Bling Obsession

Bling, Bling, Bling

Do runners enter a race just because of the bling (medal)? Or the bling plays an important part in deciding which race you want to participate?

I remember many years ago (probably more than 25 years ago) when I first entered my first half marathon, we only have a certificate. Unfortunately, I have lost the certificate when I shifted house about 20 years ago. Didn't realise it was that significant to me then. No bling, no finisher T or even sports drinks. Sports drinks was not even invented. So we only have water and only water. I think we do have a running vest. No energy gels. No fancy food. And of course, no BLING ! I would have kept the bling if we have one. After the first half marathon, I stop running for months. Not the toughness of the race but the torture of the training then. Running in the morning almost every day for a few months. And long run on Sunday, where I ran from Esplanade to Botanical Gardens and back. The marvel of it is I didn't even carry a water bottle. No knowledge of fueling and hydration but just craziness of running. And that scare me after the first race. Unfortunately, I can't even remember my finishing time now.

So my half marathon at PBIM in 2011 becomes a fresh start. The truth is this half marathon at PBIM is even tougher than my first 25 years ago. Still ignorant about hydration and fueling and I just ran the race after training on a treadmill most of the time. 25 years later and I was 49 then, the body can really feel the strain and the speed is a real slog (slow jog).

Personally, I prefer to choose more unique races and if they are more well organised. The bling is just the reward of the race. And the certificate I usually lose them very soon. But they are runners who hanged up their Xmas tree with their running medals. With the medals, finisher T, running vest, sport drinks, food and other goodies the registration fee of the race will definitely increase. Currently, I saw some comments where the runners are not happy because the organiser change the design of the medal. Some of the comments are pretty nasty. It is not easy to organise a race, the moving parts of the race is much more than we can anticipate. The organisers are usually runners who has passion in the sport  and would like other runners to experience this passion too. Let's not give the organiser a hard time, the important thing is we enjoy the race !

Dreadmill Running

Treadmill Running

Currently, I have find it getting more and more difficult to run on a treadmill. My longest run is a 5 km. And even that I find it a "dread". After doing outdoor running for slightly more than a year, I finally realised it is great to run outdoor. The weather, the runners, the wind, the birds singing, the sun, the rain, the greenery, the flowers, etc really makes me come alive. I have problem running 5km even with music blaring in my ears. The outdoor running start to feel like a therapy and the treadmill running becomes "dreadmill running". I am still using the treadmill for speed training so that I can hold that pace consistently for a long period. And of course, for hill training, using the incline. I do that once a week and that is the maximum number of times I can stand it. I used to be able run a half marathon distance, i.e. 21km on  a treadmill for 2.5 hours. After that, the treadmill just breakdown.

I started off treadmill running by watching TV and you really go at a snail pace when you are watching TV. Once you pick up speed, it is quite difficult to concentrate on the TV. Then I have to rely on my music to get me through the treadmill session. But, running is for the great outdoor whether in the sun or in the rain. Regardless of the weather, just run !

Just Shut Up and Run

Just Shut Up and Run.

I just saw a joke recently. A man walks into a room full of fit guys that are strangers. Can he tell who has completed an Ironman? He doesn't have to. The Ironman guy will tell him. Do this apply to also marathoners? Where we have been considered crazy maniacs that wake up very early in the morning to run in the dark, in the rain and even in the hot sun. I just did my 30km. My last long run before tapering for Island Ocean Marathon, Langkawi. It was supposed to be 32km but the hot weather for these two weeks is just unbearable. At the end, I can only endure a 30km run and a few shades darker when I finished.

The last week when I did my 25km, a Malay guy saw me running in the hot sun and told me "Kuat"(strong, in Malay). This is what I called a one word encouragement. So endurance athlete considered super humans? Of course, we are just an average Joe but we just persevere and complete the distances laid down by the program. But after a 30km run on Saturday, my calf is still feeling the strain. The feeling is like I just completed a marathon. The pain, the heat, the mental strength and the soreness are all there. The only difference I could recover much quickly compared to my 30km long run in my first marathon. But really who cares that you have gone through the agony and joy of running marathon?  For a casual runner doing 3 -5 km is already great to them. For marathoners, 3 - 5km, my weekday run is double that distance. A casual runner won't bothered about fueling, distance markers, hydration, GPS watches, energy gels, running gear, chafing, blisters, black toe nails, LSD and so..on....so the list goes on. Running jargon that is so alien to them.

I have slowly learned that don't tell unless you are asked. But when we asked we just talk like we are running a marathon. Most people are probably bored when you tell them. But a lot of people have also bored us with their conversation on the neighbour's gossip, their dogs, their religion or even the best durians. So what is wrong if we let them have a taste of their own medicine and bored them with running. And when we tell them we plan our races for a whole year and holidays are scheduled not to be in conflict with our race days, they will be thinking that some companies don't even do a yearly plan and we have a yearly running calendar.

Running can be an obsession. Actually not only running. Anything can be an obsession. Some people are just obsessed with work. They work ,work ,work. So we run, run, run. When I was looking at the races and decide which one to participate, I have to really not get carried with races and more races. It will take away just the fun of running. But seriously, I think we runners Just have to Shut Up and Run ! And deal with this thing called the obsession of running.

Sweat is fats crying !

My fats crying route on weekdays.

Although I have been exercising for so many years I was more into swimming or weight training. I have not been into running for many years. When I first started running back 3 years ago, I always thought that I don't sweat so easily. Because most of the exercise I do, I don't really sweat a lot. Even when I go hiking, I don't sweat that much. Until I started running especially when I ran at a faster speed or running on a incline or on a slope. My whole body is completely wet. I realise this when I started to run on an incline or at a faster speed on a treadmill. After running for about an hour, my body is complete wet including my underwear as if I have just come out of a shower. I usually take of my shirt quickly if I am at a gym because it is air-conditioned and I wouldn't want to fall sick if my wet clothes on.

Crying my fats on weekday mornings

Human can do endurance running where we can run many miles for extended period of time is because we sweat. We sweat to reduce body heat. In persistence hunting which started more than 2 million years ago in which hunters use a combination of running and chasing after a prey to the point of exhaustion. While we humans sweat to reduce body heat, the prey would need to slow from a gallop in order to pant. Endurance running is only seen in humans, and this method of hunting is one of the earliest forms of human hunting. This is also highlighted in the book "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall.

Sweating also helps to remove toxins from our body leaving and up to 30% of body waste is removed through sweat. Of course, a lot of people has successful burn their fats and reducing their body weight through running and watching their diet at the same time.  This documentary "From Fat to Finish Line", document the journey of 12 people who share the common bond of losing 100 pounds on average and will now embark on one of the biggest challenges of their lives: The 200 mile mega distance Ragnar Relay Race. One of the person in this documentary is Ada Wong, runner-up on Season 10 of The Biggest Loser. Ada shared her life-long struggle with her all-time high weight of 259 lbs in The Biggest Loser. She still continues to run marathons and is the fastest woman finisher in The Biggest Loser's marathon challenge. She has also been doing triathlons.

Malakoff Run 2013

Malakoff Run 2013.

My first race of 2013. Using it as my training run for Island Ocean Marathon in Langkawi. Time to test whether I can hold my marathon pace for 17km. Not to run overly fast but just to pace myself throughout the race. Eventually some runners will realise that you can't run hard in every race. You don't have to run full marathons in races. Some races are used to gauge your pace so instead of running full marathons, you can actually run half marathons so you can have a better time for the coming marathon. This is one race where I wanted to hold my pace 7 min/km for the whole race. So can I manage to achieve it?

Waking up 5am on a Sunday morning. I have been doing my long runs on Saturday lately. So having to get up early is really not too much of problem. But once I know that I have wake up early the next morning, my body system goes into alert. This means that my sleep for the night will not be very good as I am afraid that I will overslept. A quick snack and then driving to Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade). First thing to do when I reach the venue is going to "pee" first. As I notice that there are limited numbers of toilets and the queue is already starting. Brought a banana along as my food before the start of the race instead of energy gels. But carrying a banana around is an ugly sight !

Start of the Race

End of the Race

There are actually quite a lot of runners for the race. According to the press release of Malakoff Penang Run 2013 there are actually 2,500 runners for all categories. The race started in 2008 with only 450 runners and grown to 1,500 runners in 2012. Running is surely getting more popular for the past few years ! And it is a simple sport. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. The only "must" cost that you will incurred is a pair of good running shoes. With the current trend of barefoot running, this can also be done away with.  Effectively, it can be a "zero" cost sport. Simple to do and keep you in shape. 

The race starts at 7am for the all categories for Men and I got a "C XXXX" which means I am qualified for the Senior Veteran Category. Time to run with the younger generation again, making me feel young. I was standing far behind at the back as I could not find any of my running friends at the start of the race. Since I took a long time to warm up for the race and it is time by timing chip, it is ok to be at the back where you get more fresh air. At 7am, the sky is starting to brighten up and with so many runners in front, all you have to do is follow the crowd. 

Runners waiting before the start of the race. That is how far back I am standing.

Starting with a pace of 6:52 min/km on the first km and eventually reaching 6:37 min/km at the 5km. The pace is actually faster than I anticipated and I trying to control myself  not to run too fast in case I ran out of energy for the second half of the race. At the 5km, I noticed some runners started to slow down and my pace started to pick up after the 4th km. The advantage of starting at the back of race, you get the kicked of passing people all along the race especially after the 5km. That is when those guys who started too fast and cannot hold the pace. However, the problem with this race is the route. There are actually quite a lot of traffic along the course. If you have to keep overtaking runners, you have to run at the far edge of the road which means you are very near to oncoming traffic. Especially on Kelawai Road there are some cars actually behind your back. 

Stage of Malakoff Run

On reaching the 8km, I notice I have taken 54 mins which means I can finished the race in less than 2 hours if I can hold the pace. Reaching Straits Quay at 9km, time to take an energy gel and I have to lose about a minute just because of it. I just do not want to run out of energy at the last 5km. Reaching the 10km mark, time to cranked up the music for the last 7km since I usually run faster when the music is on. 

Penang Run 2013-2014 promoting at Malakoff Run 2013

Running along Tanjung Tokong to Gurney Drive, I realised that the weather starts to really get warm as the sun is already out. At the water stop at the beginning Gurney Drive, I start to take shower with water from the water station. And I know this will be toughest stretch of the race with the blistering sun.  My pace is still holding steady at a 6:40 km/pace. This stretch a lot of runners actually started to slow down tremendously. My long runs on Saturday under the hot sun really help. 

Blistering sun at Esplanade

Mei Ping and Me at the race. A lady that run with blazing speed as compared to me.

After Gurney Drive, you are already having only about 3km to complete the race but my pace has slightly slowed down to a 6:47 km/min pace. Probably some tiredness has set in. The last km is the fastest I ran for the race at 6:21 km/min pace and I was wondering why do people walk at the last 2 km of the ace. This is last 2 km is where you are on your finishing kick. I actually have a Malay guy who is running with me at the last km where we are trying to compete with each other who reaches the finishing point first. I could not stop even when I reached the finishing line and I have to get my body to slow down after that. Finishing at 1:54:26 based on my Garmin at a 6:47 min/km pace. Objective achieved. I ran faster than my target pace of 7 min/km pace. And I was trying to control myself from running too fast in the beginning of the race since I am using this race to train for my marathon in Langkawi.

Yen Teng and Me at the Run with Penang Run 2013 - 2014 at the background and he find out that he can run 17km. His next challenge will be a half marathon (21km). He is getting addicted to running?

I would say it is a well organised race by Pacesetters Athletic Club.  Enough of water stations and with nasi lemak, ice cream and a bottle of Gatorade after the finishing the race. And the medal really looks nice. There is actually no cutoff time for the race. So as long as you finished the race you get your medal. The only thing I don't like about the race is the traffic along some stretch of the route. They could also do with a earlier starting time to cater for slower runner like me. So I don't have to bear with the blistering heat at  Gurney Drive. Time to continue training for my second marathon, the inaugural marathon in Langkawi, The Island Ocean Marathon, on April 21. 

Nice Medal of Malakoff Run 2013

Penang Run 2013 - 2014

Another Penang Run? Yup, you heard it right. But this Penang Run is different from the Penang Run that I wrote earlier. This is the run that is approved by the Penang State Government and using the name "Penang" in the run. This run also go into 4 series which means there are actually 4 races in this Penang Run 2013 - 2014. It covers from the Year 2013 to the beginning of 2014. One of the biggest attraction of the run is "Round the Penang Island Run". You get to run round the Penang Island on foot.

The four races starting at 5.30am will be as follows:-

12-05-13, Esplanade ~ Teluk Kumbar   21km
07-07-13, Teluk Kumbar ~ Sg Pinang, Balik Pulau 21km
13-10-13, Sg. Pinang, Balik Pulau ~ Teluk Bahang   21km
12-01-14 ,Teluk Bahang - Esplanade 21km

Video of the Events Overview by the Organising Chairman, Mr Andrew Loh, at Press Conference

Facebook page of Penang Run 2013 - 2014

Online Registration of Penang Run 2013 - 2014

www.penangrun.com

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 website

There are also press releases by Kwong Wah and The Star.

I guess there will be a stretch of killer hills in one of the series. The fun is you get to discover the whole island on foot. After that you can brag to your friends that you have run around the whole island. You will get to observe the beauty of the island in the early morning since most of the races will start at 5.30am before the sunrise.

I remember during my childhood days, my only outing trip then was at Standard 6. A round island trip on a bus. It was one of my most memorable experience seeing the whole of Penang Island in a bus. So I would not want to miss the chance to see all its beauty on foot. It pays to have good endurance. It will be running 4 half marathons. Enough of runs filling my running calendar of 2013 and the finale of the run will be at the beginning of 2014. A good way to start a new year. With the Penang Bridge Run on 17 November 2013, my calendar of runs are probably all filled up by now. The KL Marathon has just to wait for another year. I wouldn't want to run a full marathon in KL then a week later another half marathon in Penang. My legs will just surrender ! The KL Marathon is held every year but not this Penang Run. They will always be another chance to run the KL Marathon next year.

The starting and finishing point of the Penang Run 2013 - 2014 at Esplanade

Will the organiser go for a puzzle medal ? Where you have to have all 4 medals joined into one. That will be attractive. I also heard there will be a finisher t-shirt if you complete all 4 races but you have signed up for combo.  So for those looking for a different type of race, this should be the one. I just know that I can't miss all 4 of the series. Do you ?

Finisher Medal's concept for completing all the 4 series

The Medal posted on Facebook

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 - Race Recap

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 1st Series - Race Recap

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 2nd Series - Race Recap

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 3rd Series - Race Recap

Penang Run 2013-2014 4th Series - Race Recap

This post has been updated after the organiser has made certain amendments to the race and with new information obtained.

Yuki Kawauchi ~ An Inspiration

Kawauchi wins Beppu-Oita Marathon 2013 in the race record time and his personal best of 2:08:15

Yuki Kawauchi capture the limelight and the attention of the world when he became the third overall and the first Japanese finisher at the Tokyo Marathon in February 2011 with a time of 2:08:37. Kawauchi's running style is so intense in a marathon that he has collapsed a few times running marathons. His motto is more like it is ok if I die running a marathon.

Mr. Kawauchi stood out as he dubbed the "Citizen Runner" because unlike most elite-level runners in Japan, who are backed by a corporation, he is an amateur. He works a regular job a full five days a week and pays his own expenses. The key to his success? Working hard, being in excellent condition, but above all having fun. “Working hard for the sake of working hard won’t lead to results. You have to be careful of injury, train efficiently, and remember that you are training because you love to run.  I think that an athlete discovers the joy of track when he or she is able to stay injury-free and perform in ways that the athlete wants to.”


The organisers of the 2013 Egyptian Marathon agreed to pay his travel expenses for the January race, but Kawauchi missed his flight after arriving at the airport without his passport. He decided to pay 800,000 yen (US$9,000) for a replacement flight – an amount that equal to a quarter of his yearly salary. The decision paid off and he won with a time of 2:12:24 – the fastest ever for a race in Egypt. Less than three weeks later he ran at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon and he reached the top of the Japanese rankings by winning the race in a personal best of 2:08:15.

The above video shows some of Kawauchi's running journey and his recent win at Beppu-Oita Marathon 2013 with a winning time of 2:08:15 against Nakamoto, who was sixth at last summer’s Olympic marathon, finished 20 seconds slower in second place. A video to watch if you need motivation to run !