Desert Classic - Supposedly to be my first race in the States

Itching for some runs when I am in the States come 1H of 2013's assignment, i have decided to sign up for the first race. Desert Classic, 2 Feb 2013. So here I come.. 5th full marathon, in a totally different weather, different country, different route... Fingers crossed.. and the training starts now !!

* Update 12/1 - Changed to a half-marathon to avoid the long day since it's a 1.5 hr trip for the run. Decided to run a full @ PF Chang's Arizona Rock & Rock instead, my 5th.



At Surprise, 1hr+ from Chandler

one long out and back route

Registration Confirmation

Elevation Map

Tanjung Run 10km - final tune-up to PBIM

10 Nov 2012 - Tanjung Run 10km. Interestingly, Tanjung Run was supposed to be my very first race when I decided to start running in 2009. But I chickened at the end, and went straight into PBIM 2009. Somehow, I never manage to participate in any Tanjung Run in 2010 and 2011 and was never going to let go of this opportunity this time. It was held to co-incide with the Governor’s Birthday and just a week’s before the PBIM. My objective were to run a good decent race and not to aggravate any injury especially the nagging shin pain. The route was pretty much a flat one around the Padang Polo à pass thru governor’s house à General Hospital àAnson Road à Macalister Road à Dato Keramat Road (the KDU side) à back into Rangoon Road and then make a turn into Pulau Tikus before leading back to St Georges and back to Padang Polo (Jalan Sepoy Line).  The race started at 7am, not my favorite time as it gets hotter towards the 8am finishing time.

This race also saw man of my colleagues participating and I am glad many are taking up running as a form of exercise.. They were Edmund Goh, Evelyn Teoh, James Boo, Lim Chong (an avid runner), Bob Thor, PS Lim. Logan was MIA, preparing cookies for Deepavali.  I started out strong and fast as usual, never learned my lesson. At 4^th km, my shin pain got the better of me, and I had to take a brisk walk and started jogging. By then, I ‘lost’ the motivation to do a decent time. I just want to end the race respectably and injury-free. Many runners over-took me. Since there’s an age-group raced, there were many youngsters, as young as probably 12-13 years old running, and boy, they did very well !!

So overall, a 5:28’/km wasn’t the worst of time but had I hv to complete 10km, I am sure it will be a close to 5:50 pace !  Thank God it was a shorter race.

Distance : 8.78km (thank God it is shorter, hence reduced my agony !)

Time : 47:55mins

Pace : 5:27’/km (5km split : 5:10 & 5:50)

Tanjung Run 2012

at finishing point

With Edmund, Evelyn, Bob Thor and Dr Sim

Waiting for the rest to come back

Love this pic.. With Chris as well. and James Boo

Cert, Bib and medal

Rock to Rock Run - They Really Rock !!

28 October 2012 - Rock to Rock Run report and again, way behind in schedule !  So on 28^th Oct, I did the Rock to Rock Run organized by Hard Rock Hotel. While it was a 4km run last year, it has since improved and expanded to a 10.2km competitive run (while maintaining the 4km as fun run), and with a whopping 1,500 participants !  The route was a scenic Hard Rock Hotel to Butterfly Farm and back. Just like last year, they have great prizes for best dress runners and many of them came dressing up for the occasion, among them, I think the best one was the Elvis impersonator by KK Yum (all the way from KL) !  I picked up Chris, just like last year, except that this time, Chris was all geared up to run while  he was limping on his crutches last year..  I met the usual Penang running kakis while also met up Jimmy HH Lim from KL whom I passed Karim’s running vest to.

The race was supposed to start at 7am but was delayed 5mins+ due to Lydia’s late arrival and it was not joke when the Rapid bus tried to maneuver through the road filled with runners. This is really one safety lapse. Other than that, the race was very well-organized. 2 thumbs up !

I started the race trying to match Karen and Bee Hong, and soon, it became catching up with them.  I did 4:30 pace for the first 3km before fizzled out with a 4:50 for the first 5km at the turn in Butterfly Farm. The first half was a mostly uphill route and it has taken the wind out from me. Pure foolhardy to try that crazy pace. After the turn, it was mostly downhill, and literally so in terms of my runs ! I spent a lot of time jogging and brisk walking and before long, the hot sun started to take its toll on me. The 2^nd 5km pace ? A poor 5:50 pace.

Distance : 10.22km

Time : 54mins

Pace : 5:17’/km



Near finishing point



with SL Chen and Alan Leong (all the way from Ipoh)

With Edmund and Chris

With Rahim (left), Abdul Rahman (3rd from left), Qammarulzaman (right most) and friends

With Chris. Took the same pic on the same spot last year I remember.. LOL

With Rahim and Ramlan

With Wong Jin Ji and SK Leon



Finisher medal



Finisher medal



Cert, Bib, Finisher Medal