It’s now the middle of the year 2010 and boy, the year passed by so fast, in a blink of an eye and in no time I’ll be an uncle to most people. I’ve joined running events just a year ago and this time the Standard Chartered KL Marathon is back and yes, last year it was my first time running a 21km event. This time I am back again and no.. I won’t be running a 42km event but still with my 21km running event.

How about some memories of the last Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009. To read about my last encounter a year ago, follow this link to that post. Well, some photos weren’t released that year and I felt that it’s time to rekindle that experience once again.

Ah, just right after the run, I had my breakfast or lunch at a mamak store in Wangsa Maju. Not bad I must say, and that was how the logo looked like a year ago. Kinda plain I must say. Eh wait, whose body was that? And how come the arm like damn fat like that? Eh, what are you all looking at? It’s only to let you guys/gals to focus on how the vest looked like a year ago.

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To tell about my experience on the Siemens Run 2009, here’s the recap of what happened. Unlike the one that I took part in KL Marathon, this one is 10km and arguably one of the most organized running events that I’ve experienced. Here are some thoughts on my run during that day.

They have a very good spokesperson to address to the crowd, and when the time says that it’s 7:30am to run, they fired the shot at the desired time, without any delays. Though prior to this run, I didn’t get to train. After the SC KL Marathon, my right leg has a pain near the hips and this let’s me think twice of participating in this Siemens Run. Though, I am glad I registered early for the run, after learning that the first 2000 registrants would receive a running vest. Yes… the running vest was cool.

Was practically getting ready for the race, with my yellow shoes and the nice runing vest. The time was 7 am. Then the signal came about 7:15am and we were ordered to go to the starting line.

There were loads of people, and yes, I was beginning to think what if I can’t beat my previous 10km record. I practically bought a cheapo watch to keep check of my time. The run started at 7:30am, and unwittingly told myself that I would be able to achieve a time under 1 hour, only to my horror, the first 5km, the track was uphill and slope around the road towards Lake Garden.

I began to feel numbness on my leg during the first 3km. I couldn’t take it anymore and I started walking (All due to no practice). Guessed I overestimated myself. Not wanting to lose to my old old self, I kept telling myself that I can win this thing, and just when the finishing line seems near, I see that there’s a big loop that I have to go in order to cross the finish line. Finally did the finishing line within 1’06’27′ and not a bad time. Though really regretted that I couldn’t finished it way earlier than 1 hour.

Photos credited to Shirley at pmtey’s multiply website.

Notice the photos, it was at the 400 to 500m mark until the finish line. This was when I started doing light sprinting runs, the guy with the mustache must be wondering how did I run like that all of a sudden.

Well, last but not least, I wasn’t in the top 100 (they have a time of 49 minutes for the 100th place), so I didn’t get any medal but I did have a finisher certificate and a goodie bag from Nivea. Till my next race at Adidas King of The Road 21km on August 2nd 2009.

IT IS FINISHED!

ps : Don’t really have the mood to write, but I felt obligated.

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Finally after almost a week absence from the world of blogging, I am back again. Well, where was I? I was busy training (hmm.. maybe once) and preparing for the just concluded Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009 at Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka). To me it was something big for me, well, it’s my first major running event. Why so many running events suddenly and why am I taking part? That, I will leave it to next time to explain further. I mean, this is the KL run, and I’ve always dreamt of running.

I took part in the 21km Half Marathon, and I am amazed at the amount of people there. Heard there was like 2800 people for the Half Marathon. That’s a crazy amount of people though. All these while been running the 10km races and now I felt that I have the necessary capabilities to run the 21km. Here was my training regime the past 1 month before this run. 1 day of running 3km and 1 circuit run of 22km at night (a month ago). So how did I do with this inadequate training, maybe I was overconfident, but I ain’t sure I am going to beat my former record of 2 hours 56 minutes during the Circuit Run 3 at Bukit Jalil Park.

I was amazed when I ran 13km non stop and finally I went out of steam after the running to Jaya Jusco Taman Maluri. I guessed there are loads of improvement I can do in the coming races. But all in all, I am glad I finished my race beyond the 3 hour mark.

Name:	DANIEL CHEW (MAS) – like I am representing Malaysia
Net Start:	06:13:01	Category:	Half Marathon 21km
Net Time:	02:37:33	Position:	1084
Finish Timing:	02:37:33.45

Hmm.. okay, position 1084 doesn’t seem a nice number.Well, at times just have to live with it. Though a timing of 2’37’33 is really something I shocked myself too. Looks like now I can set myself a new target, below 2’30’00 and hopefully by next year (if I do take part again), I can achieved way below 2 hours.

Sidenote : If you would like to know your result and if you’ve participated in this race, do visit the KL Marathon Site stated here.

Of course the most important thing for this race is to finish it, thus finish it I did. I must thank firewire for helping me take photos after the race.

Else I wouldn’t be able to pose like this.

Or even like this…

I’ve noticed though my legs are getting BIGGER. Don’t you think so? A sudden improvement of my old photos.

But after all this, I believe maybe it’s because I have something in common with Bruce Lee. Ya, I really mean it. Bruce Lee, don’t you believe it? Let me show you the photo.

See the shoes, we both wear them YELLOW. Ho ho ho… Ahhhh… in case you’re wondering who’s the girl behind there, that’s Hannah of FlairCandy. Those from Malaysia who wants to know her, too bad, she’s from the Philippines.

So what other races next? Here are my schedule.

Siemen Run – 15km 26/7/2009
Adidas King of The Road – 21km 2/8/2009
Penang Bridge Run – 21km 22/11/2009

So see you people there, if you’re taking part.

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Yes, it was a maddening run. For the life of me, this is my first run of 22km. Well, I have been running 10km runs and getting a time of 1 hour or less. Now trying to gear up for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009, I decided to test my mettle in this Circuit Run 3 which is about 22km held at Bukit Jalil Park and the running event starting at 9pm. Also bought my new shoes and also the vest that I found was collecting dust in my cupboard is finally put to good use.

Little did I know, many things await me. The tiredness and of course for not exercising or training for 1 whole month, I must be crazy to even participate in this. But always the never say cannot finish and cannot fail that type, I decided to just go with the flow. I ran non-stop during the first loop and it was fun, I guessed. Though, once I reached the water station, I think I made a mistake by stopping too long. I felt tiredness taken over me and in the 2nd loop I was like someone who has lost all his energy. Though my legs can carry on, I felt I don’t have the power to push myself.

That’s when many people would see me walking instead of jogging and I must say, I am like a disgrace. Darn… well, who ask me to put up to such event without training. When I saw Ronnie passed by me completing one loop, I was like… “If only I could keep my pace with him”. Well, no matter, I actually wanted to stop running after the 2nd loop. Well, one loop is about 3++km.

Some truth though, everytime I see a camera in the distance, I would pick up speed and jog like I don’t feel pain. Maybe that’s my motivation for this run. LOL, I wouldn’t want to be seen as someone who is walking. Shhhh.. don’t tell anyone.

Now thanks to the photographers around, I got one shot here showing me running. Oh yeah, a near freak accident happened while I ran the first loop. Right after 10 seconds ahead of a few runners, I heard a cracking sound above me, after 5 seconds I heard a loud crack and a loud thump and found out that a tree trunk has fallen onto the track. Luckily no one was hurt. Crazy~~~ If I was a bit slower, that could have been me.

Pictures courtesy of runwitme.blogspot.com

After the whole run, I then felt that running not only gives you the passion to exercise, it also helps you to get to know new faces and meet new people. Yes, on that day I met up with 5 to 6 random people and it was a good experience to mingle around. Now the results, what did I get?

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And so it seems it was Easter today. Well, the day when I was running the BHP Orange Run coincidentally that falls on this day. Yes, BHP Run which covers about 11km and at least I find that I did it better than the time when I was running in the Zoo Negara which was only 9.4km.

Orange Run 2009
The Curve, Mutiara Damansara
April 12, 2009; 7:30am
Organised by BH Petrol
11km

To say the least, the run was fun with lots and lots of participants. For the first time, I don’t feel as tired when the time I ran at Zoo Negara as I paced myself for the first 3 km only to lose my footing at some curb which made me walk later on for awhile. Still managed to go 1 hour unlike those winners which do 40 minutes. Nevertheless it was fun running again. At least better than sitting in front of the PC whole day whole night. Now this is what I call a sport, unlike badminton and others which are just treated as a game.

I was there, and met up with Kyuzo, an ex-colleague and friend who went running together. Well, this time I got to say he wins me in terms of stamina. I have a lot to catch up I think. We maintained pace until the final 3 – 4 km, he went on his own. Thus my journey started there and then. This track to my experience has a lot of uphill and downhill slope which I find I do better on the uphill run. Well, maybe due to my light body, I could actually run uphill faster. Also haha.. if you read my friend’s entry, I was a butt chaser too. LoL

The key this time was to wear light. I chose my basketball jersey and a very short shorts to run and right I was feeling lighter as the sweat doesn’t wet my suit and drag me down like it used to during the Zoo run. For those that wants to know the experience of running in this kind of run, you may view the video below courtesy of runwitme.

So what is my next race? What else? The KL Marathon Race would be next.

I am so into this once again. I should improve on my endurance and stamina. Getting a stopwatch would be a good idea.

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