The rocking Siemens Run..

Good Luck & have fun to all those running this Sunday...
Siemens Run will be a happening race over the weekends.. because everyone had their warm-ups during the Penang Bridge Marathon & Ipoh International Half-Marathon recently.


On your mark, get set, gooooooooooooooooooo......
:)

My 5th marathon stories...

Finally..... my side of story on the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2007... Have been too busy with work & even too busy for the recovery run, but will do it over the weekends. Nothing great & nothing much to share. There were some points that make me happy, sad & angry during my stay in Penang. That's normal I supposed.

Day 1

The journey from KL to Penang took about 5 hours after few stops at the R&R area. Crossed the bridge & arrived at Queensbay Mall by 2.00pm & collected all the necessary running stuff. Of all, only met Ms Jewelz with Eric Teo & wife. Also 1st time met Ngae who did his Sahara Ultra Marathon recently. Later, left to check-in at my company's resort at Tg Bungah & had lunch at Subaidah Nasi Kandar. Plus-minus, by 10.00pm, back to the hotel, to get some rest, preparing for the next day's race.




Day 2 ~ Race day...

1.30am, got up & get ready. Felt so tired & sleepy still, regretted for not sleeping earlier. By 2.00am, started the vehicle to go to the starting point & suddenly saw a big group of motorcyclists doing their remp-it & wikang styles ahead of me & I had to give way & slowed down. I knew if I overtook them or even give the horn signal, they'll go rampage & created havoc. From Tg Bungah till Sg Gelugor, I had to give-in & just bear with the situation. My patience was really getting thin at that time. I know I can't do anything but just to follow the traffic. Why on earth should they be around at that time, I said to myself, only later I realised that, it's a "Malam Minggu" & of course for all those who loves clubbing, it's an important fiesta night for them.

3.05am, I arrived at one junction where the police traffic told me, the race has just started & advised me to quickly park my vehicle & go to the starting line if I still wanted to race. Without hesitation, I just parked, put-off my sweater & ran as fast as I could to the starting line about 500m away, then gave my reporting slip to the marshall who told me that I'm late by 15 mins but they gave me a starting wristband & I just started running. My mood & spirit was really down that time & I thought I was the last runner, but when I started my 1st loop, I saw 2 Thailand guys have just arrived & they're late too. About 2km, the 2 runners than overtook me which also meant that I was the last runner. Lucky me, the marshall on the motorbike escorted me during the 1st loop of 6km before I headed to the bridge. I knew that I was behind by 3km away from the rest of the marathoners. I set my mind that I'll chase & try to catch up as many runners as I could. I ran faster than normal as I could till I got the chest pain.

Once entered the bridge, my head told me to stop & turn back when I realized that I didn't do a proper warm-up & stretching, didn't wear my watch, left my MP3, I didn't apply any Sloan & didn't even carry any Powergels. In fact, I didn't even had my proper PowerBar as I always did. But I just couldn't stop my legs from running & enjoying the strides on the bridge. So I just do it for the sake of doing it. I overtook one after another of the full marathon runners, glad that they didn't recognized me as I just kept silent all the way & not in my usual cheerful mood greeting everybody I knew.

Remembering Lai the Pacemakers's advice to start slow on the 1st 10km, I really went slow as I've ran at a very fast speed during the 1st loop of 6km. I didn't know exactly my 10km timing, but only realised that the half-marathon runners has started. After PM1 Ronnie & PM17 Ryan passed by, I ran a bit faster as I knew I need to catch up with time. I just ran & ran & ran & took one wristband after another from the marshalls & passed by PM22 Tey who was so busy taking pictures of the marathon celebrities. Glad that he didn't see me as I was also hoping that no pictures taken on my sour-face & bad-mood look. At certain points, I didn't even stopped for a drink. My legs felt good & I just ran & ran & ran.. till I realized that I've reached the finishing line.

Felt relieved that it has ended, passed all the multi-coloured wristband to the officials & grabbed my medal. I even forgot to check the timing & no one that I knew waited for me at the finishing line, not even any photographers around to take my finishing photo, but it's OK, I'm not the Champion or a marathon superstar that needs an attention. While walking towards the rest area behind the stage, I asked someone who wore a watch what time was it. Just can't believe my eyez, it was 8:15am. Said to myself, "Not bad lah. I was the last in but not the last out."

Saw Julie Ms Jewelz & her friends & we took some pictures together. I just rested myself near the Brooks Running Team & later went over to the medical tent to get some packed iced for my aching feet. While I was having the good treatment time, I saw some Red Crescent guys carrying a stretcher & to my surprise, it was Raihan!! Pity him, I dunno what happened to him as he seemed to be in pain. Before that, I saw Eric Teo being dripped due to heat stress. Eric finished his run by 4:30hrs if I'm not mistaken. He was taken to the Penang Hospital for further treatment, while I rested under the tent till they packed their things. My car was parked so far away & I was so lazy to walk to the car. I waited till the end of the lucky draw & no luck on my side, then only I went to the car & headed straight to the hotel to pack & checked out.

Before leaving Penang Island, went for nasi kandar again, then "lepak2" at Padang Kota for the good food. By 9.00pm, started the journey back to KL & stopped for rest & short nap at 3 R&Rs along the hi-way. Reached "home-sweet-home" safely in one piece by 3.00am.

All my anger & sadness of the Penang Bridge Marathon has gone away by that time.... Phewwwww...

:)

HAPPY FEET!!

To all fellow runners, wishing you HAPPY RUNNING!!!

Make sure you run on the correct route accordingly, or else you'll find yourself on top of Bukit Bendera!!! :)

See you there!!!

Yours truly,
~NEZZ~

My training days...

Went to my favourite training playground @ Kepong Metropolitan Park on Saturday 2nd June and did 2 laps x 3.65km = 7.3km

Went again on Saturday 9th June & saw the Pacemakers Team and decided to join them in their fellowship run.

Paid RM5 to Mrs PM1 & the guys have started their run at 7.20am. Later I followed them on their 2nd lap onwards and managed to complete 4 laps. Thank you to DK for recording my running time. The running track was quite tough & I did a real slow & steady pace. My timing was :-
1'50:42 (20:41 / 25:32 / 29:51 / 34:38) - 14.6km




Penang Bridge Marathon is just around the corner. I think I'm ready to run a marathon again and it's gonna be my 5th marathon.

God bless!

For once in a year...

Penang Bridge International Marathon is just round the corner. I just wanna make the best of my Penang Bridge Marathon this year. Last year, I ran while I was still in my sadness & mourning mood over my father's death. I even cried in between the run & luckily no one noticed. But I realised later, the sadness turned out to be my strength to finish up the 42.195km run. So, this time, I'll still be remembering that moment a year ago, crying on the Penang Bridge. Finished by 5:20:00 hrs at the 19th position of Women Open Category, behind Reita K, the Fear Factor Season 1 Champion, I said to myself last year, "This may not be my fastest marathon, but it will be my most special."

Finally, for once in a year, the Penang Bridge will be closed for 7 hours on 24th June 2007. The race is back this year & I wanted to make the most of the race day. I'm browsing thru my marathon "checklist" again for my own updates & reminder.

# Keep on training & to be ready to adjust my pace on race day.
# Best advice & to keep reminding myself - "Start easy - don't push the pace,"
# To practice running easy up & down a hill to strengthen the quads
# To decide on the running shoe - Saucony Phoenix Grid 2 or Mizuno Racer
# Running attire - DONE!

Some pictures from last year's Penang Bridge Marathon...

Double route via Double Hill

New Balance Pacesetters 15km Run
Sunday, 20th May 2007
Padang Merbok, KL

Put on my Saucony Phoenix Grid 2 for the 15km run. Felt good & the softness supported my ankle throughout the run. The Double Hill route was not that bad. I love running uphill actually. At first, I aimed to finish by 1:15hrs but later changed my mind to finish within 1:30 - 1:45hrs. Finally, plus-minus, did it by 1:43++ I think so, will check the online results at the Pacesetters website soon. Met Julita, Haza, Zailan, PM1 & frenz, the SG runners & all the familiar runners. A very well organized running event.




While walking to the car to go home, dropped by at the Pacesetters tent & saw Ms Jenny sorting out the GE-Pacesetters 30km Run Certificates (with photo) which was held in January 2007. She told me that I could search for my own certificate, so I did. A nice certificate. Call up the Pacesetters's office if you want to have yours.

It's green all over...

Saturday, 5 May 2007 @ 7.00am
Stadium Darul Aman, Alor Setar, Kedah.
Larian Bendang 21km
Route : 8km on the main road, 10km on the road in the padi field, 3km on the road to the finishing line.


Pictures taken by Rachel PM21 & Raihan, SG Team. Thank you guys!!




The green surrounding especially the padi field was so beautiful & awesome. I was speechless!!

Finished the run with good feelings & most of all won RM100 plus nice medal.
Thank you to YSB.

Power Rootz...

Sunday, 22 April, Dataran Merdeka...

A bright & sunny Sunday. The race for 10km categories started 7.30am on the dot, and 15 minutes later for the 7km categories. I started slow & maintain my speed at my ease. Finished the 10.93km by 69mins 35secs. OK lah. The ankle pain didn't come at all, so kind of 'her'. At the finishing line, the organizer gave me a numbered card, but I forgot what's the number, anyway I managed to get the medal. That's good enough. Later, as usual, the photo sessions... Thanking PM22Tey for his wonderful photos..

The start...


The finishing...


The group photo...


Julie & me with the Top 4 winners.. :)
(the guy in orange colour t-shirt won 1st @ Jogathon Warisan at Kwong Tong Cemetery on the same day & time)



Glad to meet & get to know all the cheerful runners for the day... that's why it's called Power Run..
:)

SPACE RACE

The Malaysia International Aerospace Adventure 2007 (MIA 2007) will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 5th June to 7th August 2007.


THE MIA 2007 SPACE RACE
21 & 22 April 2007 * Berjaya Times Square
1st Prize: RM1500 cash
2nd Prize: RM1000 cash
3rd Prize: RM500 cash

So, if you wanna check out on The Race, just be there and Jojo Struys will be there too!!
:)

Orange Juice...

Didn't really look forward to run but registered myself at Kelana Jaya Stadium. Turned out that I was the 1st to register in my category. Arrived half-an-hour earlier at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara & did some stretching & warm-up. The starting was a bit 'kelam-kabut' as the SAAA (Selangor AAA) didn't have enough manpower and the starting point was 'berterabur'. Saw some ladies being hit&run by other runners. Couldn't help as everybody were rushing & saw the Red Crescent people came over. The route written in the form was 9km but it turned out to be 10.4km. I just ran on my safe-pace as my ankle was still not in good condition. Managed to finish the 10.4km race by 1:10:25hrs within the top 20. The goodie bag was GOOD!!

Me, running with bib NO. 1...


With Pacemakers members... all showing off the prizes of BHP petrol voucher & petrol items & the marvellous goodie bag..


Hope that BHP will organize the run again next year with more goodies!!