PISANG RELAY RUN 2014 - LET'S GO BANANAS GUYS!!! =P

Jangan Say Bo Jio! ehh =P

After reading Sis Lina's race review on this unique family oriented relay run last year (you can read all about it HERE) I was intrigued to participate in this kind of run too. Fyi, my 1st relay run was Chap Ayam Relay Run in 2013. It was so much fun too running a 3km loop around Padang Merbok KL. Once this event was open for registration, Rashid, Abu Bakr and I formed a trio and registered instantly. Speaking on being kiasu even though it was a non competitive relay run. We picked PisangPawerr as our team name. Hohoho...

As the date was getting closer and closer, I've decided to do a fun fun run. I was thinking to wear a banana inspired beanie cap along with all Yellow Mellow apparel. Thanks to Mr Azmi @ Gme Divah for lending me his Brooks striking yellow lime arm warmer. Lucky me coz my yellowish running shoes was still in a good condition (barely actually). Hewhewhew... I've requested Mis Fyd, my regular headgear designer to draft the design and we had several discussions via Whatsapp. It came out way beyond my imagination actually. It was very creative of her. She even made an oversized Banana Ami as a complementary. Love it very very much... It looked surreal too, I must say..

Banana viking Beanie Hat.... Woot2! Arrrrrr.....
[ Pic courtesy of Mis Fyd's fb ]

Not many people know that my first fun run in a costume was during Rock 2 Rock Run 2011. I wore a Japanese inspired kimono bathrobe with a tall spiky red half mask and ran 4.5km. It was not that easy to run with a mask, I tell you. Thank goodness I was one of the 8 best dressed runners (the only Malay too).  Back then the finisher medals were only awarded to the Top 10 finishers of each categories and Top 10 best dressed category runners. I felt so grateful to be chosen as one of the best dressed like a STAR themed costume. Ho-yeahh =D

Reminiscing those good old days back in  Rock 2 Rock Run 2011... Lucky me! Hehee... 

Ok ok, enough with the flashback of those glory lorry days. Hehee... All of my team mates agreed to wear a yellow running vest. I didn't  train much on tempo or interval run because I was still having some sores on my soles and knees after the treacherous GBM in Kampar, Perak on the previous week. Just did some easy recovery loop run on the UPM Stadium track. ;)

On the event day, me and Rashid woke up early and rushed to the starting venue because we haven't collect our racekit just yet. Fortunately Bac arrived there early and collected on behalf of the team. There was a aerobic session before the run conducted by FF trainers. More like a Zumba, I guess. Mr. Ben Swee, the race director gave some brief about the run after that.

PisangPawerr Team in Selfie... Forgive me for my extra protruding hairy chest hohoho! 

We Are Runners Group Selfie Time!

At 7.30 am sharp, the 1st runners were flagged off. For the 1st round,  Rashid was our 1st runner, followed by Abu Bakr as the 2nd runner and I as the last runner. We had to run a 2.6km loop with a banana as our baton for the 1st round. Rashid sped off like a hurricane along with Ridwan his arch nemesis... Truly elusive elite runners in action wooo! Hohoho!

Tudiah Rashid Run Like Wind or Stallion hohoho...
[ Pic by Kak Lina & Abg Zaini ]

The transition was very smooth as only the 2nd runners were waiting for the 1st runner to reach the finish line. Although it might get a bit crowded due to the increase of participants this year.

When it was my turn to standby for the passing baton, I was getting a lil bit of jitters. As soon as I saw Bac was getting near towards the FL, I went towards the transition area and prepared to receive the banana baton. I went off as quickly as I could. I had to overcome the 1st hilly route and redeemed myself by running downhill as fast as I could. I saw several lady runners were avoiding the left running path on that hilly stretch because they feared that the monkeys might come and snatch away the banana baton from them. I too was scared too hahaa!

Muka pancit n suffer giler after 1st loop!!! Huhu... Bro Bac Sado maintained cool sajo

It took me almost 13 min to complete the 1st loop. Huhu... Some of the participants were very supportive and they even gave me a high 5 around the loop. It was not that comfortable to run with the Banana Viking Hat. I was sweating buckets load and my beanie cap was totally drench in sweats! Yoshhh...

Going for the first loop... Looking sexy back much ehhh =P

Tackling the notorious hill in style!
[ Pic courtesy of Mr ET Tey ]

For the second round, the participants were asked to run with two banana batons. This time around, Bac was the 1st runner, I'm the 2nd person while Rashid became the final runner.

Slow transition for the second round... Took it easy this time hahaa... 

Finished the second loop.... Syukur sangat2... Pokcik Viking somput dah!
[ Pics by Bro Bac Sadodo ] 

It was fun to see some of the young children were running with their siblings and family. They looked so adorable too. Some of them ran really fast too and overtook me along the way... Awesome! =D

Gme + Gorgeous Runners + PisangPawerr = Vavavoom!
[ Pic by Mr ET Tey ]

Awwww this is sooo cute moment....
[ Pic courtesy of Cruz Adimanda ]

Happiness was having some runners and non-runners to take a picture together with us. In this case, there was this sweet cute little girl wanted to take a picture with us and I stayed "menempel" only... hohoho... She loved that fuzzy bunny ear of Fazly's hehee... 

After the fun fun run, it's time for the most anticipated lucky draw session. There were many interesting prizes waiting for those lucky winners from the sponsors like Doof Industries, Bike Elementz, 2nd Skin, K Tape and Fitness First. Those who were the DOOFiest Pisang who run in costume on that day could stand a chance to take home the humongous DOOF light blue bean bag, worth RM499! 

(From Left) Ironman, Captain America, Batgirl, Me, Tarzan Guy, Superman, Afro Dude and Pink Fuzzy Bunny

Final two best dressed contestants... And the winner is....
[ Pics courtesy of Mr GME Divah ]

So once the emcee announced the candidates for those costume runners to come to the front, there were Top 8 of us. After the first round based on the crowd's applause and cheers, it was then down to Final 2 costume runners, yours truly and Fazly aka Harimau Ganas Makan Darah the famous costume runner ever. I had the loudest cheers and won that monstrous DOOF bean bag.. It was quite heavy to bring it back to the carpark. Quite a great workout for me and Rashid hahaa... Many thanks to all the people of the crowd, fellow runners for your support and loud cheer... 

Thank goodness I won at last! Never be any happier than this... Felt like a Banana King on the throne =D

Later on, I won a lucky draw from Bike Elementz. I just could not believe it how lucky I was on that day! Double pure happiness, I believe... The green dri fit tee from 2nd Skin and the drinking bike bottle too were super awesome! I think I should join this event again next year... Kihkihkihh...

Thank you Ben Swee for giving the lucky draw prize... I was still shocked at this time!
[ Pic by  Mr. GME Divah]

Overall, it was a well organised event, plenty of drinking water, isotonics, bananas, good breakfast pack. The finisher medal was heavy, golden bling-bling and super nice design. Could not ask for more, definitely... Congrats to the organizer, the volunteers and participants for a memorable event. I really recommend it to all the newbies and fellow comrades to join this fun non competitive run  once in a while and have lots of  fun with family and friends.  

Last but not least, it was time for post race photo ops with all my frenzy fabulous gorgeous running buddies... hohohoo!

Kami dah FINISHED, moh kita pulang yaw!

Tiga Suara, Tiga Divah? Divah Kepantasan Elite, Divah Marathona Internationalle & Divah Pisang LOL! Ehh...

Kodak Moment with fellow runners and Sis Lina
[ Pic by Sis Lina & Zaini ]

Light goofy moments with Eugene and Sis Suzie... Hahaha

Catch of the day... Never thought I would be so extra lucky like this as I never won any lucky draw prizes before... Syukur Alhamdulillah... #vikingbananamonster hahaa

Syukur Alhamdulillah.... I`m officially a #DOOFSTER! =P

VIPER CHALLENGE 2013 - I'VE CONQUERED ASIA'S BIGGEST OBSTACLE RUNNING EVENT!

Are You Game?

Hi there fellow readers, silent or outspoken one, my brothers and sisters in runninghood. Happy Monday y'all.... My apologies for keeping you waiting for my next entry... Being super busy recently, with all the workloads and other planning ahead.. I would love to share my not so recent experience in participating Viper Challenge 2013, dubbed as Asia's Biggest Obstacle Event. It was really the most mind boggling and nerve wrecking event I've ever participated so far. It really tested my physical and mental to the max, I tell you... And I'm glad I've conquered the feisty nasty serpent challenges!

First of all, what's Viper Challenge?

Viper challenge is a 20km Obstacle Course Challenge, which is predominantly filled with man-made obstacles that will put both heart and spirit to the test. It is Asia's first and largest obstacle challenge, like no other. Imagine obstacles Designed to take you out of your comfort zone, you will enter the challenge either as an individual warrior or as part of a team...  Whichever way you enter, you will finish understanding that cooperation and teamwork will be the likely factors that will help you to get across that finish line, without it, you will find it difficult to succeed. Even individual Warriors will depend on others participating in the course alongside them for a boost at times

(Source: http://www.viperchallenge.com/what-is-viper-challenge)

Me and my running buddies from WE ARE RUNNERS (W.A.R.s) group decided to register for this event as a team. Padel as the team leader, Dr Fong as the assistant/manager, while I and Fadzil as the other member. Fadzil was replacing Murni at the very 11th hour since she could not make it.

(Credits to Afong and Padel for all the wonderful pics)

On that morning of the event, Rashid and I departed early to fetch Fadzil in Taman Melati first before heading straight away to Sepang International F1 Circuit (SIC). It was the torrential rain with some thunderstorms that welcomed us that morning. I had a feeling that I might have to run in the rain and obviously the obstacles will be getting more and more muddier due to the heavy rain.

From left: Me, Padel, Afong & Fadzil

Team WARs before the flag off of the last batch. Still chirpy still happy  and full of energy!

Rashid started his slot at 7.20 am because he entered as an individual while the rest of us started our horrendous gruesome journey by 8.00 am. I soon found out that we were the last batch to be released on the second day. The first obstacle was very easy. We had to crawl under the fishing net. The second and third one required us to climb over the wooden wall with different height. The second wall was a bit challenging because it was higher and teamwork was much needed here to push your teammate to climb over the wall.  

Looks easy, right? Just crawl underneath the fishing net...

The fourth challenge was the most coolest of them all, like literally. We had to dip our body waist deep in a tank fiilled with ice cubes cold water and went underneath a wooden plank midway. Boy, I could not feel my balls anymore. LOL Half of my body was numb and I was shivering like hell... Brrrr!!!

Padel, Me, Fadzil and Afong after the muddy barb wire crawl. Pardon for the muddy smudges images of us!

Fadzil in action to cross the slippery muddy balancing pole...  He made it.. Can you spot me? =P

Padel, our team leader took the bullet for the rest of the team by completing the monkey bar... Bravo! 

After that we had to go through many more countless obstacles like barb wire crawl (I hurt my knees during the nasty crawl that really triggered my old injuries!), dusty trench crawl turned into murky muddy at the end of the crawl, balance beam (I fell off this one and hit my elbow on the solid soil, Ouch! mujolah xlebam dll.), steep hill slide, trye run, tyres hill, incline wall, cargo net, hill rope climbing, haystack wall, tried to do the monkey bars over water but it was so damn slippery and my upper body was so weak, so I had to skip that obstacles, takut terjatuh dalam air lumpur teh tarik tuh sebenarnya... Boohoo! Noted to myself: Need to sign up for the gym asap!

Members of WARS with some of our running friends and strangers united mid way...

Took our sweet time posing on top of the haystack wall

My Skechers GoTrail shoes were drenched most of the time but I seemed to enjoy every moment of it. The hilly route was awesome and running under the hot scorching sun at 1230pm was EPIC! We were roasted to perfection after the grueling 4 hours and 30 minutes (almost 5 hours ok!). I found out there were two different tones on my arm and legs after the Viper Challenge... Gosh!

WARS In Blue... =D

The super nasty giant hilly slide! Love the G-Force, just like a going down a roller coaster  weh!

After the slide... Coated with mud all over us... 

Fadzil's back were badly slashed by the sharp stones hidden underneath the canvas. Even his shirt was torn.
He received a shot for it but never whined about it all on that day. Totally anak jantan indeed! lol

Most of us in my WARs team suffered some scratches and bruises at the back, especially after the giant hill slide. "Thanks" to the sharp stones underneath the freaking hot canvas. Luckily I survived it without any scratches. Cuma satu bisul je pecah dan tersemburlah darah pada baju saya yang tebal ini... LOL! I really love the ending of our run. All five of us were holding hands in hands running together towards the firemen hose shower at the finishing line. It was worth with all the insane challenges we've endured!

Many thanks to our drinking water sponsor, SYABAS!  

Overall, it was very well organized event. Plenty of drinking water, albeit Syabas tank and Revive isotonics drink too. (Psst: The drinking Syabas tank felt like a Evian nonetheless  at that moment!) They really listened to the complaints from the 1st Day participants and improved their WS and plenty of medical volunteers around too. However, they still failed to serve us any mineral or isotonic drinks since it was super duper blazing hot by that time. They only provided us with Milo drink, ice-cream and the finisher medal, cert and finisher tee. I`m so thirsty, ice-cream or Milo won't be able to quench our thirst, ok!? 

                   

The Famous Five WARs with out finisher tee... Note that Afong got some sunburn mark on her face already. 

This is my must pose after the gruelsome challenge... Now I know the sky is the limit! Bring it on!

Next review:  Fascinating River Jungle Marathon 2013 aka Full Marathon #5. It was a full marathon full of emotions... Needless for me to say... Sigh... T_T

More of my Garmin data can be reached right HERE ya... =D

Ciao!