Testing the new wheels...

Frankly, the tri spokes looks nice, but they weigh a lot. In fact, they are exactly 1.9kg both. Compared to the previous Mavic Ksyrium, I think it's an additional 400 grams.

But they are pretty pretty fast. I had no problems going uphills with them to Genting Peres, or up Genting Sempah. In fact, I felt it sort of propelling the bike upwards.

Had a bike ride to Bentong last week, and it was a blast. Onwards from Sempah downhill, I could easily reached 42km/h sustaining pace.

However, frankly my cycling legs were kind of lost after weeks of running. High profiles are really excellent, if and only if you have the power to push them.

I'll look into serious cycling next january for the coming IM 2010.

ultra run: 100km bukit aman done

Going 3rd lap: Pictures from Ray Ng and Mich Looi

A day before the run, I had some pain on my left shoulder. It was so bad, I needed to use my right hand to shift gears while driving. You may not need to use your arm while running, but it will affect if each swing spells pain.

Sunday came and it was bearable or somehow disappeared. I think I started around 7:28.

First round. Started on an easy pace. Met with lawrence, john before the 5km mark. Approaching petronas, met with bobby. I didn't stop at the station. Then on the way back I was chasing down a pacesetter t-shirt guy. Managed to squeeze into the lead for a few k after that, but I had to kick it off as I approach the slope up the car park. No point racing if you are going to do this 5 laps.
Time: 1:49:23

Second round. Took 2 bananas, refilled the bottle, and went back running. Surprisingly I didn't find the route boring going twice. Manage to find some folks still running although it's getting hot.
Didn't felt so bad as I completed it. But opted to have iced milo and soya at the nearby stall.
Time: 2:14:04

Third round. Things are getting tougher. As usual pain is creeping in. Had a call from Raymond Ng. It was nice of him to drop by. Ray and Mich took the trouble to drive around, just to took some photos. I had mixed feelings about it. Should I show I am enjoying the run, or for the fact, the truth is, my legs are indeed in pain. And it was only 5 hours into running. However this is the part where it's the hottest. Gladly, the sun was shaded from clouds, but you still feel the afternoon heat and humidity.
Time: 2:44:49

Fourth round. Had some plantar pain on the right foot. But kept it going. Pace is terribly slow. Then as I approached Plaza Damas, it started to rain. My shoes and socks was a bit wet, but that was enough to cause 2 blisters on both feet. Now, the rule to ultra running is always take care of your feet, before things get worse. And, I've forgotten to bring plasters. Tried to tape up the blister with some tape I bought from petronas, but that proved futile. So, then, it was running in pain. A few k before the car park, I found it odd to have sand rubbing on my top right foot. Opened it up, and it was an exposed blister. Great. Now the problem was partly the thick socks I've been wearing. I resorted to walking right-bare footed, but then wore it back and walked back to the parking.

Then I sat down using plasters to fix both feet, and I opted for another thinner socks. Hope this helps. Time was pretty slow with all the walking.
Time: 3:27:50

Fifth round. With both feet fixed, the pain from blisters was managable. And running was getting easier. But it doesn't mean pain is not there. It had been there since the 3 loop. Just that you try to pull yourself through it. From the start, I objectified this run, as trying to run as much as possible, and resting set to a minimal.

When things get tougher, I said to myself "I want my 100km". Automatically the mind resets, and I am back to running.
Time: 2:51:30

Game the whole thing in 13 hr 7 min.

Running bukit aman is not easy with hills, but certain parts are easier for the downhills. Good thing was I didn't bonked, or had cramps. Only pain and blisters.

Ultraman Hawaii: This is better than Ironman

3 days: swim 10km, bike 421km, run 84km.

I want to do this one day.

Don't blame me. Keat Seong wants to do it too.

Bukit Aman ultra run 100km

Now...the furthest I've ran Bkt aman was 4 loops last year for sundown training, which I managed to reach 84km just shy of 12 hours.

I will try to do a 100km this sunday morning. That would be at least 12 hours.

There's no guarantee I could make it...and that's why it's so enticing. Anything can happen...lets see where this goes...

Lost at Sea: Would you do this?

I've just watched 'Lost at Sea', which tells the story of Andrew McAuley's solo kayak attempt across the Tasmanian sea to New Zealand. That's 1000 miles of pedalling. However, his kayak sank 30 miles off the coast, and his body never found.

He left behind a wife and a son.

The big question is, would you do this? Depends on whom you asked. Many will comment that it isn't.

Sometimes it's good that humans can't see all the potential problems coming, or else they won't attempt the craziest challenge. The best you could do is make the best preparation, know the risk involved, and try to game it.

That had me thinking, what is the limit of human endurance? And I think the answer is pretty well 'death'. There's many stories about how long a human can go on without food, water, and we are talking about the average joe who was thrown into these situations involuntarily. Somehow, they made it back, while on the verge of crossing the line.

However, if men were not willing to go beyond his capacity, then he would not had made history. The past human achievements are men who went beyond the known limit, in any endeavor. It could be a ground breaking theory, space exploration or endurance sports.

Andrew, knew of course, he won't come back. He made the bet, but he lost it. But he didn't truly lost, because either way, he's now in the annals of human history.

"All men die...but few men truly live."

---

Note: Try finding the torrent for this video.

Bike-Evolution

Here's the new weapon for IM 2010 langkawi. Two new upgrades are in. Notably is the Carbona 60mm tri spokes, which I got 2nd hand, but still quite new. The other is a Fizik seat.

But it's not a guaranteed ticket to going fast. For that...you still have to train.

And train you must.

Ultra run 63km Hulu Langat

Running up Ampang hill

Then down...

Reaching bt 14 hulu langat.

Bukit hantu..


I am wearing mizuno...very light.

Descending bkt hantu...

Hardly see any cyclist...I think met 3. Going straight will be leading towards Genting peres.

Lunch...

Finally, this is my first ultra run for this year.

I started out around 7:16am in the morning, and ran towards the Ampang lookout point. The road is not a nice one with the usual motor exhaust polluting the air, but somehow it's manageable. As I ran up the hill, a Kancil car with 3 ladies needed help changing their tyre. They had tried to stop a few people for help, but no one came to their help. So, after some 10 minutes, I did managed to get the thing done. Frankly I didn't know if I can unscrew the nuts, because I did try it once on my car, and it won't budge. Had to call the mechanic, and he used a steel pipe to add more lever. Luckily, I had trained more on the upper body, so the strength was there. So peeps, it's good to have strong arms.

Then I continued my running. Up the hill and reaching Batu 14. Stopped for a 100 plus before going for the Semenyih Dam. Now, running up bukit hantu is as tough as cycling it. With the clouds lay hanging low, it was a pretty misty affair.

Then, it was heading northwards. I was getting pretty low on energy. Actually had forgot to bring any food or gels, so I stopped an ice cream seller and had two red bean ice cream.

Managed to reach the junction to Peres in about 3 hours. Then it was running towards batu 18. But after 5km, the rain suddenly poured. So, I stopped at a sundry store, got some plastics to wrap the phone and also had soya bean drink. I didn't want to stay too long, so I kept on running in the rain. Well..the rain somehow eased off.

Then just before 2km to bt 18, I stopped at an eatery beside a stream, for some lunch. At this point it's around 40km with the time of 4:11

After like half an hour rest, it's back to pounding the roads. But it proved harder as it was noon, and the heat from the sun is raising the humidity level. Now running in heat alone is suffering, but with both it's real tough. Had to stopped for drinks a couple of times.

Soon I reached bt 18, and then another time up the Ampang hill to get back home. This time I did the fastest time of 7:19:59. A chap from my neighborhood had noticed me running at the start around 7, and he was surprised to see me running at 2 sth.

"Another run?"

I replied "Yea.." but I didn't tell him I had been running since then.