Bigfoot spotted????????

Body motion looked like bigfoot
Posture resembled bigfoot
But can't confirm if it's the real bigfoot!

Maybe that's a tri-foot!

Lend a hand

This month was very difficult for many people who are still reeling from a loss this past year. The crippling hurt caused by the absence of a loved one can cloud holiday gatherings and even dim the desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Poet Ann Weems has written:

Some of us walk into Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays,
the pain still stabbing,
the hurt still throbbing.
It’s not that we don’t know better;
it’s just that we can’t stand up
anymore by ourselves.
On the way to Bethlehem,
will you give us a hand?

In Romans 12:9-21, Paul gives ways to express practical Christianity in our relationships. One seems especially needed at this time of year: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (v.15). We can “give a hand” to grieving friends and family by understanding their sorrow and not expecting them to “get over it” in time to celebrate the holidays. We can freely mention the name of the person whose death has brought such desolation and then share a fond memory. We can be quiet, listen, and pray for God’s help.

Only God can heal the deep wounds of the heart, but we can lend a hand. — David C. McCasland

If I can help some wounded heart,
If I can by my love impart
Some blessing that will help more now—
Lord, just show me how. —Brandt

No one is strong enough to bear his burdens alone.

Home for Christmas

Last Christmas was celebrated in KL and this year, I was home for Christmas. Haven't been back to hometown for more than a year and I surprised myself on the flight even from inside aircraft at LCCT. What I did resembled a tourist visiting the island of Borneo for the very first time. A city called Kuching was where the plane headed.

I snapped some pix as a story of me going home... Airasia...where everyone can fly...


Palm plantations, highways, industrial parks, housing estates...endless development


Flying pass Pekan, leaving peninsula east coast

Clouds never fail to amaze me. Flying gave the best opportunity of getting as close as possible to the many different cloud varieties we see in the sky.


Beautiful cloud formation at different altitude
My favourite ...plane flying in between 2 layers of clouds


Hot & bothered weather in KL became cool & refreshing in Kuching. I was told that everyday, nonstop, the skies open, flora & fauna danced in the rain. True enough as from the aircraft window, patches of Kuching were covered by dark clouds.


Rivers snaking out to sea...
Flying pass industrial area heading towards Kuching International Airport

We have landed... I'm home


Welcome to Kuching. Surprisingly the clouds cleard by evening


Kuching also suffers with traffic jam


Beautiful sunset to end the day...

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Rudolph the red nose reindeer has resigned and now I'm in charge. Yes my nose is red and I am fat!
I'm Pinkie the red nose fat dog!


Hahahahahaha! Ho ho ho!!!!!



Wishing all of you a WONDERFUL & BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a blessed weekend!

Team Hyper Gila conquered a 185km KL – Ipoh ride on Saturday 29th Nov and subsequently joined a “recovery” 12.8km KRI run on Sunday 30th Nov.

THANK the Lord for a beautiful and perfect weather for our long ride to Ipoh. With enchanting mist in the early morning and pleasant cloudy sky throughout our journey, what else could we ask for!

Team Hyper Gila riders arrived punctually at 730am and all were psyched up for a ride that money can’t buy…priceless!

Tony Q – Leader, marshall, event manager….basically he’s the boss
Chan Weng Kai – professional photographer

Riders:
Debbie, Michelle, San, Bernard, Bobby, Jason, Keat Seong, Kenny, Khoo, Ngae & tomato Ray

Support team:
Carol, Gerard, Jezamine, Lydia, Ming

1st stop – Ulu Yam. Breakfast
2nd stop – Slim River. Drinks replenishment.
3rd stop – Bidor. Lunch
4th stop – Kampar. Cha siew pau
Finish at KRI run finish line 5pm+

Carbo loading after ride & before run

KRI 12.8km run results:
Ming – 1st in women veteran
San – 2nd in women open
Mich – 4th in women open
Jason – 3rd in men veteran
Other men – habuk pun tada!

Riders on stage!

How far will you go for ice cream cendol??

This ice cream cendol was worth the 100km ride!

Team Hyper Gila

Starting point was in front of Muzium Orang Asli.

Starting point to Genting Sempah was a gentle slope.
Genting Sempah to Bentong was down hill and flat route. Many smiling faces!

That's how we dumped our bikes and quickly rushed in for that famous yummylicious ice cream cendol!

My roti canai got flipped don't know where...

Kedai Kopi Kow Po – more smiling faces and empty bowls!

Cholesterol power!Riding back was a challenge after all the cendol, roti, maggi goreng we wallaped! Bentong to Genting Sempah was flat but slowly turned into a hill climb. Many wished they didn't leave Kedai Kopi Kow Po.

Nevertheless, our eyes lit up once we reached the top of Genting Sempah although the last 500m was a killer!!!!!!!!
Genting Sempah to Muzium Orang Asli was downhill all the way. Many relieved faces!

Shit happens!

Yes, I must say that shit did happen in Penang Bridge International Marathon 2008 on 16th Nov.

Sleeping at 10pm and waking up at 1am clearly (or I should say blurr) is a lack of rest before a long run…a marathon. If it’s a 10km run, no complaints from me but for a 42km run starting at an ungodly hour of 3 o’ clock in the morning, I expected another Sundown to happen. That’s where I had cramps on both legs, hay wired body clock, drowsiness and pounding in your head was …stop…stop…stop!

But hoping for the best, I drowned Sundown memories with peanut butter sandwiches and the not so delicious Powerbar, although much needed. After washing it down with a big endurance drink, I set off to Queensball Mall together with Meng and Siok Bee. Halfway there, a van full of Kenyans were in front of us so since we’re not very clear on the directions to the mall, we tried to follow that van. Why I put it as ‘we tried to follow’ was because somehow that van zoomed away like Kenyans in a run and sad to say, we lost track of them. Embarrassing…can’t even follow them in a van…what more to say when running! Hahaha!

Anyway, at the carnival-like starting line, shit no.1 appeared. No baggage tent! Over the loud speakers, someone had the guts to inform runners that they do not have baggage service this year. Simply unbelievable! Last year they have but this year don’t have? Sounded like they failed to secure any sponsorship for this service, huh! Meng & I had to scout for a ‘safe’ place to put our bags. Luckily we found a spot at the Digi booth. Many thanks to the staff.

Shit no.2 was the ‘kandang lembu’ style of keeping runners at the same place. This year, full marathon didn’t have many runners. Some runners sprinted and must have thought the race started with officials waving us out of ‘kandang’ to be at the starting line. Hilarious! I was one of the last to walk to the starting line and could stand literally on it. Clearly this 42km did not attract enough runners.

3am and we were flagged off. Felt like Chinese New Year with the lion dance drumming away. Anyhow, with lion dance or not, shit no.3 popped up rather quickly. Just 1km into the run, it was dark and the street lamps somehow vanished. A runner in front of me fell due to a rather big pothole. Poor fella had to endure unnecessary pain at such an early part of the long run.

Reached 10km check point with a time of 55min, I felt comfortable but honestly hoped the pace was sustainable. But lo and behold, gas & shitty problem crept in not long after that first check point. I was farting like nobody’s business and after a while, I simply had to find a decent place to ‘let go’. No portable toilets in sight so anywhere not very visible would do just fine and yes, I managed to relieve myself at the river-bank, secluded from runners. Hahaha! And that’s shit no.4!

Passing by Queensbay Mall at 20km mark on the opposite direction, marathoners ran into thousands of people doing the 25km run. Terrible! Had to start our zig zagging running style over walking traffic obstacles. Reaching the booth distributing Powergel and I thought it looked like shit swamped over by flies. Hundreds grabbing something they know not of using. Shit no.5!
A very funny story I heard was a makcik asking for water instead of Powergel. There was not a single drop at this booth. Makcik has never seen Powergel before and asked what it was for… funny guy flexed his biceps ans told her Powergel will make her strong like Popeye!

The next 10km was difficult to run our own pace with thousands of these walking traffic obstacles in front. There were signboards indicating “ Slow runners – Please keep left” but…sigh! Who is gonna follow??? Shit no.6!
Penang bridge was having a different kind of traffic jam. People jam!

Water stations at km22.5 to km27.5 seemed to have been looted by hooligans. At this point of a marathon, water was most important for runners. How can there be no water for us?!?! Absolutely unacceptable! In USA, the organizer will be sued. Perhaps that’s why so few runners took part in this full marathon….or should I say ‘fool’ marathon!
Even typing it now and thinking about it makes me thirsty. Shit no.7!

Without water, I was already very thirsty, angry and adding to the irritation was a traffic walking obstacle that suddenly decided to pace with me. Not only was he making loud stamping noises, he was pacing very near at an uncomfortable space. I tried to ignore and kept on with my pace. Not even 2km and noise disappeared. Phew!

Thank God water was available at km30, km32.5 onwards. Didn’t want to risk another dry water station so I grabbed a 500ml mineral water bottle along just to be sure. At 35km mark, I knew this was where you make or break. Something else broke… blister in my pinkie toe. It was bloody painful! For 1 to 2km I hobbled rather than running.
Shit no.8!

38km….40km….and 2km to go….as the sun rises, my eyes grew brighter and with constant pace, I smiled knowing I was doing my 2nd sub4hr marathon. Upon reaching the last 500m I was delighted looking at my watch…3:49 Another PB in the making, a surprising one as well with all the shit that took place.
Last 50m was a satisfying sprint as I crossed the finish line with a time of 3:52:39

A fantastic shitty race!

Finish 3:52:39
30km 2:45
20km 1:50
10km 55min

Who's coming for Christmas... Santa or Jesus?

Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere

Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year...JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"...JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys...JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree...JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2008

And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year!

God bless you!

My early Christmas gift

Looks can be deceiving!

Somehow Nike Lunartrainer looks a bit different from all the other running shoes we are used to. The top is plain white and the sole only appears in 1 colour, fluorescent greenish yellow, and it is a single piece that runs from toe to heel. Paint it dark green, wind back time by 25 years and it resembles shoes that we wear in school. Hahaha!

Normally we are used to having running shoes with the sole separated by a small arch but this is different. There's no arch. The sole is flat. Also, it is wider. At certain angles, it does look a bit funny but it feels good when you run in it.

So far I've done 2 slow & short recovery runs using this Lunartrainer, after the Powerman duathlon in Sri Manjung. If I can only use one word to describe Lunartrainer, then the word will be…comfortable. This Lunartrainer fits very well apart from being ultralight. Yes, looks can be deceiving! It doesn't have the fast & furious look but at least my feet didn't complain. I didn't feel the usual impact when our feet hit the tarmac, so that's a plus. Lunarlite foam has done its trick!
It is amazing to know that Lunarlite technology came from NASA. Lunarlite Foam Core is 30% lighter than typical EVA used in running shoes. Not only it was much lighter, Lunarlite provided an impact free feeling.

Upon lacing up, the ankle felt a secure grip without the usual thick padding at the sides which we're used to. Toes have a sense of freedom, didn't feel as if encased firmly. That explained the funny wide look. It was designed that way for a reason.

Looking at the sole, I noticed durable carbon rubber was located only at high-wear zones, to provide traction without increasing weight.

Overall, Lunartrainer is a very comfortable running shoe. Material used and the 'new' shape let the feet 'breathe' while running in comfort. Your feet won't feel 'beat up' as if just went through a boxing match. Something very important for long runs.

Powerman 2008 report

This year’s Powerman was packed with action, pain, adrenalin, cramps, disappointment, surprise, satisfaction, achievement, laughter and not forgetting yummylicious food!

A picture paints a thousand words…check out my posting on the pix earlier.

My target this year was 4hr flat but the flat I got was a tyre!. It happened in the first 10km of the 64km bike ride. Before that unfortunate incident, I started rather well with 49min in the 11km run. With a 4hr target in mind, I pedaled into a sustainable 32-33km/h pace but before long, my rear wheel felt wobbly as I approached the 2nd traffic light junction. My ride was already not that fast and very very furious I became with a punctured tyre! “Shit!” I yelled. Surely some riders were eyeing the tarmac expecting cow dung to avoid. As I replaced the tube, one by one zoomed pass. Oh bummer! I was stationary for 10 minutes but all in all, about 15 minutes were lost. All my effort in the first run vanished. There goes my target…kapoof !!

Anyhow, it’s not the end as I could still better my time from last year’s 4hr36min debut.
Back on my Merida, it started to feel good “sayur-ing” riders especially those using Cervelos. The best was overtaking a stylo mylo Cervelo rider with a rear disc wheel and teardrop helmet. Imagine a Proton zooming past a BMW in Sepang racetrack. Hehehe!
But on the other hand, I kinda envy them being so stylo mylo. I will always remember a friend’s priceless statement…’If you can’t win, then lose in style!’

After 2 loops of 32km, 2 Powergels and nearly 2min in transition, a grueling 10km run awaits. I downed another Powergel before my legs hit the road. Cramps were what I feared most and as expected, they paid their regular quad visit till I had to squat down easing the pain. The first 3km was the worst as I walked more than I ran. Slowly I paced myself and slowly the cramps left. The 2nd 5km loop was much better although I could only do a slow pace. The 10km took me 1hr7min.

Finishing Powerman at 4hr17min was 19min better than last year but it could have been satisfying without the puncture. Oh well, next year will come and a different flat I look for…

Fikir-fikirkanlah... (Think about it...)

Do we gain self respect and build our dignity through our social status and material wealth?
We are all merely finite human beings who will die one day . And when we die, we can't take material wealth with us.
Unless, we live in faith, hope and love for God, our status and dignity are just hollow....very hollow....

Powerman 2008 pix

Carbo loading at Kuala Selangor

This year’s Powerman was packed with action, pain, adrenalin, cramps, disappointment, surprise, satisfaction, achievement, laughter and not forgetting yummylicious food!
A picture paints a thousand words…
My target this year was 4hr flat but the flat I got was a tyre!. It happened in the first 10km of the 64km bike ride. Before that unfortunate incident, I started rather well with 49min in the 11km run. With a 4hr target in mind, I pedaled into a sustainable 32-33km/h pace but before long, my rear wheel felt wobbly as I approached the 2nd traffic light junction. My ride was already not that fast and very very furious I became with a punctured tyre! “Shit!” I yelled. Surely some riders were eyeing the tarmac expecting cow dung to avoid. As I replaced the tube, one by one zoomed pass. Oh bummer! I was stationary for 10 minutes but all in all, about 15 minutes were lost. All my effort in the first run vanished. There goes my target…kapoof !!
Anyhow, it’s not the end as I could still better my time from last year’s 4hr36min debut.
Back on my Merida, it started to feel good “sayur-ing” riders especially those using Cervelos. The best was overtaking a stylo mylo Cervelo rider with a rear disc wheel and teardrop helmet. Imagine a Proton zooming past a BMW in Sepang racetrack. Hehehe!
But on the other hand, I kinda envy them being so stylo mylo. I will always remember a friend’s priceless statement…’If you can’t win, then lose in style!’
After 2 loops of 32km, 2 Powergels and nearly 2min in transition, a grueling 10km run awaits. I downed another Powergel before my legs hit the road. Cramps were what I feared most and as expected, they paid their regular quad visit till I had to squat down easing the pain. The first 3km was the worst as I walked more than I ran. Slowly I paced myself and slowly the cramps left. The 2nd 5km loop was much better although I could only do a slow pace. The 10km took me 1hr7min.
Finishing Powerman at 4hr17min was 19min better than last year but it could have been satisfying without the puncture. Oh well, next year will come and a different flat I look for…

Helmet also 'senget' one side....

Pix courtesy of Tey & Mich.