The Spring Live Active Run 2014 - 21KM

Its my 1st official half marathon race. This is one of the HM race i've register in my hunt for a sub 2hrs PB. I arrived in Kuching 1 day early from the event for race pack collection at The Spring. Im staying at the Citadines Hotel&Apartment since it close to the Spring, a comfy, spacious and clean hotel at a reasonable price.

Race Pack Collection tHe Spring

A colorful event running vest

June,15 2014 - Race Day

The plan here is to run with the 2hrs pacer. I was expecting a flat race course and the course is of course not that flat, a few up hill and down hill. So i'm running with the 2hrs pacer for the 1st 10KM but there since there is to many people running behind the pacer i decide to run in front. I was so focus running until i didn't realize that i was running faster than the pacer and they were a bit far behind so i run on my own pace. Just 4KM before the finish line there is 2 hill which slowing me down, i didn't realize how slow i am until the 2 hrs pacer outrun me. I was struggling to keep up with the pacer since my energy level at very low point. The last 2KM i can see i still can make the Sub-2hrs so i ran as fast as i can , in the end i was 47sec too late. Overall i'm satisfied with my time and its a PB to break. 

I bump into Coach Cornelius & Hana Sue at the finish line

A quick tour around Kuching

Borneo International Marathon 2014 - 42KM

May the 4th be with you

I took a long break from running after TMBT 2013. I started training for BIM2014 on mid January. Its like learning how to run all over again. I started with 2km and gradually increasing my distance until i can run 10KM comfortably. A month before the race i suffer from shin splints which slow down my training. I didn't have much training compared to last year BIM so i'm not expecting PB, my only focus is to finish the race.

Race pack collection

May, 4th 2014 - Race Day

Arrived early at the stadium and do some warm up before the race started. 

Pose with Pammie Delores at the starting line wishing each other good luck

My running plan for this year is exactly like last year and I will run with 7'30" pace average. The weather a bit warm so i need to stop at the water station since i didn't any water. The 1st 10KM was alright and as i was running towards UMS i can feel a bit tired. I checked my time at the half way point i was 10mins late than expected. Gradually i pick up my pace and by the time i get out from the UMS loop i have only a little energy left but i keep going. They didn't provide banana at the halfway point like last year instead they give out banana at turning point IP. So i took 4 banana and ate it all, i'm so hungry and take a time walking enjoying my banana. After that i continue running until the 35KM mark i started to walk. The last 7KM more walking than running. Finally i crossed the finish line with a smile at 5hr 14min, 2 min late from my previous FM.

Ooops! I did it again.. :)

TMBT 2013 - 55KM

So this year TMBT i decided to upgrade to 55KM. Experience from last year event its quite an easy course, not so much running on trail.  The race pack collection was held at Hyatt Regency Hotel and the runner for this year almost double from last year.

September,14 2013 - Race Day

We depart from Kota Kinabalu at 5.00am and arrived at the starting point at 7.00am.

Starting point at Kg. Lingkubang, Kota Belud. Flag off time is 8.00am. At KM 2 we stucked for almost 1hr due to the suspended bridge only allow 4 people crossing at a time. After the bridge we running on the paddy field before crossing a waist deep river and into a jungle trail. We make a stop at the 2nd check point to refuel and fill our hydration back.

5hrs into the race we still not reach the half way point which is totally unexpected. Its was very hot as we make our way to the top of the hill and make a pit stop at the peak for our so called lunch. The weather changed so fast, as we make our way to Miki camp it started to rain heavily. I decided to make a run to Miki camp and will waited for Caloq & Ajip at the check point. i was running down to miki camp the rain continue. When i arrived at the river before crossing to miki camp, the river was flooded and we were asked to head back uphill. 

I bump into Caloq and make our way back together to the next checkpoint where we meet up with Ajip. It took us 9hrs to make it to the 3rd CP. After refuel and gear up we continue our journey for the last 20KM. It was a cold and wet night. We make our way along the village road before going back into the jungle and slowly follow the path to the main road. We didn't have a clue how far are we in the race since our watch have died. Its a relief when we get back to the main road knowing that its not far before we reach the finish line at Perkasa Hotel but it was temporary as we were told to follow the Bundu Tuhan road to the finish line instead of the main road. We were cold, wet and hungry and kind of lost slowly we push ourself to the finish line. Finally after struggling for 16hrs, we made it to the finish line. 

It was a "Brutally Beautiful" race, we will back next year for sure.

TMBT 2013 - "Brutally Beautiful"

Borneo International Marathon 2013 - 42KM

Since 2011 i've always wanted to join this event but it always falls on my work schedule. Finally in 2013 i decided to take a leave and join this event. Its my 1st time running in BIM and it is my 1st full marathon. So far i've only ran 2 10K and 1 25K ultra and running FM for BIM i'm quite nervous. The race is scheduled May,13th but somehow it is clashed with the election. At 1st the organizer decided to start the race a bit early, 12am instead of the 3am for the FM category on the same date. A week before BIM the event was reschedule to a new date which is August,25. I was a bit disappointed and demotivated because i trained hard for the event and i'm so ready for the race. The new date for the BIM is right after Ramadan and Syawal, so training is a problem and by that time fitness level will be a concern. Anyway on the May,13 we decided to go for a run to support the event and for those who came from outside of Malaysia. Despite we don;t have support from the local authority, the race director still manage to organize the fun run and many thanks to all the volunteer some of them also set up a food and water station.

August,25 race day finally. I don't know what to expect as my fitness level probably about 60-70%. Only a few runners for the FM since the race has been postponed. I was running at average pace 7'25". Halfway mark 21km I'm still feeling fine until i reach the turning point only that i feel a bit tired. At KM30 i feel a bit pain on my right knee but i kept going and by KM35 its getting worst so i stop running and continue walking. I walk for about 1.5KM before i continue running but i still can feel the pain on my knee. So i run and walk for the last 5km. I cross the finish line at 5hr 12min what a relief, not bad for my 1st FM.

My 5th Climb Mount Kinabalu - New Year Climb

Because celebrating new year party all night long is so mainstream so we decided to celebrate it at the highest peak of South East Asia, the majestic Mount Kinabalu. So this is my 5th climb, together with 4 of my friend.

So we started the climb around 9.40am. I started slow at the back of the group and slowly i pick up the pace to catch up with Lity and Jane. So the 3 of us hike together until the Layang -layang hut and stop for a while to eat our 'tapau'. After finish eating we continue for the last 2KM to Laban Rata . Finally we reach laban rata around 12:30.

I couldn't sleep that night, i don't know either the cold or the excitement to climb to the summit that keep me awake. The clock shows 12AM and its officially 2013. We go outside to see the colorful cloud from the fireworks down below. I was so mesmerize by it until i forget to record the moment like i suppose to. After the fireworks display i do some low light photography to create a time lapse. The moon so perfect, the sky was very clear its a good time to take some pictures.

So we started the climb to the summit around 3AM. I need to be in front of the other climber since I'm planning to take pictures and light trails of the other climber. So i reach Sayat-sayat around 4.20am after that i stop in between Sayat-sayat and the Low's peak to start my time lapse picture. It was cold and windy night. Its not that cold if you're walking but if u stop then u can really cold maybe the temperature is about 0 degC. So i took pictures about an hour and I'm only wearing long sleeve under skin layer and a wind breaker, its very cold. I took about 300 pictures and the i proceed to the low's peak.

Happy New Year 2013

Its a perfect climb, very good weather. We make our way down to Laban Rata, packing and check out. We ran all the way from Laban Rata to Timpohon gate in 1:27 mins the fastest time for me.

Mount Kinabalu Time Lapse

Nike We Run Manila 10K 2012

I missed the Nike We Run SG & KL , so i register for this event. I love traveling as much as i love running, so this is the perfect opportunity for me to travel and run at the same time. The event was held at the Mall Of Asia (MOA) which is the start and also finish line for the race.

Day 1

Arrived in Clark around 3PM. From the airport i took a bus to the Dau bus terminal. Its a 3hrs bus ride from Clark to Manila. It was already dark when i arrived in Manila. I get off from the bus somewhere in Pasay area and took a taxi to the Bonafacio High Street for the race pack collection. Spent some time at the venue after that grab a cab to my hotel. 

Day 2

Had my breakfast at the hotel, after that go for a walk at MOA took some pictures,buy some food, watch the Christmas parade and after that head back to the hotel. Here some of the picture on that day.

 

Day 3 - Race Day

Woke up at 4.00 am, get ready for the race. Drink coffee and eat couple of bread to fuel me during the race. Arrived at the starting line at 4.45am, i make sure i arrived early to get a spot in front. The race suppose to flag off at 5.30am but a bit delay. Finally we were let go at 5.45am, i got behind  the runners for almost 2 min. After the road a bit clear i begin to increase my pace. I was running a steady pace 5'35" since its a flat course. I finish the race at 53:15. After the race runners were entertained by the local band and special performance by Apl De Ap from BEP. Overall it was a fun event and hope to be back next time.

Day 4

Its time to go home... 

25KM TMBT 2012 Ultra Trail Marathon

 

The Most Beautiful Thing (TMBT) Ultra Trail Marathon was introduced to me by a friend who happened to be a photographer for the race event. The race organized by Sabah Adventure Challenge under Race Director Aman Avtar. This is the 2nd year of the event. My 1st Ultra running which is a different type of run that i used to.

Race profile for 25KM (WS3)

Race Day at the heart of Kundasang Town

Me & Caloq my running partner

I was very excited for this particular race and i train hard for it. From the beginning i was running and walking at fast pace, i just want to finish the race as fast as i can. 

When you reach at the checkpoint they will write down your bib number and ask you to sign, at that time i was the 6th person to arrive at the check point for the 25Km category. I get more excited, the 5th person was with me at the check point so i took the chance to get 1 step ahead. So i take my energy gel and continue running. I'm able to catchup with the 4th runner and by the time i arrived at the WS2 I already in 4th place.

It was downhill almost all the way before reaching the finish line WS3. I'm having so much fun running the down hill until i catch up with the 3rd runner. Then the real race begin, i am able to pass the 3rd but he is on my tail all the time. I tried to out run him by increasing my pace, for a moment i didn't see him anymore so i continue running. I can see the 1st and 2nd runner a bit far in front and tried to catch up with them but then i felt pain on my right knee. So i stop running for a while and keep walking to ease the pain and hopefully the pain will go away but i didn't. With 5KM to go i was walking and running at very slow pace and one by one runner pass by. with the last 1KM to go i push my self and manage to pass 2 runners. 

I finished at 3:59