MALAKOFF POWERMAN 2008 (9/11/08)

Proudly posing with the medal.

A cold 100 plus should be given instead of mineral water.

Close up of the finisher medal.

With Jasni, the other finisher of the Manjung cycling team.

My friend Jeff snap this one for me. Thanks Jeff.

RUN 11KM BIKE 64KM RUN 10KM

Finally i have achieved my dreams of becoming a finisher of the event. I have targeted to do well below than 4 hours and 15 min and I was doing very well in the beginning. The first 11 km run, i did it in 1 hour and 2 sec. The timing can be considered my personel best. Why? Because after almost 20 years, this is the first time i'm running more than 10 km. Jasni my cycling buddy was 3 min behind me at this time. Then came the cycling part, initially i was feeling good in the bike for the first 32km. My average speed was 3okm per hour and my timing for the first loop was 1h and 4 min. Then tragedy struck me, at the foot of the Tuanku Bainun bridge cramps hit me. Both my quadriceps and hamstring was contracting non stop and i was in terrible pain. I had to jump off from my bike and quickly i administered self first aid for almost 15 min. During that period many competitors including Jasni had overtook me. Finally after a brief period of self stretching and massage, the cramps were gone. Slowly i started my ride again maintaining speed around 25-27 km per hour. With the cramps, there goes my hope of doing well below than 4 hours and 15 min. Quickly i shifted my target to become a finisher. Well it is my actual target but i have an extra target deep in my heart to do it in the above mention time. I manage to finish cycling in 2 hour and 25 min. A quick glance at my polar watch shows me i have done 3 hours and 35 min on the run and bike and i have only 1 hour and 25 min left to finish the race. I began to wonder whether i can make it or not in the stipulated time of 5 hours. With my experience in the sprint event last year, running especially after biking is not an easy task to do. I set my running pace slowly to avoid cramps from coming back. I tried to run consistent with a slower pace but i find it very hard to do. So its time to change strategy again. I ran 200 meter and walk 50 meter and its finally works well for me. I manage to overtook many competitors including Jasni who is almost 15 min in front of me during biking. One competitor that i must salute was an 60 year malay man who manage to overtook many athletes including me. He was consistent on his running until he finishes the race and was placed fourth in his category. I finish the run in 1 hour and 13 min and overall my timing was 4 hours and 44min 33 sec. Well by becoming the finisher i have fullfill my target and i shall return next to improve my timing or become finisher again. My position was 33 for category 40-44 age, and overall 294. To all the guys and gals who did it, i would like to salute you for all your hard work. Finally Jasni manage to sneak in on time and both of us is the only guys in our cycling group who are dare enough to rise to the challenge of the Powerman. Not forgetting the Singaporean athlete who came in in 4 buses. Hope to see you all next year again.