ENERGIZER NIGHT RACE - NIGHTMARE 16 April 2011

I actualy manage to get the early bird registration fee for this run. Extremely excited to run the race because

1) it was held at Sepang Circuit - excited gilers* (translation *crazy so the correct phrase shoulod be crazy excited) as I never been there and thought it was cool to be able to run on the race track.

2) it was done at night time - my first night run !!!!

However the experience on the day was so dissapointing and 90% of the blame well atleast to my point of view falls on the organisers be it Expose Event Management, Energizer or Sepang Circuit Management.

Well this is my account of  the event and what went wrong.

Arrival @ 6.20 pm

I left home at 5.30 pm, car pool with Kak Sue, Yana and Adzman (friends I recruitd to join me in the fun). Anyway the run starts at 8.00 pm but was told we need to register at 6.30 pm so that is why we started the journey at 5.30 pm.

Upon arrival, we pay our parking fee RM10, parked our car and walk to the Sepang Circuit entrance. We took pictures, look at people and wonder where do we have to go to register for our run. Alas we spotted 1 (ONE) banner stating Energizer Night Race this way and that is after we spotted a the crowd.

Imagine 10k participants using only 1 entry point a small staircase and tunnel leading up to the pit stop, it could have been bad but everyone was calm and excited for the run.

At the end of the tunnel was a different story. The organisers decided set up a table and distribute the headlamps, the problem with this arrangement was:

1) the place was small and to accomodate the crowd,

2) nobody was mending the booth so everyone was pushing to get the headlamps

With all the pushing and shoving I manage to get a headlamp but I heard some  runners did not manage to get them and have to run in the dark, which is pretty bad if you are running a half or a full marathon cause their route takes them outsite the circuit

Getting Ready & Warming up @ 7.15pm

After the headlamp excitement, we went the "Bag & Luggage". There was 2 long lines at the place and when nearing to the 8.00pm people starting to panic because the 10k and 5k run is starting soon. Suddenly there was people providing us with stickers telling to stick 1 sticker to your bag and the other identical sticker to your bib. Again everyone went crazy to get these stickers. Again I push and shove to get the stickers and somehow manage to get myself to the front counter of "Bag and Luggage" to my amazement NOBODY was there... 

How lah like this ....so where and with whom should I leave my bag with ???? Then I saw a few runners just went in behind the counter and put their bag along with the others that is already there and that is what I did. I went in and just put my bag in, to me is the safest location at the place.

Afterwards we relax, do a little warm-up on our own and had to follow the crowd to the starting line cause there was no signage and nobody was instructing anybody to go anywhere or do anything.

Running Time @ 8.15pm

We find our way at the starting time, a different location AGAIN.... Music was loud, the MC was trying to be louder (sigh.....) and at 8.15 pm we are off.

The only good thing to on that day was the track. I was walking around the F1 circuit, it felt so cool or as my nephew would say "AWESOME". Didn't run was tired so I just walk next to Kak Sue. My left leg hurt a little bit, I guess because of to much walking that week.

Anyway the water station was at the 4km point and was the only water station in the circuit. The funny part was they were distributing the 1.5l mineral water and can drinks. Can you imagine running with a mineral water or the can drinks ? it was RIDICULOUS .... so along the way you see lots of unfinished mineral water bottles and cans along the circuit......sigh......

At the finish line, again there was confusion. There was lots of people there some taking picture, some just walking aimlessly and some were like me confuse on which line should I be and where should I go next. There was no race marshall anywhere even on the circuit. People was taking short cuts here and there ... weird what made you decide to cheat ? who are you cheating anyway ?

Complete the Race @ 9.30pm

So I finish my run with nit my best time and went looking for my friends. Kak Sue and I went to the "bag" counter to collect my bag. This time there was 2 person taking care of the counter, got my bag and went back to the race track.

There was a LOOOONNNNGGGGGGGG queue. People was waiting in line to collect their goody bag. There was only 1 queue. Why ? Well because the organiser just st up 1 counter to distribute to goody bags to all 10k participants. Crazy idea but the organiser thought that was ok.

Anyway, like everything else about the race, it went wrong. After 1hr in the line the organisers say they will mal thegoody bags to all participants. Hahahahah I believe you. Anyway I didn't bother to line up because the line was so long. I just sit at the side waoting for my friend so that we can go home. Tired already ......

Tunnel of death

After the announcement, everybody was told to leave so we went back via the tunnel again.This time it was not as sweet smelling as before.It was hot, thank god nobody was pushing or shoving.

We got into our car and went to Sri Petaling mamak stall to have dinner. Forgot to mention there was NO FOOD at the event. All the races I went so far in Malaysia always have food in abundance but there was none that day. I think that what made me snap and went online to comment on the race.

The amazing thing was I was not alone. The facebook page was already full of comments so I was not the only one who think the race organiser was crappy.

The End

After 2 days of venting out our displeasure on  Facebook the organiser promise to send out the goody bag and refund everyone who participated. The details will be announce on Thursday and Friday.

I am really happy about the refund because the race was so a joke, it was not properly plan and the organiser just wanted to make money out of the event.

BARENO RUN ....... FINISH NO. 82

I got a finisher medal woo hooo ..... my first medal ever ... ever for a sport.


Details of the run are as follows:
Date: 13 March 2011
Time: 7.00am
Run Partner: Tina .... but she could not make it so sad, she have to attend her master class on that day.
Location: National Stadium, Bukit Jalil (home advantage hahahaha)
Distance: 5k


I finish the run within 30 minutes and I ran all the way. The location of the run help a lot because I use the road everyday and kept thinking it is just so near. Everytime I wanted to stop, I tought the stadium is just around the corner.


Anyway will upload some pictures later.

The promise picture ... not much but better then nothing ;-)

I am sooooo happy to finish the run.

Pls note the running jersey I am wearing is "M" size. The one I wore for my first attempt to run which I fail to start was a "L".








Also pls note I have reduce the bulge on my upper arm (just above my elbow) and tthigh area so now I can see my elbow and knee.

For comparison

Charity Bicycle Event - Ride For Gaza

We did the Ride for Gaza !! Yups Nurman and Me :-) ..... It was only 17km around Putrajaya. The race started late; it was supposed to start at 9am but end up starting at 9.30am. We had to wait for some VIP to start the event and as a whole it was rather an unorganized event. The organizer have to keep requesting people to gather in front of the VIP tent because there was a speech from the VIP and some safety tips from the event Marshall but nobody was moving. People were ignoring them. Everyone just wanted to start cycling. At one time I think I can hear the annoyed / angry voice of the MC because nobody was cooperating. Anyway the event manage to gather 700++ cyclist open to all types of bicycle. A few of Malaysia cyclist also join the event (saw M Kumaresan; he is still good looking, I think he is in his mid 40 already) 

  

Bike Ride At DUKE Highway - Keramat to Mount Kiara

Around 2 to 3 weeks ago Nurman and me bought mountain bikes as we decided it is something we can do together. So we started to ride on our bikes around our housing area. Sadly on the 2nd bike ride, Nurman suffer some back pain. It was rather bad as he received 2 days off from work (MC = medical condition) for it.    

Anyway, at my office there are a few avid mountain bike riders. They usually go riding on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. These are the pictures on  my first ride with them. There were 6 of us.

Nurman did not joined us because it was on the same week of his MC. Anyway the guys decided to go easy on me and we just do a ride on the Duke Highway not on some off-road trail at FRIM, where I heard there is a hill called Steriod Hill !!! They say the trail is not for novice rider.

Here are some picture of me and the guys at a few and much needed stop.

We (Nurman & Me) are going to join them riding on Ride for Gaza at Putrajaya this Sunday (16 Jan 2011). It is only 17km.

Event Details


1. Date/ Day : 1 January 2011 / Saturday; Yes, this is what I did on the first dayof 2011! Lame ke ? Some would think so because obviously did not went out anywhere to celebrate the New Year, so can wake-up early to join  the walk

2. Start Time : 8.00am (The organisers requested us to be there at 7.15am, I arrived around 7.25am. Along and Kak Muzi arrived first before us (Tina and Me). Anyway, as usual waited at the starting line as instructed by the MC that day. He keep saying that we are going to start on time because of bla..... bla... bla.... yawn... bla... bla.... BUT we did not start on time. Hehehehehe some of the race marshalls decided to go for breakfast. I think the MC was a little bit embrassed but he cover lah, by saying he does not want to release us without the race marshall presence....bla...bla...safety reasons...bla....yawn....)

3. Location : Central Park One Utama - my first love for shopping mall .... sigh..... One Utama

4. Distance : 4.5km

5. Running Partner : Nor Izzada Zainuddin aka Along, Tina Zahani Zainuddin (both are my sisters) and Muzakiah Mustapha Kamal aka Along's BFF.

Our Pictures at the starting line

Chronological of the Walk (I will just do a summary, nothing much to tell)


Started at 8.10am ish...... everyone started to walk. I walk with Kak Muzi .. we walk ... we talk while walking... pass through people who are blocking our way. Everyone was taking their sweet time, well it is a fun walk after all !

Some where along the way, I went ahead of Kak Muzi, found my mark and continue moving forward. While walking, Tina appreared next to me so we walk together..... we walk.... we talk... I told / show her my mark..... so the both of us kejar my marker. All was


find untill my mark decided to run! Hampeh betul..... it 
is a walk lah dei..... So I started walking faster, if the mark is out of sight, I run a bit untill I saw him again. Lost Tina some where along the way.

Got to the finish line .... woooo hoooo !!!! Not long afterwards Tina joined me .... And then Kak Muzi and Along .....Everybody finish.

A good start for the new year....

Tina after finishing the race

Along and Kak Muzi arriving at the finish line !!!

AFTER THE RACE.... breakfast at PapaRich, One Utama.... Hahahahaha

CHINESE TEN COURSE MEAL - THANK YOU BOSS

Today we had a chinese ten course meal for lunch ... Thank you BOSS! It was at Hj Shahrin Low - Chinese Muslim Restaurant off Jalan Ampang.

The deco of the restaurant badly need a "restaurant makeover". However the food was wonderful. The price was RM688 per table and could roughly cater for 100pax at one time.

As per normal chinese course meal the food was sent out 1 at a time, so a photo to your left is exactly what we ate not in that particular order (I tried arranging them but it was just to exhausting ... sorry guys)         

    

My idea really was to give my review on each particular dish but alas I am  just to lazy ..... Anyway the best dish was the steam fish (manage to get the organiser to change the fish from kerapu to siakap... a more suitable dish to for this particular dish well atleast to me). I also enjoyed the chicken (truly sorry that the dish picture is some what marred, i forgot to take a picture of it when it arrived was to busy eating hehehehehe BUT I manage to do so before it was gulp down by the people in my table hahahahaha all hungry piranha)

The not so nice dish was the beef and lamb. This is some what a surprise to me because, I usually LOVE beef and lamb but maybe the way it was cook just not to my liking.

Malakoff Run KL

Hmmm... How to start ?

Event Details
1.  Date/ Day  : 19 December 2010 / Sunday

2.  Start Time  : 7.20am (I was there at 6.45, you have got to be at the starting line 30min early. Learn this the hard way, fail to start for my Standard Chart Run)

3.  Location  : Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort

4. Route  : See above map

5. Running Partner  : Suraya Farihah (a wonderful friend from my uni. years that I still keep in touch with. She finish at 1 hr 40 min and was it was her first run. Now she got the running bug already and will be joining me for the Energiser Night Race... Love ...love..... love

6. Weather  : was wonderful, not to hot or raining ... just  nice

Chronological Order of the RUN

5.15 – 6.30 am
Awake-up, got ready and went down BUT had the go back up again (nature call). Looking back I think I was nervous and to those who know me can verify that every time I am nervous, my stomach gets upset …. Nasty business

6.30 – 6.45 pm
Pick up Kak Sue and we are off to Bukit Kiara

As we arrived, we saw lots of cars parking by the roadside (on the highway). Bukit Kiara only allowed cars with stickers to part inside so what to do? We joined the crowd and pray we will not be the last remaining car later on.

Actually this turn out to be just fine, because we actually end up parking near another gate and was nearer to the starting line …..

7.00 – 7.20 pm
“Lepak-lepak”at the starting line, collected our start off band and waited.

Pooooooonnnnnn !!!!!! we are off

7.20 -8.25 pm
Start off was ok …. We were and the back of the crowd. Start off with walking and soon we reached our first hill. A very high hill, Kak Sue told me to go first and I did. At this point did not feel so bad leaving her behind because there this 1 family (a mother and 2 small kids) so I guess she does have some company.

So I ran and I walk, manage to be part of a group. Where I pick my mark / target…. Basically I pick this old uncle …. He was running macam senang ajer but slow lah the rhythm… So I said “if this uncle pass me, I am going to run” SO that is how my race went …. Every time THE UNCLE passed me I ran until I got tired and walk …… The uncle was good I don’t think he ever stop running.

Anyway so where along the race we meet up with the 12k runners which was ok for me. Nampak ramai sikit at the finishing line … hehehehehe

8.25 - 10.00pm
Anyway I finished at 8.25am waited for Kak Sue.

We went to collect our goody bags and a light breakfast was provided. At first they have this coupon system, but  later they annouced that the food was free flow. SO I had roti jala, mee mamak and tau fu faa (hey..... i ran 7k what hehehehehe)

Kak Sue

Me holding my BIB

Check out T-shirt  still wet from sweat.... this is already on our way back .....