Monday, January 11, 2010

Sandakan Sepilok Nature Marathon 2009 – Post run

On 22nd November, 2009, 5.30 a.m. at Kompleks Sukan Sandakan, my first experience of running half marathon at a new place (with a few slopes) started. And I have these five (5) precious pictures to prove it, which is taken using my handphone’s 1MP camera.

In the middle of running, I saw those awesome granite hills and I stop dead on my track ! Actually, I have reached my 'wall' where I cannot run further anymore. Still those granite looks so beautiful as the sun shine on them...

Edited 1

Then I just want to give up running and just collapsed there and now. So what I did is taking silly pictures of me.

First attempt:

Edited 2

Second attempt:

Edited 3

Third attempt:

Edited 5

Fourth attempt:

Edited 4

Not bad for some 1MP handphone camera yaa! Hmmm can use it again for the next marathon when I reached that 'wall' again.

Okay, I think I can still run slowly and catch-up with CY. The cold 100plus is waiting for me at the finish line.

Finishing time: 2:42 hours
Weather: Bright sunny day
Type of track: Straight road and three slopes (i think) with a few extra smells/unique views along the road :D

Do I want to run the Sandakan half-marathon again this year? Definitely & Positively!!!


"It doesn't help to visualize a perfect race. It's better to play out bad situations in your mind and figure out a way out of them so you'll be ready. - Bernard Lagat, 2008

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas 2009 & my 29th Birthday

Before Christmas, my holiday started with this:

1

And end up with having a gastric and minor hangover which I really regret. Lesson learned: Don't drink too much wine for the first time if you haven't drink alcohol for quite some time. Take it slow and steady!

On Christmas Day, I went to St Peter Clever Church to attend mass.

2

And end up with family and relatives gathering.

The night before my birthday, I open a bottle of champagne of Asti Martini and drink it with my family. We really like the taste of the champagne that I plan to buy it again when the opportunity arrived :D

3

Early morning of 28 December 2009, I went for an easy jog and walk at my Kampong Marakau's road which is still under construction. I want to have my own time to reflect back on my 29 years of living in this world. When I come back, my hair, my clothes and my shoes is full of dust and I can taste the dirt in my mouth . So much for having your own time during your birthday....wahahahaha!!!

4

But still I am content and thanks to God for I am still breathing and living a healthy and happy life until today. My feeling is just like the clear bright weather that morning with the sun shinning beautifully on the Mt Kinabalu.

5

Then, after that I'm busy cleaning my mother's bedroom & our old house.

That evening, I play with my dogs like I usually do everyday during my holiday. My dog, Tiger:

6

And I have a new puppy and I haven't give him a name yet. I think I'll give that privilege to my three (3) nephews.

7

Finally, I end my birthday with having a cup of Misai Kucing Tea which my mom plant it herself in the backyard. The tea has many good benefits for our body.

8

All in all, I have celebrated Christmas and my birthday in a way that I always want....at home, with my dearest mom and with my family. Cheers to a blessed life ahead of us :D


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sandakan Sepilok Nature Marathon 2009

My next half-marathon race would be the Sandakan Sepilok Nature Marathon 2009 on the 22 November, this coming Sunday, which start at 5.30 a.m. at Kompleks Sukan Sandakan.

mps


This is my first time running at different place and an unknown route. Four (4) days to go to kick some ass and to aim for the bicycle and to Sukau and to meet Germany...YAY! My Life is never much better than this
!


bicycle2
my kind of bicycle :D


I don't run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet. - Nadia Comaneci

Monday, November 16, 2009

My BIM 2009 Journey

You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming. " - Frank Shorter

1


Yup! you're right there Frank Shorter! I have to forget the experience of running 21 km in the previous BIM 2008 before I endured another 21 km at BIM 2009.


It's all started with the Pasta Party the night before the race.


2

I have ate a lot of those delicious pasta, spaghetti, mini pizza, etc until I can feel my belly is 3 months pregnant. I'm hoping that those high-carbo foods will help me in my run the next day.

3


The Sabah Tourism have arranged a few local cultural performance especially for the runners from foreign country. They are the most sporting bunch of runners as they happily dancing with the performers.

The next morning, when I woke up around 3 am, there's no electricity on my house. Luckily, I already prepared my breakfast the night before. My usual breakfast preference for my running day would be brown rice with few slice of sausage and of course bananas. I'm having my pre-race breakfast under a romantic candle's light, thanks to the electricity ration that's been going for few nights already at my house's area.



mother's love
Mother's love is worth more than everything


I didn't take picture on the starting of the race. Only after the race, I managed to take pictures of my happily and proud running buddies with their finisher medal. And I'm glad I'm there to share their joyous moment. Only those who have run the marathon know how great is the feeling after crossing the finish line.

alis

Alice in the Wonderland & second medal! Look at those killer eyes!


aniaziz
Ani & Aziz: their first half-marathon medal


cy
CY in his second half-marathon race. Are you trying to say something there? Where is my medal? :D


herman
Herman, NB & second medal!


NB will always be my favorite running shoes! :D


jipp
Jipp with his first half-marathon medal. Read his first time experience in running a half-marathon here!


stephen
Steven's smiley happy face with his first half-marathon medal!


lena
Lena with her first half-marathon medal in the Running to the Sky Part 2!



others
Nancy, Jiki, Shaun & Alis. You guys rock!!!


ulai finish
2:24:53...thanks uji for challenging me! your words keep me aiming for that finish line! so when you're getting back on track? i'm waiting....

After the run, we have used the free legs massage coupon for runner sponsored by the Lifestyle Reflexology & Shiatsu Therapy Centre.

massage
That feels so good!


leg's size scale
Kirim salam sama kaki paling kurus!

My most precious picture of the day would be the one I took with the Kenyan runners. I saw them when I went to car park to pick some stuff from my car.


kenyans


They are not running for themselves alone, but for their family, their people and their country. I have read few articles and stories in the internet and Runner's World Magazine about how they train for marathon and at the same time try to survive from their tribal war. And the prize money that they won usually go for their community and for their running expenses. Their amazing stories have shown to me that we can do anything in life if we really work hard for it even in a worst situation. For me, they are my idol and my inspiration in running.

ulai plastic
Say NO to PLASTIC BAGS! Say YES to MARATHON!


unite for greener sabah
Unite for a Greener Sabah.
Go Green! together we give back to nature since nature has given us much more! buy the t-shirt from alice (ecila.mathew@gmail.com) with very affordable price of RM20 only and please help to sign the anti-coal petition!


Of course, have lost a few kg and dreaming of having a great and toned body (like jilian) are also part of my reasons to keep running. And recently, I found this article saying that Running is the Best Anti-Aging Solution! So you people out there who want to stay young, happy & healthy...lace your shoes, go out there, RUN and never look back!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Running is the Best Burn Calories


Exercise &
Calories Burned

Running (10-minute pace) = 100 calories
Cycling = 90 calories
Swimming = 79 calories
Aerobics = 79 calories
Weight Lifting = 68 calories
Walking = 43 calories

Although running is a killer calorie burner, everything you do burns calories. With the following tweaks to just a few of your daily activities, you can burn an extra 800 calories.

Activity & Calories Burned

Add 15 minutes of floor exercises (crunches, leg lifts, back exercises) to a workout = 130 calories
After an easy run, jump rope for 10 minutes = 100 calories
Add 15 minutes of stretching to a workout = 45 calories

(Quoted from http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304--5903-1-3X7X9-4,00.html)


running
Selamat Hari Merdeka Yang Ke-52!!!


"If I don't get to run, the world knows it. When I do run everything seems to go better. Running somehow, someway has a knack at making the bad things seem a little less bad and the good things a whole lot better. Who needs shrinks? Just lace 'em up and run. . ."

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Time to Eat at Runner's World

How to plan your plate for balanced meals: Time to Eat at Runner's World.


time to eat


"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."

-Jesse Owens

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Beer and Running from Runner's World.com

Just talk about beer's effects in running yesterday with my friend, CY. Then I found this article: Beer and Running from Runner's World.com website.


drinks+with+border


Cheers for our another 8 weeks training!


"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham, running speaker and writer.