Powerman 2011

The day finally came to past. I’ve completed a powerman event! Well…. sort of.

Jun An and I has signed up for the relay category back in August. This is also my first time participate in a multi-sport event. As the race day approach, I’m kinda pumped up for it, which I haven’t been feeling such way for many of my run races for very long time.

We travelled up to Seri Manjung on Saturday. And of course, the journey wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t stop over at Bidor for the famous duck noodles.

We arrived early in Seri Manjung pretty early. So we went around to recce our race route. I’m quite delighted to find out that my run route is quite flat; whereas Jun An’s bike route has a very steep bridge to climb.

The briefing started at 5pm, just nice after we’re done with the recce. I reckon the organiser did pretty good job to ensure we’re well brief on what’s to expect on race day, so what we don’t run around like a headless chicken come race day morning.

On race day, we woke up quite early at 4.45am. Although they will only open up the transition area for us to do our race setup by 6am. Maybe we were super kiasu, wanted to get a very nice parking spot at the race venue.

 

Jun An has his bike setup once the transition area was open. As a runner, I only need to know where our bike is parked, so I don’t get lost looking to past my race chip during the transition.

The relay team is being flagged off at 7.40am. I would say that’s a pretty late time to start off a race. Sun would be up by then and we’re spend most time under the hot sun.

Due to the flat route, I manage to complete the first 11km run within 58min, saving more time for Jun An’s bike session. However, by the time I started my second run, after Jun An’s done with his bike, that’s when the drama begun. I was already pretty much exposed to the hot sun whole time waiting for Jun An’s to come in. When he finally came in, my stomach was half empty and heat is steaming up my head. I was glad that they have sufficient water stations along the route to cool us off and fuel us up.

Thank God I completed my second run strong and kept my timing within an hour for the last 10km run. Overall timing is slightly less than 4.5hr. Pretty decent for being first time.

Now I’m feeling the after-effect, sun burnt and tan line. Don’t like the sun burn part, but quite like the tan line from my tri-shorts and race jersey. It’s like telling everyone that “I survived Powerma!!” LOL!

I should get myself a road bike and do the individual Powerman next year! …. finger crossed…..