Swim Bike Run Team Relay Ironman 70.3 Competition Winners

And the winners are...

When Swim Bike Run Magazine Malaysia announced the competition for a single free entry into the Team Relay Ironman 70.3 at Putrajaya three runners from Kuching took up the challenge. Yours truly knows all three of them personally, so I know a bit about their capabilities. Hobart Kho, Alex Liew, and Frances Ngu, who form Team O-Run-Utan, had just competed in the inaugural 2XU marathon in Singapore. Hobart, now without a doubt the fastest Kuching-born runner, ran a personal best of 3:25.37 in his fourth FM. Alex ran a 4:26. Frances stomped to her PB of 4:43.14, in her third FM. All three are avid runners, with Hobart and Frances equally adapt at the shorter distances. Alex is more of a cyclist. Frances swam competitively during her school days, and went as far as to represent our State. She has tried her hand at triathlons as far back as 2008 in London (Thames Turbo Triathlon Series, Windsor Triathlon, and London Triathlon), and as recently as the triathlon in Miri, where she competed in the sprint event. Hobart has dabbled in triathlons and duathlons too, having taken part in the Sarawak International Triathlon and the Penang Urban Triathlon. With this sort of pedigree it was no wonder that they decided to come together to form a relax team. 

Hobart Kho

Alex Liew

Frances Ngu

 The trio had only one other team to challenge during the Swim Bike Run competition. All three asked all their friends and runner buddies to like and share their picture. Yours truly got in the act too. It was close in the beginning, but the likes started to build for them. In the end their achieved more likes, but their opposition had a bit more shares. Swim Bike Run declared team O-Run-Utan as the winner. If you want to check out the Facebook page click here. Now the trio are set for the biggest challenge in tackling the 70.3 Ironman at Putrajaya come on 13th April. For those unfamiliar with the 70.3 Ironman, the total distance covered is 113km.  This comprises of a 1.9km swim, a 9okm bike ride, and a 21.1km run. 70.3 is actually the total distance in miles that will be covered. The cut-off time is normally 8 hours and 30 minutes after the start time. Each discipline will have its on specific cut off time. Those interested in joining triathlons can always start with the sprint distance and graduate up as they go along. This Fat Old Man Running would like to congratulate Kuching's very own for winning the Swim Bike Run competition and wish them all the best in their maiden 70.3 Ironman. 

Kuching Marathon 2014 - A high speed ride!

42km at 230kph! 

Ever wondered how a marathon would look like if you drove it at mind blowing speed? Well wonder no more. One person has just done that for the upcoming Kuching Marathon. No he was not driving a Ferrari. In fact he wasn't even breaking any speeding laws. What he did was just fast-forward his journey. Even a Kenyan would get dizzy watching this sub-11 minute marathon. Earlier I had posted the Kuching Marathon route in pictures. Now someone has come along and done it in video. Go click on James Lo's video and see the entire full marathon route. Then if you want a much slower view of the entire route click here for my earlier post. Those who want to know more about the Kuching Marathon can click here. If you feel 42km is too much for you right now, then go for the 5km, 10km or 21km distances. Unlike most marathons in Malaysia, conquering the shortest distance, which is usually reserved for the fun run, gives the runner equal rewards. The 5km runner will get a drifit top and a medal! Right now I cannot think of a better way for anyone to start their running journey and also be part of running history in Kuching.

Malacca River International Marathon 2014

Full Marathon in Malacca?

Yours truly just recently learned about a full marathon in Malacca. It will be held on 8th June 2014. On offer is RM120,000 worth of cash prizes. Yes, I know it just popped up out of the blue.  Who in their right mind wouldn't be suspicious? I emailed them and even got friends to ask around. The feedback wasn't promising at all from certain quarters. They were some from the town itself who were mighty suspicious of this run from previous experiences. They were those who were even willing to boycott it. They gave me their reasons, some I agreed with, and some I didn't. The organisers sent me the registration form and answered my questions. I gathered from what I got that they were still trying to get their act together. Yes there would be a running t-shirt and a medal and a cert for the full marathon finisher. Unfortunately they were still looking for sponsors for the finisher t-shirt.  However they have RM120,000 in cash prizes (?)

What I also gathered was that this is a government backed run contracted out to another party. I know next to nothing about the organisers apart from what they have told me. The early bird fee is RM75. The dateline for entries is 31st May 2014. One of my friends asked me whether I would sign up for it based on what I now know. I told them I wouldn't sign up for it because I wouldn't have recovered enough in two weeks after running the longest race in my life. Also, this marathon will be run on the same day as Beaufort 100km. My friends know how much I wanted to run it. However when it changed from 60km to 100km and they slapped a 15-hour cut-off time for a run in the blazing sun I knew it was an impossible ask for this Fat Old Man Running. Show of hands please from those who know who Heritage In Run are?  While I so wish to promote local marathons, I also want my constant runners to check up on them before signing up.

So please remember, while this post appears in my blog, I am not asking you to sign up for it. I am just telling you come 8th June 2014 there is supposed to be a full marathon in Malacca. Forgive me for my eyes are old and tired, but I read that the race kit can be collected till 7am on the actual race day. I don't know about you, but I have never started a full marathon in my entire life in sunlight. My constant readers know that I usually take six hours to finish a marathon. That would mean if I ran this I would hit the finish line at 1pm! Plus if I want to be critical the entire registration form is littered with grammatical mistakes. I am entitled to make mistakes since I am not writing a document open to legal scrutiny. However the shoddy nature of the English opens the doorway to many questions about the organiser. The fact that they do not have their own website or that registration is manual also is an eye opener.

Please don't say I am anti this run or that. It's just that I am curious how this run came to drop into our laps. I won't be the guy losing RM75 over this. That's not to say that this run won't happen. I even believe that the people behind it might be legit. However so little is known about them or the run itself to make me believe if I signed up that I would be running it come the date. With all that I have said I leave it to you my dear constant runner to decide. The forms can be found below. If you have RM75 to spare you are most welcome to run it and then email me about your experiences and also send me links to your photos. I would like to learn from your experiences. Then come next year if the same run drops from the sky again I might even consider running it. Here's me hoping that everyone goes into this with their eyes wide open. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Happy running always everyone!

Wishesland Charity Run 2014

Running for Cerebral Palsy

Wishesland International is a non-profit organisation that provides an avenue for counselling services, rehabilitation and consolidation treatment for children and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP), as well as members of their families.  They are organising this run to because they need our help to purchase a heater for hydro-therapy pool as well as to cover operational costs of the centre. My own personal research has shown me that operational cost alone for the centre is between RM2,000 to RM3,000 per month. Treating CP takes time and involves massages to improve circulation, a regiment of passive movement to keep muscles toned, and physiotherapy session from a qualified physiotherapist. From this run they are looking to raise RM60,000. This is not an impossible ask. The run is divided into 5km, for the fun runner, and 15km, for the more serious runner. The registration fee is RM30 and RM50 respectively. Those who sign up will get a t-shirt. In fact those who don't feel like running can just make a direct donation to them. Medals will be awarded to the top ten finishers in each category. Please do not think about what you will get for your money when running charity runs like this, but think about what your money can do for children and adults with CP. I wholeheartedly support such organisations like Wishesland International. What better way for us to show our true running spirit by coming out to run for Cerebral Palsy come 27th April 2014. Those planning to run at the Borneo International Marathon can use this run as a final tune-up too!

Mardi-Maeps Trail Explore Run 2014 - Sneak Peek!

Trail Run Gets Even Longer!

Last year it was a 6km and 12km trail run along the Mardi-Maeps Trail Explore Run. This year it gets even longer, with the addition of an 18km route. All I know about this run I found at their Facebook page. They have shown the concept drawings for the t-shirt and the medals, which I have included in this post. I have been told that the elevation is a bit challenging but that this is mostly an open trail run, and things can get pretty muddy for the slowpokes. Last year the event was limited to 1,000 runners. This year hopefully the slots will be increased. From what I gathered from the pictures it sure looks like a fun trail run. It's good to see that the runner will have three distances to choose from. Yours truly has never been keen on trail running. However I might be tempted to run the shorter distances if I were in the peninsula during that time. So do keep an eye out for further information on this potential fun trail run. You can even sign up for it online if you want to by clicking here.

Sundown Johor Malaysia 2014 - It's happening!

Running Sundown in Malaysia

Yours truly just saw this posted on the official Sundown Marathon Singapore Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SundownMarathonSG). Have heard rumours about such a run before I did my Marathons in Malaysia post. It is confirmed that this will be a half marathon and a 12km run. So those hoping to run a full marathon will most probably have to wait till next year.  One look at my trusty calendar tells me it will be run 21st June 2014. The important thing is that we all now know that there will be a Sundown Marathon in Malaysia for the very first time. Those who want to register for this run can click here.

Starlight Ultra 2014 - Teaser Pics

Something exciting happened at...

JCI Pearl Women's Run 2014 

No, I am not writing a post on that run in Penang even if  I do know some of the runners who took part in it. What I want to highlight was that some of them had a chance to sample the running vests, finisher t-shirts and medals for the upcoming Starlight Ultra first hand. Thanks to a doctor friend of mine, I was able to get you this exclusive pictures. Yes the medal you see in the picture is actually 3 inches x 4.5 inches! I was so hoping for a big medal for this run, and the good people from The Triathlon Shop delivered. Not only that, the finishers will also get an exclusive pendant to wear all the time. I don't know about you but I am so excited over this. It makes me want to sign up for the 84km solo. Oh no, I've already gone and done that! It always nice to have something to look forward to, and knowing what swag is available for the runner at the finish line makes the going even easier.  Thanks Karen Geh and company for making us runners excited over running ultras! So if you interested in this event then you can click here to learn more.

What the 84km runners get!

Back view of the 84km runners' swag

The various running vests on display

Karen Geh (in orange top) posing with runners