Road Bike or Mountain Bike ?

I have been frequently asked this same question and I have also asked the same question to many people before I start to invest on my third bicycle. I have a Raleigh Road Bike to start off with and I purchased a Scott Contessa Road Bike as well. Since I have always been a roadie, so my next bicycle will naturally move on to have a Triathlon Aerodynamic Bicycle. Instead I have chosen to own a mountain bike as my third bike; again it is a Scott Contessa Hardtail Bike.
I have been a roadie for quite some time and found out that my skills have already arrived to a bottle neck. Suddenly it all became waking up at wee hours, keep chasing the front person’s butt just to catch up with the peloton and catch onto the drift, burn and bake by the hot sun, smell of exhausts from cars etc, I found myself losing the fun of cycling. There should be more than that.

Once my mind start to think and wants more then the challenges for me kicks in. I have always dislike the thought of trying mountain biking. Really don’t no why mountain biking is just not appealing to me all these while till recently. After my friend let me borrow his bike and started to learn it bit by bit, start from learning why there are three cranks and so many gears, how to use them when to use them etc. After I can really catch on the mountain bike gearing part before I can start to enjoy mountain biking.

Mountain and Road biking’s differences to me is Mountain biking is very technical and Road Biking is all about endurance and speed. Keep doing Road biking will keep my physical condition at top form for the hectic & demanding Mountain biking session. Mountain biking takes alot of time to perfect the technical skills, but the rewards are great when you smell not exhausts from cars but the greeny grass smell, cycling into soft mud, come out like being inside a mud bath, but of cos the down side to it are those Mozzies and Leeches Yikes, so overall speaking I love both Cycling on and off road.

I found myself in a progressive graph which started from Don’t even know how to cycle, only attend indoor cycling classes to learning my 1st road bike then onto learning 2nd mountain bike, so now what next ? Well, I have not tried an Aerodynamic Triathlon bike, BMX, Full Suspension Downhill Bike, Single Speed Bike, Foldable Bike, Electric Bike etc yet so guess there will be more and more for me to explore in the coming future, so people, stop wondering Road or Mountain, just get yourself committed to get started on cycling, it opened up my eyes, I see Malaysia and the world in a much different way than most people.

Cycling took me to places in Malaysia whereby many Malaysians not even heard of or step foot into. I love what this country offers me, not just the hot weather, the food, the politics, the shopping but the simple happy kampong people, their hospitality, their culture, the serene scenery, the jungles etc. I love to be in Malaysia. Cycling also brings out the spirit on what the Malaysia Government is preaching about as well – 1 Malaysia where everyone from every races and every walks on life all comes together to enjoy the same sport of cycling.

Well all said, so what’s the wait? Don’t give anymore reasons, just start to cycle, remember it’s never too late to learn, never too late to start, never too late to try new type of bikes.

on my MTB, cycling makes me so happy

with my road bike

My Scarry Story ;````) 181008

You have probably heard people always saying “Don’t cycle alone” well I have learned it the hard way. The time was in Year 2008 and I was still quite new in road cycling. I was supposed to meet up my friend to cycle from Genting Sampah’s Hospital Orang Asli to Bentong and back. I was there early and received a call from my friend that he’s not able to make it and I just could not let go of the cycling opportunity and totally ignore the fact that I should never cycle alone at all amidst the long distance as well. That trip I was using not my bike but my friend’s bike with a newly installed triathlon handle bar which I am not familiar on the skill of using it yet. I was in a rush to test it out myself and paid a hefty price for my stupidity.

It went very well and I had no problems at all till my return trip coming back only less than 500m back to my car when the weather turns cloudy and started to develop a drizzle. When I cycle before the last bridge, I did not see a patch of oil on the ground, all of a sudden I totally lost control of my bike, it kept shaking violently and I got really scared. At a split second, all I know is I threw the bike up high and crash landed onto the wet slippery tarmac road. Everything went flying here and there and luckily I was still conscious.

My cycle meter gone missing, bottles missing, then I was just lying on the road and I heard people screaming and luckily I crash right infront of a Kampung village. All the villagers came out to help me. The women held me up and started washing and cleaning my wounds, took off my helmet and shoes etc, I just gone speechless, really I was too scared too shaken up I went numb couldn’t even cry out at all. The men started to reassemble the bike again, found the bottles and meter and the triathlon bars too, I was in such a mess so as the bike.

I could not really communicate with the villagers, but they were very kind to me. Took me into their house and bought me a cup of hot Milo and some biscuits, some water melon to eat till I calm down. I couldn’t believe that they live a simple life there with so many smiles on their face, so much kind hospitality shown to a foreigner like me. God’s intervention came, an Indian lady came to pay a visit to the families there and she’s the only one who could communicate with me in English, so she became the translator for us.

I spend the entire afternoon there and vow to myself that I will pay my visit back to them again once I am all right again. Help came and my only thought was to quickly bring the bike to my favourite mechanic to patch up again and totally forgot my own wounds. They eventually got infected and I had to go to clinic every other day for cleaning and disinfecting the wounds. All my right side was like a map and the wounds on my thighs and my knee was so big that I should have ask the doctor to sew it back up, but instead I let it heal in time, so ended up in huge scars as I have Keloid type skin.

I can only apply Bio Oil Serum onto the scar everyday till the colour lighten up a bit, but it will be kept there as a reminder for my stupidity for NEVER CYCLE ALONE ever again. Total injury took me one month to heal. In that whole month I can only wear loose clothes to go to work and left with huge Keloid scars but still it never dampen my determination of cycling and try to become better and better every time. My point here is that, many people scared of falling so they don’t take up cycling or any sports at all, but life is all about taking chances and make it challenging for yourself so you will have a more colourful and happening life instead of the conventional everyday colourless life. It’s your choice, to fall down, learn from it, get back up again. So stay active and stay safe too!

water keep coming out

horrifiic, but never dampen my spirit

Bernam Jaya 051210

The ride started off with a cloudy morning. We arrived there quite early so I was able to take some rest in the car before the ride starts. The organizer provided us with Milo, Bee Hoon and Sandwiches as breakfast. Over 800 participants were there for the ride.

Started off with 10km on the road till we reach to the start of the trail. The weather was so nice that we felt a breeze as we rode on, we can see the fog and mist upon the mountain tops. The weather made the ride so enjoyable.

A total of 45km ride consists on long and steady climbs and descends. The view was just so breathe taking upon the first climb. I just had to stop and take pictures of it. We were able to see fog and mist on top of the mountains. In the end I can’t believe I still made into the top ten for ladies.

This ride also has the biggest directional arrows we ever saw on rides like that which is very good and we do not miss out any turns. But the recent rainy weather makes the trail very muddy and slippery also.

Organizer made this into a family outing event as they have activities going on inside tents for families to enjoy while waiting for cyclists to come back. So the whole family can spend time there relaxing and having fun also.

The medal was heavy and they also provided with bike wash service, we do hope that the bike wash service proceedings could go to charity so more people will wash their bikes there on the spot. We also found a place called Heritage to wash ourselves too. It’s a bungalow for people to stay I guess. We asked the plantation workers there for direction to it.

The goodies bag was full of goodies too, we have a cap, a pair of socks and event t-shirt which I think the organizer did spend a good job for rewarding people to come for the ride.

We had a fantastic time there but hope that they will serve more food because in the end, all the food has been finished; we still manage to get our bowl of Ice Kacang though.

at the start, arriving early

lovely mist background

starting arch

all getting started

ride banner

started the ride

1st long climb

very nice view

super view up the hill

had to stop n take pic

1st water station

water bath

drink n drink

off i went

lovely plantation ride

End of ride

Top 10

Top 10

Had such a great time

Plentong Ride 281110

All hails to Plentong Jamboree’s organizer. To me this is by far one of the best Jamboree which I have ever attended in Malaysia. It was very well organized and the goodies bag was really full of goodies.

Four points which I really wanted to point out is that,
1)      they have the year 2011 calendar as souvenir which is very useful for all of us for the coming year;
2)      directional arrow signs could be bigger in A3 formats for more visibility for riders;
3)      the ride was 60km, very long distance so well worth our time and money for travelling all the way there;
4)      ride consist of so many different sceneries, ie. Tarmac, Plantation, Sandy Roads, Muddy hills, steep bushes climb, Sandy Climb, Rock Formation, Ex Tin Mining Pond, Grass land Climb etc.

We were also impressed by the amount of hotels there near the starting point and ample of places to go for local food as well. We had such a blastful ride.

Since it’s in Plentong, so close to Singapore, we’d expected to meet many Singaporeans, we met up with our Sabah Adventure Challenge friends there again. Upon reaching some sections, we met up with some foreign workers villages; they all came out to give us some big cheers.

To me, the most exciting part for this ride is that the trails design to have so many fast and short super wavy down hills, I felt like it’s a “Roller-Coaster” ride. A really fantastic job well done superbly excuted by the organizer. We are so looking forward for more to come for next year.

arrive at the start

at the starting line

cycling 10km on tarmac road b4 trails starts

start of the trails

1st traffic jam

love to cycle in my tri suit

jam again

pushing n pushing

met my singaporean friend Jovia

cycling happily

lovely view

at a check point just saw cycling malaysia ppl =D

cycling up sandy hills

love cycling inside deep forest

love the screnity inside trails

behind me is a super nice lake

my pose pose at this spot =P

lovely grassland rides

super nice shots

hehe my DH skills still need lots of improvement

Singapore Bukit Timah Natural Park Ride 271110

This is the weekend which we planned to travel to Plentong, Johor for the Jamboree. We were approached by one Malaysian friend Ipoh Leong who’s currently working in Singapore which he planned to introduce his weekend mountain bike training ground for us to see.  It was proven to be such a memorable ride with good weather, good food and good company as well. All thanks to his well planning, we had so much fun during this weekend.

We travel to Johor on Friday night and rest for several hours and started our journey to Singapore in the early morning. We were wondering is it really worthwhile for our time and gas to drive all the way to Singapore for a morning ride an then back to Johor to prepare for Sunday’s Jamboree. But since Ipoh Leong has already planned and found out so much information for us, so we just go for it.

He met us at Kranjit Station in Singapore and we drove to Zhenghua Park for the start. The weather that day was super nice. Leong also brought along his other two training buddies to lead us for this ride. I felt really appreciated on his effort to try to show us this training ground. It was such a well groomed well maintained trail without any rubbish lying anywhere at all, very clean as expected in Singapore.

Next we cycle and reach Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and there we met with lots of runners and a bunch of Singaporean Mountain Bikers whom are also starting there. Immediately we ad to climb some rocks to go up, after not cycling for long then we reach some huge stone formation, this is such a nice scenery. Some people were doing rock climbing there as well.

We keep cycling till we reach Dairy Farm Nature Park, I guess these parks were inerlink to one another, so cyclists were able to connect all the trails together and do loop training. Then we enter into Marina Reservoir. This section of the trail is quite technical with tracks lay out using huge tree trunks to add on elements to this trail. Then we reach the reservoir, the scenery was so nice, so breath taking. But I lost my smile due to the pedal bang onto my shin again.

A total distance of 45km for the day, all thanks to Ipoh Leong and his friends. I think for people who cycle in Malaysia will be quite amazed on how Singaporeans manage their trails. Singapore is a small country, I bet they don’t have a lot of places to choose for Mountain Biking so they try to conserve on what they have and train hard on it. That’s why Malaysian should take great care on the trails that they have and should be more greatful for it plus to maintain them well.

arrive at the start of the parks

start of the trail of the park

trails so well built

steep stair climb

arrive at the forest reserve

start at a rock climb

arrive to giant rocks formation

so nuice view

relazing cycling inside trails

arive dairy farm trail

arrive to the dam

well maintained trails

build technical ups n downs by using tree trunks

resevoir view

so nice inside the trails

superb resevoir view

trails are so clean n well maintained

the water is sooooo clean

water so clean but i lost my smile as my pedal bang onto my shin again

like cycling under green shade

cycling under green shadow

Sepang Jamboree 211110

Sepang Ride was quite a hectic ride with lots of long up hills and long enjoyable down hills. Started off with a great morning when we arrived among one of the latest to start off with. It has been raining these days so we expected the trails to be quite muddy already. Started off with tarmac road ride and you face your long first climb before you even start to reach the start of the trail. We saw a lovely scene, a father helping the young son to push the bike up the first hill, this is just so cute so sweet.

Amazingly we saw quite a number of lady riders in this ride and we started together from the back also. The Sepang ride is one of the long mountain bike ride which is still started just a little out skirt of KL in Putrajaya so it’s not far to drive to and with the promising hills it’s just worth of money and time to come for it. The plantation trails are well maintained amidst the trail does turn muddy because of the recent rain. When we encountered the first jam, we took my time to take pictures of the scenery. The girl infront of me really decorated her helmet, her bike and all her accessories all in BLINK, wow so girly. I admire her patience of decorating everything.

As said before, the trails were very muddy and this type of mud took up a lot of our energy to try to cycle through it. The trails marking arrows were just way too small for people to see and I missed the arrows and shoot right through it at least three times in this ride. Organizer should at least use A3 size to make the arrows more visible for riders next time. Muds and hills nonstop and this ride really need endurance and patience to complete. Finally I reach the 1st check point. Was so happy to see volunteers passing us water and bananas. Thank you for all the volunteers.

Then immediately encounter the tunnel and more climbs awaits us. Climb and climb inside the mostly shaded plantation, the climbs were long and steep though. But I don’t mind as I simple love being inside the trails still I had to admit that I did lose some smiles towards the end part of the ride. Organizer, you all did a good job in coming up with trails like this for us to go round and round inside this planation, really open my eyes this time because I only knew Sepang is for F1, now I know there are much more to it.

This ride was jointly organize with 4x4 expedition trucks, they have their own competition in other tracks and we all share the hose to wash the bike and the 4x4’s. This is a very good training ride to fully prepare ourselves and our mind for the upcoming more hectic rides ahead of us. Hope to see more collaboration event like this in the future.

At the start of the ride, we arrive late for the ride la.

1st traffic jam

up n up the hill

downhill yeah !!!

arrive to cp1

riding through the tunnel

cycling makes me so happy

cycling among the plantation

some descend which I cant do YET !!!

through bushes n obstacles

arriving to green pastures

lovely riding among greens

cycling n cyling

on n beyond !!!

Suunto Perak Navigation Quest 250410

Urban area navigation and rogaining events are seldom being done in Malaysia in a proper way. This year, SNR Adventure is trying to venture more by bringing this sport into Malaysia through organizing this Suunto Perak Navigation Quest which was held in Taiping. They try to follow the rules and regulations from International Rogaining Federation; since this 6 hours regaining is the first in Malaysia, so this event has been entered into the Malaysia Book of Records, I am very fortunate to be able to enter this special event and discover what a small quiet town of Taiping can offer.

Many people do not know what Rogaining is all about. Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross- country navigation. It is closely related to orienteering and many people enjoy both sports. For all participants, compared to an orienteering meet, a rogaine:

1. is a much longer event, usually 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours
2. is a team sport (important for safety, given the long duration)
3. has checkpoints (controls) assigned point values reflecting the distance from other checkpoints and the technical difficulty (terrain, navigation) of visiting them
4. requires each team to plan the order in which to visit checkpoints, so route choice is a very important element
For event organizers, a rogaine differs from an orienteering meet in that:
1. it requires a far larger map area, but not necessarily a highly customized orienteering map
2. a 24-hour rogaine benefits from being scheduled during a full moon, and needs an organized food service and space in which participants can sleep

Teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in the time allowed. Checkpoints are scored differently depending on level of difficulty in reaching them; therefore teams choose a strategy (for example, to visit many low score checkpoints). Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass between checkpoints in terrain that varies from open farmland to hilly forest. A central base camp known as a "hash house" provides hot meals throughout the event and teams may return at any time to eat, rest or sleep. Teams travel at their own pace and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at their own level of competition and comfort. Team members stay within earshot of each other.

The length for a championship Rogaine is 24 hours, but shorter variations such as 6, 8, 12 and 15 hour events are also held (sometimes concurrently with a 24 hour event). Depending on the terrain, experienced rogaining teams can cover more than one hundred kilometers over the 24 hour period. There have also been longer events (dubbed "Endurogaines") lasting 48 and 50 hours. In their native Australia, rogaines are usually held every month during weekends near full moons, with annual state championships and an annual national championship. They require dozens of volunteers to run, including course setters and caterers and are often attended by hundreds of participants. A competitive 24-hour rogaine requires a map area of around 250 km^2 or 100 mi^2, for relatively flat terrain; terrain with significant climb may require far less or far more area, depending on the placement of checkpoints.

**Courtesy information extracted from - http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/rogaining

Adventures from Team Sunny Bunny Bak Ku Teh

This is a team of 3’s event which took me to explore the quiet town of Taiping on foot. We arrive on Saturday night and briefing also starts late. We stayed at the Flemington Hotel situated beside the Taiping lake side. It was very convenient and the room was very neat and clean. The staff’s hospitalities are good as well. Taiping has lots of good food to offer and we were all eager to venture out for the quest of good food for dinner.

I have never done rogaining before, this will be quite an adventure for me. I was so eager and anticipated for this event to just have fun and discover what this town can offer us. We registered and were given a big bottle of 100 Plus, 3 bibs with 3 PowerBars, thanks to the sponsors and organizer. Briefing starts late and we were given a glace of the Taiping map with the clues sheet and the punch sheet. Organizer briefs us on what we are going to do tomorrow but I wish they could have an English version for me and the Singapore team. I had to translate the clue sheet on that nigh to prepare for Sunday’s race. We did not explore the famous night safari as I want to safe that for my next trip.

Sunday morning we started in waves. They separated us all into 4 categories. Men and mixed open and Interuniversity men and mixed teams. I am happy to see many university students take part in this fun event. We were all given the maps and we had to jot down the check points from the original map and start to navigate to get as many checkpoints as possible with 6 hours. The check points mark as orange / white lantern and we had to check the numbers before we punch into the red color punch card.

It was not easy to locate these lanterns as they were all hide away throughout the city. Through finding and locating all these points, which took us to explore many parts of Taiping. We started near the lake then took us to some abandon houses, into the city, to some people’s back yards, to rail stations, rail tracks, industrial areas, back to the lake side then back to the zoo to finish off. I wish the organizer could put some checkpoints at some famous eatery places, put some check points at some historical buildings because Malaysia is famous for their food, and those historical buildings at Taiping were just magnificently well kept and well maintained for us to take pictures. Through regaining to check points then can take us to these places of interest and places to eat also.

The weather was so hot on that day, after running around for some time, I began to get really exhausted. No matter how strong a road runner I could be, still I was succumbed by the heat. I went into a Chinese stall and amazingly welcome by the staff inside and the lady owner was very kind to us and I took my time to rest inside her shop and took a picture with her. I am amazed at their hospitality which I seldom get in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. To my amazement, Taiping’s streams and rivers remain very clean. I can even see tiny tadpoles and small fishes swimming at the stream from people’s back yards.

Rogaining is a team sport. Entering events like that you can discover the whole town and also discover how well you and your team work with your other team mates could be. Ours were not that good. We found out that we did not copy the check points correctly from the original map, then we did not read our map carefully so we ended up wasted a lot of time. We did not bring along a more detailed Taiping map for us to refer to during the race. We did not plan ahead and separate the teammates and ended up we had to locate the other teammate instead of together finding the check points. We learned a lot throughout the race on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I seriously had to improve on my map reading skills to prepare for the next regaining event.

After joining this event, I found that I am in love with this sport although my map reading skills were poor. Then I realize the possibilities to add on more elements into this game. I wish the organizer could bring in more of this game to organize this in more kampung and urban areas of Malaysia. This is such a healthy game whereby you do not even realize how much walking, jogging and running you have been doing and how much calories which you have burned already. In the end you will be amazed by what a small town or big city can offer you. I always encourage people to get away from their comfort zone and try something new, rogaining is sure a fun and enjoyable things for anyone to join.

Registering for the event.

Team Sunny Bunny Bak Ku Teh

Malaysia Book Of Record BIG Poster

Start and finishing arch

With the organizer

We stayed at Flemington Hotel, highly recommended to come back and stay for more.

Start at Taiping night safari, will safe this for my next trip

The map was shown to us during briefing

The clue sheet, yikes all in Malay

Explore Taiping's food

Neat, nice and clean hotel room

At the start of the race

Had to jot down the check points from original map

Had to make sure everything inside plastic bag

navigate throughout the city

Run run and run some more under the hot sun

Found a check point and check the number before I punch

Waaaaa many tadpoles and fishes even at the stream from backyards of people's houses

Rest and chit chat with the nice coffer shop owner

Welcome to the Sub4 Club - Energizer Night Run 42K – 270310

It all started in year 2007 when I first tasted outdoor sports excitement. My first outdoor run was 21K Penang Bridge Marathon and first started to learn how to ride a road bicycle in the same year. It was so life-changing for me from that point onwards, everything was history. I started to take part in Duathlons, Triathlons, Ironman, after I learn mountain biking then I join Xterra & adventure races. This year I also started to challenge myself to the extreme and took part in Kapas Marang 6.5k Swimathon as well.

Despite doing all these, I realize that my running ability for some time now as I felt I excel more in running amidst everything that I do. I love it, I love running as running is one of my passion, so I did not feel so gruesome when doing long distances. My favorite is always more than 21k, 30k and 42k. I failed my 84k attempt so will have to train hard for this in the future to make it up for my race profile.

Everyone who has been taking part in running will set a target, a goal for themselves to achieve. Many of us will set a Sub 5, Sub 4 finish as our goals. Set up the goal is easy, try to achieve and maintain it to make the timing better is the hardest part.

I have always wanted to get into the Sub 4 Club. It took me at least 7 attempts from the year I started outdoor running till the 8th time I finally reached there. Lots of time, sweat, and perseverance finally I am a member of this Sub 4 Club. Below are my full marathon progresses in record.

1) Standard Chartered (Singapore) 2007 - 4hrs 43mins
2) Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) 2008 – 4hrs 18mins
3) Ambank (Kuala Lumpur) – 4hrs 43mins
4) Standard Chartered (Kuala Lumpur) 2009 – 4hrs 05mins
5) Penang Bridge (Malayisa) – 4hrs 05mins
6) Standard Chartered (Singapore) 2009 – 4hrs 07mins
7) Putrajaya Night Marathon 2010 – 4hrs 27mins
8) Energizer Night Run – 3hrs 50mins

Running can consider to be easy when you can run at a relax pace and hard when you have a set target to reach. Running a Sub 4hrs is never an easy attempt for me. My running times fluctuates a lot which involves a lot of elements to be considered. If you did not have a good day, no matter how hard you have prepared for it, still the goal is hard to reach. Sub 4 is always a blunder for me. This year was no different; the only different was my determination to reach for it and to try my best to make this happen.

I met my pacer Kenny during Penang Bridge Marathon in 2009, he could feel my determination to reach Sub 4, so he contacted me online and we discussed about this and he willingly try to pace me to reach for my goal. This year I started to work for Fitness Concept and I am responsible for their roadshow events. I was very busy handling many things, I have many different sporting interests like road and mountain bike cycling which took up so much of my time, so I was so lacking behind on my long distance and speed work on running training.

The only time I could be running was before I started work everyday and during roadshow event. The activity which we were conducting was an Indoor Triathlon Challenge whereby there were three sets of cardio machines, Treadmill, Cross Trainer and Upright Bike. Every participant had to spend 10mins on each machine to complete within half an hour. It was difficult to find participants at first, we conducted two sessions everyday in which I have to be one of the participant most of the days. I did not expect that this type of Intensive Training could help me improve my timing so much during the Energizer run.

I called it Intensive Training because within 10mins on each cardio machine, I had to really put myself to the max to achieve the longest distance that I could. At first I did not realize I will improve my timing distance at all as I simply just an add on to take part in that challenge so I did not take it too seriously. We recorded everyone’s distances and over a period of several days, Kenny realizes my timing was improving. He kept encouraging me to try to run at a 10.9km/hr rate and see how long I could sustain it in order to prepare for this run. I tried and IT WORKED !!!

I was running late to the start of the run because I was tied up in the roadshow. I was tired and fed up already due to lots of running around here and there, could not even locate where we should park our car to get onto the feeder bus and get to the start. So frustrated. At last I arrive, but everyone was gone already, the race has started. Kenny was waiting for me under the starting arch, I still have to take my time to go and clear my system before I could run. We started from the last of the pack.

Gradually we progress on speed to move up the pack. I saw my friend Jen dress up with her bunny ears to cheer everyone up, John and others were on their bicycle to accompany us along. We started at 6pm and the weather was just so hot and humid. Kenny kept encouraging me, he kept telling me stories to ease my pressure and slowly without me knowing it, I kept up with the fast pace.

We bumped into many friends and Kenny introduces many along the way for me, telling me that these people are always his competitors. We chit chat and happily smiling along the way till darkness creeps in. This year’s Energizer Run clash with Earth Hour, many started putting on their headlights and made the road so pretty like we were running with many fire flies along the way. Cyberjaya was a nice place to run with wide roads, smooth ups and down hills and lots of landmarks. That night the weather was not so bad, a light breeze kept us cool most of the time. There were markers along the way but I don’t think it’s indicating the correct distance at all.

Water station was plenty, with water and Gatorade to help rehydrate us. Upon half way, they did provide us with power gels and bananas. After running more than 30k I could feel the soreness of my legs I think because of lack of training and I did not even have time to stretch at all before the start. Kenny had to push me all the way. I always thought some much stronger girls must be infront of me, so I was just trying to beat my own time and not try to get onto the podium at all. I did not know I am the leading girl already.

I was very emotional at that point, I could not care less about the timing that I could do, I was in pain and still Kenny was trying to push me to my running limit. It was tough and became very tough along the way towards to the last 700m to the finish. I was in tears, I broke down but still manage with a smile while I was screaming in pain. Kenny had to calm me down and keep pushing till we reach the last 700m, I could hear all the cheering at the finishing, my energized self came back and I could not believe I could sprint all the way towards many 21k and 10k finishers and reach the finishing line with a big scream and a huge smile. I DID IT before 4hours!!! Oh My Goodness!!! It was quite a journey for me. I beat the 4hrs 05mins timing which has been a burden and has been teased by so much. Finally I have entered into the Sub 4 Club!!! I went on to become the Women’s Open Category Champion for this race, all thanks to Kenny my pacer.

I am so proud to be a Sub 4 Club member. But being a member of this club requires more perseverance and more pressure than before as once you have entered, you and others have more expectations on you. From now on, I have to maintain my standard to be the member and uphold the qualities of this club and the only thing is to maintain my time or better yet to become better and better, achieve higher and higher.

God, thank you for sending Kenny your running angel for me to push me so hard to reach for this goal which I have been aiming for so long already. I broke into this club and my next goal for road running races would be to revenge on my 84k which I had quit half way through last time and to target for a 3hours 45mins finish for my next 42k Full Marathon.

Last to start.

Smiling all the way while keeping up with Kenny's pace.

Met Mohan Marathon !!!

All smiles, thank you kenny my running angel.

Sabah Adventure Challenge - SAC - 010410 - 050410

Team Sunny Bunny’s Adventure 2010

I have never imagined myself will one day take part in a tough multiple day adventure race at all till I have done many triathlons, duathlons, took part in Xterra and have took part Ironman Lankawi then I started to look for something new and more challengeing. This year I told myself I will try to pick out and try adventure racing and test my limit to another level. Sabah Adventure Challenge is definitely on my challenge list and I vow to myself that I will complete this no matter what it takes.

Taking part in multi days adventure racing is no joke with lots of planning and preparation. I have to form a team of either 2person or 3 and have to make necessary travel plans and take leave from work to complete this journey. Also have to get the mandatory equipment list ready. After doing some window shopping at Core Zone and I came up with list of the cost of everything. The cost of all these are high.

First time I try my luck to source for sponsorships. I wrote a letter to Cycling Malaysia Magazine and got it, so you never try you never know is what I always believe. I would like to give thanks to them for making my dream come true. And for my gratitude, I promise to come out with this race report to them and accompany with pictures during the race. I had to keep this report simple and easy to read as there were just too many events happened which was hard to incorporate everything, so I tried to use simple bullet points with lots of pictures to accompany the whole story.

I hope Team Sunny Bunny’s Adventure can inspire more new comers to join in the fun with the us and the experience teams. Being able to race with the elites were sure a great lifetime’s achievements and experience.

1 Apr –
• Flight Arrive KK, Met French group after getting off from the plane.
• Mini Van transports us n bikes to Hotel Mega D’aru, assemble bikes and get onto the afternoon bus to Tambunan.
• Arrive Tambunan, get ready our race kit and mandatory kit for inspection
• Race briefing, tomorrow race will be starting at 3am. Organizer reveal to us what will be installed for us tomorrow with river side navigation then trekking up hill all the way till we reach where they have deposited our MTB and cycle then River trekking then MTB back to starting point.
• Dinner time, meet up with home stay family and back to room for early night rest.

2 Apr –
• Start at 3am, river side trekking, big/small sizes pebbles damn slippery
• Caught up and try to stick with Brunei group
• Bunny was slow & can’t follow the group; Sunny had to slow down for her. Got lost a bit and was quite scary because we were all in the dark with only our head lights on. Sunny fell and pants got torn, his back side was exposed, went on the journey with lots of laughs
• Trekking uphill, very long and steep uphill, Bunny went to do her business then lost from Brunei group, should follow all the way up, but Sunny wasn’t sure whether this is the right way, we should have trust our own direction and should not simply follow
• Trek back down to another single trail, which is so wrong, should trust instinct to go all the way up
• Did not panic and just call help to the Avtar one of the organizer and Xtend by Celcom, totally trust their expertise, thank you for giving us guidance
• Back to main trail and found out the actual way, reach the burnt hillside
• Last to collect MTB
• Steep hill up and down, loose gravel, with no guts to go downhills, Bunny chooses to push all the way down. Uphills are so steep, with no energy already so pushes most of the way. Push a lot because no confident on lose gravels, better stay on safe side
• Drop off MTB bike
• River trekking and saw Orang Asli along side of river, lead us faster to church check point, he resemble the Hong Kong actor / Singer Nicholas Tse
• Collect bike and cycle back to camp, Bunny got sunburn all over her face and body, Sunny got Sunburn on his Butt =P

3 Apr –
• Start at 8am, MTB, my rear tyre puncture
• Meet up with Singapore team, stick together throughout the whole day
• Carry MTB river trekking, so hard to carry MTB and walk through pebbles and bike became so heavy
• River tubing for 2 1/2hours, hungry, thirsty and sunburn, should be more prepared for this
• River side trail trekking back to start of river tubing
• MTB back through slippery hills, many mosquitoes and thorns at the side of the hill, no matter Bunny has a pair of good Salomon shoes also no use at all when encounter so slippery surface
• Took baby step to move one step at a time up the steep slippery slope, thank you Claus one of the organizer for giving me help in carrying up the bike up the steep hill, I really deplete of any remaining energy already
• Forgot to bring good lights for night MTB, didn’t expect to finish so late
• Had to MTB mostly in the dark, TQ the sweeper car for their head lights to give guidance
• Lost track on where we came back from, so tired, even had to wee by the road side
• Had to locate in the dark where to go back to camp
• Last to arrive the camp and even miss out on the briefing

4Apr –
• Start at 8am, group photo, trail running inside jungle
• Diarrhea pain, 1st time had to do big business inside jungle, what an experience for Bunny.
• Lost from the group and navigate on our own
• 2 ways to get back to camp, one through highway, one through jungle.
• We choose to go back from the jungle
• Found all the red tapes which were laid by the organiser
• Back to camp and collect MTB
• Find as many check points as possible
• End of race and go for lunch
• Prize presentation and transfer all back to Mega D’aru Hotel
• Stayed one night, the air-con room felt like Heaven

5Apr –
• From hotel travel to town for lunch and went to Tanjung Aru beach side to enjoy a bit of the beach scene there
• Finish everything and travel back to KL
• Must go back for more next year, thank you organizer and thank you everyone which we have met on the road and during the race =D
• A job well done and well executed by the organizer. Definitely recommend to everyone who wanted to challenge themselves. As long as you have the guts, with a mountain bike, trail running shoes should take part in this race and test your self limit and team spirit
• We have learned a lot throughout the whole ordeal. Don’t be intimidated by the stronger teams and don’t let people tell you to accomplish this is impossible because anything is possible when you set your mind toward it
• You are encouraged to take pictures and also to enjoy the scenery along the way to make your money worth, pictures will last a lifetime to help you remember your journey along the way
• We did it and hope to see many more new comers for next year’s SAC. Last but not least, next year’s event will sure be another reunion event for many of the teams too.

Winning doesn’t necessarily make you a winner.
It’s how you Play & the Journey + Discoveries that counts.

Arrive Mega D'aru

On the bus transfer to Tambunan

Arrive Tambunan

Getting ready for race kit inspection

After race vriefing transport back to home stay family

Early 3am start with glow stick ready

At the 1st day start

River trekking then jungle trekking

Beautiful scene

Arrive the burnt hillside

Last to collect MTB

Steep hills with loose gravels ups and downs

River trekking

Met orang asli and lead us to Check point

Arrive church check point

2nd day start MTB

Started my 2nd day of racing with a rare puncture.

1st hill climb which we encounter was already so darn steep !!!

So one step at a time, I cross 1st then pick up my Contessa and get on with it.

Crossing the stream like ants.

Thank you Cameraman for travelling infront and help me document my every move.

Just arrive the river tubing site

last to deposit the bikes for 2hours tubing !!!

Stick with Singapore team

Together we hike back to where we deposit bikes

My nightmare just started ...

Damn this, really ONE baby step at a time.

beautiful breath taking scene

Night Mountbiking, without gooood lights is no joke no fun.

Last day group picture

Deposit bikes

Jungle trekking

Trail running

jungle trekking back

just arrive to check point after trekking

Trekking back to camp

On MTB find check point

Found one

Another one

Had a great dinner with all singaporeans

Got back my baby bike

Squeese between the Champions !!!

at prize giving

travel to enjoy the beach after all has been done b4 going back to KL

Nice beach

Look at the horns sticking out from the back of my head, I look like a Bunny with a pair of Deer Horns !!!

Nice scenery

at the airport

Good bye and will be abck for next yr's SAC !!!

Kapas-Marang Swimmathon 180410

All my life, I have never been a good swimmer nor have I ever consider swimming seriously at all. I have been to and registered for many races and events already, but I always dreaded to enter swimmathon because swimming is just never my cup pf tea.

I remember when I was a little girl, my mom used to teach at prestigious La Salle Primary in Hong Kong. She was a Physical Education teacher there. So she put me and my sister in their training pool to have fun. Later on she register us to go for swimming clubs and YMCA’s swimming classes during every summer holiday. I never took all these classes seriously, I just want to go with the flow, learn the skill, that’s about it. Mom always told us that we must learn to be a swimmer so we could save ourselves in danger of the water. She’s such a loving mom sometimes. How I wish I took swimming more seriously when I was young, it’s much easier to learn then n there.

I did not have much training for this race. The last long distance swim was during Ironman Langkawi which was 3.8K just half of this swimmathon’s 6.5K distance. My time in Langkawi was 2hrs 20mins, so without much improvement, I knew my time would be at least 5hours without any detour of the swim course and high waves plus strong current. This year, I vow to try to do more different events and races, so swimmathon was already in my new year’s resolution which I have to promise myself to tackle for this year. With much anticipation, I enter for it and I do not want to put too much stress and pressure to myself, so I told myself to treat this as a good open water swim training, have fun with friends and TriSportz team, get to know new friends and of course just to enjoy east coast of Malaysia which I have never really been to at all.

We flew and arrived at Marang on Friday night, stayed one night near the jetty. Fetch a cab to go to our hotel. It was such a long straight road without much to look at. It was such a quiet Malay town, at Friday night there was nothing already, then I know it’s a PAS control town so Friday is praying and rest day for them so nothing going on. The hotel room was very basic, but at least a place to stay for one night and get ready for tomorrow’s speed boat transfer to Kapas Island. We were starving already, but it’s just so hard to find a place to eat. Finally we located one, ate some and ready for bed. Lucky the bed was firm and I had a good night’s rest.

Saturday morning registration was at 9am. It was so happening already. With many of the swimmers arriving from KL, Johor and Singapore, the jetty was full of us already. I was so happy to meet all the Trisportz gang again and of course I miss Mr. & Mrs. Chan very much too. This year they have the highest registration swimmers, over 300ppl registered, my number was nearly the last ones already. I am number 551. The registration process went smooth and we checked our booked air-conditioned room in Pulau Kapas then off we wait to be transfer to the island. I met two of my long time friends Zoe and Rae. We were all so excited and we saw the State’s Kayak team practicing at the jetty too.

The boat transfer was fast and the island was just so beautiful. I have never been to East Coast of Malaysia’s island, this is just amazing. Upon arrival, I could see the crispy clean water with many fishes swimming there just underneath the jetty. It was like seeing them at their natural habitat, no more aquarium, it’s real ! Registration to our room was fast, lucky the air-condition room was basic but comfortable. My first activity was to get into the sea immediately, the water was warm and we swam out abit and saw so many different corals and fishes. The underwater world was amazing. I just want to stay inside this real aquarium forever and be a mermaid to swim with all of them.

Underwater world was quiet and happening as well with many colors on display. The corals with different shape and sizes and there were just so many different types of fishes, sea urchins, clams etc. We met up with Yip and Eric, and all of us went on foot to travel abit to see what other beaches that this huge Kapas island provide. There we discover well construct walk paths for people to walk around the island, some places do not have people staying, which turns into our own private beach. It was amazing, I know my next trade to learn must be scuba diving already.

After lunch we went for a short one hour Kayaking trip. I have never done that before, it was so fun to me, then after a while, my arms did start to get tired. At 4pm we stopped and went for Mr. Chan’s race briefing. His performance was mostly the same during every race, but I love to see him every time with his moves and his jokes, but this time he also introduces Eugene to all of us that next year Eugene will be the one who handles all this. Mr. Chan took his time to explain everything to us and the “suppose” safety precaution which never really materialize during the race at all. Lucky I kept on asking people where should we aim for, if not I just completely lost in the sea. But there were 70+ kayaks so I still have a little faith in these personnel.

After briefing, we met up with Eddie, and went for a short swim again before dinner. I just didn’t have enough of the water but I cannot tired myself out, so off we went back to hotel room for shower and heading out for dinner. We didn’t stay long afterwards and went straight to bed for a early night sleep before the race on Sunday morning. All these while I kept staying energetic but calm, but inside me, I could only pray hard to God and his angels to look after me throughout the race tomorrow.

Race breakfast was at 5am and body marking at 6.15am. we were all so ready and checked out from our rooms and packed up all our bags to be transfer back to Marang. I still manage to stay very calm. The weather was perfect, but I still put on sunscreen to protect myself. Before the race start, I ask about the current, I already aim for where I am going, located the landmark but did not really see any buoy and the marine boat didn’t seem to know where it’s suppose to be going too. I know already I have to navigate and stay calm. I choose my safest breast stroke to complete and hope to finish it all within the cut off time 4hrs 15 minutes.

We start off at 7.30am, I stayed at the back so I was calm when started the race. The sea was choppy. I did not follow anyone but to trust what I remember to locate at the start. The people immediately split into two groups, one to the right one to the left, I stayed in the middle and calmly navigate my way throughout this ordeal. I asked one time to the kayak people where are we suppose to aim for, he pointed and told me, then I just have to trust myself all the way.

I had so much mixed feeling during this 4hours 30mins inside the sea. Although I DNF but I had lots to take home with and able to relate my life to. In life, there were many doubts and uncertainties, we knew where we wanted to get to, many people also have the same goal but there are just so many ways so vast a space for us to choose your own way to get where you wanted to be. Just like at the start, we all have one goal is to swim across the channel to get back to Marang, but the sea was so wide, the beach on the other side was so vast, we just have to pick out landmark and follow our instinct and go with the flow.

In life, many people will just simply follow what tips are given to them. I listen to the tips but choose to navigate my way through the choppy sea. I was afraid if I totally simply follow people, what if they are going the wrong way, then who should I blame but myself. My swimming skills was not good already, I have no time to waste and no time to make up if I detour from the course. I stayed calm and navigate through. I saw many people had to hold onto kayaks for rest and drink water, but I didn’t feel I had to do so, I stayed calm and just move on. Heard my friend was yelling for help to the kayakers but they ignored him, I felt bad that I had to move on and left him behind as I was not a good swimmer, I know help will come to him, I had to move on. Later on, I saw him zig zag infront of me, I so wanted to pull his leg and tell him to go my way, but I decided not to as I don’t want to disturb and make him panic. I felt so bad I can only hope that he will be OK and will look for him at the finishing.

My whole body does feel good up to more than 2 hours, when hunger starts to strike my tummy, the sea water became so salty and yucky inside my mouth, sea bugs stung was itchy, I just want to get this over with. The sea was clean, I was able to look and observe sun beam shining upon it. I know God will look after me all the way. As I approach closer and closer, I could see the red balloon flying, the glowing from all white tents along the beach, the sandy beach etc, I know I am at the right path and will eventually get there soon. But psychologically, this is the hardest part as it’s like so close yet so far and the waves started to pick up and the current was so strong.

I know I would not be complete on time. I thought at least I try to get closer, I might have a chance for them to let me finish, the kayakers were OK but the police had to pick me up. I didn’t want to argue with him, so I became a bond-girl to sit from the back of him on his jet ski and he brought me back closer to the shore. I had to jump and swim to the shore which was not easy at all with high waves. Happy to cross the finishing arch, this is way tougher than Ironman or Xterra simply because of the distance and I do not have the swimming skills for it, I only have the endurance to go on and on. I drank the whole can of 100 Plus to replenish my body and wash away the salty taste of sea water. I DNF but still able to complete whatever I could, I did all my best out there with a smile, I have confronted this swimmathon challenge. What a relieve and a milestone for my life and passion for ourdoor sports activities.

I am just an ordinary girl doing amazing things which many people dreaded to even think and dream about. But with a healthy body, a strong mind, an attitude of perseverance, anyone with a good fit body can start to train up themselves and set a goal to target for to start to make their sedentary or gym going life more interesting. Once you have take on a challenge and able to do your best and try to complete it, the feeling was life transforming and you felt as if you have conquered the world too.

Stayed one night at Marang.

Arrive at Marang jetty.

Registration in progress.

On the speed boat to Pulau Kapas.

Arrive at the resort.

Very basic but with air-con.

Meet up with Yip brothers and trvel along the beach and snorkeling together.

Lovely beach.

1st time kayaking.

Arrive for race briefing.

Evening at the beach again.

Race day body marking.

At the start of the race.

Just finish the race.

Tried my best to complete whatever I can with a smile.

Outdoor shower and get change.

Ready to go back.

Good-Bye Marang. I will be back =D