Cycling to Work

I'm always late for work in the morning, mostly due to my early morning runs and ride. Even if I'm not training, I'll still be late. It's just habit i guess.

So this week, my colleague Hamsul and I have decided to start cycling to work. By doing this, we'll be able to "kill a few birds with one stone":

1) Be at work on time
2) Bike training
3) Save money
4) Reduce my carbon footprint

Preparing my stuff for work

All packed

Hidden somewhere in the office

Ready for action -
there's no proper shower in the building, so had to just use the disable toilet to have a shower

Borneo International Marathon 2009 - Race

Official Results:
42 km : 03:36:12

Overall Ranking : 17th
Category Ranking (Mens Open) : 11th/91

Full results here

Congrats and Well Done to all who ran.

Did not really push it, just maintained a steady and controlled pace

3:35:58 - 26.49 miles (aprox.)

I opt to wear a pair of tights instead of my running shorts. I was surprised that I did not get any chafing around my groin area, which I usually get when doing a full marathon, no matter how much Bodyglide or Vaseline i apply. I guess I'll be using more tights for my future races.

Same as last year, very well organised. Well done to the organisers.

Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya - Race

The race started at 8 am, quite late compared to other races i've competed in. I think it's the norm for triathlon races to start around 7 am, where as marathons usually starts way early in the morning at around 5 am.

This time i arrived around 6.30 am as i was just staying about 10 mins from the race venue, and the place was already packed with athletes and spectators.

a few places next to my bike was empty, so had plenty of spaces to put my stuff

My race gear set-up.

Did not wear a tri-suit, just wore a tri pants and a cyling jersey for the bike leg, and a running vest for the run. Much more comfortable

Good thing Zulhassan was there, being alone, i was really getting nervous and jittery.

Improved my swim time. It was in a lake, so there wasnt any current or waves.

SWIM - 46:53

start of the bike leg - was so happy to have finish the swim

There was a lot of confusion on the bike leg. We were supposed to do 3 big loops with 1 small loop at the end of each big loop. (3 big and 3 small loops).

At the end of the first big loop, a group of us missed the sign board that was supposed to tell us to go for the small loop. I think the sign was obstructed by a car or something, and even the marshal didn't tell us to make the loop. So a group of us just slowed down and talk to each other on what to do, and decided to just keep on going.

So at the end of the second big loop, i did 2 small loops, to compensate for the first big loop, and the small loop is where the timing chip markers are.

I was really pushing it on the second loop as i just felt great. But it was a wrong move as that really killed me on the final lap. I was getting cramps on my leg every time i stop pedaling.

Bike Time: 2hrs 49mins

5 mins into the run, got cramps on both of my legs and just had to stand still for a minute or two as I couldn't move at all. Couldn't even sit down.

The other athletes passing me told me to just try and walk it off, which I did and to my surprise after a few minutes of walking, it disappeared. So started running again but at a controlled pace. I think this was one of the most sakit half marathon I have ever done in my life. Kept on questioning myself why I am doing this, it was painful.
A few km to the finish, got another cramp on both legs and just sat down under a pondok for a minute. So the last few km, I was just jogging and walking to the finish line.

Run Time: 2 hrs

Total Time: 5 hrs 40 mins

So glad that's over. Another finisher's medal.

Official Results

56

6

51

Junaidi Ahmad Fathi

M 25/29

BRN

0:46:53,05

2:49:51,50

2:00:15,24

5:40:52,66

Finisher's Medal and T-Shirt
(dissapointed with the quality of the t-shirt and they only had a size L for me)

After race buffet

Will come again next year kalau ramai kawan2 dari Brunei join.

Ironman Putrajaya 70.3 - Pre Race

Took the late evening flight to Kuala Lumpur last night and now staying at a friend's place in Cyberjaya, which is about 10 mins car ride to Putrajaya.

Went to the Pullman Hotel in Putrajaya this morning to register and pick up my race pack. The place was very quiet as most of the athletes have done theirs yesterday, including the race briefing and carbo loading dinner.

The swim start. It's a man-made lake. Looks amazing and the water looks reasonably clean.

The Swim Finish area with the showers

T1 - still empty in the morning

Start and End of the bike leg

Came back in the afternoon to Check-in my bike

Bike being checked by the technician from bike boutique - he is also a Top Malaysian Triathlete (Wong Ah Thiam)

Racking my bike

Just making sure everything is running properly

Met my Ironman friend Zulhassan for the first time at the swim area.

Did a few minutes of swimming. The water was ok, clean but murky, couldn't really see anything in the water. The swim route was properly marked, but only with small buoys, which are quite hard to sight when you are swimming.

This is my first time to Putrajaya and I'm quite amazed with the place. The area is just amazing with all the infrastructure, sceneries and buildings. Looking forward to the bike leg tomorrow as the road looks smooth and fast. I just hope it won't get too hot.

I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow as I know I'm not really well prepared in terms of my fitness, as my training slowed down during the fasting month. I'm just gonna try my best and go with the flow. I don't think I'll be able to beat my time in Singapore last March.

But.. you never know, a miracle might happen.. AMIN.. (just being optimistic)

Good Luck to all my friends who are competing tomorrow. All the best!!!!