BHP Orange Run 2013 - race report

Go minimal or go nothing at all

I don't usually enter 10k runs lately. But if I do, I make sure it's cheap! BHP Orange Run fits the bill. It was the cheapest road race in the Klang Valley with entry fees of only RM5. Plus, all the proceed from the entry fees goes to charity. You can't beat that! Next, I did what I would usually do, persuade and gather as many friends to participate in the run. I was so proud and happy when everybody showed up. I had my doubts but they proved me wrong. Nice!!! This is the 8th year of the BHP run. Just keep the fees low and I'll support it every year! Other companies who wants to do CSR running event should follow suit. Just give us the bib number. No need all those timing chips and running t-shirts. That would only add up in the entry fees. Boooo!

The run was held at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara and it took us through housing areas around the area. The women was flagged off first and followed by the men flagged off 15 minutes later. You can not ask for a better morning weather. Cool and breezy with a little touch of morning sunshine. I decided to run in my VFF which would be the shoes first event ever. My legs held up well in this run. Finished in 1:05'38". Lined up to collect the goody bags and attacked the refreshments booths of gatorade, nasi lemak, teh tarik, milo and cereal. I really took my time there, enjoyed the entertainment performances while waiting and looking for my friends. 

Going to keep it short here. There is the BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon coming up in a week time. I'll be running in the half marathon category. Looking forward for that run. Besides that, Raya Haji is just around the corner. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my Muslim readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha. Drive safely for those who are driving back to their hometown. Happy holidays! =)

Chasing our own shadows with Awi

Let the drummer kick

The whole gang.
 Glad I could share the run with you guys.
 Appreciate it so much.
 Thank you for joining! =)

SCKLM 2013 - half marathon race report

SCKLM 2013 finally went under way after it was postponed back in June due to "worsening" haze condition at the time. Nonetheless, dubbed as the biggest running event in country. About 33,000 runners turned out this year from all categories. I know people who who would not run a single event this year, would make an exception for this event. I guess it's more than just running, it's a festival. Again, I ran in the half marathon category for the second year in a row. My aim was to have a sub 2-hour finish. That has been the case in every half marathon races I'd entered since Seremban HM back in July. 

Transportation

This is the first time I didn't drive all the way to KL because from what I had learned from last year, the detour from road closures can be a headache. So I took the LRT instead from Asia Jaya to Masjid Jamek. Met up with Awi and had my Subuh prayer there. A quick jog to Dataran Merdeka and by the time I dropped off my bag at the baggage counter the half marathon had just been flagged off. I did a quick warm up stretch. I repeat a QUICK stretching which I would later sadly regret T_T

On deck at 5:00 a.m

On board

Mind games

So basically I started from the back of the pack. A quick catch up with Awi, absorbing the energy around me, and getting the legs warmed up and the sweats out. I think I was going pretty fast passing through runners. I always say that the 'real' run only starts after the first 30 minutes. That's where I would evaluate my run. Unfortunately, it wasn't looking good for me. Around KM5, I knew something wasn't right. I felt tightness on my right calf. I decided not to hold my earlier pace for fear that my calf would cramped up and ruin my entire run. So I dropped a pace thinking I still have a long way to go. 

I kept looking at my watch to see my timing and compared it with the markers along the route. I was behind; didn't even make KM10 under an hour. In my mind, I was thinking of many reasons that could have possibly made me suffer the muscle stiffness so early in my run. Then I diverted my attention on how to pace myself. I started targeting runners in front of me for me to overtake. One after another. From young to old. From slow to fast. 

When I reached KLCC about KM15 I decided to take out my camera and snapped some photos. This was where the half and full marathon runners would part ways. I cheered on those full marathon runners that were near me and wish them all the best. At KM18 or so, I found another motivation to keep me going. I wanted to better my time from last year's. So I found another gear in my legs and took off.

Approaching KLCC

Good to see the full marathon runners still in good spirit

I would have to say the best part of any run is right before the finish line. Where the spectators' cheers got louder. No matter how tired you are, the energy from the crowd will give you as much lift as you need to run and push across the finish line. Some runners would slow down at take it all in. Some runners would take it as an advantage to speed up to chase a PB. It's kinda like a victory lap where you know it will soon be over. The finish line is within your grasp.

Runners cheering on runners

Collected my medal and some light refreshment such as banana, apple and a can of 100 plus. Then went straight to the baggage counter to collect my belongings. Again it was quick and there were no queues. Credit to the volunteers and organizers for that! Great to see the number of people I know at this event is getting larger by the year. Hopefully to see some family members next year. My mom already started asking about upcoming running events. Chilled about an hour there searching, waiting, posing for the camera with friends before I made move. The cloudless morning made the sun's glare and heat somewhat uneasy to chill for long.

Baggage counter: Grab and go

Thank you all who had trained with me for the past months. Thank you all for the wishes and kind messages. Big shout out to Dinie who let me borrowed his water belt so I could fit my fat phone in plus my camera. Lastly, thank you all volunteers who sacrificed their sleep to come out and help. I see you! Although running is an individual sport, you guys make it feels as if it is not =D



 Next year's aim, FULL MARATHON !! Here we go !!

Doing my part - cheering runners on! My choice of words was "don't keep calm, keep running!!!"

New Balance Half Marathon - race report

It's the second half of the year where most running events will be staged. I only check those with at least 21km distances. Got to be selective or else I will drain my wallet if I enter them all. I got the SCKLM, BSN Putrajaya Night marathon and 2XU run coming up in the next 3 months. Unfortunately, unable to run Penang bridge this year due to school obligation during November. That would be my first DNS. I wasn't so bummed up though as it was announced that the run will be staged at the old bridge instead of the new bridge as how it was originally planned by the organizer.

For my preparation this time around, I was more concerned towards getting back my running mojo rather than losing the extra weight gained from the lemang, ketupat and rendang during the Raya season. Ran short distances and managed to get about 19km in total between all those raya open houses. 

As the run was held at Setia Alam City Mall which was a quick 20 minutes drive from where I live, I didn't care to pack the night before. Decided to leave home after Subuh pray. The half marathon category starts at 6.15am and I left home at 6.00am. At that moment, I realized I was going to miss the flag-off. 

One thing I fear the most about arriving late to running events is that the road closures to make way for runners. Thankfully, I didn't encounter such detour. Quickly make my way towards the starting line which was already packed with 10k runners getting ready to be flagged-off at 6.45am. Notified one of the committee just to let them know that I ain't a 10k runner being released early. Given the green light, a quick stretches to wake those sleepy legs, jumped to the front line and started running at 6.40am.


Ran alone about 10 minutes before the 10k front runners caught up and flew passed me. Even my friend, Epit running in the 10k category caught up with me. Snapped picture with him and off he went chasing some runner dude where he was keeping pace with.

With Epit "The Flash"

About 30 minutes into the run, I finally caught up with the 21k runners and felt right where I belong. You know it can demoralizing when everybody is running passed you. Now it's time to get my spirit up as it was my turn to fly pass runners. I was aiming for a sub-2 hour finish. Reached KM10 around 56 minutes and I was still feeling good, but then around KM13 onward my left hip started to feel a sharp pain followed by my left knee.

Almost there...

All good at KM18 with my awesome shoulder pads =P
[photo by WaiHong Hoo]

The route was relatively flat. No insane climbs. Managed to check out some properties as we ran through lovely housing area around Setia Eco Park. Nothing beats an easy route combined with the beautiful morning weather. When we were heading back towards the mall I tried to speed up a bit, but when the time reached the 2-hour mark on my stopwatch, I slowed down a bit. I crossed the finish line at 2:02"53'. Collected my finisher medal and tee, head straight for the refreshment booth for some watermelons, 100plus and VICO !!! Snapped pictures with friends and chilled on the open field next to the mall under nice morning sun.

Here I was busy capturing a video crossing the finish line
[photo by WaiHong Hoo]

With Puteri, Zul, and my homeboy Dinie

Pace 5:51

Seremban Half Marathon - my first sub-2 hour :)

Will definitely run next year. Hopefully with my cousins!

What do you know? Malaysia's biggest marathon SCKLM was postponed last weekend due to improving haze condition in the country. Bummer to all overseas participants and local participants outside Selangor who had made flight bookings and train for this event. Well for me, good thing I got a back up plan! I went to Kuang for Bash#225. So, KLMBH 1 - 0 SCKLM


Last run before Ramadhan. Destination Negeri Sembilan, for the 26th Seremban Half Marathon. Would have taken the bus but I was too lazy to go and buy the bus ticket because I didn't want to fix myself on when to leave for Seremban. Took the KTM instead from Shah Alam at 8.30pm and arrived at 11pm. One advantage you can take from taking the train is that you can read a book. Eat and Run by Scott Jurek was my companion. Stayed at my Aunt's place in the city and by 12am I'd already hit the sack. 

Got my aunt to drop me off at N.S padang with a couple of minutes to spare before the flag-off. There were no baggage counter to leave your belongings, so I went up to one of the organizers' booth and asked them if I could leave my stuff (only dry clothes) there. They were reluctant at first but I was willing to leave it at my own risk anyway. 

With that covered, camera in one hand and my water bottle strapped around my waist, I headed straight to the starting line. No steel barriers, so it was easy to get to the front of the starting line. Then I thought to myself that I got a good chance to be in the top 200 finishers (later found out that 21km men's open only had 152 participants) with a cut off time of 2:30' to receive the finisher medal, being able to be in such a good position to start from (second row from the starting line).  

0630. When the gunshot was fired, my hope of collecting the finisher medal went out the window. Everybody was running on 5th gear! My body had not yet warmed up and was still on neutral. Everybody ran passed me and it took me around 30 minutes into the run before I could run passed someone, and the dude was walking.

The route lead the runners straight out of the city and into Senawang. I have to say, I really enjoy the run which was mostly on 1 lane of 2 way roads. It was very cooling with lots of trees. No major climbs. I only stopped at water station that provided Gatorade and soaked sponges which was at the latter stage on the run. 

Somewhere in Senawang.

Around KM15, I looked at my watch and realised that there was a possibility of finishing a PB and record a sub 2-hour finish which was greater than any finisher medal in my opinion. Legs still feel good and only need to keep a 6:00 pace. KM19, heading back to the city from Lake Garden and we bummed into a little traffic. Here's where the  21k runners converged with the 10k runners which consists mostly of school kids. They were running, walking, laughing, and talking about their homework and there I was, who just wants his sub-2 hour half marathon and had to cut through every one of them.

As I was running back to N.S padang, I couldn't see where the finish line was at. No sight of 21k runners in front of me. Only groups of school kids in their white tees. Should I follow them? I had to ask one of the spectators on the side where the finish line was. He pointed at the N.S padang along with the rest of the school kids and I think I lost a good few seconds there because my watch stopped at 2:00'14". Nevertheless, I was elated! PB baby!

Only 1 second to spare!

Then the official results came out, I was delighted that I made the sub-2 hour with 1:59'59". I have this goal where if I can run a sub-1 hour 10k, then I'm ready for a half marathon. If I can run a sub-2 hour half marathon, then I'm ready for a full marathon. If I can run a sub-4 hour marathon, perhaps ultra or triathlon?! Okay, let's take it one step at a time.

What's the point of a finisher medal without a lanyard?! I can't it show off. Bummer!

Standard Chartered 8k Fun Run

At the starting line

This year's Standard Chartered Fun Run was on a smaller scale compared to last year's. It was no longer FOC. RM15 registration fee was charged which was for the event t-shirt. Also limited slots available which made the crowd and number of participants smaller. Fewer sponsored booth. Only 100 plus was to offer.

 

I have to say that I love the route though. It was different from last year's. The route took us into a housing area before finishing it off with a long stretch along the river. I'd noticed many runners taking their time strolling along the river enjoying the view. A very family atmosphere with many runners bringing out their young ones, and those runners who dressed up getting into the fun run spirit. Big up to you!

Finished the run at 52'59" and it's a debut for my Merrell Road Glove in a running event. Faiz crossed the finish line shortly after. Snapped few more photos before heading back home. My next run will be a half marathon at SCKLM this June. See you guys there!

Let's get inspired!

By the way, I just got this book before BB1M expired by end of this month. Looking forward for the RUN part but not so for the EAT part. How could I be when he's a vegan =P 

Bash#222 Bandar Tasik Puteri

 Hares: Kapten Zainol and Yaafur Cycling Club


Another short ride this time around because my cousin Awanis is treating the family for lunch. So frb for the short ride it is, well sorta. It's my first time cycling here and damn, I'm impressed with the cycling community. From roadie to mtbers. You can see them everywhere as you entered the town. There is even a restaurant that provide a bike rack for the convenience of the riders to park their bikes. The bash has added a kiddie ride, so the crowd was larger than usual. You can guess from the kids and the local riders joining in. 

On on!

Short tarmac ride into a palm oil plantation. It gets pretty congested at first with everyone just warming up their legs. Then come the first check which defined bash#222. There were like 4-5 crossroads and the frbs were doing the checking but no papers found. The back riders and even the kids had caught up with the front pack. Now we got the whole bash at check point one. 

Hold up at the first check

One heck of a ride!

More checking being done but still no papers. Then down came the one of the hares, but he also didn't know the where the papers at. We spent about 30 minutes at the first check, where finally the hare led us the way where the ride supposed to end up anyway regardless the papers. So screw the first check.

Then we reached a town, Batu Arang, where many riders stopped by at the various shops to replenish their supplies. Continued back into the trail. The trail was muddy and soggy. After a few more tarmac and trail combined I reached back at the car. At the registration booth there was a discussion about what went wrong with the first check. Apparently, the papers for the short and the long ride got mixed up because the route for each ride crisscrossed each other. Riders got confused and so on..

To my surprised Pak Mat was already back at the car waiting for me. Apparently, he went for the kiddie ride cause he didn't want to be late for lunch. He got back by 11 and I arrived an hour later, and yes we were late for our lunch with the family. Cleaned ourselves up at R & R Sungai Buloh before joining the family at Las Vacas for steak which was the real workout of the day. The bash was just to workout our appetite =D

You can't go wrong with a rib eye steak