1 JAN 2009 RIDE

Happy New Year

Firstly I was inspired by Old Putera (means ex Royal Military College boy) AJ's post of the Broga loop that he did a few days previously. Everyone has the utmost respect for AJ cos he doesn't wear specs (sorry cos he is a little older than us but beats us all flat).

His average speed for the Broga Loop was 25+km/hr, which is totally beyond me but he got back "only" at 1.30 pm, that is a possible goal for me.

The stats:

I left (alone) Pekan Batu 18 at 7.14 am versus 7.08 am by AJ.

I got back at 1.37 pm versus AJ's 1.30pm

Average speed was 22.2km/hr versus AJ's 25+km/hr (mind boggling)

Distance 136km

Cycling time: 6 hrs 8 min versus AJ's 5 hrs 20 min

Stops: 14 mins at Petronas versus AJ's 60 mins total

Total time: 6 hrs 22 min versus AJ's 6hrs 20 min

Of course I couldn't match him but "WHO CARES"

Postscript

The group that I was "supposed to cycle with" left Pekan Batu 18 at 8 am and only got back at 6.45 pm. Someone very kindly gave all 20 of them breakfast but later they were involved in a peleton pile up. Mac's report.

9 weeks to Langkawi

Sunday (28 Dec)

I decided to do 30km. A veteran Malay with a moustache (Malik), who I always see at Lake Gardens / Hartamas had explained to me his 30 km route. Apart from the normal 20km, add going around the playing fields near Petronas (twice) and run back around the old Jalan Duta Government Offices and go back to Petronas before going back to Lake Gardens the normal way. I like this way as previously whenever I reach Lake Gardens after 20km, I just stop, no more 10km. This Malik guy does lots of running, he is a good simple person.

Saw loads of people today. John Tan at the car park, Emma and Randy Tan powering away everywhere, Power (Abu and Kodi) brothers and friends, Jason Thiang and Lee at Petronas, elite Kenyans, Chief Kutu, Doc Surgeon from SJMC, Richard spare part, lovely (not as lovely as my wife - she reads this) Chris from TTH, KK Lee (who was watching Busselton but I didn't see him), Gane (who did Busselton) in his BMW advising me to "no need to do Langkawi lah, don't train too hard" and ............ for the first time I met Kevin Siah (at the Petronas lavotory) from Perth. He is a nice young bloke.

Kevin and long time buddy Jason Thiang slugging it out
Running couple John Tan and Wai Mun (look at the tan on his legs, stop cycling John!)

Well my 30 km run took me a total of 4 hrs 9 mins. Well running is very much my weakness. I wasn't such a bad runner in my earlier days. I have a number of 1 hr 26 mins for an accurate Half Marathon. But now if I dip 8 hrs for the Marathon, I have had a great day. Thus I get my money's worth during the Ironman, all 17 hours.

Training roundup

12 weeks to Langkawi, 13 Dec 08 - (1 week after IMWA)

Sunday morning from Lake Gardens to Hartamas Petronas and back (20 km). Slow (one week after IMWA) but did not walk. 2 hrs 26 mins total time. Bumped into people training ardently for IMLKW: TTH, Power brothers (Abu and Kodi), Yusran, AJ and a Malay girl. Did a few days on the trainer during the weekday mornings.

11 weeks to go (20 Dec 08)

Saturday was a fun ride (80km) from the house to Batu 18, Peres and back to the house. Paced up Peres with Dr K (33 mins). The heart was absolutely pumping at the top, got to watch it.

Sunday was the usual 20 km run, 2 hrs 23 mins I think. I think the sunday morning run will be a permanent feature for IMLKW as my run is very slow. Still feeling slightly lethargic so did not do the morning perk me ups on the trainer. Did do one 1.2 km swim at Bukit Jalil (26 mins).

X mas day ride

Broga Loop from Tekala rest area and back to the same place. A big group with support vehicles in tow. 116 km, 5 hrs 16 min. Lots of photos taken by Jaja.

Post race sightseeing in Perth

With its clear blue sky and sea, pristine Swan River and water ways, bicycle paths everywhere, civilised population, friendly people, courteous drivers, numerous beaches, well manicured lawns and pathways, clean public amenities, historical Fremantle, sports appreciating people, acknowledgement of its Nyoongar heritage, lifestyle.....Perth is definitely up there as the loveliest city in the world to live in.

Our first view of Perth

Soothing water everywhere
Time at Fremantle prison
Hillarys Boat Harbour
The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA)

That little girl was exceptionally friendly

Subiaco, a suburb near Guy's house

Historical Fremantle

Fremantle train station

You see beauty even when strolling to the local

Beautiful birds everywhere

Kings Park, the most visited tourist destination

More heart wrenching

Canal Rocks

Nigel Chua

Part of the incredible joy of the Ironman is making great friends from all over the world. This time its Nigel Chua (11 hrs 56 mins) all the way from .................Singapore. The photos are from him (Nigel has as much white hair as me). In the background are the incredible triathletes from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Nancy - 12 hrs 42 min and Harper - 11 hrs 28 mins).

Careful ....... the pics are heartwrenching

Smith's beach. I have never seen anything so beautiful

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Say 50km from where we stayed are two places called Smith's Beach and Canal Rocks. The combination of the sea, rocks, sky and white swells took my breath away. It was heart wrenching to leave the place.

Ngilgi Cave

The cave is about 30 km from where we stayed (Caves road). Legend has it that the good spirits had a big fight with the bad spirits down there. The formations (caused by water droplets over thousands of years) are very interesting I suppose.