Part 2 - Orange Run 2008

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Jason Lee in Orange Run 2008.

Nikon D80 Part 2 of 3 (182 photos). Stay tune for Part 1 of 3.
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Yes! The Number 1 Man of Pacesetters Club - En. Rustam
. Tony P3
.Chee Wee P11
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Steven P5
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It's OK !
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Quite a unique design tee-shirt
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Shirley - Looking graceful
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A very warm and friendly smile
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Posted by KC

Orange Run 2008 - Part 1

Orange Run 2008 - Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Jason Lee.

Nikon D80 Part 3 of 3 (181 photos). There are many pretty runners in this photo album, so is Part 2.

Work is in progress to process Part 2 and Part 1.

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of YehoSC. Remember to click F11 key to expand viewing area.
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Many girl runners are running with gears and gadgets (GGG). Well, it definitely looks very 'in'.

Okay, we all start with only one pack, working hard towards six packs... :-)
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This one is running with a communication gadget... :-)
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The "hair-raising" experience
.Jason Lee, The Photographer - Inspecting the previews
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Where is the runner? On the morning for Orange Run, it started raining heavily at 3am; at 4:30 a.m., the intensity maintained. So yours truly decided to continue "kaw kaw chee" (sleeping). I missed the time and I missed this run considering that all have been set: I got a bib from Tony a.k.a. The Mountain Sifu (with James Bond number; giving by another runner who can not make it, or was it too hot to handle?), a brand new Adidas running vest (by courtesy of Adidas Malaysia), and an orange running shorts - Ok, this one is mine... :-)

Posted by KC Leong

The Battle Goes On

Written by MMR … A story on training for the run-up to Sundown Marathon at Singapore on 31 May 2008.

It was Friday evening again, five days after the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon on 30 March 2008. Any sane person who hears me say “Great! Tomorrow is Saturday. This is the highlight of my week – time for my looooong run!” must think that I or any runner for the matter is truly insane. But yet it is true, on my long runs, I get to think, I get to reflect, I get my own time, all to myself. No cell phones, no work, just me and my journey – simply perfect.
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But all perfect plans can be interrupted, such as a mild illness and a recent road race in KLIM 2008 that really knocked me out. Even though my mind was willing and ready to GO (all of 28 km on this Saturday), my body said otherwise. At 5.45 am when the alarm rang, I was sooooo tired that I switched off the alarm clock and only woke up at 7 am; so by the time I got to the park it was 7.45 am. The sun was up! The monkeys were up! The park was full! Alamak! I had to switch to plan B - run half my distance in the morning, then run the other half in the evening.

When I started my run, my whole body and mind was "protesting" to the "torture" I was going to inflict on myself. The brain kept telling me that I did not want to run and my brain actually informed me that my legs hurt – thankfully it was an imaginary pain. Then I spotted a group of photographers in the park for a photography lesson (their lens ranged from the super long lens to the compact cameras) and my brain immediately told me that what I really should be doing this warm morning was to join them since I just got my Nikon D40 SLR camera and I can have some fun.
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The only thing that stopped me from joining them was that I did not have my camera with me. Aiyah! So as you can see, my mind and body were truly in a battle zone – “good” versus “evil”, pain versus fun. Finally, the illogical (thereby “good”) part of the brain did trick me into running, telling myself that it was only for a short while.

I then met my friend, Karina, who was training for her first marathon who appeared out of nowhere and nothing boosts the kia-su ego more than seeing your friend in full running mode with pots of sweat. So off I ran too.

As I ran with my first-time-marathon friend, so called “Jedi Apprentice” as we are all fans of Star Wars and also that she is currently an “apprentice” for the full marathon, I began to reflect on her super enthusiasm for her runs. She is also a perfectionist who has been mulling with the idea to run at night since the Sundown Marathon is at night and she may not be used to the conditions.
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I advised her to drink lots of coffee before the run but I don't think she is convinced with my "advice". My super-charged Apprentice friend is also thinking about running from her house to the city and back to alleviate the boredom of running in familiar circuits. I think this is where my thoughts differ, it is kinda therapeutic running in familiar places that I deem safe and can better gauge my mileage. I am rather boring I know so here was another “battle” – boring familiar route versus new exciting routes.

Click here for website of Sundown Marathon 2008

To be continued …
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Written by MMR

8 April 08
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The Anxiety of Two Elections

Within a short span of one month, I show concern to the outcome of general election ("GE") not only for one country, but two. First is the GE in Malaysia on 8 March 2008 and now the GE in Nepal which will be held tomorrow, 10 April 2008.

In our homeland, the dust of election would have been settled down save for those loose ends that still require much talking as to who is responsible for the activities and the smooth hand-shaking for continuation.

Append here is a comic strip from Star newspaper published today, 9 April that look at it from a humorous perspective. In the middle of the diagram, the heap of earth is replaced by a heap of shit.
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I am concern for the outcome of the GE in Nepal because our 12-person team is going for a 12-day trekking in Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal, 18 days later (on 28 April). If there is political unrest arising from the election, then months of planning and preparation will be deeply affected and will have to be rescheduled.

A few weeks ago, with the unrest in Tibet, my friends asked me whether I am worried for the spill-over effect in Nepal. So, I quipped: Since Nepal and Tibet are separated by the Himalayan Mountains, it is not easy to cross over. Now that the unrest could be triggered within the country, this is no joking matter.

On Monday 7 April, the following is reported in the Star newspaper which I think is unfavorable news for tourists going to Nepal.

Fears of violence in Nepal: The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal votes on its political future this week, but many fear the landmark elections, which could mean the end of the world's only Hindu monarchy, could also end in violence.
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On the same day, I sent one email to Mr. Cheban, the Trek and Tour Agent in Nepal. He came to Kuala Lumpur four days after our GE and now I will visit Nepal 18 days after their GE.

Extracts from my email:
"Yes, hope that you will have a smooth election. Wish that the election will elect capable leaders in your country to take Nepal to greater height - economically for your country and welfare for your people. Hope things will be fine."

Written by KC

KLIM 2008 - Part E

Kuala Lumpur International Marathon: KLIM 2008 - Part E

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Jason Lee/ Hon You:

Nikon D70s Part 2 of 2 (126 photos).

Shirley
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In jubilation for completing the run
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Miss Yee of Seremban who studies at Taylor's College in Subang Jaya
.Pacesetters Club booth
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A very tall and majestic pole
. Runners from Singapore

Nice art work by the runners

Posted by KC

Part D - KLIM

Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) 2008 - Part D

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Jason Lee/ Hon You:

Nikon D70s Part 1 of 2 (137 photos)

This event is graced by the super power ... never mind that he is a bit thin

Yeah! Looking Good
.The happy runners
.Yee - Looking cheerful and fresh even after the 42km run
..The Hitz FM guys are also participating in the run
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Posted by KC

Cheban in Kuala Lumpur

Thursday 20 March 2008 was a holiday. That morning, I drove my car to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to fetch Mr. Cheban, the Trek and Tour Agent of Nepal. He was in Kuala Lumpur participating in the MATTA Fair from 14 - 16 March in promoting trekking and tourism in Nepal.

I was like a tour guide that day, reciprocating the task that he is going to do when the 12-member team go trekking at Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal from 28 April 2008 - Yes! In three weeks' time!
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He stayed at the Swiss Hotel, which is just next to Dataran Merdeka – which conveniently was my first sightseeing location.

Mr. Cheban - The next location was the starting area of Pacesetters runners training runs at Bukit Aman.

Lake Gardens – where I showed him where Pacesetters Club stages the various runs.
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I then take him to Putrajaya to see those magnificent bridges and Administration buildings. Going to Putrajaya via the new highway was just a breeze. The highway was wide, smooth and only a few vehicles were on the road.
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From Putrajaya Convention Centre on one end and the Dataran Putra on the other end. I explained that this is another popular venue where Pacesetters runners train on Duathlon involving road racing bicycles.
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Along Putrajaya Boulevard

In front of the Palace of Justice

The famous fishbone bridge
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We have lunch at the food court at Dataran Putra.
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We later went to Alamanda, the renowned shopping complex in Putrajaya.
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According to Cheban, he has to vacate from Swiss Hotel as the hotel was fully booked for the weekend (22-23 March). From Putrajaya, I took him to Masjid India area to look for other hotel accommodation. After asking two hotels there, we were surprised that the hotels were fully booked for the weekend.

I could not believe it when the third hotel was also fully booked. So I asked the Front Desk, and the reply: "Possibly, it is due to F1 Racing." We actually walked round the entire Masjid India and Jalan TAR area enquiring for 7 hotels - all giving same answers.

Cheban has to stay near Masjid Jamid LRT station for ease in traveling and going back to KLIA on Sunday 23 March. So I took him to Petaling Street area to continue looking for accommodation. Ancasa Hotel and Hotel Malaya were fully booked also. Finally, we found one new hotel -- Winsin Hotel -- next to Kota Raya and in front of a row of Gold Smith shops near Jalan Silang.

We actually spent 2.5 hours looking for a hotel accommodation. It was only after that I realized the F1 Racing actually brought many tourists to Kuala Lumpur. Well, that was the effect when it was later reported that 125,000 spectators were witnessing the F1 Racing on Sunday 23 March at Sepang F1 Circuit.

Front (L-R): Tai, Cynthia, Cheban, LimKH, Chooi Lin
Back (L-R): Lok, Weng, PK Chan, Chiew Hong, KC
The other three members not here are: Dr. Hamdan, Yee Choi and Lili Ng.

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At 5:30 p.m. I decided to continue the scheduled activity – to have a Chinese 10-course dinner near 1-Utama area with the other trekkers who are going trekking in Nepal.

We have a splendid dinner with good food amid good company. The followings are the feedback from Cheban: there are lots of greens in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, the grasses and leaves were radiating the vibrant green with the constant rainfall recently; the infrastructure was fantastic; and the people are very happy.

Cheban and Melisa

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Cheban distributed the brochures that he printed when he participated in the MATTA fair. He told us that he has chosen one photos taken in 2003 to be the cover photo. You know what? One of the lady trekkers in the photo were dinning in the next table! That was real coincidence.
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If you would like to arrange for the trekking trips in Nepal, you may contact Mr. Cheban at:

Mt. Manaslu Adventure Treks (P) Ltd.

P.O. Box 15145 Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tel.: 00977-1-4424632, 4423542

Mobile: 00977-98510-55876

Fax: 00977-1-4423542

E-mail: manaslutrek@wlink.com.np, info@alpinenepal.com

Web.: http://www.alpinenepal.com/, http://www.manaslutreks.com.np/

Treks & Tours organizer to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India

Written by KC