Sunday, October 31, 2010

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2010 - Commentary on the Full Marathon Course

Here is my commentary about the PBIM 2010 Full Marathon 42.195km route.

First, let's see the official route map from the organiser website below.

Click the image above for a larger image.

This route map is obviously not to scale and could be misleading to some extent. The route information given along with the route map above is as follows:

Queensbay - Seagate - Penang Bridge - PBSB Office - Jelutong Expressway - Macallum Street - Villa Emas - Queensbay Mall

A more representative route map is shown below. You may check out this link. The U-turn at PBSB office was not accurately charted in the link.


Click the image above for a larger image.

I ran this full marathon route last year. It was the run of my life. This year, I will skip the FM and will only run in the half marathon.

I will give more details on the FM route for those who is new to this route. This route is basically the same as the 2009 FM route. The start/finish line is at Queensbay Mall. It is easier to break this route into 3 sectors, and analyse them accordingly.

Sector 1 (Queensbay Mall to Seagate then to start of Penang Bridge) (Start to ~9.5km)

From Queensbay Mall, the runners will run straight to a round-about and take the first turn to the left (9 o'clock direction). Runners will then turn left to Bayan Lepas Highway (away from the Bridge). There is a U-turn near Seagate at around 3.5km. After this U-turn (the first timing mat was placed here during the PBIM2009), runners will be heading to the Bridge via the Bayan Lepas Highway. When you are at the beginning of the Bridge, you are now at approximately 9.5km mark. This section of the course is flat and runners can take it easy and refrain from running too fast.

Sector 2 (start of Penang Bridge at Penang Island heading towards mainland, U-turn at PBSB office and back to Penang) (From ~9.5km to ~26km)

This is relatively straight forward section of the course. The bridge is flat except for the middle section. The climb start at around 12km mark until the approximately 13km mark. Then the bridge ramp down to around 14km mark. The run to the mainland is until the PBSB office when there is small gate open on the right for the runners to cut through to a U-turn beneath the bridge. When the runners come up on the other side of the bridge heading towards the island, this is approximately 18.5km mark. There will be a timing mat here.

Just before the 21km halfway mark on the bridge, FM runners will now see the half-marathoners taking their U-turn on the bridge. The route will get slightly crowded and you may find yourself weaving through the HM runners. Then you climb the middle section of the bridge and you will find yourself back to the island.

Runners should be at their marathon goal pace already at this section but be careful not to overdo it. Reserve some strength for the final sector.

Sector 3 (Penang Bridge to Lebuh Macallum then to Queensbay Mall) (~26km to Finish)

This is where the FM race really begins.

This sector is the toughest, both physically and mentally for the FM runners. After the bridge, the runners will turn right, away from Queensbay Mall, on to the Jelutong Highway. The U-turn is at Lebuh Macallum, some 6.5km away. A lot of the FM runners suffered last year during this section because of a few factors. Among them, no km markers to show the distance, three flyovers (effectively 6 in totals because of the return trip) to tackle, crowded running route near the ~37.5km mark with HM and 10km runners depending on your pace.

Heading to Lebuh Macallum you will see HM turning point at around e-Gate building. FM runners, please don't turn here. You will not run a full course by taking an early U-turn.

Last year, the U-turn at Lebuh Macallum was marked with 35km marker. This was wrong, as I later found out. The official timing split indicated later was 32km, on the finisher certificate. However, I believe this point should be in between 32km and 33km, probably much closer to 33km mark.

The run back from the U-turn to Queensbay Mall will be a test of the heart. You will likely to be tired at this stage. There will be no pretty cheerleaders cheering for you at that time. And you need to tackle the gradient of the flyovers again. Not too steep if you ask me, but any climb at that point of time (& distance) will be very demanding both on the body and mind.

My advice for the runners in this sector is to stay strong and focused. You will reach the left turn near Villa Emas before Eastin Hotel, then take the round-about at the end of the road and head towards the finish line. You will then cross that finish line with you head up, arms up, and a lot satisfaction for conquering this full marathon course.

See you at the finish line!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Terry Fox Run KL 2010 - Route Map




Here is the route map. It is approximately 2.5km loop around the Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.

Terry Fox Run KL 2010 - Route map (Click on image above for larger image)

"P" is the suggested parking area. Parking space is limited. Please car pool or use public transport.

Water station labeled with "W". It is located at the top of the map.

The staging area, start/finish area is on bottom right corner of the route.

See you all there!

Terry Fox Run KL 2010 - Event Programme


Terry Fox Run KL 2010

7 November

Taman Tasik Titiwangsa

Programme :

8.00am Arrival of participants


8.30am Emcee to welcome crowd.


8.35am Welcome address by Ms Jo Tan, Chairman of the Terry Fox Run KL 2010 Organising Committee. Brief about the Terry Fox Run.


8.40am Brief about beneficiary – Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF) by Chief Executive, Professor Dr Teo Soo-Hwang


8.45am Warm up by Celebrity Fitness


8.55am Invite Mr Douglas Bingeman, Acting High Commissioner for Canada and YM Tunku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Yahaya, Chairman of the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF) Board of Trustees onto stage. Mr Bingeman to address crowd.

9.00am Flag off the “Wheelers”

9.05am Flag off the runners

9.45am Runners return – F&B distribution

10.00am Team cheering & photo session on stage / Children’s activities at the children’s tent

11.00am End of Run


Monday, October 25, 2010

theSun Motor Hunt 2010 scheduled on 21 Nov is POSTPONED

Breaking news on theSun Motor Hunt 2010 taken from TimeOut Solutions website.
===============================================
Dear All,

TheSun HUNT which was scheduled for 21 Nov has now been postponed to a later date TBA

*TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY*
===============================================

No new date posted yet.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Mizuno Wave Run 2010 - My third wave run

Thanks Tey for the pia photo on top of the last hill climb.

This October marks my second anniversary in road running. Mizuno Wave Run has been special for me. It was my maiden road race back in 2008. We always remember our first time, good or bad, don't we?

This year, the event was again held in Kompleks Sukan UPM. The route was slightly different compared to last year, but I would say, easier too. Nonetheless, it was still a hilly course.

Coming to this race without much training, my expectation was to use this race as my training run to rack up mileage. Usually, Sunday is my rest day. Since June, I had not been doing any speed training and my mileage was low (as low as less than 20km per week at one point). My wife joined me for this run. It was her second Mizuno run. Most of my usual (Mizuno Wave Run) runner friends like BP and William were absent from this year event. Anyway, good to see Pang was there. Also, I met Paul at end of my run.
Photo with Paul. (Courtesy of Paul Liong)

I got a small scare during earlier part of the race as I felt a little discomfort on my right knee. Luckily it was not a big problem. Kwang Leng overtook me at around 1.5km mark. I tried to follow his pace but it was not to be. I managed to catch up with my wife (who started 10 minutes earlier) at the first water station (around 4km mark).

Anyway, I was glad to finish the run in 53:14 gun time. It was my best time for this 11km race. Split time at 10km was less than 48 minutes, it was my best time for 10km as well. I could have done better with more training, but this was a training run anyway. Although I got my PB, but I didn't feel really excited or thrilled about it. I didn't know why, maybe it was not that important as I thought it would be.

After finished my run, I quickly ate some watermelons and drink a few cups of water. Then I got a cup of ice Milo for my wife and waited for her at the finish line. She came back after 1 hour 25 minutes after the start of the women race. Good effort by her.

Overall this year run was a bit more crowded than last year. I felt the crowd control was not so good this time. This year the event registration was through online portal and with addition of timing chip system for 11km categories. Other than that, I didn't really feel the improvement overall. The medical support or response was a bit reactive. I saw there was a runner collapsing at the finish line and no medical support around immediately. There were some people helping him already when I saw him. Rustam, the PACM President was nearby and he called for medic after being alerted of the situation and soon there were some St. John ambulance personnel came to help. He was helped on to a stretcher later. Hope he has recovered now.

My advice to all runners is, please go for your yearly medical check-up and know your physical condition. Until the next run, do stay healthy and know your condition early. That's the least you can do for yourself and your family.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Updates on Terry Fox Run KL 2010 T-shirt sale locations!

Please take note of the locations and the start date of sale at each location.

These are the confirmed places for the sale of TFR KL 2010 T-shirts :

1) Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF), 2nd Floor, Outpatient Centre, Sime Darby Medical Centre
(From 13th Oct, Mon to Fri, 9.00am to 5.00pm)
Contact person : Ms Katrina Low / Pn Herda Abdullah
Tel: 03-56391874

2) Canadian High Commission, Menara Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur
(From 13th Oct, Mon to Thurs, 8.30am to 12.00pm, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Fridays 8.30am to 12.00pm)

3) Clark Hatch Fitness Centre, Capital Square , Kuala Lumpur
(Tuesday & Thursday 19th, 21st, 26th, 28th October, 5.00pm to 7.00pm)
Contact person : Mr Peter Kang

4) Clark Hatch Fitness Centre, Hilton Petaling Jaya
(Wednesday 20th, 27th October, 5pm to 7pm)
Contact person : Mr Peter Kang

5) Runnerz Circle, 12-1, Street Wing, Sunsuria Avenue, Persiaran Mahogani, Kota Damansara
(25th to 29th October, 11.30am to 5pm)
Contact person : Ms Amelia

6) Foyer, Menara Citibank, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
(from 25th Oct to 29th Oct 12.00 to 2.00pm)
Contact person : Ms Iriani

7) Bangsar Village
(16th & 17th October, 10am to 6pm)
Contact person : Mr Bennie

8) Community Corner, First Floor Oval, 1 Utama
(29th, 30th & 31st October - 10am to 9.00pm)
Contact person : Ms Kelly

Please note each T-shirt is priced at RM25. Proceed will go to CARIF.

The T-shirt sizes again for your reference. Please note there is only one cutting.

SIZE

Chest (inch)

Length (inch)

2 (child)

22

16

4 (child)

24

17

3XS (child)

28

20

2XS

32

21

XS

34

22

S

36

25

M

42

29

L

44

30

XL

46

31

2XL

48

32

3XL

52

34


Please come back later for more updates!

Thank you for your support for TFR KL 2010.