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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Running seems to be one of my favorite pastimes with photo shoot the other one. It’s a pity though I could only run 3km yesterday. Well, been trying to keep myself fit before I take part in my next 21km run and the 15km upcoming run in May.

Based on my GPS Android HTC Hero

Distance: 3.65 km
Max Pace: 4.49 min/km
Min Pace: 6:36 min/km
Average Pace: 5.43 min/km
Time: 20 mins 53 seconds

From Google Map, distance calculated was 3km but based on GPS it’s 3.6km with all those twist and turns. Pace seems better this time though distance was cut short due to running at 6:50pm which is quite late and getting dark. Since it’s not a park, going back early is the best option.

Wonder when will my next practice run be? I am so enthusiastic on my run and I can’t wait to start being into running these days. Thinking of getting my own SPIBelt to keep my things while running. The current waist pouch I am using is so uneasy, it keeps moving up and down. Another thing to get, a new running shoe.

In the upcoming days, hope to get running mates to run along Taman Melawati.

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Year of the Tiger doesn’t seem bad, though to most Chinese couples, the year of the Tiger is like a bad year to get married. All because of the sound ‘fu’, the Chinese sound for Tiger.

Though in all these while, people still dream of things even in this not so good year. I have a dream too. Considering that my Nikon D300 and my precious Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D lens are in bad condition, I am hoping that in this year, The TIGER year, I would be able to upgrade my gears towards Full Frame, let’s say a Nikon D3. Now how does it sound right now? Yes, A FULL FRAME FX CAMERA.

Being a frequent traveller, it’s good to take photos with it. That is to share my experiences in these travels with my friends and families and also to readers of my blog. Of course sometimes I can’t help doing an occasional self portrait. Seemingly, it helps to push me too in the direction of being a photographer for weddings, events, products more actively.

Daniel Chew Doing Self Shots

The dream is not only to own the camera, the gears, but in evitable fact is to begin shooting photos for business with a group of our own (yes, you know who you are).

Imagine the times when I was shooting with my Casio Exilim and I get blurred images. Then to move forward with a D40 and I get not so good ISO performance. The D300 did perform well though, but then it got cracked and I am feeling sad.

Seemingly though, I found out something today from Twitter. This tweet is twitted by NuffnangMY.

“Hey Nuffnangers, win RM8888 worth of dreams by running towards the Year of Tiger! (Only for Non-Muslim & 18yo above) http://bit.ly/7PYlLj”

Now what an opportunity, as this is not just any ordinary event, it’s a running event. Wooots…. I have taken my first run on 1st January 2010 for the Pacemakers 12km Network Run and this time it’s time to get my legs on for this event as it’s only limited to Nuffnangers and so far not so much Pacesetters which I have to run with.

Hehehe… what a chance, I wouldn’t want to let this chance run away. Of course there is another chance as this run is open only to Non-Muslims due to the nature of this run and this event is sponsored by Tiger Beer and Nuffnang.

So RM8,888 prize + RM1,888 running cash prize, please wait for me. At least it’s a small step to me getting my lovely Nikon D3 gear or at least a fund for my next trip to Philippines and Taiwan. Of course I want to join in for the party at Bar Madrid, Jaya One, PJ.

ROARS!!!!!!

ps : If I get to participate in this run, which should I choose? Putrajaya Night Run or a run which offers beer and rm8888? Try to guess it then!!

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First off HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 to all readers of Weird Weird Denial. Yes, remember I did say that I would get myself fit for the NEW YEAR RUN which is about 12km and boy, I think I didn’t do that. Nevertheless, I still went to the run and thought that it is just 12km, how hard can it get? Until… I ran the track. I didn’t expect stairs.

3 months after registering for this race, I only had one training which is a non-stop 5km. Then I slept like 2:30am the night before the race. Imagine having 3 hours of sleep and off to the run. It might be dangerous for me too, who knows I might collapse while running “touch wood“. Facing the fact that I am not getting any younger, I think I should actually start doing some training.

The people joining there were magnificent. My goal on the race was fairly simple, TO FINISH THE RACE and from then onwards to motivate myself to start running actively again. I haven’t been joining any race these past few months. Then the results came out.

Saucony Race Results M17-29

Good first lap and second lap, until the 3rd and final lap, I was practically like, What the heck, I am so slow. *cries in agony* It looks like the result tells me something, never to sleep so late and make sure do your training before any run. Though of course, I did get the COOL finisher medal which was what I was aiming for before the start of the run. A timing of 1:35:28 is way off my personal best of 1:20:56 of my 12km run. CRAPS

To catch more of the action of this run, do visit more on runwitme.blogspot.com and PM1.blogspot.com for more pictures and videos about this run. I will end with a video. Don’t know whether anyone could spot me though.

*hint* : I am the one in the RED shorts.

ps : Anyone wants to do the next run? Night run at Putrajaya!!!!

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION : Run below 20minutes consistently in one lap

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Just back from the Adidas 2009 King of The Road 22.7km run. To be enthusiastic, I think I am clueless as to why did I take up the 22.7km instead of the 10km one. I see so many hills on the first few kilometers that I was thinking this is just the beginning, get yourself pumped up so that I can better my time.

To think of it, even Kenny Sia ran faster than me towards the finish line. Warghhhhh~~~~~ but overall the run was good. Adidas gave me a great running vest, which is a bit orangy and yellow. I ate my first power gel and there are still lots of drinks at the water station. The problem is though, because of the first few “hilly tracks” I had a hard time following my friends who were there. I thought of going under 2′ 30′ 00′ only to get a timing of  2′ 40′ 02′. That’s like 10 minutes more than the desired timing that I was aiming for.

But I must thank for a certain time, it took me awhile to get used to the heavy breathing and suddenly started jogging momentumly and didn’t bothered about being faster than anyone. It seems that if I were to jog at a consistent pace, sooner or later those trying to outrun others either looses steam and then they proceed to walking and then suddenly I am ahead of them.

Here’s the scenario.

1. Ah Tan (illustration purposes only) was running ahead of me, then suddenly started walking for a breather.
2. Daniel consistently jogging and suddenly found himself cutting Ah Tan.
3. Ah Tan after awhile suddenly run again and he was in front of me, for awhile until suddenly he started walking again in search for a breather.
4. Daniel consistently jogging and then ahead of him again (tendency to rest was there)
5. Ah Tan finally started running again and ahead of me (don’t know why he uses me as a benchmark, must be my bright yellow shoes)  and stop short a few steps ahead of me
6. Daniel just jog and jog and jog and then finally after awhile Ah Tan was nowhere in sight.

The scenario above happened somewhere around the 12km mark. What caught me going was to keep running and when I felt that there was pain near the foot, it blanks off my mind about my tiredness on my calf since I can only feel the pain on the top of my foot. This was what kept me going. I think I must be crazy finding delight in this pain that it got me jogging non-stop for at least 7 to 8 kilometers.

Overall, I guessed I am still satisfied with the 2′ 40′ 02 time I got though I tend to compare with the 21km KL Marathon which was 2′ 37′ 00 but after accessing it again, it’s because of the extra 1.7km that got me this timing.

After this run, I think I will be taking a break from running for awhile unless it’s a major event. (They give good running vest)

So What Did I Get Out From This Race?

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