LIFE IS GREAT

Columbia Asia Seremban:We Care Charity Fun Run

2012-05-21T23:51:00.000+08:00

Event:Columbia Asia Seremban:We Care Charity Fun Run

Distance:7km

Location:City Park,Seremban 2

Date:20/5/2012 @8:00AM

Never thought of running in this small event in Seremban.This is a small fun run organised by a private hospital in Seremban.Our group got to know about this run few weeks ago and no one seems to be interested in this event.

As usual on Sunday,we gathered for our LSD at Acacia.However the response for this Sunday was not so good as most of us were busy with our own programme.In the end,only Lim,Lau and myself turned up at 6:00am.We were planning to run 20km on that day.Along the way,Lau decided to stop as he was feeling tired,probably due to the long night watching the Champion League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich .

Lim and I decided to carry on.We decided to detour to City Park along the way just to catch a glimpse of what was happening over there.We knew there was a 7km running event in City Park on that day.

When we arrived after completing 11km of our Sunday morning run,we met up with the seniors of the S2 group who usually starts their Sunday morning runs from City Park.The seniors were getting ready for the start of the 7km event scheduled at 8:00am.Then one of them informed us that there were 2 free running Bibs available and offered them to us.

Lim and I were happy to take up the free offer.It was about 7:30am and I quickly ran back to Acacia to get my hand phone just to snap some pictures of this event.

Surprising,it was a very well organised event with plenty of freebies for runners.The goodies bags were said to worth RM180 which I think include the Brooks discount voucher of RM120.I did not take home the goodies bag but to pass it to the person who gave me the free running Bibs.I took home the medal and the cute teddy bear.

Good points of this event:

1)well organised

2)plenty of activities:kids corners,free massage for runners (after 7 km run!!??),free pop corns,free health screening etc.

3)easy route..mostly flat.It covers most of our usual weekend running route.Starts from City Park turn left towards Petronas,Jusco,Up Town Avenue towards Rasah Kemayan junction and straight back to City Park.

Suggestions for the future event:

1)Start earlier will be better.

2)Tougher route (ha..ha..ha..).Turn right (instead of left) after the start from City Park.Reverse this current route.It will be slight tough ending with about 1 km of up slope.

This cute teddy bear is for the first 250 runners who completed the 7km run.

Borneo International Marathon 2012-Waiver Form Issue

2012-05-09T06:56:00.000+08:00

This may be the first time in the history of marathon that a runner needs to sign a waiver form before one can collect his race pack.The waiver form was drafted in such a way it gave the organisers a 100% immunity against any claims,law suits etc.This is obviously a one sided agreement which favours only the organisers.

This is BIM 2012 email sent out about one week before the race pack collection:
___________________________________________________________________
Dear Runners,

Please be informed that all BIM2012 participants must sign the attached waiver at race pack collection. You can save time by printing and signing the waiver in advance. If you designate another person to pick up your race pack, your representative must bring the waiver and the race pack authorisation form signed by you and a copy of your valid photo identification card or passport in order to obtain your race pack.
___________________________________________________________________________________

The Waiver Form:
Release and Indemnity (Adult - 18 years of age or over)
In consideration of my participation in the Borneo International Marathon, I agree to assume all risks incidental to such participation (which risks may include, among other things, muscle injuries, heat and stress related issues and broken bones). On my own behalf, and on behalf of my heirs, executors,
administrators and next of kin, I hereby release, covenant not to sue, and forever discharge the Released Parties (as defined below) of and from all liabilities, claims, actions,damages,costs or expenses of any nature arising out of or in any way connected with my participation in the Borneo International Marathon and further agree to indemnify and hold each of the Released Parties harmless from and against any and all such liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expenses including, but not limited
to, all legal fees and disbursements up through and including any appeal (“Claims”). I understand that this release and indemnity includes any Claims based on the negligence, action or inaction of any of the Released Parties and covers bodily injury (including death), property damage, and loss by theft or
otherwise, whether suffered by me before, during or after such participation. I declare that I am physically fit and have the skill level required to participate in the Borneo International Marathon. I further authorise medical treatment for me, at my cost, if the need arises. For the purposes hereof, the
"Released Parties" are Kinabalu Running Club, Championship Sports and Events Sdn Bhd and all Borneo International Marathon sponsors or charities, and each of their respective parent, subsidiary, affiliated or related companies
I further grant the Released Parties the right to photograph and/or videotape me and further to display,use and/or otherwise exploit my name, face, likeness, voice, and appearance forever and throughout the world, in all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe in perpetuity
(including, without limitation, in online webcasts, television, motion pictures, films, newspapers, and magazines) and in all forms including, without limitation, digitised images, whether for advertising,publicity, or promotional purposes, including, without limitation, publication of Borneo International Marathon results and standings, without compensation, reservation or limitation, or further approval,and I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties for any Claims associated with such
grant and right to use. The Released Parties are, however, under no obligation to exercise any rights granted herein.
This Waiver and Release Form shall be governed by the laws of Malaysia. I certify I am 18 years of age or
older and the information set forth is true and complete.

~~-----------------------------------------------------------------~~

I wonder how many runners do read before they signed.What I highlighted above are the gross points which I don't agree.

1)Why must we sign before we collect our race pack?I wanted to collect without signing but was not allowed by Ms Carol Voon,one of the race committee.Either I signed or I will not be allowed to run.In the end,I signed under protest and due to her threat.I wrote these on the waiver form:sign under protest and under threat from Carol Voon.

2)By signing this waiver,it also means I am signing on behalf of my behalf of my heirs, executors,administrators and next of kin...agreeing NOT to take any action in case something bad happen to me.

3)Of course we runners will not simply sue.We are understanding kind of people but not the organisers.This waiver said that if anything happen due to negligence, action or inaction of the organisers...we still can't hold the organisers responsible.This is total immunity from prosecution.Anyone in this world has this kind of immunity?I believe even our King or US President doesn't enjoy this privilege.

4)Of course many and even the organisers staff will said:just signed,nothing to worry,it should be OK,we signed many this kind of waiver each time we participate in a run.. etc.But my point is:we always assumed everything will be OK,we are always in a denial mode,refusing to believe bad things may happen.What if it really happen and I have signed this waiver.I am not doing justice to my family.

5)If one will to look through waiver clauses in other races,they did not mention it in such a detail.Example (shown are parts of the waiver from http://www.myraceonline.com/

The Organiser reserve the right to amend the Event race routes as they deem fit for the safety of the Participants and/or to prevent any potential hazards in the running of the event, at any time without prior notice to the Participant. In such cases, every effort will be made to inform the Participant prior to the date of the event. The Organiser shall not be liable for any other loss or inconvenience caused due to such changes.

Whilst every reasonable precaution will be taken by the Organiser to ensure the participants' safety, participants run at their own risk and the Organiser will not be responsible or held liable for any injury or death howsoever arising from training for or during participation in the race. Participants are strongly encouraged to go for a medical examination and/or consult their medical practitioner prior to registration and before the actual Race Day.
___________________________________________________________________________________

So runners,read before you signed.If you are comfortable and happy then put down your signatures.This advise doesn't apply to running marathons.It can be any documents which you may need to sign in the future.

To BIM 2012 organisers,please be fair to everyone.The next time,put this waiver on the website so runners can read it before signing up for the run and put in more gentle words.Think of others too...not only yourselves.

Borneo International Marathon 2012-Race Day

2012-05-08T01:17:00.000+08:00

The S2 runners:Thanks to Tey Eng Tiong for the photo.

Borneo International Marathon 2012
Kota Kinabalu
6th May 2012
3:00AM

This was the race which I almost DNS (did not start).This year it was a big group from Seremban.Most of us did the full marathon except for 2 who did 10km and another group who tagged along to give us "moral support" and participate in "cuti-cuti Malaysia".

This year the race started one hour earlier,at 3:00am which I personally think it is a very good idea.Two years ago we were "roasted" by the hot weather because of the earlier daylight in Sabah.

The night before the race,Lim and I stayed up to watch the Arsenal vs Norwich game.The rest went off to bed early.I can't sleep well but my room mate Steve was snoring away in his sleep.He was very tired as he was busy arranging the transportation and fetching the rest of our group who arrived at different times.Many thanks to Steve for all his effort from registration,booking the hotels,fetching us from KK airport and sending us to the airport again for our flight back to KL.He was our driver during our 2 days stay in KK!!

I woke up at 1:30am with only about 2 hours of interrupted sleep due to my stuffy nose in the cold air conditioned room.Went to put on my contact lens,only to discover that my left contact lens was damaged!Must have been some time since I last used it and I have kept it too long in the case.I have no choice but to use only one contact lens on my right eye.

Everyone was ready by 2:30am and we walked to Likas Stadium nearby.It was very quiet.Not much of activity in the neighbourhood.When we reached the stadium there was only a small crowd of marathoners getting ready for the run.The crowd was much smaller compared to KL Marathon.Most of the runners were busy taking photos and chatting.All the sudden they flagged off the run.

Immediately after crossing the starting line,everyone (S2 runners) went on their own way and pace.I lost sight of them.My plan was to run at my own LSD pace and not to exert myself since I was not feeling very well.My wife kept reminding me to take care of my health.Forget about PB or challenging my fellow S2 runners.Well,she is right...I have to think of my 3 kids at home.Not forgetting the issue of the waiver form which the organiser insist us to sign.(More on this in my next posting)

The first part of the route took us towards Tanjung Aru.I was relatively slow compared to my fellow S2 runners.I can see most of them were far ahead of me when they made a U turn at Tanjung Aru.Even Tey the marathoner cum photographer who was running with his camera overtook me near Tanjung Aru.This gave me a shock!!I must be very slow.He was happily snapping pictures and yet he can run faster than me. Without a distance marker or a GPS I couldn't tell my pace.My guess was probably 7min/km.

I was determined to speed up for the second part of the route from Tanjong Aru towards 1 Borneo which probably covers a distance of about 20km.Although I ran slightly faster,I still can't see any of my friends.Deep inside me,I knew today was not my day.When I reached the junction to Likas Stadium,the 21km runners joined in.It was a big crowd.Everyone was running very fast as the 21km runners were still very fresh.I increased my pace.

As I was running towards 1 Borneo,the sky has gradually brighten up.I saw Francis running strongly on the final returning part.Wow..he is damn fast!He was going towards the Likas Stadium while I was on my way towards 1 Borneo.Later came Lim.He was still energetic.Then I saw Teng who has slowed down.I encouraged him to speed up and chase after Lim.He said he had a cramp.He looked like he has given up.Then came Lau and Liau.All the S2 runners were ahead of me except Heng and Steve.At the U turn after 1 Borneo, I passed by Teh.There were only bananas and no gels at the U turn (I think it was 34km mark).

The returning final route from 1Borneo towards Likas Stadium was relatively easy.The route was slightly downhill and the sun was behind us.Surprising I was still coping well and comfortable with no muscle cramps except for occasional coughs.

About 5km from the finishing line,I saw a very familiar figure walking in front of me.As I got closer,I saw Teng walking.He looked tired.I told him to run and encouraged him to start running...at least a slow run.He just signal to me to carry on.

Then at 40km,I came across Liau who was also walking.He said he has a cramp.I encouraged him to run with me.He did.I did not look back as I still feel good and the finishing line was very near.I was delighted that I will be able to finish within 5 hours which was my initial target.

Finally..I finished my 42.2km run (it was 42.8km to 43km on Lim and Liau GPS) with a time of 04:35:44.18 chip time.I am very happy with the result.What else can I asked for.

The group official results:
1)Francis 03:22:06.31 2nd position in Men Veteran Category.Congratulation!!Got prize money,compression suits and plenty of Milo!
2)Lim 04:15:57.94 a PB.Congratulation!!Finally got what he wanted for in Singapore Marathon 2011.
3)Lau 04:31:45.71 also a PB.Congratulation!!Told you so...you can over take me.Ha..ha..ha...
4)Liau 04:45:33.09
5)Teng 04:46:43.84
6)Teh 04:49:03.60
7)Heng 05:04:19.57
8)Steve 06:21:43.57

The plus points of BIM 2012:
1)Early starting time.
2)Nice medal and finisher T
3)Adequate water

The not so good points of BIM 2012:
1)The need to sign the waiver form before collecting race pack.(will talk about this the next time)
2)Not many distance markers

Borneo Marathon 2013??

I am not sure if I will be joining.At this moment,the answer is NO!

Let's see how things progress over the next one year.

Borneo International Marathon 2012

2012-05-06T22:00:00.000+08:00

To go or not to go?That was the dilemma I was facing for the past few days before Borneo International Marathon.

I wasn't feeling well for the past one week.I was down with flu,cough and I lost my voice.Then I decided not to run the Borneo Marathon.There wasn't much of monetary lost if I didn't participant.The air ticket only cost me RM38 return,registration fee and about RM50 for lodging.

Even though my body doesn't feel like running a marathon,my desire to join my friends in Borneo was still strong.If I don't run Borneo,which is the first and last marathon for me in 2012 then I have to wait another year to run another marathon.

Finally I decided to go despite not feeling well and it was a right decision.More on the race day later...in my next post.

TMBT 2012-update

2012-04-25T13:58:00.000+08:00

Recently I received an email from the organiser of TMBT.A long email and I was quite worried when it mentioned 1-2 river crossing along the running route.Sounds tough and I don't like water!!

Dear competitors,

This is a April update for TMBT 2012 competitors who have officially registered and paid for their race slots for TMBT 2012, scheduled for the 15th September 2012.

Some important updates for you in this email. This is a LONG email update, so please, take your time, read it carefully. If you have questions, feel free to drop us an email. Please note the SAC will be closed between the 19th April-23rd April and then again from the 27th April-3rd May 2012 as we are in the midst of preparing for the Special Forces Ultra 200k Marathon in Borneo. We will endeavour to get around to replying to your email if there is a query and we thank you for your patience and understanding if our replies are significantly slower than usual.

1. Please find attached a basic goggle earth snap shot of recommended accomodations for competitors pre-race and post-race as well as the locations of the accomodations in relation to the Kinabalu Park Headquarters and the boarding point for mini buses to the START location for the 25k, 50k and 100k.

2. We have NOT released any race course routes or notes to any competitor in any category so please beware if anyone claims to know the race course route for TMBT 2012 and claims to know where the 25k, 50k and 100k will be starting and finishing. At no time have we released any information to anyone outside of the organizing circle of race directors and the information will remain unknown to anyone outside of the organizing team until such time we are ready to share the race course START/FINISH points for all categories in early August 2012.

Much of the finalization of the actual race course route will depend on the weather conditions as we head into August and on risk assessments carried out by our team ahead of the race between now and August. As you know, the TMBT race course is organized on village tracks, roads and trails so much of our decision making will be done closer to the race date once we are happy there are no major issues we need to be concerned about pertaining to the race course and safety of competitors on that race course.

3. The mandatory kit list for TMBT 2012 is attached for your reference. As you know, you will be on your own for the most part on the race course with little assistance or marshalls to guide you. This is a race and race course developed for experinced competitors so please do not expect hot soup, and meals at every check point as this is not what the TMBT concept is about.

The basic mandatory kit is essential and will contribute to the success and safety for you in completing the 25k, 50k or 100k categories of the race. We will be very stringent in our checks and will not allow any competitor to start the event without the mandatory kit as this not only puts you in a difficult situation should you be in need of assistance on the race course but will also make our job difficult.

Respect the mandatory kit list and abide by it.

4. Mobile phones are allowed on the race course as an added safety device. However, we strongly urge you to ensure your phone is enclosed in a water proof bag or ziplock bag and it is securely sealed as there are 1-2 river crossings.

5. The promised list of recommended accomodations for pre-race/post-race accomodations is now available. It is attached with this email for your reference.

You are responsible for making your own reservations and so forth. If you have a question relating to the accomodations, do drop us an email and we will do our best to assist you in answering your question.

There are of course, many other smaller lodges, back packer lodges and homestay's NOT listed in the list. It simply is impossible for us to list every accomodation in the area so do be cautious when booking any accomodation and always check online for reviews by other people who have stayed at these lodges or back packer accomodations.

6. For 25k and 50k competitors post race, if you plan on staying at any of these accomodations and need a drop off at any of these locations, we can and will assist you in dropping you off at these selected accomodations at the end of the race. HOWEVER, we cannot organize transport for you back to Kota Kinabalu and this needs to be arranged on your own.

7.For those competitors who have PARKED their car's at the Kinabalu Park parking space at the KOKTAS restaurant, the van will drop you off back at this location, if you are in the 25k, 50k or 100k category. This is also the boarding location for the 25k, 50k and 100k categories.

We know a number of local runners and competitors flying into Sabah will be renting cars or driving themselves up to Kundasang/Kinabalu Park Headquarters and will be parking their vehicles in the parking area so you can request for the van to drop you off at the KOKTAS parking area after the race.

8.For competitors in the 25k and 50k who have arranged accomodations in Kota Kinabalu, our vans will do shuttle trips on a staggered system to send you back to Kota Kinabalu. The last transport leaves for Kota Kinabalu at 20:00 and we really do not expect any 50k competitors to be on the race course beyond this hour.

9. Our entry fee rates include post-race accomodation for the 100k category competitors and this "promotion" will end at 18:00 on the 30th April 2012.

Competitors registering AFTER this date will need to arrange their own accomodations in Kota Kinabalu or Kundasang and inform us during official registration where they need the van to drop them off in either Kundasang (we are not transporting anyone beyond Kundasang Village so please understand Ranau, Mesilau or resorts on the way to Mesilau Resort are off the radar for our transports) or in Kota Kinabalu at any of the following locations ONLY:

1) 1 Borneo

2) Down town Kota Kinabalu

3) Sutera Harbour Resorts

4) Tanjung Aru Town (Crown Borneo/Mega D'Aru Hotel)

Any deviation or requests to send competitors to alternative locations will incur additional costs ranging from RM50-RM250.00 depending on the locations so please be practical in your decision making as far as selection of accomodations.

10) For competitors in the 100k who have signed up and completed full payment, we will be putting you up in one of two hotels in the Tanjung Aru (Hotel Mega D'Aru and the soon to be announced hotel which will be opening it's doors shortly) on the 16th September 2012.

11) For competitors who FINISH the 100k early on the 15th September (elite runners), the last transport departs to Kota Kinabalu at 21:00 regardless if it is full or not. All other competitors will be accomodated in basic tents and hot meals (local dishes) will be made available through the night for you. We will also transport your FINISH bags to the finish location so you can shower and change out of your clothes. But those who finish after 21:00 will stay the night at the finish point and only be transported back to Kota Kinabalu the following morning after 6:00am.

We have taken in your comments on how to improve the finish rest area from those of you who competed in TMBT 2011 and will strive to improve the comfort for those of you who finish on the 15th September and need to crash out at the finish line for the night.

Accomodation will be made available for competitors on the 16th September 2012 at Hotel Mega D'Aru and another soon to be announced hotel (we are waiting for the hotel to complete final renovations before it has its official opening)

12) Shuttle buses from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu Park Headquarters-14th September 2012

I have had more input from runners who have started sharing information on their arrival times and we now can see a better response to demand to transport to get to Kinabalu Park Headquarters for the official registration and official briefing on the 14th September 2012.

As planned, we will open registration for the bus transfers on the 1st July 2012 and the transfer cost is expected to be RM38 per person per way.

We will have departures based on the following times/locations (this is a revised departure time):

12:30 KKIA2

13:00 KKIA1

14:00 Hotel Mega D'Aru, Tanjung Aru

We will not accept any "add on's" on the day and all buses will be issued with a name list of competitors who have paid for and booked seats on the relevant buses. All payments for the bus transfers will be colllected at the official registration desk when you arrive to register.

For competitors arriving on later flights or have made their own arrangements to get to Kinabalu park, please note the following times for registration and the official briefing:

14th September 2012

Registration: 15:00-19:25

Official Briefing: 19:30 (there will be only 1 briefing conducted for all competitors and it is expected to last at least 2 hours with a question and answer session).

13) We, after a long discussion on quota's and numbers to allow on the 2012 race course will be amending the quota downwards and reducing the number of runners we will allow on the 2012 race course.

As such,

The new quota limits are:

100k-150 runners

50k-100 runners

25k-100 runners

For Malaysians, we will be closing registrations for the 100k on the 30th April 2012 as we believe the large percentage of Malaysians competing in this year's 2012 edition of the event allows for a balance of Malaysian vs Non-Malaysian ultra runners and there should be a fair balance of Malaysian vs Non Malaysian runners in the event.

All other categories will close once the 50k and 25k are filled up according to the new revised numbers stated above and we will not be taking on anymore runners beyond the agreed numbers above for safety reasons and also to ensure we are able to handle the volume of runners who will be on the race course without wanting to damage too badly some of trails and routes we will be using.

There will be more information released in due course and I thank you for your patience with this very long email and your co-operation in understanding the logistics and details which needed to be covered so you had the correct and accurate information in relation to the TMBT 2012.

Have a great May ahead and happy labour day holidays to everyone. In the mean time, please enjoy some of the wonderful photos from Sabah Adventure Challenge 2012 Ultra 60k as we celebrate our 14th year of the SAC.

Aman Avtar S.Sandhu

Race Director

TMBT 2012

11 Attached files
1.4MB

Don't Run With A Handphone

2012-03-28T06:58:00.002+08:00

How many of us do carry a handphone while running?I do.I have been carrying my Samsung handphone in a running pouch during training for the past few months.It didn't bother me until last Sunday.

Three days ago,I joined my running mates for a 32 km running.Lau noticed me carrying a handphone in my water belt when I used my handphone to snap a picture of the group.

L-R:Teng.Uuban,Lau,Lim and Azmi.Picture taken in front of my house during a stop for water with Azmi,the young man in black outfit.He is new to running long distance and he broke his personal record by running more than 21km on that day.

According to Lau,it is not advisable to run with a handphone as the gadget will drain out our body energy causing easy fatigue.Initially,I did not believe what he said.He offered to prove it to me after the run.

1)Stand with our right arm fully extended,90 degree to our body.

2)Resist as hard as possible when a friend try to push downwards your extended arm.Note the amount of strength needed.

3)Hold a handphone on your left hand.

4)Repeat the same action,resist as hard as possible when your friend try to push down your extended arm.Note the amount of strength needed now compared to earlier when you are not holding a handphone.

You will notice,at least I did,that you will feel weaker when you are holding a handphone.

I was shocked!!There must be something to do with electromagnetic field etc...I am not sure.

So..now I know why I can't run fast...ha..ha...ha...Just another lame excuse!But seriously,I think one should keep all the electrical devices away from our body most of the time.There must be some negative effects to our body which will only manifest in many years to come.

Prevention is better than cure.

Brooks Half Marathon 2012

2012-03-13T17:25:00.001+08:00

Race:Brooks Half Marathon

Date:11th March 2012

Venue:National Stadium Bukit Jalil

Time:5:30am

This is my 3rd race for 2012 after Newton and Blossom Run recently.This time it was Teng who drove five of us (myself,Lau,Teh,Lim and Heng) to Bukit Jalil. We started our journey very early in the morning,at 4:00am as the race was schedule to start at 5:30am.Upon reaching Bukit Jalil,there was a long queue of cars trying to enter the parking lots.We were late,it was 5:20am and we still couldn't get into the parking lots.Out of desperation,Teng parked his car by the road side.

From R-L:Teh,Heng,myself,Teng and Lau posing before the start of the run.We couldn't locate Lim who separated from us earlier.

The run started about 10 minutes late and as usual Teng "pia"off immediately in his attempt to do a 1h 45m finishing time.The rest of us were together for the first 5 minutes before we lost each other in the massive crowd.The route took us to some housing areas,along some busy roads and highways,through some long steep quiet roads and finally back to the nice running track inside the National Stadium.

Certain part of the route was poorly lit and one of my friend/patient sustained some injury to her knee and palms after she fall during her 10km run.As for me,it was an enjoyable,comfortable and stress free Sunday morning run as there was no time target to meet.

Post run picture taken with Eric,the humble guy in the middle of the picture.He did 2h 4min.We met up with a few members of the Seremban Endurance Runners group where one of the them managed to win some prizes for coming in 3rd for the Men Veteran category.Congratulation!!

However,our group didn't perform that well.Teng only managed to finish in 2 hours,about 15 minutes off his targeted time.Lim did 2h 3min,myself 2h 9min,Lau 2h 16min,Teh 2h 20min and Heng 2h 27min.Personally I think our finishing time reflected upon on how much and how serious each of us train.For me,I am quite satisfied with my result.

Conclusion of the event:

1)Enjoyable run.Well organised with adequate water stations and plenty of unlimited supply of foods and drinks after the run.This is the first time I see so much foods offered to runners after a run.

2)Challenging route with plenty of ups and downs.

Things to improve in the future:

1)Make sure the route is brightly lit.
2)Parking.I heard the long queue of cars trying to get into the parking lots was due to someone trying to collect the parking fees.Maybe they should collect the fee when the cars exited after the run.

Thanks to Taman Bukit Jalil Running Club for organising the run.

Looking forward to another run next year.

Bukit Kepayang Blossom Run 2012

2012-02-29T17:27:00.001+08:00

Bukit Kepayang Blossom Run
Oakland,Seremban 2
Distance:8km...but turned out to be 9km,according to Lau's GPS
Date;26/2/2012
Time:6:45am...but only starts at 7:25am!

***Warming up session...

Yesterday,during the routine email exchange between S2 runners,I noticed my blog has not been updated for almost 2 months.Probably I am too engrossed with other activities and have lost interest in running and updating my blog.Need to keep my blog alive..

So I decided to write up on my second run for this year;a run organised by DAP (a political party).

***The VIPs...from left YB Cha (ADUN Kepayang...that's the ADUN for my area) and the guy wearing a cap and drinking is Dr.Chen Man Hin (a DAP veteran).

***Quite a good turn out this year.Seems like this run has attracted some attention with few runners coming all the way from Kuala Lumpur and I even saw a fit African runner!.However the run started late.It stated 6:45am in the registration form but the run only starts at 7:25am.That's Malysian time...Malaysia Boleh!!

I was with Teng in the Men Open category while Lau, Uu Ban and Teh were in Men Veteran Category.I did not see Heng...wonder where he has disappeared to.

Teng sprinted off immediately after Dr Chen flagged off the run.Within one minute,he was out from my sight.

Uu Ban and Lau caught up with me soon despite starting a few minutes later.They have been training hard and have definitely improved a lot judging from the way they "pia".

Unfortunately Uu Ban,being a potential top 10 winners suffered a cramp half way through the run,probably due to him trying out his new Vibram shoes.

The route took us around Seremban 2 from Oakland to S2 sports complex to S2 police station then towards junction of Rasah Kemayan and then to Jusco and back to Oakland.

***With Teng on my right and Lau.Lau won some prize after coming in number 8 in his category.Congratulations!This is his second year winning in the same event.

Conclusion:

Nice short run for a Sunday morning.

Should have start on time.

Nice meeting up with members of Seremban Endurance Runners.

Newton New Year Challenge 2012

2012-01-03T13:17:00.001+08:00

This is my first race for 2012:The Newton Challenge 2012.This is the second time they are organising this run.The first run was in 2010 and I could only remember it was very hot on race day and there were many hills and slopes.

++Clockwise:Myself,Yee,Lau,Lim and wife,Heng,Teng,Uu Ban,Francis and Steve.Photo taken at Lim's house on New Year Eve.It was a small gathering for the S2 runners and also a carbo loading session for most of us who are running the Newton 25km New Year Challenge.

After the "makan" session at Lim's house and watching Manchester United losing to a bottom club (hooray!!....sorry guys,I am not a MU fan),I tried to get some sleep.My sleep was interrupted by frequent New Year wishes SMS from friends and my neighbours welcoming the new year with fireworks.However I still managed to get about 3 hours of sleep.

Woke up at 2:45am and left my home for Kuala Lumpur at 3:45am while my whole family was still sleeping.Must be crazy doing this on the 1st day of 2012.Or passion??

++Photo by Tey who always turn up at running events to give support to runners.Thanks a lot!

This year turn out wasn't that great judging from the crowd of runners,probably due to New Year.I started the run together with Steve,Lim,Lau and Eric.Teng and Francis were standing in front...the elites.

Immediately after the start,Lim and Eric surged ahead.I couldn't see them but only managed to get a glimpse of Lau.I wondered why they were running so fast?Were they running fast or was it me that was slow?After some reflection,I think it was me and the lack of training.

The initial strategy was to follow Eric "quietly" from the back,keeping the distance to about 50 metres.However Eric was too fast from the start and I ended up with my plan B--to follow Lau.This strategy of quietly/secretly follow a better trained running friend will at least ensure me finishing in a decent time as proven in previous runs like Malakoff 12km.

++Photo taken near the ending of the run.I was surprised to see Uu Ban who came to support us by snapping pictures for S2 runners .He was with Teng cheering me near the finishing line.Thanks Uu Ban.

However I think Lau did noticed me trailing him when we make U turns along the route.It is a normal nature of runners wanting to be better than their friends.So it was not surprised to see Lau started to pick up momentum after each U turn.I was trying hard to keep him within my sight but I finally gave up as the distance between us grew wider.

Most of us improved on our finishing time compared to previous year.I think the good weather this year do help.

++From L-R:Lim,myself,Lau,Francis and Alice.Photo taken while waiting for Heng.He was supposed to follow me back to Seremban.Later we discovered that he finished the run late because he wasn't feeling well.

The group finishing time :

1)Francis 1h 52m

2)Teng 2h 09m

3)Eric 2h16m

4)Lim 2h 23m

5)Lau 2h 27m

6)Myself 2h 28m

7)Heng 2h 46m

8)Steve 2h 48m

9)Alice 1h 10m for 12km

++The finishing medal...simple but without mentioning of the distance.I presumed the organiser gave out the same medals for the 25km and the 12km category.

Conclusion:

1)Challenging route with many hills and slopes.

2)Most water station are without isotonic drinks.

3)No distance markers throughout the route.Very bad!!!Seems like the organiser has never learn from past experiences and feedback from runners.Not all runners have GPS watch.

4)No goodies bag after the run!??Only got a bottle of mineral water immediately after finishing.

5)The organiser did a good job by starting the run at an earlier time to avoid the late morning heat.Last year many runners were "roasted" by the extreme heat.

Malakoff 12Km-Last Race for 2011

2011-12-30T17:36:00.000+08:00

I kept on delaying writing on this Malakoff 12km run which was held in Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort,Kuala Lumpur on 18th December 2011.

Finally,I decided to sacrifice some of my personal time to complete writing on this run before my next run which is The Newton 25km Run on New Year Day.

Lau,Heng,Teng and myself took part in this run.This is the first time I am taking part in Malakoff and I heard it was a tough run with many hills and slopes.

Immediately after the start,we have to run on a long steep slope before coming into Jalan Beringin where we have to do 2 rounds and finally back to the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Resort.

It was a short run but quite challenging because of many slopes along the route.

++Group photo after the run with our goodies bag.I met my former university roommate whom I have not seen since graduation after the run..Dr.Choo (the guy with green T shirt on the extreme right of this picture).He is now a successful cardiologist in Sime Darby Medical Center.++

Overall...it was a very well organised run.Everything was in an orderly manner from the finishing point up to collecting our medal,goodies bag and post run breakfast.

Will make an effort to take part again next year.

Christmas Hope

2011-12-26T22:38:00.000+08:00

SIB Seremban Combined Christmas Celebration 25th December 2011.

When we look around us,sometimes it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the seeming hopelessness of everything that is happening.However Christmas gives us every reason to remain HOPEFUL!

++ Christmas message by Ps.Steven Lee and Ps David Goh.

JESUS WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS TO BRING US HOPE.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased!"Luke 2:10-11,13-14

Jesus said "God's spirit is upon me, because He has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight for the blind, to set free the oppressed,and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people"Luke 4:18-19

++ One of the performances on Christmas Day.Both my daughters took part in this dance.

JESUS GIVES US HOPE FOR TODAY,TOMORROW AND FOREVER

Who,then,can separate us from the love of Christ?Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below-there is nothing in all creation that will be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35,37-39

JESUS OFFERS HOPE FOR YOU

Jesus said,"I have come in order that you might have life-life in all its fullness."John 10:10

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011

2011-12-08T02:18:00.003+08:00

S2 Runners:Lau,Lim,Teng,Heng,Teh and Francis.
Friends:Liau (Melaka),Chai (Shanghai).

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011 edition-a race which we promised not to take part in one year ago because we don't like running among the packed marathoners.This year there were 20,000 full marathoners!However we broke our promise and signed up for this 2011 edition.

Immediately after landed in Changi Airport,we went for our breakfast in the airport terminal before taking the MRT to Marina Bay to collect our running packs. Met up with Chai and Francis at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands.

Race pack collection was fast except for some issue of incorrect vest size.I got my XL size vest but the rest didn't got the choice.Heng was extremely upset and decided to complain.He queued up to speak to the person in charge and yet he did not managed to get his vest size.At least he managed to voice out his dissatisfaction to the organiser.I wonder if the organiser do listen.

**Expo:plenty to see and to buy.We bought Asics running shoes.

This year we stayed in a budget hotel:the South East Asia Hotel in Bugis which is not far away from The Padang.Personally I don't like the location of this hotel and its surrounding which looks very "complicated".The old lady Chinese receptionist was not friendly.She don't greet you and the way she speaks was very rude.I wonder how this hotel can survive with this kind of staff.

When she saw me sitting in front of the reception while waiting for Lau,she called out at me..
Old lady:"Hello!!...hello!!...you waiting for who?"

When I inquired why it took so long for us to check in:
Old lady:"Room not ready.You want fast,you go up and ask the cleaner to hurry up!"

When I look in the room with such a small antique TV and the air conditioner with nonadjustable settings plus the attitude of the receptionist ,I will not recommend this hotel to my friends in the future.

Went out in the afternoon to explore Singapore:to the Casino in Marina Bay,Orchard Road for the Christmas light up and carbo loading session sponsored by Chai.

Woke up at 3:00am on Sunday morning.Surprisingly I managed to get 4 hours of sleep,probably because I was not too worry about the outcome of this run.Not much of pre-race stress.

We took the MRT to Orchard Station.There were many runners using the MRT too.On arrival in Orchard we headed to the baggage deposit area and were surprised to see such a long queue.Lau,Teng and I were separated from the rest of the group.We managed to deposit our bags after waiting for about 20 minutes.

By the time we reached the starting point,it was fully packed with runners.It was difficult to enter to the waiting area through the proper entrance.We decided to join other runners by climbing through the road barricades.

Race started at 5:00am.Lau and I were together for the first 3km before I lost him in the massive crowd.At the beginning,certain part of the road was very narrow where only one lane was opened for runners.We have to walk for a short distance near the Maxwell food court area as it was too congested to run.

I had a comfortable run for the first few km as it was very slow.Caught up with the 5:30 hour pacer at 6km mark and subsequently overtook the 5:15 hour pacer at 8km mark.

**The 5:15 hour pacers running through East Coast Park.Picture taken by Tey.I did not bring my camera but managed to get some pictures using my hand phone.

As I wasn't going for any PB target,I took it easy and maintained my usual slow LSD pace of 6:30 to 7:00min/km.There was no urge to catch up with any of the S2 runners.I was running my own race with my own target to finish it within 5 hours or at worst 5.5 hours.

**Saw the "power rangers"runners in ECP.I wonder how they can run in this full body costume.Must be very hot and not easy.

I caught up with Teh at the U turn in the East Coast Park.Had a brief chat with him.On the way out of ECP,I started to feel the effect from my lack of training.I started to feel tired and hungry despite swallowing 4 packets of Powergel.It was only 29 km into the run.

At the 30km mark,my pace started to slow and I gave in by starting to walk in between run.I tried not to walk for too long.

At 33km mark,somewhere near a construction site,I was very surprised to see Teng sitting by the road side.He told me his legs cramped.I asked him to walk and persuaded him to join me for a slow run but he declined.He was the one whom most of us expect to perform well in this run.Maybe he caved in to our pressure and expectation.

I was still in my run walk mode when I caught up with Liau at 35km.He was walking too!!When I caught a glimpse of him running strong behind the 4:30H pacers in ECP,I knew he will be hitting a PB.Too bad for him as his legs cramped too after 30km.

When I saw the 35km mark,I told myself not to walk too much....Only 7km more!!Shouldn't be difficult...just imagine the usual easy run from my house to S2 Park....don't give in....jog,jog all the way...don't walk!! It was about 4 hours in the run.Not bad!!I was just trying to motivate myself.

However my legs refused to run.I felt both my legs were "heavy".I had the similar feeling during my first few marathons and I am having it again.This was all due to lack of training.I joined the 10km crowd walking throughout the Shreares Bridge.Last year I complained that the 10km crowd was blocking the marathoners but this year I was among them blocking other runners by walking along the narrow bridge.Sorry guys...my legs refused to listen.Ha..ha..ha..

At 40km mark,I was still in my walk run mode....more of walking than running.That was embarrassing!!Finally at the last 1km,I forced myself to do a slow run when approaching the finishing line.Must looked good in front of the cheering crowds and the photographers.Ha..ha..ha..

**But the finishing picture didn't turned out to be nice.Look at my tired face and the posture.

My finishing time was 4h 55min 16 sec (chip time).Feel satisfied with my result as I was aiming for a 5 hour finishing.

**Together with Liau waiting for the rest of our group at The Padang.Can't see any of them so Liau,Lim and myself walked back to our hotel.

Overall we don't perform well in this race except for Francis.

Results:

1)Francis 3h 32min....good timing.His strategy was just to run at his LSD pace!

2)Lim 4h 52min...expected to perform better as he was training regularly and was following a training schedule.Don't worry Lim....try again in Borneo.

3)Heng 4h 53min...didn't walk at all throughout the race.Tough guy!

4)Myself 4h 55min...OK lah.What else to expect if one don't train properly.No easy way/short cut in life.

5)KK Liau 5h 02 min...if not for the cramps,this run might be his PB.

6)Teh 5h 16min...very good.He didn't do any long runs.Occasionally on Sunday,he ran for about 10km.Other days,busy with his business.

7)Teng 5h 40min...must be very disappointed.His first oversea run.Sub 4h will come soon for him.

8)Lau 5h 40min..few seconds behind Teng.They ran together for the last few km.Lau..Don't give up!He always declared he won't run any more marathons after each poor finishing.Don't worry...we all knew he will continue running.Ha..ha..ha..

Teng has already decided to return next year for a "revenge".Others have not decide but I am very sure I won't be returning for the 2012 edition due to another important commitment.

Overall it was a good run.The medal was nice.The finisher T looks almost the same every year.The was adequate water in all the water stations.Plenty of gels and bananas.

**Plenty of "unwanted gels".I don't like the taste.Almost vomiting after tasting it at the first gel station-about 23km mark.

The only let down was the crowd and the unavailability of requested vest and finisher T size.

"However we can't fully blame the crowd for slowing us down at the last few kilometres if ourselves are tired and can't run well.We can blame the crowd if we are still have plenty of energy to surge ahead but was unable to run because of the crowd."These words of wisdom from Yee when I spoken to him after our poor performance in SCSM.

See you again in Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2013....yes,it will be 2013 for me.I hope so.

New Zealand Trip-Day 8

2011-12-02T06:23:00.001+08:00

Day 8-today is our last day in New Zealand.Yeah...we are going home!At least I am looking forward to go back to Malaysia as I have some many things waiting for me at home while my wife and children are more keen to stay on.

We had about 6 hours before our afternoon flight back to Kuala Lumpur and we planned to have a good breakfast before leaving New Zealand.

I read about a place which claimed to have the best coffee in town – and maybe in all of Canterbury region in the lonely planet book and the place is in Lyttelton outskirt of Christchurch which was about 25 minutes drive from Christchurch city.

We drove all the way in the early morning to look for the best coffee in town but couldn't find the place despite using my GPS.Finally,I asked a local and she pointed to me a destroyed building (the picture above).That's where the famous Lyttelton Roasting Company once operated before the earthquake.It was total destroyed and has since been abandoned.The local suggested we try another coffee shop nearby operated by two youngsters.The coffee was just so so,nothing great but expensive.

After breakfast we drove around Lyttelton and took some pictures of the port and ships.Lyttelton is a port village that proudly proclaims itself as the gateway to Christchurch, has been devastated by the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's second largest city.Every second building on the town's main street has been severely damaged.

Then we made our way back to our motel,packed and check out before heading to the airport.

The last place we visited before flying home was the Antarctic Centre which is very near to the Christchurch Airport:http://www.iceberg.co.nz/ . The building looks very big from the outside but there are not many attractions in there.One only needs about 2 hours to complete the whole attractions.The Hagglund Ride (a rough ride in an amphibious vehicle which took us through some rough terrain and water) ,the Antarctic Storm Room (below) and the 4D Show (on penguins and Antarctic exploration) are recommended.

Freezing cold.....In the ice room where one can feel the real temperatures and winds of Antarctica, -30 degrees Celsius.We were the first to exit from the room.Just can't stand the cold,my fingers were numb and I decided not to wait until the end.(supposed to be a 10 minutes experience of Antarctica storm).

Finally...it was the end of our trip.We drove for about 1600km during our trip.I have never drive for such a distance in my life but driving in New Zealand wasn't stressful at all.Almost everyone followed the speed limit and I found most the the drivers are very courteous.They don't honked at you,they gave way to other motorists and they obeyed the laws.The speed limit in town/city areas is 50km/hour while the highways is 100km/h.I found it was difficult to drive at 50km/h and many times,I exceeded the speed limit.Luckily my GPS warned me to slow down.

We returned the car to Apex Car Rental:http://www.apexrentals.co.nz/default.aspx .They provided a shuttle service to send us back to the airport.Their service is good,the car is almost brand new and their rate is reasonable compared to others.I will definitely use them again if I will to visit New Zealand again.

This was a very enjoyable trip for the whole family.We have lots of fun in such a short period.I wished we have more time to spend.New Zealand is a very big country and one needs to take a much longer holidays to slowly explore it.

With this trip,we finally concluded our "holiday marathons" for the year 2011.We have visited Shanghai,Seoul,Mulu National Park and New Zealand during each school breaks in 2011.

Last but not least....Thank God for everything that went smoothly throughout our trip.I have no complaints except for the unfavourable currency exchange which makes visiting New Zealand an expensive affair.

We shall return in the future....maybe in 3 years?

New Zealand Trip-Day 7

2011-12-01T10:02:00.000+08:00

Day 7-our last day in Queenstown and we are flying to Christchurch in the afternoon.

This picture was taken at 7:09am and the sun was already up and bright.The moon was still visible in this picture.Got my family off to Queenstown Garden which situated about 300 metres from our motel.It was a nice peaceful garden along side the lake.Good place to snap pictures of the lake !!

My children admiring the ducks.I wonder if these ducks can survive in public lakes or gardens in Malaysia.I am sure these ducks will end up on someone's dinner table.
There were lovely, amazing trees and flowers. The view across the lake was great and one can walk in it - if he/she can bear the very cold water!

The last place we visited before flying out was the Queenstown gondola ride to the peak.http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/

The Ledge Bungy at the top of Queenstown gondola.It comes equipped with a 'runway' to launch you out 400 metres over Queenstown.

The views from the viewing deck were very impressive.We could see the whole of Queenstown and its surrounding lakes.

Reading the code of conduct before riding the Luge...once is never enough!!My children went three times and yet asking for more!

My children loves riding this...

A beautiful clear blue skied day. Such a spectacular view. There were a few paragliders hanging around.Hope one day I can ride this...less stressful than doing a bungee jump.

Riding the Luge...once is not enough!http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/luge/

**View during our fight from Queenstown to Christchurch using Air New Zealand.**

After spending the whole morning at the Queenstown gondola,we drove to Queenstown Airport to return our car and to catch a flight to Christchurch.http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/home

It was very easy to return our rented car.Just park it at a designated spot in Queenstown Airport parking area and drop off the key at the Apex Car Rental booth inside the airport.They didn't even check my car when I return the key.The wasn't any damage to the car except slight dented front rim and a very dirty interior because my children ate inside the car.

A last minute decision:we decided to rent a car when we arrived in Christchurch.So I made a booking at the Apex Car Rental in Queenstown Airport and told them I will collect the car in two hours on arrival in Christchurch.

This was where we stayed during our last night in New Zealand..The City Central Motel Apartment.They have nice big apartments but sad to say,they have the worst view of all the places I have stayed for the past few days.The view from my apartment was the badly destroyed buildings from earthquake.http://www.citycentral.co.nz/index.htm

***Christchurch gondola-closed after the earthquake.This place has been totally abandoned.Not a single soul there when we drove by.

We had 24 hours to spend in Christchurch before our flight back to Malaysia.The caretaker of the motel told me there wasn't much to do in Christchurch."Go bring your children to run around in the park".I told her we have done that earlier.

Then I told her I intended to venture out from Christchurch to see the surrounding towns.She said most of these town has been badly damaged by the earthquake.What?I thought only Christchurch city center was destroyed.I was wrong!!

We drove off to Sumner,a small town at the outskirt of Christchurch.Sumner has been hard hit by the earthquake.The areas on top and at the bottom of the cliffs have either crumbled, with houses crashing down the cliff or have been hit by huge rocks
.
They put rows of large containers along the road as a barricade against falling rocks or soil.The whole town was dead quiet.We found a local shop selling fish and chips operated by a young Chinese couple.We went in to have our dinner...the least we can do to help stimulate the local economy.

New Zealand Trip-Day 6

2011-11-30T07:42:00.000+08:00

Day 6-it is almost the end of our trip.We have seen the famous and frequently mentioned Milford Sound.Now it is time for us to go back to Queenstown.

The house which we rented in Te Anau.My wife was preparing breakfast.

Posing in front of the main office after checking out.We like this place very much.
After that we went to Manapouri which is a small town 20 minutes drive away from Te Anau. It is the gateway to both Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound.It is also the starting point for many local walking tracks.This place is very much quieter than Milford Sound.

Scenery on the returning journey to Queentown.Sheep..

Colourful plants and trees..

Sad..sad...encounters.Seen many road kills along New Zealand roads.Many animals were killed by speeding vehicles.

Stopping next to a beautiful lake...

Another nice scenery...

Encounter another problem on our way back to Queenstown.The GPS was not functioning.I called the car rental hotline and they suggested I bring the GPS to their Queenstown office for checking.The staff was helpful.She just exchange the GPS without asking much.

The view of a main road in Queenstown.It is busier here compared to any other town which we have passed through.Queenstown is very much alive!!while Christchurch is "dead" .

http://www.bungy.co.nz/kawarau-bungy-centre/kawarau-bungy

Visited the famous bungy jumping site in Queenstown..The Kawarau Bridge Bungy - home to the original 43 metre Bungy Jump.

I did not dared to jump...I don't think my heart can take it.However there were many others lining up waiting to jump.Crazy...risking the life,giving tremendous amount of stress to self and on top of these,have to pay NZD 180 per jump.The one who dared to take the challenge and successfully jump will be given a T-shirt and a certificate.Reminds me of full marathon finisher T and certificate.Ha..ha..ha..

Found out that bungee jumping can cause different kinds of injuries and occasionally accidents do happen.

***Bungee jumping injuries may be divided into those that occur secondary to equipment mishap or tragic accident, and those that occur regardless of safety measures. In the first instance, injury can happen if the safety harness fails, the cord elasticity is miscalculated, or the cord is not properly connected to the jump platform

Injuries that occur despite safety measures generally relate to the abrupt rise in upper body intravascular pressure during bungee cord recoil. Eyesight damage is the most frequently reported complication.Impaired eyesight secondary to retinal haemorrhage may be transient or take several weeks to resolve. Whiplash injuries may occur as the jumper is jolted on the bungee cord and in at least one case, this has led to quadriplegia secondary to a broken neck. Very serious injury can also occur if the jumper's neck or body gets entangled in the cord.More recently, carotid artery dissection leading to a type of stroke after bungee jumping has also been described.All of these injuries have occurred in fit and healthy people in their twenties and thirties. Bungee jumping has also been shown to increase stress and decrease immune function.***

Later that day we drove to Glenorchy which is famous for its horse rides and the making of the movie :Lord of the Rings.Glenorchy is a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's south Island. It is approximately 45 kilometres by road Queenstown.

The facts:

Glenorchy is a popular tourist spot, close to many tramping tracks. It lies near the borders of Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park. The local scenery received worldwide attention when it was used as one of the settings in the first of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. The scene where Boromir was slain and leant near a tree, Lothlórien and Orthanc were a few that were shot in Paradise. Vertical Limit and X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were also filmed in the area.

New Zealand Trip-Day 5

2011-11-29T07:21:00.001+08:00

Day 5-another good bright sunny day in Te Anau.We woke up early because we plan to drive to Milford Sound by 7:30am in order to avoid those buses heading in the same direction.

Milford Sound:

"Over one million people visit Fiordland every year and Milford Sound is one of their favourite destinations. A part of UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is no wonder that Milford Sound was described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world'."

The Milford Road is a stunning alpine drive.One needs to allow plenty of time to make the drive through this steep and windy highway.There are many viewing points and short walking opportunities en route which provide opportunities to get out of the car to admire the spectacular scenery and the sheer scale of the landscape.

Total distance from Te Anau to Milford Sound and back is 240km and it will takes about 2 hours to drive non stop one way.There are no fuel stations along the way until Milford Sound.

Proper flush toilet stops can be found at Knobs Flat, The Divide and Milford Sound.

There is no cell phone coverage between Te Anau and Milford Sound.According to the information provided:Telephone services are available at Knobs Flat (card phone), Homer Tunnel (satellite phone for emergency use only) and Milford Sound (card phone).We have our first scare with our rented car about 25km from Milford Sound when we smell something burning while we were travelling down hill.We stopped at the nearest rest area and discovered that one of the car rim was dented and there was a burning smell from the front tyre.I was feeling panic and was trying to figure out ways to look for help.Then I decided to take the risk to drive up to Milford Sound before I call the car rental emergency help line.

***Another beautiful scenic view along the State Highway 94 which is one of the highest and most scenic state highways in New Zealand. The highest part of the road is at 940 metres above sea level. Posing in front of the Homer Tunnel while waiting for our turn to cross this tunnel.The road leading to this tunnel-before and after the tunnel is very steep and winding.I suspected my car rim might have knocked onto some rocks which I was not aware of.

We came across this aggressive bird during one of our stops.This bird is not afraid of humans and it is fierce.This bird tried to "force open"my car door by biting on the car rubber!!

The info on this bird:

"The Kea (pronounced /ˈkeɪ.ə/; Māori: [kɛ.a]) (Nestor notabilis) is a large species of parrot. (family Strigopidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About 48 centimetres (19 in) long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects.

The Kea's notorious urge to explore and manipulate makes this bird a pest for residents and an attraction for tourists. Called "the clown of the mountains", it will investigate backpacks, boots or even cars, often causing damage or flying off with smaller items."

**Playing along a small stream on our way up to the Homer Tunnel.

***One of the stops along the Milford Road is The Chasm...massive rock formation and great water falls.
We took 3 hours to reach Milford Sound from Te Anau because of the frequent stops along the way.
***Inside this cruise terminal building waiting for our departure.Surprisingly there wasn't many people in Milford Sound,not like what described in travel websites or books.

http://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/

We took the 3 hours long Discover More Cruise which also provides us a buffet lunch which was good,delicious and filling.There was also unlimited serving of coffee and tea throughout the trip.

***The Milford Deep Underwater Observatory which claimed to be the only floating underwater observatory in New Zealand.It was refurbished and re-launched in January 2010 with striking new information panels where one can learn the natural history, geology and environment of Milford Sound.There is a 10m underwater viewing chamber with a 360-degree views of the marine life which I find to be nothing special.

**Seals lying on the rocks.This was the only wildlife encounter during our 3 hours cruise in Milford Sound.

***Our ship getting near to a waterfall...We enjoyed the majestic surroundings and natural beauty of the Milford Sound including the wildlife , waterfalls and snow capped mountains.

On our way back from Milford Sound,we stopped by Lake Gunn as my son was very eager to try out his new fishing rod.The water was clear and we can see fish swimming close to us but unfortunately my son was unable to hook anyone of them.

My son was frustrated and he insisted to continue fishing at a river mouth in Te Anau.This location was provided by the owner of Stu Fish Shop.Despite spending another hour here,he still unable to get any fish.Arghh.....!!

We were out for almost 14 hours today.It was so nice to have a long day time during spring and summer.

We had a great trip to Milford Sound and the trip/cruise was definitely worth the time and money.

New Zealand Trip-Day 4

2011-11-28T07:51:00.001+08:00

Day 4,Sunday-Woke up to a beautiful bright sunny morning in Queenstown.When I switched on the TV,I was surprised to see there was a live telecast of Sunday church service.Maybe I live too long in Malaysia until I got use to live telecast from mosque but not from a church.

The view of the nearby hill from my hotel room.Hotel:http://www.shotoverlodge.co.nz/ .As usual,we checked out early since we have a long drive to Te Anau,the getaway to Milford Sound.

On our way to Te Anau,we passed by the small town of Garston.Garston is New Zealand's most inland village with a population of only 106. It is located on the main tourist route between Queenstown and Milford and Doubtful Sounds, in the picturesque Upper Mataura Valley of the Southern Lakes district.

**My son peeping through the shop window...he just can't wait to go in and explore all the fishing gadgets.**

My son was looking forward to visit this shop after he discovered a brochure on this fishing shop in Queenstown.When we arrived in Athol, a small town in Southland, New Zealand located 55 km south of Queenstown, half way between Lumsden and Kingston,the shop was closed.The owner went out to teach students fishing.The shop website:http://www.stusflyshop.com/
Since my son was so eager to see what was inside the shop,we decided to wait for the owner to return from fishing.We waited for almost an hour under a tree.There wasn't much to explore in a small town like Athol.

Finally,the owner appeared and he was very helpful and friendly.My son bought a fishing rod and 2 artificial baits from him.He even suggested to us the locations for fishing in Te Anau region by providing us with a free map and a free children fishing licence.My son was so happy.

Our house for the next 2 nights in Te Anau.This is a big and well equipped house.From outside this house looks like every other common house but interior it was almost all furnished with nice woods.There is a small garden,a car garage,satellite TV,heater for the whole house etc.We have the whole place for ourselves!!http://www.greatlakes.co.nz/index.php

The TeAnau main street..a very quiet town.A nice place to be for a few days or holidays but I think I will get mad if I were to stay for a long period in such a town.

Te Anau as described by a website:

"The township sits on the edge of Lake Te Anau, lying on the border of Fiordland National Park and Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Te Anau is the town that connects Queenstown to Milford Sound by road. 2 hours drive from Queenstown, the famously scenic Milford Sound begins in the centre of Te Anau.

Two of New Zealand’s great walks also start at the lake. The world renowned Milford Track starts at its northern tip, while the popular Kepler Track starts and ends at the lake’s south end, within walking distance from Te Anau town centre. The tracks offer a sense of freedom and inspiration to rival any in the world.

Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and largest in the country by water volume getting to depths of over 400m.The lake sprawls at the feet of high rugged mountains, and during the summer the hot dry weather encourages water skiing, swimming, fishing and kayaking on the lake. During the winter, days are crisp and clear with frosty mornings and sunny days."

Went to the local office of Southern Discoveries to book my Milford Sound cruise and the trip to Te Anau Glowworm Caves. .This is a must to do itinerary for many who travel to Te Anau.There is also Internet kiosk available here for NZD1/10 minutes use.

"Described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth Wonder of the World – and more recently voted the number one spot in New Zealand by Kiwi's and visitors alike – Milford Sound’s deep icy waters, sheer rock faces, glacial hanging valleys, thick native forest and local wildlife are best seen by boat."

The boat bringing us across the lake to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.It was a beautiful cruise across the lake before we drop off at a briefing center.

A short briefing by our guide on the do's and don'ts before entering the cave.Then there was a short walk into the cave which was somewhat not exciting.I think Mulu Caves walk is even better.Then we sit in a boat for 5-10 mins in mostly darkness and look up for the glow worms which in few little cluster groups.Not many of them.

After the cave,the guide recommended us a short nature walk.Nothing much.Just a path across the jungle.Wasted our time walking and by the time we were back to the briefing center,all the coffee and refreshment were finished.We were rushed off to the waiting boat to go back to Te Anau.

Conclusion:AVOID!!Not worth the expensive entrance fees.It is nothing like what they shown on the websites or the promotional brochures.Beware...you have been warned.
http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/Main/GlowwormCaves/

It was 8:30 pm when we reached Te Anau town.It was still bright but there wasn't many people around.We went for dinner at a local pizza shop.

Look forward to Milford Sound tomorrow...

Nike We Run KL 10K

2011-11-27T17:45:00.000+08:00

Event;Nike We Run KL 10K
Place:Padang Merbok,Kuala Lumpur
Date:Sunday 27 Nov 2011,7:00am

I managed to register for this run immediately after running The King of The Road a few weeks ago.However Teng and Heng did not managed to register in time as the registration was closed very much earlier due to popular demand.

Initially I wasn't very keen to run at this race as there is no finishing medal and I thought running timing chips will not be used too.I was wrong as I did not bother to find out about this Nike event.Everything from collecting the race pack,information and route of the run was handled by Lau and Steve.

I just drove both of them to the Padang Merbok and run......

and I have no regret waking up so early today and joining Lau/Steve for this short 10km run.

***Immediately after finishing,plenty of mineral bottle drinks,bananas and a free Nike shoe shaped USB for all runners.***

It was a flat route,maybe a mild slope or two.No killing hills as intially thought.However there were many runners all dressed up in the red Nike T-shirts.From far,we all looked like colonies of small red ants.A very beautiful scene but too bad,I did not bring my camera.

***"Red ants"...in Padang Merbok taken after the run.The time printed on the picture is wrong as I did not set the time on my old hand phone.Nowadays I usually carried my old hand phone during run as I am afraid of losing my new handset...after the bad experience in Seremban Half Marathon***

Steve wanted to "pia"from the start and he found his way to the front of the crowd while Lau and me stayed somewhere in the middle of the crowd.It took us almost 3 minutes to get to the starting line after the race has started.This reminds me of the same situation during the starting of the full marathon event in Singapore Marathon.

***Runners hanging around the road leading to the finishing line.There were still many runners returning as we were walking back to our car.***

Lau intended to run at his marathon pace of 6min/km and I just followed him as I have not been running for some time.My plan was just to take it easy and see if my legs can still take it after such a long rest from running.

Lau and I ran together from the start until the end.We crossed the finishing line together.Hopefully I can find of a photo of us crossing the finishing line together .

The results of S2 runners:

Uu Ban 49 minutes

Steve 54 minutes

Lau and myself 58minutes 42 seconds

***The only gift after the run...a nice beautiful cutely shaped Nike shoe USB.I like this.Runners also get a nice red Nike T-shirt and a plastic Nike tumbler given out earlier in the race pack.***

Generally it was a well organised run.

Good points:

Plenty of drinks stations;4 stations for a 10km route.

Post run:Plenty of bananas,free ice creams,drinks and entertainment.

Bad points:

Human congestion!!At certain points,hardly can run.Can only do slow jog as it was too crowded with so many runners running on one lane of the road.Have to watch out for runners in front to avoid colliding into them and have to pay attention to moving cars on the next lane.Bad!!Bad!!Bad!!

Suggestion:

Organiser should close the whole road throughout the entire route in the future.Remember...there are ten thousands runners!Half a lane is definitely not enough space for all of us to run.

New Zealand Trip-Day 3

2011-11-26T07:21:00.001+08:00

It was a wet morning on our day 3 in NZ.It has been raining since last night.We decided to check out earlier to get away from the rain.

After discussing with the caretaker of my motel,we decided to go to Queenstown instead of Mount Cook.The lady told us it was not worth the time to drive up to Mount Cook in a bad raining weather.Nothing much can be seen during bad weather.

On our way out of Lake Tekapo,we diverted to visit a Salmon Farm.http://www.mtcookalpinesalmon.com/Home.aspx

But the farm was closed one month for maintenance!!So there was no farm tour available.We just snapped some pictures and continue our journey.

"This unique farm has evolved from the first salmon farm in the world to operate in a hydro-electric canal system. Located on the Tekapo canal, the farm produces over 100 tonnes each year of high quality Chinook salmon - principally for export. Pristine water from Lake Tekapo and a pollution free environment mean no chemicals or antibiotics are required.

Visitors to the farm can have a self-guided tour of a production raft, and feed the fish."

A common view in New Zealand...many sheeps and cows.Occasionally we can see deers.The farms are usually located by the road side.

Today we drove from Lake Tekapo to Twizel,Omarama then south to Cromwell.

The Fruit Sculpture located adjacent to The Mall and State Highway. This was erected by a local service club and has become the symbol for Cromwell.Many tourists stop by to take pictures with this huge structure.

"Cromwell is strategically located as a holiday centre for the whole of Central Otago.Located at the shores of Lake Dunstan,about 55km to Wanaka and 62km to Queenstown."

Shotover jet ride at the outskirt of Queenstown.We went to have a look but did not ride.http://www.shotoverjet.com/

Just before reaching Queenstown,we visited Arrowtown.http://www.arrowtown.com/

Nothing much here except for some shopping.The town is beautifully designed and well planned.

This is our hotel in Queenstown,the Shotover lodge.Nice place with beautiful view of surrounding mountains.http://www.shotoverlodge.co.nz/

After settling down in our hotel rooms,we went off to explore Queenstown and the Lake Wakatipu.

There are so many activities to choose.One do not need to book in advance before arrival.The are plenty of spaces for every trip and activities.Do not believe those tour operators and websites who wanted you to commit earlier by paying up.

To quote:
"Our region is renowned for our incredible adventure activities and spectacular outdoor terrain. You could try skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping, paragliding, jet boating, sky diving and more! Or, if you want something a little more relaxed, you can choose from numerous family activities,nature experiences,tours and beauty spas. Apart from our winter sports, nearly all activities can be enjoyed all year round - Queenstown's a four season resort with distinct and beautiful seasons"

One of the popular and busiest outlet in Queenstown is this burger outlet.Out of curiosity,we decided to give it a try.Click on this link to know more of this popular outlet in Queenstown: http://www.fergburger.com/fullscreen.html

This page takes time to load...so be patient.

Nice big burger but expensive!!Price range from NZD 10-20 per burger.Spent almost RM150/family just to eat burgers.

We decided to try the jet boat along Kawarau River: http://www.kjet.co.nz/ .It was an exciting and thrilling ride.My children had a great time and they were pestering me to go for a second ride.Second ride??No way!!Its all about money...money and money.

After the thrilling ride,I wonder if this ride is really safe.I decided to search for more info after I came back to Malaysia.I was right!!There were accidents..

Sept 2008-A Chinese tourist was found underneath the boat about 90 minutes after the Kawarau Jet boat flipped on the Shotover River after it collided with a sandbar.

July 1981- Five people die when jet boats from Helijet and Goldstream collide just above the Arrow Junction.

May 1996- An Alpine Jet boat hits rocks on the Kawarau River, putting five passengers and the driver in hospital.

December 1997- Eleven people escape serious injury when a Kawarau Jet boat flips on the Shotover.

March 1998- Twelve people are injured when a Dart River Safaris jet boat hits a rock.

November 1998- Four people are injured in a Helijet accident on the Kawarau River.

November 1999- One man dies and 11 are injured when a Shotover Jet hits a rock face.

June 2000- Two people are injured when a Skippers Canyon jet boat hits a bank on the Shotover River.

March 2003- A jet boat collides with a Dart Wilderness Adventures jet boat on the Dart River; no-one is seriously injured.

Spent the rest of the evening after our thrilling ride by going around Queenstown.The town is not very big and one can cover most of the important places on foot.

New Zealand Trip-Day 2

2011-11-25T08:10:00.000+08:00

Today is our second day in NZ and we are very eager to see what is there beyond the earth quake damaged city of Christchurch.We checked out from our motel at 8:00am and set my GPS to Lake Tekapo.

There are 2 ways to go to Lake Tekapo.The fastest and easiest way is using the highway and the more adventurous way is using the Inland Scenic Route.The care taker of the motel suggested me to choose the second option where one can see more of the country:On one side, serene pastures and fields; on the other side, the rock solid beauty of New Zealand''s longest, highest mountain range.

So I decided to drive along the Inland Scenic Route 72 from Christchurch to Geraldine before turning up to Lake Tekapo.

Route Summary:
Inland Scenic Route 72 journeys from Amberley, north of Christchurch, to the farming centre of Oxford. The route continues along the foot of the alps to Mount Hutt, Canterbury''s premier ski field. Mount Somers is next, for a hike in the mountains. Then it''s over the Rangitata River to Geraldine, where you can link to State Highway 1 or head inland to Mount Cook.

One of the small town which we passed through along the Inland Scenic Route 72.Most of these small towns are very quite with only few shops and we hardly see any people!!

"Darfield is a town in the Selwyn District of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 35 kilometres west from the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand on State Highway 73 (The great Alpine highway) and the town is on the Midland railway line, route of the famous TranzAlpine train service. Its population (2001 census) is 1,362.

Darfield is the main town between Christchurch and the West Coast, New Zealand.

Darfield lies in the Malvern district's arable and pastoral farming area. It is a gateway to the scenic Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers and the Southern Alps, and is also a popular lift-off place for hot air ballooning."

We were captivated by the beautiful breathtaking scenery along the route.I decided to switch off my GPS and just followed the sign board showing Inland Scenic Route 72 which I presumed will lead me to Geraldine as shown on the map.However I was wrong!After 3 hours of driving and enjoying the country side scenery,I noticed that I was lost some where in NZ.

I stopped and asked a local who told me that I was way off from my intended destination.I was heading north instead of south.I was in Amberley,north of Christchurch.The local suggested I use the highway to south which is easier and faster.

Feeling a bit panic and blaming myself for being too confident,I switched on my GPS again which lead me to the highway and all the way to Lake Tekapo with few stops in between for toilet breaks and foods.

From that moment onwards,I have never switch off my GPS again.Although we were 3 hours behind our schedule,we did managed to enjoy the scenery and the drive along the Inland Scenic Route.

We arrived at Lake Tekapo at 3:00pm and we saw a big beautiful blue lake in front of our motel.

Beautiful view of Lake Tekapo taken from my motel room:http://www.laketekapo.com/ .It is so simple to check into a motel in NZ,they did not asked for any documents/passports or identifications.I just mention that I have a booking under my name,they checked their computer and then just passed me the keys.

"Lake Tekapo located in the Mackenzie Basin at the base of the Southern Alps boasts the breath-taking scenery of the lake and surrounding mountains.The unique, turquoise coloured lake water of Tekapo is the result of ancient glacier ice crushing mountain rock on its journey from the slopes of the Southern Alps to the rivers of the massive valleys that deliver the melted ice to the lake. The crushed rock produces a fine, flour-like powder that remains suspended in the water and, when reflecting light, produces the pale blue colour for which Lake Tekapo is renowned. Lake Tekapo is fed by two major glacial run-offs and 6 rivers. The lake is 32 km long and 120 meters deep at its deepest part."

The Church of the Good Sherperd which is within the walking distance from our motel.It is just a small building beside the beautiful lake but the scenery is breathtaking.

"A New Zealand icon is situated on the lake shore — The Church of the Good Shepherd. It is a tiny, unassuming church that possesses the most heavenly of views. Directly behind the altar is a large window that looks over the lake and mountains. The church is built of lakeside rock and its interior is in keeping with its simplicity. This church is a "must" to visit, giving tourists the opportunity to refresh their views on the meaning of life. Also next to the church is a bronze sculpture of a dog commemorating the working collie dogs that helped to settle the high country."

There are many activities to choose from during our stay in Lake Tekapo but it all involves money..lots of money since the exchange rate is NZ1 dollar=RM2.55.There are boating and water-based activities such as water-skiing, wake boarding, swimming and fishing.Others are mountain biking, horse trekking, golfing and walking.

For our short stay,I choose to visit Mount John to learn more about astronomy.http://www.newzealandsky.com/earthandsky/.

We paid NZD 340 for the trip which can be booked from the Earth and Sky office near our motel.The trip was supposed to start at 10:00pm but it was cancelled at the last minute due to rain!Feeling disappointed, we went back to sleep.

Looking forward to Queenstown...

New Zealand Trip-Day 1

2011-11-24T17:05:00.003+08:00

Finally after almost a year since I booked the promotion priced air ticket to New Zealand,my family is flying off to New Zealand.It was a long flight to Christchurch.It took us almost 10 hours but we slept most of the time on board as it was a midnight flight from LCCT.

On approaching Christchurch,we were greeted by beautiful scenery of ice capped mountains and big green flat lands.

Everything went smoothly from baggage collection and clearing the immigration.The authority is very strict on what items passengers can bring into NZ.Our bags were re scan again before we were allowed out into the arrival hall .

Waiting for the pick up service by Apex Car Rental.The Apex main office is located about 10 minutes drive away from the airport so those who rented their cars will be ferried to their office to collect the cars.This is a disadvantage unless one is to rent from some other company which have their base in the airport itself.However the pick up service is quite on time,we just waited for about 10 minutes.

Sign board showing various car rental companies operating in Christchurch. After getting our car-a Toyota Corolla ,we drove to our motel which is located about 500 metre from the Apex car rental office.Our first night in NZ is in the Airport Lodge Motel: http://www.airportlodge.co.nz/

It was about 6:00pm when we finally settled down in our motel.We decided to have a brief tour of Christchurch.With the GPS provided by Apex car rental ,we drove out to the city center which is like a ghost town.The main part of the city center has been barricaded and cars are not allowed in.We saw many buildings destroyed by the earthquake and the process of tearing down some building and clearing the mess is still going on.

***"The earthquake caused widespread damage across Christchurch, especially in the central city and eastern suburbs, with damage exacerbated by buildings and infrastructure already being weakened by the 4 September 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks.

In total, 181 people were killed in the earthquake,making the earthquake the second-deadliest natural disaster recorded in New Zealand with nationals from more than 20 countries among the victims." ***

The effect of earthquake is still shown all around Christchurch.Certain part of the roads are not even and have been patched up many times.One will not expect to find this kind of road condition in an advance country like NZ.The locals are complaining of the slow pace of re building Christchurch.
There wasn't much to visit in Christchurch in the evening.The sun was still shining bright at 7:30pm.We drove around looking at destroyed buildings while looking for a place to have our dinner.Then we found a nice big park in Christchurch and saw many people running...training for marathon??

***"Hagley Park has been at the heart of Christchurch since the 1850s and is today the most significant central city park. It offers a diverse range of entertainment and recreational facilities close to the city centre.

It is renowned for its extensive area of 165 hectares (407 acres), its wide-open spaces and mature woodlands. The park is a major sporting and cultural focal point with netball courts, a golf course, soccer and rugby pitches.

The park is divided into North and South Hagley Parks, divided by Riccarton Avenue. Cycle tracks and pathways go through and around the park allowing you to enter and exit around its perimeter.

For running enthusiasts the North Hagley perimeter is 4.5km whilst the South Hagley perimeter 3.7km. There is a 17-station fitness circuit along the perimeter track of North Hagley Park."***

We were out in the city until 9:00pm local time.We were still fresh and eager to explore but everything was very quiet at night.We drove back to our motel to watch TV as we just can't sleep.It was only 4:00pm in Malaysia.How to sleep?

Looking forward to venture away from Christchurch tomorrow...

Let It Be.

2011-11-23T10:34:00.001+08:00

I received an email from the Singapore Marathon organizer with a link to the You Tube showing the route for the coming marathon.It is also a similar kind of video produce by the KL Marathon organizer recently.

It is good to have a look at the video especially for the first timer who is going to take part in Singapore Marathon due in about 10 days.

For the past few weeks,I was busy with my assignments and travel to New Zealand with my while my friends were busy training for the Penang and Singapore Marathon.I hardly run nowadays,just blame this on my over packed schedule.Over committed in life.

My friend Teng did very well in PBIM with a personal best time of 4h 08min,something which none of us would expect.Now he has gain the respect from the whole of the S2 runners.Surprising Heng did well too with a time of 4h 39m,much better than his usual 5H+ finishing time for full marathon.However Lau didn't perform up to expectation as his run was marred by stomachache and vomiting during the run.

With just 10 days to go before Singapore Marathon,it is just too late to train.I have not been running for the past 2 weeks and with previous low weekly mileage of 10-15km/week and with only one long run of 30km on Deepavali Day......

The main question is "Can I finish this coming Singapore Marathon within 5 hours??"
I really wish I can but I am mentally prepared a finishing time up to 5h 30min in case I needed to walk during the race.

so...just Let It Be,whatever the finishing time is.

PJ Half Marathon

2011-10-31T23:57:00.001+08:00

I did not take part in this run but the rest of my group-Lim,Lau,Heng and Teng went for the run.Their participation was decided at the last minute.Initially non of our group members were interested in this run.For whatever reasons,Lim decided to run and requested Lau to help him to collect the running bibs.This created some interest in Lau and eventually Teng and Heng joined too.

I am currently having a very tight working schedule and have to balance up my weekends for running and working.I decided not to join as my weekends are fully occupied until the end of this year.

I was working on the race day and at 9:35am the first SMS came in from Lim informing me of the group results.It was nice to be kept up to date even I did not take part in the run.Everyone did well.

Lau got his PB.CONGRATULATIONS!his time was 1:53.Looks like all his frequent training has produced some good results.

Lim 1:58.His "mission" to "beat"Lau was a failure.In our frequent daily email exchange among us,Lim described Lau as the person to "beat" at this moment as Lau is at his best form.

Teng 1:59.A PB too.There is plenty of room for improvement in Teng as he is still new to running and he is still young.

Heng 2:0?.Heng is past his prime time.Currently he is running for fun only.Doesn't really train.

Well done guys!!

Keep running and maintain the friendly competitive spirit!!

Putrajaya Night Marathon 2011

2011-10-18T15:00:00.000+08:00

Event:Putrajaya Night Marathon

Place:Putrajaya

Date:15th Oct 2011

Time:8:00pm

Continuing my story from the previous post......

Steve came to pick me up from my house before joining the rest of S2 runners in Acacia.We were late.I presumed Heng and Teng were getting restless as they need to be in Putrajaya earlier for their 42km event.

Just after exiting Seremban toll,we were caught in a long traffic jam due to two road accidents along the Seremban-KL Highway.Later we lost "our way" in Putrajaya due to a missed turning.Once we found the location of the event,we were unable to look for a parking place.It was almost 7:30pm and I am sure Heng and Teng were definitely started to panic.Teng parked his car by a road side while we continue to look for a proper parking lot.

I did not managed to speak to Heng or Teng as they were in a hurry to be at the starting line before 8:00pm.Steve,Lau and myself were running the half marathon which only start at 8:20pm.

We walked to the event venue,did some short warm up,went for a toilet break and bought myself a pair of Brooks running shoes.

Our half marathon event was at 8:20pm.We were together at the starting line.Immediately after the start,Lau surged ahead as he was planning to do a PB.I was running slowly due to some stomach discomfort probably due to consuming too much of 100Plus and Power bar.

The route is generally flat with few up slopes which it manageable.The organizer did well by providing adequate water stations,bananas,water melons,cheering groups with drums,men in superheros costumes cheering runners-I saw Superman,Incredible Hulk,Batman encouraging runners.There were also music stations along the route.Very good!!

Everything seems perfect for runners on that day but not for me.Personally I think the weather was a bit too hot and humid since I used to spend most of my time in an air conditioned room.My mind was not set to concentrate on running.The incident that happened 3 hours earlier keep on flashing back in my mind while I was running.It was like a "brainstorming,flash back session" playing inside my mind throughout the run.I was like looking for answers to why the guy wanted to fight with me,what if I do this or that,what should I do in the future if this recurs etc.....a lot of if,how,why and unanswerable questions.

I knew it was not my day to finish with a good results.I decided just to run at my usual LSD pace throughout the race.It wasn't very taxing to my body.The pace was comfortable.

The results (unofficial):

1)Teng 4h 57min FM

2)Heng 5h 22min FM

3)Lau 2h 4min HM He did very well but he wasn't satisfied since he did not achieve his PB.I think it was a bit difficult to do PB in such a hot humid condition.

4)Steve 2h 16min HM He did very well too!!He has improved a lot.Must have been his "secret"training sessions.He trained mostly by himself nowadays due to his busy schedule.

5)Myself 2h 13min 37sec HM

Overall it was a very well organized race.The organizer did make an effort to provide more for runners.Once I cross the finishing line,I was given a medal,a pack of foods(banana,bun and kueh),a bottle of mineral water and a nice bright red finisher T shirt.Everything was in order.Good!!

The only "setback" was the very small distance marker along the route.It was a piece of dark paper sticked on to a big white board.Maybe next time the organiser should provide a bigger,easier to see distance marker.

The official results:

http://www.putrajayanightmarathon2011.com/?page_id=1079

3 Hours Before PNM 2011

2011-10-16T05:03:00.004+08:00

What a lousy day!!!I was getting ready to go to Putrajaya Night Marathon when I received a phone call from my wife informing me that she was involved in an accident near our house.Immediately I rushed to the scene which was about 5 minutes from my house.

When I arrived at the accident scene,I tried to make a U turn to get across to the other side of the road.However a car at the back of me honked at me and the driver was very angry at me for slowing down to make an U turn.He claimed that my action almost cause his car to collide with my car.This man was very rude..he was cursing and showing his middle finger to me.I was trying reason with him but he won't listen.He was cursing and started to challenge me for a fight.I was angry too.I too cursed him with the F words.

He was really angry.He seems not satisfied since I refused to fight with him.He went back to his car,re parked it at the road side and started to come back to me.I was trying to call for the tow truck,my insurance man and the police while this man continue to curse me in front of everyone.He was provoking me for a fight.This man is a pain in the ass!!!

The lorry driver who knocked into my Perdana was very quiet and polite.He told me that he can't brake in time at the traffic light.

Knowing this man was getting more aggressive,I apologised to him.I said "I am sorry and lets settle this.I don't want to fight."He calmed down after I apologised.Then he too apologised for being rude.What pissed me off was what he said:

"I am a vegetarian.I am a man of peace.I don't like to fight"

Immediately I told him "What you said doesn't reflect by your action.The first thing that came out from your mouth was the F word and the middle finger sign."

He then tried to reason with me why he use the F word,why he showed his middle finger to me.I just told him to forget it.I got other more urgent matters to settle at that moment.He just drove off.

That reminds me of another incident last month.An African student came to see me with an injury to his forearm.It was a deep cut and I advised him to seek treatment in hospital.He refused and he wanted me to treat him.So I spent the next half an hour cleaning and suturing his wound while many other patients were waiting outside my room.

After finishing the treatment and after getting his medications,he told my staffs that he has no money.He came into my consultation room and said he can't pay since has no money.

What pissed me off was the way he talked to me.

"Doc...are you a Christian?I am a Christan.Christian don't lie.You trust me.I will pay you tomorrow."

Since there were many other patients outside,I wouldn't want to talk too much with this African.I told him that I believe him and he will come back tomorrow.

However he did not return until today.

What really annoyed me is the attitude of certain people who tried to portray themselves as the goody,holy and sin free kind of person but their action did not reflect what they want to portray.These are the hypocrites!!They are bringing shame to others..."vegetarian....man of peace...Christians don't lie".

Back to the accident:Thank God no one was hurt.My wife and my 2 girls who were coming back from church were not injured.The car was badly damaged.The car can't moved after the accident.

I was emotionally angry with the man who was trying to pick up a fight with me.At one point,I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to Putrajaya for the run.Steve,Heng,Teng and Lau were waiting at Acacia.Finally we left Seremban at 6:15 pm...15 minutes late from our schedule.