Run in memory of Ngae

New pics by PM Tey (thank you).

Tip did her longest ever walk (8 km)

Lets see whether I will wear a sarong for all the races this year

Julie Foreman (new friend), Emma, Sam (happy 60th) and Ben (3 hrs flat at Rotterdam)

I have been with Pacesetters Athletic Club since 1984 (more or less). They have always rallied around when a member is in need. When a member has had an accident, cancer, wants to race overseas, a bereavement etc., Pacesetters will rally around. Even for total strangers, for the less fortunate, its members will rally around. I suppose this is the camaraderie of running together.

This morning it was especially nice to see Tri friends I have not seen for such a long time and was wondering whether they were even in the country. Steve Lee and Karoline, Jap Sam. Jaja Shah.

The run was nice. Myself and many people were in sarongs (brother Ngae's trademark). I took the opportunity to greet everyone on the run route to Sri Hartamas and this time I got more smiling faces than the usual Sunday.

Pics are all from Juliana Ali (thank you). Brother Tey is busy with work and will upload his pics later.

So sweet. Wan (former President) and Juliana Ali did the honours Brother Tey, what would we do without him. Most came dressed to the nines. Hee hee. Look who's back I acknowledge I look silly (who cares)

I've known them since Day 1, 1989

RUN STATS (in SARONG):Ran to Petronas, loop and back in a very good time (2 hrs 13 min) for me, (no long ride on Saturday as it was a working day). Then plodded 8 km (1 hr 19 mins). Total time including 3 stops was 3 hrs 38 mins. I can't see myself finishing the KL Marathon.

BE THERE

Its a call to arms that this country has never known people. The enemy is at the beach. Robin Hood (it was only an average movie) needs us.

I am a Selfish Triathlete. I did not go to my brother at his time of darkness. Never again.

This Sunday, Bukit Aman 6 am to 6.30 am. Be there.

We will be;

• Loud and annoying.
• Have only love for everyone of all races.
• Not have an ounce of malice for anyone.
• Run in sarongs (ask me if anyone needs one or five).

A RELIEF

Its only now, after sharing Ngae's final journey with many people that I love, I feel I can finally write something.

FIRST FEW DAYS

I got the news late on Saturday night by SMS from my IM China buddy, Hoo. I started to shake, "whats wrong?" asked the wife. Made a few frantic phone calls to Joo Ngan to get more information. Hands still shaking, should I tell E? I could see her breaking down, so it was a no. Let someone else do it.

A FAMILY LOSS

I couldn't sleep, my missus couldn't sleep, Joo Ngan also couldn't sleep. This was shocking news. I have never ever experienced anything like this. I have never had a close bereavement. This was a bereavement from a family that I cherish. I started Marathon running in 1984 with the Pacesetters from Bukit Aman. We saw each other 6 days a week. We were closer than family. I have always considered, initially runners and later Triathletes to be my closest family.

MY CONNECTION WITH NGAE

We were training buddies for IM MSIA 2006 & 2007. IM 2006 was the year Ngae embraced our wonderful sport. He called me "Sifu". He called me "brother". He told everyone at Bukit Aman (very loudly) that I was his sifu. He didn't tell anyone that I came in last at IM 2006. He was full of love. There was not an ounce of malice in him. He never ever bad mouthed anyone. He was just loud annoying love actually.

When he was fit, he was the first person I would call. "Brother, tomorrow Frasers ok?". We did that 200km ride just the two of us umpteen times. We did Genting (he ran barefoot after a mechanical problem). We went to PD (he slept on the beach with his daughter), swam for 2 hours in the strong sea current, then did the 65 km loop twice (just once for me). We had so many brick workouts in the heat at Ulu Langat. He waited for me every time on the run. We could run in the Kampongs and he would immediately endear himself to the locals.

MULTI-RACIAL

He endeared himself to all races. He nearly married a Malay in Sarawak. The Baju Melayu was all done. Even Malays don't wear Sarongs to run or after their runs. He loved all races and they all loved him back.

I was distraught the first few days. My missus was even worse. "Don't show his picture", she said. So I took down my RIP post.

I saw E did a post around 7 am Sunday morning. It was too well written. The post was cob wash. It was written by an excellent writer, not by someone in grief. E's second post was different. That was written by someone in grief. I went like a cry baby "I can't handle this E", I cried.

When Ngae was fit, he was my closest buddy. When he was experiencing his darkness, I never went to him in return. This must never happen again. I must must go to his service and cremation. This was the last chance. I made arrangements at the office so I could go.

SERVICE & CREMATION

E smsed. Absolutely perfect. Its the first time we both attended this type of funeral. It was the first time I have seen a dead face. There was love, calmness and serenity all over the place. It was so nice to see so many family that I love. People that I have known since 1984, people that I am with more than my real family.

Joo Ngan and his mechanic, Dr Tan, Jason Thiang, Hoo, PM Tey, Juliana Ali (the only other Malay there I think), Wan Yew Leong, Pin Pin and daughter, Pacesetters runners, Paul Lee, Bruce Wan etc. Seeing so many people I love, gave me a relief, forgot that I was supposed to be distraught. No tears at all.

Fit looking lot (I would only spoil the picture)Ngae's Marathon Des Sable cert
Love and serenity
IM Hoo (a very very cheerful friend to have)

All the best to Miro - Great Wall Marathon this weekend

Miro at IM China

Doing another outstanding race soon (The Great Wall Marathon on 15 May 2010) is my many times race buddy, MIRO BLANARIK. Its pronounced "Mee ro" not "My ro". I'm the culprit that always pronounces his name wrongly. Miro has done many nice Ironman (IMWA, China, Msia, Europe) and 70.3 (Worlds, China, Cobra) races all over the world.

He works for an IT Company in Malacca (Infineon Technologies). A former employee of that IT Company in Malacca is married to multiple Ironman Champion, Sonja Tajsich (who recently won Spec Savers IM South Africa 2010) and Ironman Malaysia in 2006. Sonja trained in Malacca in 2006 and 2007. i.e. we all should move to Malacca then.

Miro has a very lovely wife by the name of Nicole who are expecting their first child anytime now. She is especially friendly, we have spoken to her many times.

Ha ha (a secret). The first time I saw Miro was when (heh heh) he was taking down the Ironman banner in front of Sea View Hotel after IM MY 2009 (with permission).

Miro is an extraordinary race person. He did IM MY on 27 Feb, IM China on 14 March and Aviva one week later. He posted consistently very good times for all the three races. No bad days.

Sonja IM Malaysia 2006 Champion

We wish Miro all the best for the Great Wall Marathon, KL Half Marathon, IMWA and of course congratulations for his about to be born new baby.

All the best to Denis - EVEREST Marathon

Well liked "local" IM, Denis Oakley will be doing the Everest Marathon on 27 May 2010. He will be leaving this Saturday and only returning early June (details). Obviously this is not the KL Marathon.

I first met Denis during IM Langkawi in Feb 2009. It was very embarassing for me as Denis had taken the trouble to know my name (and kept on calling me throughout the race) but I couldn't reciprocate.

Denis is well liked by all Triathletes and has very good constructive ideas for the benefit of the sport. He would be a good person to represent all Triathletes should race organisers ever want our feedback. Denis is also doing IMWA 2010.

From the Gingerbread Man blog

From the race web-site

We wish Denis all the best. May he have a safe trip.

Double DNF

Thanks for the concerned wishes last week, this week I was useless on my own accord.

SATURDAY

Missus picked me up from Bentong in the car as I was just plain lazy to cycle back. She has never driven so far, I was quite worried.

SUNDAY

Ran to Sri Hartamas Petronas, then took the taxi back. So so many people were running Bukit Aman to Petronas and still going round and round. Good to especially see the IMWA 2009 mob at Petronas. Missus might do the 5 km run on KL Marathon day, yeah.

IMWA course changes - yipee

WTC has informed us:

SWIM

Start where we finished and end where we used to start. Thus, the jetty will now be on our left (my breathing side). Yipee

TRANSITION

Now at Signal Park, behind the Equinox Reataurant and not at Barnard Park like before. Much nearer to where we will be staying (we are staying in town this time). Yipee.

BIKE

No change. Still the totally flat 3 X 60km laps. Yipee

RUN

4 laps through town (Queen Street). So convenient for our supporters, they can sit at the teh tarik stall (or whatever they call it there). Near to the house. Lots of supporters. Oh no I will miss the flies so prevalent by the beach. Yipee

FINISH

On Queen Street. Can walk straight home. Yipee.

The Downside

Carbo loading and awards is still at Barnard Park. My missus can't walk that far. So get a lift from Miro or Kevin, yeah.

IM St Gorgeous

Well our Wongstar wants to get married at St George because its such a beautiful place. We have to start saving like crazy, assuming we are invited.

There's this very good you-tube by the funniest IM ever, Greg Welch which gives a good all round preview of IM St George. Our Wongstar is on at 16 mins 10 secs. You tell me, is she nice and funny or what. She definitely won't be single for long.

So how did people we know do?

1. Jocelyn Wong 11 hr 4 mins (11th woman). 1 hr 17 mins swim , 6 hr 2 min bike and 3 hr 34 min run. A very well done.

2. Miranda Alldritt (8th woman). 10 hr 40 min. 1hr 7 min swim, 5 hr 43 min bike, 3 hr 46 min run. She did very well as she had food poisoning for her previous two IM (MSIA and China).

3. Gina Crawford. 10 hr 11 min, only fourth placing.

1 May - a very bad DNF

Don't read, it wasn't a happy ending.

I have been a bit ill and missed some training, but I thought I could make it up with a 258km ride (house to Bentong to Frasers Gap and back the same way).

Left the house at 6 a.m., (its very nice to cycle in the still of the morning). I was going much slower than usual, felt lethargic and the mind games (should I turn back?) started very early in the ride.

But this is what its all about. Lets push the envelope and see what happens.

I gave myself a treat after only 77 km (Bentong)

I love the route

This very friendly chap from Raub (just like Kevin) wanted to give me a lift, show his car engine etc. Sorry buddy we are on a mission today.
Fraser Gap was full of people (half way? 129 km)
180km, I treated myself the same thing (all was to come out)

I thought I was "doing fine". Slow, struggling but what the heck. I got stung by an insect (I think this was the cause of my predicament) as I was approaching Janda Baik. I started to bonk, felt very itchy, goose bumps and other bumps started to appear. I knew I was in quite serious trouble, I stopped at the Janda Baik junction (208km), slept on the road, the head was spinning, I thought I was going to pass out. Can't let that happen, struggled to where the cars drove by, one luxury MPV stopped and actually accepted me.

He was a Driver. He was actually annoyed with me. He was also in a big rush, needing to go to the Seremban Highway. The luxury vehicle flew down the Karak Highway. I unfortunately vomitted everything that was in me. It was all over my cycling gear and shoes and unfortunately all over this luxury car too. I was disoriented trying to apologise profusely to the Driver.

He dropped me at RHB Bank at the Kampong Pandan roundabout and demanded RM100 to clean up the mess in the car. I gave it. But I was still not feeling well, its only 5 km to my house but I could not risk cycling home.

Normally I would call my wife, but she has gone home to her folks. No taxi would take me with all the vomit on my clothes. Hmm I don't know many people do I, called Nancy Yeoh (wife of Datuk Ng Joo Ngan). She sent her mechanic (THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH NANCY), so he got me home. Showered and went to bed. I do miss my wife, she excels at pampering me when I am down.

Now its the following day, Sunday and I am quite fine, thank you. Hee Hee

2010 Ironman Western Australia is SOLD OUT

I am reluctant to bump off Jocelyn's visit from the top of my blog, but all good posts come to an end and its time to move on. Our "Wongstar" has settled down very well at St George having already found out where the ice cream are kept.

Yes, for the first time I think, IMWA is sold out. There is no waiting list, so no one can now register.

Luckily me and Kevin registered only about two days ago. They have changed the organisers this year, but the web-site is still very poor, so I am surprised as to why its sold out.

Flying Malaysia's flag will be:

1. Lai May Senn
2. Nik Ariff Sidek
3. Ezer Ratchaga
4. Kevin Siah
5. Denis Oakley (yee hah)
6. Miro
7. Richard Tang (we will be sharing accomodation with him and his wife, thank you for arranging it Richard).
8. Tobias Frenz (10 hr 13 min at IM MY 2010, 19th overall). Thanks for correcting me Kevin.
9. Me

Its a very expensive race to do (for me anyway), so I think this year we won't rent a car. Just take their buses, stay near the race start and maybe just do sightseeing for a day or two after the race.

Playing host to friendly TBB Pro - Jocelyn Wong

P.S. I am overwhelmed. Jocelyn has written us the most wonderful thank you, which I acknowledge is the loveliest THANK YOU I have ever received in my life. What a wonderful world this is, when someone really appreciates what you have done.

I was very impressed by TBB Pro Jocelyn Wong at IM China. She always smiled or had something nice to say everytime we met, even when she was throwing up over her handle bars. She of course took care of exhausted Morten for a good 20 mins., helped a female IM (Kana) with a puncture etc. I thought that was that. Never to see her again as is normally the case.

But the internet world works in mysterious ways. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but she accepted my invitation to be our guest in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 21 Apr. It was her stopover from Krabi (she had finished her training camp) on her way home to San Francisco. Actually she was our guest right from Krabi airport.

I have since realised that she is much loved by the whole world. When she missed her flight from KL, the whole world was giving her messages. For her good deeds at IM China, our own Paul Lee had given his support on the TBB Forum. When for an unknown reason, she received an unkind remark on the TBB Forum, the whole TBB Team rallied to support her, even our own "emabish" waded in telling the anonymous offender "Just WHO do YOU think you are Cos we all know you are NOT our Wongstar". Ha ha, wow.

A bit of advice to all the husbands out there. Before everyone starts inviting Chrissie Wellington over, you do need to give a very very convincing story to your missus as to why you are inviting a female triathlete over. I had my tense 24 hour silent stand off with the missus (our most serious tiff ever), but as you can see from the pics, we sorted it out and have moved on to a higher new level. Heh heh.

A very lucky fellow

Dinner was at Chilis (don't know any other place)

My wife picked Jocelyn up from the airport alone


We put her up at KLCC Impiana


You can have any book from Kinokuniya. She choose the "Art of War" as it was read by Chrissie Wellington


These two know their foods very very well. The recipes for my energy bars have been provided by the person in blue


At Emma's Pool (thank you)


My wife's cup cakes have made many many friends


They were the best of buddies right from the off


Where we said goodbye. Alas she was allowed through the wrong gate and missed her flight

Jocelyn, it was our pleasure to host you. You are welcome here anytime. All the best for IM St George on 1 May 2010.

Under the weather

I have cold /cough etc and have missed this weekend's training.

TUESDAY

OK, I feel much better now. Previous few days, I didn't know what hit me. Thank you internet buddies for your well wishes:

1. Emma (my thanks also for doing the "errands" at Krabi)
2. Kevin Siah
3. Jonie Sua
4. Denis
5. Jocelyn Wong (Jocelyn is actually dropping by in KL later today. So looking forward to it).

A nice Sunday

RIDE - SEVEN HILLS

It was a most lovely start to the morning to bump into our friends as they were making their way to their PCC ride start.

Hill No. 1, Ampang Hill
Hill No.2 (Tekala /Bukit Hantu)
Hill No. 3 (Lenggeng) Lenggeng, very steep downhill
Hill No. 4 (Bukit Tangga)
Hill No. 5 (Peres) Hill No 6 (Bukit Hantu -reverse) Hill No. 7 (Ampang) RIDE STATS:

Left home: 6.20 a.m. Back home: 2.30 p.m. Time away: 8 hrs 10 min

Actual cycling time: 7 hrs 47 min

Total stops : 23 mins (to take pictures, fill up water bottles at Lenggeng, Petronas KK, Batu 14). No lunch stop. It was Tip's home made energy bars fueling the ride.

Distance: 163 km. Average speed: 20.9 km/h (I'm always slow).

I rode alone even though PCC was everywhere. Didn't see E at Petronas.

Same ride in 2008.

RUN

Kg Pandan Track

After a 30 mins rest, I ran the 30 mins to Kg Pandan Track. That was it, had to call Tip to pick me up. I wonder how I can plod for 8 hours on race day but can only last 30 mins on a normal day.

My body is like a balloon now. Not fair, can't even relax a little bit.

Keeping things sort of ticking

When the next confirmed race is only on 5 Dec 2010, one sure is a bit lost on what to do. Its a pity IMWA is on the same day as the 70.3 Asian Pacific Championships at Phuket. Unlike previously thought, the 70.3 Champs is also open to the public. What a party that would be.

The number of people going to IMWA is going to increase by leaps and bounds this year. Just yesterday Jap Sam and Ong Boon Hin told me they would be going.

Saturday (140 km)

Adeline at Broga

There was only Ad and me with the best support person in the world, Mac. After 140 km, I called it a day and hopped into Mac's car. I have to sort out my painful feet. Adeline, very much to her credit, finished the ride even though she was not having a good day. The next day, she ran 30 km from Bukit Aman, wow.

Broga Hill, popular with Trekkers

SUNDAY (20 km run, 2 hrs 17 min)

I started at the car park with Ben (doing Rotterdam Marathon this weekend) and Emma. After only two seconds, they both disappeared into the darkness. Nevertheless I had a good run. Reaching Petronas and the loop in my fastest time ever (since I got my foot injuries in 2002). PM Tey was at the crest of a hill taking pictures of everyone. After being told off by him, I no longer give the "victory" sign. Randy Tan was running so majestically on the other side. Coming back from Petronas, I was spent from yesterday's ride, but made it back running the whole way and did not hop on any taxi.

I actually swear by the Compressport stuff that I wear on my quads and calves. I have never got cramps when I wear them (I know, this Sunday I will get cramps), my thighs don't ache like they usually do and I can walk properly the day after an Ironman. I bought them at the EXPO at IMWA and have no idea how one can buy them in Malaysia (go to the internet I suppose).

I was so out of breath after the run that I couldn't really talk with Emma, TSB and Mac (sorry). Emma actually cares very deeply for Triathlon in Malaysia. Its very much in her heart, she thinks about how she can improve things all the time, encourages Triathletes of all levels and if you are really good, she will say come ride with me, lets see how you can improve further. She of course has a wealth of knowledge. I was surprised when she said, she is actually going to reduce her mileage now (but at increased intensities). Lets face it, westeners (like Simon) embrace Triathlon much more than Malaysians do. I have a feeling Emma has something brewing for the benefit of the sport.

Mac is my most favourite person in the world to talk to. He presents things methodolically and gives you graphs and data to shut you up. He does knows things though and is a pleasant person.