Malaysian Unity Run

Event No:    43
Event Title:  Malaysian Unity Run
Event Type: Run - Road
Category:    10 Kms - Men - Open
Event Date: 12 Dec 2015
Location:     Taman Wetland, Putrajaya

When I first came to know - Ultron is the official apparel sponsor for this event, I just waited for Ultron to open up the sponsored slots (haha). 

When I saw them calling for Team Ultron, I took my time for responding, I was in two minds whether to go for it or just leave - as on the same day evening I have an Ultra Marathon "MKH Kajang 12 Hours International Walk". However, I decided to take part and sent in my entry a day later and was selected to represent them for the event "Malaysian Unity Run".

I take this opportunity to thank Ultron for giving me a splendid opportunity to represent them yet again in an event. Earlier to this, I had the privilege to represent Ultron in their previous events.

Below is the squad for Team Ultron representing in the event.

After the photo session, we gathered for a quick warm up session, it was me again to take up the session, with few moves, forward and side lunges, bending, twisting I quickly completed the warm up session. As soon as the session is done, we were called to gather at the starting line.

The team scattered while gathering at the starting line. As communicated, the flag off took place at 8:00 AM sharp. The first 1 Km was a normal road then started an unexpected path - more like a trail with lots of stones, pebble, and gravel all thru the course. After crossing the 2.5 Kms mark there was no proper signage between the intersections and we lost the route (not once but we did ran the wrong route twice, which costed us an extra 3 Kms). We enjoyed the route miss with a nice selfie.

Finally, we managed to find the right path and continued our run and then we came across the 3 Kms mark (by the time our GPS was already showing 5.8 Kms). Thinking that we might see a water station at 4 Kms mark just continued with a slow pace; unfortunately we saw the water station only after 5 Kms mark; sad to see - they were only serving water and no isotonic and no medics available at the station.

The route still continued with stones, pebbles and gravel - went in a wrong shoe, as the organizer never mentioned about this in their website / facebook page. Continued with the run after quenching the thirst, to my astonishing there were no more water stations till the finish line - very badly organized. Cannot expect to stay hydrated for 5 Kms with the kind of weather in Putrajaya.

Finally, made my way to the finish line and immediately grabbed one 100 Plus and a Milo to recover from my thirst. Stayed there for an hour to relax myself and to meet and greet my fellow runners.

Overall with few technical glitches the race was organized quite well. Enjoyed running in my Ultron Champion Tee and meeting the Ultron crew and other Ultron Ambassadors.

Thanks again to Ultron for giving me an opportunity to represent them again.

Forest Trail Run

Event No:    41

Event Title:  Forest Trail Run

Event Type: Run - Trail + Road

Category:    9 Kms - Open

Event Date: 6 Dec 2015

Location:     Taman Botani Kepong, FRIM

It was a challenge for me to find the location when I went to collect my race kit, Uber person take me to FRIM (I thought, the place is very near to it). We couldn't find it and then he decided to check with the administrative building and a lady there explained him on the way. We started back to the location and it did take quite a time to find it - at last we reached the place correctly. Asked my Uber person to wait so that I can go back home with him.

When I collected my race kit - not bad - I see a lot of goodies inside the race kit along with a beautiful Compressport Event Tee. Visited the stalls there and bought few gels and pre and post race recovery products. There was one more stall where they were selling SIS, I have never tried their products before - so, thought of giving it a try; took 5 Gels and 2 post recovery packs. I tried to remember the route back to home so that it would be easier for me to guide the driver on the race day.

I was pretty tired on Saturday - Participated in two events one in the morning (Roentgen Run - 8.3 Kms) and one at night (Ice Watch Light Up the Night Run - 10.5 Kms) by the time I reached home on Saturday it was almost 11:30 in the night. Had my bath and then went to have my dinner, if I skip it then it would be very difficult for me to take part in this event, by the time I tried to sleep it was almost 2:30 AM, just before going to sleep I have kept all my running gear ready; for the trail run I decided to run in my NB 1080 V5 instead of Adidas Boost.

Finally race day has come, got up at 6:00 AM and called for Grab Car (lucky to get one at that time of the day). Fully prepared for my 2nd Trail Run Event (First time in FRIM's). Reached the venue by 7:30 AM - this time I got the place right, no mishaps. Started with my body exercises before the run to make sure my muscles are relaxed and flexible enough to take on the trail.

Sharp 8:00 AM, as announced the flag off for the 9 KM category (Men & Veteran) happened. The first 600 - 800 Meters was a normal tar road and from there the actual trail was started. OMG it started straight away with a huge elevation, the maximum elevation we gained was 335 m. The up hill was so crazy and it was for about 2 Kms distance straight. I couldn't take it up more and started walking in the half way to finish climbing it (when I think of the 16 Kms category where they have to do the same loop twice - I can't imagine, luckily I haven't registered for that category).

Then we continued with the traditional FRIM route with few up's n down's through out the trail, the route had lots of pebbles and few places it was even muddy, there were two water stations in the route which served cool and refreshing 100 Plus along with mineral water, pretty well organized by the event organizer - no shortfall of the things. 

When I reached the 6 Kms mark, I tried the new gel (SIS) - I thought it would taste just like any other gel (Hammer, Powerbar) but to my surprise it was not. The taste of the gel is a little blunt and even it was no so sticky, it was more like a gel with more water base. However, it got dissolved into me very quickly and there was no need to take water after taking this gel unlike others.

The last 2.5 Kms was again a normal road which went thru a lake - nice and beautiful and the road finally leads to the finish line. People welcome with Drums and applause and there were cheers all around. I crossed the finish line in 1:14:11 with an average pace of 7:58 M/Km.

The 9 Kms finisher medal along with certificate was given after the finish line and it lead to the food station, where they served Soy Milk, Water, Banana, Water Melon & Malay Traditional Food Nasi Lemak, 100 Plus, Gardenia Bread and Cool Ice Milo. What else is needed after a tiresome trail run. 

Had a banana and few pieces of water melon and then stopped to stretch back my muscles, calf string, hamstrings, and other muscles to make them relax. Met few people and then followed with my routine of taking selfies.

Overall, the organizer did a wonderful job by arranging the event with all the specified things, event marshals were guiding us all thru the route, there were enough route directions, enough water stations and the best part lot of refreshments after the finish line.

I would like to thank the organizer for the wonderful event and definitely I'll take part in their next event in 2016.

Ice Watch Light Up The Night Run (IWLUTNR)

Event No:    40
Event Title:  Ice Watch Light Up The Night Run
Event Type: Run - Road
Category:    10 Kms - Men - Open
Event Date: 5 Dec 2015
Location:     Plaza Shah Alam, Shah Alam

The Ice Watch Light Up The Night Run (IWLUTNR) is one of it's kind of event organized for the very first time in Shah Alam. To cater a variety of runners they opened the event with two categories - 5 Kms and 10 Kms, which caters to all sorts of runners from Elite to casual.

The event organizer chose "Plaza Shah Alam" as the starting / finishing point for the event, the stage and the start / finish line were well decorated with colorful lights n balloons. One of the good part of this event is they have pacer service for the 10 Kms participants ranging from 9 Min to 7 Min per Km, which you'll hardly see for a fun event.

To add some curiosity and to grab more participants - they introduced a free Ice Watch give away contest for every successful 6th registration - I'm one of the lucky 6th person to get a free Ice Watch (felt so happy seeing my name in the give away contest).

As communicated at the time of registration; the event tee was not by Compressport instead they changed it to Ultron later (communication was sent out to the participants on the change) - the quality of tee is pretty good with new design material and standards by Ultron (I'm pretty happy with the tee provided by Ultron - thanks for the micro dry technology).

I was a bit tired with an event in the morning (Roentgen Run - 8+ Kms at Bukit Jalil) and later in the day went out to collect my race kit for the Sunday Morning Run (Forest Trail Run, FRIM's). But, I never gave up to participate in the event.

Due to traffic glitches, I reached the venue at 7:55 PM and the flag off time for the 10 Kms category is at 8:00 PM. Hardly, I had time to warm up myself. I pushed thru the crowd and tried to make my place near to the start line; as communicated the flag off happened around 8:00 - 8:05 PM.

Running with Pacers was my mantra for the day, after seeing the pacer service. I chose the 7 Min/Km Pacer and tried to run along with them, few times I crossed them and few times I bumped with them, at few places when I tried to catch up my breath due to overrunning I fall behind the pacers.

The route was pretty well organized with route marshals (few places they were not present and running with the traffic made us feel pretty hard). The route started at Plaza Shah Alam and went thru Seksyen 5, 6, 3, 11, Shah Alam Mosque and thru some residential areas and finally ended back at Seksyen 9 "Plaza Shah Alam".

The water stations were placed roughly at 3.5 Kms and 7 Kms points - they served the water in bottles instead of traditional paper cups (much appreciated) and at 7 Kms they served isotonic drinks along with water.

Most of the route was flat except few uphills at around 8th Km mark and 10 Km mark near to the finish line. The last 1.5 Kms we ran thru the traffic and it was not pretty well managed by the marshals (felt a bit worried to run with the traffic), other than this particular place; rest of the route was organized pretty well.

Even though I ran for 8 Kms in the morning, I did able to cross the finish line in 70 Minutes, last 1.5 Kms I was not with the pacers though. As soon as we crossed the finish line, I saw a pretty big queue and wondered looking at it; understood that the queue was for Red Bull (hahah). Collected my finisher medal along with a banana and a water bottle (not to forget Red Bull as well, but I haven't collected mine) to quench my thirst and post race recovery.

Only at the start and finish line there were lights to light up the night, but rest of the route it was pretty normal, I thought the race will be similar to "Electric Run" with few surprises - but there were none and they have only provided two glow sticks as part of the race kit.

As soon as the run finished, I was waiting in the pretty long queue to collect my Ice Watch, there was no choice given to us for selecting the color - they gave me a pink color watch, luckily I was able to exchange with a fellow run for an yellow watch.

Before leaving the place went and met the Ultron team - 'Vincent' who was representing Ultron in the event, had some quick chat and took some photos and then moved on from the venue.

Overall, the race was organized pretty well; even though it was their first event. Hope next year they will come up few more surprises and better lights along the race route.

Thanks to the organizers for the event which was well organized in all the aspects of the event. Will look out for their next year event to participate.