I just came back from Penang Island after running the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2010 event. Well, the event did go as planned. Something to talk about and to share my experiences there.

The collection was done at Queensbay Mall area and I can see some familiar faces. Well, I see familiar faces but look at what Kyuzo was looking at.

AHEM AHEM!!!

I was there along with Kyuzo and staying at a church member’s house. Well, both of us ran the 21km which I find that I am lacking training and considering this is one of the major events, I decided to run for it even though only ran 5km in the past 3 months with other days doing just sleeping and eating.

We arrived on Saturday in the morning about 11am and decided it’s time to look for some food before we continue elsewhere. So after taking all those photos of the collection counter and meeting up with some of the runners, we’re off for some food hunting. Chin Ann was the one who drove us around. First we had Beef Noodles. Then we had the famous Teochew Cendol or Chendul at Penang Road.

The Chendul only cost RM1.80. Hmmm… somehow it was to quench my thirst. Since while we’re here, why not take the drive to another place. Let’s have some coconuts.

CHOP CHOP CHOP… Now here is your coconut. Surprisingly, met a blogger KokAhKok there. Well or he was the one who was checking me out. Ahem…

What a hot hot day in Penang Island. After that we all retire back to our resting place and slept early as the run will start at 3am. Now let’s get back to the run.

The run started at 3AM. There are lots of people at the run. Cinya late, we can’t reach the starting point in time for the gun shot. Well, we ran from the road and upon reaching the starting point, walao… cinya many people there. All still queuing to the starting point. In the end after the gun shot, I went past the starting point 4 minutes after. Kyuzo paced me as we try to break free from the slower than usual runners.

Amazingly, I was amazed that I could withstood 6km of non stop running along with Kyuzo. Well, it was near the bridge and after running for awhile, I decided I had enough as I was afraid my body could not bear the amount of work put on it. What was worst was that the heavy rain makes it harder to run with the cold win and your stomach seems hard to digest.  Sure enough, after completing the run in a time of 2:46:47, I could feel my leg not relaxed and aching.

This is the result of my run in PBIM 2010 21KM

Hmmm…. Position number 1869 from the point of the gun shot. 02:51:36 is the time from the gun shot and 02:46:47 is my chip time.

Not bad since it betters the 21km timing of the KL Half Marathon (though it seems that it’s not 21km but 25km). It’ll be a long way before I can break below 2 hours 30 minutes.

Distance: 22.22 km
Pace: 7.32 min/km
Time: 2.47.18
Total Climb: 600 m

My Split Time: 6:00 | 6:43 | 7:29 | 7:03 | 6:49 | 6:39 | 7:00 | 7:02 | 6:18 | 8:16 | 8:07 | 8:10 | 8:11 | 7:13 | 7:24 | 7:56 | 7:54 | 8:17 | 7:43 | 9:04 (Crap!!) | 7:59 | 8:18

After looking at my timing, I realized I have slowed down a lot compared to previous runs. I need my stamina back and the urge to push myself faster. So all I need is more practice.

So it’s time for some photos with the gang.

From left: Audrey, ME, Kyuzo, Sook Mei

Hmmm… yes, I looked constipated. I was superbly tired after the run, I just knew I had to take a super sleep after that. Of course, it was great meeting one of the shouters. Charles Kee from IMChuckie.

Taken using my HTC Hero, that’s the best photo I’ve gotten.

What about other victory poses? Still waiting for some photos from Sook Mei though. Till my next run which is I would think it’ll be likely the following year 2011. Want to join the run? Just message me or come for a run sometime soon.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Penang Bridge Marathon is coming up again. This time it will be on the 21st November 2010. Finally I will be running in this run after putting it off for a few years. Though I will be running in the 21km. A few days before I will be leaving to Penang, I got the package from the organizers.

Not bad considering the vest is in yellow. The reason is fairly simple, DiGi is the sponsor of this event and thus we 21km Half Marathon runners will be running in bright yellow. Makes me feel like the Yellow Man from DiGi. Wondering how does the vest feel since it’s from New Balance, I decided to put it on.

Darn… looks like the measurement is unlike the Reebok one which somehow fits perfectly well. It has an opening quite big around the armpits and the arm. You don’t see my head here and I am just focusing on the vest. Besides I just cut my hair, so ain’t gonna reveal how I looked like yet after the hairdo. If you are in Penang Island and saw me running along the road, remember to say Hi and we can do some catching up together. I think I will be able to finish the run within 3 hours so I should finish about 5am in which most people are not up yet.

Training for only once a week just 2 weeks ago is not going to put me into perfect shape for a faster timing. Anyway, let’s see how far it can go. Besides I am a night person. Till then, I’ll be updating more frequently.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Time for another running report. Yes, I am a crazy runner for events though am one that hardly trains. I must be crazy. Okay maybe I just have a weird attitude. I seriously need to be serious in training. It was like 3 weeks ago, that I ran the Shape & Men’s Health Magazine Run 12.3km 2010. Well, come to think of it, actually I think I ran more than 12.3km. This time though I won’t be starting the run alone but with my friends who came along in the same car.

Mouse Law, Yee Ling and of course The Weird One. Of course, if you’ve been following my blog, you would have seen them somewhere before. They are the same people that have gone up with me to Mount Kinabalu and it sure bring back memories. Particularly love the vest for this run and definitely worth it as previous day, I couldn’t collect my vest in time and I had to go to the head office to get my vest. Just so happens the head office is located in Subang.

So how did I fare this time?

With a time of 1:22:47 on my Cardio Trainer GPS and a distance of 13.49km (see told you it isn’t 12.3km), it sure is a long run. Well, at least this is the 2nd run that I ran non stop once again. Only this time, I felt I could have run even faster. (need training and of course to cure my laziness).

Here is the latest statistics for this run.

Distance: 13.49 km
Pace: 6.08 min/km
Time: 1.22.47
Total Climb: 600 m

My Split Time: 5:03 | 5.08 | 5.54| 6.16 | 6.25 | 6.31 | 4.56 (fuiyoh!) | 6.34 | 6.51 | 7.05 | 5.15 | 6.25 | 6.48

That’s nice, a new 4.56 min/km time for one of the lap only to be let down by one of the run at 7.05. Darn. Well, overall still an improvement over the race before. One thing about this run is that “cinya” many hills. Imagine that, 600m of hill climb. You can see my “amkan” expression from the photo that I got from pmtey (need to add him before can view the photo).

In Hooha’s official website, this was how I fared.

Gun Time: 1.22.38
Net Time: 1.22.16
Split 1: 0.17.10
Split 2: 0.43.32

Wonder how far is the first split and the 2nd split though? Anyway after this run, I haven’t been training or doing any practice run. Next run will be McDonald’s 7km run. When is it? I will be registering as early as possible.

Popularity: 1% [?]

This is what I do these days. Aside from traveling, and taking photographs. I run. Yes, not that I run away from reality or something like that but I do running as a sport. Well, set that aside, I guessed it will be awhile before I get back all my running spirit in me again. It’s a start with at least 3 runs in July 2010 this time around. BHP Orange Run 2010 which has like a distance of 11km is a bit relaxing compared to the 21km that I’ve taken part though.

Here’s my report for this run held at the starting point at Curve, Mutiara Damansara area.

Anyway, I’ve been trying to do a consistent run and trying to break my old habit of running fast then taking a break. Previous year, I had this run-walk-run kind of method and yes, it did get me to have faster timing but with the inconsistency it gave me, sometimes too tired and irregular heartbeat for the run, it feels so out of place.

So then I decided, it’s time to start running like you’re actually exercising instead of the run-walk-run method. So this is what I did for the BHP Orange Run 2010.

Time to start was 7:20am if not mistaken, I was late. I had to pin my bib to my vest and ran the run 5 minutes later. So I don’t get to run with some of the faster ones. Well, at least this is a fun run. Here’s how I did in the run though.

Based on CardioTrainer GPS
July 25, 2010 7:25:54am

Time: 1.11.27
Distance: 11.36 KM
Pace: 6.17 min/KM
Total Climb: 500m

My Split time: 6:08 | 6.08 | 5.37 | 6.37 | 6.00 | 6.27 | 6.03 | 6.17 | 6.58 | 5.40 | 7.10

Next target would be to hit below 6 minutes per km. Thank you for my HTC Hero for keeping tracks of my run.

Met up with Kyuzo in the run.

Also met up with an old school and classmate, Ah Yap. Well, come to think of it, running let us meet up with old friends and also new friends.

This is Mouse and me, The Weird One after the run and promoting BHP. Come to think of it, the BHP bottle they gave looks a bit like an enlarged dildo out of shape. Well, I am trying to form a running group in the coming days and months. A group to run and share and spend time together. To keep oneself healthy.

Well, here’s to the next run which is the Shape & Men’s Health Night Run in Putrajaya. Though there’s a dilemma now, I’ve also got passes for MTV World Stage 2010 in Sunway. Can I do both instead?

Popularity: 1% [?]

I still remember the run like it was a few weeks back. I was practically having high expectations of myself and I think I had it too high. Why? It’s the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010, and I am only running the half marathon category. That’s 21km to those who don’t do running.

I was there about 5:45am as my run starts at 6:15am or is it 6:30am, nevertheless I wasn’t at all prepared properly for this run. This is all due to my laziness and complacency of my own. Well, then at least I found out the hard way.

Before the run, I was full of confidence. Practically it was a mistake.

I was practically forcing myself to finally run non stop for the longest I did. Due to what I’ve experienced last year, I was pushing myself to run continuously for at least 10km. Well, target was achieved and I went 1.5km further until I finally felt that I had better stop and give myself some rest. Rest I did, that I took another 1 hour to finish the next 10km.

Practically I was way exhausted than normal. Never had I felt that way. I was afraid that I might collapse anytime after the 12km stage. I kept pushing myself too hard and felt that it’s all in the mind. Little did I know that sometimes if your body can’t take it, don’t overdo it too much.

Darn tired, I sat down on the pavement after the whole run feeling way exhausted that I can’t bring myself to get up and walk. I didn’t care if I sat with my legs wide open. All I wanted was to sleep there and then. Scary when I thought of it now.

I really was suffering much. I have to support myself with an umbrella. I felt like if there weren’t this umbrella to support me, I will surely fall down all of a sudden. You know during this time, I am cinya lucky to have a friend running and traveling with me.

FireWire and DanielCtw

Me still trying to maintain coolness when posing. FireWire ran the 10km run and practically I have to thank him for driving me back later after the run. If not I am not sure whether I could drive back home then.

Second person that helped motivated me to push to the finish line was Princess Yen. Thank you dear for cheering me on that day.

I am happy I finished the run. Thanks for your support that motivated me. Look at my hand that’s still holding the umbrella. No matter what, I am still happy and my enthusiasm to run will not stop.

Orange Run 2010 is the latest run that I’ve just ran. Well, that’ll be another report. Until then, I’ll make sure I get myself up and ready for the 2011 SCKLM Run next year.

Here’s my timing and record.

This years timing is worse than my previous year.

Pace: 6.36min/km
Time: 2’49’21
Total Climb: 442m

Update: Anyway went to check SCKL Marathon’s official website here at
http://www.kl-marathon.com/reports/check_race_time and here are my results.

Rank: 1286
Gun Time: 02:51:05
Net Time: 02:48:43
Split Time: 01:03:47 (Not sure whether at 11km or 10km mark?)

Here’s to those who runs too. May we enjoy running and staying healthy.

Popularity: 1% [?]