Newton New Year Challenge 2012

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

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

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

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

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?