Bidor Half Marathon Photos 2011



SCHOnline

Do click here to view photos (part 1) by courtesy of SCHOnline ... stay tune for more photos.

Event: Bidor Half Marathon 2011

Date: Sunday, 24 April 2011

Venue: Bidor, Perak.

 DC Tan

 Good to see that WanYL is back in running again

Click here to view photos of Bidor Run from previos years (scroll down the pages; this posting is repeated).

Posted by KC Leong

F1 Sepang 2011

 Do click here to view photos by courtesy of Shukri, a pro photo kaki friend (in Picasa photo album, click Slideshow).

 Event: Formula One at Sepang Internatinal Circuit

Date: 8,9,10 April 2011

Do click here to view photos taken in previous years by Jason Lee, Shukri and yours truly (KC). Scroll down the pages; this posting appears at top.

Posed by KC Leong

Apek Hill Trail Running

The group went for a trail running at Apek Hill on Saturday morning, 23 April 2011. The original plan is to go for trail running at Gunung Nuang. Since a few of the runners in this group took up the full marathon category in Energizer Night Run last Saturday, 16 April, we shall postpone the trail running at Gunung Nuang to Saturday, 30 April 2011. If you are interested, do contact yours truly (KC).

After a few consecutive days of heavy rain in the evening, the ground at Apek Hill is a bit wet. There is abundance of water gushing down at the waterfall that makes the photos look more dramatic.

The moment we stop at the station, the conversation was still very hot on reminiscing the blunders of the Energizer Night Run staged last Saturday. Looks like that event would be remembered for a long, long time.

 Front (L-R): Chiew Hong, KC Leong, Rothman Fong, ChongYF, Agnes Chew, Simpson
Back: Steven, Simpson's two friends, Sidney Saw, Dr. Shara

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC)

 After a few consecutive days of raining, the amount of water flowing down the waterfall is also increased.

 Looking very yow yeng - Dr Shara with his new 2XU compression pants together with Salomon trail running shoes and T-shirt.

 At Station 6 - It is a good idea to boil water and brew tea to relax and unwind here in the jungle

 Miss Chua is showing her skill at the hoola hoop

 Without doubt, this is Station 6

The mini kettle for boiling water and brewing tea ... the Cricket lighter is only 3 inches in length.

Posted by KC Leong

Golden Gate Marathon

Here is the report from CK Mak who went to San Francisco to run in this marathon on 2 April 2011.

A day before the run, I drove and checked out the venue and passed by the Golden Gate (which was not golden in color). Later, I learned that the the real "Golden Gate" is the strait that the bridge spans. It was first named "Chrysopylae," meaning "golden gate," by Captain John C. Fremont in 1846.

The most exciting encounter of the Golden gate marathon, beside completing the hill marathon which is only my 2nd marathon, is to make friend with Werner Berger.  At the age of 69 in 2007, he became the oldest North American to have climbed the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents.  He told me that he plans to be the oldest human reaches the highest summit on earth which is the Mt. Everest in 2013 at the age of 75.  I hope to join him to base camp, at least.....  

The venue of the Golden Gate marathon is at the Rodeo Beach in the Fort Cronkhite Golden Gate national Recreation Area.

Due to the fact that certain part of the trail is narrow and a lot of corners, no head phones is allowed as  there may be runners run from the opposite direction which may cause accident. 

The lucky number - SM stand for small size for T shirt ..... I lost 5 kg to win the biggest slimmer challenge in Jan this year and hence small size is just nice for me ......hehe

Registration counter with the marathon route (much worse than the double hill or wall at Bukit Tunku) behind it.

Starting point at the Rodeo beach which is good for......

.............. surfing ......if you dont want to run.....

fast car driver does not mind running slowly up the hill......another way to enjoy the spectacular view of Golden Gate from afar

After 20 minutes trail run from the starting point ....the houses and cars are very small from afar.....

Run is not an option for most of us in view of the slope ...... an uphill task.....

Another beautiful view from the hill ....  despite cooling weather and don't see the sun, I was tanned....  

It is a community run and no RELA there....hence the workaround.....

Near one of the water stations ....comtemplating if I should ask for a ride.....

...or rather ride on a yatch from top of the hill....

A view of the beautiful Golden Gate that could only be appreciated by trekkers ......

The last mile to the finishing line at the far end..... need to run about 500 meters on “golden” sand by the beach ....

not anything easier than the uphill run as every single step into the soft sand needs a pull out from the sand before the next step....

Finally, the 2^nd round reaching the finishing line after qualifying for the first loop.....first loop took me 2 hours 15 minutes but the 2^nd loop added another hour for a total time of about 5 hours and 30 minutes due to knee injury after the first loop. 

My “Golden” gate finisher medal and T shirt....I was wearing a pair of Transition glasses and it will turn darker according to the degree of UV.....can see it is as dark as a sun glasses.... very harmful to the body and eyes.....

Went to fisherman wharf in San Francisco and guess what ......lots of people running there from noon till we left in the evening .....maybe we should consider going for the golden gate run and stay around this place for practice and aslo enjoy the famous calm weather whenever we feel like .....of course lots of beverage to make you warm if needed ....

Love from Union Square, San Francisco.....stay tuned for the 2^nd part....

Posted by KC Leong

Energizer Night Race 2011

Chaos reigned in the Energizer Night Race that was marred by poor crowd control and lack of clear signage and instructions. Otherwise, it was a good and inaugural event that was staged at the Sepang F1 Circuit on a cool and fine evening of 16 April 2011, Saturday after a wet, wet, wet morning with continuous drizzles that lasted for six hours.

Big turn-outs for the inaugural run at Sepang F1 Circuit ... Photo courtesy of Malaysia Runners Network
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The feeling was good for me being able to run on the Sepang F1 racing tracks since it was built in 1999 that are meant for the fast and furious mean machines travelling at blistering speed with deafening roar. This time, it was just quiet other than the thousands of runners running on the track with the red or white light emitting from the headlamps given out by the organizer.

Having been to the Sepang F1 Circuit for more than 10 times supporting the various racing events, this time, I get to see from the racing tracks and be part of the participation that move on the racing tracks. The difference: while the fast machines take only 1 or 2 minutes to complete the 5.543km circuit, it took me about 25 minutes to going through the mild uphill and downslope.

Other than the various acuteness of cornering – the longer-radius corners and some quick-looking bend – the terrain of the F1 racing tracks come with varying degree of uphill slopes, inward or outward spin meant to test the machines and the drivers’ skill in negotiating corners.

A cheerful start fully energized
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Collection of medals and goody bags:
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When I was completing the second and final loop for the Half marathon, I saw a long line of runners standing near to the Tower end (the sharp cornering end). My initial thought was that they came to support the runners who were still running. With a closer look, they were part of the long queue that lined for almost 300 meters in length!

Later, I realised that they were collecting their medals and goody bags.  At the collection area, chaos erupted forcing the organizer to close the metal sliding door prohibiting further distribution leaving more runners anxiously waiting for their reward. After much discussion on strategy between the officials, the Rela Men and the Police, a young lady person-in-charge emerged trying in vain to ask the irate runners to move back 5 feet that earned her receiving boos and 4-letter words. I was amused watching the commotion.

While abandoning the idea to collect my medal, I heard over the PA system that a lady announcer gave her personal handphone number to the thousands of runners for further contacts trying to rectify the situation.

I think going for trail running is better with the peace and tranquillity of nature; besides, it is free ... ha ha ha

I Like:

Being able to run on the Sepang F1 racing circuit.

ckMak posing at the starting grid for his full marathon ... photo courtesy of ckMAk

I Don’t Like:

Crowd is too huge

Poor crowd control

Lack of signage and instruction

Car parking is RM 10 per entry, which is more expansive than the MotoGP, Japan GT.

Huge crowd going through the narrow underpass to arrive at the starting grid

Finishing medals were not dished out immediately upon crossing the finishing line. Instead, it is part of the collection with goody bag. I gave up in collecting them.

Collection of headlamps was located at an unintelligent location not properly lighted and blocking the exit of the narrow underpass.

Runners throw discard cans, paper cups, mineral bottles all over on the racing track after the water station.

Do click here to view photos of Formula 1 races ... click here; Japan GT ... click here; MotoGP ... click here.

Written by KC Leong 

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FRIM Trail Running

I am pleased to append here a few of the photos taken this morning at the trail running at FRIM (Sunday, 10 April 2011).

According to Dr Shara’s iPhone4 RunKeeper application, the total distance registered is 13km. This application enables GPS tracking, distance, speed monitoring that includes running, cycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. ChongYF suggested that we shall extend to the Sungei Buloh Trail later when we assemble the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon runners.

Do click here to view other photos taken by yours truly (KC).

 

The potent formula - ChongYF is preparing the special brew

 ChongYF (left), Dr Shara, Rothman Fong, KC, Wendy Liu; (front) Monsy and Li-Ann. Not in the photo: Lee WK and Chae Yin.

We just ask a mountain biker who passes by, ask him to help in taking photos, and borrow his bike for the photo shoot – it always works !!

 New kid on the block – Li Ann who is active in outdoor activities: run, trek, swim.

 We are honoured to meet Law Lai Huat (Left 3), who is the Area Team Lead of FRIM for Pacesetters Running Club.

He spends considerable amount of time in mountain biking so as in running also.

At the junction between Rover Track and Mountain Bike Track

Posted by KC Leong