Wednesday, July 13, 2016

PAR XII 2016 2nd Series ~ Team Chap Ayam Runners 3 Reunite!


For the record, this was my first Pacemakers Anniversary Relay run for the 2nd Series... Normally I just ran the first series since PAR X in 2014... Pretty excited since I heard they normally would tweak and change the route here and there especially for the 2nd Series... Bring it on then! 😁✌️

As usual without fail, Team Chap Ayam Runners took part in every PAR XII both series this year by sending 3 teams for the 2nd Series. I tell you these runners loved the challenges of running a fast pace Relay in the holy month of Ramadhan... That's insane!
Team Chap Ayam Runners 1, 2 & 3... Go!
My name was in Team Chap Ayam Runners 3, along with Aeishah, Shaiful Nizam Bomba, Rhuddy Alang and Zam Mohammad. This was the same team for PAR XI  1st Series last year. We decided to pick a simple theme for our team. It was Malay Classic white pagoda shirt with pelikat pants. No pressure at all, just want to enjoy the run and route. Plus, running in a pelikat pants was not that hard. Still runnable hehee... Just like what I've did back then during Hatyai Marathon 2014.

On that Sunday morning, I woke up early to had my pre-dawn meals. This time around I had a proper heavy meal knowing that I had to run with lots of energy. Drank lots of water too. Downed one m-prolabs alpha capsule for the boost I needed.

After Fajr prayer, I dashed to find a perfect parking spot near National Memorial. I put on my songkok with a shiny bling-bling brooch just to complement the Malay Classic theme. Just like in P. Ramlee era hehee...

Jogged down towards Lake Garden and met up with the rest of the team. I was the fourth runners. Yayyy... Syukurr! Way less pressure compared to the first series LOL! But still I need to outdo myself too no matter what...
Group photo while Zam was running the second run....Hehehe
We took one group photo first before the Relay started. Mr Rhuddy was running a tad late but it's ok because he's the third runner.
Ocean of Ladies Runner!
Fancy Runner clad in Traditional Chinese Attire.... Cool!
The runners were released on 7.30am sharp. They dashed like mad I tell you. Looked like less participants in the 2nd series compared to the 1st one. They have reversed the route this time.

Belanja selpiaq sebutir dulu sementara duk cuak2 menunggu nih hehehe...
While waiting for Aeishah, our first runner to reach the transition line, I just hang out and snapped some pictures of familiar faces taking part in this event. I was truly inspired to see most of the Muslim runners ran their heart out and finished strong!
Run Ecah Run!
Pic Credits to Victor Chong.... =D
Not long after that, I could see Aeishah finished her run and Zam took the baton as the 2nd runner. She could not stay long because she had a class to attend on that morning. My tummy started to feel a bit uncomfortable and I had to relieve myself first. Fuhhh so glad I was the 4th runner, still got plenty of time for nature call... Lega rasanya! Done with my "Second Wave" LOL!

Fuhh Zam siap floating tuh... Tak jejak tanah... Powerrr kekee...
Ninjan Naruto from Team UltroNonStop.... Lajuuuu!
Runaway Bridegroom.... LOL!

Rhuddy was a strong runner and I had to get ready in the transition area any time now. Waiting anxiously for my turn when I saw him running towards the finish line and looking for me. Once I received the baton, now it's my time to shine bright, like literally... LOL!

Run Aizat Run... Pengantin Tak Berapa Nak Siap nih LOL! Credits to Uncle Chan Wk for all these stunning pics!
Suffering time but forced to smile too despite the mini incline LOL!
I just dashed my way towards the first 200-300m before we had to run up the hilly stretch. It was still runnable at this point, so I just braved myself for it. The normal undulating hilly part was killing my calves hahaa... Fast walked a bit when it got steeper and steeper until I reached the neverending stairs. It felt like forever to reach the top. Just keep on tackling the stairs. Very doable but my heart was beating like crazy. After that it was all going downhill.
Running downhill gave me the floating superpower... Hohohi Credits to Andrew from RaceXAsia for the pics!
Yup, I ran downhill from there onwards. It was not easy too as I started to feel side stitches from running downhill a bit fast hehee... Went down to the big white building and ran at the corridors. Could not walk there as I could see Kah Wai the barefoot runner cum photographer was already there ready to snap the picture. Must look good in picture maa... Hehee...

It's Not Easy To Run Down The Stairs In The Corridor... Might get myelf tripped over... Thanks to Kahwai RFF for the pics!
After I ran passed the building I had to run across some concrete path. It was a neverending up and down route here. Mini rolling hills I must say hahaa... Just run lah (cursing myself deep inside at the same time! 😝🙈)
Almost There.... Keep pushing... Flame On! Credits to ET Tey for these lovely pictures! =D
Still could not see the Finishing Line but I sensed that I was getting closer and closer as I ran the last downhill stretch. Saw several photographers were stationed at this part towards the Finish Line. Once I handed the baton to Shaiful, my suffering moments were over! Fuhhh...

Walked a bit to lower down my heart rate and breathing back to normal. Almost see some stars after my turn was over. Went to the loo to wash my face before joining them chillaxing at the nearest hut.

Gaya seorang yang sedang kelapaRun Roti2 Massimo LOL...
Once Shaiful has reached the Finishing Line, he gave me the baton and I went to the organizer's canopy to collect our finisher medals. Went to tapau some breads too for my team mates hehee...

Cannot eat all the juicy sweet looking watermelon slices... So I just took some photos lorr hehe...
Soybean milk for all the marshalls and volunteers only hehee... Yumm!
We took some group photos with the rest of Chap Ayam Runners. Sadly there was no Chap Ayam Runners' banner this year. Sigh ~

I went to tapau two packs of nasi lemak for my breaking fast, as always... Hoho! Then went back to take some photos with the runners from other teams.
Photo with the Ninjan Sado himself from Team UltroNonStop... Congrats buddy!
Meet Grace the Lady Speedster!
Bersama Abam-abam Pengantin Lari nih... Congrats gentlemen! Podium woo...
Family Running Crew In Action... Just Jump!
The competition for best dressed team was getting tougher for these second series. The No. 1 Best Dressed Team was wearing traditional Chinese wedding dress while then No. 2 Team was wearing the Malay wedding songket! No. 3 winning team was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Kids hehee...  So creative of them! Kudos guys!
No. 1 - Team Traditional Chinese Wedding Bridegroom and His Four Wives... =D
No. 2 - Team Pengantin Melayu Lari! Siap Dengan Bendera Rasmi lagi uols!
No. 3 - The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Kids....
Congrats to all my team mates for finishing strong. Although we did not win any trophy, but we managed to get that Judges' Honourable Mention. Yeahh... It turned out that our team timing results was not that shabby either. Clenched 137th place out of 206 teams with net time 1:43:40 and average team pace 6:35 min/km.
Three Dashing Gentlemen In Pelikat Pants - Malay Classic Look...


All in all, it was a great run. Most of the route was hilly with a lovely stairs to add on to the challenges. Plenty of marshalls with sufficient signage markers along the route. Nice clear sunny weather that morning. Cool finisher medal to combine with the previous 1st Series. Could not get any better than this.

Awesome Finisher Medals for both Series 1 & 2!
Till then, toodles! Just could not hardly wait to join PAR XIII next year... I heard the theme will be STAR WARS oriented... Episode I & II... Stay tuned for the further updates... Yayyy!

Save The Date 4 & 18 June 2017!




Saturday, July 9, 2016

PAR XII 2016 1st Series ~ No Cranky Cranky, Just Run! :)


No CrankyCranky Team looking radiant in Purple....
It all started when Sal invited yours truly, Apeng, Tokdad Romzi and Lisa to make a team of five once Pacemakers announced the date for Pacemakers Anniversary Relay Run (PAR XII) 2016 - First series. We had to register asap because of the limited slots and its selling out fast too!

The rule was simple. Runners must assemble a group consists of 5 team members. Every team member must run 1 loop (3.15KM) relay and carry the baton with timing chip on it. The winning teams (Top 15) will be determined from the accumulated time. There's also prizes for Top 3 best dressed Team. :)

We chose No CrankyCranky Team as our team name because we wanted to enjoy the relay run cranky free hohohi... Plus we had to run in the morning during the holy month Ramadhan. Just run my heart out then hahaa...

A few weeks before the event, Sal went to collect the racekits for all of us at ULTRON NU Sentral KL. Thank you so much babe! We also decided to pick Purple for our official team colour. Yayyy.. That's my favourite colour... Purplelicious then! 😍👍👍👍

On that Sunday morning, I woke up a bit late for a proper Sahoor. Just had some juicy sweet dates and drink lots of water along with alpha mprolabs capsule. I just knew it's going to be a tough run. Running on empty la katakan... Just go with the flow then hoho...

After Fajr prayer, Rashid and I went to Lake Garden. I had to park near the National Memorial and slow jogged all the way to the venue. Consider it as a warming up run lah...


A photo with Kuan Chu before the run began.... Credits to you Buddy for the picture...
I chose to wear purple Pink Ultra finisher tee and MisFydKrafts purple bling-bling Magneto cape to match with our Team colour theme. Met with the rest of my team members 15 minutes before the flag off time. Oh I was being given the mandate as the last runner for my team. Gosh, that was the most stressful position for every team, the first and the last runners. Hehee... After we took our group photo, Sal went into the gantry first. She was the first runner for No CrankyCranky Team.

The women runners were being flagged off at 7.30 am sharp! While waiting for Sal to arrive, we took some photos together and started to warming up a bit.




Go Sal Go! Going minimalist... Respect!
Once I saw Sal was about to reach the transition area, Tokdad Romzi was already there to receive the baton. He ran his loop quite fast, 17min 06sec. The fastest timing among us. Awesome!
Tokdad Romzi running in style! Effortlessly too...
After that it was Apeng's turn to run the relay as the third runner. She ran barefoot and was fast too... Damn! Truly inspiring...
Go Apeng Go... She's a fast barefoot runner! Fuhhh....
Once Lisa received the baton from Apeng, I knew my time will come pretty soon. Luckily I managed went to the loo for my no. 2 nature call. Fuhhh lega hehee... No more tummy issues hehee..

It was a cloudy morning, with chances of heavy rain too, based on the really dark clouds from that early morning. I need to outrun myself so that I won't be running in the rain & got myself drenched. Well that's a good motivation, so to speak.





Lisa was running like a breeze.... Cayalah... Pic credits to Rashid Mat Rani, Captain ULTRON
Waiting patiently for my turn to come... Dub dap dup dap... Adei sakit perut also nih... The Second Wave.. =P
I could already see Lisa approaching me in the transition zone. My heart was beating fast while I was waiting for her. Goshh... Once she handed the baton, I just sprint like crazy... LOL! Full of adrenaline rush... Plus with lots of photographers were standing nearby to capture the moments. Must go all out to look good in photos. LOL! =D
The One, Two, Three motions during the baton transfer... Ikkezo! Run Aizat Run! Credits to Kahwai from RFF
Well it did not last that long though hehee... About 500m or so, I slowed down my pace while catching up my breath. My throat felt so dry, I could only swallow my own saliva hahaa... Gulped! I tried to maintain my easy pace and kept on moving. The cape was a bit uncomfy to run with. Not with this pace hehee...





Ran into Rany Tan after 1km++ around the scenic Lake Garden.... Thanks to Rany for this picture!
Just right before I reached the hilly part, Tokdad was catching up not far from me. He encouraged me to keep on running slowly while tackling the hills and took big steps while climbing up the stairs. Fuhhh, I was already breathless once I reached the top of the stairs. Hahaa... Need to shake it off and keep on running downhill.

Yayyy done with the stairs! Credits pic to Kang Kang....
Almost there... Sikit lagik wehhh.... Fun Run la katakan hehee... Credit pic to Rashid RmR
I love running downhill part. That's where I should be able to increase my pace and get ready to sprint once I reached the corner. As I could see the FL, I gathered all the remaining strength I had and sprinted like there's no tomorrow. All the runners & my friends were cheering for me on both sides. It was a mad dash towards the FL. I could already see the stars & moon once I crossed the FL. Too tired to go and handover the baton to collect our finisher medals, so I gave it to Lisa & Apeng. I clocked it 24:43 for the final lap. Way better than my earlier target 28min hoho...
The moments upon crossing the finishing line.... Picture credits to Se7en Chiam and many others... Thank you guys!
Took a group photo at the field and right after we went back to cheer for the remaining runners at the venue, it was started to rain cats and dogs. Some of the runners were still running despite the torrential rain.
He had my utmost respect for braving the rain.... Kudos bro!
We took shelter at the hut nearby. I had to lay on the wooden floor as I was still pretty much fatigue and still not recovering well.. The cold weather made me feel hungrier hahaa... Luckily it was Ramadhan and I had already tapau-ed some nasi lemak and bread.
It's a Group Photo Time... Go Purplelicious! Go!
The rest of my team headed home while I waited for the prize giving ceremony. Soon after that, the rain subsided and it was time for crowning the Top 15 Teams & Top 3 Best Dressed Teams. Congrats to all winners!

No. 1 Best Dressed Team - The Incredible Kids
No. 2 Best Dressed Team - Team Chap Ayam Runners with Malay Traditional Dress
No. 3 Best Dressed Team - Dashing Divas
All in all it was a very well organized annual event. Great event tee by ULTRON  as the #OfficialApparel #MicroDry, awesome finisher medal design too. You have to run both series to complete the Ironman inspired finisher medals. How cool is that. Plenty of banana, nasi lemak, bread, Revive isotonic drinks and drinking water for a great after race hospitality.
Awesome funky first part of Ironman finisher medal.... =D
Once the result were already out in the evening, placed at 130 out of 199 teams. It turned out that we did great, despite that there were 4 of us were fasting on that event day. Yayyy.. Fasting was not a hindrance for us to stay active and running on the broad morning light. hehee...Congrats to my No CrankyCranky Team for a great teamwork! Thanks once again to Tokdad Romzi for pacing me and Apeng. I had such a great time running here for the third year in a row.... It's like my annual Ramadhan event already... =)




Till then, take care and thanks for reading guys & girls, ladies and gentlemen.... =D