am.

william cheah, KA, Sam, Misni and me
(photo by sasha farina)

 misni, azizi, william cheah and sam
(photo by sasha farina)

irwan, azizi and me
(photo by sasha farina)

with an extra face - Mr Yim with his vibram.
(photo by sasha farina)

with Kak J and YKK
(photo by sasha farina)

photo by sasha farina

photo by misni

KA - all for a good cause
(photo by sasha farina)

 Our perfect team, taking picture is a must.
Pui san, Yim, Carrie, KA, Mohan, Sofian, me and misni at the starting line

 It was pitch dark to capture photo earlier, until at the 13th Km..

 Slower pace was the best strategy if you don't have sufficient training..mueh, heh heh..

It was an uphill running  baby..

 Approaching national park

 18km and still strong. There's a beach in the background..ah..sorry for the low quality phone camera

The road was all ours on that day...yeah...

 U turn at 20km (kot) where I met Irwan...fuh..power!!

my 'banana split' half marathon time..yeah..i put my heart rate monitor on and its pumping like crazy!!

99.99% accurate!! (24.99km) Garmin watch..can't run without it..

 I'm starting to crumble!!..

I got only 7 km left and with target pace of 7 minutes per km, I can still make it sub 5 hour.

and..maybe not!! I'm all burned out!!

The remaining 2.195km was the toughest.I can't lift my feet properly, my energy level had plummeted to the lowest level. I ran and walked towards the end, the scorching sun was no mercy. Pouring an ice cold water onto your body will dried out in a chippy.

Wohoo!! No sub 5 this time..no worries..
Thanks Mr Tay...

Proud to be Malaysian. Sub 5 Duo...KA and Irwan

Day 3 - Last Day

Return back to Patong for a nice massage

Warning Sign in the taxi. They read my mind on the first one..ceh..

 

Caught in a mess - there was this buzzing sound at their electrical pole..scary..

 The rempit dude with red and pink helmet

4 guys on a busy street of Patong..

 

 Tuk-Tuk service

 

Local Delicacy - Mango in sticky Rice with coconut milk.

 

Massage Parlour - RM25-00 per hour

 

Sanitary Napkin vending machine

Tshirt specially made for tourist..he, he..

3D potrait in a glass cube..awesome!! (Big - RM100-00, Small - RM40-00)

Great experience in Phuket. Nice place to visit for holiday maker. Doesn't have the time (and baht) to go island hopping, Simon cabaret, tiger show, fantasea..etc....huhu...

Leaving Phuket with precious memories!