Pelari tegar

Eversince I followed a lot of runners' blogs and read them day by day, being inspired and learned about their skills surviving a day's life squeezing in runs and workouts, I read the word "pelari tegar" so often. That is from CAR's blog la. I also found more of the word in the newspapers and on TV. It sounds a bit funny but strong at the same. Anyway, I ran with 10 other "pelari tegar" to Sri Hartamas and back this weekend.

My pre-LSD day was so bad. I got stuck in the office without connection to the worldwide web & a dateline to meet. Weather outside was mad, with thunderstorm in mid-morning, humid in the afternoon and another whack of thunderstorm in late evening. As usual Klang Valley was paralysed, given the fact that it was also Friday evening. My Wednesday's sore throat got better but my running nose went from bad to worse. I was so chilled that the body started responding to near fever as I arrived home.

I had early dinner and pampered myself away for an early siesta hoping for a full rest. Mind was thinking hard that I can make it through the night for full recovery. I was looking forward for Saturday's LSD knowing the crowd and the need for it before NB30k next week.

5.00am alarm went off. Dragged my half awake legs to the bath & ready for a morning cold drive to Bukit Aman. Met the rest of buddies & performed our Subuh. By 6.37am we headed to Sri Hartamas at a conversational pace, it's LSD and I'm so determined that I can survive this although it was barely 6 months I have not ran here. And also realizing that I was about 98% recovering from a night's fever. AND, NB30k is next week dude!

Weather was great. Perhaps every drop of drain has gone down Klang River by now. It was still dark as we passed Bank Negara. When bloggers run together, it was fun. We talked a lot about blog writeups & how we fascinate other bloggers' entries & how they inspire us. Talk and talk and talk, we finally reached Sri Hartamas for a quick purchase of drinks & a breather. No time wasted, the journey back to Bukit Aman continued with good pace & faith. Though we got strung out surviving the undulating terrain of Plaza Damas & back to Jalan Duta, it seemed most of us were in good wellbeing. We regrouped at Jalan Duta and paced out each other all the way back to Bukit Aman.

I started feeling the lack of full fever recovery upon approaching Padang Merbuk & Bukit Aman. Running mechanics turned uneconomical. I was struggling to maintain a good pace. I knew that it was time to listen. Dude, take it easy la. OK. OK. Cool it dude. The final push back into carpark and that's it. Clocking 2:03 for a 20.13km was not bad at all pacing an average of 6.08. Need to refuel, and I mean fast. Stomach was rumbling like kenduri kahwin. A quick dashed for mee hun goreng at Tangling followed by NB30k bib collection at Hotel Singgahsana. Met up with some old friends. Spent the remaining time recuperating at home.

My Sunday ride was abandoned. A last minute text from Saiful informing he had to cancel his ride. With my half contemplating mind plus half ailing, I accepted the fact of no Sunday ride...again.

Wet Sunday

Abandoning a Sunday ride is something really frustrating when oneself really looked forward for it after a not so good new year run race. The alarm went off at 6.15 and as usual I jammed it to silent & wishing for a few more minutes pushing my face into the pillow. However, the tapping sound on the gutter awaken me with much more impact than the alarm. Hey! It's raining lah! Aiyo!

A quick text to ride buddies before I hurried for bath. A few messages came in reply as I heard it from the bath. Ibrahim, the furthest from Sg. Buloh, decided to bail out since he do not wish to drive across Klang Valley just to be welcomed with frustrated smiles. Saiful was already on his way & so was Hanchik. Bahri gave until 7.00 a.m. timeline for decisions.

Saiful & Hanchik arrived in time for me to unlock the gate & the three of us chatted our way through under the car porch killing time as the rain consistently drizzled for another half an hour. I suggested for a breakfast at a nearby hang out since my inner voice started to growl louder than the tropic thunder. Roti canai & teh tarik before a ride is a menu for a ditch. Rain stopped at 8.00 a.m. & each of us completed our trip to the restroom for decisions. Hehe. The ever-spirited Hanchik decided to drive up to Batu 18 & proceeded with the ride plan while Saiful & me opted for a lazy cozy Sunday morning.

It turned out to be not so lifeless morning eventually. I was incharge of the school opening fiesta at home. Preparing text books, exercise books, stamped names on them, teaching Amir on how to manage his school bag & filling up more forms. It ended almost the same time as riding up Peres & back. After lunch, me & the kids snugged ourselves deep into the sofa & watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs while wifey gone to the library.

The day was not given away that easy without workout. My original plan to make a trip to Lake Garden was abandoned after Det proposed for a loop of McDonald's route. Turn up was not bad. Four of us, my orang kampung, paced the 8.5km loop in a casual manner just in time before it started to drizzle.

Looking ahead towards NB30k which is just around the block, I knew that I have to train harder to enjoy it. With the remaining days, which is actually another week of training...aiyo!...I'm desperate to spend more time on my legs than ever.

Down memory path with the spirit of pia!

It was an awesome morning to welcome the new year with a race at non-other all time favourite Lake Garden. The smell of fresh botanic and deer dung enveloped Tapak A starting line with more than 200 other enthusiast runners. Der pacemakers guys hold this event every year. Since it hit the calendar with an ideal long weekend break, it's a good chance to get those running legs more milage for future events.

The race was simple, kept at a controllable crowd participation and yet successful. Big successful events born from small ones like this. I hope they keep up the good effort in serving our running community though I believed that it's no easy task organising one.

However I was a bit on the low side approaching the scene. Feeling a bit sluggish from unfocused mind & unsleepy night as I yawned my way towards Bukit Aman parking lot. Met Shuk and we were both excited upon seeing familiar faces to begin our day. We have Der Pacemaker guys, Chap Ayam Runners represented by more familiar faces & a new group, Cari Runners.

We completed the 3.08km loop in 4 laps which included 4 times cursing our knees up the 170 steps towards the memorial. Pace was inconsistent and my heart rate was zoning in the lactate threshold, a strong consequence from unprepared self. I was having difficulty to get a negative split at every lap to which I concluded the race with a 1:13:53 feeling exhausted, which reminds me that for next upcoming 30k will be another curse if I stayed undisciplined.

Despite all the sweet agony and a few more minutes blending in with new friends, I recalled all those moments down memory path as I ran around the lake. I was never born a runner but I loved the motion of being free. Though I started off running or perhaps jogging (as they defined it 20 years ago), it was totally meant to keep fit.

The serious running and getting into the habit only bugged me last year when I decided and successfully flamed the spirit with a few other buddies into signing up for the SCKLM. Spending more than 18 weeks into the program was enduring. Three evenings in a week squeezing time between afterwork & home, logging more milage as we went. Finding time was even more demanding than running it. Lake Garden witnessed our camaraderies. At times, we were the only souls left when dusk approaches as we cooldown & stretched by the playground chatting away with Ronnie & company. On weekends, Petronas Sri Hartamas was our hangout. Pounding those hills & enjoying Bukit Tunku's gorgeous landscapes. We get to know Glucosamine & I was a dictionary for hamstring for once. Hah! We knew the meaning of core, the greatness of carboloads & recoveries. We grew so leaned until people say "kau ni sakit ke?".

Yes, we trained hard & we deserved the glory of finishing our first marathon. It was no easy mission but somehow I honored the implications. I agreed with Bill Rodgers, winner of 4 Boston & 4 NYC Marathons: "The marathons can humble you". I held to it eversince & wishing I have the strength to do more.

Energizer Night Race 2010

Energizer, the world’s leading brand in battery technology, is hosting one of the biggest night races in Malaysia! Runners will don an Energizer headlight (provided in the goodie bag upon registration, along with other Adidas goodies) to run 42 kilometers.The country’s inaugural night race will actually take place in Cyberjaya on March 27, 2010, and is divided into 4 main categories. These are 42 kilometers, 21 kilometers, 10 kilometers, and the relay race which is (4 pax x 10 km) each. Beginning at 5 pm for the 42 km race, the event is scheduled to end at midnight.

Energizer Malaysia brand manager, said that Energizer has successfully organised night runs all around the world. The Energizer Night Race has been held since 2007 globally, becoming a major event in South Korea, Argentina, and South Africa. Energizer Sponsors Night Race. The minimum age for entry is 16 years, and there is no upper age limit. Those interested to run are encouraged to practice from the time of this announcement, advises Rustam Affandin Zaihan, the President of Pacesetters, an athletic group which is the event organiser for this race.

The circuit will appear something like the shape of the number eight. Medical assistance will be set up every 5 km, with water stations. Before the race commences, there will be a mini-concert, with local indie bands performing. Sports trainers will also be there to help participants warm up before the night run. The entry fee is RM 50 for Pacesetter members (an athletic organisation which has been around for 25 years), RM 60 for the public.

All registered participants receive a limited edition Energizer adidas running vest and many other free merchandise . Among the sponsors are Schick; venue sponsor, Cyberview Sdn Bhd; and Cyberview Lodge Hotel as the official hotel. There are discounts for runners who wish to stay the night.The official website, www.energizernightrace.com.my, will be launched on January 10, 2010.

Registration forms can be downloaded from the website. Photo credits : http://www.energizernightrace.com/fotos.html

Peres...been a while

It's been a while...yes, everything's been a while. LSD, climbing Peres, etc. What better way to welcome the new year with something I've left and longing to redo for the past months. Nothing official but just some friends which I managed to gather via sms a day before. The menu was plain simple, roll off at 7.00am to Genting Peres and back. Perhaps or is it a must to stop for roti canai at Batu 18.

Alwin & me started off from my place & met up with Bahri at Batu 9. Eventually we met up with a group of cyclists from PCC at Batu 14 i.e. Clarence, PK & maybe seven others. They wanted to climb Peres & to Tekala. Our climb was casual though I suffered for the last 500 yards. Lucky Bahri was there for a non-stop huffing conversation, which he also thought the other way round. Hahaha. We didn't manage to catch the chilling Peres mist, maybe we started off a bit late from Batu 14 but the descent was relaxing.

Our starvation was cut short from an expected feeding frenzy when roti canai was only available one for each of us. Alamak! Stok tepung habis daaa... It never taste better that morning. Cukup rangup & lembut. Too bad we had to hold our desire to wallop more.

The spin back to my place was taxing for the three of us. I felt a slight hamstring pain on my left leg as I pushed on for the last 14km. Whether it's my lack of carbo load or my undisciplined diet that was draining me. I presumed that those fat-riched kambing for bbq I scoffed Friday night might be the 99% reason. Hahaha!

A week to go and it's going to be another year passed by and another year to venture. I've been busy with a few errands myself, like million others. Completing the current tasks in hand & perhaps undertaking new ones in 2010. Planning for events and races for next year almost through. I'm just targetting a few major ones and more social-driven experience. With the lack of a helping hand at home come March, I expect things would be a bit tougher for us but we'll manage. It's either now or never. All those experiences from trainings, marathon, races, events, motivations shall come in handy.

With the Hijrah & Masihi exchanging figures, and with all other resolutions at bay, I still need to be a better person. The calendar marks the spot for a paradigm. 2010 shall be another adventurous year. Insyallah.

First runners gathering for 2010 : Saucony Pacemaker Network Run Lake Garden 1st January 2010 7.30 a.m. See you there!

Smell of Bukit Tunku

Fresh feeling I can say, as I log this down, excited enough after logging my first official long-slow-distance run. It was 6 months ago, we ran here every Saturday, following Hal's program for our first marathon appearance. The Bukit Tunku route is an all time favourite for weekend LSDs.

After our Subuh prayer in Bukit Aman mosque, we assembled at the parking lot. Three failed to turn up, only six left. Supposed with nine buddies, we sure had the road sealed. Anyway, with some of us being season runners and a few decided to take running to the next level, we paced ourselves nicely towards Jalan Duta. Sight of other runners along the way felt like it was homecoming. Vista of Tijani's awesome architecture was stunning. Smell of green habitats from the Tunku neighbourhood was refreshing. Everthing was awesome.

The milage was kept at no more than 10k with option to add a few more at Lake Garden. After checking with buddies, we decided to turn back, split up & paced up to cover the Lake Garden loop. With less milage on the legs eversince Salomon, I gave it a chase, pounding the tarmac and my heart out. Pom! Pom! Pom! It almost sounded like kompang orang kawin la! Hahaha!

OK. It went well until we reached Lake Garden playground. It was always a dejavu when we attempted this loop in the later part of LSD. Always! The mental kacau syndrome. The lake loop was only about 3k but the clairvoyant synched really tore us apart. Hahaha! We decided to take a detour, a Christmas sale discount & climbed the stairs to the memorial & back to carpark. Aiyo!

Felt fresh from the run. Best part was, it's 8.30am. Generous enough for a chat over kuew teow Tangling & teh-O suam before we departed, looking forward for future mission to Sri Hartamas.

Ride & mess

First of all, just look at the mess I've done. Gatal nak mess up blog layout just because I don't like photos without frames & verdana is still my favourite font. Happened to be, I reverted back to my previous template. Kechooww! Takpe, a nice neat layout keeps up the inspiration. And sometimes we need to change to learn & perhaps start all over again. Just hope blogspot can put up some nice templates in the future that suits my preference.

OK, the post is actually to record my comeback on wheels after over a month now since Manjung erm...alahai. I barely touched nor peek at it. The courage to remove those t-bars just wouldn't turn up. Anyway, the recent public holiday gave me a starter. It was a hot day & after some dashed in the pool instead of pounding the tarmac, I was stripped free from other errands. It was just my Manjung gears & me.

As I rolled it out onto the car porch, I caught a glimpse of something peculiar on the front wheel. I didn't recall having to dirty the wheels with dirt nor mud. It was scorching & arid in Seri Manjung. A closer look & a smirk strike my face as it happened to be a tossed of Johnson & Johnson powder. I can confirmed those baby smells & bear out a vision of tiny little fingers experimenting the chemistry between beauty & bike. Hahaha! Should I left my bike a little bit longer, I can't imagine what it should turn out. A quick rinse, chafing & buff, my black beauty shined in the afternoon sun. T-bars removed, tyres rock solid pressurised. I started gathering spare tubes, tyre levers, shoes, Giro & Oakley. To boost up the motivation, I yanked myself to the LBS later in the evening with the intention to get my kids' bike brakes fixed. A nice pair of Cannondale socks caught my wallet as I left the LBS looking forward for a future spin.

Come Sunday & after a not so taxing run on Saturday, I hauled my lazy & sleepy feet to the front gate welcoming ride buddies whom decided to roll off from my place. Hanchik & Saiful shared the same calamity since Powerman. I was not alone...lega :) Just a handful of us, didn't plan for anything glamorous for a start. We met up with Bahri at Batu 9. He was already shouting for some discounts from the ride after his great 20km LSD the day before. Blessing in disguise, he found the coolest ride buddies today.

We rode all the way to Peres junction at a leisurely conversational pace. It was quite a splendid one except for the last draggy climb, which without fail will never pleased most cyclists. More cycling clans were on display along the way. Casual mountainbikers on slicks. Tandems. And for a shocker, some ladies or shall I say kakak, easily late 40's, in cycling tights handling Cervelo & Scotts! Giler kentang hebat! Those are awesome sights. I even get a chance to exchange smile with Malik, as I remember him from Baik Punya Cilok movie...orang kanan Touke Wong la. I didn't know that he's a cyclist. Saiful confirmed my puzzled mind & even affirmed that "Malik" even rode Kiara! Pergh! Mantap!

We jacked up our HRs on the way back to Batu 18, racing against time stalling at 36-37 kph. It was actually more like racing against the roti canai. Yes, we were starving even as we passed the stall on our way in earlier. Hanchik did the work while I desperately clinging to survive the 10km TT stretch. Melatop kaki! Hahaha!

Some talks over breakfast about next years takwim, especially the interstate. Heard news that the ride venues will be awesome. Looking forward to partake & might need to block my calendar. We headed home in what appeared to be a very blazing late morning climate. It felt like 1.00pm & yet we were still early to finish our ride at 10.30am. More talks over post ride at my place about future rides & events. Already I am looking forward to. Perhaps I should workout a schedule or program to get me committed & manage my weekend bustles.

Batu Dam revisited...on foot

Running up and down memory lane was something that I looked forward to when our trail running buddies planned for it as we crossed Salomon xtrail run finish line a week ago. It's been say 4 years ago when I last rode here with fellow mountainbikers. Most of them migrated into more specific activities after that. I can say that Batu Dam was a real heaven's trail for newbies on bike. It has all the leasurely undulating cross country trail along the massive lake. Should one wish to consider a bit more techy trails, entering deeper into the catchment shall be rewarded with steep technical climbs and fast winding descents through tricky bamboo trails. Exiting via the Ulu Yam trunk road can be a feast with a superb maggie soup at the rest area for the famished souls.

Group photo

Today, 18 trail runners, a by-product of Salomon xtrail event, attempted the non-public access of Batu Dam trail. We got into some lingering moments at Petronas Sg Tua, meeting up before proceeding to the rowing school entrance. What was supposed to be a 7.30am flag-off had to be altered for a half an hour delay. Anyway, everything was cool since weather was as bright as ever, so was the past 2 days.

Fong & rowing buddies were our host, so she lead the enthusiastic group into the trail. It was magnificent. Trail condition was marvelous, with a bit more sugar, it should be sweet enough for everyone. Single tracks winding around the lake shore, crossing cold stream & river, thick canopies of dipterocarps. A complete weekend getaway. Ammah! What else could I say?

We were cut short with the excitement upon reaching the trail end at Riverstone. We opted for an easy & fast back to carpark via the Ulu Yam trunk road. I bet we were the only souls who run that road in a million years. Hahaha! Eventually the chain of runners broke once we hit the tarmac when everyone ran their own pace. So, the ever embracing motto of "Jangan kasi pecah" was abandoned :P. I decided to be back with our fellow sweepers Daud & Shaq escorting Nizam, whom have only started to take running into the next level. We ran & walked back, gasping the cold morning enriching air.

Our mud accumulated shoes were then rinsed while we rest on a pontoon by the rowing school, enjoying a lovely view of the calm water body of the lake. A dip is a must for the eager ones. Splash! We went into the water for a quick sponge down, washing away those dirt & sweat.

It was quite a short run, that I was caught in a dilemma to reward myself with carbo replenishing fiesta. We stopped at a mamak for a quick breakfast of roti telur, tose rawa (new to me) and of course teh tarik.

Eventually, later in the evening, with the chance to bring my kids for a second trip to the pool, I wallop a few more laps calling it a day with clear mind & feeling bouncy.

The tarmac back with fellow sweepers

The newly crowned marathoner leading the pack

Happy to reach the carpark

Still more turns away

The pontoon lepaking

Jungle flaws - Salomon xtrail run

One of those unfortunate events when one is caught in a dead beat situation...lost! I was so determined for the race, aiming high to do a nice pacing, placing perhaps & fun. Well, the forest really took it's toll on me.

Cut short of the pre-race morning errands, we were thrilled & pumped & ready to blast-off once the air horn blew off at Kiara Park. With the strategy of hitting the trail in the front pack to avoid traffic backlog, I squeezed myself through other runners during the "screening" league around Taman Tun school. HR was idling in Zone 5 as I hopped on slippery green rocks & squeeze between runners overtaking them.

The trail pounding was kept at moderate upon reaching a more open trail which I presumed Janie's Addiction and Bar-a-cuda. As I looked front and back, I was actually in the same pack with Stephanie Chok & Wong Ah Thiam. Fuh! Laju sangat ke aku ni?! About 10 other seems like strong runners were also constantly pacing together, howling down steep long descents & huffing up steep climbs.

As we reached DS2, which was after Lower Short for drinks, I noticed the pack didn't stay long. I was already left behind. Did I only realised right while typing this post, that my attempt catching up to the group, unaware of the dedicated race route, I followed them to a detour. For what supposed to be a familiar juncture to Snake and Ladder, I made the wrong turn and ended up hammering half of Janie's and Bar-a-cuda again! Aiyo 800 kali! I was biting my lips off thinking of the blunder. It costed me half an hour repeating about 2-3km and another 3km running on the tarmac to get to the Four Cross. I was running with a Mat Salleh & a chinese senior guy complaining of the incident.

As I swerved down 2K and thumping 4K, I knew that I was already in the rear pack. Deep inside my mind, I almost wanted to abandon the race optioning for the tarmac way down. On second thought, nope. I still need the Salomon pouch after paying 60 hardly earned bucks & getting a piece of cheap & wrongly sized non-Salomon t-shirt. I'm not giving up! Ammah! Let the world go round. I'm finishing this race...strong!

I managed to catch up with my newly met senior race buddies halfway into 4K (didn't had the chance to know their names). Jumping, sliding, tree hugging, honking, shouting while overtaking more and more runners on the trail. I crossed the finish line clocking 1:45 hours...satisfied.

Mosin

Got my pouch, photo session with friends & getting "lost" again on the mamak's table with my running buddies before calling it a day contemplating for another running adventure.

Oops! Forget to line up all the trail buddies that shook the forest together, only that they didn't get lost. And better still, one of us won a podium placing! That should be Ling the Great. Won herself in the 4k Women's Cat. The rest that was sharing some sympathy & also laughed with me was Nik, Che, Bacin, Fong, Saiful, Hanchik, Akmal, Alwin & Ajeep.

Back to constant pounding

I'm back, and it feels good. My days without runs must end or my attempt for upcoming events will end up crying (deep down inside la not out loud by the roadside...giler kentang!). I've managed to get a very strong reason to start pounding back on the tarmac. Trikidz. Yep, after my daughter decided to do a comeback, I've decided that she would be a great training buddy. Long school break and she has all the rest time & carbo time she wants. Splendid!

After Kiara trip last Sunday, I was spending my Monday as usual...honeymooning. Not actually, it was more like scheduling for runs. With some buddies keyed up for a great 2010 running year, we had the ball rolling with some running topics. Macam biasa, shopping was the most talk about. Hahaha!

Tuesday, my anxiety to be back home on time for my initial attempt fell short due to slow traffic flow from a late evening shower down in Klang Valley. Aku redha. At least it provided an awesome ambient for an early slumber party. Mantap.

Wednesday, I had to take a rain cheque from a futsal game & rushed back home for a second attempt. Yasmin & Amir on their bikes & I am slowly making way aerobicly. They ditched the bikes after covering about 2.5km. Yasmin ran pulak this time with me attempting her first 1km route. It's the usual loop around our neighbourhood. Of course for her first time would be tough. Run & walk. We were chatting & she didn't give up. Great! With some hype & some enthusiasms left in me, I battered the remaining minutes before azan clocking 5km. Original menu was supposed to be 8km. Janji ada. I heartened Yasmin for a repeat the following day & she agreed.

Thursday, dark clouds hovering over Cheras sky promising for a wild & wet evening. Fortunately it was a pass by, enough to lower the temperature for another shot. We were running the same route but skipped the cycle part. Perhaps Yasmin have to get some milage on those legs & some cardio workout before any brick. Amir tagged along & their laughter & joking around tire them off prematurely. So I decided to squeeze some mini fartlek to give a different tempo to it. At least they managed to run all the way completing 1 loop. Second time for Yasmin. Thumbs up! I rushed away with a bit more fartlek for myself. The post run feeling was satisfying. It was a great moment for a proper stretching, core & of course a bit of muhasabah diri.

I really missed those days, a year ago, ending my weekday runs at Lake Garden with kaum. Stretching & chat away under the blink of neon lights as joggers dispersed to conclude another day of work & workout.