Iskandar Puteri Night Marathon 2018

This is 2nd time we joined this race...

the fact that its was organised by team of local event organiser shall be encouraged...

but must be really up to the mark at least for the basic requirement for each runner during race...

To say that, the organiser himself must be a runner before thus only can really feel the "heat"...

but sadly seem like this year management turn from bad to worst as commented by other category runners...

As for my category of 10km, we didnt get much hiccup...

only minor one on last 1km total black out for around 300m and without marshal at that black out junction...

As for other category which i got the feedback is Half marathon is massive under distance of merely 13km...

also on the lack of water station...

This race is just 1 week after SCKLM...

so our preparation is just follow back on the race weakness in order to run a better one here...

10 been in her down mood for past 1 week due to her disappointed finished in SCKLM...

also on her lack of training ground in Penang here...

abit kesian for her on that...

but as a good runner u cant complain much on this...

u need to adapt to whatever condition that pour to u...

only then u can survive & excel in most tough condition...

as for myself it was my last week in Sg here...

feel abit of reluctant leaving this ground...

though i wasnt really like the culture esp on consultant side treating us...

but i really thanks this company,management & colleague that really help me out whenever problem raised...

i also miss the Bedok stadium very much...

she's like a second home for me...

without her, i doubt that i can really come back at this moment...

Now i hope another one can really replace her so that i can continue my running journey...

Come back to IPNM 10km category starting point...

Can see quite some elites round up the line there...

Among are Jironi, Marcus frm Sg, Soh & a kenyan...

Well i wasnt really place high hope on this...

but just wanna do a decent time with a good body condition...

My starting wasnt that good...

As Yien Wei has followed on the front pack...

i believe that with his current training to reach 35min shouldn't be an issue soon...

but its very important that u always need to believe in yourself...

then come 2 speedy youngster in front of me...

trying myself to close up the gap...

managed to close them up at around 4-5km...

then start to pull them away...

but unlucky that another tall leg runner come from behind and overtook me...

can just follow up a while as his movement is very wide...

this is difference between tall & short runner like me...

the gap in between us start widening...

i only can run at myself for last 3km...

but at 9km mark which come to total black out & junction there...

i wasted around 30secs in shouting for marshals yet no avail...

and back runner chased up with police car...

then i decide to run straight....

luckily that i still maintain on my position though the gap in between become smaller...

Then i waited for Y.wei he managed a 13th placing...

he told me of the wrong direction turn half way...

which used him around 400m...very unfortune & also shouldn't happen in a major race like this...

though i can see his coming back time after wrong turn was strong enough...

but he feels good on this race...

must say that he improve alot that i see no reason that we can get better placing in coming Sundown race...

then waited for 10 came back...

and she managed to defend her last year title!

this is a good boost for her spirit after SCKLM...

Nice to see that all her effort has been paid off...

While waiting for prizes we walk around & eating some food offered in food truck...

nice chit chat with Jironi...

waited until wee hour around 1am...

yet they still didnt aounce grand prize winner of car...

hence we decided to get back...

Overall this is a good initiative race in Johor region...

the race shall be maintained to promote healthy lifestyle among public...

the medal & T-shirt given is quite nice quality though not like typical Ultron brand but this Activo brand not bad...

if the management really feel that can cope with so many distance category...

why not in future just organise 10km & half marathon category this will reduce those unwanted route marking issue...

Feel great that both of them really perform up to the mark under our Kakithon product, hope that in future there will be more kakithoner follow suit though main issue is always the place we work & train...

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2018

Been quite long that i didnt join this race...
basically i feel that the event been too huge...
and "stingy" in a way of its prizes given...

They would rather give hug amount to podium winner than top inside top 10 or 15...
this time, our kakithon side has total 4 of us joining...
Ah Wong in his favourite marathon category while i,10 & Yien Wei in  10km...

We have actually place some high hope in this event...
but to know that the challenge sometime is unpredictable...
thus only can hope for the best outcome...

10 came in early on saturday to help collect bib...
while i & yien wei need to endure saturday full day work...
only managed to reach hotel at midnight...

that's life of hectic working after all...
lucky that our 10k starting point is just walking distance...
so coincide that marathon route has passed through hotel and we managed to view through runners as well...

its good that organiser divided the grouping into speed & leisure...
this enable the condition wont be so crowded...
yet we only managed to get into 3rd row which i feel still ok, only thing is u may lost couple of secs...

The first km pace was around 3:15 which way abit fast for average runner like us...
no choice, but just trying my best to maintain with the front pack...
the sigh of front pack slowing disappear...

then come to 5km mark which i was passing through at 17:50...
time wasnt that bad...but front runner still keep their pace...
there come the kenyan women who keep pushing very hard...

my last 5km pace wasnt that ideal...
mileage not enough as well as lactic accumulation too fast...
even though still pushing but can feel that pace getting slower...

last 2km at botanical hill which also cant perform on it...
well some consolation is i still managed on the old timer pace and average 10km time of 37min...
but its still wasnt good enough for a top 5 finish...abit disappointed on it...

10 managed to came across at 5th placing...
but she was overtaken in last 100m which make her so frustrated withh it...
i think she never encounter on such a close fight finishing...

well this can be good real lesson to learn after all...
can see from this 10km women race is quite tough...
10 competitor are getting faster...

something that she need to buck up to face this challenge...
As for y.wei, his body condition wasnt up to the mark...
which he getting flu week before...

and he still manage to run under 40mins with very comfortable pace...
is his PB as well but i estimate more shall be came from him in future...
our journey to KL time havent end...

With Ah wong into our small gathering...
chit chat here&there...
Kakithoner's friendship will never end...

PDRM Night Run 2018

Been quite some time after CNY that i didnt join any race...
while eling been joined on her Malaysia Women Marathon week before PDRM Run...
Her condition is much better compare to MWM but not me...

Been getting cough and flu for past whole week...
not able to complete my normal routine training workout...
worst case at some point only able to complete 3 quarter of workout...

Only hope for the best in this night run...
i knew that there will be alot of elites coming in since its consider a home event for Police...
Thanks organiser of allowing we from outstation of getting bib few hours before race...

can see few familiar faces in my 10k event before starting at back lane lorong stretching...
The starting time was extended some 10mins...
and we both were quite far from behind to go into the gated zone...

Trying my best to lead eling to squeeze here and thr...
until last few row from starting point that unable to push through...
the fact that this has lil bit impact on our starting pace that delay some secs...

this in fact has lead to around 20 secs that need to chase back front pack...
but not that easy for normal runner like us...
what i can do is keep on "potong" whoever in front of me...

until around 5,6km only can really calm down on my pace that front pack is already out of my sight...
then come to last 2km that i was overtaken by a young tall runner, Thines...
no choice, my body cant keep up pace with him...

eventually a 10secs adrift in btw us...
then wait for eling back...
first i saw sanggetha...

in some 1mins plus...i saw her coming back...
wow what a good position and time managed by her!
cant imagine that she managed to stay on the target pace i set to her...

even though train alone for past 1 week...
i can see her progress is really well getting up there...
Hopefully she can improve further for upcoming races...

KL World Urban Run 2018

A race which held 1 week before 2018 Chinese New Year...
Quite long that i didnt join races after Sunlife resolution run on early Jan 18...
Kinda like loose contact to the ground...

But that shouldn't be the issue for runner like me...
kinda boring as well as keep training daily...
before the race seen through the map...

can see that a lot of turning and hilly route in Botanical Garden...
i wasn't really up to the mark for the hilly route...
well... should brace for it...

Thanks Mr Moey family for helping me and 10 on the bib collection...
as the week before 10 was coming to Sg thus unable to collect...
Night before race, reached TBS at around 12.30am...

Slept for around 3hours then went for pre-race preparation with lil bit of bread...
As usual reach starting point and met up with some familiar runners...
Sudden informed by Choi Fern's Xiao didi Xiao Chan that 10k runner need to get chip...

what??? how come got such late changes in this kind of important thing...
they should have distributed during bib collection and not 30min before race started...
lucky is the queue seem not so long...

if such incident happened in Spore...
i bet there will be big Hooha here and there...
Like Yolo run & Sundown been a big thumb down by local runners...

As usual can see Kenyan runner in my 10k category apart frm 15k also...
trying to catch 4 of them for the first 2km...
then come into hill part that kill me the most for this race...

the 2nd group runners comprise of KL speedy youngster came into afterward...
their pace of 3:30 even during hilly part was too tough to chase...
was abit off pace from them...

but still trying to catch whoever in front of me...
keep maintaining the pace until a Japanese guy come from behind and overtook me...
his pace of 3:45 was quite comfortable for me...

and this has helped me to overtake few youngster...
was seeing Chan jun shen half way and pouring me some encouraging word...
though hes trying to run along with me...haha...

The japanese guy still a tough nut to crack and maintaining his pace till the end...
so near yet still far of the 3secs adrift from him...
for 2 consecutive races that i lost to front guy in around fews secs...

my final boost seem to be not in ideal condition...
then go back over to check 10 coming or not...
saw Danielle naant, in around 1min+ came chooi fern...

then in around 1min+ saw 10 and shes leading another top KL elite gal...
wow thats good performance from her...
may be some of them joining Sg Buloh run last night and unable to recover...

overall 10 has really perform beyond my expectation...
as for me a 6th placing which later part upgraded to 5th was a small bonus as well...
race organiser wasnt really verify winners...

 this has lead to chaos and confusion during prizes ceremony...
something that they need to improve on this...
its time to go kaikai...and celebration for Pre-CNY lol...

Happy CNY to all and wishing everyone & every runner always stay healthy in this Dog year...
As usual i hope that all of us always stay in good shape no matter how hard we train or race...
"Listen to ur body" is something we should always stick in our mind...

Photos courtesy frm 2009tonton, thanks Aunt Moey.

2017 Last Race MBSA Run 2018 First Race KL New Year Run & SunLife Resolution Run

MBSA 10km Run

Way back to last race in 2017...
Happened on 31st Dec Midnight 12am...
In Shah Alam Stadium which i havent been here for long time...

think back that should be on 2nd or 3rd edition Adidas KOTR which i joined held at here...
Wasnt really familiar with the race route but heart that quite some hill...
can see some familiar faces like Nik and some youngsters...

As for eling as usual her nemies like Amelia & Tahira...
Well she was abit low in confident which on same day morning 5km run she lost to Tahira...
Told her not to affect by that race instead pay more attention in this and believe she can turn it around...

Fast pace as usual for my 10k open group...
trying to follow on front pack...
well thats not the case so only able to follow veteran runner, Mr Vadi...

Salute his strength of going such strong even though at this age...
hope i am able to maintain like him in future ha...
as expected up and down hill comprise of around 40%...

Was fighting with a youngster in last 5km...
lucky that i managed to pull him off in last 1km...
Overall quite satisfied with my pace even though in this tough route...

Happy for eling that she managed to pull back and get better her opponent...

KL New Year Run 2018

Never join this run though been organised few editions...
so its a b2b for me while b3b for eling...
Familiar running route starting point at Dataran Merdeka...

As usual can see running group from Arul...
I wasnt really confident on my pace against them...
they are season and well trained which no easy for me to run along...

Eling too can see many elites in her category...
after counting should be around 5 persons...haha...
As usual a fast first few k pace set by those speedy youngster...

thanks to their pace...i managed to achieve a PB in 5km...
for 2nd time i am chasing Mr Vadi...
still no avail...

and this time from behind Mark william came and overtook me...
hardly follow him and slowly pull me further...
managed to overtook 2 youngsters who i never beaten...

kinda chaos scene at the finishing point where i run wrongly into 21km booth...
no one guiding so need to turn back...
lost some times...

overall still happy with performance even though under distance...
eling this time meet up with tough opponents...
but i'm still happy with her performance of giving all out...

Sun Life Resolution Run 12km

Gone through midnight bus to reach at around 1am...
come to Botanical garden as starting point...
event organiser seem prepared well and alot of happening booths...

can see Ramzan as my main challenger while eling's chooi fern...
run through so call double hill but i felt is more than double...
some more very steep especially at one part run along bungalow hill route...

keep chasing on ramzan but he never loose up...
even till last k still maintain the pace...
lost to him a mere 5secs...

eling got her 2nd placing...
though of lack of training during this rainy season...
overall race is quite well organised and goodies bag given quite well worth...

Merry Christmas 2017

For d 2nd consecutive years i'm celebrating this festival in foreign soil ground...
i would say Sg here is much more open, vibrant in a way which all different races from different country mix together n celebrate it...
went through few shopping complexes in Orchard yesterday night...

festival mood here is very much happening as compare back in hometown...
Enjoy our lovely western food in Bedok town...
then came over to Christmas Eve same also in here with Sichuan Ma lak Xiang Guo...

Getting complaint by my 10 on this food outing no go further outside from Bedok...haha...
Actually for me in Sg here all the foods are almost same taste or equivalent...
I would still rate our Msia food is much better than theirs...

But 1 thing for sure that their government are doing all kind of effort on ensuring citizen are served with healthy food..
better sport facilities...
Smooth & affordable public transportation...

To name a few as above is something our government mentality has lagged behind on this...
which i hope that in 1 day we can really catch up into this...
Today is Christmas day, though we didnt go anywhere but as usual on Bedok Stadium...

In Sg here, their government are ensuring each district stadium are open to public 365days morning or till nigh time...
something i hope Msia can emulate on this...
Our sport mentality is still stagnant on old timer thinking...

to be able to improve citizen health, source for sports talent...
the very first thing is wide accessibility on sports facilities...
they come toward on the idea on sustain such program by taxing on lottery company...

this is good idea that can be adopted...
to sustain and maintain the facilities are uphill task but with proper management system...
i dont see any reason why our country can do on this...

lets hope our government can really work toward this...

Maritime Run 2017

A race which to test myself of my current performance...
been training hard to achieve something recently...
i know that i am capable of getting better my PB in 10km very soon...

training wise i am lucky to have fellow Kakithoner, Y.wei to train along though only twice a week...
my recent revamp in training program seem bearing fruit...
but i cant take it lightly on this yet...

travel frm Sg to KL is actually tiring journey yet to get to see 10 all is worth than anything else...
when i reached is already around 2am and we just had some 1hr to sleep...
but that doesn't hamper us from doing our best in our 10k event...

At the starting point can see few familiar faces...
among are abang shahrudin,casey,murali...
but my real challenge are not them...

instead are youngster who represent state...
i was surrounded by 5 youngster in early few km...
2 of them frm NS and i know that youngster frm NS are strong just like Prabudas...

Their tradition prowess in long distance running in our country is very solid...
then come to 5km mark left 3 of us (the 2 NS youngster i mentioned)...
the sudden surge by 1 of them during up hill had make me hard to catch him...

no choice...i only can try to maintain which in this race around 7-8 up/down hill condition...
looking at my watch i know i can do a decent time...
still maintaining on 3:45 after 8km...

in fact i'm thinking if it is flat route i can do a much better time...
to my last kick which watch shown 10.45km that i finished in 38min +
oh yeah...i come back to my old time form after sometime of trying...

may be the 10km mark consider as my 2nd PB but i am happy enough for this...
and now can dig down further of my target pace time which is 3:42 evetually...
10 was trying her best to chase Sanggetha....

but she proved too strong today though managed to get better her target pace...
its a double runner up for both of us...
feel nice on my mizuno wave cruise...

and i hope to achieve more with it...
#o2running