IMWA Family, Reunion Dinner

We are all part of the Ironman family, boomed Mike Reilly during the carbo loading dinner. He was of course, spot on.

Since endurance sport became my hobby in 1984, I have only made friends with either runners, triathletes, cyclists, Ironmans and its supporters. I found talking to others to be a total waste of time. However if the other person was a runner or triathlete (no matter who), I could immediately connect with that person and have many things in common.

The camaraderie amongst the group from Malaysia was extra high this year given the way that Richard was keeping us always connected. He kept everyone engaged from before the trip started and I could sense that it was going to be a good trip.

Indeed it was a marvellous trip. Such a pity we had to return back to earth. Richard was the organiser, handyman and mechanic, plus he could switch on the kettle whilst I knew how to fill the kettle with water.

Claris and Tip were the best supporters in the world. They both got along with each other very well and with Melissa enjoyed cooking. That was the key probably, having communal meals. Kevin provided two cars for our use and he of course had "local knowledge". Miro, Senn, Ariff, Ezer and Denis joined in the merry making, so it was fun all around. I didn't do much actually or maybe did nothing was more accurate, what a life.

THE DINNER

The reunion dinner was at Fatty Crab Restaurant (they serve crabs), Taman Megah. Whilst everyone was stuck in traffic, I walked over to Tan Boon Foo's (BikePro) new shop. Its very swank looking compared to the old one. I don't think he will still be the cheapest bike shop in town now. Meeting him though is always a laugh.

We apologise for having the reunion on a weekday, which meant Miro couldn't come from Malacca. Everyone else was there though:

1. Denis, Senay & Maya
2. Richard, Claris, Vynessa, Elyessa
3. Ariff and Senn
4. Tip and Sofian
5. Ezer
6. Kevin and Li-Ann (congratulations, they are going to be married soon)

Ever thoughtful Richard was in his element again. Printing in colour and laminating the Finisher's Certificate for everyone. As I was the only one whose hair was exactly the same colour as the white wall, Richard gave me the honours of presenting the Certs to everyone (I am honoured Richard).

Tip (my wife), was also in her element handing out specially packed "Miang Kum" for everyone. I have been so fortunate to have married such a lovely person, that now I only know how to boil water and make toast.

The proud Finishers with our Certificates (thank you Richard)
Vynessa & Elyessa
We did it !!!!


Ariff came with his Finisher's Medal, woop woop

Ezer, his finisher's T was too small

Denis "we were there to entertain the crowd, who came to see us" (spot on Denis)


Richard, always very thoughtful
Tip explaining the Miang Kum to Senn & Ezer

Yay
A happy bloke

Denis & Senay

Kevin & Li-Ann (congratulations)



Reminder of the day - Patriotic Ezer

Ironman Dr Tan's 55th birthday bash

11 times Ironman finisher, Dr Tan Tah Ming held his 55th birthday bash over the weekend at his residence. The people that came were neighbours, Pacesetters' members, cyclists, triathletes and desert runners (his new love).

The 55th birthday is of special significance in Malaysia because that is the official retirement age for most people. You can tell what a person holds dear by the people that turn up. Dr Tan has already declared that he will use his retirement savings to participate in Desert races all over the world (good choice man).

I have been doing Triathlons, Ironmans, long rides with him for the past 20 years or so. He always, always has a smile on his face.

I am touched, when I said I had to leave his birthday bash early, he immediately called everyone around to blow the candles and made his birthday wish.

Some things about him:

• 11 times Ironman finisher (one of very few Malaysians to have done so many).
• Has already registered for the Atacama Desert run (250km) that will be held on 6 March 2011. The entry fee for this run is USD 3,000. He will do this run with 57 years' old Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Jagjit Singh Sidhu (such a lively interesting fellow).
• He will do the Gobi Desert run on 26 June 2011.
• Did the Taklamakan Ultramarathon with his neighbour (Michael) who lives just across the road from him.
• Dr Tan is from Port Dickson, home of the longest running Triathlon in Malysia.
• Did the Hawaii Ironman in 2005. He qualified on merit at Ironman Langkawi in Feb 2005. Actually due to the Malaysia Boleh organisation, only 20 something people turned up and all Finishers qualified for Hawaii.

Dr Tan. The food and theme was Indian.

L to R: Mr & Mrs Half IM Leong, IM Datuk Ng Joo Ngan (3rd in Age Group year 2000), Dr Tan, Sofian, Half IM Lim Meng Shiang, Mr & Mrs Dr Hon, cyclist Gan

L to R: IM Jason Thiang, Sofian, IM Yee Sze Mun (Malaysian record holder - 15 times official Ironman finishes), IM Lee Chewee Hoe, Bruce Wun (49 times Marathon finishes), Michael (Taklamakan Desert) & Dr Tan


Dr Tan making his birthday wish, which is "to beat Yee Sze Mun and Sofian" (I am actually very touched)

Results - Taipei Marathon (19 Dec 2010)

Results of our Ironman friends:

• Ong Boon Hin, 3 hr 53 min (PB)
• Sam Japan, 4 hr 16 min
• Hoo Ching Cheong, 4 hr 29 min

Congratulations

Winding Down

Gosh we did three Ironman races in 2010, plus the Perth City to Surf Marathon. Especially with the PB at IMWA, it was an outstanding year.

For many months, we slept at 8 p.m. (to 9 p.m.) and woke up at 3.45 a.m., without fail actually. Training was all around the apartment (swim, bike trainer and run in the car park round and round) in the still of the morning.

Its nice when one's target race is at the end of the year (as the whole year we have a focus). Its also nice when that race is done, though we are still waking up at 3.45 a.m. as we seem to have put on weight again.

We developed some very strong friendships because of the races. Now, its time for socialising:-

CHIN WOO BIATHLON (12 Dec 2010)

What a fantastic high feeling at the finish. My regular running buddies Hoo CC and Lee Woon Khow (a big thank you gentlemen) Jamil Mat Esa, we used to slug it out in the nineties

Tip was a volunteer for her first time ever, she loved it.
Richard Tang, well we have become very close friends
The organiser Don Khor. We have been buddies since the first PD Tri in 1989. He was sincerely happy I came to his event
The podium finishers in my category (I was useless again, hee hee)


DINNER TREAT BY AJ

It was supposed to be my treat, but AJ out tackled me for the bill (I in turn have to treat him when he gets a PB)
John Tan, its because of him, my running lept by leaps and bounds (thank you)


GIFTS FROM RICHARD TANG

Such close bonds are created by the Ironman. Richard Tang was especially appreciative to us.

Don't ask where he got this

A countdown timer to help Tip with her baking and me with my meditation (so that we will always think of him is what he said, awwww)


Richard has many skills. Hopefully he has managed to copy the many Ironman Races that I recorded on Astro

Richard cleaning my bike chain and everything else. What a guy.

(still more socialising to do before the year is out, ha ha)

Oops, I did it again. ha ha

I announced to all and sundry at IMWA 2010, "enough lah, three times in a row, some more what. So expensive you know". Ariff though knew better, same as my wife. "We are going to read on your blog, Oops registered again".

Some said "if got $ $ $, go". Others said "whilst the body is able, go".

Registration was going to open on Wednesday, 15 Dec. On Tuesday we were exchanging e-mails. "what to do, what to do, dilemma man. The wife didn't say yes or no, aiyo"

Kevin Siah clarified (thank you Kevin) that registration was going to open at 7 a.m., not 10 a.m. as we had thought. At about 8 a.m. he smsed from Perth "I have registered, its now 50 % capacity". Phew, adrenaline and heart rate quickly shot up. Smsed and e-mailed everyone that might be interested to go.

Decisions had to be made quickly. I registered when it was 75% capacity. Gosh what is Richard Tang going to do?. I didn't want to pressure him. At 90% capacity, Richard announced he was in, phew happiness for me.

Ariff was still mulling things over at 95%. Hoping Senn to make the decision ha ha. "Its 96% Senn, decide quick. 97%, 98%, 99%, too late its full".

Within 4 hours and a bit, registration for IMWA on 4 Dec 2011 was full. Incredible. I know many (as in three) of our friends who had wanted to go, have missed out.

To my knowledge, only the following "Malaysians" managed to register:

1. Kevin Siah (lives in Perth)
2. Sofian
3. Richard Tang
4. Miro (lives in Malacca)
5. Dennis Tan (Kevin's friend, a Malaysian working at Edith Cowan University, Perth)
6. Poh Seng
7. Najib

Its going to be a very small Malaysian contingent. Can't have the "makan-makan" like this year, and its going to be a very short trip to watch the cost . Nevertheless for an Ironman junkie, its a return to paradise for me and Tip.

IMWA 2010 ; Malaysia Boleh

L to R: Sofian, Ezer, Richard, May Senn, Miro, Nik Ariff, Melissa Gaudart and Kevin Siah

It was a case of "Malaysia Boleh" as all of us managed to finish the Ironman unscathed, a number recording lifetime Personal Bests.

Miroslav Blanarik (10:53)

This was actually not his PB. His PB is 10:04 done at Frankfurt. Miro works and lives in Malacca with his wife Nicole and 7 month old son. He does no swim (1:29) training at all but his bike (5:35 including T1 & T2) and run (3:42) are something else.

We have done many races together by now and regularly keep in touch by e-mail.

Well done Miro.

Richard Tang (11:03). PB

PB by more than 1hr 20min. It is an incredible performance by Richard. Considering that he has a proper job and is a family man, this is one of the most incredible performances by a Malaysian Triathlete I have witnessed ever.

Richard was "my student" for this race. Just like Paul Lee and Peter Chan at IM Langkawi, all my students whip my butt big time on race day. Long may it continue.

We stayed together for this trip, so I have witnessed first hand just why he is so good. Make no bones about it, what he has done is astounding and it just shows you can do it and still maintain your sanity and calmness if everything is done methodically.

Some of the things that make him so good:

• No fancy supplements. Instead he watches what he eats to a "T". His diet is like 80% fruits and vegetables. His wife (Claris Loke) also watches what she eats. Right after the Ironman, it was like he had just woken up from a good sleep. Mentally very alert, able to meticulously pack his bicycle, clean his gear and go back to the race finish. He slept only about 30 mins after the race and first thing in the morning, went for his recovery run. Watch your diet people, its the key to everything.
• Meticulous in everything. What to do during the swim, bike and run ..... he has understood very well. He is not shy to ask for information from me, Simon Cross and anyone else. He absorbs all kinds of information, even the very little ones. i.e. he learns what to do. He was even able to predict his split times almost to the minute to his wife.
• He understand bicycles very well. How to fix various components, what is an aero position etc.
• He puts in the hours, but its not crazy hours. Training is only done in the mornings. After work, its family time. He has ran to his office (48km + 12km= 60km) starting at 1 a.m. from his house.
• Supportive wife, within family boundaries of course.
• Understands how to recover, which is stretch regularly and it has to be an active recovery. i.e. do an easy workout (everyday after the Ironman). The stupidest thing on the planet to do is to "stop totally" to recover.

Mark my words, this guy is going to keep on improving.

Kevin Siah (11:35)

Don't be despondent Kevin that its not a PB. I would give anything for this time. Kevin's preparations were interrupted by a bike fall and foot injuries. He's got very flat feet just like me. Thus many more foot injuries still to come. Kevin though is not even close to 30 years of age and therefore still has a good 20 IM in him.

Kevin is a bona fide nice guy. We are free to bunk over at his place for races, he provided us two cars for Busselton, gave us inside information on the aussie way etc. Kevin is a nice person. THANK YOU KEVIN SIAH FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.

Melissa Gaudart (12:38). PB

Melissa was born in Malaysia and moved to Oz when she was little. She resides in beautiful Mooloolaba, Queensland. She regularly takes part in a 11km swimming event near her place, done the Bonita NZ Ironman once, the Gold Coast Marathon etc.

She had a blinder of a race, exceeding all her personal expectations. Her Marathon split at IMWA way exceeded her Gold Coast standalone Marathon time. We started the bike together, I had a slightly faster bike, then she overtook me easily on the run. She is very light and was just floating away. Congratulations Melissa.

Ezer Ratchaga (13:04) PB

When I first saw Ezer racing at Ironman Langkawi, I knew from the determined look on his face, this guy was true Ironman material. Whilst others looked for familiar faces in the crowd, Ezer didn't. It was he and only himself that was going to pull him through the IM.

Part of his training is to do his long rides on Sunday mornings starting at 2 a.m. Goes to KLIA etc, 180 km.

I only saw Ezer when he was overtaking me on the run. He races with a smile on his face. He had a puncture on the bike and had knee problems on the run. Thus has potential to further reduce his time.

Sofiantriathlete (13:25) PB

• 14th official IM finish.
• PB at 52 years old.
• Previous PB was in 1994, sixteen years ago!!
• Improved upon IM Langkawi (27 Feb 2010, 16:30) and IM China (14 March 2010, 16:32) by more than 3 hours
• First ever daylight finish. Wooo Hooo

Thus its official, I am now younger than ever.

Denis Oakley (13:42) PB

We were supposed to party big time at Busso but we finally only saw Denis at the Awards Dinner. Never mind, his humour, cheerfulness, ideas on Triathlons made up for the lost time.

Congratulations Denis on your PB.

Nik Ariff Sidek (15:20) PB

Ariff got a PB on his honeymoon. Well done Ariff.

Lai May Senn (16:23)

Has never failed to finish an IM. Also on her honeymoon.

After only about 200m into her swim, Senn had to loosen her wet suit a bit as she was having problems breathing. But that action got the water all in and to her credit, she did not panic. She left the wet suit with the life savers and thus did the swim without it.

May Senn, one of the strongest IM competitors around, mentally.

IMWA 2010 : Race Day

A thousand apologies, the pics are not in sequence:

Finishing is always a happy moment

13 hours 25 minutes

No loved ones

With Kevin before the start. It wasn't that cold

Seeing our loved ones

Yellow teeth (I've got them scaled since)

Daylight finish right?

IMWA 2010: Post race

Lunch the day after. It was brilliant, we managed to get all the "Malaysians" over (except for Denis Oakley whom we couldn't locate). Thank you to Claris and Tip for this sumptuous meal.

Miro, Nicole (wife) and Mathew (7 months old) managed to join us to add to the happiness. We acknowledge our brilliant supporters, Claris and Tip.

Malaysia boleh man. We all finished.

Rebekah Keat (2nd Pro Female) couldn't resist taking a picture with Kevin and me.


This is the start of a Charity Mile run the day after. Contestants have to down a can of beer, run to the swim start (about 200m away) and back... repeat four times. They were panting and tipsy all at the same time. The dark chap in the middle is Gi Singh. He does Triathlons everywhere wearing that pink underwear.

After the Mile run Gi Singh (12 hrs 58 mins) had his hair, locks, moustache, beard etc. cut off for a friend who was having cancer. Gi is 28 years old and has never shaved in his life. His last haircut was many years ago.

Everything gone now, for charity

The awards dinner. We did it.

Finally we met Denis Oakley at the Awards Dinner. Denis was full of laugh and cheer in spite of his camper van having serious problems that it couldn't even move.

Tuesday we went sightseeing. First stop was the horse riding school for Melissa and Tip

"You sure the horse won't move. I have never been on one before"

Tip with the Stable Boy. Melissa is in the background.

Tip has a knack for getting along with all humans. Even the horse (named Katie) liked Tip

A natural

Yallingup Beach view point

Its breathtaking

All the pretty ladies (Melissa, Claris, May Senn and Tip) at Canal Rocks. Hold the skirt down ladies, its windy.

Still at Canal Rocks (May Senn and Ariff)

Canal Rocks

Canal Rocks

We then went to Voyager Estate that was recommended by Kevin. Nice one Kevin, the place is beautiful.

It was our utmost pleasure to bump into Mickie Shapiro and Al Tarkington from San Diego. They are both super bubbly people, it was just wonderful talking to them. Mickie is 74 years old and has qualified for Kona thirteen times. Al is 71 years old and came in 2nd in his age group at IMWA (15 hrs 6 mins).

Chatting in the cold under the huge Aussie flag (Richard, Al, Mickie, myself and Stephanie Tarkington)

On the drive back to Perth. Final goodbye to the cycling route.