Mar14 - Bareno 15km Run 2010

I don't normally write race reports so quickly but then this was an exception. I just ran the Bareno 15km at Bukit Jalil this morning. It started ok I guess. We were able to locate a parking space outside the main carpark. Met up with Frank & bumped into my ex-collegemate, Nic who had not been in the scene for 5years.


Check-in was just dumping ur card into a box. Bareno info sheet said that the stadium had opened its toilets to the runners, which is only at 1 location, no port-a-loos. The whole place was soooo dark. I couldn't even properly see where I was going. Plus the exercise demo didn't even had a spotlight on them. Bareno sells Kitchen & Bathroom stuffs, so they took this opportunity to place their bathtubs around the center court.

Since it was not a timing chip start, everyone rushed to the front to get better time. A few Ironmans were out at full force eg. Keat Seong, Kevin Siah (who's back from Perth for a weekend event) and Yip (wow! 1st time see him at a road race). Yip was able to convince his bro, Eric to join us as well. hahahha... Frank & Tey was photographer of the day.


The route started off pretty good. NO complains for nearly 45mins. It took about 1.14mins to get out from the stadium. Reminds me of Macau Marathon. Here's where the complain starts.



1) First Aid - i remember seeing someone puking at the side of the road. So who's there to help? Ghost Aiders...habuk pun takde

2) KM Markers - the only distance marker I saw was 4km more to go...gee thanks...


3) water station - this is located at every....I have no idea. We were only told 3 water stations for the 15km run. It felt like 2nd water station was at 7km then last was at 13km...whats the point of taking my gel at 7km when it's too early, then at 13km when it's too late. NO comment though if there was lack of water.

4) The PARK!!!! - i am totally speechless about it. I was going pretty well until we were directed to a park, where it was up up up & zigzag. Then I told myself, bull...i'm walking this. Anyway, i was tapering, but still. Oh, the 4km mark was at the entrance of the park. So it was a pretty looonngg 2km to get out.



5) courteous runners - 2 lane housing area. I was running on the right side to keep away from the others. Looked over my shoulder, a car slowly crawling next to me. I was surprised, quickly went to the side. Then shouted to the ppl in front "Car back, keep left". If only someone did that to me. Maybe we just learn this when cycling coz we look out for each other.


6) Traffic - when i came running out from the park, another 2km back to the finishing point, honks from the traffic, I was frustrated already at this point. I was waving my arms & shouting "yeah, like that's gonna help. keep it up". I was glad I wasn't the only one. Sorry to everyone else who didn't feel the same. Actually I think that the organiser should have made a detour sign somewhere to warn the cars that there's a roadblock ahead. It'll definitely helped me if i was a the driver.





Poor Nyan was not permitted his finisher items. He's fren helped him collect his bib, fren arrived late, Nyan was faster than him, so no bib, no finisher medal....darn


KS was happy that I ranted about the race more coz then I won't at him. Funny I didn't see the other THGers around. Kinda miss the group appearance. This time no THG group picture loh :( Thanks to Frank, Irene, Tey & Victor for their support & great to see Lynn & Chin Chin too.



* most pictures were taken by Frank

Mar23 - Love World Love Sloggi

What do I love?

…. I love ….
Myself
My family
My partner
My job (weird huh)
My supposing Myvi (it actually belongs to my dad)
My sports

So how do you connect loving your undergarments & the world?

Well, it all started with a man (Adam), a woman, (Eve) & some leaves (leaf)

To stop Adam from continuous nose bleeds

With the help of Mother Earth’s creation, Eve decided to cover her “precious” areas
(much to the disappointment of Adam).

As the years, centuries, generations went by

- Adam, too felt a little bit shy about his privates,
decided to cover up as well -
- Leaves gives itch -
- Linen came into place & evolution happened -


Have we ever thought how can our undergarments be environment friendly?
I’m not talking about those edible undies.
I’m talking about how we can still be environmental friendly without having to cover ourselves with banana leaves (coz it’s big enuff) or other recyclable items for modesty.

I’m kinda picky with my lingerie. I want something that I’m comfortable against my skin.

It doesn’t have to be sexy when I’m home in front of my comp, yet still be alluring when I’m out.


Sloggi’s “Love World Love Sloggi is the new Spring 2010 collection with colourful patterns, fashionable designs for fashionable me and most importantly ecologically-friendly fabrics, that still offers comfort and fit for daily wear”.



Well, this totally helps me when I go for those looonng rides on my bike.
I can enjoy my ride and not having to worry about hygiene.


Though I’m sure lots of males around the world would be imagining this when we’re all out in a peloton.


Go Sloggi!! Let’s Love the World Together!!

May21 - My Maiden 70.3 at Aviva Singapore 2010

With so many things coming up towards this day. Skipped a week of training due to travelling to Langkawi to support KS for Ironman (not that I'm complaining) then it was already tapering the week after that. I didn't get to do my long distance training. Only doing a 75km ride made me hungry & achy.



How is this called ready? 15km tapering run at Barena was good. Swim training on my own at Kelana Jaya pool was reasonably alright. KS said that I always took my swimming for granted coz I "can" swim. I think he's rite, as usual.





Well, here goes on the race review.

Transition area
It's like freaking long. Nearly 1km in length. My place was located like nearly 3/4 from the swim & bike start. So there goes my chance of a good T-time






Swim - 1.9km - 47.23mins
All ladies were in bright pink cap. Placed myself at the back. Never like swiming in front. I rather swim over ppl rather than be swam over. At first the water was really murky & cold, after a distance out, it was comfy. Slightly clearer & warmer. Difficult to draft coz everyone going zigzag. Swimmers on my left & right cramping thru me, i stopped, see both of them hook each other necks when they stroke. 1st loop someone knocked my goggles, so it fogged up. 2nd loop I felt something amissed. My new neophrene timing chip strap came off!! On my returned, the guys caught up to us. No mercy. It was like bulls swimming towards us.
T1 - 1.54min
When I got back up, I started asking around on replacement chip. Being Aviva, they had backups ready. My hands was shaking so much, I needed help with it. That 500m run to my place was lonnnggg


Bike - 90km - 3.27.07hrs
I was still nervous about the race, nervous about the narrow u-turns, nervous about grabbing water bottles with my left hand, nervous about the road conditions.

About 8km out, my arms were still shaking, shifting from my aero position to normal handlebars, my lost control, my fingers went to the brakes, and that was it. My bike stopped, in the middle of the bike way, I skidded on my left side. My helmet head impacted on the road, my shoes still clipped in. I kept my eyes closed, just praying no one cycle over me. I looked up to see a volunteer running towards me, started diverting traffic and helped me up. My wrist was sore, my bike chain was out. I quickly tried to put it back again, fingers full of grease. I was back in the game. Taking a breather, I went on my way.


3 x 30km with narrow u-turns. Good safety feature where volunteers tells u "hands on brakes" at slowdown point. KS said 1st loop to rekkie the route, then 2nd & 3rd to pia. After the fall, very hard to pia. Got a cut on my left elbow, so it kind hurt when I aero. 2 cuts on my left palm, so it sting when i hold the brakes. Like Simon & emma said "suck it up!" 3rd loop was mental, long stretch of East Coast Park expressway (ECP) & Ayer Rayah expressway (AYE). Whomever said it was flat, was wrong. About 2 inclines of flyovers but then it was a good change, to not pedal when going downhill. Saw a few ppl fell during the u-turns, so I took precaution. No point rushing. Drank 500ml for every 15km of water & 100plus. KS said I did a pretty good timing with a average of 1.10hr per loop.

T2 - 3.03mins
I had practiced a good balance off my bike leaving the shoes on, but the last time i did it after my 75km ride, I pokai coz my toes were numb. This time I had wiggled them & felt them. But after my fall, I decided to be safe & just unclipped my shoes instead. Ran towards my spot & got really for a good run. KS said it was a good thing too, coz he noticed a few ppl fell from doing the balance act.


Run - 21km - 2.22.21hrs
I felt good at the run. 3 loops in total. My breathing was good, I paced myself. Since I didn't push in the bike, I wasn't tired when I started the run. It wasn't a very long way away from the transition point, just a few turns here & there with supporters along the way. Weather was on & off with overcast & sunny. I just kept pouring water onto myself. My socks & shoes were soggy. I was just afraid of the timing chip shafting. Hence the reason why I bought the neophrene strap from TBB. 100plus to drink & water to pour onto myself. Took a gel every 30mins. Supports from Emma, Siok Leng, Chantelle and by accident, Lynette. Sanny, Richard & Roger who competed as well. My last loop was pretty mental. Had to walk/march a few times. My body wasn't tired or aching, just mental I guess. I made sure I kept moving on the last 2km towards the finish line coz that was where the supporters were. KS predicted a 2.20hrs run, off by 2mins. I was still able to hop when I crossed the finish line.







I felt good though painful for my maiden 70.3 but I'm glad I did it was Aviva.

P/s : Bee, no peking duck this time...sniff sniff