When runners are gathered for extended durations, for sure, there would be hilarious moments. I would like to share a few of those funny stories with you during the recent Saberkas RH Marathon in Kuching on 26 March. Wish you were there too. The identities of following runners were withheld for fear that other runners would ask them a lot of questions. That may affect their undivided attention during training runs when back at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.
Taking Group Photos
Taking group photos nowadays is tedious and requires longer duration with the popularity and availability of digital cameras. If you are standing in front of the group volunteering as cameraman, be prepared to accept request for, say, another five cameras handed to you from the group.
It could be a delicate moment with a few cameras dangling on both your arms while you are focusing with another. Too much arm movement would mean the cameras are knocking or scratching one another with the owners open his eyes wide staring at you in horror – the superb facial expression for emotional or expressive photo shots.
Worst still, in the process of shuffling cameras, there is an expansive camera that slips from your hand and drop on the ground that transforms it into pieces of metals or glasses. Soon, I believe those enterprising guys would come out with special camera hangers that resembles cups hanger that can hang 5 to 10 cameras safely around your neck. They may even squeeze a little space for advertisement of scantily-clad model promoting under-garments on the camera hangers for you to focus your attention while having your photos taken.
On the other hand, the members being photographed would have to put on their best smiles not only once but numerous times that equate with the number of cameras. Depending on the speed of signaling: O----N-----E---, T--------W--------O----, T------H---------R------------E----------------E, there is a possibility that you would encounter facial muscle cramp, much like leg muscle cramp as in running a marathon.
Toilet Facility at Singgahsana Lodge
A few days before the Race, there were a few exchanges of emails showing concern for toilets when 70 Pacesetters runners would be competing for toilet facilities on Sunday morning, 26 March. I commented that each runner is recommended to use toilet for 5 minutes only. For those who sit there for hours to move the bowel, that would be a luxury.
At that moment, I began to appreciate the importance of toilet. Coincidently, two days before, I heard over the radio that in Africa, two critical criteria for a girl to marry a guy are the availability of tap water for drinking and toilet in the guy's house.
One runner, after reading the email, decided to book another room at Harbour View Hotel, just opposite the Lodge.
Sumptuous Seafood Dinner
The whole group of 15 members was standing in front of the Lodge thinking very hard of what and where to eat on Saturday 25 March evening. I hear one guy suggested eating fast-food and another lady runner strongly disagreed since we have traveled that far. I later spotted a well-dressed Chinese gentleman, and Bingo, he gave us the right direction to the popular seafood centre that was on top of a multi-storey car park.
I was a little worried when we ordered our choices of food from the stall assistant – every disc came in double. We ordered fish, prawn, sotong, vegetable, chicken, and a few more varieties. One lady runner still enthusiastically wanted to order additional dish of “peeing” prawn while my stomach was full to the brim with tons of protein-loading instead of carbo-loading.
When the bill was presented, it showed only the total amount. Two lady runners requested for recalculation and produce of itemized bill. When the amount was settled, it was RM 24 per person. I told them that it was cheap having eaten so much food. It was like a realization and everyone ”cabut” (quietly and quickly walked away) without waiting for the stall assistant to return for fear of under-calculation.
Snoring
Yes, runners do snore. In the dormitory of Singgahsana Lodge, Mr. A informed me that he snores. Since it was an uncontrollable activity when one is asleep, I acknowledged his sincere notification.
At Permai Rainforest Resort the next evening, Mr. A, B and C were in the same room while Weng and I were in different room of the same chalet. Waking up at 3am, I saw that there was a bed moved out from the room into the living hall. I thought to myself that it was very thoughtful of Mr. A not to disturb Mr. B and C in their sleep with his snore.
When I checked with Mr. B the next day; actually, Mr. A and B were sleeping in the living hall leaving Mr. C in the room. The thunderous snoring sound of Mr. C was intolerable. So, in the Chinese saying, there is always another higher mountain around.
Breakfast at 2pm, Sunday
Breakfast is supposed to be served at around 4am before runners went for the marathon race. Since most runners would have bought their own breakfast, the Management of the Lodge was most kind to serve replacement breakfast at 2pm, just before we checkout. So we had our lunch at 1pm and returned to eat again at 2pm. It consisted of two pieces of toasted bread, banana, watermelon, a glass of orange juice and a cup of tea or coffee.
Stay tune for more jokes in Part 2…
Taking Group Photos
Taking group photos nowadays is tedious and requires longer duration with the popularity and availability of digital cameras. If you are standing in front of the group volunteering as cameraman, be prepared to accept request for, say, another five cameras handed to you from the group.
It could be a delicate moment with a few cameras dangling on both your arms while you are focusing with another. Too much arm movement would mean the cameras are knocking or scratching one another with the owners open his eyes wide staring at you in horror – the superb facial expression for emotional or expressive photo shots.
Worst still, in the process of shuffling cameras, there is an expansive camera that slips from your hand and drop on the ground that transforms it into pieces of metals or glasses. Soon, I believe those enterprising guys would come out with special camera hangers that resembles cups hanger that can hang 5 to 10 cameras safely around your neck. They may even squeeze a little space for advertisement of scantily-clad model promoting under-garments on the camera hangers for you to focus your attention while having your photos taken.
On the other hand, the members being photographed would have to put on their best smiles not only once but numerous times that equate with the number of cameras. Depending on the speed of signaling: O----N-----E---, T--------W--------O----, T------H---------R------------E----------------E, there is a possibility that you would encounter facial muscle cramp, much like leg muscle cramp as in running a marathon.
Toilet Facility at Singgahsana Lodge
A few days before the Race, there were a few exchanges of emails showing concern for toilets when 70 Pacesetters runners would be competing for toilet facilities on Sunday morning, 26 March. I commented that each runner is recommended to use toilet for 5 minutes only. For those who sit there for hours to move the bowel, that would be a luxury.
At that moment, I began to appreciate the importance of toilet. Coincidently, two days before, I heard over the radio that in Africa, two critical criteria for a girl to marry a guy are the availability of tap water for drinking and toilet in the guy's house.
One runner, after reading the email, decided to book another room at Harbour View Hotel, just opposite the Lodge.
Sumptuous Seafood Dinner
The whole group of 15 members was standing in front of the Lodge thinking very hard of what and where to eat on Saturday 25 March evening. I hear one guy suggested eating fast-food and another lady runner strongly disagreed since we have traveled that far. I later spotted a well-dressed Chinese gentleman, and Bingo, he gave us the right direction to the popular seafood centre that was on top of a multi-storey car park.
I was a little worried when we ordered our choices of food from the stall assistant – every disc came in double. We ordered fish, prawn, sotong, vegetable, chicken, and a few more varieties. One lady runner still enthusiastically wanted to order additional dish of “peeing” prawn while my stomach was full to the brim with tons of protein-loading instead of carbo-loading.
When the bill was presented, it showed only the total amount. Two lady runners requested for recalculation and produce of itemized bill. When the amount was settled, it was RM 24 per person. I told them that it was cheap having eaten so much food. It was like a realization and everyone ”cabut” (quietly and quickly walked away) without waiting for the stall assistant to return for fear of under-calculation.
Snoring
Yes, runners do snore. In the dormitory of Singgahsana Lodge, Mr. A informed me that he snores. Since it was an uncontrollable activity when one is asleep, I acknowledged his sincere notification.
At Permai Rainforest Resort the next evening, Mr. A, B and C were in the same room while Weng and I were in different room of the same chalet. Waking up at 3am, I saw that there was a bed moved out from the room into the living hall. I thought to myself that it was very thoughtful of Mr. A not to disturb Mr. B and C in their sleep with his snore.
When I checked with Mr. B the next day; actually, Mr. A and B were sleeping in the living hall leaving Mr. C in the room. The thunderous snoring sound of Mr. C was intolerable. So, in the Chinese saying, there is always another higher mountain around.
Breakfast at 2pm, Sunday
Breakfast is supposed to be served at around 4am before runners went for the marathon race. Since most runners would have bought their own breakfast, the Management of the Lodge was most kind to serve replacement breakfast at 2pm, just before we checkout. So we had our lunch at 1pm and returned to eat again at 2pm. It consisted of two pieces of toasted bread, banana, watermelon, a glass of orange juice and a cup of tea or coffee.
Stay tune for more jokes in Part 2…
Yours truly, being the first time Team Leader in trekking, led the entire group into wrong trail while trekking Mount Santubong.
x
By KC .... :-))
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