Bunga Raya Course @ Saujana GCC

I achieved another notable first today, I played a round of golf (note, I am still on leave ok...) at the Saujana Bunga Raya Course with my friend TAL.

The first time I've been to Saujana GCC was to view the Malaysian Open Golf tournament. I cannot remember when it was, maybe 2004 or 2005? I walked and followed Thongchai Jaidee on the Sunday final round, it was quite interesting to be a spectator of an open golf tournament.

This time, was the first time I've ever played at the Bunga Raya course at Saujana - they have 3 courses - Palm, Bunga Raya and championship Cobra course.

It was a refreshing experience because the course was pleasant, well maintained and the entire course was covered with greens and trees between holes which made it feel like a fresh lush forest - the smell of fresh greens and trees filled the air, and the relative slowness of pace refreshed me. The regulars were walking the course, and we took our time in casualness, even had a short 5 mins break between the two 9 holes and still ended up only taking about 3 hours 45 mins!

Green invigorates. This was the difference and this was why I did not like the urban jungle of singapore. It felt congested and lack of space for the individual in the urban concrete jungle, but just 15 mins from home, I could enjoy the greens of a lush course which was both challenging and relaxing.

I may seriously consider buying the membership if my golfing buddies does the same.

Atmah Treasure Hunt 2007 - Novice Champions

The sacrifice of not racing in Subang Jaya 10km was well worth it, we emerged first in novice category in the Atmah Treasure Hunt held on 25/26 Aug weekend. It was a hunt from KL to PD, organised by Pava - our first time to encounter the "anagram king"...!

Small victories goes a long way, though we were champions 1st of 6 cars in novice category, but when viewed in the broader scope of things, we can be proud of ourselves - best of the rest (in the open category, we would've been better than 7th position, and then after that there is the gap to the masters of a whopping 16 points).

The first prize was plane tickets for 4 worth RM10k, to India, with a tour package! The second prize was return tickets to Bangkok - both these were good sponsor prizes.

Overall the hunt was quite fun, we have each found our niche areas and a decent team, at least maintaining 3 of the team members all the time should get us decent positions in future, I think we're definitely more organised and structured - a long way from our first big treasure hunt together - Mensa Treasure hunt last year end of year.

The prize giving dinner session was also very fun, I had "wholesome" entertainment, and the quizzes held showed us that we were severely lacking in general knowledge!

Lesson learnt in this hunt :
1) - Be humble, there are always those better than you, otherwise it is no fun.
2) - Age and profession is not a barrier to general knowledge know-how, we still have a lot to learn
3) - It is always more fun when you laugh at your own mistakes!

Pic 1 - Prize giving - this pic is good to spur us further, one day, top 3 will be ours, heheh
Pic 2 - My team-mates, one guy and three little ladies, ah, all it took was a little bit more of the female balance in the car, heheh (no offence CG)


Well, see the folks smiling here, they will be part of the future champions team!

Footnote - okay, just one - we were stuck on question 1 as usual - we never started well. Just trivia for the general readers :

Dive more than once to reveal a trap
Answer : Devi's Corner

Carbo Loading

Doing some serious carbo loading in Singapore. Can't believe I eat so much during a couple of off days :-)

I love stupid photos for some reason. It must be because of the work stress that I actually find it easy to laugh at myself for these silly photos.

I'm sure there's enough banana's here to last a few marathons...

Fish Reflexology

I did not know I had yummy feet... I thought all those running would have been detrimental to any footsie I could have tried with anything (anybody?!) but fishes...

Believe it or not, this is an actual scene with me taking a photo of my ugly feet being tickled by hundreds of opportunistic African fish, who chewed on my dead skin?!?

This is supposedly the new form of reflexology I found during my short break at Sentosa Island, Singapore.

Just don't think about it. It actually exfoliates quite well.

Aftermath of a race

Sundays after learning how to run road races has never been the same for me again.

It is always Saturday to anticipate, and trying to sleep early, and always failing to do so, and then waking up in an ungodly hour on Sunday to go for the race. Normally, after the race we would always go for breakfast or I will go home for breakfast, and then followed by my "recovery nap". My recovery nap is usually 2-3 hrs in the afternoon, and I only need this if I have to catch up with work later at night to keep myself fresh.

When I ran my first 10km race many many years ago, my whole day was white-washed as I was so tired, and I needed to hydrate ever so often even after the race. Then when my body got used to it, it was gradually reduced to a day to recover for a half marathon, and then later, I even went shopping or the whole day out after a half marathon. I reckon it is the body which needs to adjust, and I also believe that walking after a race keeps the blood flowing and an easier recovery for the muscles the next day.

I have once tried a foot massage after a race - it was SO painful - some believe this will help ease the muscle recovery, if you ask me, I would say, don't do it!!!!

And during the day when I am not out, I will always be surfing for the next race!!!

PJ Half Marathon

My target of 5 half marathons this year is almost achieved! However, my running performance has not improved!

This was my first PJ Half Marathon. When I started competitive running almost two years ago from today (scroll back in blog, too lazy to link..) I did the 10km at the PJ Half after the Rat Race. It was a great run - I remembered I was placed 55th and I recorded I think 1hr+ - it was one of the fastest race I ever ran (heheh, got worse since then with more runs!) !!!

It was indeed a good 2 years "on occasion" celebration - this race was not difficult, but middle of the years always caught me as being terribly unfit! We lamented whether with our jobs we could ever run a marathon, however, I wish to announce, my target is KLIM 2008. I will make it!

Every run, we always question ourselves why we do it. In fact, my other friend, Ai Leen who ran her first 10km today with another friend Suzannah asked me the other day - have you always loved running? And my response was - no ... but the feeling when you finish the race is so good you would want to do it again!

I did not have good sleep the night before. This is almost getting to be quite a regular thing - I almost cannot sleep well before a run. This time, I had the pleasure again of our regular co-workers - Kell Jay, Lian Tiong, Tee Yau, and new comer Su Ann, who is running her first 21km. We were slightly late, and rushed to the starting line. We saw Keat Seong at the starting line - he was also one of our colleagues and an amazing back to back 21km from Adidas KOTR and Rat Race in between. In between the race, I met another lady whom I met in the KLIM - she apparently was also one of my colleagues - she was pushing me along at around the 10km mark, but I was a bit flat by then.

The turnout was quite poor this year. There seems to be a shortage of runners for this race. I had a general good pace all the way up to the 4km first drinks station mark, I was not sure whether I was running too fast, but I felt a bit keen to slow down from then up the bridge and over the other side of the Federal Highway. Before the 4km mark, my watch marked 16-17mins, and I saw one Kenyan pass me for the 10km race... oh gosh, this was going to be a long race, I thought.

Over the other side, the race was a long and lonely stretch all the way up the flyover and then straight all to Subang airport! Yes, I ran to Subang Airport - and I mean at Terminal 2 carpark and then back...

Along the way, I lacked the focus and stamina to do a good continuous run. There seemed to be a lack of people pacing along around the same pace. The one guy I was trying to followed actually slowed down and walk! And I said I will follow you (Digi style, he was wearing yellow!!) and he said, I pancit!!! So I had some good stretches and some lousy walking stretches between 12-16km. Then I think I walked almost 50% of the last 5 km.

My most amusing moment was that when I was bored running alone especially last 5km, I created my own diversions because I was afraid I may not make it if I drained myself out. One incident, the ambulance travelled for about 50 meters by my side whilst I shuffled, and the lady looked at me concerned (the ambulance door was open). I asked her to go ahead, and when it went ahead slightly I paced up and "pretended" to chase after it with my hand stretched out - there were a couple of cops there at that intersection - they laughed at me!!! The ambulance stopped about 100m in front later, the guys took a smoke break, and when I passed them, I told them "Merokok merbahayakan kesihatan!" and they laughed at me and asked me whether I wanted to have a seat and rest since the vehicle has stopped!!!!

Other than that, it was also good to see people on the other side of the road, it gives each a bit of motivation to go on, and also to wave to those you know.

I finished around my KLIM time, around 2:51 - its a terrible time, but not bad for someone who walked almost half the second half of the race. My best time was still Penang Bridge Half Marathon, which I did slightly less than that for 1.5km more. I did not have enough training, and I did not want to feel the drained feeling again - that feeling comes from pushing yourself and suddenly slowing down.

What was disappointing was that despite finishing within 3hrs (which was my target), the entire stadium was almost half empty, they were giving away prices, no more finishers lane, and worse - no more Milo or 100plus!!! This is such an anticlimax - this was why I felt this years PJ Half was not well organised.

Anyhow, I will rest, for Subang Jaya run, I've signed up but will likely pass it up for another different challenge - a treasure hunt. The body is bashed up, but the mind needs some exercise now.

My target 5 half marathons this year :
-Pacesetters GE20km Race
-KLIM Half Marathon
-Penang Bridge Run Half Marathon
-PJ Half Marathon
-Singapore Half Marathon

The Edge Bursa KL Rat Race 2007

Pic - Start of CEO race, flag off by Dato Dr Ng Yen Yen

http://picasaweb.google.com/ngmayching/EdgeBursaKLRatRace2007

My first time as a photographer to a racing event turned out to be interesting but disastrous for the running photos.

1. Photographers get the privilege of the best view... through the lens and directly at the subject
2. It is hard work, crouching down, protecting the asset in the rain...
3. You do not get a second chance... the opportunity for sports photography only comes once!
4. Once captured, emotions tell it all... it is satisfying to capture a good shot!

I learned something - it was not easy. There are other people who work harder than me in something I thought was easier!

Adidas King of The Road

I have to say, my most excited moment of this race was standing 5 feet away from Samy Vellu and my colleagues leaning on his Mercedes Benz. Or at least we believe it was his Mercedes.

It had a label Jabatan Kerjaraya and who else in Jabatan Kerjaraya owns a Mercedes?

These runs are a great way to relax. People may think I am mad when I refer to running as relaxing, but serious runners or even regular casual runners understand what I mean.

I opted for 10km this time. I am incredibly unfit, I have only had one or two runs post Penang Half, and one week before when I woke up for KLCC training on Sunday, I gladly slept back as it was raining and I was exhausted from the long hours and stress at office.

We got in around 625am, earlier as we were worried about parking. It was however relatively easy to find parking opposite Sunway Pyramid car park - RM 2 entrance fee. We quickly went over to the other side of the road for the flag off of the 21km participants. It was a bit weird to flag off the 21km at 645am (a bit late), just 15 mins from the 10km participants. I was really glad I did not do the 21km as I was seriously unfit, and also the sun was blazing hot even halfway for the 10km participants!

Whilst wasting some time, we noticed Samy Vellu got on the rostrum for the flag off of the 21km and thought about richochet of the gun if he shot on the bridge. I was seriously contemplating on moving out of the way in case it did, when we noticed he was about to flag off using a microphone .... 3,2,1 (and before the go, everyone was off!!!)... A point to note was the minister was wearing Nike shoes whilst the race was Adidas organised... I guess the Adidas organisers did not do the necessary homework :-)

Running on a deserted highway is quite boring. I guess I have signed up for another highway run next week with the PJ Half Marathon. I hope to be able to get myself rested and up to speed for that better than this week.

Anyway, all in, I did 1:13 mins, and position 126 - I practically walked the last 2 km and the sun was really killing me-- I really regretted not donning my usual running cap and not training enough for the race day. However, I was really glad I received a medal for this slow run. The response to the race was very good, with lots of people participating and an equally

And best of all, my ipod nike+ function was not working, aiyoh, so all the sweat was not recorded how I ran the race... too bad.

I am back in action...!

The runner with no heart

My best friend said to me, you have a talent in writing, you should do something about it...

I am extremely pensive this week - this is indeed a rough year for me.

On Wednesday this week, I went for what I proudly told everyone as my grand slam - I visited 4 different clients in one day, and talked about probably half a dozen things. By the time I was done, I was really exhausted.

But, what really scared me was that in the morning, I felt a very uneasy feeling. It was not a pre-heart attack feeling, but I was unable to even sit properly in the car driving to work, took two wrong turnings. I did not manage to settle this feeling until the client secretary brought me a cup of coffee. And yet my heart was beating normally.

And when I rushed back to take a call, that was when my heart was beating fast.

Running is a good distraction for me, and it helps me focus also, but now I wonder whether it in facts exerts more strain on my own body.

I think I am putting a lot of strain mentally on myself and the toll it is taking on my body is not obvious but there is a toll. I told my secretary - I can't be having a heart attack because I have no heart.

You can tell from my tone I am miserable. And pensive.