I got to go

(No Blogger in China apparently. Sorry no updates then).

Six of us are going to IM China from Malaysia:-

Simon Cross. 10 hrs 15 min, 20th overall at IM MY. Amazingly no Hawaii slot. We all feel for Simon. He has to do it all over again just two weeks later. We wish him the best.
Miroslav Blanarik. 11 hrs 50 min, 87th overall IM MY. Miro (from Slovak) works in Malacca. We did IMWA 2009 together. Miro actually qualified during last year's China Half IM and went on to the 70.3 Worlds at Clearwater, Florida. We wish him the best.

Carmen Leong. 12 hrs 34 min, 2nd in age group IM MY. We all know her heartbreak story of not getting her usual Kona spot. 7 girls in her age group at China and two spots to be given. Definitely in with a shout. We wish her all the best.
Hoo Ching Cheong. 15 hrs 15 min IM MY. Just one day before IM MY he was limping around with a huge swollen ankle. I was so surprised he got through IM MY unscathed. He is a regular at IM China and my advisor for the trip. Talking to him is fun cos he doesn't stop laughing. We wish him all the best.
Ong Boon Hin. dnf IM MY 2010 & 2009. IM China regular. A very good runner. Don't know why lately he keeps on dnfing IM MY. We wish him the best.
As for me (16 hrs 24 mins, 398th overall, last in age group IM MY), its 50 / 50 whether I will finish. Its a short trip leaving on Friday (together with Hoo) but returning on Monday morning. If I finish, the biggest challenge would be to pack the bicycle right after the race.

I don't normally recover well from anything. So after IM MY I did "almost nothing". I hope it was the right strategy. Sometimes it works as we have already done the training in the preceding months.

We are advised it is a very poorly organised race. The river currents could go anywhere and don't expect anything at the aid stations. Bring your own nutrition and watch the signboards. Don't go doing the Half IM..

I will try my best to finish and share a Race Report with everyone. Don't want a Race Report that is just about the airport facilities.

Lets get pumped up by the greatest song ever.

Good to be back

After quite an emotional week reminiscing about the IM, its good to move on. The Lake Gardens car park was lovely this morning, so many of our IM buddies were there, dripping after our respective morning runs. There was Simon Cross (going to IM China), Sam (going to IM China to watch), Carmen (going to IM China to take part probably), Richard Tang (going to IMWA), Ben, TSB, , chirpy Halley Holly, the running crowd etc.

I enjoyed my double hill (that will do) run. Ben wished everyone all the best for a Hawaii spot at China. For me, he just wished "hope you finish"...... Simon advised we should not let our bodies go into recovery mode i.e. always train.

I got nothing better to do

The Japanese cheered everyone - thank you

I am so proud of you Jap Sam
Pic by Tey - thank you
Waffle and Ice cream inside
A very well done May Senn, see you at IMWA

Storming Kevin Siah - hope he will do IMWA

Congrats Elicia - official last finisher (my usual placing)

OP Chan

Robyn Stanley - Hawaii bound

Got a rollicking from his wife for DNF. Will withdraw his EPF in 2011 and do three Desert Races

We burst into song each time we crossed. Don't matter the lyrics were wrong.

Buddy Chee Kai Mun

She came back - thank you

Hee hee

Mitch (thank you) and Halim (thank you)

He was beaming

Bye Simon

Simon's coming

First met Robyn June 2007, Bali Tri. Now I see her and Daryl everywhere

Langkawi regular. Gentle giant from Thailand

Bunny Kar Yan

Yip storming

Kimiko 10 hr 26 min. Fastest female runner

KK Lee - saw him everywhere

Sexy Chris

Gane's vociferous support for everyone. Thank you

So proud of you Jap Sam

I didn't get to speak to Belinda Granger - aw

Big boy - thank you

Normal size -thank you

Not even taking part

Party animal Halim. The funniest person there.

The Hawaii Roll Down

It was the first time I ever witnessed the Hawaii Roll Down. Its when a lot of disappointment happens. The proceedings were chaired by Graham and Ross. "We will give the slots to the automatic qualifiers from 12 noon to 12.30 p.m. They must be here to receive it, if not we will roll down their slots at 12.45 p.m.", is what Graham said.

The class of Hiroyuki Nishiuchi. "Two slots are normally available for the Pro Men. However WTC has a new rule requiring the second placed person (Hiroyuki - 8 hr 50 min) to come within 5% of the time of the winner. As the second place person did not meet this, the second slot is not given", said Graham. The audience gasps. Hiroyuki stood up (I was surprised he understood English), politely acknowledged the audience and walked out. What a class act (rather than picking a fight), he received the loudest applause.

Barry Lee, 2nd 18 yrs - 24 yrs (10 hr 23 mins). Did not turn up because he was not accepting the slot. No problems there I suppose, Barry consciously "did not want to go".

Muhammad Abdullah (Wong Ah Thiam). 10 hr 8 min (winner 35 - 39 yrs). He was there, he accepted the slot. Please take note, he got it because he won his age group.

Heidilee Muhammad (Dino). 2nd, 25 - 29 years, 10 hrs 44 min. Two slots were automatically given for this age group, but Dino wasn't there. When they first announced this at 12.05 pm, it didn't dawn on me to look for Dino. At about 12.20 p.m., Simon Cross realised that we should look for Dino. We only had Julie's number. Anyway we called her and told her to find Dino ASAP, he has 10 mins to turn up.

Dino turned up at 12.38 p.m. He was driving to the airport. He gave up his flight and pleaded with the officials. They told him he was late. They had given his slot to the next person (who happened to be there) at 12.31 p.m. rather than wait until 12.45 p.m. Dino was distraught.

Who was to blame. Dino or the WTC officials??

Carmen and Sam went to the officials' table "What about the slot for the first Malaysians (which had been given since the first race in 2000)". It was then they found out the slots for the first Malaysians were no longer given. I just can't put into words the disappointment on their faces.

I spoke to Ross after, he said "its not given elsewhere, it was never promised. Chandran should have announced clearly that there were no automatic spots for Malaysians".

I guess I am gossiping, as I have nothing better to do now.

Future of IM MY:

(Normally they would have announced the dates by now.) I have been reliably informed the Ironman next year is on. Its not going to be at Kuah Town, maybe Pantai Cenang (where the Swedish lady died from a jelly fish sting) or some other place.

The race will be owned by WTC and Datuk Chandran. Dato Seri Ram is out (advisor only). Same as for Putrajaya 70.3.

For me, any Ironman Race in Malaysia is fine, even a very badly organised one.

We are so happy

For me this year's Langkawi was all about a a particular person qualifying for Hawaii. Its been uppermost in my mind for such a long time. She made it, my wife and I couldn't be happier. Why am I shedding so much tears of joy?

I am also very happy that my two students (Paul Lee and Peter Chan) succesfully completed their first Ironman when half the world it seemed DNF. Since they both beat me, I can ask them for tips now.

I am also happy that Jens Wilkens and Cort Prois qualified for Hawaii.

I came in last in my age group: 16 hours 24 minutes.

China IM in two weeks, aiyo.....

Flight to Busso done

I am a junkie. I am a junkie of the highest order. I just couldn't control myself. I am an addict. I need professional help. I had already "announced" that I wasn't doing Busso. But what happens?

Today, I stumbled in the morning papers that MAS was launching its cheap flights everywhere. So of course I checked the flights to Perth. The fare portion was RM207 only (my eyes popped out). With taxes, insurance and everything it came to RM 1,448 return per pax.

Travelling by MAS is like going by Rolls Royce you know. Proper food, proper service, bike is free etc.

So our flights are 2 Dec 2010 (Thursday) out and 9 Dec return. The one drawback is that we arrive Perth close to midnight. Sleep at airport lah.

Last Week (22 - 26 Feb 2010)

Well, this is it. This is the year I have been most stressed in all the eleven years of this race. Being stressed I suppose means one finds the race important, but it hasn't been fun.

I wish everyone all the best for this race. Everyone has put in a lot of physical and emotional effort for the race. For the first time, they have actually closed registration. Numbers are the highest ever. I know a lot of supporters (the real heroes) will be there.

Race day actually has the possibility of giving us the biggest thrill of our lives so far. That's why its so exciting. It can turn pear shape though.

The following people who have read this page at one time or another, I specifically wish the best:

Simon Cross: How he has improved. He has lost more than 35 kg compared to when I first knew him. He will slug it out with Cort Prois and Wong Ah Thiam to be the first "Malaysian" home. We wish him the best for the Hawaii slot.

Emma Bishop: All things being equal, quite a certainty for the Hawaii spot. In fact she will probably qualify at Langkawi and also at Hainan. Has inspired a lot of people. We wish her the best.

Kevin Siah: Was a shade over 11 hours last year. Now Kevin has a new bike position, new bike and new wheels. His swim and run especially are awesome. The mind boggles how well he will do. We wish him all the best to finish before 6.45 p.m.

Yip W T: The most gentle person in our sport. My most favourite workout he has done is running more than 24 hours to go to Kuala Kelawang and back. He has of course done so many workouts that we did not think was possible. Definitely sub 12 hours. We wish him all the best.

Abu Power: My favourite Tri Family. What a spunky daughter he has. Abu's vivaciuos personality will cheer anyone on the course. Sub 13 hours. We wish him all the best.

Paul Lee: First time. He will do well. He is a tough nut, at least sub 14 hours. We wish him all the best.

Peter Chan: First time. A nice chap. His advantage is his slim physique and he can walk fast. Has family and work commitments to juggle. Will go sub 16 hours. We wish him all the best.

I hope when we bump into each other on the run, we will give each other the loudest cheer. I will.

Break bread time (16 Feb 2010)

Nothing beats this. THANK YOU

Hurry up Langkawi. I can't wait.

Last two weeks (15 - 21 Feb)

15 Feb (Monday): Swim in apartment pool - two hours

Tuesday: Trainer 2 hrs 20 min (spinning). Swim 1 hour

Wednesday: 50 mins trainer. Didn't swim after work as I did not sleep well. My propensity for coffee is messing up my ability to sleep well. Hmmm, actually reduced my coffee intake at the office. Hope to keep it up.

Thursday: 65 mins trainer (playing with the gears now). 46 mins swim. Obviously the Total Immersion book I have been religously reading has not helped, as I got tired anyway.

Friday: 65 mins trainer. Hmmm swim 4.5 km - 1 hr 27 mins 34 secs. Must be the new big watch Razani sent though the post. I didn't realise it was so convenient to get things from Razani (016-9312688). Provided you know what you want, he will post it to you and in my case, I got it on my office desk within 24 hours.

Saturday: 60 mins trainer at home (trying bigger gears now, the neighbours did not complain). Ran 40 mins at the office car park just before the morning company aerobics. A number of my sedentary office mates liked seeing me run. They just "liked", they didn't join in though.

Sunday: Started with 40 mins trainer at home. Car park to Petronas and back. I walked part of the way. Lets say the running bit was 2 hrs.

The last run: The Bukit Aman Car Park is where Pacesetters first started its long runs in 1984. Triathlon only started in 1989, so everyone was a runner then. The camaraderie was incredible. We considered each other to be our best buddy, anyone else was actually an idiot.

I was the worst runner in the group (we called ourselves the "Easy Runners"). The PD Triathlon of June 1989 broke up the running group. A lot of the Pacesetters embraced Triathlon. Some could only swim 300m in the pool, it didn't matter. I think Pacesetters then was more closely knit, but with Triathlon, I didn't go to the car park anymore.

Triathlon was more fun. I didn't miss a single race between 1989 and 2002. We enjoyed each other's company immensely. It was non stop laughter or yapping when we got together. The top race was at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The Sabah Tourism Authority put in a lot of effort to make us feel welcome when we went to KK. People from all over the world came to their races. The Sabah Tourism actually sponsored the first National Team to compete at Japan. Thats how I got the wet suit.

Singapore's ABC Stout Race was brilliant, so were the races at Lumut, Damai Kuching, Penang (until the jelly fish ended everything), Sg Udang Camp, once at Terengganu, Desaru etc.

I actually think the fun and camaraderie in Triathlon has dropped, may be its because I don't race anymore, I'm not sure.

Coming back to the Last Run, the car park was sparse but a number of people doing Langkawi were there:

Simon Cross (running with Ben), Jens Wilkens, KK Lee (I mistook him for Cecil in the dark. KK was bouncing), Carmen, Sam (his old injury came back, he only managed to reach the Bank Negara Train Station), Randy Tan and Ivie, Adeline, Big Mac (my favourite sports person in the world), Yip (effortlessly flying up the hill) and others (eg Stephanie Chok) who are not racing Langkawi this year.

Its just a wonderful feeling to catch up with everyone.

Total Hours: 15 hrs (training hereby done)

3 Weeks to go (8 - 14 Feb 2010)

Chin up everyone

Monday: Was still not well. Went to clinic with Tip. The medicine dished out actually worked.

Tuesday: 30 mins swim at home.

Wednesday: Trainer 1 hr 50 mins. 2.1 km swim (41 mins)

Thursday: 1 hr trainer

Friday: 1.5 hrs trainer. Swimming at the Shah Alam indoor pool is akin to playing the lottery. Today it was jackpot day. Hardly three people for all the ten lanes. I was splashing for all I was worth. Though I know the still indoor pool is a different ketle of fish compared to the mass start swim. 30 x 100m

Saturday: Run Lake Garden, Petronas, Loop, Lake Gardens & double hill. 4 hrs 11 mins of plodding inclusive of three water stops totalling 15 mins. I guess I am just not a runner. It took so much out of me, probably need to rest tmw.

Sunday: Short ride, HOA to GS and back. 1 Hr 15 min.

Happy Valentine's day and New Year everyone (from Tip and Me).

Total hours: 11.75 hrs

Thats it, no more heavy stuff.

Very sick*

*Sorry, I am just kidding. I am much better now thank you.
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Its amazing, when we are fine and healthly, no one seems to say anything. But when we are not well, we get all these well wishes (well, there was only three). In fact this was the only "pick up line" that ever worked for me. "Tip, I have been in an accident and broke my arm. Could you come to KL and take care of me please." She came in a jiffy and I married her.

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1 - 3 Feb 2010 (Mon - Wed): The cold was quite heavy. Only did 30 mins trainer on the wednesday morning.

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4 Feb (Thu): 1 hr trainer in the morning.

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5 Feb (Fri): 90 mins trainer in the morning.

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6 Feb (Sat): I hope to do my favourite long ride. Done 205.9km. Pls Chairman of the biggest Board in the sky, wake me up tmw at 5 am feeling fresh. (The whole world is doing tonight's Putrajaya night Marathon. Lake Gardens might be empty).

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7 Feb (Sun): I hope to do a long run at Lake Gardens. Could only manage Petronas, then I took a taxi back. The taxi driver was a nice old man, so I gave him a RM5 tip. I also gave the old lady at the stall a RM3 tip for changing my RM 50 note. Simon was there.

I am crest fallen. In my haste to do better this year, I got myself sick and may have just about messed up the race. I thought I had already left my mucus (sorry for being crass) all over the Malaysian Main Mountain Range yesterday. There's still lots left today.

Last year after IMWA, all I did was keep things ticking over. My longest ride was 136km. This year I have already done eight 200 km rides (well the first one was just 195km) and I wake up at 4 a.m. everyday to go on the trainer (this might have done me in, because its so cold that early).

Time to listen to Mr Barry White, one of my favourite all time songs. Even better would be BEYONCE at the Grammys (what a performance).

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RACE OUTLOOK FOR 2010:

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Its going to be a very serious case of post ironman blues after IM China (14 March 2010). I don't have any particular race in mind to do. Not even IMWA, in fact I will give IMWA a miss this time, its so costly to do. One must spend at least a few days sight seeing there because its so beautiful. The flies are not bad too.

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Work front 2010

Yes, for the first time I am mentioning it. I have a new boss w.e.f. 1 Jan 2010. I absolutely like him. He smiles a lot, never forgets his Ps & Qs (please & thank you). So I pledge to do my very best to impress him (thats why I havn't been on the internet much).

I cried to my staff recently, that I didn't get any of them promoted at the 2009 year end. I chaired the meeting and was sobbing away. It wasn't silly you know, they are all extra nice to me now.

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2010 WISH

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To mend a particular cyber friendship that I messed up.

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P.S. IM YIP (who was assaulted and robbed) is fine. I have just spoken at length to him on the phone. His h/p no. is still the same 016-6299656. It would perk him up no end to hear from anyone of us.

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Total Training Hours : 13.4 hours (over did it and got sick again)

25 Jan - 31 Jan 2010 (sick)

Monday: Took a rest

Tuesday: 1 hr 40 mins trainer. 1.4 km swim

Wednesday: 40 mins. 2 lap swim in evening (felt so cold, nose running a bit. Won't go in the cold indoor pool for a while I think).

Thursday: 1 hr 50 min trainer.

Friday: 1 hr 30 min trainer. 3.2 km swim (this cold swim did me in)

Saturday: 30 min trainer. Attended a whole day company training seminar whilst the whole world was doing 200km rides. My nose was running throughout the seminar.

Sunday: 18km jog /walk. Thats it, I am definitely sick. Met a number of our nice buddies at Lake Gardens. I think Carmen Leong will definitely take the Malaysian Kona spot and Simon will go sub 10 hours and beat every single Malaysian in the process.

Total training hours: 9.5 (not well)

18 Jan - 24 Jan 2010

Monday: 45 mins trainer

Tuesday: 1 hr 43 mins trainer + 3 km swim.

Wednesday: 1 hr 40 mins trainer + swim 1.2 km

Thursday: 1 hr 22 min trainer + swim 54 mins

Friday: 1 hr 36 mins trainer. Worked late, no swim.

Saturday: 1 hr 36 mins trainer. 26 mins jog. 3 km swim

Sunday: 206 km (9 hrs 6mins) + 10 km (1 hr 13 mins) brick. Started at 7.22 a.m., finished 7.10 p.m. (no sun). Made peace with tiger.

Total training hours for the week: 22.5 hours (being slow helps)

Training (just about all of it done alone) has exceeded expectations. Seven 200km rides (including 3 bricks) since Christmas. The body seems to be holding up well. No injuries, no colds, no punctures, no attacks by the hundreds of monkeys (yet) or humans, resisted the temptation to join friends, only one close shave with a passing lorry.

Just three more weeks of proper training to go before the two week taper kicks in.

11 Jan - 17 Jan 2010

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 75 mins trainer

Wednesday: 90 mins trainer + 3km swim after work

Thursday: 86 mins trainer + 5 mins swim

Friday: 1 hr 45 mins trainer

Saturday: 206km bike (too tired to run after)

Sunday: Surprisingly woke up, but late. Did my own run (Petronas + 8 km) whilst everyone else did the NB Pac run. 3 hrs 48 mins including the stops. Slow, don't matter.

Total training hours for the week: 19 hrs 45 mins

Training Diary (Monday, 4 Jan to Sunday, 10 Jan)

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 50 mins trainer (what a waste, didn't sleep well)

Wednesday: 90 mins trainer. 30 x 100m swim

Thursday: 70 mins trainer (again wasted, didn't sleep well)

Friday: 90 mins trainer. 2 hrs 2 min swim in apartment pool (what can I say)

Saturday : 87 mins trainer. Its a half working day. Also going to visit Mum in the afternoon.

Sunday: 205.74 km bike + 6 km brick run. The sun came to play. The bike I did "as fast as I could". Gosh I caught a group (except for one person) that "only" did a flat 170km to Raub. All of them beat me at Putrajaya. I was my usual "not moving" mode on the run. It felt so difficult going up the slope, I was sweating profusely and felt so tired. So turned back after 3 km.

Total hours: 19+

Happy X-mas Day Ride

Unlike a certain lucky person, who was able to ride the beautiful Ocean Road on Christmas Day, all we had was the Fraser Gap loop (195 km):

The start (near UIA)

The beautiful gentle climb to Gap

We were very ably supported by Mac, the nicest, kindest, helpful, knowledgeable, gentleman cyclist I have met

Gap

Ride done, trying to imitate Emma's Blah post

It was a very happy bunch

Freaking Ulu Yam road (never again)

About to get swallowed and spat out