I have had few inquiries regarding Xterra from my Facebook friends. I would like to inform everyone that i am no longer with Xterra Malaysia and if there are any inquiries, do direct them to their FB Page or their website. Im am also no longer working on the Putrajaya Night Marathon. I wish them all the best and good luck for the future.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Xterra Malaysia - 7th June
Time to get down and dirty!
Keep those Orbeas, Cervelos and Colnagos and time to get those mounties and your trail running shoes out!
Check it out, Xterra confirmed for Malaysia!
Link
Keep those Orbeas, Cervelos and Colnagos and time to get those mounties and your trail running shoes out!
Check it out, Xterra confirmed for Malaysia!
Link
Saturday, March 7, 2009
IM Langkawi Report #6: "Heroes are just people blessed with more guardian angels than most"
Senn's Race Report from Beyond Cutoff:
5 days and 20 hours after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I am finally home and able to write about my epic adventure.
4 days after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I was told that I was a hero and an inspiration to my friends in this small multi-sport circle. I was so touched I wept.
3 days after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I found myself on a cold hospital bed, right leg elevated above my head, sharing a ward with four others in the maternity wing wondering how the hell I landed up in this mess.
Well, I know exactly how I landed in this mess. And I also know that I would be in a bigger mess without my guardian angels:
Exactly one week ago, I was in Langkawi with Arif, Mac, Adeline and many other IM hopefuls and our fantastic supporters.
The Friday had not gone smooth at all.
My parents arrived in the morning to find out that the hotel does not have their reservation. I had to fight with the reception lady as I have made reservations last year and checked just the week before whether they had my reservations. Suddenly, my reservation record was ‘missing’.
After sorting my parents’ accommodation, we headed for bike check in.
At bike check in, I asked the bike boutique mechanic to check my gearing. The mechanic could not fix the jumping gear (the chain would drop whenever I back peddled on my big ring). He finally just said I had no choice but to ride the bike with “chain drops”. He said it was normal and there was nothing he could do about it (!). I only had 7 working gears.
I was so stressed out and dumbstruck I just sat in the jetty mall by myself wondering how I was going to race the next day. I am grateful for my first guardian angel, arif, who came to my rescue and took over the situation. He managed to pull Daniel away from the bike check-in line to take a look at my bike.
I was told that I had a missing washer from my cog and a couple of my back spokes were frayed and dangerous to ride with. After fiddling with the cog for about an hour, we decided it was much safer to switch my wheels with Mac’s. Thank god my guardian angel #2 had decided to come in full support mode.. he helped me get to the starting line.
Switching the wheels didn’t work as the gear still wouldn’t stick. That’s when Daniel said my bike’s geometry is such that it pushes my crank outwards. So, he removed my crank and started filing it to make it more aligned.
We left at 7pm after spending 3 hours at the bike transition area, just getting my bike to work. Not a good psyche to have the eve of raceday.
I also lost my pretty little pink camera that Friday. Not sure where it went but it really added onto the unnecessary stress I was already feeling with my bike.
The morning of raceday I was still feeling the stress from the day before. Heavy doubts of not making it that day weighed my spirits down.
So dark were my feelings that I excused myself, walked towards the dark parking lots and for the first time, I smoked before a race! I felt alone and was certain my day was a failure.
That’s when I cried.
Out of desperation, I prayed.
I prayed to god to keep me safe.
I prayed to the spirits of Langkawi to be kind. I told them I have been humbled by the challenges they have given me the day before and I was sorry if I have offended them with my loud behaviour, days leading to Saturday.
I prayed to mah-mah, my parental grandma who passed away exactly 1 year that Saturday. I told her I missed her and asked her to take care of me through the entire race.
I then laughed and said “while you’re at it, I’ll appreciate it if you’ll make me a little faster too!”
Feeling better, I rejoined my friends and met my mom at the transition entrance. She said “everything is going to be ok”
That didn’t last long.
Less than 15 mins into the swim (prolly about 500m at my speed) I was pushed by the mass swimmers towards a buoy. I did a breaststroke kick to reposition myself and kicked something sharp underneath.
I felt a warm sensation on my right foot and did a turtle flip to check what was going on. I remember saying “crap, my bad day isn’t over. The prayers were done too early in the morning for anyone to hear it!”
I had a deep gash, about an inch wide. My skin flapped open like a fish gill. Blood was oozing like a red ribbon in the water.
The salt water made the wound numb and I decided to swim a little quicker to get medic help on land.
Medic help on land might as well be medic help on Mars!
The medics were so dumbstruck by the urgency of my voice they just looked at me and my wound repeatedly. My wound was not washed. They only managed to slap gauze on it and taped it in place.
My race would be over had it not been for the other guardian angels I met along the way:
Faaisal for my 1st painkiller on the bike. It lasted me the whole 180k.
The le tuangers for the endless cheers up and down the bike loop. Knowing they were taking pictures distracted me from pain for awhile and I looked forward to bumping into them or passing the “GO! Le Tuang” message at bkt malut.
Getting off the bike and putting real pressure on my foot for the first time felt like a white electric strike up my foot. But the run leg was where angels just kept popping out left and right!!
“Comfort angel” Arif for walking with me for almost a loop.
“Unexpected angel” Bernard for my 2nd painkiller.
“Super guardian angel” Mac for meeting me at the run turnaround to pass me more painkillers. And “IM08 returning angel” Patrick for ensuring Mac got my message of wanting painkillers. (not sure when, but I took another 3 in total to survive the run.)
“Unsung but definitely important angel” Adeline kept me going on the run. Trying to keep up with her was a real challenge! Her comfort and company throughout the trip made me wish I had a sister.
Even “sluggish angel” Ishsal’s determination made me think twice for slowing down!
And the endless stream of ‘supportive, spirit uplifting angels” of le tuang and imcyclist.com for cheering me on and telling me I’m doing fine although I’m sure I got them pretty worried. Shazly, Kharis, Luvis, Azly, Mervyn, Jim, Jason, Din, Willie, Tip, Azura, Aileen, Aini, Zabrina, Lin, Alisa, and many more.. I owe you my medal.
Now it’s been 6 days since crossing the auspicious line. While many of my angels have retired after a good day’s work, one angel is still on duty.
To me he has since been promoted from “comfort angel” to “grand supreme angel”. For his patience, his endless care and support. From helping me stay focus through adversities the night before race, to taking me to hospital, to ‘hero-ising’ my IM attempt, to taking me home, to my coming two weeks of daily hospital visits for wound dressing. I am glad he volunteered to be the resident angel in my life.
Thank you Arif, I am only a hero because of you.
5 days and 20 hours after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I am finally home and able to write about my epic adventure.
4 days after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I was told that I was a hero and an inspiration to my friends in this small multi-sport circle. I was so touched I wept.
3 days after crossing the finishing line at Langkawi, I found myself on a cold hospital bed, right leg elevated above my head, sharing a ward with four others in the maternity wing wondering how the hell I landed up in this mess.
Well, I know exactly how I landed in this mess. And I also know that I would be in a bigger mess without my guardian angels:
Exactly one week ago, I was in Langkawi with Arif, Mac, Adeline and many other IM hopefuls and our fantastic supporters.
The Friday had not gone smooth at all.
My parents arrived in the morning to find out that the hotel does not have their reservation. I had to fight with the reception lady as I have made reservations last year and checked just the week before whether they had my reservations. Suddenly, my reservation record was ‘missing’.
After sorting my parents’ accommodation, we headed for bike check in.
At bike check in, I asked the bike boutique mechanic to check my gearing. The mechanic could not fix the jumping gear (the chain would drop whenever I back peddled on my big ring). He finally just said I had no choice but to ride the bike with “chain drops”. He said it was normal and there was nothing he could do about it (!). I only had 7 working gears.
I was so stressed out and dumbstruck I just sat in the jetty mall by myself wondering how I was going to race the next day. I am grateful for my first guardian angel, arif, who came to my rescue and took over the situation. He managed to pull Daniel away from the bike check-in line to take a look at my bike.
I was told that I had a missing washer from my cog and a couple of my back spokes were frayed and dangerous to ride with. After fiddling with the cog for about an hour, we decided it was much safer to switch my wheels with Mac’s. Thank god my guardian angel #2 had decided to come in full support mode.. he helped me get to the starting line.
Switching the wheels didn’t work as the gear still wouldn’t stick. That’s when Daniel said my bike’s geometry is such that it pushes my crank outwards. So, he removed my crank and started filing it to make it more aligned.
We left at 7pm after spending 3 hours at the bike transition area, just getting my bike to work. Not a good psyche to have the eve of raceday.
I also lost my pretty little pink camera that Friday. Not sure where it went but it really added onto the unnecessary stress I was already feeling with my bike.
The morning of raceday I was still feeling the stress from the day before. Heavy doubts of not making it that day weighed my spirits down.
So dark were my feelings that I excused myself, walked towards the dark parking lots and for the first time, I smoked before a race! I felt alone and was certain my day was a failure.
That’s when I cried.
Out of desperation, I prayed.
I prayed to god to keep me safe.
I prayed to the spirits of Langkawi to be kind. I told them I have been humbled by the challenges they have given me the day before and I was sorry if I have offended them with my loud behaviour, days leading to Saturday.
I prayed to mah-mah, my parental grandma who passed away exactly 1 year that Saturday. I told her I missed her and asked her to take care of me through the entire race.
I then laughed and said “while you’re at it, I’ll appreciate it if you’ll make me a little faster too!”
Feeling better, I rejoined my friends and met my mom at the transition entrance. She said “everything is going to be ok”
That didn’t last long.
Less than 15 mins into the swim (prolly about 500m at my speed) I was pushed by the mass swimmers towards a buoy. I did a breaststroke kick to reposition myself and kicked something sharp underneath.
I felt a warm sensation on my right foot and did a turtle flip to check what was going on. I remember saying “crap, my bad day isn’t over. The prayers were done too early in the morning for anyone to hear it!”
I had a deep gash, about an inch wide. My skin flapped open like a fish gill. Blood was oozing like a red ribbon in the water.
The salt water made the wound numb and I decided to swim a little quicker to get medic help on land.
Medic help on land might as well be medic help on Mars!
The medics were so dumbstruck by the urgency of my voice they just looked at me and my wound repeatedly. My wound was not washed. They only managed to slap gauze on it and taped it in place.
My race would be over had it not been for the other guardian angels I met along the way:
Faaisal for my 1st painkiller on the bike. It lasted me the whole 180k.
The le tuangers for the endless cheers up and down the bike loop. Knowing they were taking pictures distracted me from pain for awhile and I looked forward to bumping into them or passing the “GO! Le Tuang” message at bkt malut.
Getting off the bike and putting real pressure on my foot for the first time felt like a white electric strike up my foot. But the run leg was where angels just kept popping out left and right!!
“Comfort angel” Arif for walking with me for almost a loop.
“Unexpected angel” Bernard for my 2nd painkiller.
“Super guardian angel” Mac for meeting me at the run turnaround to pass me more painkillers. And “IM08 returning angel” Patrick for ensuring Mac got my message of wanting painkillers. (not sure when, but I took another 3 in total to survive the run.)
“Unsung but definitely important angel” Adeline kept me going on the run. Trying to keep up with her was a real challenge! Her comfort and company throughout the trip made me wish I had a sister.
Even “sluggish angel” Ishsal’s determination made me think twice for slowing down!
And the endless stream of ‘supportive, spirit uplifting angels” of le tuang and imcyclist.com for cheering me on and telling me I’m doing fine although I’m sure I got them pretty worried. Shazly, Kharis, Luvis, Azly, Mervyn, Jim, Jason, Din, Willie, Tip, Azura, Aileen, Aini, Zabrina, Lin, Alisa, and many more.. I owe you my medal.
Now it’s been 6 days since crossing the auspicious line. While many of my angels have retired after a good day’s work, one angel is still on duty.
To me he has since been promoted from “comfort angel” to “grand supreme angel”. For his patience, his endless care and support. From helping me stay focus through adversities the night before race, to taking me to hospital, to ‘hero-ising’ my IM attempt, to taking me home, to my coming two weeks of daily hospital visits for wound dressing. I am glad he volunteered to be the resident angel in my life.
Thank you Arif, I am only a hero because of you.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
IM Report #5 : Stupe's Report
Crossed posted from my blog : opstupe.blogspot.com
I completed my second IM and here is my report.
Swim
The part where I trained the least and only for a month at most. The gun went off at 7.45am and I took my time to enter the water and started swimming.
As usual, IM swim is like contact sports. It could get ugly with all the hands and legs flying around. I tried to find my beacon, but everyone around me was just swimming in an almost zigzag motion. I spotted AJ and a few of them. I saw Senn, I saw Julie. I stayed closed to them to get a bearing of where I am going.
The water was unusually calm and the usual jelly fishes and water lice did not show up on race day. I must say I enjoyed the swim thoroughly and it was evident in me posting an almost identical time for the 3.8km swim in 1:35:57, but it was essentially 15 seconds slower than last year. I initially thought I did better, but I guessed I did not as I am writing this now.
One thing did go wrong. I kicked, twice, on the stone that was used to weigh down the buoy. I am not sure which events were more severe as I had 2 cuts at the ball of my left feet.
as of yesterday afternonn
I waste no time and ran into transition and I guess I totally ignored some of the cheers along the way and I knew the pain from the cut would be bothering me the rest of the day.
Ran into T1 and realized that the cut looked nasty and it was still bleeding. I reckon it was about an inch gash, with the deeper portion along ¾ of the gash. It was deep enough to see the red flesh and I could feel the pulsating effect when I open up the gash to see if I require any medical attention.
But I guess I was man enough to handle this gash/cut. I carried on.
T1 was a fast 6:57 and I was out to the bike.
Bike
Out To Bike
The bike route this year was different. But not very much different that it would create more problems for most of us. Well, that was what I thought until at 60KM mark, I realized that I will need to climb this Bukit Hantu 4 times!
This hill is maybe a couple of times harder than the hill in Lenggeng. It’s steep and sharp and it makes granny gear looked hard.
A lot of people dismount and pushed the bike up, but I refused to do so and just continue to crank my way up.
I covered the first 60km in good timing, averaging at about 28.9km/h. But that was the fastest ever average I got for the day as I slowly see my average dropping to 25km/h by the end of the day.
I seriously do not know where I went wrong on the bike. I felt strong. I keep pedaling. I did not have any cramps. I ate. I drank. But I must say that after 105km, the pain on from the cut sort of went off; maybe my foot was just numb. I don’t know.
The photographers such as Kharis, SK, Tey, Din, Tini, Jim and supporter such as Bandit, Luvis, Mervin and of course Wifey, sort of made my day and gave me more strength and power to continue what I was doing. I won’t deny the fact that I was hoping to see them at every turn.
But I guess what really went wrong was that I stopped at every 10km to SHOWER with ice cold water – in my effort to stay cool under the hot 40 degree heat.
That, together with the pain on the ball of the feet that came back after 140km on the bike, threw my race out of the window as I realized I was really slow on my 3rd loop.
I was so slow I was wondering what the !@#$^ I was doing wasting my time racing!
I carried on pushing and dreaded the last climb up Bukit Hantu. By then, I already see more people pushing. On the top of the hill, the supporters were there cheering. I had to stop for a leak.
Now, why do I have to stop? I know for a fact that if I don’t have any urge to pee by then, that would mean I am severely dehydrated and I can kiss the race goodbye.
Guess Who?
I found myself talking to my family jewel why he did not want to take a leak. I did after 10 seconds of coaxing and by then, Yusran and Kam had caught up.
And that was when I knew I am really slow on the bike.
Indeed, it was, I clocked in at 6:59:38, a good 11 minutes slower than last year.
Into T2, I saw Yusran and was later joined by Kam and Hoh (which incidentally, reads my incoherent blog and remember both my kids name – thank you sir, it’s an honor to be racing with you).
I took the shoe off and the gash closed off at both end, leaving the gash to be about ¾ inch wide. It stopped bleeding and it did stain the inner part of my cycling shoe. I guess the pressure I put on the wound during the bike course has sort of help to stop the bleeding.
Show must go on. T2 was a quick 15:31 (as compared to the almost record breaking 29 minutes last year).
Run
What a chore. Not only we have to run 5 loops, it gets as confusing as hell. I ran the first 1km and then I had to stop. The gash was pulsating and I felt the shoe to be extremely tight. Every step I take is like walking on nails. I then found out that Senn has the same injury, but hers was deeper. I saw her on the run course and I must say she hid the pain really well. Unlike me, which were showing all over my face.
Needless to say, it was my personal worse marathon. I completed the run in 7:15:41. Which isn’t even a run but a walk.
I am truly disappointed with myself for not being able to ignore the pain. For not able to push myself more than I actually could.
Wifey and the supporters were there to cheer me on; I had to try to hide the pain as much as possible as not to make wifey worry. I then took a painkiller that wifey offered me and trust me, it did nothing to the pain (I took acoxia, which is amongst the best NSAID pain killer around) and I just had to continue onwards.
I saw my finishing time went from 13:30 if I was able to run, to 14:30 because I managed to run my second loop to 16:30 as I was walking the remaining last 3 loops.
Along the way, I cheered people I know on. I am very very happy to see Barath pushing himself and determined to finish the race. I was very pleased to see Bandit running along with Barath – something money can’t buy and only friendship could offer.
I saw AJ’s determined face. I saw Julie pushing on. Sofian was walking but confident. Edwin was strolling compared to last year. Kam managed to take a dump and still finish in good timing. Halim was soldiering on. Arif was happily running, Ishsal was chasing cut off, Bean was as usual, calm, Steve was with a bag of Jambu Air as food/snack for run, Faisaal running like it’s a 10km run, Adzim despite bad cramps focused to complete the run and the ultimate would be Senn, numbing her pain with her smile and crosses the line a good 15 minutes ahead.
The highlight of my race on Saturday was the 2km walk that wifey took with me to the finish line.
That itself was priceless. It was her sacrifice that I managed to do some training. It was with her support, that I managed to do this sport.
I crossed the line in 16:13:43. A good 1:13:40 than last year.
To be frank, I don’t really have the urge to write the race report this time around.
I know I should be happy to be able to complete the IM this time around, but I guess my frustration was because I know I could have done it better.
After all is said and done, and with the minimal training I had, I should just be happy I am now twice IronMan finisher.
There is always next year to improve on my timing; and the year after…and after…and after. It will get better; I promise all of you, and to myself most of all.
Thank you to all the supporters and well wishers, there are too many to be named, you know who you are.
Well done to all the IronMan that managed to complete their first ever IM or even first ever triathlon and well done to all that has improved their timing.
Most of all, well done to all of you, for beating one person. YOURSELF.
As usual, IM swim is like contact sports. It could get ugly with all the hands and legs flying around. I tried to find my beacon, but everyone around me was just swimming in an almost zigzag motion. I spotted AJ and a few of them. I saw Senn, I saw Julie. I stayed closed to them to get a bearing of where I am going.
The water was unusually calm and the usual jelly fishes and water lice did not show up on race day. I must say I enjoyed the swim thoroughly and it was evident in me posting an almost identical time for the 3.8km swim in 1:35:57, but it was essentially 15 seconds slower than last year. I initially thought I did better, but I guessed I did not as I am writing this now.
One thing did go wrong. I kicked, twice, on the stone that was used to weigh down the buoy. I am not sure which events were more severe as I had 2 cuts at the ball of my left feet.
as of yesterday afternonn
I waste no time and ran into transition and I guess I totally ignored some of the cheers along the way and I knew the pain from the cut would be bothering me the rest of the day.
Ran into T1 and realized that the cut looked nasty and it was still bleeding. I reckon it was about an inch gash, with the deeper portion along ¾ of the gash. It was deep enough to see the red flesh and I could feel the pulsating effect when I open up the gash to see if I require any medical attention.
But I guess I was man enough to handle this gash/cut. I carried on.
T1 was a fast 6:57 and I was out to the bike.
Bike
Out To Bike
The bike route this year was different. But not very much different that it would create more problems for most of us. Well, that was what I thought until at 60KM mark, I realized that I will need to climb this Bukit Hantu 4 times!
This hill is maybe a couple of times harder than the hill in Lenggeng. It’s steep and sharp and it makes granny gear looked hard.
A lot of people dismount and pushed the bike up, but I refused to do so and just continue to crank my way up.
I covered the first 60km in good timing, averaging at about 28.9km/h. But that was the fastest ever average I got for the day as I slowly see my average dropping to 25km/h by the end of the day.
I seriously do not know where I went wrong on the bike. I felt strong. I keep pedaling. I did not have any cramps. I ate. I drank. But I must say that after 105km, the pain on from the cut sort of went off; maybe my foot was just numb. I don’t know.
The photographers such as Kharis, SK, Tey, Din, Tini, Jim and supporter such as Bandit, Luvis, Mervin and of course Wifey, sort of made my day and gave me more strength and power to continue what I was doing. I won’t deny the fact that I was hoping to see them at every turn.
But I guess what really went wrong was that I stopped at every 10km to SHOWER with ice cold water – in my effort to stay cool under the hot 40 degree heat.
That, together with the pain on the ball of the feet that came back after 140km on the bike, threw my race out of the window as I realized I was really slow on my 3rd loop.
I was so slow I was wondering what the !@#$^ I was doing wasting my time racing!
I carried on pushing and dreaded the last climb up Bukit Hantu. By then, I already see more people pushing. On the top of the hill, the supporters were there cheering. I had to stop for a leak.
Now, why do I have to stop? I know for a fact that if I don’t have any urge to pee by then, that would mean I am severely dehydrated and I can kiss the race goodbye.
Guess Who?
I found myself talking to my family jewel why he did not want to take a leak. I did after 10 seconds of coaxing and by then, Yusran and Kam had caught up.
And that was when I knew I am really slow on the bike.
Indeed, it was, I clocked in at 6:59:38, a good 11 minutes slower than last year.
Into T2, I saw Yusran and was later joined by Kam and Hoh (which incidentally, reads my incoherent blog and remember both my kids name – thank you sir, it’s an honor to be racing with you).
I took the shoe off and the gash closed off at both end, leaving the gash to be about ¾ inch wide. It stopped bleeding and it did stain the inner part of my cycling shoe. I guess the pressure I put on the wound during the bike course has sort of help to stop the bleeding.
Show must go on. T2 was a quick 15:31 (as compared to the almost record breaking 29 minutes last year).
Run
What a chore. Not only we have to run 5 loops, it gets as confusing as hell. I ran the first 1km and then I had to stop. The gash was pulsating and I felt the shoe to be extremely tight. Every step I take is like walking on nails. I then found out that Senn has the same injury, but hers was deeper. I saw her on the run course and I must say she hid the pain really well. Unlike me, which were showing all over my face.
Needless to say, it was my personal worse marathon. I completed the run in 7:15:41. Which isn’t even a run but a walk.
I am truly disappointed with myself for not being able to ignore the pain. For not able to push myself more than I actually could.
Wifey and the supporters were there to cheer me on; I had to try to hide the pain as much as possible as not to make wifey worry. I then took a painkiller that wifey offered me and trust me, it did nothing to the pain (I took acoxia, which is amongst the best NSAID pain killer around) and I just had to continue onwards.
I saw my finishing time went from 13:30 if I was able to run, to 14:30 because I managed to run my second loop to 16:30 as I was walking the remaining last 3 loops.
Along the way, I cheered people I know on. I am very very happy to see Barath pushing himself and determined to finish the race. I was very pleased to see Bandit running along with Barath – something money can’t buy and only friendship could offer.
I saw AJ’s determined face. I saw Julie pushing on. Sofian was walking but confident. Edwin was strolling compared to last year. Kam managed to take a dump and still finish in good timing. Halim was soldiering on. Arif was happily running, Ishsal was chasing cut off, Bean was as usual, calm, Steve was with a bag of Jambu Air as food/snack for run, Faisaal running like it’s a 10km run, Adzim despite bad cramps focused to complete the run and the ultimate would be Senn, numbing her pain with her smile and crosses the line a good 15 minutes ahead.
The highlight of my race on Saturday was the 2km walk that wifey took with me to the finish line.
That itself was priceless. It was her sacrifice that I managed to do some training. It was with her support, that I managed to do this sport.
I crossed the line in 16:13:43. A good 1:13:40 than last year.
To be frank, I don’t really have the urge to write the race report this time around.
I know I should be happy to be able to complete the IM this time around, but I guess my frustration was because I know I could have done it better.
After all is said and done, and with the minimal training I had, I should just be happy I am now twice IronMan finisher.
There is always next year to improve on my timing; and the year after…and after…and after. It will get better; I promise all of you, and to myself most of all.
Thank you to all the supporters and well wishers, there are too many to be named, you know who you are.
Well done to all the IronMan that managed to complete their first ever IM or even first ever triathlon and well done to all that has improved their timing.
Most of all, well done to all of you, for beating one person. YOURSELF.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Why I Love Ironman Langkawi - Arif's Race Report
For three years now, I've been making a trip, a pilgrimage so to speak, to the mystical island of Langkawi at the end of February for what is billed as the toughest show on Earth.
The Ironman Langkawi.
The reason I make this trip every year is not for the race. Yes, the race is an integral part of the trip but it's not the most important.
The most important part of the trip is the trip itself.
Going to Langkawi, to me, is akin to going on a company trip. Except the company is called triathlon.
From the moment you arrive in Langkawi, you meet up with like-minded people. When you land, when you check-in to your hotel, when you register and pick up your race kit, when you attend the briefing, when you check your bike in, when you check-in for the swim, you are reacquainted with your mates from the local triathlon scene.
It's like a big party. A party that goes on for a week.
And it's not just participants. It's also the supporters. The first time I went, we had a handful of friends who were there to support us. The numbers grew the second year and this year, with the formation of the LeTuang group, the numbers grew even more.
The atmosphere is always festive. Local eateries, who have gotten to know us over the years, are always looking forward to our arrival. They know we can really eat. Yusran has taken the extra effort to do some major PR with the owners of these establishments to ensure the we enjoy only the best culinary delights in Langkawi. One restaurant even makes us autograph the Ironman poster every year which he will then display proudly in his restaurant!
Of course there's the small matter of the race. But like I told Stupe, we're going for a holiday but, since we're there, we might as well swim 3.8km, bike 180km and run 42km!
Speaking of the race, mine was not as heroic and inspirational as Senn's or Stupe's. Nor was it as dramatic as Ishsal's or Barath's or Bean's.
The day started slow. The swim was slow, not because I was struggling, in fact I thought I had a good swim, but I was just slow.
My bike leg was painful. For the first 50km, I couldn't hold any liquids down. I basically redecorated the Langkawi landscape with my puke! I had puke on my arms, my legs and down my chest. At 35k, I stopped by where Mac was parked to puke my guts out.
At 50k, I had to stop to pee. After that, I started feeling a bit better but still didn't have the legs. I was secretly wishing for a flat, or a broken chain, or a snapped cable so I could pull out.
But I had to beat Bukit Hantu, my nemesis from two years ago. I was not going to quit until I had conquered it all three times. Then something happened after the third time I climbed it, my legs suddenly realised they were in a race! After that, I was flying.
After going all out in the last 40k, I thought I'd be walking the marathon. And the first 1k was difficult. 3k in I caught up with Senn who'd been racing with a one-inch gash in her right foot, and did a run/walk with her. At 8k, she told me to go ahead. She would continue to set her personal best by 48 minutes! That is an Ironman!
Because of the run/walk at the start of the marathon, I was able to save my legs for the end. And that saved me a good 13 minutes from last year's marathon.
In the end, I crossed the line 8 minutes faster than last year. It was a tough race, and one I thought I didn't deserve to finish, what more set a personal best, but I'll take it anyway.
In truth, all that didn't really matter. What really mattered was the spirit of camaraderie and friendship that prevailed throughout the race week. It was this spirit that kept me going, even though my race was not as inspiring as the others. And it is for this reason, that I'll be back in Langkawi next year. And while I'm there, I may as well swim 3.8km, bike 180km and run 42km.
The Ironman Langkawi.
The reason I make this trip every year is not for the race. Yes, the race is an integral part of the trip but it's not the most important.
The most important part of the trip is the trip itself.
Going to Langkawi, to me, is akin to going on a company trip. Except the company is called triathlon.
From the moment you arrive in Langkawi, you meet up with like-minded people. When you land, when you check-in to your hotel, when you register and pick up your race kit, when you attend the briefing, when you check your bike in, when you check-in for the swim, you are reacquainted with your mates from the local triathlon scene.
It's like a big party. A party that goes on for a week.
And it's not just participants. It's also the supporters. The first time I went, we had a handful of friends who were there to support us. The numbers grew the second year and this year, with the formation of the LeTuang group, the numbers grew even more.
The atmosphere is always festive. Local eateries, who have gotten to know us over the years, are always looking forward to our arrival. They know we can really eat. Yusran has taken the extra effort to do some major PR with the owners of these establishments to ensure the we enjoy only the best culinary delights in Langkawi. One restaurant even makes us autograph the Ironman poster every year which he will then display proudly in his restaurant!
Of course there's the small matter of the race. But like I told Stupe, we're going for a holiday but, since we're there, we might as well swim 3.8km, bike 180km and run 42km!
Speaking of the race, mine was not as heroic and inspirational as Senn's or Stupe's. Nor was it as dramatic as Ishsal's or Barath's or Bean's.
The day started slow. The swim was slow, not because I was struggling, in fact I thought I had a good swim, but I was just slow.
My bike leg was painful. For the first 50km, I couldn't hold any liquids down. I basically redecorated the Langkawi landscape with my puke! I had puke on my arms, my legs and down my chest. At 35k, I stopped by where Mac was parked to puke my guts out.
At 50k, I had to stop to pee. After that, I started feeling a bit better but still didn't have the legs. I was secretly wishing for a flat, or a broken chain, or a snapped cable so I could pull out.
But I had to beat Bukit Hantu, my nemesis from two years ago. I was not going to quit until I had conquered it all three times. Then something happened after the third time I climbed it, my legs suddenly realised they were in a race! After that, I was flying.
After going all out in the last 40k, I thought I'd be walking the marathon. And the first 1k was difficult. 3k in I caught up with Senn who'd been racing with a one-inch gash in her right foot, and did a run/walk with her. At 8k, she told me to go ahead. She would continue to set her personal best by 48 minutes! That is an Ironman!
Because of the run/walk at the start of the marathon, I was able to save my legs for the end. And that saved me a good 13 minutes from last year's marathon.
In the end, I crossed the line 8 minutes faster than last year. It was a tough race, and one I thought I didn't deserve to finish, what more set a personal best, but I'll take it anyway.
In truth, all that didn't really matter. What really mattered was the spirit of camaraderie and friendship that prevailed throughout the race week. It was this spirit that kept me going, even though my race was not as inspiring as the others. And it is for this reason, that I'll be back in Langkawi next year. And while I'm there, I may as well swim 3.8km, bike 180km and run 42km.
IM Langkawi report # 3: "Inspired"
you may think it's trivial, but to have a friend running beside you while you're cycling,snapping photos, cheering you on.. an IM would appreciate such gesture.. well done TSB!
here an input from Kharis @ TSB.. IM tru his eyes:
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
Those are excerpts of lyrics from Coldplay's Viva La Vida (Live Life).
Kings who rule the world. My friends who made it to the finish line in IM Langkawi 2009. There are so many things I cannot begin to describe after that emotional, intense and blissful weekend. Witnessing Kings being made, each and every (painful) step of the way.
I was one of the designated team of photographers on task to capture the many moments of our friends throughout the race. Not being able to use my usual camera, I had to borrow another camera with a subdued lense more suitable for portraits. Never the less, a job needs to be carried out. Langkawi was hot and humid as usual. I used to spend a lot of time in this island during my years organizing the TdL. Arrived on Friday and joined a band of merrymen without our wives around. Needless to say, going all out crazy is probably an understatement.
Somehow, this trip was more than I could ever bargained for. It was unlike I have ever seen before. Unlike pro cycling races, a Triathlon event is not exclusive to pros and the elites. You can be part of it. And I think that makes a lot of difference. Amidst the thousand shutter clicks, I witnessed a great spectacle of the human spirit. I witnessed every one of my friends went out on a journey that perhaps define their own lives on that particular day. Emotions were high in the air. Excitement was everywhere. Anxiety was hard to contain. Enthusiasm was boosting.
Who said Ironman (triathlon) is an individual sport? For me, it is definitely a team sport. A camaraderie of true friendship that you can rely on at every step of the way. We (supporters) somehow found our way throughout the entire race course to give our undivided support for these 'Kings' to finish. As Mac wrote in his note, 22 hours out on the road. I found myself running up and down hills and the running course alongside my friends. And I hate running! Mind boggling, you might say. Yet, we are not even close to what the 'Kings' achieved within the 17 hours given to them. They have defied all odds and made it through to the finish line in one piece. It doesn't matter if you reached there in 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 hours - no one can take away that honour from you. No one.
In no particular order, I would like to pay tribute to these Kings;
Julie - 13+ hours. You never fail to surprise me. An emotional race for you indeed. You'll be allright. Take your time at the transition and smile!
Adzim - I think you can finish top 10 in the Malay Mail Big Walk now. You did well, boy. Thanks for the Krispy Kremes.
Abu - Lu memang power lah.
Rashid - Despite of our rantings about your robocop regimes, I salute you for arriving at the finish line in decent time. And eat more nasi la!
AJ - You make me constantly wonder about how you harness such relentless energy.
Yusran - Bro. 14+ hours only ka? You are my sifu of MAKAN. Nuff said!
Adeline - The unsung hero. The fact that you bounced back from your nasty broga crash and arrived at the IM starting line was already an achievement.
Stupe - One hour behind last year's IM. You're still an IM this year bro. Despite all the long hours at work, I think you did a helluva job.
Barath - The Great. First time triathlete and you finished the Ironman, for God's sake! Miracles do happen and you're it.
Arif - You made it through Hajj and I had no doubts about you crossing the finish line. Don't lose the chick now ;)
Senn - You have a willpower of an Iron to overcome the pain barrier and make it to the IM finish line. Perhaps, it's time to seek for your own finish line ;)
Ish - You have come full circle at the end of this race. Every bit of emotion has fueled you to the finish line. I was merely (struggling) to walk you through it. To infinity and beyond!
Kam - nothing is more fulfilling and rewarding to be called an Ironman. Most of us know that you have been through a huge hurdle in your personal life and what a way to overcome it. You're a hero in your own right!The LeTuang Photography/Support Crew/Groupie - SK, Jason, Jim, Luvis, Din, Tini, Merv, Aileen, Mac, Aini, Lin:
I think we did a fairly good job, don't you think? Thank you for a wonderful and nutty time together. Thank you for putting up with my antics and snoring. Haha! We have a great synergy and I think that is essential.
And then we have TSB.
Am I inspired?
Hell, yes!
Will I do it?
It's a mystery ;)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
IM Langkawi report # 2: IRONMAN MAY SENN
This was an email posting from Ironman Arif:
"Determined. Heroic. Insipiring.
These have been some of the words to describe Senn's Ironman performance. She finished with a personal best of 16:01:00 and completed almost the entire 226km with a one inch gash on her right foot.
But performances like these come with a price.
Upon our return from Langkawi, she was admitted to the Damansara Specialist Hospital. Her foot had swollen up and had gotten infected. Apparently, with a wound so deep, it should not have been stitched up. As it was, there was an accumulation of pus in the wound which caused the swelling and infection.
At the hospital just now, the doctor had open up the stitches to let the pus out. His advice was to be admitted so that her foot remains immobile and elevated. If she were to return home, she may be moving about which may cause it to take longer to heal. So it's all good, she just needs to rest her foot.
I've just returned from the hospital. She's in good spirits and has not lost any of her sense of humour. For now, though, she needs her rest.
For the pain she had to endure during the race and after, she truly is an Ironman."
pic of Senn recovering..
"Determined. Heroic. Insipiring.
These have been some of the words to describe Senn's Ironman performance. She finished with a personal best of 16:01:00 and completed almost the entire 226km with a one inch gash on her right foot.
But performances like these come with a price.
Upon our return from Langkawi, she was admitted to the Damansara Specialist Hospital. Her foot had swollen up and had gotten infected. Apparently, with a wound so deep, it should not have been stitched up. As it was, there was an accumulation of pus in the wound which caused the swelling and infection.
At the hospital just now, the doctor had open up the stitches to let the pus out. His advice was to be admitted so that her foot remains immobile and elevated. If she were to return home, she may be moving about which may cause it to take longer to heal. So it's all good, she just needs to rest her foot.
I've just returned from the hospital. She's in good spirits and has not lost any of her sense of humour. For now, though, she needs her rest.
For the pain she had to endure during the race and after, she truly is an Ironman."
pic of Senn recovering..Monday, March 2, 2009
IM Langkawi report # 1
Here's race report number # 1.. leTuang camera & support crew having dinner at WONDERLAND SEAFOOD!Reasonable price and awesome food! We had chillied prawns, steamed garoupa, battered squid, crispy fried beef, oyster sauce chicken, kankong belacan and oyster sauce lettuce!
In the pic: Shazly, Mervyn, Jason, Jim, Mac, TSB(covered by Bandit.. you can only see his mouth), Bandit and Luvis..
Boys and their toys.. Nikon/Cannon strapped leTuangers ready to snap away! Facial expression says it all... "Your pain shall be immortalized through our lenses!"In the pic: TSB, Luvis & Mac.
TQ Din for the Pics..
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
LANGKAWI BOUND
So, here it is.. the toughest weekend of the year.. The weekend, when 13++ leTuangers will swim(3.8km), bike(180km) and run (42km) at the IronMan Langkawi..
We would like to wish:
At press time, preparations for the race is still on-going for some: Kam still needs to pack his bike, Arif is deciding whether or not to check in his helmet, SK is polishing his camera lense, Ish is still learning how to swim!!
Then there are the boy-scouts.. Stupe is all set and ready (everything was booked and packed in 2008!) but Yusran is more advanced, he is already in Langkawi!!
We would also like to wish the IM 'virgins' the very best.. this includes Kam, Rashid and from Johor, Barath..
So.. that's it guys.. have a safe trip to Langkawi, have a great race and to those going to support, have fun!
See you next week with post race reports.. and dozens of pics!
LeTuang Leaving 4 Langkawi... Lock & Load!!!!
Bandit
(if I missed out any names, please inform me, I'll edit this post)
We would like to wish:
- Ish
- AJ
- Arif
- Senn
- Kam
- Stupe
- Azmar
- Sofiyan
- Abu
- Yusran
- Rashid
- Kalam
- Julie
- Chan and the Sg Besi geng
At press time, preparations for the race is still on-going for some: Kam still needs to pack his bike, Arif is deciding whether or not to check in his helmet, SK is polishing his camera lense, Ish is still learning how to swim!!
Then there are the boy-scouts.. Stupe is all set and ready (everything was booked and packed in 2008!) but Yusran is more advanced, he is already in Langkawi!!
We would also like to wish the IM 'virgins' the very best.. this includes Kam, Rashid and from Johor, Barath..
So.. that's it guys.. have a safe trip to Langkawi, have a great race and to those going to support, have fun!
See you next week with post race reports.. and dozens of pics!
LeTuang Leaving 4 Langkawi... Lock & Load!!!!
Bandit
(if I missed out any names, please inform me, I'll edit this post)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Weekend ride
Dear all,
1000&1 weekend activities, some of us were at Dataran for the last day of LTDL.. Some already went to watch the race at the Genting Stage on Friday.. a few actually RODE their bikes.. here's the ride report:
"Quite a hot morning but nice & clear day....started just after 0800hrs & just went up to Peres & back....nothing exotic but tiring for me (that's what happened after a few weeks not cycling!).
As usual I was last up at Peres & no.3 downhill!
Very honoured to have the presence of Nizar, Dr K, Bahari KTM, Bahri Junior, Jason, the LeTua bosses and of course Jaja..
Unfortunately the KopiTiam batu 18 is closed, so we adjourned to the gerai next to it, of course after buying about ten bungkus of Nasi Lemak....plus quite a lot of lauk & telur goreng.
Very nice ride with friends esp Zailan LeTua & friends.
TTFNafs...CK"
1000&1 weekend activities, some of us were at Dataran for the last day of LTDL.. Some already went to watch the race at the Genting Stage on Friday.. a few actually RODE their bikes.. here's the ride report:
"Quite a hot morning but nice & clear day....started just after 0800hrs & just went up to Peres & back....nothing exotic but tiring for me (that's what happened after a few weeks not cycling!).
As usual I was last up at Peres & no.3 downhill!
Very honoured to have the presence of Nizar, Dr K, Bahari KTM, Bahri Junior, Jason, the LeTua bosses and of course Jaja..
Unfortunately the KopiTiam batu 18 is closed, so we adjourned to the gerai next to it, of course after buying about ten bungkus of Nasi Lemak....plus quite a lot of lauk & telur goreng.
Very nice ride with friends esp Zailan LeTua & friends.
TTFNafs...CK"
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Ride Like A Pro: Group Ride Rules!
Ride Like A Pro: Group Ride Rules!
by Simeon Green
Being strong is one thing, but knowing how to ride safely in a group is quite another. PEZ's own resident semi-pro Sim Green who rides for Bouygues Telecom's feeder team C.A.Castelsarrasin in southern France, offers some guidance as we prepare to get back on the roads.
You might think this doesn't apply to you, after all, you are a Cat 1 and winner of the Thursday night or Saturday morning World Championships… so like I said, it's amazing how many people don't know how to ride in a group. If you are new to the sport, this will help for your next group ride, if you are old to the sport, this should be a useful recap of what you already know.
Rule 1: It's Not a Race a
A group ride is NOT a race. You are not to "Attack" off the front or try to show everyone how strong you are. That's what races are for.
Rule 2: Bar-to-Bar
This is probably THE most important rule. Whenever riding in a group you should be riding 2 by 2, side by side (with only a few centimeters between you, you should not be able to fit a bus between you and rider beside you) and be perfectly handlebar to handlebar.
Do not at any time sprint ahead and disrupt the flow. Even if there is a corner coming up, stay side by side and go through the corner like a well oiled machine. Riding with your bars ahead of the rider beside you is called "half-wheeling" and is a major faux pas. It's up to you to keep up with the speed of the slower rider next to you. And for goodness sake, please try to keep to the side of the road, there is no need to take over the whole lane and annoy car drivers.
As with everything, there is an exception to the rule. If there is an uneven number of riders in the group and you don't have anyone to ride along side, you should place yourself in between the two riders ahead of you, with your front wheel between their two rear wheels. This allows the riders behind you to remain bar to bar and to keep the group tightly together. The riders behind you should ride with their front wheels either side of your rear wheel. It's not acceptable to sit directly behind the rider ahead of you and leave a gap to your side.
Now, before you spark up and say that riding between the wheels of the riders preceding you is unsafe, let me point out, that if everyone is riding bar to bar as they should be, you are guaranteed the space of a handlebar's width within which to move, which should be ample. So even if the two riders ahead of you knock into each other, you should have plenty of space. This is a pretty safe place to be.
Rule 3: Peeling Off
When you are tired of riding at the front, and you feel it is time for you to go to the back, make sure the rider beside you knows you are tired and want to go back. Once you have both established that you are going back, check briefly that there isn't someone overlapping your back wheel, then both riders slowly and gradually move to the outside and let the group come through the middle. Do not suddenly veer off to the side, peel off in a steady and controlled manner.
Rule 4: Pulling Through
When the two riders ahead of you peel off, it is your job to come through to the front and pull the group along. If you do not want to ride at the front because you are tired or less fit than the rest of the group, it's too late to avoid it now. Once you are in second wheel, you MUST come through to the front. Do not speed up, and do not get out of the bar-to-bar formation. Maintaining a steady speed, squeeze through the gap and go to the front (Fig 3). When the two riders ahead of you peel off, don't slow down and look around as if you don't know why on earth they would be pulling off to the sides of the group. Maintain your speed and go straight through without hesitation.
Rule 5: Too Tired To Go To The Front If you do not want to go to the front, sit at the back and let the riders coming back from the front of the group slot in ahead of you. It is not acceptable to work your way up to the front of the group and then look around acting lost and confused, slowing down because you don't feel strong enough to be at the front. If for whatever reason you do find yourself at the front, go through and take what is known as a "token pull". You go to the front for a couple seconds, agree with the rider beside you that you are both peeling off, and go to the back.
Rule 6: Gaps There should be NO gaps in a group ride. As soon as you see a gap, fill it by riding into the space in a steady and controlled manner. There is no need to sprint into the space and then slam on the brakes, just gradually fill in any gaps as soon as you see them.
Rule 7: Moving About In A Group If you need to go to the back of the group, or need to move out away from the side of road because the road is damaged (for example), just steadily move in whatever direction you want to go in. The key to all group riding is to do things gradually and steadily. Even if there is a rider right next to you as you pull out to the side of the road, if you do it gradually, the other rider will naturally have time to move over with you. If you do anything sudden you will likely cause a crash. This is also very important when "peeling off" and "filling a gap".
Rule 8: Obstacles and Hand Signals: Now, this is a very important rule. I've recently seen in both the US and Australia that people in group rides have gotten into the habit of yelling. I'm not too sure where this habit has come from, so let's set a few records straight.
When you see a hole in the road, it is absolutely NOT acceptable to yell "HOLE" at the top of your voice, then weave around it at the last minute. It is also unacceptable to yell "SLOWING" when you slow down. If you can't see the riders in front of you are slowing down, then maybe you should stick to monopoly on a Sunday afternoon.
All obstacles should be warned of by a simple hand signal. This does not mean pointing at something for 5 minutes after you have passed it. When you see an obstacle in the road ahead of you, put your hand down and give a signal that lets the riders behind you know if which direction they should go to avoid it. Traditionally a quick wave of the hand will suffice.
If you only see the obstacle at the last minute, ride through it! Better to get a flat than to take down the whole group. On the subject of obstacles, please only point out those that are worth pointing out.
What obstacles are worth pointing out? I hear you cry. That's simple. An obstacle worth pointing out is one that will damage a bike or person behind you. Please don't point out manhole covers unless they are deeply set in the road, and don't point out leaves or small cracks in the road, and certainly don't point out obstacles in the next lane.
Rule 9: Yelling As I have said above, yelling is a big no-no. You don't see the Pros riding around Europe on their pre-season training camps yelling "CARRRRRRR… HOLE, GRAVELLLL… RED LIGHTTTTT". The problem is this: when you are more than two riders behind the person yelling, all you can actually yeah is a general "BLURRRRR" being yelled. So while everyone should be keeping their eyes peeled for general speed changes and obstacles, suddenly the majority of riders are looking around wondering what the obstacle is that has just been yelled out. No one actually knows if you have just yelled "HOLE" and have not pointed it out, meaning some riders are scanning the ground left right and center looking for an imaginary hole. Other riders are craning their necks thinking you yelled "CAR", while yet more riders are looking behind them thinking you yelled "George has a FLAAAT!" Yelling is strictly forbidden!
Rule 10: Slowing and Adjusting Speed
This is probably the biggest crash causer on group rides. For some reason, when someone slows down ahead of them, a lot of riders jump for their brakes and yank the heck out of them, almost skidding and taking everyone down with them. You should be riding ever so slightly to the side of the rider in front of you; so when they slow down, you either stop pedaling and start to slightly overlap your front wheel with their rear wheel, or you touch the brakes gradually, once again using the "wheel overlap" as a buffer zone so as not to slow down too suddenly for the riders behind you.
These may seem like a pointless bunch of snotty European old school rules, but they come from very simple principles of general safety for a group ride. So stick to them, and spread to the good word to your fellow new-comers to the sport. For any Pro rider worth his salt, these are not even thought of as "rules". They are instinctive and are a natural part of riding. This may by why some road riders can come across as rude and arrogant. Ride etiquette is so second nature to them, that in their eyes, the only reason anyone would break them, would be on purpose.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
99 steps of a typical Ironman trip
To all LeTuangers doing Ironman Langkawi for the first time, here's a list of what to expect (taken from the slowtwitch forums:
1. Arrive in town.
2. Find over-priced accommodations you are staying a minimum of four nights at
3. Unpack bicycle, spread gear around room randomly.
4. Attempt to reassemble bicycle, realize you forgot to mark your seat and handlebar position before disassembly. Guess position and tell yourself it won’t make a big difference.
5. Drive bike course at slow speeds while making wrong turns. Annoy locals.
6. Find swim venue. Put wetsuit on, stand around for 15 minutes. Swim 10 minutes, take wetsuit off. Look around to see if you impressed anyone.
7. Walk around expo looking for free stuff.
8. Go to registration tent, stand in line, get bag, check bag for goodies.
9. Go back to hotel, arrange energy products into different piles. Stare at piles.
10. Spend 2 hours preparing for bike ride with race wheels and drink systems. Go for 30 minute ride. Go back to hotel.
11. Decide that this would be a great opportunity to learn how to rebuild your rear hub to fix the play in it. Disassemble hub.
12. Drive to house where your club mate, the bicycle mechanic, is staying. Show him the pieces of your rear wheel. Beg for help.
13. Go to swim start Friday morning. Look for tell-tale wrist-bands on other competitors; look condescendingly at all those swimming who aren’t participating in the race.
14. Go back to hotel, spend 4 hours attaching numbers to your bicycle, helmet, and race outfit. Panic that you don’t have 8 pieces of reflective tape for your run outfit, even though IMNA has never been known to enforce the rule.
15. Drive down to expo at the last minute, stand in line, pay $10 for a strip of reflective tape.
16. Drive back to hotel, place energy products into various bags.
17. Pack transition bags.
18. Unpack transition bags.
19. Repack transition bags.
20. Drive to Carbo-dinner. Stand in line, proceed through buffet with poor food selection, sit at crowded table, remember you paid an extra $20 each so your family could enjoy this food. Listen to IMNA personnel tell same jokes as last year. Realize that Dave Scott has apparently discovered the fountain of youth. Stand in line to leave.
21. Prep bike to drop off on Saturday, discover your tire has a slow leak. Drive to expo, stand in line, pay $80 for tubular tire. Get back to hotel, realize you don’t know how to glue on a tubular, drive back to expo and have them do it for you.
22. Drop bike off, spend time covering bike with various plastic bags because everyone else is doing it.
23. Drop off your transition bags, realize you forgot your salt tablets, drive back to hotel to get them.
24. Drive back to hotel again, arrange race gear for tomorrow morning.
25. Pack special needs bags.
26. Unpack special needs bags.
27. Repack special needs bags.
28. Realize there is nothing more you can do to get ready. Sit down and relax.
29. Panic.
30. Eat early dinner
31. Go to bed, lie there in a cold sweat.
32. Wake up at 2:00 am for 1000 calorie bottle of nasty-tasting concoction, “because Gordo does it”.
33. Lie awake listening to horrible weather move into town.
34. Wake up at 4:00 am, listen to spouse complain.
35. Get in car, drive to start. Stand in line to enter the transition area.
36. Check transition bags.
37. Stand in line to get body marked.
38. Check bike, stand in line to get tires pumped up.
39. Stand in line for porta-john.
40. Realize you left your water bottles with special nutrition needs in the fridge at the hotel. Drive back madly to get them.
41. Get back to start, wait in line for parking spot.
42. Stand in line for porta-john.
43. Get wetsuit on, stand in line to enter swim area.
44. Realize it’s too late for a warm up. Stand in line to enter water.
45. Stand in water with 2000 other people while sun comes up and national anthem is sung by local high school girl. Realize that few moments of your life have been this beautiful.
46. Gun goes off, 2000 people attempt to swim on top of you, realize that you are in mortal danger or drowning and few moments of your life have been this dangerous.
47. Get kicked in face, goggles come off, panic and tread water trying to get them back on while people hit you. Remember you paid good money to do this.
48. Exit swim, stand in line to get into transition.
49. Stand in line to get out of change tent. Get bike, stand in line to get out of transition.
50. Start bike, realize that there is no way 1000 people can pack onto a course within 20 minutes without massive drafting problems. Hope that poor bike handlers don’t crash in front of you.
51. Ride bike.
52. Panic that you’ve already fallen off your nutrition plan that your coach gave you.
53. Make up for lost calories and fluids in the next 15 minutes. Feel ill.
54. Ride bike.
55. Get saddle-sore.
56. Ride bike
57. Decide to piss while riding to save time.
58. Spend the next 30 minutes soft-pedaling, coasting, and practicing mental imagery trying to relax enough to let it go.
59. Give up, get off at aid station and spend 30 seconds in porta-john, get back on bike.
60. Ride bike, feel queasy and bloated, take 3 salt tablets at once to make sure you’re not low on electrolytes. Throw up.
61. Get off bike, sit in change tent wondering why you are doing this. Listen in disbelief to volunteer telling you you’re almost done. Proceed to marathon course.
62. Realize that you should have practiced the 1000 calorie drink at 2:00 am before race day.
63. Throw up, walk, jog, repeat for 26 miles.
64. Start gagging at the thought of another energy gel.
65. Sample the variety of food at aid stations. Discover Oreos, the food of the Gods.
66. Invent the form of locomotion called the ‘ironman shuffle’. Feel proud that your 12 minute mile is technically not walking.
67. Pass your spouse. Make them swear to never let you do another one of these.
68. See finishing chute. Sprint madly down the road high-fiving people and cheering while announcer screams your name. Realize it was all worth it.
69. Get to finishing chute, wait in line while a man takes his extended family over it with him.
70. Cross line, collapse into arms of patient voluneteers.
71. Spend next two hours in med tent realizing that you should have drunk more fluids when it got hot.
72. Go to massage tent, eat cold pizza and wander around in a daze while wearing an aluminum foil blanket.
73. Stick around finish line until midnight to share in “the ironman spirit”. Beat off 12-year-old to grab free socks thrown into crowd.
74. Look in disbelief at fresh and bouncy professional athletes dancing at the finish line.
75. Cheer last few athletes into the finish before midnight. Ask your spouse if you looked that bad. Be amazed that they spent 17 hours out there moving the whole time.
76. Go back to hotel, collapse in bed.
77. Wake up, go to bathroom, collapse back into bed. Repeat all night until the 6 IV’s the med tent gave you are through your system.
78. Wake up at 4:00 because your legs hurt so much.
79. Eat first breakfast.
80. Sit around until spouse wakes up, eat second breakfast.
81. Shuffle around town Monday morning wearing finishers T-shirt and medal. Smile knowingly at other fellow shufflers. Graciously accept congratulations from locals thankful you came to their town to spend money.
81. Eat third breakfast at all you can eat buffet.
82. Go to Official Finishers merchandise tent. Stand in line. Pick out $200 worth of clothing with prominent logos on it. Stand in line, pay $600 for clothes. Contemplate getting a tattoo to immortalize your achievement.
84. Fall prey to peer-pressure and marketing techniques. Cough up $450 to sign up for the race next year - since it will sell out today, and this is your only chance to sign up!
85. Proceed to IM Hawaii roll-down. Hold out hope that, even though you finished 80th in your age-group, this will be the year everyone leaves early and you get the last spot.
86. Eat first lunch.
87. Go back to hotel, stare at the disgusting, sticky, smelly mess that is your bicycle and race clothes. Start packing things up to fly home
88. Eat second lunch.
89. Go to awards dinner, stand in line. Get poor food from buffet, remember you spent $20 a head so your family could enjoy this magical moment with you.
90. Watch hastily-produced race video. Closely examine each frame hoping they caught a glimpse of you on the course. Be disappointed.
91. Watch age-group athletes get their awards. Wonder how many of them actually work for a living, and where you can get some of the performance enhancing drugs they appear to be on.
92. Realize that you have to go all the way up to women’s 70+ age group before you find an age-group your time would have won.
93. Listen to long, excruciatingly boring thank-you speeches from various professional athletes.
94. Stand in line to get out of awards dinner.
95. Go to Airport, stand in line. Deliver $5000 bike to Neanderthal-like baggage handler. Pray. Reluctantly take finishers medal off to pass through metal detector. Proudly tell TSA personnel what you did on your weekend.
96. Get home, contemplate unpacking disgusting bicycle, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
97. Eat Bon-Bons and watch TV. Contemplate unpacking your bicycle and training again, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
98. Repeat above step for 2-10 weeks. Step on scale. Look at your fat, disgusting self in a mirror and remember you signed up for next year’s race. Unpack bike, chip mold off of seat tube. Clear cobwebs from wheels. Show up at swim practice again.
99. Get ready to do it all again next year…
Good luck, guys, and more importantly, have fun. See y'all in Langkawi!
1. Arrive in town.
2. Find over-priced accommodations you are staying a minimum of four nights at
3. Unpack bicycle, spread gear around room randomly.
4. Attempt to reassemble bicycle, realize you forgot to mark your seat and handlebar position before disassembly. Guess position and tell yourself it won’t make a big difference.
5. Drive bike course at slow speeds while making wrong turns. Annoy locals.
6. Find swim venue. Put wetsuit on, stand around for 15 minutes. Swim 10 minutes, take wetsuit off. Look around to see if you impressed anyone.
7. Walk around expo looking for free stuff.
8. Go to registration tent, stand in line, get bag, check bag for goodies.
9. Go back to hotel, arrange energy products into different piles. Stare at piles.
10. Spend 2 hours preparing for bike ride with race wheels and drink systems. Go for 30 minute ride. Go back to hotel.
11. Decide that this would be a great opportunity to learn how to rebuild your rear hub to fix the play in it. Disassemble hub.
12. Drive to house where your club mate, the bicycle mechanic, is staying. Show him the pieces of your rear wheel. Beg for help.
13. Go to swim start Friday morning. Look for tell-tale wrist-bands on other competitors; look condescendingly at all those swimming who aren’t participating in the race.
14. Go back to hotel, spend 4 hours attaching numbers to your bicycle, helmet, and race outfit. Panic that you don’t have 8 pieces of reflective tape for your run outfit, even though IMNA has never been known to enforce the rule.
15. Drive down to expo at the last minute, stand in line, pay $10 for a strip of reflective tape.
16. Drive back to hotel, place energy products into various bags.
17. Pack transition bags.
18. Unpack transition bags.
19. Repack transition bags.
20. Drive to Carbo-dinner. Stand in line, proceed through buffet with poor food selection, sit at crowded table, remember you paid an extra $20 each so your family could enjoy this food. Listen to IMNA personnel tell same jokes as last year. Realize that Dave Scott has apparently discovered the fountain of youth. Stand in line to leave.
21. Prep bike to drop off on Saturday, discover your tire has a slow leak. Drive to expo, stand in line, pay $80 for tubular tire. Get back to hotel, realize you don’t know how to glue on a tubular, drive back to expo and have them do it for you.
22. Drop bike off, spend time covering bike with various plastic bags because everyone else is doing it.
23. Drop off your transition bags, realize you forgot your salt tablets, drive back to hotel to get them.
24. Drive back to hotel again, arrange race gear for tomorrow morning.
25. Pack special needs bags.
26. Unpack special needs bags.
27. Repack special needs bags.
28. Realize there is nothing more you can do to get ready. Sit down and relax.
29. Panic.
30. Eat early dinner
31. Go to bed, lie there in a cold sweat.
32. Wake up at 2:00 am for 1000 calorie bottle of nasty-tasting concoction, “because Gordo does it”.
33. Lie awake listening to horrible weather move into town.
34. Wake up at 4:00 am, listen to spouse complain.
35. Get in car, drive to start. Stand in line to enter the transition area.
36. Check transition bags.
37. Stand in line to get body marked.
38. Check bike, stand in line to get tires pumped up.
39. Stand in line for porta-john.
40. Realize you left your water bottles with special nutrition needs in the fridge at the hotel. Drive back madly to get them.
41. Get back to start, wait in line for parking spot.
42. Stand in line for porta-john.
43. Get wetsuit on, stand in line to enter swim area.
44. Realize it’s too late for a warm up. Stand in line to enter water.
45. Stand in water with 2000 other people while sun comes up and national anthem is sung by local high school girl. Realize that few moments of your life have been this beautiful.
46. Gun goes off, 2000 people attempt to swim on top of you, realize that you are in mortal danger or drowning and few moments of your life have been this dangerous.
47. Get kicked in face, goggles come off, panic and tread water trying to get them back on while people hit you. Remember you paid good money to do this.
48. Exit swim, stand in line to get into transition.
49. Stand in line to get out of change tent. Get bike, stand in line to get out of transition.
50. Start bike, realize that there is no way 1000 people can pack onto a course within 20 minutes without massive drafting problems. Hope that poor bike handlers don’t crash in front of you.
51. Ride bike.
52. Panic that you’ve already fallen off your nutrition plan that your coach gave you.
53. Make up for lost calories and fluids in the next 15 minutes. Feel ill.
54. Ride bike.
55. Get saddle-sore.
56. Ride bike
57. Decide to piss while riding to save time.
58. Spend the next 30 minutes soft-pedaling, coasting, and practicing mental imagery trying to relax enough to let it go.
59. Give up, get off at aid station and spend 30 seconds in porta-john, get back on bike.
60. Ride bike, feel queasy and bloated, take 3 salt tablets at once to make sure you’re not low on electrolytes. Throw up.
61. Get off bike, sit in change tent wondering why you are doing this. Listen in disbelief to volunteer telling you you’re almost done. Proceed to marathon course.
62. Realize that you should have practiced the 1000 calorie drink at 2:00 am before race day.
63. Throw up, walk, jog, repeat for 26 miles.
64. Start gagging at the thought of another energy gel.
65. Sample the variety of food at aid stations. Discover Oreos, the food of the Gods.
66. Invent the form of locomotion called the ‘ironman shuffle’. Feel proud that your 12 minute mile is technically not walking.
67. Pass your spouse. Make them swear to never let you do another one of these.
68. See finishing chute. Sprint madly down the road high-fiving people and cheering while announcer screams your name. Realize it was all worth it.
69. Get to finishing chute, wait in line while a man takes his extended family over it with him.
70. Cross line, collapse into arms of patient voluneteers.
71. Spend next two hours in med tent realizing that you should have drunk more fluids when it got hot.
72. Go to massage tent, eat cold pizza and wander around in a daze while wearing an aluminum foil blanket.
73. Stick around finish line until midnight to share in “the ironman spirit”. Beat off 12-year-old to grab free socks thrown into crowd.
74. Look in disbelief at fresh and bouncy professional athletes dancing at the finish line.
75. Cheer last few athletes into the finish before midnight. Ask your spouse if you looked that bad. Be amazed that they spent 17 hours out there moving the whole time.
76. Go back to hotel, collapse in bed.
77. Wake up, go to bathroom, collapse back into bed. Repeat all night until the 6 IV’s the med tent gave you are through your system.
78. Wake up at 4:00 because your legs hurt so much.
79. Eat first breakfast.
80. Sit around until spouse wakes up, eat second breakfast.
81. Shuffle around town Monday morning wearing finishers T-shirt and medal. Smile knowingly at other fellow shufflers. Graciously accept congratulations from locals thankful you came to their town to spend money.
81. Eat third breakfast at all you can eat buffet.
82. Go to Official Finishers merchandise tent. Stand in line. Pick out $200 worth of clothing with prominent logos on it. Stand in line, pay $600 for clothes. Contemplate getting a tattoo to immortalize your achievement.
84. Fall prey to peer-pressure and marketing techniques. Cough up $450 to sign up for the race next year - since it will sell out today, and this is your only chance to sign up!
85. Proceed to IM Hawaii roll-down. Hold out hope that, even though you finished 80th in your age-group, this will be the year everyone leaves early and you get the last spot.
86. Eat first lunch.
87. Go back to hotel, stare at the disgusting, sticky, smelly mess that is your bicycle and race clothes. Start packing things up to fly home
88. Eat second lunch.
89. Go to awards dinner, stand in line. Get poor food from buffet, remember you spent $20 a head so your family could enjoy this magical moment with you.
90. Watch hastily-produced race video. Closely examine each frame hoping they caught a glimpse of you on the course. Be disappointed.
91. Watch age-group athletes get their awards. Wonder how many of them actually work for a living, and where you can get some of the performance enhancing drugs they appear to be on.
92. Realize that you have to go all the way up to women’s 70+ age group before you find an age-group your time would have won.
93. Listen to long, excruciatingly boring thank-you speeches from various professional athletes.
94. Stand in line to get out of awards dinner.
95. Go to Airport, stand in line. Deliver $5000 bike to Neanderthal-like baggage handler. Pray. Reluctantly take finishers medal off to pass through metal detector. Proudly tell TSA personnel what you did on your weekend.
96. Get home, contemplate unpacking disgusting bicycle, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
97. Eat Bon-Bons and watch TV. Contemplate unpacking your bicycle and training again, decide to leave it until tomorrow.
98. Repeat above step for 2-10 weeks. Step on scale. Look at your fat, disgusting self in a mirror and remember you signed up for next year’s race. Unpack bike, chip mold off of seat tube. Clear cobwebs from wheels. Show up at swim practice again.
99. Get ready to do it all again next year…
Good luck, guys, and more importantly, have fun. See y'all in Langkawi!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Maiden Post
Hello..
A brain storming session during one of the leTuang led to the idea of setting up a blog.. hence here we are.. And what better time to create a blog then TODAY.. a day of UNION..
OK.. the main objective is create the blog..DONE..
Step 2- to properly set-up the blog.. links, color scheme, pics..
Step 3- to invite the contributors..
Step 4- to start BLOGGING...
A brain storming session during one of the leTuang led to the idea of setting up a blog.. hence here we are.. And what better time to create a blog then TODAY.. a day of UNION..
OK.. the main objective is create the blog..DONE..
Step 2- to properly set-up the blog.. links, color scheme, pics..
Step 3- to invite the contributors..
Step 4- to start BLOGGING...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
