Harimau Malaya Mengaum

Standing in the eye of the world

Saat yang bersejarah ni memang patut aku rakam sebab aku pun dok layan jugak. Ni kira delay telecast la. Sibuk memanjang menjelang hujung tahun ni, semua benda jadi urgent.

26 Disember 2010

Aku bercadang untuk melekat depan TV layan Piala Suzuki Malaysia lawan Indonesia. Mana la tau boleh layan, lagi pun adrenalin masih tinggi & Astro kalau hari Ahad memang program tak menarik langsung kecuali EPL. Sekali persembahan pasukan kebangsaan menarik daaa! Tak pasal-pasal aku terjerit-jerit sorang-sorang & anak aku pun naik pelik. Lain macam semangat beb. Tak macam layan game Arsenal.

Dah lama sangat aku tak tengok persembahan game Malaysians macam ni. Era bola tanahair yang paling menghiburkan ialah pada 1985 ketika gandingan mantap Ervin Boban, Alistair Edwards, Abbas Saad & Khalid Shahdan. Masa tu stadium Larkin bergegar setiap minggu & layan burger kerat 2 lepas game at half price ialah saat paling best. Lepas daripada tu, sukan bola Malaysia dah malas nak layan disebabkan mentaliti & politikus yang agak mengecewakan.

Tapi malam semalam sesuatu yang sangat berbeza aku saksikan. Player kita bermain dengan bijak, pakai akal tanpa aksi-aksi hero cari glamor dulu-dulu. Short passes, nice set pieces, very good defending and ball possession yang tenang walaupun skill control bola masih perlukan improvement. Kagum aku. Teruja pulak alih-alih sedangkan BPL aku tak berkesempatan nak follow. Layan results je.

29 Disember 2010

Musykil pulak. Mood keje pun mandom, maybe sebab looking forward nak layan second game Harimau. Siap dinner awal, tapau pulak tu. Lepas Maghrib dah dok tercatok depan TV. Yasmin dah siap-siap pasang earphone depan pc ready untuk tidak dengar ayah menjerit.

Game macam first round 3 hari lepas tapi seperti semua orang expect, Indonesia akan bagi asakan bertubi-tubi untuk dapatkan jaringan. Tembok Malaysia tetap unggul beb. Lain macam kuat aku tengok kaki-kaki defender kita. Kepala pun kuat gak menanduk & mental lagi la. Memang tetap cool walaupun berjuang di negara orang dengan hampir 95,000 penyokong kat stadium tu. Maybe betul kata Shebby, player muda ni main like there's no tomorrow. Dangerous. But then again, mental diorang memang kuat, perhaps a new breed of Malaysians footballers in particular.

OK la Malaysia tewas 2-1 tapi tetap champion dengan aggregate 4-2. Aku tetap jugak salute player Indonesia walaupun ada jugak tackling yang boleh kata serious tapi both teams played professional enough. Takde gaduh-gaduh. Suddenly semangat seluruh negara membara hanya dengan impak dari sebiji benda bulat yang dipanggil bola. Fenomena bukan?

Chasing Legends

Bukit Fraser 25 Disember 2010 - Sejuk ride

Nak buat long ride sampai ke tahap makan angin memang susah. Itu juga memerlukan program latihan, especially untuk aku yang hanya cium saddle seminggu sekali. Hari-hari lain cium asap kereta je kat MRR2. Apatah lagi kalau nak masuk race? Dah tentu training macam first time buat marathon. Selain dari milage di kaki yang terkumpul, minda juga perlu bersedia. Oleh itu, aku sangat teruja untuk kayuhan 25-Disember 2010, lebih-lebih lagi dengan kaum yang dah sememangnya kepala-kepala sempoi sejak lahir.

Panjat Bukit Frasers ada la aku pernah buat 2-3 kali. Sekali tu aku naik mountainbike. Leper jugak la punggung nak sampai clock tower. Attempt tu semua dari KKB. Boleh dikatakan mencabar jugak la tapi tidak sehebat panjat dari Bentong dari segi distance dan suasana pemandangan. Ni first time aku panjat dari Bentong.



Actually long ride ni preparation untuk kaum yang akan join Malakoff Interstate new year nanti. Kaum yang lain tu cangkuk sekali untuk prepare LeTua100k dan ada jugak yang saja-saja cari nahas. Setakat untuk training aku, cukup berpuas hati dengan jadual & milage sekadar mengikut kesesuaian masa musim cuti sekolah ni. Kira cantek dah tu.

Since perjalanan memandu ke Bentong akan amik masa hampir sejam, we all meet up at McDonald Taman Melati dulu seawal 6.30 a.m. Teringat pulak waktu nak pergi Genting Trailblazer. Tambah lagi bila terjumpa Syah kat situ dengan jaket merah Adidas dia. Memang nostalgia. Syah tidak berlengah untuk cabut sebelum dilambung ombak racun basikal, so dia bergegas cabut tanpa menjeling. Aku sempat jugak lambung Hailmi CAR untuk join bagi menambah keceriaan gandingan 3 penjuru dari kaum RBU, IM dan CAR. Cukup 18 orang kesemunya.

Perjalanan ke Bentong berhujan sikit di area Bukit Tinggi dan kabus di sekitar memang menjanjikan kayuhan yang sangat bererti. Sesampai di Bentong, parking di area medan selera. Sangat lapang. Jalan ada basah sikit hasil dari renjis-renjis hujan awal pagi. Sejuuuuk. Keadaan trafik di pekan masih tenang, maybe sebab public holiday. Tengah dok siap & setting & berkunjung ke stesen pelaburan, brader Bedul datang dengan muka sekupang. Kasut cycling sudah tinggal la bro! Ammah! Aku boleh baca kekecewaan tahap gaban di muka itu. FIkir punya fikir punya fikir, Doc Taufik kasi try Crocs dia. Bedal aje ler Bedol! Mudah-mudahan sampai ke atas.

Roll-out dah pukul 8.30 a.m. walaupun plan asal kul 8.00. Biasa ler bila dah ramai & kena travel jejauh. Bergabung dengan fellow IM depan kedai ABC Kow Po and terus kami shoot ke persimpangan Tranum/Bukit Fraser. Once dah masuk situ, jalan memang betul-betul punya kosong sejauh 30km. Rolling naik turun. Kejap-kejap hujan, kejap-kejap kering & sejuk. Memang intro perjalanan yang best giler. Kiri kanan hutan & pelbagai jenis ladang. Memang klasik. Group terpecah 3. Yang cangkuk dengan rider power kat depan sekejap je hilang lepas bukit yang pertama. Aku mengelak dari kena sedut dalam group tu & decide untuk layan kaki sesedap rasa. Bersaing dengan Shuk, Jaja, Hailmi & Hanafi. Ziff, Julie, Doc Taufik, Jeff, Amir group belakang sekali.

Di persimpangan

Naik turun, naik turun sampai ler ke simpang Raub-Bukit Fraser. Memang cinonet je bangunan lama kat simpang tu cukup untuk menunjukkan betapa sepinya kawasan tu. Ada center untuk kumpul getah sekerap sebelah dia. Klasik beb. Peluang sesi penggambaran memang tak dilepaskan. Tambahan lagi dengan kepala lok-lak masing-masing, maka bermula lah sesi merapu embun.

OK time to be serious. Perjalanan mendaki lagi lebih kurang 20km. Pemandangan lagi ler touching. Jalan basah sikit, suhu rendah, kabus tebal, pokok berlumut tepi jalan dah sebijik terasa macam panjat Alps de Huez! Chewah! Masih lagi dengan cadence sesedap rasa dan tidak terburu-buru mengejar sesaper saja yang cuba menjolok, especially Det & Kak Tipah yang sesekali memotong dengan muka garang bercampur nafas kerbau. Kak Tipah pinjam glove aku yang tak dipakai sebab dia sibuk komplen tangan licin so tak boleh perform. We all stop kejap untuk dia pakai glove walaupun Kak Tipah risau takut kena potong dengan rider belakang. Ada KOM points ke nih?

Kayuhan jauh macam ni, kalau tanpa tragedi kurang sedap dikongsi. Tragedi pertama menimpa Julie Jewelz bila tiga orang mat rempit yang biadap mengambil selekoh terlalu lebar sekaligus menghimpit Julie hingga terjatuh. Sebaik aje aku muncul dari balik selekoh, aku ternampak Julie dah menyembah bumi. Aduhai! Mat rempits dah hilang. Pity her. Cepat2 aku menghampiri Julie untuk bantu. Tapak tangan & lutut kanan luka tapi Julie masih kekal cool. Strong lady she is. Dengan tapak tangan gitu, memang susah sikit nak pegang handlebar tapi Julie tetap nak kayuh. So we all balutkan tangan tu dengan bandana hasil kraftangan Kak Tipah. Kayuhan diteruskan dengan lebih berwaspada dengan cuba memastikan kaum ladies tak kayuh berseorangan. Finally we all sampai Gap pukul 11.00 a.m., sedikit awal dari ramalan aku yang menjangkakan akan sampai 11.30.

Kaum muka semangat

Perut dah mula pedih siki-sikit & kononnya nak mentakedarah kat puncak Frasers. We all tunggu sehingga last rider sampai ke Gap dan terpaksa membuat keputusan untuk teruskan pendakian lagi 8km tanpa berlengah. Pendakian yang sebenarnya menduga kami di peringkat ini. Walaupun cuma 8km dan persekitaran yang sangat cantek, kalau kaki dah lomah, panggil Dr. Fazilah Kamsah pun tak jalan. Aku tau ada sahabat yang akan berlawan dengan emosi & tekanan di waktu ni.

Simptom pertama dari Shuk hasil dari kurang milage berlaku di KM4. Disebabkan aku yang lambung dia join kayuhan ni, so aku decided untuk stay dengan dia. Cramp! Aksi tonggeng dah bermula di bahu jalan. Aku tunggu. Kayuh sikit lagi, stop lagi. Shuk kata dah takde apa dah dalam kaki ni. Bonk? Sikit-sikit la tu. Powergel semua dah bedal kat bawah lagi. Sekarang bedal madu pulak. Aku offer GU Chomp. Sedap. Shuk kata dia nak jalan, dipersilakan bro. Cubaan berjalan sambil tolak basikal terasa macam kurang menarik la bro. Apa kata kau duduk rehat atas batu tepi jalan tu kejap & cuba sambung balik kayuh bila dah rasa OK. Lagi pun sikit aje lagi nak sampai atas. lebih kurang 3km. Sementara mengisi masa lapang tu, aku pun berceloteh kat Shuk tapi both of us pun tak tau apa yang aku membebel. Masing-masing dah kurang oksigen.

Kereta-kereta dah mula turun. Kami terpaksa kayuh kat tepi je. Aku decide untuk kayuh depan so Shuk boleh ikut pace aku. Mujur lah lagi 2km tu jalan pendakian dah kurang curam, so Shuk dah boleh up kan sikit pace. Akhirnya kami sampai. Geng yang dah awal sampai dah mula turun semula, makan kat Gap kata diorang sebab jalan turun akan tutup pukul 11.40 a.m. Lagi 100 meter, Clock Tower dah boleh nampak dah Shuk dah menjerit happy!  Amik gambor se-das dua & terus turun.

Selekoh turun jalan yang sama kami naik memang agak ngeri. Licin & tajam. Aku pernah terbabas langgar dinding masa turun dengan mountainbike dulu tapi hanya digelakkan oleh kawan-kawan. Hampeh betul. Jari dan seluruh lengan tangan memang lenguh sungguh tap brek sikit-sikit. Last selekoh yang aku gagal pilih line maka terlajak la sikit hampir langgar guardrail & terucap lah ucapan gagap kejap masa tu. Azmar yang follow belakang aku boleh gelak pulak tu, padahal dia pun sama-sama kantoi. Cis!

Lunch time kami kenduri sakan di Gap tak hengat. Nasi ayam, nasi lemak, burger dan segala apa yang kat dapur gerai kakak tu kami suruh keluarkan. Gelak ketawa dan lambung melambung kembali mengisi ruang menandakan hati yang puas menawan puncak Fraser.

Turun ke Teranum masing-masing dah macam pelesit. Aku cuba menggayakan aksi-aksi Vincenzo Nibali rider Team LiquigasDoimo yang aku pernah tengok dia turun Alps dengan speed mencecah 60kph. Tapi aku punya cuma 35kph je. Kecut jugak beb. Ingat yang tersayang. Cubaan mengejar pelesit-pelesit kota yang kat depan berjaya setelah hampir 15 minit hanya nampak rider belakang sekali dan merapatkan jurang. Memang layan beb. Sampai aje simpang Teranum semua muka puas je.

Tapi mentari dah mula menyinari tatkala jam dah berdetik 1.00 p.m. Gelak ketawa bertukar nada bila kayuh dalam satu peloton untuk balik ke Bentong sejauh 30km lagi bawah panas terik. Aduhai! Senyap je semua. Sesekali rider depan bukak untuk tukar tukang tarik, jemputan terpaksa ditolak sebab takut bonk. Hehe. Aku layan sesedap rasa. Ada certain stretch yang kurang licin so terasa pulak macam kayuh Paris - Roubaix. Sensor cyclometer bergegar menyebabkan catatan meter terganggu. Tragedi menimpa Doc Taufik bila tayar dia pancit lebih kurang 500 meter depan aku. Lagi sekali aku buat kerja amal jariah tolong kawan-kawan sambil amik peluang rehatkan kaki. Peloton dah lepas ke depan masa kami dok repair tayar pancit. 5 minit siap paaap! Kayuhan disambung semula.

Tengah dok layan angin sambil adegan mengecilkan badan untuk kurangkan drag, ZAAASS! telinga aku kena bedal dengan serangga bersengat. Entah lebah ke, tebuan ke aku pun tak tau tapi cuping telinga aku bagaikan kena cucur dengan api. Aduhai! Dalam banyak2 tempat kenapa lah engkau nak jugak terbang dalam laluan aku wahai Sang Lebah? Ku raba-raba cuping telinga dah berjaya cabut sengat tajam yang tertusuk. Aku bagitau Doc Taufik. Mujurlah ada tuan doktor, so bila we all stop untuk regroup, dia spray Perskindol kat telinga aku. Sejuuuuk je. Lega sikit. Thanks Doc!

Lagi 6km, kami kayuh dalam group all the way sebab trafik di jalan besar menghala ke pekan Bentong dah semakin sibuk. Sesekali kami di horn. Entah tanda sokongan atau tanda marah. Agak orang Bentong jarang tengok cyclist berseluar ketat kot. 116km dalam masa lebih kurang 5 jam cukup untuk merakamkan pengalaman indah dalam kalendar kayuhan hidup kami especially untuk kawan-kawan yang first time kayuh sejauh ni & menawan puncak Fraser dari Bentong. Aku bagi 5 Bintang untuk kayuhan ni sekaligus mendapat Anugerah Best Ride of the Year disebabkan destinasi kayuhan, kaum yang ceria & cuaca yang sangat perfect. Thanks and well done guys!

Tiny ride

Races and events keep me on track to stay motivated and not letting a good weekend wasted. Eversince the Broga ride last two weeks, despite the torments & cramps, I craved for more. Let alone some tiny lambungans from fellow pedalphiles, I know if I ditch one ride heading towards the LeTua 100k on 16th January 2010, the momentum will be gone. In resting the running muscles, signing up for the LeTua 100k would be a good choice, whilst training for a cycling event is considered rare - we have very few cycling events in a year as compared to mountainbiking jamborees and races and runnings. I had to miss a few cycling events this year due to travelling shortcomes and clashing dates.

From 116km a week ago, I had to squeeze this week's ride shorter as to avoid burnt-out, recovery, luring Ziff to join and most important, to finish the ride early - going back to hometown for a wedding. Feasting nasi minyak with bryani daging or kambing must be justified.

It rained on Friday till the last straw of the morning dew on Saturday. I almost thought the ride will be canceled when it was still tripping on the roof at 5.00 a.m. We met up at Batu 14 and the crowd was perfect for a quick and simple ride. But! We add in some spices to substantiate with Bukit Antu as appetizer, 10km Sg Lui interval and 7km back to carpark as recovery. Awesome? It should be.

Weather was superb. Almost perasan like we were in the Alps. Lol. You bet! The mist was covering most of the climb and we were speechless but breathless. Regrouping now and then at junctions and finished the ride splendidly for small chats and casually back home getting ready to travel down south.

Broga (pondan) - Cari Pasal Lagi?

Kita ni kadang-kadang memang suka cari pasal. Pasal ni bukan diertikan sebagai "sebab" tapi lately aku dengar perkataan dia sepadan dengan perkataan "ona". So, untuk weekend ni aku sekali lagi telah cari ona dengan keputusan untuk melayan bukit bukau belah-belah sempadan Selangor-Negeri Sembilan. Tu dia aih! Broga Pondan depa kata. Clockwise la, so layan panjat Genting Peres dulu instead of Broga Jantan yang akan panjat Genting Peres kendian, di akhir-akhir kayuhan, sewaktu kaki dah berlonggok asid lactate dan sewaktu badan dah hampir-hampir boleh kena sawan di antara matahari terpacak sampai ke gelincir matahari. Takpe lah. Pondan pun asalnya jantan jugak - definasi brader Rocco, salah sorang rider yang buat pertama kali akan mengenal erti putus urat kentut.

Udah ler aku baru seminggu habis berlari 5 jam 40 minit, initial plan untuk bantu CAR kat Tibi Run terpaksa aku taichi kat Kak June (jutaan terima kasih) bila mengenangkan aku perlu letihan atas basikal menjelang le tua 100K ride Januari depan. Dikhuatiri kesuntukan masa akibat kenduri kahwin dan persediaan back-to-school, aku buat keputusan untuk terjah kembali ke atas saddle setelah 2 minggu menjeling basikal dalam bilik utility sebelah ironboard.

Start line kat Sungai Tekala, kita akan buat satu loop 116km. Kalau kail dah panjang lebih sejengkal, maybe boleh start dari Batu 14 tapi masih belum masuk dalam jilid kamus aku setakat ni. Dulu pernah buat start dari Batu 18, which means tambah lagi 20KM yang mana aku hampir bercakap dengan flora meliar di pinggir empangan Semenyih.

Puncak Peres. No turning back

Geng Ombak sampai lambat, dah ada bunyi-bunyi tidak keruan di kalangan rider lain. Al-maklum la, kayuhan sejauh ini bukan boleh berfoya-foya. Tambah lagi masing-masing bergelar weekend warrior hanya untuk masa less than 7 hours. Semua nak sampai rumah sebelum Kementerian Dalam Negeri mengenakan sekatan. Maka, peloton terpaksa jugak rolling 10 sebelum jam 8.00, 20 minit delay dari waktu jadual. First nak kena kejor regrouping Point 1 (Puncak Peres). Mencanak-mencanak depa naik, sorang pun aku tak jumpa. Layan ajer. Ishal & wifey sampai dengan kereta. Depa mau kayuh gilir-gilir. At least ada support car. Tunggu Geng Ombak sampai tapi bagaikan menunggu air pasang di tengahari. Tak muncul tiba. Jalan ajer, sat lagi projek Broga terbantut.

Turun Peres ke arah Titi takde nak enjoy hembusan angin di muka. Berdesup aje, and sampai Titi pun takde regrouping kecuali di Petronas Kuala Klawang. Kononnya kayuhan Broga ala-santai telah bertukar menjadi serious disebabkan masa yang dah terbuang. Memang bakal akan wujud penyesalan kelak. Aduh!

Petronas Klawang. Bukak bengkel

Sebelum sampai Kuala Klawang, dua tayar pancit. Laif punya dulu. On-site repair. 100m sebelum traffic light Petronas, Jaja punya pulak. Naik aje kereta Jeff terus ke Petronas & guna kemudahan pam yang ada. Regrouping selesai sebaik aje tayar pancit siap repair. Aku hanya sempat sumbat roti krim & air coke tanpa bernafas. Cepat betul diorang ni. Nasib baik kayuhan di daerah Jelebu tu ala-ala bawah 30kph, so boleh ler recovery sikit. Namun recovery hanya 10km sebelum terpacak Bukit Tangga di depan mata. Cuaca menyebelahi kita tapi panjat-panjat tetap kena. Senyuman dan gelak ketawa hanya untuk beberapa ketika. Yang selebihnya hanya muhasabah diri. Itu merupakan 20 minit yang paling panjang untuk kami. Kali ni aku panjat ada sikit sukar walaupun dah bedal gel. Tapi maintain cool & tak kalut sebab jauh lagi perjalanan tuh.

Bukit Tangga, ketap gigi

Regrouping kat puncak Bukit Tangga pun tak lama & aku pun setuju. Part turun memang ngeri sikit bila angin menghembus dari tepi. Kalau aku pakai rim profile tinggi, dah tentu aku terbang sama ada sampai Seremban or masuk longkang. Kena pulak ada lori pasir dok turun slow-slow. Kacau betul. Tangan aku dah naik kebas tekan brek slow-slow.

Next is saling tak tumpah, Bukit Lenggeng. Rider-rider yang dah mula kusut bagi gelaran Bukit Tonggek. Memang betul-betul punya ujian ni. Pendek tapi cukup untuk membuatkan sebak dada. Ada dua pulak tu. And yang second bukit entah bila pulak wujud nih?! Aku ingat dah lepas sekali, dah boleh rolling terus sampai Lenggeng, ropanya ada sebijik lagi 10% pulak tu. Layan. Sekali Kak Tipah di kejauhan sudah layan nyanyi lagu Ramlah Ram kat belakang! Aduhai nyah! Kau kunci cintaku pulak tu. Memang soundtrack yang sungguh tak membantu beb. Sabotaj eh? Lol. Jaja, lenkali layan Sheena Easton boleh?

Bukit Lenggeng. Ramlah Ram

Kali ni lunch break kat kedai kakak. Kedai mamak buat maggi sup lambat sangat. Track rekod dulu dijadikan sempadan. Semua bedal apa yang ada depan mata je. Setengah jam settle dan rolling. Jalan dari Lenggeng ke Broga dan seterusnya ke Semenyih memang menjadi igauan ku di siang hari. Jarang aku dapat kayuh sambil bersiul kalau lalu sini (kecuali naik kereta la). Dan kali ni pun tanpa diskaun, peloton hanya mampu bertahan selama 5km dan pecah kepada 4 group. Layan ajer sorang-sorang di beberapa ketika sampai ler ke simpang Jalan Sungai Lalang bila Kak Tipah dengan murah hati tunggu aku. Ni kes nak cover balik sabotaj lagu Ramlah Ram la ni.

Speed kayuhan dah tahap longlai. Dua kali serangan cramp menyengat di peha. Tak pernah kena beb cramp macam ni. Memang betul-betul punya tarik peha belah dalam. Mula-mula peha kiri, lepaih 10 minit kayuh peha kanan pulak. Aduh! Berdiri ler aku di atas basikal untuk merenggangkan apa jua otot supaya hilang rasa sakit. Sambil dok hisap ORS tablet. Alhamdullillah cramp hilang sejurus kemudian tapi kaki dah mula rasa sengal sana sini. 10KM nak sampai semula ke Tekala bagaikan penyesalan tanpa noktah. Akhirnya sampai jua dalam pukul 2.00 p.m. di dalam julat masa KDN.

Segala kelengitan dan keheningan yang aku lalui, tetap jugak sedap bila dok fikir-fikir kemudian. Yep, semangat mesti kental. Ni mesti kaki tengah sedap. Aku akan kasi rehat sama kaki lari kejap and akan layan kayuh sampai le tua 100K mid-January. Lepaih tu baru tengok race calendar 2011. Walaubagaimanapun, kat FB dah ada 13 event invitation. Aku cuma jeling-jeling je dulu. Bajet kena susun baik-baik. Itu kita akan cerita kendian.

SCMS 2010 - Edisi saja cari pasal

Tu dia aih! Aku dah register bulan nam lagi tuh! Punya lah aku scroll dalam yahoo mailbox dok cari confirmation slip. Tu dia, nuun jauh di bawah. And dalam dua minggu open, dah penuh. Even early bird pun tak sempat nak bertelur!

Gedebak gedebuk, tup-tap tup-tap sampai dah. Program letihan tak seberapa. Dah ler recovery dari Powerman punya ler lama. Hampir seminggu lebih. Simptom-simptom fatigue memang ketara saperti mood swing, tak lena tidur, hidung berair dll. Aku juga hampir demam over the weekend. So terpaksa miss satu LSD. Untuk itu, aku hanya mampu buat satu je LSD seminggu sebelum SCMS. Cukup lah sekadar basahkan tekak. Memang aku tak bubuh target yang mendongak ke langit. Aku tau kemampuan buat masa tu, jadi takde tekanan untuk aku berlari buat julung kali di Temasek sejauh 26 batu. Yang penting spend time dengan kawan-kawan & aku sumbat jugak family vacation untuk ke Universal Studio sekali. Yep, untuk masa-masa yang akan datang, aku akan teruskan projek 2 dalam 1.

Aku sampai JB awal sikit, kononnya nak rest secukupnya. Jumaat whole day aku chill balun masakan ibu tersayang yang dah jatuh kategori carbo-overloading. Disebabkan Deti terpaksa bail out last minute dari race, aku buat adhoc program perjalanan untuk masuk Singapore seawal Sabtu pagi yang gelap. Hitched ride dengan bas rombongan Azmar. Dapat pulak rezki aku tiket terlebih masuk USS, so ronda hampir setengah hari dengan Azmar. Hujan lebat di USS pagi tu sampai ke tengahari. So kepala aku ada sikit ting-tong. Walaupun ting-tong, aku sempat bedal nasi bryani Pharaoh sepinggan kat situ sebab rugi kalau tak guna meal voucher.

Kami cargas ke Marina Float untuk collect bib & meet up dengan Ziff, Ray, Kak June, Az Hana, Zaki. Ada jugak jumpa Rustam, Suhaimi & beberapa Klang runners. Kami dok berkampung ler kejap kat dalam tu dok buat kecoh. Geng yang baru sampai semua dah lapar, so the idea ialah 2 in 1. Lunch at Novena Velocity. Tu dia! Pandai je aku atur program. Depa semua pilih Kenny Rogers dan aku balun untuk second round lunch. Perut dah mula sendat, kaki dah memang sedia lenguh, mata pun ada sikit-sikit berat.

Segala yang lemah tadi terus lenyap bila kami mulakan projek tawaf dalam Velocity tu. Tu dia! Ada la dekat 10 kedai sukan dalam tu. Ye la 10 kot tapi yang pastinya memang banyak di bawah satu bumbung! Huru hara dibuatnya kontinjen RBU petang tu. Macam komunis serang Bukit Kepong! Mula-mula dok alim lagi masuk sama-sama. Tapi lepaih 2 kedai, masing-masing dah tunjuk belang. Habih berterabur buat destinasi sendiri. Ada jugak yang masuk kedai 2 kali sebab tak puasa hati. Tiap kali belek barang, mesti tekan handphone convert harga. Lol! Yang murah kami sambau, yang mahal kami jadikan sempadan. Nak kata shopping sakan tu idak ler tapi aku cuma beli sepasang stokin secara adhoc sebab stokin yang aku bawak lencun kena hujan pagi tu. Barang lain setakat pegang, belek, tengok harga & cium tapak tangan aje. Perbelanjaan berhemah orang tua-tua kata. Pukul 7 baru ler masing-masing insaf & kami beredar ke reban masing-masing untuk gantung kaki & simpan dalam freezer.

Aku & Azmar dengan belas ehsan Ziff dapat la berbumbung di York Hotel belakang Orchard Road tu. Ada la 500m ke starting line. Aku dengar kaum lain pun dekat-dekat jugak. Malam kami merayau dekat-dekat je untuk dinner nasi padang kat Lucky Plaza & tewas dengan nafsu punya pasal, sambung pulak bedal burger McDonald - ni dah kes bela hantu raya beb. Lol. Kaki yang dah memang lenguh memang ler mencari pasal untuk esok yang penuh penyesalan.

3.30am bukan main liat nak bangun. Ada jugak 5% dalam hati nak aje terus tidur, bangun kul 9 sambung jalan-jalan - teruk betul. Lol. Apa nak jadik, jadik lah. Aku cuma nak merasa macam mana agaknya berlari dengan jumlah 20 ribu orang buat full marathon distance. Sampai je Orchard Road, tau dah aku. Punya la melaut! Tak putus manusia beb. Siap ada first and second wave. Walaupun dah flag-off, ramai lagi yang lepak-lepak tepi jalan. Aku & Ziff masuk second wave & hampir 20 minit sampai starting line. Tu pun termasuk ler jalan-berhenti-jalan mode. Muka familiar tak jumpa kecuali Sara CAR & Tey yang jerit kat aku dari tepi railing. Best sikit dapat tengok muka kawan-kawan.

Tapi itu hanya sementara. Aku pace dengan Ziff dalam gelap dingin entah jalan mana kami lalu. Pusing sana-sini. Ada yang lebar, ada jugak sempit. Memang tak payah nak zig-zag mengelak ler, buat penat. Layan je tapi terasa macam dok pusing-pusing kat situ je. Kami terpaksa berpisah bila aku decide untuk melawat toilet sebelum KM10. Hajat kecik je walaupun gesa-gesa hajat besar sudah mula tunjuk petanda. Tapi aku dapat catch up balik dengan Ziff lepas tu & layan pace aku sendiri.

Part lalu kat F1 pit and depan float tu memang hebat nampak. Segala apa pace note aku dah prepare semua dok tinggal kat JB. Hampeh betul. Hanya berbekalkan powergel + GU & 8 lagu kat dalam MP3 anak aku. Ni semua cari pasal nombor dua la ni. Sebaik aje masuk area East Coast Park, langit dah mula cerah & jalan mula sempit sikit. Aku dok pilih toilet untuk hajat kecik kali kedua. Tak pernah dalam sejarah aku dok buang hajat macam ni punya kerap. Apa dah jadik nih? Dengan ribuan manusia, setiap toilet memang gerenti kena beratur & telan at least 10 minit. Selesai kes toilet, aku decide untuk pasang lagu and layan sampai ke distance 21KM. Entah berapa lama aku berlari layan lagu, baru aku teringat aku lupa tekan stopwatch lepas keluar toilet. Cis! Habis ler entah berapa timing aku.

Ni je yang sempat aku rakam sebelum Marina Barrage. Memang lawo.

Runners yang seberang sana yang dah u-turn dah bertambah ramai. Memang sah aku dah ketinggalan. KM25 tahap kebosanan dah mula bermain di akal. Mau jalan or mau maintain lari? Nak sampaikan KM28 untuk habiskan East Coast Park pun dah mula menduga kecekalan. Aku mula mengatur langkah berjalan sebaik aje lalu area padang golf. Part lalu area construction tu aku tabah untuk berlari sebab panas yang amat & route pun tak menarik untuk layan jiwa. Sebaik nak sampai Marina Barrange, permandangan & angin laut cukup best untuk aku teruskan berlari-lari anak. Ada part aku jalan, ada part aku lari. Memang total opposite dari KL Marathon.

Jambatan yang tinggi dan panjang tu kompom aku jalan sampai atas. Bukan tak boleh berlari tapi saja malas. Turun jambatan aku lari tapi sebaik aje nampak route tu dok pusing balik, kekecewaan melanda. Aiyo! Ada 6KM lagi dan aku rasa satu jarak yang sangat-sangat tak sabar aku nak habiskan. Aza dok potong aku masa aku dok makan angin. Semangat dia. Bagus. Last jambatan at last KM, aku nampak Aza & depan sikit Ziff! Fuiyo! Aku kena tapau dengan pelari tegar batch baru. Caya ler. Aku atur langkah untuk catch up and bagi semangat sikit sedangkan aku pun dah tinggal habuk je. Aza & Ziff nampak bersemangat & kuat menghabiskan marathon diorang. Aku hanya akur untuk follow belakang slow-slow cross finish line.

Tapau 2 botol air, 2 tin 100plus, collect medal & finisher tee lepas tu dok berkampung bawah pokok dengan kaum yang lain. Tak dapat jumpa Ray & Ijam untuk salam lambungan. Dengan kaki yang dah terasa macam batang balak, Ziff, Azmar & aku melangkah ke MRT station untuk pulang ke hotel sekadar untuk bersihkan diri & check out. Langsung tak sempat nak lelap seminit dua. Ziff terus naik bas balik KL at 3.30pm while Azmar, Zaki & aku layan nasi bryani Zam-Zam sebelum pulang ke tanahair.

All in all, event memang mantop. Crowd memang giler ramai. Kalau la rakyat Malaysia yang gemuk-gemuk kuat makan & berpenyakit tu dapat berlari macam rakyat Temasek ni memang best. Aku nampak diorang kat sini berlari dah macam outing. They are having fun & at the same time challenge diri sendiri. Yang competitive tu ada jugak tapi tak seramai yang casual. Memang sepanjang hampir 6 jam & sejauh 42km tu, keliling aku tak kurang dari 50 orang. Kalau kat KL Marathon hari tu, sampai Tijani dah sunyi sepi jalan tu. Even berjalan kat Orchard Road tengahari tu nak balik ke hotel dengan pakain lari pun aku tak rasa pelik sebab ramai lagi yang lain macam kita orang.

By the time aku sampai KL siang tadi, result pun dah kuar. Memang betul-betul makan hangin keluar asap tahap gaban punya performance. Ni semua gara-gara cari pasal punya pasal. Hehe. Untuk sahabat yang sama-sama berjuang and cemerlang, setinggi tahniah untuk kalian. Teruskan berlari marathon! Sebaik aje cross finish line, tobat dah nak buat marathon. Sehari selepas, dah mula gatal fikir pasal Borneo. Cheh!

Ranking : 5267

Gun Start Time : 05:00:28
Chip Start Time : 05:19:54
CP10k : 01:36:40
CP21k : 02:57:57
CP21k : 02:59:34
CP30k : 04:10:45
Chip Finish Time : 05:42:06

Revisiting Temasek

There you go. Arrived safely in JB 12.30 a.m. last night amidst the continuous drizzling along the 300km. And now typing this with the smell of chicken curry from mom's kitchen. Carboload or spice up? Hope I don't fall into feeding frenzy and got all spicy until race day. That would be disaster.

My second race in Temasek will be this Sunday. Sundown was test water only, running the half distance and experiencing the much-talked about awesome race events perfectly organised. True that but hujan batu di negeri sendiri kan? When it comes to races that require travelling, a checklist is a must. I don't want to end up missing vital stuff especially when I have 5 hours on the road in foreign soil somemore! And I need to travel light also. And the list goes on with some logistics thrown in for transport and lodging.

The initial plan was to run slow. Not setting any ambitious target considering the tiny commitment I gave towards training and even smaller is the milage logged. Thinking about it will only give me the chills up my spine, hence I will just run non-stop at whatever pace sustainable. It would  be senseless to go into battle without a mission, so I have prepared a pace note targetting for anything below 5hr30min. Achievable? Cross my fingers. The best part is, I have the rest of the RBU peeps whilst sharing the battlefield i.e. Ziff, Ray, Zack, Ijam, Yim, Azmar and many others. Definitely the Chap Ayam Runners will be there as well.

Good luck to all friends running the Temasek Marathon! Thanks to the rest of the peeps for the wishes.

Back and forth

Almost a week now after Powerman. Things are pretty much back into the groove now. I was tired from the race and also from the road trip. Took me almost 3 days to apprehend myself back. That particular 3 days were full of eat and sleep. Yawn and hungry most of the time. Monday lunch, Det and me had 2 plates each of fried kuew teow and sizzling steak. We got stares from the next table and smiles from the waitress for the feeding frenzy. I supposed they saw Hantu Raya kot. Lol.

I had to ditch raya trip back to JB so as not to add more stress to the recovering body. Felt a tingling of flu bug flying around but I must stay strong because the weekend is just around the corner for warriors' stuff. And I like to log this in as well - I gained 3 kilos after Powerman, perhaps due to the appetite and something that I left behind for good. I'll keep that to myself but it's gonna be a fight for a better me.

The stuff that brought me across
safe & sound

I supposed the race was magnificent for me and for the rest. On top of the merciful weather, my strategy to start slow and take it easy as the tempo rises, worked. With only a handful of training logs, using weekend races and race smartly, pretty much pushed me for a safe and injury free Powerman. KOM Cameron, Mizuno Wave Run and Genting Trailblazer were the only platforms for me to attest that I was ready for the big one. Despite the not-so-hebat preps, I was also down with plantar fasciitis on both feet and the old left knee pain. I went easy on rides and runs, shoved in Glucosamines a week prior and many thanks to Rayzeef for the spectacular Rocktape that I used on race day.

In two weeks time, my first marathon in Temasek. Nothing much to target for since logging milage was never near to what I did in KL Marathon. I was hoping Powerman helped me with the endurance. The plan is stay running and enjoy the scenes with running peeps Det and Ziff. Since the organiser promised a spectacular marathon route, I'll pop in my camera as well. With two weekends remaining, I will just stick to the LSD milage schedule and taper as it goes.

So many races sprouting approaching 2011 - am I early to talk about this? Organisers have been aware that a well scheduled race attracts more crowd which on top of that allow each party to plan and prepare well. Take Borneo Marathon and Sundown Marathon for example. Both races have been lambung-ed in blogs and facebook for awhile now. Fellow enthusiasts have been struck with the mental kacau illness. Adding salt to the future pain, Sundown raised the 84km to 100km for the ultra category. Can you really beat the sunrise? I'm afraid, both these events are not in my initial plan for the moment.

Upgrades?

A recent gift from my dearest wifey prior to Powerman pretty much reflected her continuous support to me as a husband-father-wannabe-athlete. Top notch appreciattion I must say. Now I'm back to my oldself flipping book pages, just like a moth to a light bulb, just like her (lepas ni azam gosok baju siang malam tanpa kenal penat! Lol). Does that mean it will fall under Project 2011? I dunno. We'll see how it progresses. It's a layout plan, see. I'll just choose and pick when the time comes.

On top of that, I'm eyeing to return back to the old dirt stuff. With my mountainbike sold, I look forward for dirt on foot come 2011. Recently was being lambung-ed by Zairin for the Kinabalu Climbathon. Seems doable enough. With that in the 2011 pipeline, the N9 Mountain Circuit is a must to qualify my confidence as  Luke Skywalker. Hehe.

Thats about it I guess. I rarely do midweek post but these itchy fingers can't say no to the ideas. To all you bridge runners, may the force be with you. Perhaps I'll join you guys next year when Powerman is not as near as this year.

Seri Manjung...revisited

Returning to Seri Manjung was like years back when I kept on returning to Penang for the Mountainbike Jamboree. I think I frequent Penang for 5 years in a row to scale up Penang Hill on two wheels and descending the gorgeous singletracks with insanity. Now the path took a detour which started in 2007 when I first signed up for the Sprint Duathlon. The name was a deception. It was meant for the shorter distance duathlon for newbies and not a fast duathlon. I skipped 2008 which I don't remember why. Returned for the individual long distance in 2009 and got severely koyak-ed and burnt. For the last two days, I was with the bestest peeps for my second individual age category race.

I only managed to capture photos before and after for camarederie part. No photos in action and hoping for photos of me from fellow friends :)

Meet up point at R&R Sg Buloh.
L-R: Rahim, Azmar, Panjang, Det, Hancik, Bahri, Syeikh Jamil

We planned for an easy drive through the coastal way, so we met up early. Easily access from Sungai Buloh, the route took us through the gorgeous padi fields of Kuala Selangor - Tanjung Karang - Sekinchan - Sungai Besar - Sabak Bernam before entering Perak State. Too bad I was behind the steering wheel, or else I could've captured those awesome vastness of greens. Lunch at the Setiawan - Teluk Intan juncture with delicious ikan keli sambal all around the table. Was that coincidence or should we call it syncronization? Lol.

Shuk and Ziff focusing to the race briefing in calmness

Arrived safely at Seri Manjung for Ziff's bib collection and timing chip deposit. Weather was pretty much the Seri Manjung way. We need to get to our lodging and cool off for the noon. Thanks to CK and Jaja for hosting us with the magnificent shelter. It was splendid! We met the Snap-Attack team staying there as well and laze around before returning to Seri Manjung for the briefing. I was told that the biggest turn out this year reaching 950 participants!

Listening to Yusran's lambung about 2011 Berlin Marathon

From previous visits, the ikan gerut masak halia offered by M.I.B. just near to Outward Bounders School was simply irresistable for a post race dinner. And I think it was the safest menu before a race yet totally yummilicious! With sotong goreng tepung thrown in and sayur campur, everybody dug in with hands across the table sampai terbelit!

Peeps in starving mode. Last year same spot & time with slightly different faces.
Saiful, Nizam & Alwin replaced with Shuk, Ziff & Det.

Kumpulan Ekamatra, Teluk Batek Chapter

Main carboloading dish, ikan gerut masak halia (belum dihidang)

Men In Black (Medan Ikan Bakar daaa...)

When it comes to multisport, preparations were a bit tedious for a newbie like me - once a year only what. So the checklist was gone through a few times. The whole house was busy and of course lambung sessions were intertwined in between the havoc. Once in awhile, shouts from the Manchester United vs Aston Villa's game forced us to run down the stairs to join the suspense. Helmet, cycle shoes, run shoes, vest, short, shades, hydrations, gels, Vaseline, Banana Boat, Nuun, Camelbak, Rocktape, Spibelt, racebelt. You name it. We have almost everything from the triathlon shops.

Due to the hectic hour, we ended up hungry again. Thanks to me from a gentle lambung, everybody joined for a plate of maggi goreng and teh tarik at Lumut town for supper. We hit the sack almost mid night. It started to drizzle and stretched away till morning. Blessing for a perfect weather on race day? Aku terima se-ada nya.

Our lovely mysterious shelter *Twilight zone song playing

However, the night was not quite simple for me. Yes, Shazly did told us about a few mysterious happenings at night. I didn't expect that it happened on our welcoming night! Six of us in a room. Shuk slept alone downstairs since he didn't know about it. Hahaha! Well, those Twilight Zone thing happened from the minute I lay down until 4.00 a.m. Darn it! I missed my precious sleep. 4.30 a.m. alarm went off. With only 30 minutes of eyes shut, I have to obliged.

Drizzling was at the same intensity for the last few hours. I sensed a perfect race day and perhaps a PB for everyone. We stocked up our gears into/onto the cars and left for the Seri Manjung Stadium at 6.00 a.m. It was still dark and drizzling. Two toilet visits, no chance for warm up but sempat lagi cam whoring, suddenly I realised we were flagged off! Something different about this year's race, I have no jitters. Perhaps I don't expect too much. Perhaps I eased myself and relax for not wanting to repeat the same mistake. My plan was to easy peazy for the first 11km run, subtle effort on the bike and whack on the second 10km run. That's about doable kan? Hope so.

I started way back. Back behind Bahri. Behind CK. Laif and Adeline were also on the easy pace. Without much running lately prior to the race, I just stayed with the jog pace. It was still cold and pretty much a great moment to enjoy the run, while I still can. Considering breathing and pace were syncronized in perfect melody, I push the pace, slightly, at the second loop of the 5km lap - Gel 1 was swigged. An hour to complete was perhaps pushing my luck, so I decided to settle with 1:03.

T1 was a bit jumble up. Deciding to wear the Oakley or not took me 10 seconds already. Aiya! Because the weather was still overcast and no sun yet. Anyway, the best place was just to put it on considering other jumbles might come anytime into the race later. It took me awhile to get the right cadence and adjust the position but all was good as I sailed away towards the U-turn. Only a few meters after the the turn, I did my only mistake. I shifted to lighter gears, thinking not to weigh my legs. Cramp struck at the slightest chance of a window. Zap! I slowed down and held out my secret Nuun tablet. Popped it up and sipped all the way back for the second 30km lap. Targetting to average out half an hour for every stretch to and fro, and popping gels on each attempt, the cycling leg was improved. Much better, I felt great! 5 gels downed.

The moment of truth came as Det and me arrived at T2 together. I stretched the calves and back on the bike prior to reaching T2 (last minute tips from Youtube). Det left early only to find he forgot the mp3 player. Hehe. I on the other hand saved it to plug in those precious songs I've selected just for the 10km run. Again, I took it easy to accustom the legs. Voila! I can run! And slowly increasing the pace while tuning in to AC/DC, Blind Pilot, The Cardigans, Stepphenwolf and CCR. My Favourite Game by The Cardigans really pushed the pace for a perfect first loop. With generous water stations at every 2km or so, I stopped for a sip and cold bath. Ziff was safely snugged beside the running track at the stadium, after finishing his race. Thanks for the shot of support and picture bro!

I saw comrades suffered cramps and overheating. Those were bad memories which I don't wish to go down again. I pity them but I don't have Nuun anymore with me. I tried to provide pacing for Zairin and Fadil but they simply don't have the response. Shoot to Thrill tuned in perfectly in time as I reached the last corner and headed straight back to the stadium. There was nothing more describable than to finish strong with good running gait. I was surprised they held up the finishing tape for me. It was an awesome welcoming gesture. Heads up to watch the clock and smile for photos - kalau ada la. Lol. It was 4:20.

I was simply lazy to get my camera in the car and just stood around enjoying juicy watermelons, oranges and tau fu fa with friends. Fellow peeps rolled in one after another. Saw Yim at the medal table and shook hands for a great battle. The final finishing was CK. We waited for him at the finishing gantry. He was surely glad that to finish in style at the very last hour of the race just like Kak June's celebration in KL Marathon. Hehe.

The OBS, Teluk Batek Gang.
L-R: Azahari, Shuk, CK, Jaja, Pipi, Hancik, Det, me, Bahri & Ziff

Overall, the race was made perfect with the extra water stations at the run leg. The rest was sweetness, just like previous years. If only they resurface the road for the cycling leg since potholes and puddles were a little bit dangerous for cyclists. Weather was a blessed. I was prepared for the worse actually, but this year, it was a bonus though the streaking hot at the second run was never close to what I felt last year. Fellow comrades were as usual the fun people and easy going. Hope you guys had a blast with the trip as well. So I read that 2011 will be Powerman's 10th edition. Are we talking about X-Powerman?! Sure is. *wink!

Mee rebus Restoran Gulam post mortem. Mostly cerita hantu. Lol



Seri Manjung...here I come (Powerman 2010)

11-Nov: As I was about to get flushed away into the Seri Manjung race jitters this morning, I received a phone call from Jaja about last night's mishap happened to a fellow friend. Esmenn. I don't quite know him but we exchanged smiles and Hi! a few times at races and trainings. He was hit by a taxi at Cyberjaya last night whilst cycling to Putrajaya for brick training with friends. Updates and detail coverage can be found in Facebook walls by fellow friends and Julie's blog as well. I pray for his fast recovery and good health. And to Malaysian motorists, wherever you are and at anytime, please stay alert on the road. You'll never know it might be your love ones that fall prey to careless drivers. For loving cyclists, bring functioning blinkers and road ID.

13-Nov: My thoughts kept on flying here and there about the upcoming task I'll be facing this Sunday. It's not that I've never done it before but a commitment is better be dealt with a fresh plan. The thing is...I don't quite have a firm plan yet! Take it slow or not take it slow. Full throttle or easy on the gas. Those are mind games for an uncomfort mind. Perhaps it's normal. The same feeling last year prior to the race. I think it was worse.

To straighten things out, I shall focus and stay focus. Thinking and planning should ease up the mind:

Source : Malaysian Meteorological Department

Negeri Perak

Ahad, 14/11/2010

Hujan curah/sementara di satu dua tempat

Petang Pagi : Tiada hujan

Petang : Hujan curah/sementara di satu dua tempat

Malam : Tiada hujan

Pulau Pangkor (nearest to Seri Manjung)

Ahad, 14/11/2010

Tiada hujan

Sepanjang Hari Pagi : Tiada hujan

Petang : Tiada hujan

Malam : Tiada hujan

Minimum : 23 °C

Maksimum : 31 °C - an so I was told! Lol!

Subuh : 5.44 a.m.

I shall be in control of myself. Pace, hydration, meal and bike should be within reach. What's beyond control i.e. weather, it's all in the mind. Sejuk! Sejuk! Sejuk! Lol.

Last but not least, a battle is incomplete without a theme. Here goes lads - man, these boys are as all as me?

Fun filled Maruku Weekend

No it doesn't relates to any of my involvement with the Deepavali but it was a totally prefect long weekend break for a breather. Kind of pampering myself with sleep, eat and training. What else can I ask?

Friday

Short morning considering Friday prayer started early. No rain and sunny sky awaits. Time for a quality short cycle. What was supposed to be a group of seven was cut short to five but substituted with one hell of a strong cyclist - Abu Power. From home, Alwin, Jaja and me cycled to Batu 9 to meet up with Bacin and Zakuan. Abu hooked on at Batu 14. The plan was slightly twitched to accommodate fellow Broga racers come Sunday. It was Bukit Hantu (in reverse from Batu 14) followed by Genting Peres and down back the normal Batu 18 route. My only second time climbing Bukit Hantu in reverse. The first was during my first Langat ride and also first ride. That was torment. Struggling to keep the handle straight and moved the bike an inch at each cranking.

Today, it was awesome. The climb was perfect with fresh legs and blessed sun, just enough to sprinkle sweat on the forehead. Magnificent 4km incline. Regroup at the top and squeking brakes down towards the dam and straight to Peres. Enjoyed every moment of the climb, good enough not to push the heart rate and chit chatting away with the peeps. Of course the VIB (Very Important Bike) of the day was non other than a brand new Specialized Amira Pro proudly owned and strongly cangkuk by Jaja herself. Talking about great machines can do to you. I was mesmerized.

The regrouping was short at the peak and we were cruising down like pros close to each other. As we hit the flat kampung road, all hell broke loose. 45kph was insane! Yes, all blame goes to Abu and of course the rest of us got enough endorphines to be hooked on for a mere 20 minutes killer speed. We were cursed later with roti canai & iced Milo at Batu 18. The ride back home was hot! Hot! Hot! but all was good.

In the evening we participated in the Trikidz Adventure Race at I-City, Shah Alam. Deo and Jaja were there as volunteers. Nothing exciting actually but I strongly feel that they can do WAY much better than that. Kids love medals, it's worth to give them medals to balance up the steep fee we have to fork out. Period.

Saturday

Lazy bum day.

Sunday

Revisited LSD. Bukit Aman to Seri Hartamas and back. Never felt better. The crowd just adds to the excitement. Almost look like a race. PACM was there to provide hydrations at two water stations. Thank you. We ran in pack. I missed this. There were closely up to five of us and the group grew bigger on our way back. Very the easy pace with a few tempo slotted in later in the run.

Sunday evening had beautiful weather. Kids were playing football on the street while I took the chance to clean my trusty black steed for Seri Manjung revisit.

Genting Trailblazer 2010 - Boom De Ya Da!

I love the mountains
I love the clear blue skies
I love the sore legs
I love the smell of Perskindol
Boom De Ya Da!

The world we live in, it is simply awesome. It is such a better place when you can share it with fellow friends. My Genting Trailblazer 2010 debut was another chapter of having beautiful great peeps get together in getting mud in our pants.

The morning peeps met up at a morning joint as early as 5.15 a.m. for some morning talks, morning foods, morning chores and morning cam whoring. Weather was pretty much gorgeous unlike the day before when it rained cats and dogs disbanding all training attempts. We carpooled to Genting with Shuk leading the way.



Bulb faces and ready to take the world

Most of us parked at the old cable car station (Ziff told me about it). Ample parking and since we were hyped with secret partners and conspiracies flying around prior to the day, everyone looked a bit secretive that morning whilst prepping up for the race. See what I mean?

Zack : Air apa tu bro? Lain macam je kaler?
Ziff : Uish! Rahsia bro. Ini aku bagi kena embun 7 malam Jumaat ni

Ini komplot sorok Kelas A. Almost kantoi by me

The biggest secret group around. Ni mesti kes seludup budu dalam camelbak

Zack was surprised as I sneak behind him for this pic. Kenapa Zack?

And see that innocent face la konon. Subskin tarak pakai ka bro?



Even the strongest team still have their last minute secret strategy. See?

Lucky we have the most honest person. Det. See that jujur face? Lu OK ke bro?
Mau lari kutub utara ka?

Well, the checking in for the teams and bib pinning session and also special stretching slot by CA went on smoothly at the football field. Now and then some of us were quite annoyed by the voice from the loudspeaker whom kept on reminding the bib numbers should be on the chest and not down at the tummy level. I almost felt like it was school assembly. The stretching and cam whoring was a good mix that morning.

Pelari kutub utara admiring Ijam Superman's pose

Stretch those legs wide enough. The hills will kill ya if you don't

We were also entertained by some creative RBU with their race appearance. These, I present some samples of Boria Bukit Mertajam :)

Team Clown Superman Ijam & Rayzeef with their latest costume

Jaja and Mas cladded in Brooks and Subskins. Shopping bag pun masih ada?

Enough with the smiles and laughters, Men's Open were flagged off first at 8.30 a.m. I noticed not quite a huge crowd behind the starting line. Exiting the football field and straight onto tarmac road winding down and up around Awana resort. The Orange Team Macam Bagus paved the way, strong pace, and some of us attempted to hook on. Rayzeef almost got carried away with the pace until he realised Ijam was not close by.

Approaching the golf course route, the Orange guys left Nik and me. The view was indeed breathtaking but I was a bit occupied when Zairinator came to my side for a short chat before he sped off giving chase for whatever he had in mind. I was however got sucked into the race as well, only to be caught by surprised when there is this mega hill standing right in front.  The steep winding incline reminds me of the Jeep Track of Penang Hill back in the mountainbiking days. The closest resemblance where mere seconds of pushing the pace a bit will only result with disaster. Shoving into lower gear, this diesel engine legs started to switch to smaller steps and higher rev while control breathing. First Orange Guy decided to take it easy half way up while Syah have left the scene. "Aku nak stop minum air kejap, kau go ahead." Nik said to me. I waited for him at the end of it before jumping onto the slippery technical singletracks.

We were fortunate to make it through most of the runners by the time we hit the singletrack. I tried to find the best opportunity to overtake here where it was slippery and deep gorges awaiting for the careless footsteps. It was a downhill trip and when dry leaves cover the trail, the friction was good enough for a fast descending with switchbacks. I noticed a few of us kept on overtaking each other. There were this guy from Safra Runners, a young Malay bloke and a team of strong Chinese guys. The Womens Team came up close from behind at one of the descend, I gave them way sensing they are chasing the podium.

World class dirt slide

The first off road hill welcomed us after the stream. It was massive. Reminds me of Bukit Apek. Only that most of us were in race mode unlike Bukit Apek hike and chat mode. We were on four most of the times. Continuous jerking of the calves will only cause disaster and zapped too many juice. I also used my hands to hurled me upwards keeping a smooth transition in between the steps. It was more like wall climbing rather than a hike up at times. View upwards/ahead only gave butt sights and endless incline. Crazy.

At the second monster climb Dino and Steph hurriedly overtook us. An attempt to cangkuk only lasted for 15 minutes before the monster bit back. Once in a while I can hear Nik self talk but we were quite a distance apart only to have visual contact when the terrain permits. Ronnie caught up with me again after the golf course climb. "Waaa...you laju maaa? Manyak kuat?" and kept on asking me to slow down. Only today I can be infront of him, else he'll be smoking me at KLCC park every Thursday. Lol.

We exited the monster's belly and into the open only to find another 1km. With small strides, I forced myself to run together with Nik who by this time have a second wind. From a top, we could see the football field and there were not many participants finishing yet. Is that a good sign? No idea but cramp symtomps started creeping in. Nope. Not this time dude. The fun just about to start. The obstacles.

Jump across the first pond. Saved. Second one was slighly a feet wider for my attempt and a big splash officially marked my soaking entry. Cold water and muddy bottom shall trigger cramp anytime. I tried to ignore the possibilities. Up and down and splash. The thing repeatedly went on until at one of the mega slide down, Nik's camera sunk to the bottom. OMG! We blindly meraba-raba for it while more people sliding down made it worse. Aiyo! I caught his foot instead when I thought it was the camera. Lol. And a few attempts only gave me old shoe soles. How many shoes lost their battle here? Finally Nik found it. Phew! We continued on with the rest of the obstacles and crossed the finish line at 19th place. Fuh! I almost didn't quite believe it but the effort was justified. Was that 1:48 Nik? My stopwatch clocked 2:40 which included shower and eating time. I forgot. Lol.

The cold shower, cleanups and food and more lambung with fellow RBUS on the field under the beautiful sky was perfect. We waited for Jaja to complete and headed to Ian's place for a warm birthday gathering arranged by RBU for Nik and me - the October guys. Thank you so much for everything guys. You guys are simply awesome.

The food was fantastic.

I always kept an eye on what CA Chief eats. What he eats is always a good one :)

Chin up everyone. Self cam-whoring the easiest way to have me inside the pic :D

Ahmed Lamchanak the Men Open Champion.
We always come across each other lately. Why eh?

Without the Pirate King himself, I am nobody at Trailblazer 2010. Thanks bro!

The Circle of Blue Calves