#34 - Brooks Half Marathon - Race Shirt Collection

Oh, bad weather we're having outside right now, and the iPod absolutely despise low-light photography, so grainy picture of my bib number then.

But hey - at least I can... divulge... about... sigh, there is no upside to this. The days (and weeks) leading up to the big race, my first HM for 2013, is getting worse by every turn. Here's a handy list:

1. Left leg - Achilles tendon; aches every time I wake up in the morning. Three weeks.
2. Right leg - Medial tibial stress; has improved by Monday actually, but a run around the track on Sunday Morning brought it up once again.

Which brought me to a rather unusual conclusion: the track hates me.

"Psst! Hey, rubber bead no.11387! I know this guy. Let's break his leg. It will be fun."

Bear with me on this one for a while, but I've been putting in three hours of intermediary training over the span of four days, on road, and I've had a relatively pain-free run. Read through that sentence again - I said on road.

But once I start jogging (yes, jogging) slowly (yes, slowly) on the track (yes, the track), it's "Hello, Mr. Cripple" once again.

It might just be the running track at Seksyen 15 that is actively trying to hurt me, I don't know, because the other running track in the Bangi area that I know of is at UKM. And, oh boy, does it look terrible. The muscles and tendons in my both legs are already brittle enough that it shatters every time I shudder, looking at the shape of the surface of the track.

It's dark - very sinister.

Huh, so Google Image reckons this album is 'dark and sinister'

So, to anyone out there reading this, if you happen to run pass by a guy in bright orange singlet whose run is getting slower, and possibly grimacing in unbridled pain and frustration in equal parts, and bearing the bib number of A10339, say hi.

Don't tap on the shoulder - I might dislocate it.

Oh my, even typing out this entry is killing my fingers and giving my eyes arthritis.

Batter-fried squid! Now I'm having gout as well!

In other development, after two weeks of being away, the housemate is finally home. So, we had a little celebration last night at the Ana Ikan Bakar Petai restaurant. We had ikan pari bakar petai, sotong goreng tepung, kailan goreng ikan masin, and tomyam campur ayam & daging.

Sounds delicious, right?

But in all seriousness, I still don't see what's the big fuss with Ana Ikan Bakar Petai. I mean, this place never fail to attract a huge crowd even when it's the middle of the month. There will always be a long queue. The price is pretty reasonable, and the food is okay - not terrible, not outstanding, but just outside the boundary of 'meh'.

There's nothing to really shout about.

All this feasting, I can only wish if it could help me with the actual race next weekend. Because by the look of how things are unfolding with my legs right now, to even finish the race is a miracle.

I can sort of imagine the shame when all the ladies takes a look at my trophy and go: "Wait - is that all?"

Damn.

#33 - Foals 'Inhaler', and Holy Fuck It's Awesome

Yes - totally awesome. New album Holy Fire is out now. Permission to say "Holy Fuck!" again.

#32 - Best of 2012 in Music, Part 4

One is a dreamy, indie pop-tastic record that leaves you breathless...

The other has Jana Hunter as the lead

Sometimes I can't really tell the two apart, but then that's just me. Beach House makes beautiful music that you listen to while driving in a Ford Cortina down the Corso Francia, in the 70's, in the summer, with the sun glistening over the blue water of the Riviera, you get the imagery. It's deliciously marvelous. Lower Dens on the other hand, influenced largely by the presence of Jana Hunter I suspect, is intriguing and unusual and quirky. Like that video clip to that mind-boggling song by Odd Future.

Well, kind of.

*Next up in the Best of 2012 in Music entry would be an honorary list of best songs I've listened to through the entire 2012.

#31 - Newton MV2

Ooohh... it's the fabled green box you have been dreaming of

So, you have successfully bought yourself a pair of Newton shoes. It's a call for celebration - and it's totally understandable. All that months of limiting yourself to daily food expenditure of only RM5, of starving yourself from all that delicious, delicious food - trust me, anyone else in your situation would have done the same thing. This is just like losing your virginity for the first time.

It has to put a stupid smile on your face.

Now, I can see that the blue label on the side of the box that says MV2. That's the name of the shoe model I believe. Boy, it would be really embarrassing if you mispronounce it as "EM-VEE-TWO", err just so you know.

But I really like it that they even go on to point out that the name actually stands for 'Mass x Velocity2' - it sounds very science-y, very serious, so they must really know their shit. Which I don't - my understanding of physics is nothing more than knowing Sir Isaac's moment of eureka.

You sir have just bought this piece of engineering - running engineering - marvel.

"Peeking through the slight opening of the green box, the masterful MV2 previews itself to its' admiring master/owner..."

Oh, isn't she a delight? I know she is, because have just you splashed your entire savings, the one that you have been working on for the entire 2012, on this one.

She is the winner in your heart - this I know for sure.

Oh wait - what is this little brown envelope inside the shoe box?

Oh look, it's an added heel insert!

I know this - I've read about it in their website. They say moving to a zero drop shoes can take some time getting used to, so they included this additional heel inserts just in case you need some adjustment. How thoughtful of them.

You see, they too have thought about you, you lucky bastard, the owner of this masterpiece of a shoe.

So here we are - exciting (running) days are awaiting ahead. As usual, let's do a stock-take of your other shoes to determine what purpose will this shoe serve. I'm sure you have thoroughly thought this one out or else you won't be breaking your bank on this pair of investment now, isn't it?

Heh heh... uh, here we go:

1) Saucony Powergrid Triumph 9 - former race day shoe, now no longer needed
2) adidas adizero XT - trail run shoes, for all trail run purposes, still good for another 100km or so
3) On Cloudsurfer - current race day shoe, still good for another 200 - 300km
4) Puma Faas 250 - current training shoe, from doing sprints to medium-long distance runs, still good for another 200km or more

So by the looks of it, I think you could use another pair of training shoes, specifically for medium-long to long distance runs. Hang on a minute...

So, you're going to be using the Newton MV2 for training? That's too grand. It's like having Aston Martin Vanquish, Lotus Elise, and Audi S4 in your garage, and you decide to only use the S4 for the occasional Sunday drive, while the Elise for the short trips to sundry shops and wet markets, and the Vanquish for the daily trip down the PLUS highway. It's wrong - it's morally wrong and unacceptable.

Plus, this is a RM499 shoe. It is way more expensive than both of your Cloudsurfer and Faas 250, which both was bought at discounted price, and they definitely don't come with additional heel insert.

Well, yeah, apart from the Cloudsurfer, which came with an extra pair of shoestrings. But it sure isn't going to help with any if-applicable adjustment that might come with the usage of the shoe. It's an expensive shoe, made immaculately precise to be an ultra-light, super-fast racing flat that will fly you to the finishing line.

I'm sorry... say what? You... bought this shoe at a discounted price as well? And it's only RM199? You mean you didn't break your bank for this shoe? Ah, you've got to be kidding me man. I've been.. I've been showering you with all that praises... for nothing? I thought you really have just pulled off a valiant, manly sacrifice of spending your entire life savings on a really expensive pair of running shoes.

And it turns out that you actually didn't. Fuck you, man.

#30 - Activity calendar for March & April 2013

#1 - 27 days to go
When: March 3, 2013

What: Brooks Half Marathon
Where: Stadium Bukit Jalil
Who: Brooks (I suppose?)
Why: 21km run - my first HM for 2013; the next would definitely be SCKLM

#2 - 6 days later
When: March 9 & 10, 2013

What: Raptor Watch 2013
Where: PNB Ilham Resort, Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson
Who: Malaysian Nature Society & Melaka state government
Why: Nature guide - I will be one of the guides for the Nature Walk; we also have Marine Walk, if you're into aquamarine thing. We have loads of activities for all ages, nature lovers and regular Johns and Janes. If you're interested in joining as a volunteer, click here.

#3 - 27 days after BHM
When: March 31, 2013

What: MAKNA Founder's Run
Where: Padang Merbuk, KL
Who: The Malaysia's Cancer Council
Why: 12km run - it's the housemate's second running race. Race info and registration is over here.

# 4 - 13 days after MFR
When: April 14, 2013

What: Kuala Lumpur 10k Road Race
Where: Padang Merbuk, KL
Who: Cadence Project Services (Wow. I knew.) - My Race Online is a partner
Why: 10km run - the housemate's third running race, and it's nice once in a while to break away from HM

#29 - Best of 2012 in Music, Part 3

This shit right here makes me feel happy.

Or trippy.

I'm not quite sure which is which, or in fact when did the two ever took different path. I always thought that the two are like separated-at-birth sibling and had never once in their entire existence crossed path. Or, are they? Maybe they just pretend to be like all separated at birth and don't know each other, but deep down inside they know they totally relate with each other but just too embarrassed to admit it so that other people can't call them gay or something.

Huh, why are you even reading this? Listen to this instead:

It made you happy right? I know - I know. No need to thank me... so says myself as I ride my trusted old steed into the disappearing sunset while our eyes glisten from the sunlight, my hair flowing smoothly to the wind blowing in our direction...

#28 - Dragon Back Run 2013, Meru

No - that exasperated smile is because of the bright sun, not because trying to withhold a boner

Four hours before the race...

As usual, my routine on race day, I woke up at 3 a.m. to prepare myself a light breakfast. I made a mental note to myself right before I go to bed: "five more slices of Gardenia bread, and one-fifth of the chunky peanut butter - that's enough breakfast for a 10km run".

After having a morning shower (which I have to note was not at all chilly despite the fact that it was raining that night - and incidentally, quite an unusual weather pattern we are having as of late isn't it?), I went to the kitchen. The peanut butter sandwich beckons.

Dun, dun, duuunnn...

But, as I was contemplating on how many peanut butter sandwich I should down that morning, I saw something, sitting dormant on the stove top.

Something delicious.

I peered into the kuali - it was sambal sardin. Looking at me with sultry eyes and her sexy lips spelling out "come and hit me, baby". I know where did this voluptuous femme fatale came from - I know exactly whose job was this.

It's the housemate's.

I didn't know that femme fatale is French for a horrible-looking dump truck

But oh, anyway, I have to wake him up. This race, the Dragon Back Run 2013 was all about him - it's his first running race, his first foray into running, number two, and losing weight, number one. Whatever - at least it's the healthier option.

It's half past three - I knocked on his room door. After a few while, he stumbled out of his room, looking ghastly.

"I wasn't even sleeping" he murmured.

This is not a good start...

No, not them. They are excellent.

Two hours before the race...

We drove to the Sup Urat Keting restaurant in Seksyen 7 where Lala and Ain were waiting for us. Along the way, the housemate announced something worrying - the reason why he can't get any sleep that night.

"I haven't taken any dump for the past three days", he announced.

To run the entire 10km distance with all that turd in your stomach, this is definitely not going to end well.

And all the while I keep on thinking of this guy.

I'm starting to think that the housemate's first ever running race is not going to be the most memorable to him, which is not good. I've seen him genuinely excited in the build-up to the race day, going for a training every single day. If there is a loving God, this should not have happened.

Luck has it that two shops down from the restaurant, there's a 7 Eleven. "Go get the laxative", I implored.

So he bought one. With laxative bought (but not consumed), now on to the matter of getting some sleep...

Forty minutes before the warm-up session starts...

Again, with me behind the wheels, I have to stress that I have absolutely no idea where on planet Earth Sekolah Kebangsaan Meru 2 was. But I knew how to get to Meru. Before we left house, I did saved a map to the place on my iPod.

According to the Google Map, at the four-way junction, coming from Klang, I have to take the right-hand turn and drive straight.

Oh boy - how deeply did I misjudge the excellent common sense of Malaysia's road engineers.

I only knew later, after coming home from the race, that right after the traffic light, the main road called Jalan Paip (the one which will get us to the school) diverges from the left of that other road that sprouted from the traffic light which was another road called Jalan Kenanga, which, much to our surprise, progresses from smoothly-surfaced, to the rough outback, to the surface of the moon.

Still, that's nothing.

First, right after the traffic light we saw some shophouses. Fine. Then we saw a few kampung houses on our left. Still fine. Then the road just suddenly stop. What lays ahead was a dirt road with lalang on both left and right. There's a right junction that goes to a factory.

I drove ahead.

There's a pin drop silence in my car. There was a Muslim graveyard on our left, and a Chinese graveyard on our right. And up ahead it's totally dark. Just miles and miles of graveyard. All of our logic dictated that a school cannot exist beyond all this final resting ground.

This can't be it. Has Google Map got it wrong this time?

Long story short - we came upon a roadside stall that opened very early in the morning, had the housemate asked the makcik from the stall where the school was, and quickly drove there. We made it -  we made it just in time for the warm-up session, and in one piece.

That's the triumphant stance of a guy who three hours ago, drove into a graveyard

The race...

A few days prior to the race, the name Dragon Back Run got me thinking - it's not grammatical. Alas, on the race day itself I only learn of the reason why - it is a tribute to the (steep) hilly route. Imagine running on the back of a dragon.

I know - I can't, too.

Anyway, for this race, I was adamant that I'm not going to take this race seriously, and that I'm here just to give encouragement and support to the housemate. It is, after all, his first running race. Huh - why does it feel like deja vu?

The first 3.5km of the race we maintained a leisurely 7min/km pace, many times reminding the housemate that there will be eight hill climb overall from start to finish. The first hill we encountered wasn't very steep. No sweat.

But then, as we go down the first hill, and as we turn into the left-hand corner, there it was: standing right in front of us, looking very intimidating. I let out a laugh: "This very much reminds me of UPM". Holy shit balls, it was steep, and a very long climb at that.

"So, this is only the second inclination. There will be six more to come"

Holy shit balls, this dragon back needs an Ogawa or something.

The Ogawa massage chair - it will iron out your crooked back

Still, I'm not too worried of myself. I'm doing pretty good. If I open the tap a bit and run at my usual 5min/km pace, then I would find myself in a big trouble. Eight hill climb is not my biggest issue here - it's the steepness of each one of them - except inclination number one and eight, which was mild.

Oh, and did I mention that this is also Lala and Ain's first running race as well? Because this piece of information too is important because...

After the race...

I finished in 50th - my very late sprint to the finishing line starting at the 7km mark did not bear much fruit. The housemate finished in 91st - a commendable finish for someone who is, well, fat for his frame. Haha. Ain was the slowest of the four of us, finishing at one hour and thirty something minutes.

And as for Lala - despite taking over her with only 1.5km left, and leaving her behind for a good two minutes at the finishing line, she finished in third.

Third, for crying out loud. That's a podium finish. Damn it. I've been running competitively for two solid years and I've never got anywhere near the podium.

Alas, it was an enjoyable race for the four of us. Yup - I think I'll come back again Meru.