Back to the starting line: TM Fan Run 2016

The end of Ramadhan marks a new running chapter for me. After one month of good rest, it is time to get going again with higher hopes and bigger goals (Hint: another ultramarathon coming really soon!). Coincidently, 2016 has passed it’s second half and so it is also a good time to reflect on the progress of our New Year Resolutions ; How far are we from reaching our goals? Have we completed any New Year Resolutions yet? Have we even started working towards our goals yet?

IMG_7480IMG_48922014 vs 2016. Same race, different venue, different distance

Time is of the essence. When you have limited time to work towards your goals, every mileage and work out counts. Not wanting to waste another moment, I signed up to run for 10KM in the TM Fan Run. Plus, signing up for an event in the midst of Eid celebration made me feel less guilty about enjoying the high calorie foods such as rendang and cookies.

IMG_4917Who says runners don’t celebrate Eid? This was our carbo-loading on the night before the run!

Lining up at the starting line, I realised how much I missed the smell of the morning air before dawn, the rays of light during sunrise, and the immediate jolt of caffeine and sugar in my system. I missed the cliché, annoying pop songs played while some random instructor did an aerobic warm up on stage, the buzzing crowd building up the excitement, the sight of your running crew and a few familiar faces. There was nothing quite like the feeling on race day!

As soon as the gun goes off, I took a deep breath, ready to give my best shot. The route was mildly easy with minimal elevation. Starting from Dataran Putrajaya, we passed by the usual landmarks if you have been running in Putrajaya regularly such as PICC and Persiaran Perdana Bridge, so there was not much excitement about the route. Overall, the 10K route was short of a few hundred meters but by my books, I ended up running my fastest 10K anyways by shaving 10 minutes of my previous personal best record.

So far, it looks like my running calender is off to a pretty good start. I’m feeling rather optimistic about the second half of 2016, with more races and work outs in the near future!

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Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.

Natura Run 2016

Today I woke up, dressed up, and laced up as usual for the Natura Run 2016. Nothing fancy, it was just a 15km run, just like any other run on any Sunday. However at 5km into the race I realised that my body was not cooperating. I knew that I wasn’t going to call it a day yet. Instead of hitching a ride on the patrolling ambulance, I decided to cut the run short by going into the 10km route instead. I guess I wasn’t ready to run to my fullest ability – I needed more time to recover from last week’s ultramarathon.

IMG_293110km instead of 15km. That’s all for today, folks.

This run has been receiving bad press and complaints since the first day of the race kit collection. The awkward size of the race t-shirt, delayed flagging-off by 30 minutes, no prizes for podium finishers, last minute route changes, no goody bag or freebies, no timing chip on the race bib…and which charity organization does the proceeds go to again??? At RM65, this run was not cheap. Nobody had high expectations- they just want their money’s worth.

 

IMG_2929This was all that I got for today, plus water, a packet of bread, and a banana.

 

Negative comments aside, let’s focus on the brighter side of the race today: The weather was pleasant because it rained yesterday, the route was scenic because we passed by a park with a vast lake. There was a calm, meditative, and stress-free feeling while running through that route. On top of that, there was ample parking space, enough water stations, free ice-cold Milo and cereal at the finishing line, supportive crowd and running community, and the volunteers were friendly and helpful.

 

IMG_2937Positive vibes despite negative comments about the event. I guess It takes more than a badly organized event to crush these people’s spirits.

 

Every race or event will have its plus and minus points. But in the end, all that matters is our passion for running and good sportsmanship.

 

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.

The Weekend Runner: IMU Chariofare Run 2015

Almost every Saturday or Sunday, I have been trying to consistently clock in about 15km to prepare myself for my first full marathon (and I know that that I am still under-training). So the routine before a long run will usually involve packing my waist pouch with power gel, water bottle, plus other required items, and hunting down my headphones, non-chaffing socks, etc. However, last Saturday, I participated in the 10km event for IMU Chariofare Run and none of those was required.

 

I forgot how simple it is to run 10km – no carbo-loding required, a comfortable distance, no power gel to be carried, no fancy gear required like water belt, bladder pack, etc. It was purely getting up, get dressed, go for a run. And Nashata’s Mumtaz hijab makes everything simpler – all I had to do was just slip it on and go!

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Essentials for a 10km run: The grey Mumtaz hijab and Ultra top in Turquoise.

 

The race was held at International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, Malaysia, flagging off at 6.30 am. The haze condition has somewhat cleared up around Kuala Lumpur. The air quality has improved over the past few days, but today’s running condition is not really optimum because I can still feel the heat from the residual haze. However, I manage to complete the run in 75 minutes. Not my personal best, but I’ll run another 10km tomorrow to catch up on my mileage so I don’t want to over-exert myself for today.

11217663_10207505886835134_1234804215675049122_n Obligatory finishing picture with medal. The Mumtaz hijab goes pretty well with the Turquoise Ultra – My blue top for the not-so-blue skies. Keep your chin up everyone, we’ll brave through this haze together.

 

After the run there was a carnival. I still had some energy so I’d thought it would be fun to hang around and contribute to the good cause. There were booths set up by the students, selling items like food, pre-loved clothings, and fun-fair games. IMU is lucky to have students from all over the world, so I tried food from Iraq, India, and Korea. I guess everything smells and tastes good after working out!

12003353_10207506506530626_7145531200887536109_n A friend of mine was part of the organizing committee so it would be great to support her by joining this event. Plus, the event was for a good cause: to raise funds for the university’s welfare partners such as Penang Hospice Society, Ti-Ratana Welfare House, and many more.

 

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The crowd was very encouraging, everyone was in high spirits! Keep up the good cause, folks!

 

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.

Larian yang penuh MENCABAR @ Putrajaya Deuter Trail Run 2014!

Acara Deuter Trail Run yang diadakan pada 11 May 2014 semalam di Putrajaya Challenge Park Presint 5 berjalan dengan sangat lancar dan mendapat sambutan yang menggalakkan dari pelbagai pihak. Peserta larian di anggarkan sebanyak 1000 peserta. Larian ini adalah sepanjang 10km di mana 80% larian menempuhi pelbagai jenis cabaran dan 20% larian di atas jalan raya. Program ini terbahagi kepada 4 bahagian iaitu :

1) Lelaki terbuka

2) Perempuan Terbuka

3) Kanak-Kanak Lelaki (13-17 tahun)

4) Kanak-Kanak Perempuan (13-17 tahun)

Apa yang menarik tentang acara larian ini?

Mereka yang pertama kali menyertai acara larian sebegini mungkin akan berasa benci dan mungkin tidak akan menyertainya lagi. Para peserta dikehendaki mengharungi halangan-halangan yang di reka oleh penganjur sepanjang larian termasuklah menggelongsor, mendaki bukit curam, melompat, mengengsot di atas tanah dan sebagainya. Apa yang pasti mereka yang sampai ke garisan penamat kesemuanya pasti dalam keadaan kotor dan sangat meletihkan. Mereka yang kelihatan bersih akan di keluarkan dari penyertaan serta merta kerana tidak mengikuti garis panduan yang telah di tetapkan. Program ini juga mendapat tajaan dari Nestle, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, Revive, Suunto, Coleman, Sport Tape, Nathan, 2XU and Running Malaysia. Jika enjoy, pasti seronok! Antara halangan-halangan yang mereka tempuhi adalah seperti dalam gambar yang di tunjukkan di bawah ini :

Cabaran2

Sebelum memulakan acara larian, kesemua peserta manjalankan senaman aerobik terlebih dahulu sebagai streching-up

senamerobik_1 senamerobik_2

 

Peserta-peserta lelaki terbuka berlepas di garisan permulaan pada pukul 7.30 pagi

Lelaki terbuka

Peserta-peserta perempuan pula berlepas 15minit selepas pelepasan lelaki

peserta perempuan

 

Sementara menunggu para peserta menamatkan larian ke garisan penamat, pengunjung yang datang di sana boleh berkunjung ke booth-booth yang terlibat antaranya booth Deuter, Suunto, ProGround dan Nashata, Power Bar dan sebagainya.

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Tidak disangka salah seorang dari pelanggan kami iaitu Nina Aziz menyertai acara larian bagi kategori perempuan terbuka dan berjaya mendapat tempat ke-34. TAHNIAH diucapkan pada beliau kerana berjaya ke garisan penamat. Dan tidak juga lupa tahniah kepada kesemua peserta-peserta yang lain

Nina Aziz

 

Siapa kata lelaki sahaja boleh lakukan Trail Run ini? Perempuan juga boleh lakukan! Cabaran ini menjadi mudah jika anda betul-betul seronok lakukannya bersama teman-teman dan bukan kerana terpaksa. Bagi mereka yang belum pernah mencuba, mari sertai untuk acara trail run seperti ini akan datang!