GE Women 10km Singapore

By Moira

A photo guide to the Great Eastern Women 10km in Singapore on Sunday 29 October 2006.

“You must be mad – going all the way to Singapore for only a 10km!” was the reaction of some when I told them that I was going to Singapore for the Great Eastern Women 10km. Well, I was not going to miss this ladies only affair since I am all for building up women’s interest in runs/sporting activities!

My dear friend and host in Singapore – Sharon was also in the run (she whom I conned into running about 4 years ago has since completed 2 marathons in the past year!!) so all the more reason to enter this race!

(1) Singapore promised to be gastronomic affair for me since Sharon is a feature writer for a prominent Singapore daily and here we are having our dinner at San Marco Italian restaurant at Fullerton hotel (name dropping leh!) on the eve before the 10km run!! How about that for carbo loading!!! 8 course dinner and all on the house as well – some more get to criticize about the food!!! Ok, OK, I know 10km no need to carbo load one! But this is a special women’s weekend so can or can-not??
(2) The morning of the run was haze-free (or at least it seemed like it!) – how about this view taken of Singapore from my friend’s casio camera? This was shot about 3 km from the finishing line. The entire 10km route was well marked and we were served drinks every 2.5 km!


(3) Euphoria at the end of the run! Here I am at the finishing line. Time was 1 hour 40 secs! Did I add that for a 10km race that we were also given a timing chip? Cool huh??

(4) Fellow running friends Belinda (on the left) and Samantha (on the right)! Check out the satisfied grins and teeth (we should be in an ad for a tooth paste brand!) and the cool ruby-red Adidas shirts the sponsors gave us in our goodie bags!
The writer, Moira, is in the middle.

(5) Posers! Sharon and I proudly displaying our tear-drop shaped finisher’s medals and basking in the adrenalin rush that accompanies a great run!.

(6) Ah! A well deserved serving of breakfast of congee, noodles and soya milk plus tau-hwa at the very well manicured Botanical gardens! Yup – eating again!

(7) Cannot believe it – one hour after the run still grinning and smiling eventhough all sweaty and smelly!! Thankfully, the Botanical Gardens is a very wide open space and there were cool breezes!!

(8) My bib number and finisher’s medal – I thought that the personalized bib with our names printed on was very cool!

We thoroughly enjoyed the race which was very well organized and our grins in the photos tell the complete story of the benefits of running/exercise and participating in a great race! I encourage more participants (unfortunately only ladies!) and our fellow male runners to support this race in the future!

By Moira

Photo Preview Session

On Sunday 29 October, Tammy invited quite a number of the Pacesetters runners (including yours truly) and friends to her bungalow in Subang Jaya for a photo preview session. The photos were taken during their recent Everest Kalapathar trekking trip in Nepal from 29 September for a duration of two weeks.

The main actors of Everest Kalapathar Trekking trip: Francis Toh, Koh, Teresa, Tammy and Tsu. Not in the picture are Connie and Chris Low.

Notice that the three guy runners-cum-trekkers are actually wearing the same design of T-shirt with different shade of colours. Imprint on the T-shirt is "Everest Trekking, Nepal 2006". The map on the T-shirt is really useful. When Tsu was explaining to me in relation to various places in the photo session, he actually pointed to me the location on his T-shirt.

In Front Row seat enjoying light moments of the photo session: Sonny Ng, Teresa, Janet Chin, Carol, Francis Ng.

Lots of food and drinks for the photos preview session. The guests were amused by the happenings amid sipping wine or drinks.

All photo albums were compiled by Tsu into one complete album. The images were projected by a PC LED projector on to a white screen.

Work is still in progress (by KC) to process and upload hundreds of photos into Internet. Stay tune.

By KC

Untoward Incident

By PK Chan

The 30km focused-group practice run on Saturday 4 November morning was not a happy one due to an accident. Keshab, a Pacesetters runner, was knocked down by a motorcycle apparently traveling at high speed whilst he was crossing the busy Jalan Duta at the Bukit Tunku junction from the government complex side. He sustained a fractured thigh bone and a cut on his forehead requiring several stitches; otherwise could be much worse under such circumstances.

At 5.30 am that morning, 11 of us (Lynn, Teresa, Tammy, Janet, Gail, Sharon, Connie, Colin, Peik Yah, Keshab and I) gathered at the Bukit Aman car park. Keshab initially had no plan to run as he did his long run the previous week. Upon learning I was the only guy around to accompany the ladies running at such unearthly hours, he being always a very caring and helpful person unexpectedly turned up.

Keshab (left) and running friends at Bukit aman car park on 9 Oct 2005 after their usual Sunday morning training runs.

Following the usual warm up, we set off in one group running an easy space towards the Petronas station in Sri Hartamas. After the usual looping at the Government complex, we headed back to Petronas for another refreshment stop except four ladies who decided to opt for 20 km and went straight back to Bukit Aman.

On the way back, the first group of four ladies was already ahead of us when approaching Jalan Duta. Keshab who took an extra round at the Petronas station was behind until he overtook Peik Yah who was slow due to recurring pain of the leg. When seeing me turning back to accompany her, Keshab went ahead alone and was about five minutes ahead of us when the untoward incident happened; hence both of us did not witness what exactly happened and apparently neither any witness around.

There were already three Samaritans who are foreigners stopped to help. One of them was busy controlling the traffic whilst the other lady was phoning for emergency help. Peik Yah and I stayed close with Keshab who was clearly shocked and in great pain.

Ambulance arrived after about 20 minutes. I followed him in the ambulance together with the motor cyclist who also sustained injuries. Initial examination at the GH emergency confirmed no injury of the head. He was later transferred to Subang Jaya Medical Centre and his fractured left leg successfully operated kindly organized by our Dr. Lyou (a Pacesetters runner) who is a resident surgeon of the specialist centre.

I went to visit Keshab yesterday (5 Nov) afternoon and he was in high spirit though he regretted that he would miss his Bangkok Marathon! He is expected to be discharged in a few days on clutches.

The Saturday morning run was certainly an unfortunate experience but I consider a wake up call for us. Crossing the busy Jalan Duta heading to Sri Hartamas for our 20 or 30 km run is no longer a safe route especially on Saturday unless there are marshals around managing the traffic.

So a reminder to all of us again: RUN SAFELY AND BE MERRY.

Cheers,

PK Chan

Note by KC:

Crossing the busy Jalan Duta Highway:

It becomes a main consideration for runners planning a 20km (or 30km) runs en route to Sri Hartamas. Other than Sunday morning, the heavy traffic volume there can pose problem to runners' safety. Possibly, it is good to erect a sign board similar to those children crossing the road. In this case, modify the sign and replace with runners in action -- 6am to 9am only... :-)

Subang Jaya 10km Run

Please click here to view 137 photos taken by KC.

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More great photos from Jason Lee... please click here for 162 pixs.

Stay tune for photos from Chan Wing Kai.

“This is your territory,” one of my running friends quipped. Don’t get me wrong, we were not talking about Hong Kong movie style of story. He merely meant I live near the starting area of Subang Jaya 10km Run.

Living about 500 meters away, I was contemplating whether to walk or drive there this morning. After all, running a distance many times longer would never be any problem. But due to lack of time, I have to drive there.

After running this 10km Run for a few times, I decided to take photos instead. When I reached there, to my surprise, I saw Jason Lee, another Pacesetter photographer was standing in front of the starting line taking photos. Later, I was pleasantly surprised to see Chan Wing Kai, another Pacesetters Club photographer, was there taking photos too.

Judging by the big number of participants, the response to this run was really good. The runners lined at the usual starting area – a road just in front of MPSJ. At the cross-road about 100 meters ahead, the 10km group ran straight; the 7km group turned right while the 3km Fun Run group turned left.

The most interesting event to watch was the 3km Fun Run. While most family members were either walking or running slowly, a few small boys leading the pack were running really fast. Even at the young age, they understand the meaning of competition.

At about 100 meters away from the finishing line, the race officials were busy informing the runners to align into their lanes according to category. Unfortunately, one wheel-chair participant clashed with another runner.

I was surprised to see a Pacesetters running friend, Christopher, sitting down with a sprained ankle. According to him, the finishing line for Open Category (A and B) was to run on the grass away from the track due to lack of space. However, the grass area was undulating that caused the problem.

Adding on to the fun was the live singing performance by a group of bubbly teenagers sponsored by Suria FM radio station.

All runners that finished the run received a goodies bag containing quite a number of sponsored items inside. I believe the runners would be pleased to go home with hands full of goodies from the organizer.

By KC

Trekking at Gunung Bunga Buah

On Saturday 28 October, a group of Pacesetters runners from Gasing Area Group and their friends went for a trekking trip at Gunung Bunga Buah, somewhere below Genting Highlands. Leading the 21-member “expedition” was Sonny Ng, who was guided only by a location map downloaded from the Internet.

The group started their journey at 8:00 a.m. The entire round-trip journey took about nine hours. It was raining heavily at the peak and everyone was well prepared with raincoat during this rainy season.

As we gathered under a hut, in a concerted effort, all of us sang Happy Birthday song to PK Chan and Grace as a surprise birthday celebration to them where they share the same birthday (but different year of birth).

PK Chan and Grace - Birthday boy and girl.

With the moist and wet treks, the area is infested with leeches. When returning to base, everyone was having a field day inspecting every inch of their own bodies – quick transition of role from trekkers to leech-busters. In the process, some pull up the pants or shorts to a maximum permissible level revealing the fair and sexy thighs.

All photos are by courtesy of Gerard.

Story by Tony (Penguin-3)

Everest Kalapathar Trek

On 29 September 2006, seven Pacesetters runners went for a 2-week trekking trip to Everest Kalapathar. They were: Tsu King Poo, Tammy Lim, Connie Tan, Teresa Goh, Chris Low, Francis Toh and Kho.

The Kalapathar trek offers an enduring experience of natural beauty, geological magnificence with the breathtaking views of Everest.

All climbers to Mount Everest will have to pass by the Everest Kalapathar trek en route to the Everest Base Camps.

One for the album: Mount Everest is at the background.


Stay tune ... Work is in progress to process hundreds of photos with magnificent views of Everest.

All photos are by courtesy of Tsu King Poo and the other members of the trekking trip.

by KC

Hari Raya Visiting

Steven, kWeng and I were invited by Rustam, an EXCO member of Pacesetters Club, to his house on first day of Hari Raya, Tuesday 24 October 2006.

Arriving there at 12:30 p.m., I could see there were quite a number of Pacesetters members and friends were there.

Everyone was in cheerful mood with lots of conversation and laughter on that auspicious day. Other than the Pacesetters members, there were other family members and friends of Rustam too.

We were treated with lemang, rendang, chicken curry, ketupat, otak-otak, kuih-muih, drinks, etc.
Jason Thiang, Yours Truly, SH Tan, Jega, Boey, Rustam.

I was engaging full-throttle ahead savouring all the nice food. My planning was superb as I did an additional 20km training run in the morning starting at Bukit Aman with other Penguin runners. It was nice feeling to enjoy the food for a well-rewarded run.

The Club President, Mr. Munning, was there too with other Pacesetters members. He brought along a few sample of the new Pacesetters running vests. Everyone was so excited and started testing and buying the vests.
Jenny Lim and her husband, Sook Ying and TanPM.

Photos by courtesy of kWENG.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

By KC