A Runner's Tales

I Am NO Superman

2009-07-24T14:45:00.006+08:00

Feeling Good and being able to run freely always make me feel proud. Some friends do remarked that I am still youthful and don’t look my age of 45 years old. I eat whatever amount I wish and never gets overweight. For me, food is my petrol for running and I indulged in them without any guilt.

Many years back, I read an article by a foreign marathoner (couldn’t remember who that was) that he eats “see-food”. He meant that he eats whatever he see. Since then, I eat whatever I see. My favourites are seafood of course, beef, mutton, chicken offal, eggs and other high cholesterol food.

Recently, I had my blood test and my cholesterol level is 6.5! It frightened me. It makes me think that if I want to continue to run, then I must watch my diet. I am writing this down not to show to the world that I am unfortunate but rather as a PLEDGE that I must be discipline if I want to run all the way to my golden years.

HAPPY RUNNING

Chi Running or Pose Running ?

2009-07-20T15:53:00.001+08:00

Hey guys, check this out. Chi Running or Post Running?

Chi Running

Is a technique to help you start running pain free and injury free. It combines modern physics with the ancient wisdom of Tai Chi to create a running form that is easily learned and makes running more effortless and enjoyable.

Watch the video here.

Post Running

Video

In the Pose Method of Running, it is crucial to pull your feet quickly off the ground, thus your leg will land as close as possible under the body.

HAPPY RUNNING

Anti Dadah Run and Ipoh International Run

2009-07-06T15:15:00.004+08:00

Anti Dadah Run at Putrajaya, 7.7km (Jr. Veteran)
Clocked 34mins, position 6th
Prize : “Hamper Cokelat”

Ipoh International Run, 21km (Men Veteran)
Clocked 1.38, position 45th.
Actual Distance : 19.9km

2 runs in 2 days. Thanks to the long training for SCKLIM, my legs now are “super enduro”. Running 7.7km on Saturday don’t really give me any soreness. “Takda Rasa”. Can push some more. That’s why got chocolate. First time got 6th placing. Well, before you guys say I’m carrying my own basket. I must declare that my standard is about the same lah! Amaturely good. Got top placing only in the absence of good runners. The event was rather relax with lots of food and drinks.

Contrary to Putrajaya, Ipoh was a mess. The day started off with a heavy downpour. Even getting into the car from our staying place is difficult. When we reach there, have to walk/run from car park to the stadium to register. Already half wet, got to struggle with the guard to enter the premise just to report. You know how they register? Tie a “cable tie” on your wrist. Cut off the remaining to look neat and that’s it. More like “tagging” to me. By now already, ¾ wet. Well, the worst thing happens. Everyone in all catogories waited at the starting line for 30 mins under the rain just waiting for “somebody” important to shoot his pistol. By now, soaked wet and shivering. Every runner is making noise shouting and boo-ing. Some even called out “Nizar”, “Nizar”, “Nizar” - wonder who that was? Maybe a saviour, I guessed.

No comment on this run. It is like other runs that I participated + lots of hassle. So no good remarks. Thumbs down. Might not come back next year.

HAPPY RUNNING

Everyone Is No. 1

2009-07-02T12:55:00.002+08:00

How come human can be so strong and inspiring at times? And each time I raced, I can see the existence of such courageous people.

I am so touched by this music video by Andy Lau that I have to share it. This video has shown how human courage can overcome the odds.

As for me, I am fortunate enough to be given a good physic to run. Running is almost natural to me. Although I am not the fastest, I could finish a race without much complication. I am in CHARGE. Having said this, I am sure not everybody is as blessed as me.

I confessed that actually I don’t really know how it really feels to be disabled from the things I wanted to do. In races I see many participants that looks unfit and not physically ready to run but yet they ran.

At the Standard Chartered 42km marathon recently, I see many people toiled and tortured themselves just to prove that they can do it. To these people, I would like to honour them with my greatest respect. Sometimes I wonder if I would be running if I am in their shoes.

Everyone is No 1. The main thing in running is not to challenge others but ourselves. If we can conquer the odds, we will be No. 1 regardless of whatever timing or position. And we must be happy to use our ability when we have it because we will never know when it will be taken away from us.

HAPPY RUNNING

SCKLIM - The Full Report !

2009-06-29T13:01:00.005+08:00

Yahoo… 4.03 for 42.195km. Frankly, I am happy with this timing for I would not dare to think that I could fair better than the other 2 full marathon that I did when I was much younger. I told friends that I ran 3 to 4 full marathons but actually only twice. Sorry. My first was September 1987 (MAS International Marathon –Penang) and second on May 1998 (International Penang Bridge Run). My timing was 5 hrs 18mins and 4 hrs 25 mins respectively.

When friends from KK Pacers asked me about my target this time. I told them about 4.30. But actually deep inside I do expect it to be near 5.00, thinking that I am not as youthful anymore and secondly training was just enough. I’ve only ran 36km once in my whole training schedule for this marathon. So being just minimumly prepared, I just could’nt hope for better timing.

3 Days before the race, I started to feel lethargic and flu-ish. Every short run during this tapering period was heavy. And worst on Saturday, my stomach wasn’t feeling that good. Maybe bananas was the culprit. I’ve developed lots of wind. And believe it or not. I could not sleep. I stayed awake until it’s time to wake up at 3am Sunday morning. Luckily I managed to steal 2 hours of sleep on Saturday afternoon.

5.00am Sunday. Bang. Racing starts. Drizzles and wet. Started to pace out with a very relaxing pace. Slowly the pace got bigger and faster. I am feeling comfortable and the rain has given me freshness for the whole run. At this moment, I started to think. Shall I go according to my ability or lower down my pace to avoid hitting the wall.

In 1998, I started too fast at the first half and I have to struggle after the 30km mark. But training this time around, I felt that my threshold point was about 3.5 to 4 hours on a comfortable speed. So, why should I slow down since I am comfortable with this pace. So I just let it roll. First 10km at 55mins, 21^st km at 1.57mins, 32^nd km at 3.00 hours. Wow, 10km more in less than 1 hour and I will do it under 4 hours. I kept on running even when going up slopes with high hope that I could meet my expectation. But surely enough, I could not deny that my strength started to falter. The last 10km was a struggle, and finally crossed the line at 4.03.

Thinking again, the contributing factors to my good run was :

Light Rain – it really cools down the whole systems. The whole morning was fresh minus the haze and the humidity.
Power gel – I had one at 17.5km and one more at 30km. I believed this 2 packs has maintain my strength to the finish line. Previously at Penang, not many know about refuelling midway. Only know to carbo load to the fullest before the race (which is wrong).
Isotonic drink replenish my body salt and because of it, I don’t feel any muscle soreness till the 30km mark.
Competitive "Kiasu" – worrying that those whom I had overtook earlier might creep up from the back and say “hey, I am back” or “are you ok? lost your power? make me going.

HAPPY RUNNING

12 Days to SCKLIM 42km

2009-06-18T23:10:00.001+08:00

Tonight is the Wednesday Nite Run again. I just completed 10 laps round the lake which is equivalent to a half marathon distance. This distance seemed “kacang” to me now. But I won’t be overdoing it since I had only 12 more days to the gruesome 42km race. Next week, I will do much lesser.

Tonight don’t know can “oi-oi” or not? Last week only manage to sleep at 4am after completing 36km distance. But tonight, I did lesser. Hopefully my “feel good hormones” did not overflow. Hope to be able to sleep by 1am?

Come next Wednesday Nite Run, I will do 3 laps. No more training the legs but the stomach. Time to pump petrol. Make sure is full tank. Can savour all my favourite startchy food like “wat tan hor”, “roti canai banjir”, bread with butter and kaya, potatoes and pisang etc..etc. But I will definitely stay away from spicy and deep fried food.

The only enemy which I am afraid of are stress and sleep. With these two under control, I believe I can have a comfortable race on the 28th.. But sometimes, being so near a race, self impose pressure and anxiety starts to built up and for no reason all the bodily pain started to appear. Most of the time, it is just illusion but it can lead to a sleepless night. Hopefully, I am experienced enough to counter all these butterflies in my stomach.

Till then will update you till D-day.

HAPPY RUNNING

I fall in love with running again and again and again…….

2009-06-18T23:00:00.001+08:00

(This post was also featured in Kota Kemuning Pacers' Blog)

I am passionate about running and has been running since my childhood days. I used to be a regular face at Bukit China, Melaka. At that time, no such thing as “Marathon”. Just running for fun. No goal, No Target.

My first time running a race was in my 1st year in varsity. 8km from Kajang to UKM campus. Sounds “kacang”. But after 2km, “Punctured”. Why? Started with a 100M dash! But managed to finished 8th. Not too bad.

Seeing my ability, my friends introduced me to “MARATHON”. OK OK, lets give it a try. First race, Penang International Marathon. 42km. No joke! Result was -6 hours of gruesome torture. This experience was the wake up call to “what is running all about?” It really helps you to understand your own body’s limit.

Later, being in the working world. I started to race with “The Rats” and guess what? I developed a double chin and one big pack on my belly. Always feels heavy and sluggish. One day, a lady colleague trashed me 9-0 in a squash game.

Honeymoon years over. Enough! Enough! Started training again. Met a few “kaki-lari ” friends and never stop ever since. Ran 16 races a year, and a few triathlon races to my record. Got very fit and sporty. This meteoric comeback won’t be easy if I did not experience a marathon before.

Now, at 45, just woke up from a little nap. I slowed down again few years back due to lack of running friends. Thanks to my running pal Ray. With his companion, I started to race again.

Knowing how important friends are in preserving the “running fire”, we mooted the idea of setting up a run club in Kota Kemuning. With the support and active participation from our wives, we started to blog about running, plan running activities and encourage newbies to take up running. Now we could see more and more runners in our Kota Kemuning Pacers Club.

One advice to running people out there. NEVER STOP RUNNING. Only slow down if time doesn’t permit but don’t stop completely. Once you stop, you need lots of will power to get back to where you were before.

And…..

When running, I put up a smiling face to everyone that I come across. I greet them with a sincere heart. I observe my surroundings. I enjoy my sweat and feel my energy. With all this feeling in harmony, I hope to be able to run a long,long,long……. Way.

HAPPY RUNNING.

Runner's Tales - The Inspiration

2009-06-18T22:45:00.000+08:00

It is 2am on a Thursday morning. I am still awake. For the past two Thursdays, I have been awake till 4am. So why is it so? I just ran 36km few hours back (Wednesday Nite Run) together with KK Pacers’ friends.

Having registered for SCKLIM 2009 42km, I have done the darnedest thing by running 4 hours non-stop. Don’t you think it’s crazy?

Any experienced runner would understand why I can’t sleep that night. It had to do with that feel good hormone that generates in my body after 4 hours of extreme workout which is called “endorphins’. It is more potent than “Kopi Kapal-Api”. “Betul-betul Kaw”. How I wish I could be ejaculated to the moon like the ad shown on TV.

My legs were extremely soared and being in a aircond room, I was lying down in the most comfortable position. My legs were heavy and being so comfy I was like a log lodging firmly to the ground.

I told myself, This time is different. I will sleep. I have been telling myself to sleep since 12pm and I am still awake. My mind became more and more active as I started to think about my runs. I started to think about my old running days. Memories kept flashing and it is like an old tale being played on video. I can clearly visualize what I am thinking about.

Couldn’t risk this sudden inspiration slipping away, I got up from my comfort and headed for my laptop. My first story that night was “Humour on Race Day” which became my first posting. There are many other tales that were playing in my mind that night and I know that I have to start blogging to tell all of them.

Actually, blogging is an in thing now. Many people speak their mind through blogging. My wife has her own running blog and she encouraged me to have mine too. I kept telling her that I have nothing to write. I can’t be recording the runs that I participate, the timing, the position. etc..etc.. It would be boring. Nobody would want to know. But now it’s different. I have 15 years of running experiences that I feel I could share with my fellow running friends especially those who joined KK Pacers recently.

My tales are real. They are revelations of my observation and thought about running experiences. And based on this theme I will continue to write. Be it “tales of yesteryears” or “tales on new experiences”.

Welcome to the “Runner’s Tales”

HAPPY RUNNING

Medal, Medals and MORE MEDALS!

2009-06-18T22:44:00.000+08:00

Irony but it’s true. Runners go for medals and I have lots of them. Each time when I received a medal, the feeling is “ I deserved it”. I believed this is what other runners felt.

In any track and field events, only the best 3 gets a medal.

In marathon races, the story is different. It is a race of the masses. Everybody feels that they are capable and strong. They are racing not with each other but rather themselves. That is why organizers now gave finisher medals to every runners to honour their effort.

10 years back, there’s no such thing as finisher medals. You really have to fight to win it. Races like Penang Bridge Run offers up to 500 medals. PJ Half – 300 medals. These two organisers were known to be the most generous during that time. The rest mostly offers 100 medals or less depending on the category. So, to win a medal during that time is really, really, really motivating.

There’s one race, if I am not mistaken at Port Dickson where runners struggled to grab medals from the organizers. It was chaotic. This happens when the organizer did not hand the medal immediately to runners when they came in. After awhile, everyone seems to be claiming that they are the rightful one. When the organizers finally brought a bag of medals out, guess what? I believe you could visualise. See how valuable MEDALS is to runners.

There are also cases whereby medal was obtained the unrightful way. As for me, I would never do that. I have to earn it. Only once I got a 3rd. placing medal not through my effort but from a top runner friend from Subang. I did not ask for it. Out of the blue, he just hand it to me. I said no but looking at his sincere gesture, I accepted it finally.

To my friend Yasan, I salute you. Maybe you might have forgotten, but I still remembered, and always will! That is one great motivation to me.

How I wish I could emulate your generosity, but who would want my no placing medals?

HAPPY RUNNING !

Humour On Race Day

2009-06-18T22:41:00.000+08:00

Having ran hundreds of races, I came across many types of funny characteristic and personalities of runners. There are many type of runners and well, never judge a book by it’s cover. A fit and mascular young man might not run as fast as a middle-aged man with greying hair. A stout and heavy man has more speed than a skinny guy.

Some people run for fun. Some people just want to complete. Some really raced. If the race route has a u turn, we normally have a chance to see top runners in action. Some true athlete stride very gracefully. Some really squeeze out their power 101% and from their face, you can really see agony! Don’t know how they got the extra 1% power. Power-Gel maybe?

Top runners normally stand in front but, there is always somebody who think that they can “you know”, if they stay in front. When the pistol shoots, everybody dash out. Many hit the wall. “Koyak “lor.

Talking about running style, different runners have different styles. Some runners has big pace, some has small. Some basically are running on their toes. Some stump like an elephant. Some runners breath very loudly, even louder then when they snores at night. Some burp and some even fart. I tell you, I did have a big gulp of “durian” flavoured burp before. I wonder why he eats durian on a racing day. Maybe durian also gives power like chocolate.

But of all, there is one type of runners that is very dangerous. The type that like to spit. Most of these spitters know how to look behind before they do their job. But then, there is always somebody out there that spit at will. If you are not lucky, while overtaking, “salah-salah” he spit his venom, you don’t have to buy lottery anymore. Sure tak “kena” one.

Some guys runners cannot tahan. Bladder too full. Drank too much liquid. Have to let go. So ran to bushes and just shoot lah. Passers by would understand. But how about girls hah? How to shoot? I think they have to go deeper into the bushes. No one can see except some lucky monkey up in the tree.

Before the start of a race. You can see many runners lining up to”kencing’ and “berak”. If “kencing”, ok lah. Very fast. But how about “berak”? If not much time left how ah? Talking about that, I got a friend that fell into a manhole while searching for a good spot. Ha,ha… he finally found one.

There are also publicity seekers. Some come in sarongs. Some come in colourful wigs. Some wears a Malaysian flag. But whatever fashion it is, these runners normally add colours to our races. Hope one day I can see a runner wearing his red underwear outside.

Marathon and races are beautiful experiences. If you run and don’t participate in races, it is like eating Nasi Lemak without Sambal. Try it out and you will know that you fit somewhere. Don’t worry about position because you definitely won’t be the first nor the last. And don’t worry about the way you run because there is always people that runs funnier than you.

HAPPY RUNNING