Back to back free run at foothill of Taiping's Maxwell Hill.

Starting point of my morning run just behind my house

As I am staying at the foothill of Maxwell Hill, I have the privilege of just running out of my house and immediately able to enjoy the beautiful greenery and fresh air along the fringes of Maxwell Hill. I usually have my free run in the evening and my usual route is the roads along the fringes of Maxwell Hill. I tried to avoid lake garden if possible because it is no more an ideal place for a peaceful and healthy run as it is too polluted caused by the exhaust from heavy traffic especially after school. On 18 Feb 2017, Saturday and 19 Feb 2016 Sunday , I do not have to accompany Seok Wan for our weekend morning walk as she is busy with her official duty. This is in fact a  rare opportunity for me to run in the morning. So I embarked on my back to back free run along my usual training route on Saturday and Sunday.

18 Feb 2017 Saturday:

I started my run after 8.00 am from my house. I ran about 0.5 km in my  housing estate before going towards Burmese pool road just a short distance away. 

Burmese pool with its early visitors

After reaching the bridge, I turned back even though there is a trail going up the hill which is more suited for those more capable runners. From Burmese pool , I jogged along the road leading to Maxwell Hill. I did not go up Maxwell hill but go straight towards Taiping Water Treatment Plant which has a slight elevation but not too tough. On the way I passed by an old Indian temple and a small waterfall. There is a trail leading to a more beautiful waterfall near to the water treatment plant but not many people know the way. After reaching the water treatment plant, I could not go further as it is a restricted area and I had to turn back. This part of the route is the best place for exercise as there is almost no traffic and there is  music created by the flow of water from the mountain stream and waterfall which surely will motivate one to go faster.  But there maybe monkeys along the route which may not be friendly.

Old Indian temple by the stream

Taiping water treatment plant

the iron bridge crossing Ranting river

Small waterfall near to Indian temple

From the Maxwell hill entrance I ran towards Taman Suria but I did not enter the housing estate which I usually do. Instead, I ran towards lake garden as the traffic is not heavy in the morning of a weekend. My aim was to snap some photos of the ruins of Taiping Rest house or Casuarina Hotel. 

Remaining pillars of Taiping Rest House

The badly vandalized side building of the Hotel

The main building of the Hotel.

It was formerly the best hotel in Taiping but due to poor management it was turned into a ruins not by natural disaster but neglect and theft. From the rest house I continued my run into New Club and turned left to go downhill towards lake garden and waterfall road which finally leads towards Burmese Pool. I stopped at the entrance towards Burmese Pool and the total distance covered was 9.7 km in a slow time of 1 hour 22 minutes.  


19 Feb 2017 Sunday :

I started my run slightly earlier than the day before. After some simple stretching exercise I ran into Taiping driving school just behind my house. It is hilly and the loop is about 800 m. This is usually the beginning part of my run. There is a pool with crystal clear water inside the driving school but it is less attractive now due to neglect. In fact I am the one responsible for digging the stream into a pool by removing the rocks many years ago. It took me many years to build it.

nice hilly road 

hardly any car as it is a Sunday

The bamboo forest by the stream

the man-made pool with low water level

small fishes swimming in the pool  

muddy trail towards private durian orchards uphill.

After running a loop in the driving school I continued with my run covering the brim of my housing estate before I ran into Burmese pool area again.. I did not stopped at the bridge like yesterday but continued towards the most beautiful part of Burmese pool. It is just a short distance from the bridge and there were already picnickers at the pool.  After snapping some photos I continued my run out from Burmese pool towards Maxwell Hill. There were many hikers and visitors to Maxwell Hill in the weekends. So Maxwell Hill is gaining popularity nowadays and it is perhaps time Taiping Municipality improved on the facilities at Maxwell hill especially the Rest houses on the hill.

Burmese pool where one can slide along slippery rock into the pool

I ran up Maxwell with tortoise speed but still I received praise from a hiker who thought I was going to run up to the peak which is 13 km long and 1300m high. I did not go far but just turned back after reaching  about 0.5 km uphill or 386 m high as registered by my runkeeper. The hill run is also a part of my usual evening run and maximum distance I had ever tried was only  2 miles up the hill without stop. I dared not do hilly run too often and too far as it is quite detrimental to my knees and too taxing on my heart.

perfect track for hikers to walk or run up. 

big crowds waiting to go up the hill either by jeep or hiking 

After coming out from Maxwell hill,  I turned right towards Taiping Water Treatment Plant. I ran until the restricted area and turned back.  On the way down I met a group of hikers maybe from outstation intending to hike up Ranting waterfall. It is a shame I had yet to go up to ranting waterfall which is a big waterfall but not so easily accessible. I will need a guide if I want to hike up to the waterfall as it is only accessible via  jungle trail and there may not be any sign to show its direction.

This should be the steps leading to Ranting Waterfall.

 I met more people doing their morning walk here as it is a Sunday. This place is perfect for those who wants to sweat it out in privacy. This time I ran into Taman Suria which is my usual training route as I like the slight sloppy and straight road along the fence of  Taiping MRSM's field. After the slope I turned into Taman Suria to visit Austin Pool to snap some pictures. I passed by the pool every time I run into Taman Suria but never set my eyes on it. The deeper pool is quite deep inside the jungle maybe a kilometer from the road outside.

The stream from Austin pool

perfect concrete jogging track 

A resourceful resident who turns his backyard into a beautiful landscape

After snapping a few pictures of the ordinary Austin stream I took a few turns before I came to Taman Suria Damai which is a newly completed housing estate with quiet environment and nice back lane making up of even concrete slabs just perfect for jogging. It is easily more than 1.5 km running the back lanes of Taman Suria Damai but I seldom go inside unless I want to do longer run. From Taman Suria Damai I took the back lane of Taman Suria and then back to waterfall road. I passed by Taiping War Memorial and offered to help a couple snapped their photo. They were a bit surprised but happy because wefies is definitely less attractive than picture taken by a third party. Immediately after War Memorial I turned into Burmese Pool road and stopped my run at the entrance to Taman Sentosa which a quarter km to my house.

Taiping  War Memorial

The stretch of road passing through Taiping War Memorial was the usual gathering place of motorcyclists. In the evening especially during weekends they will be doing dangerous stunts and at the same time producing toxic fume . I made it a point not to jog in the evening during weekend.

My Sunday running route as shown by runkeeper

I did not continue my run with the climb until I reached my starting point at the back of  my house which I usually do. The run was almost 13 km but the time is a record as it is almost two hours. No wonder I felt very thirsty and tired. I think I will make sure I carry water with me If I were to embark on long distance run. Even though my time is really slow but I am totally satisfied with my back to back runs on Saturday and Sunday with a total distance of almost 23 km.   

Penang Bridge Run 2016

After my first full marathon across the first Penang Bridge in 2011 with a slow finishing time of 6 hours 55 minutes , this is my second full marathon across the bridge. After completing 30 km in 4 hours 35 minutes in TRR Brooke Run in Taiping four weeks ago, I was quite confident that I would be able to complete the full marathon within the cut-off time of 7 hours. In the contrary I was only able to complete the race in a nett time of  7 hours and 6 minutes. My second worst performance out of my five full marathons so far. I was still able to keep pace with the 6 hours pacers after 10 km but tiredness just managed to subdue me even though I came prepared with 4 packets of energy gels and a salts stick. In fact I was feeling very sleepy while on the bridge running towards Butterworth. I just had the most three hours of sleep or maybe three hours of closing my eyes with my mind wondering about. I was so sleepy that I closed my eyes while running. That was how I did it, I ran 10 steps with my eyes closed and opened my eyes to see the distance of the runner in front of me and repeated the same process. Sometimes I ran more than 15 steps with my eyes closed which increased the risk of me knocking on someone in front. I was surprised I could run in a straight line with my closed. I sat down to rest and stretched my legs at least 5 times because I did not want to over-exert myself. Run happy and always listen to my body is always my motto of running. I was most tired from 4 am to 6 am but recovered my energy during the break of  dawn. I just could not explain why my body behaves like that and I ran non-stop from 6 am until I crossed the finishing line. I did not walk even when I reached the steep part of the bridge but my tempo was disrupted when I reached the 5 Km marks to the finishing line. Crowds of 10 km walkers causing me to zig-zagged my way between them. In fact I was running faster when the run was left with 5 km to go but I knew I would not be able to make it with just half an hour left before cutting-off time. I had the pleasure to run together with another runner from last 4th km until the last kilometer. He yelled with excitement when we reached the roundabout and I too had lost my composure and shouted, " Berjaya " knowing that my time had already overshot the cut-off time. I was not worried as I knew I would be given my finishing medal and tee and truely I was given the medal and tee which I am not entitled to. In fact many more who came behind me were happily receiving their medals and finisher's tees. Thumbs up to the organisers for their kind consideration and allowed  those slower runners to receive and able to show off their medals and most importantly the 42.195 km finisher's tees.  In my opinion all runners who completed the race should be given the medal and tee at least until the end of the prize giving ceremony. 

ASICS Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016

NG SIAK HENG

C05556

FULL MARATHON MEN'S VETERAN

Official Time : 07:11:45

Nett Time : 07:06:26

14.5KM Point : 02:05:07

29KM Point : 04:56:15

37KM Point : 06:28:52

Rank : 920/982

     

Jelajah dan Berkhemah di Teluk Kampi, Taman Negara Pulau Pinang

Pantai Teluk Kampi 

Lawatan ke Taman Negara Pulau Pinang merupakan aktiviti tahan lasak yang dinanti-nantikan oleh ahli-ahli pasukan Institusi Pertahanan Awam, PISPA  sekolah saya. Walau bagaimana pun hanya 40 orang pelajar berpeluang menyertai rombongan kami memandangkan had muatan bas hanya 44 orang sahaja. Seramai 40 orang ahli Pispa dan 8 orang Jurulatih dalam sebuah bas dan sebuah kereta bertolak ke destinasi di Taman Negara Pulau Pinang  pada 20 Ogos 2016 dengan tujuan untuk menjelajah ke Pantai Kerachut dari pintu masuk utama dan berkhemah satu malam di situ. Setibanya di Pintu masuk Taman Negara Pulau Pinang, kami dikejutkan dengan berita yang keinginan kami untuk berkhemah di pantai Kerachut tidak akan terjadi kerana ombak kuat di pantai kerachut sehingga sampan yang  ditempah untuk menghantar alat-alat perkhemahan , radas memasak, bahan masakan dan beg-beg kami  tidak dapat melabuh. Program lawatan kami termasuk lawatan ke Pusat Konservasi Penyu di Pantai Kerachut untuk melepaskan anak-anak penyu. Oleh itu kami mesti bermalam di Pantai Kerachut atau kawasan berdekatan. Ya, kawasan berdekatan ialah Teluk Kampi yang juga terdapat kemudahan perkhemahan dan pantai berpasir yang cantik. Mujurnya pengurus bot bersetuju menghantar barangan kami ke Teluk kampi yang tidak berombak tetapi kami mesti mendapat kebenaran daripada pihak Taman Negara. Nasib masih menyebelahi kami kerana masih terdapat ruang untuk kami berkhemah di Teluk Kampi walaupun terdapat satu kumpulan lain yang akan berkhemah di situ. 

Bersedia untuk memuatkan barangan ke dalam bot

Barangan semua ke dalam bot 

Rancangan asal ialah menjejaki rentis ke tapak perkhemahan sejauh 4.5 km di Pantai Kerancut pada pukul 11.00 pagi. Setelah pembaziran masa memikirkan pelan alternatif, masa bertolak kami telah mengalami penangguhan sebanyak 1 jam. Bukan itu saja, tambang 2 bot perjalanan ulangalik menjadi RM400 daripada RM 320 dan kos pemandu rentis dinaikkan RM 50 menjadi RM200. Semua pertambahan kos terpaksa ditanggung kerana lawatan ini telah dirancang beberapa bulan yang lalu dan melalui proses permohonan yang rumit. Oleh itu kami seramai 41 orang akan menjejaki rentis ke Teluk Kampi yang 2.0 km lebih jauh daripada jarak asal kami ke pantai kerancut dan terpaksa menaiki bukit yang amat curam. 7 orang ahli yang kurang yakin mendaki bukit terpaksa menaiki bot dan bertanggung jawab untuk mengangkat barang-barangan menaiki dan menuruni bot. 

Denai sempit tetapi senang dijejaki

Berehat untuk menangkap gambar istimewa

Berehat untuk perjalanan yang lebih jauh

Kami menggunakan jalan yang lebih singkat memandangkan kami terpaksa menaiki dan menuruni bukit ke Teluk Kampi. Perjalanan ke tapak perkhemahan amat lancar dan kebanyakan ahli mempunyai ketahanan fisikal yang baik. Hanya seorang sahaja ahli yang mengalami tarikan otot dan kami berjaya sampai di Teluk kampi setelah 2.5 jam. Setibanya di tapak perkhemahan kami pun mula mendirikan khemah dan menyediakan makanan mengikut kumpulan. Setiap kumpulan bertanggung jawab untuk menyediakan makanan untuk seorang jurulatih dan diri mereka. Amat terkejut juga didapati hampir semua kumpulan dapat menghidangkan masakan yang beraneka jenis dan sedap dimakan termasuk minuman seperti teh tarik , kopi dan minuman buah-buahan.

tidak kurangnya ahli yang pandai memasak 

Khemah atas pelantar kayu

Setelah habis menikmati sarapan tengah hari pada jam 4 petang baru kami berpeluang untuk rehat 1 jam sebelum memulakan penjelajahan ke Pantai Kerachut sejauh 2.4 km yang rentisnya merupakan rentis naik dan turun bukit. Seramai 38 orang sahaja bertolak ke pantai keranchut tepat jam 5.20 petang dilengkapi lampu berbateri atau lampu suluh kerana takut kami terpaksa menjelajah dalam kegelapan sewaktu balik dari Pantai Kerachut. Tujuan kami ke Pantai Kerachut adalah untuk mengikuti program yang disediakan untuk rombongan kami oleh Pusat Konservasi Penyu iaitu lawatan ke Pusat Konservasi Penyu, taklimat tentang konservasi penyu dan melepaskan anak-anak penyu. Semasa menjelajah ke Pantai Kerachut, didapati pemandu rentis berjalan terlalu pantas mungkin kerana bimbang tidak dapat sampai pada destinasi tepat pada masanya. Ini telah menyebabkan 5 orang ahli keletihan dan kesakitan lutut. Oleh itu 5 orang ahli diiringi oleh dua orang jurulatih terpaksa berpatah balik ke tapak perkhemahan. Akhirnya hanya tertinggal 31 orang ahli dan jurulatih untuk meneruskan perjalanan ke Pantai Kerachut untuk mengikuti program melepaskan anak-anak penyu yang hanya dijalankan hampir pukul 7.00 petang. Sewaktu menjelajah balik ke tapak perkhemahan, keadaan telah menjadi gelap. Tiada masalah kerana kami datang bersedia. Perjalanan kami diterangi oleh 31 biji lampu berbateri yang menjadikan denai hutan itu seperti siang hari. Berjalan dalam hutan waktu malam memang merupakan satu pengalaman yang sukar dialami semula pada masa akan datang. Perjalanan balik ke khemah mengambil masa 1 jam sahaja tetapi kami masih tidak berpeluang untuk rehat kerana terpaksa menyediakan makanan dan menguruskan diri. Pada pukul 11.00 malam semua ahli terpaksa rehat kerana terlalu letih untuk terus berjaga dan berborak.         

Sila tandakan kehadiran kami

Bilik mandi serba moden 

Mencari harta karun di dalam pasir

Kemudahan tapak perkhemahan di Teluk Kampi adalah lebih baik daripada Pantai Kerachut dimana setiap petak khemah mempunyai pelantar setinggi setengah kaki untuk mengelakkan air memasuki khemah semasa hujan. Memandangkan cuaca malam berkhemah itu baik kami banyak tidak tidur dalam khemah tetapi di atas pelantar kosong. Cuaca amat sejuk ditiup bayu dari Selat Melaka dan tiada nyamuk sepanjang malam. Saya hanya terasa serangan nyamuk kecil sewaktu subur sehinggakan terpaksa membakar ubat nyamuk untuk meneruskan mimpi manis saya. Pelawat amat tidak disangka ke tapak perkhemahan adalah seekor landak yang berkeliaran dalam khemah seperti rumahnya sendiri. Maaf, kami mungkin merupakan pelawatnya yang tidak dijemput . Pada keesokan harinya, kami hanya berjalan-jalan di pantai Teluk Kampi yang mempunyai pantai berpasir halus yang amat bersih dan sunyi. Berkesempatan mengambil gambar matahari terbit yang bukan main cantiknya. Setelah makan sarapan pagi, ahli-ahli pun terlibat dengan permainan mencari harta karun dalam pasir dikuti dengan gotong-royong membersihkan pantai. Pada jam 10 pagi kami pun merobohkan khemah dan mengemas untuk keluar dari Teluk Kampi. Ahli-ahli yang ingin menaiki bot telah bertambah kepada 12 orang kerana tidak mampu menjelajah keluar melalui rentis hutan yang memang mencabar. Saya menaiki bot untuk memberi peluang kepada seorang jurulatih yang datang ke Teluk Kampi dengan bot. Beliau tidak berkeyakinan dengan kekuatan fisikalnya tetapi ingin merasai keperitan menjejaki rentis berhutan dara itu. Memang benar , ahli-ahli terpantas mengambil masa hanya dua jam untuk tiba di pintu masuk Taman Negara tetapi beliau mengambil masa 3 jam lebih. Pujian dan sanjungan diberi kepada beliau atas semangat berani mencuba dan tidak mengaku kalah.

Bersama jurulatih-jurulatih  rombongan 

Selesa menaiki bot pulang

Lawatan ini merupakan kali keempat saya ke Taman Negara Pulau Pinang di Teluk Bahang dan kali pertama ke Teluk Kampi. Teluk Kampi memang merupakan tempat perkhemahan yang lebih menarik kerana mempunyai pantai yang cantik, kemudahan bilik mandi, tandas dan dewan yang baru dan bersih. Lawatan ke Taman Negara Pulau Pinang memang merupakan satu pengalaman yang sukar dilupakan kerana berpeluang menguji ketahanan diri dan menikmati keindahan alam semulajadi disamping belajar berdikari.

KL Standard Chartered Marathon 2016

Before the flag-off of the full marathon

I had run  two half marathons in KL Standard Chartered Marathon but never dare to register for full marathon because its cut-off time of 6 hours is out of my reach.  My PB for my 3 full marathons so far is only 6 hours 55 minutes. I do not know why the KL Standard Chartered Marathon's organizer decided to increase the cut-off time to 7 hours but it definitely is trying to attract more runners into running the full marathon . So I registered for the full marathon this time but it is no easy task as there is cut-off time for different stages of the run.
I did not practise much for the full marathon and the last time I ran 42.195km was two years ago in Penang Bridge International Marathon. I was unable to train because I have Achilles Tendonitis which just refuse to go away even until the day of KL Standard Chartered Marathon. But, I gave it a try by wearing an ankle guard but I had the thinking that I would most probably reach the finishing point by the organizer's bus. Four of us in the family took part in the marathon and I am the only one doing the full marathon. The rest were just running 10 km because they did not want to be deprived of their sleep. 

Running for 10 km together

10 km race with a poor time of 1 hour 23 minutes

The full Marathon was flagged off at 4.00am but I only crossed the starting point where my timing chip was tagged almost 6 minutes later. I took off slowly and maintained that speed enduring the slight pain from the heel. If not because of the ankle guard the pain will be more severe. When I stopped at the first water station after 5 km I felt a sudden pain at my right ankle and I decided I should not stop completely while trying to hydrate myself at water station, So I imitated the professional Kenyan runner who just slowed down and snatched a cup of water and then continued with their run. It really worked and I did not suffer much pain while trying to a get my drink at water station. I carried with me three energy bars and took a bite every 5 km but fatigue still crept into me after 16 km and I almost thought of giving out. My legs refused and kept going forward. The fatigue was due to insufficient energy input , so I took a bite of the energy bar every 4 km. After 21 km I suddenly found myself full of energy and could run a bit faster and overtook other runners. 
I took off my ankle guard after half way through as it was pressing too hard on top of leg producing unbearable pain. I also applied muscle pain relieving cream on my shoulders and legs. The burning sensation of the cream really helped me to keep going. At first I was able to run together with the 6:00 hours pacers but finally I was only able to trail behind the 7:00 hours pacers. I followed them from about 33 km mark until the finishing line. My credit went to the 7:00 hours pacers for motivating me to cross the 37 km cut-off point in time. The final two hours of the race was really a test of endurance because the sun had come out and there were few km of down-the-slope running. I could run faster and less tiring going downhill but the my toes suffered. That explained why I had swollen toes after the race.It is really a miracle that I could speed about 50 meters to the finishing line and completed my full marathon with a PB of 6 hours and 53 minutes. I felt blessed that I could complete the full marathon even though I am still having pain at my Achilles and have hardly train. The reason should be my strong desire to complete the race within 7 hours and with help of the 7:00 hours pacers that really made my mission much easier. In actual fact my strong desire and determination to succeed in this full marathon was mainly due to the motto of the marathon , that is run with a reason. My reason was to complete a 42.195 km run within 7 hours which will be my special dedication to my late father who had passed away not long ago. I could feel the pain at my toes on both legs and the top part of my right leg but I was jubilated as I had accomplished my mission. 
   

  

Kuala Kurau free run

After a 1 km walk from starting point

Since the completion of the two bridges linking the two banks of Kuala Kurau in the east and the west, I have been thinking of running round Kuala kurau town crossing the two bridges. The distance is roughly 13 km with flat and evenly tarred road.  Even though I grew up in Kuala Kurau I have not really reached every part of my hometown especially the fishing village across Kurau river. I once told my late father who passed away recently that I would run in Kuala Kurau but never made it into reality. With the passing of my beloved father, it suddenly occurred to me that it was time to run in Kuala Kurau to pay tribute to my late father. 

Crossing Kurau River via the pedestrian bridge

Four of us started our run and walk around 9.00 am at a time when Malaysia is experiencing a rare hot spell. We started our mission by walking and snapping photographs on the way. As the idea of running in Kuala Kurau only came about  spur of the moment, Xin Yi did not even wear a running shoes for the run. Three of us had just run at Gunnersbury Park in London two weeks ago and now we were running at a remote village thousands of miles away. We only started running after we had finished exploring the fishing village across the river. We ran for 2 km from the end of the village to the main bridge and then another 1.5 Km across the bridge. From the middle span of the bridge we could have a panoramic view of Kuala Kurau town with rows of wooden houses on both its river banks. There are many fish rearing cages in the middle of the river as fish rearing has become a thriving business venture in the town. As we stopped at many places along the route, the time for us to cover the 13 km distance was almost 3 hours. We were totally sun tanned after the run but it was very fulfilling because all of us ran in Kuala Kurau for the very first time. Along the route we also visited two other places my late father had stayed before. If time permit I will consider running again along the same route and but more serious running this time. The beautiful scenery along the way is really worth the sweat and sun tanned.  

Houses on stilt with boat parking lot

Flat road stretching for few Km on the south bank of the river

   

Running towards the main bridge with oil palm trees on both sides.

From London to Kuala Kurau

Fish rearing cages and houses on the north bank

Fishing boats returning from sea

at the middle span of the main bridge

Walking back from South bank to north bank via the main bridge