Saturday 30 November 2013

Cabaran Sukan Lasak Unimas 2013


8km

Acara Berpasukan (2 peserta)


Pelajar2 Kurikulum Berkredit Subteras Olahraga UNIMAS akan menganjurkan Cabaran Sukan Lasak UNIMAS 2013 seperti butiran berikut :

Tarikh : 7 Disember 2013 (Sabtu)
Masa : 7.00pg-7.45 pg (Pendaftaran Peserta)
7.45 pg (Taklimat Peserta)
8.00 pg (Flag Off) 


Disiplin Acara : Larian sejauh 8km (sekitar kampus UNIMAS & hutan/trail)
 

Kategori : 1. Lelaki (2 peserta), 2. Wanita (2 peserta) & 3. Campuran (1 lelaki & 1 wanita)
 

Yuran : RM10/pasukan

Hadiah : Johan : RM200 + Pingat + Hamper + Sijil Penyertaan
Naib Johan : RM150 + Pingat + Hamper + Sijil Penyertaan
Tempat Ke-3 : RM100 + Pingat + Hamper + Sijil Penyertaan
Tempat Ke-4-10 : Hamper + Sijil Penyertaan
** Hadiah untuk semua kategori.

Pendaftaran : Terbuka kepada semua/orang awam. Sekiranya berminat boleh INBOX/SMS Nama Pasukan, Nama Peserta & No I.C. Pendaftaran & pembayaran boleh dibuat semasa pendaftaran pada 7 Dismeber 2013 (Sabtu) 7.00pg-7.30 pg.

Sebarang pertanyaan boleh hubungi (Hardy Suntol) : 013-7577175

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Momentum Run Series Medals Unveiled



Building towards Kuching Marathon 2014

Four Runs

Four Medals become One


The medals for the Momentun Run Series have be unveiled.  This Series was created to help prepare runners in Kuching for the Kuching Marathon 2014. The first Momentun Run will occur on 22nd December 2013. The distance covered  will be 15km. Only 500 slots were made available and the event soldowe out in five days! This only goes to show how eager Kuchingites are to participate in road runs, even though this is not officially a race. It should be taken like any group training run. However am sure come run day there will be many participants who will treat it like an actual race. Hopefully sponsors will come forward to support the other three Momentum Runs so that all that has been planned comes to fruition. There is now also talk that a special finisher t-shirt will be created just for those who participate in all four runs. Lets hope this comes true. Now I am itching to run all four too!

There's something I just noticed, and this has been confirmed by the organisers, that the colour of the Brooks running top for Series 1 matches the colour of the medal! If this trend continues, then it goes without saying that the next running top will be yellow in colour, and so on. Does that mean that the special finisher t-shirt will be orange in colour? Have also been told that the uniquely designed medals have been specially commissioned. There number only 300. However a big bird told me that there is a possibility that they will get more medals. This will benefit those who finish outside the top 300. However due to the cost of the medals the runners might have to fork out some money for it. Of course it also means that the runners have to finish the race to be able to purchase one. What say you?

Kuching Marathon 2014 - Breaking News!



MOU signing between DBKU and KMA today!

Kuching Marathon 

17th August 2014


At 11.30am today the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Dr Sa'adiah binti Haji Abdul Samat, the Director of  the Commission of the City of Kuching North (DBKU) and Mr Wong Chen Yi, the President of the Kuching Marathon Association (KMA) paving the way for the corporation between the two bodies as partners for the Kuching Marathon on 17th August 2014. The signing was witnessed by Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahap bin Haji Abang Julai, the Mayor of DBKU. Also present at the ceremony was KM2014 Race Director, Mr Philip Chua. Other dignitaries in attendance were YB Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Dato Steve Ng (Manager of Plaza Merdeka), Mr Goh Hock Lin (Regional Manager of MSIG Insurance), and Mr Ngui Kwang Phek (Regional Marketing Manager of QBE Insurance).

Mr Wong announced that the categories for KM2014 include: 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km fun run. The full marathon will be divided into open, veteran, and national categories. The cut of times for the event will be 7 hours for 42km, 3.5 hours for 21km and 2 hours for 10km. The gun time for the full marathon will be 4am, and the marathon will start at Padang Merdeka in the heart of town.  Registration for the event is slated to open on 2nd January 2014. Race route and other event announcements will made on that date too. There are 263 days to go before Kuching's very own marathon is run. The official website will be launched on the date of registration for the event itself.  Feel free to click here to check on any KM2014 activity.

The media conference begins
Dr Sa'adiah, the Mayor, and Mr. Wong
The Mayor of  Kuching City North
Mr Wong Chen Yi, President of KMA
Dr SaƔdiah (left) and Mr Wong (right) signing the MOU
Dr Sa'adiah and Mr Wong shaking hands
Group photo with the sponsors






Sunday 24 November 2013

Gunung Nuang Ultra 2014



Second Edition

2nd March 2014

10km loop trail run (mininum 50km)


Anyone itching to try test their legs on a trail run?  We in Kuching now know that the Kuching Marathon will be held on 17th August 2014. In neighbouring Sabah there will have their most formidable and famous TMBT ultra trail runs on 16th August and also the Hasuu Tasu trail run on 17th August. So those loyal Kuchingites who want to run a trail run before that might want to give the Gunung Nuang Ultra a try. Being a loop run it is much different from the point to point runs of the TMBT. However this run, in it's second edition is well supported and a good test for those wanting to wet their feet in trail running. The runner can stop at any time. It will be a good indicator on how far an individual's trail running has come. Even I know it takes a lot to run trails. Road running is like a walk in the part by comparison. In order to get the medal and finisher t-shirt the trail runner has to complete a minimum of five 10km loops (50km total) within 12 hours. I have no knowledge of ultra running (yet) or trail running (beyond 15km) so am not qualified to pass any sort of judgement on it. I differ to the experts. Jamie Pang, an ultra runner and blogger, has told me that I can do it. However that is his opinion based on what he knows of me.

Those who are interested to know more about this ultra do click here. Those who think they want to give this ultra a try before attempting something like the TMBT ultra trail runs can register here. One thing is for certain the TMBT series will be more challenging this year with the distance changing from 50km to 55km for the shorter ultra trail run. The longer run still remains at 100km. Also the Hasuu Tasu (25-28km) is run on a different day with a supposedly easier route for those who want to test themselves to see if they can handle the even tougher TMBT series. Honestly who doesn't want to test themselves? However for me and am sure for every Kuchingite the Kuching Marathon comes first. Who knows maybe in 2015 the dates will not clash. As for now we can only look for other ultras to run. Am happy to note next year there will be ultras on the Malaysian racing calendar. Then there are the duathlons and triathlons too. I don't know about you but I think we are spoiled for choices.

Saturday 23 November 2013

Brooks Half Marathon 2014



Run around around Bukit Jalil

9th March 2014

5km, 10km and 21km


Ahoy mateys! It's that time of the year again when the half marathon events come out that guarantee a medal AND a finisher t-shirt for those who covert one. You know who you are! The ones who look at their full marathon runner friends finisher t-shirts with envy, but still haven't dared to pursue the distance. Thanks to Brooks, runners in Malaysia have a chance to run 21km. This fat old man running ran it last year and has a tiny gold cup to show for my efforts. There have been a lot of complaints made about the registration price hike for the latest instalment. However I know many friends from as far as Sabah who have signed up for it. Though for the life of me I never understand how their servers can  be clogged and make it so difficult to sign in. Don't they want our money? Isn't that why they raised prices? I had my misgivings about this run last year, yet if you ask me whether I will join it again, the answer is a resounding yes. Like many of my friends I would like to treat it as an LSD run for the one that follows a week later.

For those of you who want to try a 21km run this is it. Just make sure you are well  trained and well hydrated before the run. I noticed last year that many runners were not as well prepared for this race. Someone also fell dead. I always get nightmares about such scenarios. So if you want to go long please have a doctor check your heart. Running may seem easy but it is not something to be taken lightly especially for those who plan to go to 21km and beyond. I know, I know, just because I have run a couple of FMs doesn't make me an authority on the sport, but I have seen enough, especially in the bigger marathons to worry about the state of runners' health and race preparation. Just be prepared and run smart and everything should be fine. The main objective is to improve your health and stay health.  If you can have fun and make new friends in the process that is an added bonus. The response last year was terrific. Hopefully this year more new runners will join up and get bitten by the running bug.

The race will be run on 9th March 2014. Time: 5.30am to 10am. Venue: Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil. Closing date for registration is 31st January or upon reaching 8,000 participants.

Want to register for the run click here.

The 21km finisher for 2014

Thursday 21 November 2013

Newton Challenge Penang 2014



Another run in Penang?

7km or 17km

Highest road run elevation on the island

Had the pleasure of meeting up with Karen Geh while I was collecting my race pack for the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2013.  She was promoting her Newton Challenge Penang 2014 run. Runners can choose either to run 7km or 17km. This is supposed to be the highest road run elevation on the island. Yours truly must admit he was tempted... But alas I had already signed up for another run on that same weekend. Must admit the runs are coming fast and furious nowadays. They even had the actual medal on display - talk about smart marketing strategy. The running top is nice and so too the free socks thrown in, and the registration fee, a contentious issue with many races nowadays, is reasonable. I know they will always be people who complain about the registration costs, since they run many races. The prerogative is yours. If you don't like the price, then don't sign up for the event. Newton shoes are also offered at great discount. So at the end of the day if you like your Newtons you know what to do.

Me, Karen Geh and Nasa at PBIM

Having run at the Borneo International Marathon 2013, that dresses us in Newton running apparel, I can safely say that I have no qualms in using their line of running tops to run. In fact I even used Newton socks for two of my FMs and they really kept my feet happy. The same cannot be said for some more expensive brands of socks. Even I might consider signing up just to get the run top and the socks! Of course then there will be those who will accuse me of taking a running slot from others who genuinely want to run the race. Even at the PBIM they were selling off the actual run singlets at RM25 each because runners had not turned up to collect their race packs. It happens each year at the big races. Runners were snapping them up like they were made of durian or something. If you want to give the Newton run a try just click here to register. Or if you need some more convincing just click here to learn more.  All I can say right now is I wish I had the ability to be in two places at one time on 16th February 2014!





Wednesday 20 November 2013

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2013 - Report



Revisiting Penang's Bridge

Where the journey began 

5th Full Marathon of the Year


Last year I lost my full marathon virginity on the Penang Bridge. In retrospect it was the craziest thing I ever did in all my 49 years on planet Earth. The running gods must have been laughing at me. That fat old man thinks he can run? This fat old man had trained bloody hard for Penang. I had never run competitively on the road beyond 5km before that. I had trained to run up to 32km for Penang though. My best pair of Asics had looked like it had gone through the washing machine one time to many. Yet it was my lucky pair so I ran with it and earned my purple hearts for two bloodied and later dead toenails. Learned the hard way what happens after 42.195kms to my crown jewels. Never heard of compression shorts in my life. Just went for it. Didn't even know much about nutrition but knew I had to take gels and hydration salts. That was enough to save me from the dreaded cramps. Learned about Deep Heating Rub along the way. It completely kept me going. Learned to stay away from the pesky ice cubes. Even those ice sponges can be hazardous to step on.

PBIM 2012 

Never expected to come home in 6:27. Proudest moment of my life! Then had to queue for the medal and finisher t-shirt. Thought my legs would never hold up. That was beyond cruel guys. Lost my friends since I had not brought my mobile phone with me. Then found them or more like they found me looking all zombified. We took the obligatory pics. The main highlights for me was meeting Uncle Oliver Ker for the first time while on the run and shaking his hand. This year I would meet him again and we shook hands like we did last year. This time he realised I was much quicker and praised me for it. Trust Uncle Oliver to have such an awesome memory for his 72 years. What am I but a mere kid next to him? Heard and then saw Mohan Marathon for the first time last year. Wondered who that insane person was. Now we are best buddies so I dare say the truth. Don't think the man has a bad bone in his body. He is the happiest runner out there. The only person I know who can out grin him is of course YK Foo. That's another runner of insane mental fortitude. What's more like Mohan, he is three years older than me. Missed Mohan at this year's PBIM.

I like my number...

This year I was more prepared for the dreaded Penang Bridge. I knew what to expect. We were supposed to run the new bridge but alas because of a ramp falling down it was back to the old bridge for safety's sake. My mind knew what to expect. My body had been put to the test - five marathons in the bag. I had gone nuts and run two full marathons in 8 days just so that I could be like my hero Mohan and get myself that Marathon Maniac jersey. It was an honour to become Maniac #7614. I urged my friend and fellow blogger Hafiz Aizat Yanan to do the same and now he is Maniac #7618. The two newest Maniacs in Malaysia. Right now I am just a beginner in the running scheme of things. Have met runners who have wowed me with their achievements. I cannot and never aspire to scale the heights that they have. Just knowing that I am running in their company is enough to inspire me. I will never have the leg speed. However I can go on forever if I have too. What has always been paramount for me is that I enjoy the run.

Me with Kuching runners and KMA officials at the airport

Yes it is true I would like to still be running when I am Uncle Oliver's age. I know I will never run as much as Mohan. Like Tey Eng Tiong, the only man I know who runs with not one, but two cameras, one big ass one, and another more compact one, I will only run long a certain amount of times a year and then stop. I must know my limits. As for this year I did go overboard by attempting five full marathons in between my other 'shorter' runs. Of course the price was paid. My right foot began hurting. People can give it a fancy name. I just call it nerves that hurt. It was always there. Going into PBIM I was really worried. The pain meant it was harder to train. So unlike last year I was under-trained instead of being over-trained. Only my closest friends knew how bad my condition was. Sadly I had to resort to 3 kinds of medication for Penang. One was to kill the pain. Have taken similar stuff years back when both my knees troubled me. Hate them. However for me it was the last resort. There was no way I was going to quit on that bridge. 

Revisting an old friend



People tell me PBIM is a boring run. I tell them I love Penang. I love the people there. I love the history of the place. I love the buildings in Georgetown. I cannot get enough of Penang. If I lived nearer I would come to Penang to run in that four run series they are having. I can remember the taste of their laksa and chendol from last year. Even the durian coffee from there is close  to my heart. So of course the first thing we did when we landed in Penang was go eat. Only then did we get our race pack. Was pleasantly surprised at how extra friendly the staff at the pick up counter were. Needed help getting two of my friend's bibs and they found out for me what I needed. In a roundabout way was able to get their bibs thanks to Nadia Ali. Also gave me a good reason to go to Komtar and try the nicest chendol and popia dipped in laksa gravy ever. Met Karen Geh, the woman who never seems to tire, and has legs that men should fight wars over. She was trying to get people to sign up for her Newton Challeng in Penang next year. Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to make it.

Nasa Zaidul, Karen Geh and me

Then it was off to Georgetown by bus. First time I travelled by bus there. It's hard to stand in a bus while carrying a knapsack and bag. Suffice to say would later pay the price when my right hip started to hurt since I was compensating for my injured right foot. Remember I wasn't on medication. Was saving it for the run, even though I had a week's supply on me. I am not a pill junkie. My old injuries weaned me of such things. The bus driver dropped us off where too early thinking we wanted to head to the jetty instead of the bus terminal. So we had to walk carrying and dragging our luggage. There goes my legs. Of course we would go on to do even more walking but that's par for the course in a heritage city. Stayed next door to Little India. So no guesses on the type of food I would be eating there. Brought my trusty camera with me and just went snap crazy. If I liked it I digitally immortalised it. What's more there was so much to like all around me. Distance was never a problem. Besides all that walking was good for me, though it did look painful, and it actually was.

I actually ran up  those stairs earlier

Our friends from Kota Kinabalu came in later on Friday. They would be running 10km for the smaller medal. I kid you not. Refer to the pic below. The 10km medal this year is actually smaller than the HM and FM medal. The reasoning could be there are just far too many runners running that distance - 19,000. Now that's a lot of metal. Yes we made the Guinness Record Books for having 47,000 people on a bridge run. For something called a marathon only 4,700 ran the actual distance. As for the 21km, 13,300 runners braved it. That meant 10,000 souls did the fun run. More on those Wiley E. Coyotes later. MBF was hurting too. Made it a point to play doctor and slip her a painkiller. Like me, there was no way she was going to quit. We were too insanely determined peas in a pod. She was graduating from 10km to her second HM. Having one FM in the bag, distance was never a problem for her, but like me, speed was. I knew for certain I could make the cut off even when injured. MBF wasn't so sure.

Saturday cometh

The plan was always to stop eating by 2pm. Needed that twelve-hour window to make sure I didn't use those portable toilets for anything but pee. Tell that to someone who absolutely goes gaga over Penang food. However I did just that. I stopped eating at the designated time. From that you can tell how much those portable toilets scare me. I would rather pee on the grass than in them, which I usually do at least once a race. Of course I yet again did the thing I said I wouldn't do - walk all around to visit the tourist spots and take pics. Did in the end get back to the hotel by three-something. Slept because of sheer tiredness. Then some time in the evening was awoken by a extremely loud talking next door. It was hard to sleep after that. However I did manage to get another hour's worth of shut-eye.  Woke up to rain. All the indicators had shown that the sky would fall on us runners that morning. So braved the rain to the shuttle at the bus terminal at 11.30pm.

Miranda and I before the start

Wore the official run top, knowing full well it would get wet on the journey to Queensbay Mall. It did. The shuttle was awesomely efficient. Didn't like the walk from the shuttle drop-off point to the race site.  Though I was wearing slippers it was still messy.Would later dry up my feet at the tent area and change into my race top which was the Marathon Maniacs singlet. Met up with Dayangku Miranda from Sabah. Gave her her bib. She had arrived late. Because of the rain I decided not to use music or bring my camera. Just didn't want to risk it. Besides I already had my mobile phone with me. Ate what I could of my power bar and also sipped on my energy drink. In fact took my sweet time to get to the starting area. There I met up with Willie Liew and some of the gang from Kuching. They were all much faster runners than me so this would be the only time I would be seeing them. Had promised to run with Cynthia Andrews who I had first met and run with at this year's Borneo International Marathon. This would be her third FM and she was looking to PB.

A running we go

Off we went at 2am. I just took my sweet time since I knew what to expect. The road was so crowded with runners. There were times it was difficult to even run, so we just kind of shuffled along. Cynthia's sister Claire was there too. At times I was flanked by both of them. A sort of Andrew sisters sandwich. To the first check point we went. I started slow but still thought I could follow my 5:45 pace band. Though there was a big part of me that knew I was not well trained and also harbouring injuries. Cynthia was always nearby, lost in her music. That in itself was comforting. Hafiz was easy to spot. I knew he had been unwell. This time he looked serious. He had his game face on. We chatted. More like I chatted and he ran on. When we arrived at the bridge the rain came. It wasn't heavy. Tried my best to keep to the dry spots near the center divider. Just didn't want my shoes getting wetter than necessary. Though I was wearing brand new socks I will still afraid of injuries to my delicate feet. Am happy to report that my feet were 100% blister free and all my toenails were fine.


It was only after the second time check going back to the toll that I knew I didn't have it in me to maintain my pace. My right knee started hurting a bit. Please let it be known that I am really paranoid of any sort of knee pain, having endured a lot of knee problems in the past. So I slowed down and tried to walk it off. Cynthia would try to urge me on by calling my name. I didn't see the 6:00 pacer balloons yet so was not that worried. In fact I would keep them behind me longer than I thought possible. By km25 I knew I was going to struggle to reach home in six hours. What surprise me along the route was the lack of isotonic drinks or 100 Plus. Water was in abundance. My hydration bottles were filled with cola flavoured Nuun. I sipped sparingly from them. The buns at the toll area I didn't dare take. If it were Twiggies that would have been a different story. At some point along the bridge Hafiz passed me on the way to his PB. Then I lost sight sight of Cynthia. That didn't phase me out as I was happy if I could finish better than last year's 6:27.

The slower runner sees what many at the front never see. For one thing I will always run with water bottles having learned my lesson the hard way in a couple of races. With all my gels and chews I am bogged down by even more weight. However I need that fuel. Am always happy to reach the island and head towards Georgetown. That meant two things for me - a gel station and a banana station. That was what I wanted and needed. Was surprised that one water station had run out of water. Drank up what was left of my Nunn and filled both bottles to the brim with water at the next station. Just couldn't take the risk of more stations without water. The firemen got into the act by spraying us with a fine mist of water. That's always welcomed by everyone. Used a small plastic bag filled with ice cubes to cool myself down. Kept it on my head for the longest time. I never use ice on my legs. It doesn't do me any good. Ice is reserved for my neck and head. Was surprised to see so may slower runners than me. 

The final stretch



At KM33 it was a banana and another time check. The banana was a good as last year. Took off my pace band as it was useless now. Saw quite a few victim of cramps. Was finding it harder and harder to keep the 6:00 pacers behind me. My knee wasn't acting up but I was just too under-trained. Saw a guy lying on the road. Turned out he was posing for a photo! The things youngsters do nowadays. The final 9km is not as hard as many people would expect it. The only trouble comes if you want to run it towards the end when the fun runners join the pact. They are full of energy. Several of them don't seem to want to let this old uncle through. My legs are screaming by then and there they go bouncing about like bunnies in heat. I so hate the sight of those fresh legs. Trying to pass them is like going through an obstacle cause. I have only eyes for what is ahead of me. Those behind me come from every possible angle. Luckily I am big otherwise I would have been jostled left and right. This happened last year too.

Like last year I always seem to end next to someone

Of course when I had to turn left to the final roundabout towards the homestretch the Mo Farah wanabes had disappeared. This was the route for the full and half marathon finishers. No fun run hares were around. Ran as strong as I could but my right foot was starting to hurt no thanks to the fact that the painkillers were wearing out. It had done it's job by bringing me towards the finish line.  The rest was up to me. I trudged on. Heard people call my name. Saw a pretty lady who knew who I was. All I can say is many thanks for reading my blog. It was a bit crowded towards the finish line with people slowing down for pics. Thankfully I was slow enough that they managed to take a good pic of me. MBF even took a very short video clip of the fat old man running. Yes nothing beats the sound of female voices cheering me on to the finish line. I can live with those sounds at every marathon to come. Pom pom girls would be even better. Anything to make me finish on my feet. Yes I admit my time amazed me. I thought I had done far worse.

After the run

What surprised me in a wonderful way at the finish line was how I didn't have to queue up for my t-shirt and medal. This time around I could get the 2XL finisher t-shirt I wanted. They even chased after me to hand me my lucky draw ticket. It looks like I have to wait another year to win a car here. Took the food they offered but didn't eat it. Instead drank two cups of Milo. Had trouble finding my gang. In fact met up with Cynthia (who had gotten her PB) and her sister first. Then MBF found me and handed me my isotonic drink. Wanted cola but that sufficed. Was later to learn that Gila Bola Karim (another Marathon Maniac) was around. Pity we were all unable to pose for a group pic. All I wanted to do was sit after that and munch on some recovery bars. Our gang from Sabah, Jason Ku and his wife Donna, and their friend Erin, were especially excited to have run at PBIM. Jason had previously run 10km at BIM. Here he was accompanying his wife on her first international class run, so they both ran 10km. Erin though took the biggest risk going straight to 21km.

Never met up with any of the Kuching gang after the run because I was the slowest finisher in the group. I did see the photos they took. They look a happy bunch with our Philip Chua managing the fastest time among them all at 4:10:51. I want to know what hydration he drinks before a race to ignite the running fire in him. Our largest group of runners from Kuching were from the Hornbill Pacesetters Running Club. They were entertained by Manson Chew and his group from Desa Petaling Runners. From the pics I saw it looked like they really had a good time eating. As for me I did finally get to try authentic nasi kandar. Pity it happened in the night, so my tummy had not much space, after the whole day makanathoning. Had the pleasure of meeting up with Maggie Kim, who finished 5th among Malaysian women in the full marathon. I tip my running cap to her for coming back from knee surgery and doing so well. It shows that for us runners impossible continues to be nothing. That's the sort of spirit that keeps us running. Run happy always everyone and hope to catch up with you in another run soon.

Uncle Oliver with Aeda Fateema Fuzy
Gila Bola Karim, aka Maniac #5095
Thuan Lin Goh, aka Maniac #7489
Hafiz, aka Maniac #7618
Philip Chua
Cynthia poses with a Marathon Maniac
Me, Ran Kumar, Jason, Nasa, Donna and Erin
Notice that the 10km medal is smaller this year
No elevator after run, no problem
Having nasi kandar beratur 
Met Maggie Kim Hong Yeo at the airport



Wednesday 13 November 2013

Momentum Run - Series 1



Building on towards Kuching Marathon 2014

First in the Series

15km

For all those in Kuching looking for another run, look no more. On 22nd December 2013 there will be a Momentum Run -Series 1. This 15km run is a non-competitive race. That means there will be NO prizes for the winner. It also means that there will not be any traffic police or RELA members guarding the road crossings. Runners will run at their own risk. I have been told that there will at least be one water station. So runners would be better served by bringing their own hydration supply. For the RM30 registration fee the runner will get a dri-fit Brooks T-shirt (worth RM49.90).  There are only 500 of the aforementioned shirts. So please register quickly if you want to get yours.  What's more medals will only be given to the first 300 finishers. Certificates will be given to all finishers.  The run cut off time is 2 hours 30 minutes.

The aim of the Momentum Runs is to prepare the runner to run a full marathon at next year's Kuching Marathon.  With each series the distance will increase. The plan is, sponsorship willing, for four series.  Thus Series 2 might probably see the distance go up to 21km. We runners all have our own ideas on what distances we like to see run.  I for one am hoping that there will be a Series 3 and 4. With the distance being at least 27km and 32km respectively. For sure there will be those who think those distances will scare potential runners away, but if you want to run a full marathon you must be prepared to go long in training.  42.195km is not a distance for everyone.  The Momentum Run Series will help the runner get used to such distances.  Hopefully all will go as planned and we in Kuching will have many more runs to look forward to.

Momentum Run Series 1

Time: 6:00am
Date: 22nd December 2013
Venue: MBKS
Registration fee: RM30 (Free dri-fit Brooks t-shirt worth RM49.90)
Run cut off time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Rewards: Top 300 Series 1 limited edition finishers medal and certificate
                  All finishers will receive a finishers certificate

Events: 1. Open Air Mini Music Concert
              2. Lucky Draw Cash Prize x 66
                   RM 200 x 1, RM150 x 2, RM100 x 3, RM50 x 10, RM30 x 20 and RM20 x 30

Contact persons:
016-5892233 (Albert Tan)
016-8665616 (Agu Heng)
012-8569380 (Christopher Sia)
012-8870436 (Gon Seng Kee)



Monday 11 November 2013

Charity Walk with Happy 2013 - Report



Happy rice 4km walk

Kidney Foundation charity

2,800 walkers

Charity Walk with Happy was organised by Lian Hua Seng Sdn Bhd.  For those not from Kuching, this company produces rice.  This event was held for the second year running to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation of Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society.  They had initially expected 1,200 people to register for the walk.  However on that Sunday morning 2,800 people turned up in light pink t-shirts to walk along the Kuching Waterfront right up to Padungan and back in the name of charity.  What was even more heartening to note was that for every RM5 donated, the organisers matched that amount.  There were those who would make on the spot personal donations too. There was also a both set up for those who wanted to buy the foundation's t-shirt to support the kidney dialysis aid they were giving for those who needed it. Since I was allowed by my physician to walk but not run, I went as early as 6.15am to take pics.  There were many an avid runner in the crowd. Most noticeable was the bright orange tops of the City Cat Joggers Club runners.

Yours truly was a snap happy person that morning. Met up with a couple of friends and even made new ones.  There was an aerobic warm-up session and speeches.  The walk started a bit later.  The heat was getting a bit unbearable.  Luckily I didn't wear the pink top provided as I had anticipated such an eventuality.The walk itself was uneventful.  Some even chose to run it rather than walk so that they could return quickly to get their goodie bag and meal treats.  Suffice to say the Happy crew gave us lots of drinks, from isotonic to water to juices.  They was chicken porridge and butter buns too. More goodies awaited us in the hamper.  Such was the efficiency of the Happy crew that there wasn't a long queue in sight.  We could even come back for seconds and thirds, which some of us did, especially when it came to the chilled drinks. From how well this event was organised it is no surprise that people flock to sign up for it.  Here's me hoping that others can learn from the Happy crew. Next year my friends and I will happily sign up again! By the way I was a bit guilty of running ahead to take pictures.  See even I can come up with excuses to run!

Albert Tan with his family
Me surrounded by a bevy of beauties from the kidney foundation
Me posing with the City Cat Joggers Club runners
Me with Azizul Razak flexing our muscles
The boss man for CCJC
Participants filling up the area
Happy rice mascot
DBKU Mayor 
Some of the OKU participants
Lots of isotonic drinks for everyone
Crowd swelling up
Me with familiar faces from Saturday
Hey pretty ladies...
Very young participant
Someone warming up for the walk
Azizul and friend
CCJC warming up
Aerobic session
Everyone was warming up
Time for a walk
Our macho traffic cop
Pose for the fat old man running please
Walk this way
Stop!
Mother and two daughters
A river of pink...
The little one wants to go
All sizes joined in
Thirsting for some honey
Show me the muscles!
More familiar faces
My goodies
The kidney dialysis t-shirt and button