This Sunday 19 February, the runners would be exposed to a different kind of challenge. Not only that they have to run, they have to climb stairs too. Yes, it is the Towerthon challenge. All runners in this race would have to run 1 km uphill before challenging 2058 steps to reach the “Tower Head” (or the top) of Menara Kuala Lumpur (or KL Tower).
According to the entry form, the starting point is at the foot hill open space. A runner has to be there to understand the exact location as looking at the registration form and also in the web site does not provide precise position. The destination would be the Mega View Banquet Deck at the top, the level which is accessible to general public.
One of the motivational factors for a runner would be running towards the Revolving Restaurants at the top. The restaurant specializes in a wide array of local as well as continental cuisine. So during the tough moments of climb, just imagine that you would be rewarded with good food and drink. But don’t forget to bring lots of money; otherwise, your imagination would not be crystallized.
I am not so sure why the word Forest is part of the title. When a runner climbs thousands of flights of stairs, that would equivalent to stairs forest. I believe the organizer could refer to the 1km distance of road surrounded by plants and trees or the KL Tower is in the centre of a forest.
The main sponsor is Telekom Malaysia. From last Sunday’s Le Tour de Langkawi cycling race at Dataran Merdeka where Telekom Malaysia was also the main sponsor, it was commendable that they were able to stage a world-class event.
For those runners who have not tried this Towerthon before (neither do I), let me relate the salient points of Meng’s past two experiences to you: immediately after gun off, the runners are running uphill to the base of the KL Tower – that would strain the runners. Make sure you have sufficient pre-race warming up. Depending on the position when reaching the base, the runners would then enter the staircase in batches as the staircase could only accommodate about three slim runners climbing abreast.
Do not eat with full stomach as it would add on to the weight going against gravitational pull. Worst still, if runners who are not used to the continuous climb, they would then throw out. The smell was terrible and offensive as ventilation is only facilitated by fans at fixed interval location.
Here is the line-up of Penguin/Sunshine Runners for this race:
Runners: Chee Wee, Tony and Weng
Cameraman: Yours truly, KC.
Below was the exchange of emails between the Penguin runners:
Meng (Penguin-2):
(1) You must sprint like running 100 meters race from the starting point to the entrance of staircase which is about 1km away as if you have been chased by a bulldog going after your thigh which it thinks is a delicious drumstick. The reason being you will be at an advantage position when you reach the door entrance and start to climb up the stairs by pulling the side railing which will help to lift up your whole body while climbing up.
(2) Be careful of the slippery marble flooring just before reaching the door entrance to the staircase.
(3) The narrow staircase only allows one person to overtake another at any one time. So, enjoy the moments of gasping for fresh air as though a fish is jumped out of an aquarium onto the floor and struggled for survival. Anyway, wish you all the best and enjoy the Towerthon.
Chee Wee (Penguin-11):
I will heed your advice and be mindful of the useful tips. I will run like a mad dog (as it is the Year of the Dog) for 1km; then doing a flying fish style to reach the top of KL Tower. After that, how to come down, by foot? Will the organizer provide the lift for us? Otherwise, it must be painful experience to walk down the stairs and subject the knee with countless jerking. Besides, it would be bad for the body too with extra gravitational pull.
I am looking forward to participating in this exciting and challenging Towerthon. To the runners, it is about "FUN, STAMINA, STRENGTH, POWER and ENDURANCE".
Have a nice and productive day.
Tony (Penguin-3):
I think Chee Wee would outrun the champions this way. They would probably think that Chee Wee is the new kid on the block. And that would warrant watchful eyes from the competitors whenever he takes part in future races.
In kung fu movies, they associate the "chiew" (distinct steps or movement in martial art) with movement of animals: drunken monkey, praying mantis, swirling snake, etc. So in running, we found the new "chiew": associating with dog and fish, of which the Hong Kong movie makers have not thought of them yet.
Wishing all runners having good times in this Towerthon race.
See You at the Top.
(Incidentally, this is a classic motivational book written by Zig Ziglar. It stresses the importance of honesty, loyalty, faith, integrity, and strong personal character. The bestseller's basic premise is that you can get everything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want).
By KC
Note: next posting is on Sunday evening.
According to the entry form, the starting point is at the foot hill open space. A runner has to be there to understand the exact location as looking at the registration form and also in the web site does not provide precise position. The destination would be the Mega View Banquet Deck at the top, the level which is accessible to general public.One of the motivational factors for a runner would be running towards the Revolving Restaurants at the top. The restaurant specializes in a wide array of local as well as continental cuisine. So during the tough moments of climb, just imagine that you would be rewarded with good food and drink. But don’t forget to bring lots of money; otherwise, your imagination would not be crystallized.
I am not so sure why the word Forest is part of the title. When a runner climbs thousands of flights of stairs, that would equivalent to stairs forest. I believe the organizer could refer to the 1km distance of road surrounded by plants and trees or the KL Tower is in the centre of a forest.
The main sponsor is Telekom Malaysia. From last Sunday’s Le Tour de Langkawi cycling race at Dataran Merdeka where Telekom Malaysia was also the main sponsor, it was commendable that they were able to stage a world-class event.
For those runners who have not tried this Towerthon before (neither do I), let me relate the salient points of Meng’s past two experiences to you: immediately after gun off, the runners are running uphill to the base of the KL Tower – that would strain the runners. Make sure you have sufficient pre-race warming up. Depending on the position when reaching the base, the runners would then enter the staircase in batches as the staircase could only accommodate about three slim runners climbing abreast.
Do not eat with full stomach as it would add on to the weight going against gravitational pull. Worst still, if runners who are not used to the continuous climb, they would then throw out. The smell was terrible and offensive as ventilation is only facilitated by fans at fixed interval location.
Here is the line-up of Penguin/Sunshine Runners for this race:
Runners: Chee Wee, Tony and Weng
Cameraman: Yours truly, KC.
Below was the exchange of emails between the Penguin runners:
Meng (Penguin-2):(1) You must sprint like running 100 meters race from the starting point to the entrance of staircase which is about 1km away as if you have been chased by a bulldog going after your thigh which it thinks is a delicious drumstick. The reason being you will be at an advantage position when you reach the door entrance and start to climb up the stairs by pulling the side railing which will help to lift up your whole body while climbing up.
(2) Be careful of the slippery marble flooring just before reaching the door entrance to the staircase.
(3) The narrow staircase only allows one person to overtake another at any one time. So, enjoy the moments of gasping for fresh air as though a fish is jumped out of an aquarium onto the floor and struggled for survival. Anyway, wish you all the best and enjoy the Towerthon.
Chee Wee (Penguin-11):I will heed your advice and be mindful of the useful tips. I will run like a mad dog (as it is the Year of the Dog) for 1km; then doing a flying fish style to reach the top of KL Tower. After that, how to come down, by foot? Will the organizer provide the lift for us? Otherwise, it must be painful experience to walk down the stairs and subject the knee with countless jerking. Besides, it would be bad for the body too with extra gravitational pull.
I am looking forward to participating in this exciting and challenging Towerthon. To the runners, it is about "FUN, STAMINA, STRENGTH, POWER and ENDURANCE".
Have a nice and productive day.
Tony (Penguin-3):I think Chee Wee would outrun the champions this way. They would probably think that Chee Wee is the new kid on the block. And that would warrant watchful eyes from the competitors whenever he takes part in future races.
In kung fu movies, they associate the "chiew" (distinct steps or movement in martial art) with movement of animals: drunken monkey, praying mantis, swirling snake, etc. So in running, we found the new "chiew": associating with dog and fish, of which the Hong Kong movie makers have not thought of them yet.
Wishing all runners having good times in this Towerthon race.
See You at the Top.
(Incidentally, this is a classic motivational book written by Zig Ziglar. It stresses the importance of honesty, loyalty, faith, integrity, and strong personal character. The bestseller's basic premise is that you can get everything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want).
By KC
Note: next posting is on Sunday evening.
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