The best supporters in the world

We had the best supporters in the world on that day. I can understand us lot doing the IM (er its for the chicks isn't it?), but why do supporters take the trouble to fly to Langkawi, stay up for a good 22 hours, just to help our journey for a few precious moments. We thank you, we really do. Your presence was appreciated more than you will know.

Iwata lending a shoulder They were looking for you

Stupe's Wifey

The Boss
Everyone's darling
TSB, Luvis & Mac

Abu's family

LeTuang's amazing support team

Aini

SK and Jason

Stupe's wifey

Falanie Ali helping out

TBB

TSB

TSB

TSB

Luvis

Fiona's family

Caroline

Hazura (Mrs Yusran) and Alisa (Ishal's)

Azly Bandit

Hazura, Alisa & my mob from Songkhla

Willie, after the Desaru 2007 race, he drove everyone in the van straight to their homes

My mob

Ivie

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all supporters for turning up and sharing with us our day. It is you who are KINGS.

Very nicely done

TUAN SENANG BESAR you are the best in the world. All my LeTuang mates are there. Even the song was perfect. How come I don't know how to do this?

Thank you and well done

Its such a long incredible day, we get to see heroics live, get pulled by wonderful support right throughout the day, develop new strong friendships, reaffirm existing friendships. Its best that we acknowledge these :

• My wife: Whose sole aim in life seems to be my happiness.
• New friend Denis Oakley (14h 5m) who said Hi everytime we crossed. Great to meet you Denis.
• Simon Cross (10h 43m). Thanks for your encouragement throughout the race. What an incredible performance. If only our National athletes had half of you.
• Emma (10h 55m). What a performance. Please give a talk to our National athletes.
• Kevin Siah (11h 15m). What a future he will have.
• Iwata San (15h 31m). Who sacrificed his race for the blind and kept on going after a bad day.
  
• OP Chan (12h 6m). Calls me Sir every time.
  
• Jaja (Mrs Fadzil). For the SMSs


• Abu Power (13 h 10m). I suppose you are crying. Well done.


• May Senn (16h 1m). Story no use.
• K. Kannan (15h 16m), whom I saw already had cramps on the bike but gamely limped to the end.
• Jason Thiang (15h 39m). My long time Pacesetter friend doing his first IM. Well done.
• I'M CYCLIST mob in front of CONDO ISTANA and on the bike route. What a sight for sore eyes they were.
• Steve Lee (15h 38m). For blocking the sunlight.


• Dr Tan Tah Ming (16h 58m). My regular partner for last position. The look on his face as he tried to make the cut off. I know how you feel. His wife (Dr Jenny) ran with him the last 20km.
• TBB Mechanic (Daniel?). For fixing my bike for free.
• Medical Team. For fixing my jelly sting the day before. For very efficiently applying anti cramp spray during the race. They were always good and have improved by leaps and bounds. The medical mob at the finish.
• Ade (16h 17m). Congrats on your IM. Mac for his support to everyone.
• Carmen Leong (12h 2m), Wendy Wong (12h 7m - what a bike split), Dr Fiona (12h 11m). Saw her family at the airport.
• Amy (14h 27m). The physically challenged athlete.
• LeTuang support team
• Blog readers: John Tan, Ali, Lee. Thank you for reading.
• Chris - TTH (14h 32m??). Easily the most gorgeous participant.
  
• Halim Jantan (15h 59m). He is going to Busselton.
• IM Yap Chin Leong (spectator). Cheered me on no end. Thank you.
• Jap Sam (12h 32m). Another solid day. Yap Eng Leong (14h 54m). Ong Boon Hin (14h 42m), all the best for China IM in April.


• Yee Sze Mun (14h 46m). A personal best at 72 years. His 14th IM. I believe.
• The kids on the road. They were good this time. Made themselves useful dishing out aid and willingly accepted when we didn't give them our safety light.
• OP Kam Kasturie (15h 9m). Congrats first IM.
• OP AJ (14h 22m). Inspiring us junoirs.


• The aid stations. So many sweet young things wishing us well. Very professional service. Someone has briefed them well.

A Good Day at the Office

15 hrs 38 mins. My personal tenth IM. Faster than IMWA (15hr 48m), IM LGK 2006, 07, 08 (all around 16 hrs 50 mins).

The 10th IM LGK was the best organisation, best crowd support, best volunteers, nicest kids, most cloudy day, best encouragement from fellow participants, best new friends, best route (to me anyway) etc.

Last week to Langkawi

First & last placing IM Langkawi 2006

SATURDAY - 1 hr 6 mins on the trainer. Didn't feel well. Sent bicycle for packing at Joo Ngan's shop.

SUNDAY - 10.8km double-hill. 1 hr 13 mins. Slow isn't it? 1 hr swim in apartment pool.

MONDAY - nothing. Went to PADE and its now closed every Monday for maintenance.

TUESDAY - 4km swim, 1 hr 20 mins exactly (1 min per 50m). Perfect waveless lane. Hardly race conditions though.

WEDNESDAY - Nothing

THURSDAY - Nothing. Forego my morning Air Asia ticket due to work. Air Asia now charges RM40 for the bike bag and RM15 per kg that is overweight.

FRIDAY (JELLY FISH STING) - swam 37 mins at Jetty and got badly stung. Suddenly a huge mass was before me (I thought the swimmer in front had stopped), then I felt the sting all over and saw the huge jelly stuff. It was bad, my right arm, tummy and left chest had huge tentacle marks. It was a shock, the medical people were still not around. I was snapping away at my wife. I am so so sorry sweetheart.

Whilst the official medical people were helpful (the treatment is pour vinegar on the affected area), I got a jab from the local cilinic on Ade's suggestion.

My bike warm up totalled 6 km on the day.

Family tree get together

On Sunday, it was a gathering of descendants from my great grandmother (moyang) at a Community Hall in Damansara. I think about 500 people turned up. Someone took the trouble to prepare a detailed family tree with about 1,000 names and their details. It must have been quite an effort.

My cousins, Twins (Abang & Adek) and Abang Yusof

Cousin Mod and his family

Seated are my cousins from Ipoh (Dr Fuad, Hisham & Mat). They are very good people.
Standing are their kids

Abang Yusoff introduced me to the thrills of bicycle racing. We would tear away on rickety bikes on stony, muddy kampong roads. He won each time. Abang Yusoff had to cycle 9 miles one way just to reach his secondary school.
The kids are leading the VIPs (elders) in
My cousin, Din and his wife Anita.
The twins introduced me to the bright lights of the city whilst I was still at school. It was always a thrill to meet them. Now we have white hair and some teeth missing.

Entertainment

Group photo, all 500 of us

This is just descendants of my grandmother (I just found out my grandma's name was Halimaton). We are in "yellow".

Hats off to the organising committee

Au Revoir

Adzim has figured out the new bike leg

READ HIS ANALYSIS

Two weeks to go

Saturday - 30 X 100m on 2 mins 10 secs. Was not smooth.

SUNDAY - Last ride on the road
The standard Broga Loop from Pekan Batu 18.

Average speed: 22.1km/h
distance: 136.7 km
Cycling time: 6 hrs 11 min
Rest time (Petronas KK): 22 mins
Got back at 2.03pm, not sure of exact start time

MONDAY - Nothing
TUESDAY - Swim 1 km
WEDNESDAY - Nothing
THURSDAY - Trainer 11 mins. After work 1.5km - 30 mins and 5 X 100m at Bukit Jalil
FRIDAY - Nothing

Free flight to Busselton Paid

Air Asia launched its free flights to Perth for Dec 2009 today. So I have already booked and paid for my two seats going on 1 Dec 2009.

The breakdown is as follows:

• Flight - NIL
• Tax - RM100
• 25 KG luggage - RM105
• Meals - RM15
• Insurance -RM15
• Total RM235

I will do the return flight once I'm sure I am going. Its the normal price of RM549 at the moment. Thus the total price is cheaper than last year which had a fuel surcharge.

Three weeks to go - I have a cold

Its generally regarded that week 3 before an event should be your hardest week. Unfortunately the early morning cold sessions on the trainer took its toll.

Saturday (7 Feb 09)

As CK's wedding was at 10 am, the intention was to do 2 hrs on the trainer beforehand. Unfortunately I could only manage to do 1 hrs 45 mins and I knew I wasn't feeling well.

After the wedding, I was at Pekan Batu 18 at 4 pm. I couldn't even make it to the T junction, a flat 21 km took me almost 1 hour. The non-stop sneezing started, watery eyes, thats the long weekend gone.

Sunday

No training day. Spent the whole day popping all kinds of pills to hasten my recovery.

• 7 am was spent watching IM WA Busselton on telly.
• 1 pm was lunch at IM Halim Jantan's house. A number of triathletes there: IM Patsy, Peter Lau, Nizar & wife, IM Raymond Hee, first timer Michelle showing her wounds from the previous day's fall at PutraJaya, IM Hin Toong, IM Sharom (rushing off to do a race at PutraJaya), IM Yee Sze Mun (officially completed 13 IMs), IM Ahmad Jauhari. One IM first timer cycled to Halim's house (Shah Alam) from Cheras (this guy has got what it takes) etc.
• 7 pm was the dinner reception for the newly weds organised by LeTuang at Chulan Square. We had a whole section to us, roughly I estimate there must be 70 of us.

LeTuang was actually started by the new bridegroom. I suppose it implies a group of cyclists after "LeTua". "Tuang" is a common term used by my alma mater. At the Military College there was simply too many things to do that we were all perpetually "Tuanging" or "Skiving" everything. If we had to do say 20 press-ups, we would do say only 2 (that means you really are a good Tuanger). LeTuang is open to all people that love cycling. We are on Yahoo Groups, I suppose there must be about a hundred of us now. The conversation though is 99.9% about eating.

• Monday. Felt slightly better and decided to risk a run at Lake Gardens. The car park was empty. Managed to reach Petronas in 1 hr 4 mins. I was sweating profusely when buying my drinks. The Petronas station has a gas pump, so many taxis go there. Also nearby are some stalls where all the taxi men have their breakfast. So I took one back to Lake Garden. Again people at the car park thought I ran back from Hartamas very fast.
• After the run, swam 50 mins in my inviting apartment pool. Couldn't reach my one hour target. That will do.

REMAINING DAYS. Since I am not that well, I think I will take it easy this week, just some swimming, definitely no rides on the trainer. Sunday maybe do a long ride. The following Sunday there is a 10 km run from Dataran Merdeka. That will just about complete my preparation for Ironman Langkawi 2009.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - ZERO, NOTHING. Cold and flam still there. I can feel something sore in the achilles heel. Oh Oh hope it doesn't bother me on race day.

Friday -45 mins on trainer. Flam still there. After work it was a 3km swim with paddles. 57 mins 5 secs. Enjoyed it.

Our training buddies got married

Dr K, we did the KL Marathon in the late 80s

Her best mate was there

A familiar face

It was easier during our time

Pretty maidens, don't play play, they are fit

My love, my life, my everything (Barry White)

I promise, really

Frankly, since taking up running 25 years ago, I am adverse to social activities, weddings etc. But on 7 Feb 2009, it was an exception. Our training buddies tied the knot at the Taman Tun mosque. Lots of our training mates were in the mosque, including the non-muslims. Its always nice to see sports breaking racial barriers. I acknowledge I got the pictures from Tuan Senang Besar.

Such professional pictures

Goodness such professional looking pictures taken by OP IM Shazly Khan on 1 Feb 2009 around the Semenyih Dam. Apparently these are lower resolution pictures for the internet. The real deal are even better. I can still see the Busselton race number on the bike.

Shazly will not be taking part this year and is in fact offering his professional photography services during this year's Langkawi Ironman. If you want top notch Ironman photos of yourself done in a high quality album style format, call Shazly at 016-6464464.

BUSSELTON 5 DEC 2009

Registration for Busselton is now open. AUD635 before 31 July 2009. There is already an entry from Melaka, Malaysia.

Four Weeks to Langkawi

Saturday - just 41 mins on the trainer in the morning. The previous night went to Mrs Joo Ngan birthday party.

SUNDAY - Broga loop from Pekan Batu 18.

Cycling wise, I am definitely more lazy now compared with before Busselton. Don't matter.

I did exactly the same ride on 1 Jan 09 and one week ago. My cycling time is actually a bit slower, well you reap what you sow.

STATS THIS TIME

Distance: 136.76km

Average speed: 22.0km/hr versus 22.2km/hr on 1 Jan

Cycling time: 6 hrs 14 min versus 6 hrs 8 min

Total time away: 6 hrs 33 min versus 6 hrs 22 min.

Stoppage time: 19 mins versus 14 mins at Petronas Kuala Kelawang

A motley group of cyclist (including Ironman Kannan, Adly, some other very strong cyclists, Mac? etc started just before me from the river near Pekan Batu 18. I didn't park with them as I ride alone).

IM OP Shahzly, OP Nadzim Manan will be doing the photography at Langkawi IM. Their photos are very good. Its like RM450 for 20 A4 pics in an album.

Well anyway they were snapping me away around the Semenyih Dam area (I'm sure the pictures would be very good since they didn't get my good looks). The motley group had taken a water stop at the Tekala rest area. I kept going, they blew by me aroung Nottingham University. They stopped at Lenggeng but I kept going till Petronas KK. Even after a 19 mins stop, they were not to be seen. I proceeded back to Pekan Batu 18. I wonder what happened to them?

MONDAY - 30 mins on trainer

TUESDAY - 58 mins on trainer

WEDNESDAY - 41 mins on trainer in the morning. 2km swim at Shah Alam after work with paddles. 37 mins 16 secs

THURSDAY - 31 mins on trainer in the morning.

FRIDAY - 40 mins trainer

Five weeks to Langkawi

Wow its getting close.

Saturday

Working day. 45 mins on the trainer in the morning. Then 49 mins lunch time swim at PADE. They have sorted out the plumbing for now.

Sunday - a funny sort of day.
My motivation for Langkawi is not as strong as for Busselton. Whilst for Busselton, I had no problem training on my own, but Langkawi is a different kettle of fish. I seem to need company to train with. I didn't know what the others were doing but I turned up at Batu 18 at 7.30 am. Many swank cyclists' cars there, a group had left. I was thinking of excuses to tell the wife why I was not cycling (how pathetic I am) but then saw OP IM Shazly. He said the LeTuangers had left 30 mins ago doing the Broga loop. That was enough motivation for me, "I gave chase".

I didn't catch them. They were not at Lenggeng or at Petronas KK. They were not even at the car park by the time I got back. It don't matter, I got my ride in.

STATS

137 km. 6hrs 22 min cycling time. 21.9km/hr average. I only stopped for 10 mins at Petronas Kuala Kelawang. I left Batu 18 around 7.38 am and got back at 2.11 pm. No sun, so I didn't faint this time. Wonder what I will do tmw?

Monday - Happy Chinese New Year

HOA to Genting Sempah and back. 30 km thats all I had energy for.

There was Adzim and his friend, Faisal both doing Ironman Langkawi. A couple. Three LeTuangers going to do the Bentong, Gap, Ulu Yam loop I think.

Tuesday - 20 km run Lake Gardens to Hartamas Petronas

The car park was quite empty. The runners that I saw on the road were: Goh Chin Aun and a white lady, Bee Lian and a guy, Wendy Wong running with the top Moroccan (I think), Sam Pritchard and a slim Mun and Kona Carmen, a chinese lady that I drafted until she turned left at the double hill, two other guys ---thats all. So I got the whole road to myself Ha Ha.

STATS

- 1 hr 7 mins to Petronas (includes giving directions to a motorist - I hate it when motorists ask for directions.. they think we have nothing to do).

- 4 mins stop at Petronas. That small "Cool Rhino" water costs RM2.80!

- 1 hr 7 min back.

Total 2 hr 18 min. Actually thats a "total" PB. Ha Ha. Previous PB

Wednesday - rest

Thursday - 45 mins trainer

Friday - 41 mins trainer (evening was open house at Joo Ngan's house)

Six Weeks to Langkawi

Saturday
Six hills, 155km, 19.2km/hr, 8 hrs 2 mins on meter.
We have to be honest in our reporting, this was the first time I pushed the bike about 100m coming back up Ampang Hill.

Left the house about 6.45am, up Ampang Hill, Tekala Hill (from Batu 14), short drink stop at Lenggeng, up Lenggeng and Bukit Tangga Hills, less than 20 min stop at Petronas K Kelawang (the corn/jagung does wonders), Peres reverse then tebu stop at Batu 18.
It was a blue sky day. Up till Batu 18, I was ok, its hot but ok. Still ok at Batu 14. Up Ampang Hill was another matter altogether. The heat did not let up, both my thighs cramped so I walked the bike up the long hill. Cycled ever so slowly to the top and thought I was going to faint.
I SOS my wife even though it was only downhill home from hereon. It was 3.30 pm.
What I learnt was not to underestimate the heat. Langkawi will be something similar. All the best everyone.

Sunday. On this very sacred day for us, I had an "errand" to do at 8 am and it did not finish till 5 pm. No training. What a disappointing day.

Monday. Nothing. Bad migraine (must be the saturday sun kicking in).

Tuesday. 20 mins on the trainer, thats all.

Wednesday. 2.5km swim at PADE. The plumbing there is acting up again.

Thursday. 40 mins on the trainer.

Friday. 40mins on trainer.

Congratulations

Congratulations to CK and Jaja who are getting married on 7 Feb 2009. I am so happy.

Seven weeks to Langkawi

Saturday
A working day. Morning 40 mins on the trainer.
2km lunch time swim at PADE
Sunday -a "TYRE day"

Started out from home to do a long ride. But got a puncture after only 30km at the Peres T junction. That junction was absolutely full with cyclists. The National Track and Road teams blazed by, Mr Chan's group of triathletes, OP Sabri and group, recumbents, MTBs, all sorts of cyclists..... Mr Chan's wife very kindly helped me to the end with the puncture. Thank you Aunty. Stupid me had the latest gas gadget but didn't know how to use it. So my very dutiful wife picked me up from Pekan Batu 14. Only 50 km on the meter.

Monday

56 mins trainer in the morning. For the first time the pool was totally empty and I did not pack my trunks.

Tuesday

52 mins trainer in the morning.

3km swim with paddles after work.

Its been ages since I had two good workouts in the same day. Is it because I used the nose thing for snoring,, it gave me a good sleep for once. I hope it works again tonight.

Wednesday - nothing

Thursday 1 hr trainer in the morning

Friday 2.2km swim with paddles at PADE. The kids were in the dive pool leaving the big pool empty.

Accomodation done

Kondo Istana Hotel

Its a favourite with many participants. Why I went for it is because its on the bike and run route. Very convenient for our loved ones. They can take a rest in between our appearances. The day (and night) is more difficult for them.

You can book thru many sites on the net or call them direct:
04-9661118 (En Faiz - polite chap)

The rate is RM209 per night for a two room condo (four beds). It has kitchen (for the wife), lounge and dining place too I think. Don't know why I never stayed here before. I wonder whats the catch.

The other places I have stayed are :

Sea View, City Bay View (too expensive)

Baron (OK its new)

Langkasuka (where they have the race briefing. Ok but a bit out of the way)

Eagle Bay (absolutely useless)

Flight is done and of course the entry fee. So we are set.........

Eight weeks to Langkawi

A little bit under the weather
Couldn't finish my Sunday run. Only did about 2 hrs 10 mins of plodding. Lots of people today. The taxis are very convenient at Sri Hartamas. Time to rest.........

Monday

40 mins trainer in the morning. 2km swim at Shah Alam PADE with paddles. Goodness was that the first swim since Busselton. Everything ached.

Tuesday

40 mins trainer in the morning. 1.5 km swim after work.

Wednesday

20 mins trainer in the morning. Really really tired. Wife has got my cold, oh no...

Thursday - nothing

Friday

20 mins trainer in the morning I think

Farewell for Nicklas (1 Jan 2009)

Nicklas from the Swedish Embassy is leaving us. They are a very nice family. The dinner was at a Nyonya place at the Curve.
Haja (Eddy's wife), Nancy, Tip, Me, Mr & Mrs Nicklas, Eddy & son, Freddie, Mr & Mrs Andrew Wong, Donald and Ah Heng
Nicklas & Joo Ngan

Food was only so so actually

We wish Nicklas, his lovely wife and two kids all the very best for their future.