34 years of endurance sports. Endured a heart attack and major surgeries, but I'm still at it. Only Open Water Swimming now. Very ably supported by my Thai wife, Tip. We are living in Malaysia and I swim to stay healthy.
In Perth, Mohan the Great and Pui-San raced with a digital camera. They posted many nice photos on Facebook.
I am embarassed to say I paid AUD 27.99 for these few measly photos, ha ha.
Through a comment on my previous post, the brilliant people at ROCKTAPE have offered samples to anyone that needs them. Just e-mail scott@rocktape.com.
I did slash my marathon time by 39 minutes. What I can really confirm is that the ROCKTAPE Team at the Perth Marathon were very nice to us. They are also very honest too. Steve (see picture) very kindly pointed out to me that I had accidentally dropped AUD20 as I flipped out my handphone.
With Steve of ROCKTAPE
Obviously I have nothing better to do.
SKINS
SKINS is an Australian Company that makes compression wear for sports. I already use 2XU and Compressport for my calves and thighs, so I thought I would give SKINS (official sponsor) a try at the EXPO.
Compression wear improves blood circulation (oxygen flow) which in turns improves endurance and recovery, reduces fatigue and injury. I think the real benefit is for recovery. If you sleep wearing compression wear, you will wake up very much ready to go.
The good thing about SKINS, is the quality of the material. It keeps you totally dry. It feels extremely comfortable and doesn't restrict movement in the slightest. It is a top notch product. It also has anti bacterial properties which I hope means I can wear it without scratching. It also has a 50 SPF sun rating.
The only downside I am aware off is that, it is not suitable for swimming in the pool, as chlorine spoils the material.
Well I did slash my KL Marathon time by 39 minutes.
ROCK TAPE
Again the ROCKTAPE people at the EXPO were brilliant. Even Tip got her feet taped.
We all have a point in our bodies that will fatigue first or a niggling injury somewhere. So what you do is you tape that part of the body and let the Tape take the weight of the exertion. There is a way to putting on the tape (not that difficult to understand).
Cadel Evans used it during the recent Tour De France right down his elbow. So because the Tape is taking the weight, injury is reduced and of course your performance will improve. Looking at their brochure, some people seem to wrap their whole body with the Tape. I only placed it on my problematic feet.
Something was working, I slashed my time by 39 minutes over a hilly route.
RACE DAY
The Marathon started at 6.30 a.m. It was cold but not freezing cold. Some people wrapped themselves in dust bin bags, some only had their running singlets. The race start was very near to our Motel. So no problems.
The first 21 km was pancake flat. I decided to go as fast as I could without killing myself. The run was beautiful, mostly around the Swan River for the first 21 km. Aid stations were good but no distance markers. 2 hours 1 min someone by the road said. A fellow runner told me that was the half way point.
It suddenly became hilly. I wasn't that bothered and actually hammered through King's Park. It was bust or nothing for me.
After King's Park (about 32 km), we joined the 35,000 or so 12KM runners. I started to hit the wall. It was chaotic, all of them were overtaking me. I was going slower and slower but did not walk. The Half Marathon people also started to zoom by. Children and all kinds of people started to over take me.
The City to Surf Run is actually not a serious Marathon run. Its a fancy dress charity run. The biggest surprise of the whole trip was when Kevin Siah's darling (Li-Ann) called my name. "Malaysia Boleh" she screamed as she stormed by. Gosh how did she spot me, I didn't know she could run so fast.
I struggled the last 8 km or so. The thighs were burning. I wanted to pee. The first distance marker I saw was at 41 km!!!!!! Gosh what good was that. The fancy dress people in an ambulance overtook me. I had to get them back. As I saw the finish banner, tears almost came to me. So relieved I was the pain was ending.
Heck there were throngs of people beside me. The Marathon runners were not special at all.
As soon as I got someone to take my picture, I smsed everyone back home my 4 hours 18 minutes.
I didn't see the sea, don't know why it called "City to Surf". Its a beautiful race.
We had to hang outside before check in
It was freezing for us brown folks
Marathon runners have to run up King's Park twice
Trying to impress the missus on race morning (it didn't work). SKINS baby (purchased at the EXPO)
ROCK TAPED the feet
Finally met Mohan the Great. He finished his 102nd Marathon in 5 hours flat and is going to China the following weekend. (Before the race start, 6.30 a.m.)
Tip went straight to the Medical tent after her 12 km. She only started at 10 a.m., it was so hot. The medical people, indeed all of Australia were very nice.
Tip wore her thermals (still groggy after the race)
My buddy of more than 20 years. GUY TAYLOR. He did the 12 km
Husband and wife safely completed their respective events
RESULTS:
Completed 42 hrs 8 mins wooo hoooooo
Today, I did my flights for IM China which is nine months away. Going on Friday and returning on Monday. I might not even be able to go due to work. I am nuts.
UPDATE 1:
Four others have also done their flights:
They are leaving on the Friday and coming back on Wednesday.
BTW the Great Wall Marathon (nearby) is on 21st May 2011.
UPDATE 2:
The following will also most probably be going:
Mary (we have not seen her since 2006), Jaja and her baby (Alia) 
CK
Julie doing the slide show next to the military University students (whom Julie very kindly sent back)
Hi Alia 
Tip was smiling (which is what its all about) with the sales of her Granola Bars. Paul Lee increased his usual order whilst TSB (I like the look of his blog. Al-Fatihah for your Papa. I am so sorry, its only now I heard about it) and Mac became first time customers. The Granola Bars are good stuff, thank you gentlemen. I guess I am the advertisement for them.
The weather was perfect, not that many people at the car park but most of our usual friends were there. I ran with John Tan.
We recorded a total time of 2 hrs 6 mins to Petronas Loop and back (1 hr 4 min + 4.5 mins rest + 58 min). This is my second fastest time ever for this route.
Then on my own I did (after 4.5 mins water stop) the 8km route in 1 hr 3 mins. So a total time of 3 hrs 14 min (including stops) for the 28 km. My PB.
I think I sort of know what to do, to not get the customary pain in my thighs. The run did not happen for me at PD, but I hope it will at the Perth Marathon.
Tip walked the double hill which is quite an effort for her. At Perth she will do the 12 km walk.
Breakfast (curry - oops) was paid for by Tip. The first time she has ever treated me using money she earned herself. I am so proud of her.
PD Triathlon 2010 was my best result since 2002, also at PD. Ever since I broke my arm and got the heel pain (in 2002), I regularly finished last or second last in my category. Who cares I thought, I'm doing what I love most.
The Diet. After so so many years of trying, I have finally managed to loose some weight. I got many compliments on this, thank you. The secret is, I am eating Granola Bars that my wife makes. I eat about four pieces a day for snacks and lunch. There are no preservatives and the ingredients (granola, banana, raisins, almonds etc) are all super healthy . The recipe was provided by Emma. My wife sells them (details on the right bar, at the top. Your support has made my wife very happy, thank you). Everyone thats tried them, loves them.
Swim. I only swim two hours a week in my odd shaped apartment pool which is hardly 10m long. I also have a broken arm. But I got out the water second.
The secret is to have a good start when the horn goes and ....... wait for it ..... swim the Total Immersion way. Please have an open mind.
Swimming is a technical sport just like say tennis. That means you spend your training working on your technique and not on your fitness.
70% of how well you will do is due to your body position. The remaining 30% is due to your fitness and arm movement, Yes believe me.
BIKE. I can't remember the last time I cycled on the road. All my cycling is done on the trainer six mornings a week. I'm up by 4 a.m. Its great for reducing weight and for my running believe it or not.
RUN. I had high hopes for my run, but at PD it didn't happen. The pain in the thighs were still there. So this is something I have to work on.
Get a good start. Cowboy (in red) came out first. I was second.
1,200 participants and hardly anything went wrong. Incredible Mr Chan, just incredible. Even getting the accommodation was only a one minute phone call to Mr Chan. The benefit of being on good terms for more than twenty years.
TRAINING FOR IMWA 5 Dec 2010:
I am basically going to do what I have been doing the last 3 months. I am going to assume it doesn't matter whether the distance is OD or IM. I think doing a little bit everyday is the way to go rather than doing say 200km on Sunday.
CYCLING: Its going to be all on the trainer. Starting at 4.25 a.m. to 6.25 a.m. every Monday to Saturday. Its lovely to cycle at that time of the morning. I close all the windows to sweat more. Very easy spinning. Its important to check that the bicycle is actually road worthy just before the race. ha ha. Total about 12 hours per week.
SWIM: One hour on saturday and another hour on Sunday after breakfast in my apartment pool. Its quite a mental effort to not give up before the hour is up, but so far so good. Its form that counts, not splits. Total 2 hours per week.
RUN: Will be the 20 km from Bukit Aman every sunday morning. Might do 28 km instead. Total 2 hours per week. Doesn't seem much.
Weekly total will be about 16 hours. It will do I think.
I was reliably informed at PD that IM Langkawi and the 70.3 might be on. There is a legal tussle going on betwen two parties. An announcement will be made in August. The dates of the events have still to be worked out.MIRI Tri is confirmed for the weekend of 30 & 31 Oct 2010. The forms were distributed at PD. Lots of prize money.
PD Tri had 1,200 participants, the largest ever Tri event in Malaysia. It was actually well done. Mr Chan's race briefing was the best I have ever heard anywhere in the world.
The highlight of the race was hundreds of cows dashing across the road whilst on the bike out and again on the return. We had to stop, the cows didn't.
The categories were all very very strong. Many strong IM were poorly placed or even not in the top ten. Which makes Simon's feat of winning his age group even more incredible. Macau have a depth of talent. Their top woman was even faster than our Simon, I understand.
We had good company
