Sunday, December 12, 2010
My IMWA report
This blog's been quiet for a while. If anyone is interested in my IMWA report, please head on down to http://tryathlete1403.blogspot.com/2010/12/with-little-help-from-my-friends.html
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Ngae - In Memory
Our friend, Ngae - the barefoot runner in sarong and constant smile, has returned to his creator today at 1800hours.
He has been fighting brain tumor since 2009 and was making a come back.
He will sorely be missed.
Do offer your prayer, in your own time, and own ways to this dearest friend.
Rest In Peace Buddy.
He has been fighting brain tumor since 2009 and was making a come back.
He will sorely be missed.
Do offer your prayer, in your own time, and own ways to this dearest friend.
Rest In Peace Buddy.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Stupe's Ironman Langkawi Report
Hi guys and girls...
I've opted out from receiving emails in LeTuang and here is my race report.
Please do hop over to my blog to read about it.
http://opstupe.blogspot.com/2010/03/ironman-langkawi-2010-race-report.html
I've opted out from receiving emails in LeTuang and here is my race report.
Please do hop over to my blog to read about it.
http://opstupe.blogspot.com/2010/03/ironman-langkawi-2010-race-report.html
Friday, December 4, 2009
Long Silence
Hello everyone. Sorry for the long silence. Been a bit busy lately.
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, 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
