KC & the Sunshine Runners

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Puchong Hill Trail Running

Three groups of trail runners congregated for a social trail running at Puchong Hill on Saturday 24 Oct 2015. Led by Chow Kean Fatt and KH Tang as the Team Leads, the group took about 3 hours traversing the many trails for a distance of about 9km inclusive of waiting for one another, and spending time at the mini waterfall.

We have a running celebrity, Seow Kong, who joined us in the outing. He passionately did many of those international ultra-marathon trail running events. Together with him are a few of his Taiwanese friends who are excited to run in the tropical jungle.

Before heading to the "peak" of the Puchong trail, ChowKF led the fast-paced runners for another tough uphill run, while the not-so-fast trail runners would go direct to the "peak" and rendezvous there. He fondly called that hill the "Gasket Burning" hill – meaning that a lot of power is required to go up that hill and may cause the damage of the gasket of an engine if not well lubricated.

These days, we are not too overly concern with the poor quality of air, courtesy of our neighbouring country. In the canopy of the trees aid by the abundance of oxygen produced by the photosynthesis process, the air in the jungle is better. Besides, according to the official report, we are not going to stay indoor until March 2016 when the haze problem is completely over.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable outing that we were able to run with many of the trail runners friends together.

Do CLICK HERE to view 66 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

Group photo before the start of the trail running

All ladies’ pose

Group photo at the “peak” area of Puchong Hill

Lead by ChowKF (Left #4) and KH Tang (L1), the group emerged from the “Gasket Burning” trail

Graceful vertical levitation in motion – (left) Shu Lin, Adelyn, Yana, Lana, Ivy Wong

Passing by orang asli huts

Going through obstacle course … Tang and Chow assisting Shu Lin in crossing the stream while Chow is holding the bag for picking up litter along the trails

Tarzan and Jane – Yana is having an enjoyable time swinging from tree ... back to the same tree :-)

Lana having a dip into the refreshing cold water

Seow Kong and the Taiwanese runner friends

The group spend about 20 minutes at the mini waterfall

Seow Kong (right) and the Taiwanese friends, flank by Kah Wai (L1), Rich Cai (L3) and Michael Wong (Back #1). For a change, they are holding the heavy finisher medals also :-)

Having a refreshing coconut drink before the group completed the satisfying outing

Posted by KC Leong

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Kota Damansara Community Forest Trail Run

Trail running at Kota Damansara Community Forest (KDCF) on Sunday, 18 October ... Traversing Petaling Trail, Temuan Trail, Sahabat Trail and connect to Scouts' Trail, the group ran for 2 hours covering about 7km.

The last time I ran with trail runner friends at KDCF was in Jan 2012 – a lapse of 3.5 years. I could only remember faintly certain part of the trails. In order to complete the mission, I have with me Khoo Ban Yu who has just bought a new Garmin GPS handheld device, and Chong YF who could also remember vaguely the various trails.

One of the reasons that we don't run here is due to the many stumps covered by leaves lining along the trail. One could easily kick the stumps, trip and fall. When the trails were first cleared, the small trees were cut down, leaving the bottom part of the trees protruding about few inches above the ground.

This morning, I was surprised to see that the trails were well maintained, so the stumps on the ground are all visible for avoidance of being tripped.

The next time that we run here, we shall extend the distance by exploring Unity trail.

I managed to connect from KDCF to Taman Rimba Riang via Unity and Harmony trails. Do CLICK HERE to download the trail map drawn by yours truly (June 2016).

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly, KC.

Group photo with the signage

Yana with the high-flying running pose

The cheerful ladies

At the lakeside area

Ladies in acid-green T-shirts – June and Dphany

Ladies with the same UD trail running backpack – Dphany and Lana

By the lake

Demonstrating the art of vertical levitation – Lana and Yana :-)

Adjourn to the nearby mamak coffee shop for refreshment

Posted by KC Leong

Friday, September 25, 2015

USJ Zhineng Qigong Lantern Gathering

USJ Zhineng Qigong mid-autumn gathering at USJ Wawasan school on Wednesday evening, 23 Sept 2015.

Do CLICK HERE to view 123 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

Some of the chi gong members from USJ Centres

Lots of food to go round with the professionally catered food

This event is graced by Hannah Yeoh, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri kawasan Subang Jaya

Hannah Yeoh giving a speech

Dancing time

The main group photo

At the chi gong mooncake gathering, there was another middle-aged professional photographer – using serious Canon DSLR – from SJ Echo, a community newspaper for Subang Jaya and USJ.

During the mega group photos session above, I was standing side by side with him. Which means my lens is also wide angle enough that matched his. Then he clicked the shutter-release button in continuous few frames per second mode. Aiyo, mine is only few seconds per frame. I thought to myself that since I am older, we do things a little slower :-) At that moment, the next thing that came to my mind was that it is time that I have to upgrade my camera.

The next day when I have the chance to view his photos, surprisingly, mine are OK. Then when I checked the price of that Nikon DSLR (that I have in mind to purchase), the price increases due to weakening of the Ringgit.

Lantern contest in the form of riddles that require much thinking

Songs identification contest – that sure created a lot of laughter. A volunteer is mounted with a pair of earphone attempts to sing the songs that are distorted; members are to identify the correct songs.

Posted by KC Leong

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Gunung Bunga Buah Trekking

A small group of RHB Bank colleagues and friends went for a trekking trip at Gunung Bunga Buah (Goh Tong Jaya, Genting Highlands) on Saturday, 19 Sept 2015.

Led by yours truly (KC), it was a good day for trekking as the weather was superb: with blue sky, no haze, breezy and dry trails. It is interesting to note that while Kuala Lumpur was engulfed with haze problem, the situation was very much improved in the highlands.

Dphany came complete with a RM270 waterproof socks seemingly able to ward off leeches. Since there weren't many leeches due to the dry trails, it was good to hear that she has zero attack.

Timing:

a. car parking of Goh Tong Jaya shops to end of tar road = 1 hr 30 min

b. (end of tar road) to rock garden = 1 hr 15 min

c. (rock garden) to GBB peak = 1 hr

Total time: about 4 hours.

Do refer to the photo album for a pictorial guide of the trail head and critical junctions of the trails.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos in the photo album.

Emerging from the shortcut at vegetable farm connecting to the abandon tar road

At the quarry area

The quarry area becomes the dumping ground for building materials

This part of the tar road is the widest, good for inspection of leeches attack, and follow by a group photo before continuing the journey

All ladies’ pose at the rock garden area

Group photo at the rock garden

At the peak of Gunung Bunga Buah

Taking a breather and having our food for a refuel of energy

Dphany with the yow yeng pose at rock garden

Flexible bodies … Chin Tyen and Jag Lau

With Sam together …

Do CLICK HERE for the previous outing at Gunung Bunga Buah on 1 February 20145.

Posted by KC Leong

Monday, September 14, 2015

Gasing Hill Trail Running

Trail running at Bukit Gasing on a hazy Sunday morning, 13 Sept 2015. Though the haze situation is not encouraging, the condition of air quality is OK when surrounded by trees.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos.