I’m now a Duathlete!

Today, I’ve upgraded my status. No, not the Single/in relationship sort, but have turned from a marathoner to Duathlete!

There’s a series of duathlon races being put up for the 3-week back-to-back weekend. Only short courses category is available, and mainly targeted for the university students. I’ve picked one of the races and signed up for the open group category, mainly to gain some experience in a multi-sport event.

Today’s race is at University Putra Malaysia, Serdang. As I couldn’t make it to collect the race pack yesterday, I have to be there extra early just to pick it up before i could join the race.

Little did I know, I was probably one of the first few who arrived. I picked up my race pack without any confusing procedure, and proceed to check-in my bike at the transition area.

As the race would only start at 9am, the crowd only make their way in by about 8am. By then, I have had a little nap at one corner just to make it up for my lack of sleep.

I did some warm up just to make sure I really wake up from the sleepiness. Then we’re asked to get behind the starting line for a quick briefing and get ready to start. The Sun was up and the sky was clear…. I had the feeling that it’s gonna be a hot race.

The first run was alright. It wasn’t a big race, so i didn’t need to negotiate through the crowd within the pack. The route led to a remote trail with lots of trees cover as shades so it wasn’t to hot after all.

It was an easy run for me and I was still able to smile my way to the transition area. Then came the tricky part. I had to take off my running shoes and switch to my cycling shoes, then swap my cap with the helmet on, and put on the glove to minimise impact on my hands. I think all these have wasted me some time and took me a little while to get out from the transition area.

The cycling route wasn’t too bad. Although it’s not as shaded as the run route, there’re well balance number of hill climbs and downhills. The organiser label it as route with rolling hills. Thanks to my consistency in attending RPM classes, I didn’t find it very tough for the cycling part, except for the final hill before coming back into the transition area, where the hill climb seems to be forever.

And again, because of the shoe changing, it took me another while to come out from the transition area for my final run. by then, the weather was getting hotter and hotter, so did my body’s temperature. I pour a cup of water from the drink station as I was coming out from the transition area and dash out for an all-out run.

…. well, at least I tried to go all out. It was no joke for my body as after transitioning from cycling to running, i found that my heart rate was at exceptionally fast. I had to slow down my pace slightly to let my heart rate recover to a manageable pace. All my mind could think of was to pay attention to the pounding of my legs, my breathing, and my heart beat, all the way to the end.

A total time of about 1 hour to finish a 3km run – 13km bike – 3km run for the very first time. I’m not sure if this is a good timing, but I’m glad that I’ve completed it strong and now being recognised as a duathlete!

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011

The final race of the 4-weekend back-to-back races, and it’s none other than the well-known Singapore Marathon. Kind of think back, this would be my 10th full marathon race and my 5-year-straight of running for Singapore Marathon.

This race down south has always been special and close to my heart. This is the race where I first started my full marathon 5 years ago. I’ve also have the privilege of having gone through 3 rounds of route changes since I first join.

Since last year, Standard Chartered Marathon event has been felt even better simply because I’m now staff of Standard Chartered Bank. The perks includes access to the special staff tend during race day. Apart from this, Singapore marathon being the biggest marathon race in this region, we also get to go for the special staff carbo loading party during the day before the race, and as well as being the selected few for complimentary hotel stay for the marathon event.

I arrived in Singapore on the day before the race day. Touched down at Singapore airport by 8.30am. Had some time to move around in town before heading to the staff carbo loading party. This year’s carbo loading party is no longer in Fullerton Hotel, but at Raffle’s Convention Centre. Somehow, the crowd is less overwhelm than last year’s.

We were treated with wide variety of food. It’s nice to go for a marathon race not needing to worried about getting myself fuel up for the race.

 

After that, walked around a bit with my friend and head back to Ibis Hotel to rest early. (but can hardly sleep at all, probably too much coffee during the day and the bed being too small)

With little sleep till the next morning, I knew the race gonna be screwed. However, I’ve signed up for it so I’ll go on no matter how much it’s going to be tough for me.

The Singapore government recognised that this marathon event is going to be massive, so they have allowed the MRT to extend their operating hour non-stop overnight just to accomodate the runners getting to their various starting line.  We were glad that we didn’t need to take taxi this time round.

The day was cool, thanks to the non-stop rain for the past few days. This make the major part of the route cooler to run until the Sun rises.

I caught up with the 5hr pacers and was able to keep with their pace until 22km point where my lack of sleep started to give way. I started to feel to sleepy that if given a bed at that moment, I’d just collapse and sleep. My left tight also started to feel heavy and cramp up. I had no choice but to slow down and walk for the next 6km.

I managed to pick up my speed and effort a little bit when i was approaching 28km mark, where I started to use the run-walk-run strategy. As soon as I gain back my momentum, I pick up my pace further and started to run again for the next 14km.

It was really tough running under the Sun. At least I was still haven’t hit the walk and kept to the pace as far as possible.

This year’s run wasn’t as great, as I’ve slowed down my pace and hit a slower finishing time compared to last year’s. Anyhow, there’re up’s and downs in all races. I guess the strongest thing I needed to improve is to get myself more rest and sleep on the day before the big race.

 

Before I work in Stanchart, I kept telling myself about how crowded and crampy the Singapore marathon has been and vowed not to run again next year. But seeing how it’s became my annual marathon “pilgrimage”, I think I’ll continue to sign up and try to hit 10 years straight running for Singapore marathon.

Sport Boost

While preparing for the Powerman this weekend, my friend has introduced me to a sport supplement that will boost my performance. I reckon that since I’m going to do a relay this round (I run 11km, my friend bike 64km, then I run another 10km), I better get something to boost my energy during my second run.

Introducing the sport booster, Sponser Activator!

Let’s look at the ingredients:

Water, fructose, plant extracts (guarana*, green tea, mate), taurine, citric acid, natural caffeine, potassium sorbate, sodium cyclamate, acesulfame K, sodium saccharin, flavours, inositol, vitamins

*Guarana is a fruit found in Amazon region that have twice the amount of caffeine found in a single coffee bean. Having this part of the ingredients means this is something real strong!

Here’s what is says about this product:

Caffeine  is used in sports for over 100 years.  It is only in the 70’s that targeted studies to examine the performance-enhancing effects in sports were carried out. Recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of caffeine as  a supplement promoting the performance (source: www.dopinginfo.ch) .
Activator contains 160 mg of caffeine from guarana, green tea and mate in combination with pure natural caffeine. The combination of different sources of c affeine provides short and long lasting stimulating effects.  Suitable for sports, where increased concentration and co-ordination skills are required, for example ball sports and martial arts. But Activator is also successfully used by endurance athletes. Runners, cyclists, and triathletes also use Activator as a caffeine booster on the last stages of endurance compet itions.
Activator is completed with taurine, inositol and B-vitamins. No doping risks! As in our culture caffeine occurs in a wide range of p roducts, it is not anymore listed as  forbidden substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency since the 1st of January 2004.

…….. I’m gonna finish strong during the Powerman race!

Powerman Time!

Just pick up the race pack for Powerman Malaysia 2011. It’s a 11km run – 64km bike – 10km run event, held on 13th Nov at Seri Manjung, Perak. Me and friend will be doing the relay together. I’ll be doing both the runs, and my friend will do the bike.

This is my first multisport event. Looking forward for next weekend!

Nike+ SportBand

I’m sure many of you have heard of Nike+ being around for quite some time now. And guess what! I got a little gift from Nike today. And it’s none other than the Nike+ SportBand!!!

 

This is such a cool product from Nike. Although haven’t set it up and have a go with it yet, I’ve been hearing a lot of hype about it. Apparently you could upload your run data into their online portal and compare with other fellow runners across the globe.

I knew being a pacer for Nike – We Run KL, will surely get a lot of perks! I shall blog about how I got involve with Nike next!

Virgin run at KLCC Park

Having been based at KL city centre for work since, I find that the after-work traffic has been getting from bad to worse lately. I also find it that it’s almost impossible to make it to my usual TTDI park for a nice evening run. As much as I like to do my run after work, running on treadmill at gym doesn’t seems to give as much satisfaction compared to running outdoor.

The solution…. I started look out for alternative. Lake garden is a nice park to run, but I’ll still need to get stuck in the traffic for 40min just to get out from my office. Next option…. KLCC park. I wonder why it took quite a while to come out with that idea…..

KLCC is just 10min walk away from my office, which would probably takes less than 5min if i run. KLCC park seems like a perfect place to fulfil my itchy legs after work.

Today, I finally had a chance to run at KLCC park after work.  Running in the city park surrounded by many high-rise building is amazing. The park is very runners friendly with many drinking fountain along the jogging path. In fact it made me felt like and idiot carrying my own bottle of water around just in case I need to rehydrate. The path is brightly lit. It seems like a very safe place to run even when the sky is dark. Found a perfect running spot which is so near my office. Loving it!

Now, I started to like being base in the city centre. I could access all sort of facilities and everything is so convenient. The next thing is to look for a property to live in KL city centre.

Reason to run

Many times, friends came up to me and ask what's the reason behind for me to keep running. I always look at them with a blank face without knowing how to answer them. I never thought about reasons that keep me running. Perhaps health? Keeping fit?

Anyway, a wedding of one of my running mate yesterday has got me ponder on my run since I returned from Australia over 2 years ago. When I started off running while I was in Australia, it was due to wanting to loose weight and going for races was so that I won't give up running and put back on weight. I used to train and run on my own then. I reckon I was very disciplined in my training maybe because I was just a student then and my time was plenty ad flexible. I ran 3-4 times weekly with 2 days of resistance training.

Things started to change when I graduated and returned home to work. I found it difficult to stick to my usual training plan of my student days. Plus clearly I can run later of the days here as the weather is much warmer here. But along the way I got to know a friend thru a long-time-friend name Alex. He was as crazy as me then, running for every races across towns, cities, and countries. We started catching up on our training routine, sharing tips and meet up at different races. Since he's very much a PR guy, along the way our circle of runners got bigger. Alex eventually started a group with the name "Team Powered by Jesus" based on the phrase he always wear on his running vest. And since all of us within this runners circle are Christians that're actively involved in church, too.

I think the motivation for myself has change since as I believe these bunch of runners are the ones that keep me running till today. Though I've always trusting God's strength to keep me going throughout every race, I thank God that there're people out there who're like minded. I guess it's the same living a christian live. As much as we trusting ourselves to God to strenghten us in our walk with Him, it's much more meaningful to have other Christians coming together and hold each other up. We can't live by our own.

Coming back to the running mate's wedding, I realised being in Team Powered by Jesus is not only about coming together for training and pick each other up in races. We're also get to share our own ministry back in our respective church and live. Clearly I felt that we've touched a big part of her live through her wedding yesterday.


So one of the reasons that keep me running? Because of this lovely group of runners and triathletes in Team Powered by Jesus!

Subang 10km Run August 2007

Singapore Marathon December 2008

Back to running

I really gotta start kicking my own ass and get myself up for running more often these days. I don't know what heppened to my motivation every morning when I supposed to wake up for a run. Fats are building up in every part in my body, and there're races coming up soon.

So I finally got myself up for a run this arvo at TTDI park. When I was about to finish my first loop, saw a runner collapsed on the ground. Many people were seen standing around her while 2 persons were attending to her. As it was already so crowded, I didn't want to be the "busybody" and stand around to look. So I proceed on with my run and hope that she'll get neccessary help. Second loop came back, she's still lying on the ground. Third loop, good thing, there's help coming. An ambulance came and a medic ran towards her direction. Guess they did a quick job. Fourth loop came back, she's been taken away. I could only wish that nothing major happens to her. Geez... I've seen runners collapsed during race event, but this is the first time seeing a runner collapsed during a leisure run. She seems young and fit, it's a shame that this happened to her during a leisure run.

That incident aside, my run was crap! Could only do 4 loops at the park today. I need to push harder on my next run!