Pandemic - Covid-19

And there you have it. Covid-19 and the pandemic. Throw a spanner in the plans. But all is well and we will come back stronger. Much stronger.

6th Malaysia Masters Speedo International Swimming Championship

Event: 6th Malaysia Masters Speedo International Swimming Championship

Date: 7 December 2019

Location: National Aquatic Center, Bukit Jalil

Events: 

• 50m Freestyle
• 50m Breaststroke
• 100m Breaststroke
• 4x50m Freestyle 

Team Swam Buaya swim team became the overall champs!

Osaka Marathon 2019

Osaka Marathon 2019

Location: Osaka Japan
Date: 1 December 2019
Discipline: Run
Distance:42km
Time: 

  Official Gun Time: 5:22: 40

  Office Net Time: 5:12:26

  Strava Moving Time: 4:55:53

Note: 

* After passing starting line, waited at the side for the next coral to start.

* Had 10mins toilet break at 25km,

BHP Orange Run 2019

BHP Orange Run 2019

Location: Petaling Jaya
Date:  3 November 2019
Discipline: Run
Distance: 11km
Results:

Net Time: 1:05:36
PB 10km: 55:40

Prior to race, warm up 8km: 48:57

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2019

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2019

Location: Kuala Lumpur
Date:  29 September 2019
Discipline: Run
Distance: 21km
Results:

Net Time: 02:17:40.15 
AG Position: 274
Overall Position: 1159

PJ Half Marathon 2019

PJ Half Marathon 2019

Location: Petaling Jaya
Date: 25 August 2019
Discipline: Run
Distance: 30km
Results:

• Chip time: 03:24:32
• Finished: 30.0 KM
• Speed: 8.8 km/h
• Pace: 06:49 min/km
• Overall position: 522 out of 2320
• Category position: 316 out of 1085

Everly Putrajaya TRIFACTOR International Triathlon 2019

Everly Putrajaya TRIFACTOR International Triathlon 2019

Location: Putrajaya
Date: 14 July 2019
Discipline: Triathlon
Distance: Sprint (750m Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run)
Time:

• Swim: 0:21:07
• T1: 0:01:32
• Bike: 0:38:54
• T2: 0:00:47
• Run: 0:26:33
• Overall: 1:28:56

Position: 12th AG, 22th Overall.

Powerman Duathlon 2019

Powerman Duathlon 2019

Location: Putrajaya
Date: 3 March 2019
Discipline: Duathlon
Distance: Sprint (5km Run - 30km Cycle - 5km Run)
Time: 1:59:01
Split: 0:25:27 Run <> 0:03:01 T1 <> 0:58:24 Cycle <> 0:02:47 T2 <> 0:28:54 Run

Atria Makan Fun Run 2018

Atria Makan Fun Run 2018

Location: Damansara Jaya
Date: 21 October 2018
Discipline: Run
Distance: 5km
Time: ?

BHP Run 2018

BHP Run 2018

Location: Petaling Jaya
Date: 30 September 2018
Discipline: Run
Distance: 11km
Time: 1:05:46

2XU Half Marathon 2018

2XU Half Marathon 2018

Location: KL
Date: 23 September 2018
Discipline: Run
Distance: Half Marathon
Time: 2:20:16

Port Dickson Triathlon 2018

I’m back! First triathlon event since I stopped for the whole daddyathlon thing. Good to be back and decided to just do a Sprint event just like last year in the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2018. The race held on the 14^th and 15^th of July (Sprint and Olympic distances respectively) at the Admiral Marina & Leisure Club Hotel in Port Dickson.

The morning was nice cool weather. Just after a heavy rain earlier in the morning. Was cloudy and rather dark when the race started at 7:10am. Strong and high waves that morning too and felt I was swimming backwards and you climb the waves. Overall, the swim was much slower than last year.

Onto the bike leg and rode most way with this young man, Tri Sibling, who certainly have a very bring future in triathlons. We ended up running together too.

Overall, the bike and run was much faster than I did a year ago. Although feeling sleepy due to the lack of sleep running up to the weekend race, the run certainly felt better and much stronger as I was training for pace. Satisfied with a time of 1:24:00 (11th place in AG, 48th overall). Could have been better but that was indeed a tough swim.

Full results can be found here.

Unfortunately, the race had a tragedy with 2 deaths during the Olympic distance on Sunday. Condolences to the family and friends of the victims. One should never underestimate the dangers of open water swimming in the rough waters and the precaution the organizers should always take to ensure a safe race including but not limited to having enough lifeguards, support crew and a safer swim route (like swimming into the marina during the past) or cancel the swim entirely. May the victims rest in peace. 

BHP Orange Run 2017

Here comes the BHP Orange Run 2017 again on the 1st of October 2017. A cheap run of RM5 registration fee with no shirt and timing cheap but lots of goodies at the end of the run. What's more, it is right around the neighbourhood. So a run not to be missed even for the morning jog.

This year's route is new and takes us from The Curve to Tropicana to Bandar Utama and back. Totalling 11km (Garmin and Strava noted a shorter 10km+ though).

So I decided to sign up. No training for the last 3 months due to home duties. A week before, only managed a two short 2km sessions on the treadmill and that was it! And I suffered!

The BHP Run was meant to sort of get back into the groove of running, catch up with running friends and have fun. And so it was. Did a run walk run walk strategy with Terry (he was also on a come back run too) and it was indeed entertaining. We talked more than we ran though but good to be out here in the morning.

This reminded me of last year's BHP Orange Run 2016 where I finally managed to break the 1 hour mark for the 10km run. Looking forward to more improvements as I slowly come back to it with the new daddyathlon challenge.

Daddyathlon

Currently pursuing daddyathlon. Looks like I will be busy for a while but definitely have to maintain the fitness level to be able to jump back into triathlons and marathons when the time comes.

For now, will make some daddyathlon posts :)

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017

At first I thought that the Tokyo Marathon would be the last of my marathons for a while . The Tokyo Marathon being such an extraordinary race, would have been a perfect race to think back for a while before attempted another.

But how can you miss Malaysia's biggest marathon of the year? The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 is the most popular marathon race event in Malaysia and around the region. Registration for the events gets full really quickly, some category within the first few days of launch.

I did not sign up at first as I wasn't sure I wanted to race but a friend needed to let his registration go and so we transferred the registration to me and I scrambled with the training.


On a cool morning on 21 May 2017, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon started at 4am. Off we went. Started the race at a pace faster than I expected but I continue to pushed on. It all went well until towards the 30km mark where my body started to feel weak. Still I managed to maintain the pace than I planned for as long as I can. But started off too fast and was slow dwindling down. The weather cooled down a bit as it even rained very heavily towards the last 5km of the race.

Finished the marathon in 5:47. Fastest I've done under Malaysian weather. Far from my Tokyo Marathon sub-5 hour race, but that was at dry cold 5C weather with the amazing crowds the entire 42km!

Indeed the Standard Chartered KL Marathon is a very well organized race, by Malaysian standards. Would certainly do it again.

This would mark the 4th marathon I've completed in the span of 7 months. I think my body needs to rest from these long races for a while. Time to focus on some speed work. Maybe the next one is Tokyo Marathon 2018? :)

Finishing the race

KL Towerthon 2017

Have always seen pictures of friends running up towers and it sounds interesting. Always wanted to try it myself and finally got a chance to check off the bucket list for KL Towerthon 2017 on 14 May 2017.

The Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara  KL) is a communications tower located in the heart of the capital city in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its construction was completed on 1 March 1995 and stand tall in the city among the other buildings. The top few floors offers a revolving restaurant and a viewing deck. The KL Tower is 1,379 feet tall, which is almost as tall as the tallest building in the country, Petronas Twin Tower at 1,483 feet (452 m).

The race starts with a wave start of 5 person at a time spread by 30 seconds. This is to prevent overloading the stairwell with people, which could potentially be dangerous.

It begins with a 800m steep uphill run. Then to the stairwell door and up the 2058 steps up the tower. The tower might be a little stuffy but they did open as many doors as possible on different landing area to allow air to flow.

Improvement would be to install big fans blowing air into the stairwell to further improve the airflow. The stairwell was not crowded at all and had about 5 water stations along the way. Also, upon finishing, should allow runners to hang around the viewing deck instead of the fire safety room which is all concrete. So we get to enjoy the view of our achievement.

Heart rate was hitting max all the way up. Felt even a little dizzy at certain sections but the railing helps. So upper body strength does help by pulling you up while you run.

Completed the course with a time of 24:31. Ranked 30th place out of 165 in my age group.

Port Dickson International Triathlon 2017

This year, the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2017 was brought forward this year to 22 April 2017.

Unfortunately, it clashes with the same weekend as Penang International Triathlon and Duathlon 2017. So some of the friends have to split between the events depending what some have signed up for earlier.

I choose this event so I could just drive down first thing in the morning at 4am, pick up the race pack at 6am, setup and to get to the race on time at 7am.

It was my first time doing the Sprint triathlon event. Never have I tried the shorter distance and I must say it is really exciting to be racing at almost max heart rate throughout the race.

Completed the event with a time of 1:18, split of swim (750m) @ 12:33, bike (20km) @ 38.36, run (5km) @ 27:04. Ranked 11th in the age group and 45th overall.

Was a great race and would certainly want to do the sprint event again. Maybe to include the olympic distance the following day as back to back events.

See you next year 2018!

The rush at the race start

Tokyo Marathon 2017 : An extraordinary experience

During the Challenge Iskandar Puteri triathlon race last year, my fellow triathlon training mate Jimmy advised that I should try signing up for the Tokyo Marathon 2017, in which the ballot for general participants will open in August. At that point of time, I have not done any full marathon before (and only a handful of half marathons). The only upcoming full marathon was the Penang Bridge International Marathon in November. Lady luck must have been on my side and the joy of receiving an email to state my selected entry to the Tokyo Marathon 2017 on 26 February 2017.

The all star marathon race for runners, Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) which consist of Tokyo, B.A.A. Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago and TCS New York City marathons. Tokyo Marathon being the nearest to home and couple with the beautiful country and its people, would be a common port where most will try to ballot for in this region.

In a matter of 4 months, the Tokyo Marathon 2017 would mark the 3rd marathon for me. This is by far the best ever event I have every participated. Most organized ever and the environment is so alive! The experience is extraordinary! Something other events can emulate from - definitely examplarery!

During the race pack pickup, the Tokyo Big Sight was filled with participants, family and friends. Even the sport fair goers! The race number pick up was very quick even though the lines were long because of the speedy volunteers, the assigned booths and check-points. As you leave the t-shirt pickup area, the group of volunteers would clap and cheer "Ganbatte" (頑張って) to you. You'll feel like a superstar! Simply amazing atmosphere to be there!

The expo was very eventful. Lots of activities, promotions and photo opportunities. My nieces who came to support had a fantastic time there too. There were activities for supporters (adults and kids) as well. Race themed souvenirs and shopping was also aplenty and packed. All covered under 2 big floors at the Tokyo Big Sight.

TIP: The expo was in a span of 3 days from Thursday till Saturday. My recommendation is to go on Thursday and/or Friday as Saturday was very packed. It was hard to get a photo opportunity with the many Tokyo Marathon displays and also the long queues to enjoy the expo activities.

TIP: The Asics Tokyo Marathon 2017 running shoe GEL-KAYANO 23 TOKYO seems to be special here, being the themed shoe and title sponsor. But at the expo, it was sold almost MYR150 more than the Asics retail stores in Malaysia. And yes, the stores in Malaysia had the stock already! Do check before buying.

Come race morning, got to the Shinjuku train station early at 7am. Everyone was diverted out to the main road and you just follow the crowd and the signs to the respective start gate allocated to you. Once pass security checks, I headed to check in my baggage at the designated baggage truck area and then proceeded to meet the Malaysian contingent. The Malaysian support group could be found at Tokyo Marathon Malaysia Runners Group.

Before the start of the race at 9pm, I headed to the toilet stalls. There were plenty of it. There was almost 100 portable stalls but the queue was huge. Organized but lots of runners. Must be the cold 5°C morning. Took almost 20 minutes before it came to my turn.

Once I got to the start corral, the crowd was already ready to roll. You could hear the announcements over the loud speaker and the start with the fireworks. As I was in corral K, it took almost 20 minutes after the gun time before I could cross the start line.

The run was just amazing. Cool weather and fantastics water/food stations. The energetic crowd was cheering along the entire 42km on both sides of the road. Some of them were even dressed in costumes, offered food, drinks and muscle spray to the participants.

The atmosphere was very uplifting. The happiness and courtesy by volunteers and sheer helpfulness is what got many running faster.

My target time was 5:30 (about a 30 minutes improvement to my personal best in Penang Bridge Marathon. As I was running, I felt I could maintain a much lower average speed with similar or less effort. The cold and dry weather certainly helped, compared to the hot and humid Malaysian races. Muscles held up during the race, and had no issues to maintain a steady low 7 minutes pace most of the time.

TIP: Many have claimed that the Tokyo Marathon race is a PB (personal best) race due to its flat course and beautiful weather.

I ended the race at 5:04, that is with a break to the little boys room for 7 minutes (off course and queues). So essentially, I managed a sub-5 and better my personal best by 1 hour! Yes, 1 hour!

This is the best run I've ever done yet! And what better place than to do it in beautiful Tokyo!

Would I try to get balloted for the Tokyo Marathon again? Of course! Look forward to return to Tokyo for another marathon. Extraordinary! 

Thank you Japan!

YouTube video of me upon meeting my sister and family