Score Marathon 2024 - Off Target

Score Marathon 2024 (AIA Vitality)

Location: Putrajaya, Malaysia

Date: 21 July 2024 

Distance: 21.0975km

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/11939044580

Organizer site: https://scoremarathon.com

New York City Virtual Run 2023

A virtual run is not always the easiest. Moreso done on a full marathon distance of 42km. But this virtual run was great fun and with the support of buddies to run with. 

The New York City Virtual Run (Guaranteed Entry) was a lucky get for me. At the stroke of midnight, logged in and registered. Both Jeremy (my run buddy) and I got the draw to register and so we did. Some paid USD later, entry accepted and here we are to complete this run on 29 October 2023. The run needs to be completed within the same day but no time limit. 

This is my 2nd marathon within a span of a month and this actually turned out much better than the recent KL Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM - Painful Run). With this completed, both Jeremy and I got a guaranteed (non-complimentary) entry to the TCS New York City Marathon in 2024! This upcoming run will mark our 2nd Abbott World Marathon Major (1st was Tokyo Marathon for both of us, 2017 and 2023 respectively). 

Catch us in the video of our run!

See the route we took on Strava  Essentially from Saujana to Ara Damansara to Tropicana to Kota Damansara and back, then 2 loops of Ara Damansara and completed the run by repeating the loops in Saujana.

See you soon NYC!

KLSCM 2023 - Painful Run

It has been 4 years since my last full marathon. This Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 2023 just ended on 1 October 2023 and reminded me of how much I hated running 42km and the pain that goes with it. No matter how hard you train, it still hurts. Maybe I did not train enough. Maybe I did not fuel enough. But it does remind me of what I need to do to make sure the next one won't be as painful.

The 6th Full Marathon (42km) was completed today at the Standard Chartered KL Marathon. What started as pace management became pain management at 30km onwards till the end. Off-target time by 25 minutes. But the journey here made it all worthwhile.

Notable note: A man passed us at the 30+km, looked over, smiled, and said, "I'm 77". Well, that was inspiring, and hopefully will still be able to do marathons in the 70s.

Time: 5:37:22

I will be back at month's end to do this again. We shall see! Stay Tuned.

I'm back! Stronger!

I'm back, stronger! Woohoo!

More updates to come. But since the last post, I have done lots of events!

SCKLM VR HM	Virtual	13-Dec-19	HM	2:03:43
Twincity Marathon	Putrajaya	24-Jul-22	HM	2:11:48
Powerman Asia Championship	Putrajaya	30-Oct-22	5-30-5	2:01:09
Standard Chartered KL Marathon	KL	13-Nov-22	HM	2:12:26
PD Tri	PD	19-Mar-23	OD	3:08:17
Malaysia Women Marathon	PJ State	14-May-23	HM	2:12:36
Powerman Asia Championship	Putrajaya	18-Jun-23	5-30-5	2:08:28
NPE Highway Challenge	NPE	09-Jul-23	HM	2:11:25
Score Run	Putrajaya	13-Aug-23	HM	2:06:50

#StevoRacese #RunWithMe #CycleWithMe #TriWithMe #RaceWithMe

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,

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

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

First Run of 2017 - Twincity Marathon at Cyberjaya

Of all the races I plan for this year, the very first race to be the Twincity Marathon. Yes, a full marathon between the township of Cyberjaya and Putrajaya. This also helps to get myself back in after the 2016 year end binging and also to prepare for the upcoming marathon in February (more to come on this when the race comes).

The Twincity Marathon starts from Persiaran Flora in Cyberjaya on 15 January 2017. As for all marathons, got up very early at 2am to prepare for the race start at 4am. Got to the race site early enough to park and warm up for the race.

Wasn't expecting much from this race as it is sort of a "warm up" race for me before the big race. The crowd was pretty good at about 7500 participants in total for 42km, 21km and 10km. Nothing close to the Penang Bridge Marathons or the Standard Chartered Marathons but still have a good crowd. Most would have planned for this to be the first race of the year and a warm-up to the year of races.

Started of a steady pace and the plan was to hold this for a longer period of time. The cool morning (which is rare in Cyberjaya or Putrajaya) was a welcome. Also, made me drink too much water which ended up having to make 2 pitstop for the little boys room, which wasn't sufficient. Only 2 stalls in each water stations, and a fairly long queue (guess most overestimated the fluids intake)

I was also nursing an injury to the back of my knee and hence continue to maintain pace. The day started to get warmer at 7am and the pain returned at about 15km and was mainly walking then. Did a steady brisk walk and occasional run then. Concluded the race better than I expected but 50 minutes slower than my personal best at Penang Bridge Marathon. Had to resist the need to push on the run to prevent further injuries before the big race next month.

Time to get the pain looked into and strengthen the legs, which I felt was the biggest setback for me. Not much time left to the next big race, which I plan to surpass my personal best in the cold weather.

Overall, the race was fantastic. Lots of water station and enough of different scenery to keep on company throughout the 42km. Not many races you will find that they serve nasi lemak mid-course (not recommended to eat if you are going for a Personal Best)! Check out my race on Strava.

Till the next big race!

* Photos are borrowed from dedicated professional photographers and all rights and credit respectively belongs to them.

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016

First ever Full Marathon done! 😃 at the Asics Penang Bridge International Marathon on 27th November 2016.

One word regarding this race, it was a torture. Maybe because I did a 30km run just a week before and couldn't recover in time. During the beginning of the run, I could still feel the strain of the leg muscles and joints from last week's 30km! Should have given a 2 weeks recovery.

Since we were in Penang Island, we had to do hawker food carbo loading. Plenty of choices of hawker food in Penang and reviews can be easily found online. We pretty much had everything we could order within reach!

The race started on time at the road in front of Queensbay Mall. After walking through the starting crowds, I started running at a very comfortable pace, keeping heart rates down. Maintain that pace and only walked the water stations. It was a long route on the island with humid still ait before finally reaching the bridge.

Once on the bridge, the wind blew and finally cooled down and sweat a lot less. But at 28km, I hit the dreaded wall. Had major pain at the back of my right knee reaching to the calf too. I thought it was cramp and just continue one but at a slower pace. Along the way, got ice to ice the back of the knee and also some counterpain. Was doing an average 9-10 mins/km.

Kept trying to run in between walks making sure that I kept to the targeted sub-6 hours run. At about 37km, the 6 hours pacer caught up with me! Had to start to pick up the pace and keep running to ensure I finish within 6 hours. As I kept pushing it, the pain started to go away. Must have been the adrenaline of chasing them. Slowly, I picked up the pace to catch up with the 6 hours pacer by 39km doing low 7 mins/km pace.

Kept the head up and pushing as I saw the last 2 km sign and nearing back to the Queensbay Mall area. By now, I am doing a low 6 mins/km pace to the finishing line.

The feeling was amazing. Never have I thought I could do a full marathon and with all that pain, yet finish within the targeted time of 5 hours 56 minutes.

So what does a recently accomplished full marathoner do? He went ahead and sign up for another marathon in 2 months time!

Check out my race on Strava.