Free Entry Winners to SLAR 2016

 

The Five Winners Announced

Thanks so much for all your entries. I had a tough time to narrow it down to five. There were friends and familiar faces among the entries. In the end I settled on the five pics below. Please contact me via yamiska127@gmail.com with your handphone numbers as soon as you find out that you won. For those who didn't win please do sign up for Spring Live Active Run 2016. It is the second biggest running event in Kuching after the Kuching Marathon.

Muhammad Arif bin Majdi

Marcus Chang

Brian Chin

David Ong

Azizul bin Razak

Spring Live Active Run 2016

Fifth Edition

For me it all began at Spring Live Active Run 2012. My first step into competitive running. Signed up for the 5km and trained like there was no tomorrow. Guess what? The tomorrow's came. I have continued to run since. Distance has become just a number to me after conquering 100km. I continue to push my limits and challenge myself. Many of my friends and fellow runners do the same thing too. My true love is the long run and I have gone on to do 42kms and 50kms and will keep on doing as long as my legs are strong enough. However I owe a lot of gratitude to SLAR where it all started. The first truly 'international' run in Kuching. It paved the way for the Kuching Marathon in 2014. Since then the running community has grown here and so too has the number of events. It seems like there is an event a week in the city nowadays. Gone are the days where Kuchingites look in envy at our fellow runners in the peninsula. Now they have started joining our events too!

Spring Live Active Run has grown from strength to strength with each edition. In 2013 and 2014 I took part in the 21km. However in 2015 I wasn't able to repeat the feat as I had a prior commitment to run an ultra marathon. This year I have made a point of running SLAR 21km again. If we don't support our local runs, how do we expect more of them to be organised?  Last year saw 4,612 participants take part. For this year's event they are targeting 5,000 participants. The event will flagged off on the 5th June 2015. It will be the last long run in Kuching before the holy month of Ramadan. This year SLAR is introducing three new categories to the public which are the 21km Veteran, 10km Veteran and the 5km Corporate Run Category, on top of the existing 21km Open, 10km Open, 5km Fun Run and 1km Kids Dash, There will be finisher medals for all categories. Participants are guaranteed their requested t-shirts sizes if they register early.

SLAR 2012

SLAR 2013

SLAR 2014

SLAR 2015

Finisher t-shirts

This year the top 100 male and female runners in the 21km Open Category and the top 50 male and female runners in the 21km Veteran Category will get special finisher t-shirts. So do train hard and be prepared to run as fast as you can so that you capture one of the finisher t-shirts below. If you fail there will always be next year. This is also good training for the upcoming Kuching Marathon 2016, which may yet again have top 200 t-shirts.

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Free Entry Competition

Please send your favourite pic of yourself running in any of the Spring Live Active Run. There must be a SLAR bib on your running vest. The ones who sends me the five best pics will win a free entry into the Spring Live Active Run 2016. Please email your pics to yamiska127@gmail.com. State clearly this is for the "Spring Live Active Run 2016 Free Entry Competition." My decision will be final. Only entries received before 30th April will be accepted. The winners will be announced in this blog and I will contact them via email. Happy hunting for your best SLAR pics!

Run for Health and Charity

The Spring Live Active Run 2016 will give 70% of the profits from the registration to charity. For those who want to know more or who want to register, do please visit www.liveactiverun.com. This year SLAR is powered by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia and co-organised by Level Up Fitness, Coneli Sports, MOMA Water, Raw Juices and Revive Isotonic Drink. Runners at the water stations will thus have a choice of isotonic or drinking water. Please dispose of the drinking cups in the bins provided and also take only the amount you need. Think of the other runners behind you. Well here is me looking forward to another SLAR and hoping it is bigger and better than last year's one. Those who have yet to register please do so soonest. The oldest competitor last year was James Wong, at 69 years. He ran the 21km. This year he will return. Is there someone older than him out there who dares take up the challenge?

James Ong (right) and me

Asia Xtreme Adventure Series 2015

 

5 Challenges in 2015 in Sabah

As a runner I am happy for my friends in Sabah that they now have five new events to choose from. Asia Xtreme Challenge recently held the Ranauthlon.14, which was a trail run of up to 21km in distance. I heard that every single runner finished. Now they have unveiled an even bigger schedule of events for next year. There is something for everyone here, be they like me just a road runner, or a cyclist or even a triathlete. Even those who like obstacles courses will have something to grin about. The fact that many of my Sabahan friends won't have to fly out to enjoy such events am sure will put a smile on their faces. I have been in constant touch with the organisers who have been more than happy to answer all my questions. Many of my friends from Sabah have mentioned about the registration fees, the lack of finisher tee for the FM runners and also the finishing times. New events will always face their own challenges. 

I for one think that due to the set up and staggered dates of these five events that even I can join all five if I wanted to. However the events that I am partial too are without a doubt the X12 Dark Run full marathon and the XTrail Ranauthlon.15 full marathon. That is what I live to run for. If they had an ultra, I would join that too. However I know that in Sabah there are powerful cyclists and triathletes, and am sure the X3 and XRace.123 will appeal to them. There are many combinations for the participants to choose from. I will only choose the run. However am sure a runner can team up with a cyclist to do the XRace.123. That's what makes these events so much fun. It opens up new possibilities for the participants. What's more those who sign up and finish all five events will get a special sixth medal that they can attach all the other medals too. Now I don't know about you but that is something to look forward too.

A brief summary of the dates for all five events next year can be found below. Those needing to know more about each particular event can go below and click on the event itself. I am told that participation is limited. So those who are interested should go directly to their website here and choose what's best suits them.  

X12 Dark Run - 1st March 2015

X3 Challenge - 5th, 6th and 7th June 2015

XRace.123 - 9th August 2015

XTrail Ranauthlon.15 - 1st November 2015

XC2 Xtreme Course Challenge - 6th December 2015

X12 Dark Run

X3 Challenge

X Race.123

XTrail Ranautholon.15

XC2 Xtreme Course Challenge

Watergate 16HR 2015

Event Info

Event Details

Date: 10 Jan 2015 (Saturday) to 11 Jan 2015 (Sunday) 

Time: 08.00pm Saturday to 12.00pm Sunday (16 hours)

Venue: Taman Seri Empangan, Putrajaya

Entry Fee: RM50 (An additional RM8 for online transaction fee)

Event T-Shirt is available for optional purchase @ RM30/pc. Event tee is not included in the entry fee. Info as below. Material : Microfibre.

 

Event Format

- Running a loop from Taman Seri Empangan to Palace Of Justice (2.5KM) and turn back to Taman Seri Empangan (5KM per loop)

- Do as far as you can in 16 hours.

- To entitle as race finisher, participant must complete a minimum distance of 50km (10 loops) within 16 hours. There is special limited edition finisher token waiting for you.

- Minimal support event. Please read the entire race info.

- No pacer is allowed.

Categories

A - Men's Open

B - Women's Open

Runners entitlement (available during the race unless stated)

- Free flow drinking water.

- Free flow isotonic drink.

- Coke/Mountain Dew (available after 12:00am)

- Fruits (banana and watermelon).

- Bread (with Nutella and Peanut Butter).

- Sweet and salty snack.

- Supper (available after 12:00am)

- Breakfast (Nasi lemak daun pisang available after 7:00am).

- Recovery station (after the race).

- Personalised bib number.

- Route marshals. 

- 2 water stations.

- Finisher Goodies. 

- Basic first aid (available at start/finish point).

- Photo coverage by official & unofficial photographers.

Eligibility

This race is open to Malaysian and overseas runners aged 18 years old and above only.

Prize

No prize. No medal. No finisher tee.

Just pure ultra-marathon satisfaction.

http://watergate16hr.teampacat.com/p/2015-game-info.html

Route 68 Challenge 2015 - Announced!

Pick your thrill: 50km or 68km

As the 2015 run calendar gets clearer one thing I noticed is the clashing of runs yet again. Unfortunately I am unable to attempt Titi Ultra again this year as it clashes with Malaysia Women Marathon, for which I have been signed up as an FM pacer. However thanks to many more runs popping up in Malaysia I now have a chance to run in another road ultramarathon.  This brand new event is the Route 68 Challenge which falls on 10th May 2015. That's a week after the Borneo International Marathon in Kota Kinabalu, which many of us from Kuching will be running.  This new road challenge comes in two categories: Endurance Category (68km ) and Challenge Category (50km). The cut-off times are a competitive 12 and 9 hours respectively. As far as elevation goes it will be 1,900m and 1,700m. So this will be ideal for those who enjoy hilly road runs.

Why is this ultramarathon called Route 68 Challenge? Well the race course traverses through the remote and scenic Route 68 from Gombak to Bentong. The organisers promises to give runners the most unique road ultramarathon race experience in Malaysia. This event is not yet open for registration. To keep abreast of the latest news do visit their Facebook page or go directly to their website. The finisher t-shirt is from 2ndSkin (see below) and the medal is designed by Medal Depot. Medals will be awarded based on positioning. Those who finish within the top ten in each category will get a gold medal. The top 11-30 finishers will be awarded a silver medal. While all those who finish within the respective cut off times will receive a bronze medal.  Those who feel they are up to the challenge or have the endurance can sign up when registration opens next week. This event is brought to you by Malaysia Ultra Running.

 

Sarawak International Marathon 2015 - Announced!

Sarawak gets another 42.195km run!

Didn't dare say marathon as the word continues to get abused in our country. So to make sure everyone knows that the marathon in Bintulu is a full marathon I have put out the exact distance. We in Kuching felt very lucky to have had the Kuching Marathon this year. It was a huge success. Yours truly was hoping for even more long runs. Guess what it is starting to happen!  Sibu would have been the likeliest choice, since they have been running a half marathon, and calling it a marathon, for donkey years. However now that Bintulu has announced the Sarawak International Marathon on 22nd March 2015, the papers call it 'International' while on their Facebook page it remains Sarawak Marathon.  However what is certain now is the distance. Plus confirmed too are the half marathon, 10km and 5km runs.   There will also be a 1km Kids Dash and a 10km Corporate Challenge.

Fat Old Man Running is hungry for more news. We all have been told to stay tuned at their Facebook page and www.ata.my or www.AsiaTourismAlliance.com for more information of the Grand Launch in December 2014. The clock is ticking very fast. The Volunteers Program and Event Registration will be opened by them. We runners in Sarawak are living in exciting times. Come 2015 we are guaranteed two full marathons in our State. Then there is a small matter of a run in Sibu that always seems to clash with the Borneo International Marathon... The more the merrier I say. What it does is give those living on the island of Borneo a chance to run long without having to fly out. In Brunei they have the inaugural BSB International Marathon on 16th November 2014. While in Sabah, next year, apart from BIM, there will also be the X12 Dark Run, which is also a full marathon, on 28th February 2015. That's five full marathons next year on the island of Borneo alone!

The full article can be read here.

Momentum Run 2.0 - Open for registration!

Run long or run short: The choice is yours

Last year, the hugely successful Momentum Run was launched in Kuching. This year the organisers have decided to make the event even better.  The main objective of this run is to prepare runners for the second edition of the Kuching Marathon that falls on 16th August 2015. As Kuching runners are well aware there are only a few events locally that go beyond 5km up to 10km each year. So those wanting to run longer will have to fly off to either Sabah or the peninsula. Now thanks to Momentum Run 2.0 runners can stay back in Kuching, run to their hearts contentment and be rewarded with medals and finisher t-shirts, and of course save lots of money.  The common question I am always asked is when is the next run in Kuching. Well now the answer is for all to see because registration has opened for the series. However this year things get a little more exciting....

Like last year there will be four runs in the series. Unlike last year only one event t-shirt will be given for Momentum Run 2.0. This is when the participant signs up for Series 1 which will be held on 18th January 2015. The distance is 8km. Only 1,500 limited edition Brooks drifit t-shirts will be printed in the hot pink colour seen below. So for those who sign up late there is no guarantee the same colour will be available. Don't say you were not forewarned. The fee is only RM40 and for that the runner gets the t-shirt and upon completion of the run a medal too. Those who want to register can get the forms at RevRun Padungan, at the Brooks Concept Store at Green Heights Mall or at the CJC Thursday Night Run registration desk.

Now the question is, which run is right for you? This year there will be not one but two categories. The runner is asked to plan wisely. Those aiming to run the Half Marathon can opt for the Short Distance Category which consists of 8km, 12km, 16km and 21km. Those who complete the 21km will get a exclusive finisher t-shirt. However if a runner is aiming for the Full Marathon then they should sign up for the Long Distance Category, which consists of 8km, 20km, 25km and 30km. Please note that those who finish the distances mentioned in both categories will be awarded medals. All four medals in the series can be fitted into a special giant medal.  While those who complete the 30km will also get an exclusive finisher t-shirt. Those who sign up for all FOUR Series before 15th December 2014 will be entitled to a free Brooks Sling Bag and Shoe Discount Voucher. For further enquiries, please call: 082-459397 (Brooks GHM), 016-5892233 (Albert), 014-3955194 (Agu), 012-8870436 (Kee).