Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2016 - IT'S REDEMPTION TIME!

Voila! The best finisher medal for SCKLM 2016 edition...

This is the most anticipated running event in Malaysia. Especially after it had to be cancelled last year due to the extremely bad horrible haze. It was a good call by the organizer for the sake of runners' health and well being. I was there last year. It was really really bad on that early morning. Felt so suffocating and totally hazardous to run in these condition. Unless if you wanted to run with your N95 face mask on keke... You can read all about it HERE... :)

However things were different this year although it was reported that the weather was slightly hazy on that SCKLM week due to the hot and dry season. Thank goodness the haze went away just in time for SCKLM after several rainy thunderstorm days. 

Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2016, or more known as SCKLM @ KL Marathon was like a Mecca for all Malaysian runners. Runners from all over Malaysia will come and join this event. It was more like a reunion of Malaysian runners regardless of their running groups. This was my 4th edition running in SCKLM after I did my HM in 2012 and FM (2013, 2014, 2015). Even running SCKLM was like a dream comes true for most of us Malaysian runners. Not everyday you can run along the AKLEH and DUKE highway that was closed completely on that  day only. For us runners ONLY... hehee... Plus they have generously extended the cutoff time to 7 hours with 4 checkpoints this year. Double yayyy for me slow runners. Hehee 

Collected my racekit in a jiffy...Smooth like a silk!

Went to the Race Expo that was held in Kenanga Wholesale Centre. Not a strategic venue due to the heavy traffic congestion going there. I wish they did it in the Merdeka Square underground or PWTC just like previous years. Thankfully I collected my racekit smoothly on that Friday lunch break and met several runners there. So many booths around. Stopped by to purchase my energy gels and a Rock Tape. 

Thank you Mis Fyd for this spectacular masterpiece... KLCC Twin Towers beanie!

Later after work, I rushed to collect my unique out of the world beanie hat from Ms. Rafidah Anum aka Mis Fid. It was my idea and wishlist to wear something so iconic, so close to our heart as a Malaysian. Looks like she nailed it again by designing the KLCC Twin Towers beanie hat, the tallest beanie that she had ever made so far. I could it swaying around as I tried wearing and running with it... Hahahaa.... It was an epic beanie ever! Thank you so much babe! Do check her Facebook (MisFydKrafts) for more of her creative masterpiece... 

Jadi Bidan Terjun wakil Marathon Baker untuk soft launch Semenyih Eco-Trail 2016 keke...

Fast forward to the Saturday. I drove to Semenyih to collect some homemade energy bars for my Marathon Bakers customers. Managed to represent Marathon Baker during the soft launch before I went to KL for the check in. The customers wanted to collect their energy bars in KL since they were in town for SCKLM. One of them came all the way from Sarawak to collect his order. Finallly I managed to deliver to all the loyal MB customers on Saturday. Thank you folks for your endless support.

Happy satisfied Marathon Baker loyal customers #MBbuddies... Thanks guys!

Last customer of the day... Thank you buddy!

After the last happy customer that came on that night, it's time for my early sleep. Thank goodness I slept like a baby on that night. Woke up. Felt a lil bit sluggish to wake early. Took a quick shower and prepped myself up for the race. Dashed to the starting line not far from my hotel to drop my bag. 

So disappointed with the bag deposit system for this year. Super duper slow. Note to myself - next time don't waste your time with the drop bag if not for the Marathon Baker energy bars ordered by my customers. Once everything was settled, went to the portaloo first before I entered the Pent 4 for sub 7 participants. Luckily I made it in time for the flagoff.

Credits to Se7en Chiam for this pic.... Super cool!

There were so many runners even from the last pent. I just took it easy and ran with the flow. It was a not so humid early morning. I bumped into Hisham along the way and sticked together like a Super Glu literally. Hohohi... I came across 6h30min pacers Evelyn and Irwan Anuar and intended to follow their balloons of course as far as I could. No harm trying, right? At least got some buffer time before the cutoff time right?

My plan was simple and easy. Just target to cross all four checkpoints before their respective cut-off time. Plus the most crucial part will be at KM31 (9.15am) where we had to receive the compulsory blue rubber band in order to collect the finisher medal and tee. So let the fun run began...

The first 10km was ok. Still manageable although there were times that my gastro system gave some upset signals. Oh man! I kept on going and hoped that was a false alarm and no 2nd poopy wave came along. please. Ran along the rolling AKLEH at wee hours was awesome. Felt like ages to reach the first u-turn point at the end of the AKLEH highway...

After KM16/17 it was getting stuffier, so I decided to ditch my KLCC Twin Towers beanie and turned it into my man purse to stuff in my handphone and RunBananaz and Mocha energy bites. Upon entering the dreadful DUKE we came across the 6h30min pacers again. A lot of the runners were following them actually. They did a great job by motivating and encouraging the runners. At some of the stretch they just walked especially going uphill and started running when we went downhill or flat road. 

KM21 was a success when we crossed it before 7.40am. Next we aimed to cross the KM31. Felt a bit mental running along the rolling DUKE. At some parts it felt like forever to reach KM31 and exit the DUKE. Finally felt so relieved to reach KM31 before the cutoff (9.15am) and received the rubber band. Yatta! Took a breather and posed here happily lah...

Muka manyak sinyum.. Thanks to Abam Hisham for taking this shot..

When we were running towards Jln Kuching and went up towards Bukit Tunku route, the two 6.30 pacers were increasing their paces up and I could not keep up with them... Hahaa, blame it on my lack of trainings....

We kept on moving whenever we saw the usual incline along Bukit Tunku and ran downhills too ao that we could reach the final CP at KM37 within the cut-off time. I just ran my heart out and pushed my limit too... Hahhaa... Felt like dying and we finally managed to cross the CP4 before 10.10am hohohi....

Happy faces despite the tormenting incline near Taman Botani Perdana hahaa... Credits to Rany Tan

The suffer fest was not over yet... I was running out of steam after KM37 and the final 5KM felt like 15KM to me... I felt like hitting the wall already as we had to endure the nasty incline towards Jalan Parlimen and when down towards Jalan Damansara. It was getting hot by then and steep route was not helping at all.... hahaa garing sude....

Suffering faces with the bloody heat & neverending route hahaa... Almost there!

Sikit lagik nih... Bertabahla jiwa raga kaki ku!

Yeahhh sikit lagik nak sampai nih... Credits to Amin Jaafar for this pic!

Very mental to reach the KTM Station building and the final 2KM felt like forever... Somehow I was freaking out when I saw 7hours pacer overtook me during the final 400m stretch. And I looked at my watch ans found out I was still within the cutoff time. Saw so many of my running friends were already waiting for us along this final stretch... Exchanged some high fives with them and deep down inside I knew I managed to cross the FL in 6h41min (nett time)... Thank goodness! Syukur, Alhamdulillah...

Finally... Syukur Alhamdulillah... Credits to SCKLM Official Photos...

The video of us during the final 400m or so towards the FL... Check it out the ambiance!

This year they've started to implement SCKLM Live Tracking Updates apps to keep track of all the participants. That's how some of my friends knew that I finished my run through the apps. It was so easy and convenient too.

After the run, it was nice meeting so many running friends, new and old... Took some selfies with them... Thanks folks!

Group Photo with all the runners... Congrats to all! Credits to Khidir Nordin for the pic!

Met Benz, Shahril Abd Rani and Izme Azzam after the run.... Many more actually... Hehee...

Yayyy I was being interviewed by my awesome running friend Izme Azzam... You can catch the FULL here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUSgT77_us

Overall, it was a very well organized event. Still the best Marathon event in Malaysia, by far. Plenty of drinking water and isotonic drinks, bananas and energy gels for all the runners. Excellent traffic control at all the critical points. Portaloos were available along the course. Two mobile surau were provided for the Muslim runners. Love the event running vest and finisher tee too. Not forgetting the lovely finisher medal design with different lanyard colours for different distance.

 So, save your date for SCKLM 2017 folks! See you there on 21 May 2017... Let's training hard and smart! =D

 For more info, just log on to http://www.kl-marathon.com/

Toodles chuols!

SUPERHEROES RACE 2016 - OVERLOAD ~ The Best Costume Run Ever!

Superheroes Race 2016 was the second edition this year after the inaugural event that was held in Bukit Jalil Car Park April last year...

Initially they were supposed to do the event in Putrajaya. However, they decided to held the run in Lanai MaTiC Jalan Ampang since MaTic would love to be the venue organizer.

Then came another turbulance when they had to pospon the race from 17 April to 22 May 2016 due to unavoidable reasons since there were another event Perkeso Run & Ride on that same date. Therefore to ensure the runner's safety, they had to pospon it to 22 May, which was not a KL Car Free Morning. Looks like they made a good decision although many foreigners and out of Klang Valley participants were really disappointed when they posponed it 3 days prior to the tentative date. Ah well damage has been done by the way...

On Saturday morning I went to Taman Tasik Permaisuri Cheras to collect my latest custom made beanie hat, arm braces and bling-bling purple cape from Mis Fid #MisFydKrafts . Managed to do some fitting session with her too. Hahaa... Segan i kat public place nih 😝🙈 Thanks babe!

Awesome Magneto arm brace masterpiece by MisFydKrafts...

Expressing my fierce supervillain face hohohi....

Presenting Magneto hat beanie & arm braces.... Kawaii...

Fast forward to the day before the event (Saturday). I went to MaTiC in the evening  to collect my running bib courtesy of NM Galaxy & TixTac Malaysia. I chose 10km because I don't feel like running 15km in my costume! That would be insane and I might  finish late LOL! So I thought of running 10km under 1h20min++ is doable, Inshaa Allah... 

Racepack was collected in a jiffy and off I went home preparing my DIY armour vest... I just used whatever I had to design my Magneto armour vest from crafts foam and some velcro. Not the best armour I've ever made but at least it would be functional for my fun run... Finished prepping up before 12 midnight and I dozed off instantly...

Woke up lazily around 4am... Still feeling super sleepy I forced myself to have a quick shower and put my clothes on. Just in case I forgot to bring my props and custome, I just put everything in one big plastic bag. Easier to locate my stuffs then.  Then around 4.50 am I drove to the venue.

Really need to reach there early because of the limited parking spaces near to the venue. Managed to get one adjacent to the venue and I dragged my huge plastic bag to Marathon Baker booth. We were proud to be one of the co-sponsors for this event.

Immediately changed into my full costume suit, all thanks to Shaz @mamachaksonline for helping me tying my ribbon Magneto cape & sealing my handmade armour vest. Hohoho... Lucky me...

Shaz @mamachaksonline in action.... Such a darling... Thanks babe!

Looks like more and more participants kept pouring in and the 15km participants were being flagged off by Zet Marathon Baker by 5.45am. She also ran the distance once she was done with the flag off ceremony. Awesome job babe!

Since Mr Ariff, the Race Director could not make it to this race event because he was down with hot fever, the organizer requested me to do the flagoff. It was such an honour! For the first time in my life. Hahaa... It was truly once in a lifetime experience! Before the flagoff the emcee showed me some Blowing Hon 101 tips... So glad I could perform my impromptu duty well... Kihkih...

SuperLadies & Supervillain in action... In front of Marathon Baker promo booth... Thanks folks! 

While I was waiting to do the honour by flagging off the 10KM run, some of the runners came to Marathon Baker booth to take some photos with me. 

Once I pressed the hon loud and long, off I ran and joining the crowd... Running with a Magneto costume possessed its own challenges too, especially with this handmade armour vest. It's hard to swing my arms hahaa...

Let's Conquer KL City Together! Muahahaaa ~ Evil Laugh...

So we ran along the major roads in KL. Felt like running in a KL Car Free Morning Run too. It was a cooling morning to run. I just took it easy for the first 3km.

Yeahhh enjoying my morning run in Magneto suit! Pic courtesy of Kh Ai....

Once I reached the first WS at KM4++, I slowed down my pace as we merged with the 3km fun run participants. Stopped for a while and took some pictures with some runners.

Kita wefie dulu with Muzie Sham and his little armies! Thanks bro....

After that I just kept on running. I had to take off the Magneto hat beanie when it was getting really hot & stuffy hehee... Somewhere around KM7++...

Bumped into some 15km runners at this point. Just keep on moving & enjoying my run...

Magneto in action again....Bloated betol LOL! Pic credits to Hishamudin Aine....

I could already see the FL was near once I entered Jln Ampang. I just ran my heart out and crossed the FL in style hehee... 1h25m if I'm not mistaken. Yeahhh...

After the run, I went to take the medal and some refreshments. As usual, they gave us some cold ice-cream too. Yumm!

With all the Super Ladies, Shaz, Zet & Yamini.... =)

It's Zumba time babeh... Super Fun totally!

I joined the Zumba dance with the rest of the participants. Doing a Zumba "belly dancing" was so much FUN indeed! LOL....

Even they provided some yummy delicacies to purchase for breakfast on that day.

Post-run, it's photoshoot session with all the funky costume runners and friends, as always... Met so many costume runners, new and old hehee... It was nice knowing you guys!
With Deadpool, Batgirl, Supergirl, Ironman, Robin etc....

With Mr Habib from Anonymous Runners.. Famous rupanya mamat super fit nih!

Congrats Gerlyn Wang for your Best Dress Award & lucky draw... And Boon Hee too... Superb Tinkerbell costume!

With Eleena... Congrats babe!

Zumba Teacher Hanim Iefa and her disciples hehee... Cayalah beb!

Did not get the Best Costume Award this year, due to the tough competitions among the runners. Hahaa... It's occay... I had so much fun already in one day... I wished they will up the prizes to Top 5 Winners next year, perhaps? Hewhew...

Top 3 Best Dress Superheroes Costume - Men's Category.... Congrats gentlemen! Definitely a high benchmark to beat hahaa

Overall it was a good event. Awesome traffic control at every junction, critical point, lovely weather - slightly overcast, drizzled a bit in the morning, great hospitality, super nice finisher medal - so bulky. Special thanks to the organizer for the complementary running slot. :) Looking forward to run Superheroes Race 2017... Hmmm wonder what should I wear then... A superhero or a supervillain? We'll see... =D

With Arina, Syahzan & Muazan from NM Galaxy.... Terbaek la u guys! Pic credits to Superheroes Race 2016

Big Thank You and Congrats to all the selfless dedicated hardworking volunteers, marshalls, crews for Superheroes Race 2016!

P/S: For more pictures and more updates, feel free to visit their Facebook and website ok... Cheers!

Catch of the day! Woot2...