c r a z y t o m a t o m a n

Kitty

2012-02-20T10:27:00.000+08:00

Kitty...that's the name for little kitten we found. She has the coat of a tuxedo black & white. Kitty Softpaws, the heroine in Puss in Boots has the same. So we named after her :)

Here's a closer look at Kitty, after 2 weeks in a new home. She's grown a fair bit!

Kitty Softpaws

2012-02-16T16:18:00.000+08:00

On 21st November last year, we found an abandoned kitten in the condo toilet beside swimming pool. Poor little kitten has been left there with a feeding bottle as if she can feed herself. Must have been a day or two as the milk had turned sour. We took little kitten back and hand fed her. By her size and with eyes yet to open plus ears not standing up, we guessed she's only around a week plus old...or young as she's very very young.

Her stay with us lasted 3 weeks. Nurturing her, seeing her grow was simply magical. The first few days, waking up every 2-3hrs feeding this little kitten resemble feeding a baby. We fed her powdered full cream milk as a start cos that's the only milk we had. Hoped she won't have diarrhoea and could pull through the very crucial few days. That was the main concern. Luckily she made it. Slept, fed, slept, fed.

Not only that, there's cleaning to be done as well. This little kitten has constant discharge coming out from her eyes. I cleaned her eyes so often till she knows what to do each time I carried her to the bathroom. Stopped crying and stayed still. :)

From crawling to standing (wobbly) and able to do her 4 legged walk, we witnessed them all. Her strength grew each day. How wonderful!

Cute little fella. Melts your heart once she looks at you and goes...mmmmeeeoooowwww!!!

But...we can't keep her. Staying up on 11th floor can be dangerous for cats even if they have 9 lives. Little kitten was starting to climb here & there. Very soon she'll climb up the window. Don't want to see her standing on the window ledge and the next step......wooooooo....

Fortunately, a friend happened to be looking for a kitten to accompany his pet, a teenage cat. Yes! That means we can still visit little kitten once in a while.

Will post pix of little kitten 2 weeks after adoption in the next...post :P

Leading a run on bike

2012-02-11T14:52:00.000+08:00

January 2012 has been a no official run for me. Wanted to do long slow distance as part of HK marathon training flopped badly. I only managed 15km as my longest slow distance. So much for a marathon training. Hahaha!

I've to admit being a leading marshal on bike for Multi Purpose Insurance Run was more fun compared to running it. Well, it's a different perspective. The entire 12km was dominated by Kenyans. After the first km, all I saw behind me were 2 Kenyan runners. On flats, 20kmh. Hills, 18kmh. Riding up hills on a MTB was tough to keep up with them, so it's either you stay 100m apporaching a hill or else you'll be left behind like the local elites.

John & me having fun on 2 wheels

Pix courtesy of Tey

adidas adizero FEATHER

2012-01-13T12:26:00.000+08:00

My Christmas gift from lovely Michelle : )

adidas mean it when they call it FEATHER. 190g!! It is that light! Yes, very light compared to all the other running shoes I had.

Tried it in malakoff 12km run last December, although I was not in the race. Being brand new, I broke into it first time. Light...very light.
However, it felt kinda hard upon landing. Must be the hard plastic sprint frame, designed for foot lift off.

This writeup pretty much sums it all...
http://www.runningtechniquetips.com/2011/10/adidas-adizero-feather-review/

Did 17km with it. Started my run 15min before the runners. Up down the Damansara hills, only kept up a short distance along Amelia and Sheela, super fast women open champion and 2nd position. Could only followed their pace for 2-3km. When they hit the hills, I got smoked. As for the Kenyan men open champion, his pace was incredible. I followed 100m and that was it. His pace is my 400m track record!

With my feet sweating like nobody's business all the time, I got blisters on both feet after this maiden FEATHER run. Right foot got it worse. Could feel blister forming only 30min into the run. Maybe the thick socks were not too foot friendly. And my blister pro feet!

On Christmas eve, a hill run organised by the youth and sports ministry took place in Jelebu, about 1hr drive from KL.
Used my FEATHER. Up hill, anything light is welcomed. hahaha!
The race was 12km with half of it going uphill. Those under 18years will be on a 6km route from a different start location.

Open category was dominated by the army boys. Once flagged off, a big bunch of them conquered the road. Kenyans were there and they were under International category. Phew! Otherwise, locals will be eating dust.
Participants were flagged off in waves of 5min gaps. Veteran, women, men, international.

The Kenyans were flagged off last. They caught up and overtook me around km6, just before the hills.

My km split timing. No consistency in pace, only consistency in slowing down. Hahahahaha!
km1 3:51
km2 4:02
km3 4:13
km4 4:34
km5 4:31
km6 4:42
km7 4:46
km8 5:44
km9 5:59
km10 6:06
km11 6:26
km12 5:30

I caught up with Michelle & Jesicca around km10. Both were steadily pacing each other. Real race at the final km for them.

My last km, though lungs busted and legs loaded with lactate, I increased pace to keep my time under 1hr. Reached finsh line truly out of breath. Saw my watch 1:00:29.....ggggrrrr!! 29seconds too slow!

Average pace 5:02min per km on the 12km route with 6km hill climb.

Surprise for me was prizes for top20 and I finished 18th! Yipee!!

A Christmas gift! Praise the Lord!

Michelle finished 3rd. Wow!!!!!!

A wonderful Christmas gift for us. : )

From 2011 to 2012

2012-01-09T15:05:00.000+08:00

Went back to hometown on the night of 28th December and stayed till the new year, 2nd Jan.
The 5 days were by far, the most relaxing holiday, as I was home... home sweet home.
Arrived at night and the moment my bro drove out of Kuching airport, the first question asked was "what do you feel like eating?"
I ended having Kuching beef noodle, which is still not available in Klang valley. Satisfied!

Michelle arrived the next morning. Same thing happened, we got out of the airport and had lunch with mom & dad. Had laksa & kolo mee!

As usual, rain everyday so what else can we do? Eat la...hahaha!

Afternoon came, skies still pouring, so food time again...
This time, Kuching cendol.

It was more of a eating vacation for us in Kuching.
Met uncle Tat Leong, our mountain bike uncle and he took us to have the famous 10th mile kolo mee.

Ok, enough with makan-makan...

We were really lucky the rain stopped after our kolo mee and took the chance to go climb Santubong mountain, with the peak at about 800m.
Used the same way in a couple of years ago but this time, the entry fees have ballooned from RM1 to RM3 and this time, parking is charged RM5. Ridiculous! I drove down to Santubong Sentral for free parking. It's only about 1km away. There's no way I'm paying RM5 for a parking spot! And in Kuching?!? They can dream on!

We started our climb around 1130am. Reached the peak 2hr++ later. Thank God for blue sky above!

In the last two photos, you can see how steep this climb is. Vertical climb using hanging ladders in the final 100m near the peak. Certainly not for those who are afraid of heights. We met a group from Singapore and they were struggling using these ladders. Luckily they managed to pull through right to the peak but one asked if there's another way to go down. Sorry, you need to go down the say way you came up.

At the peak, we could see Bako, Kuching city, Pasir Pendek and Pasir Panjang beaches, Santubong golf course and Damai beach.

Shelter on the peak. Group from Singapore taking a break enjoying the view.

That's Bako in the background.

Not too clear but it's Kuching city in the background.

Coming down was just as tough as going up. Had to gingerly climb down the ladders with full concentration. You just can't afford a afford a simple mistake now.

We reached the entry point around 430pm. Had a quick shower at Santubong Sentral and headed home. Mission accomplished for Michelle as in our previous trip back, we climbed Serapi in Matang.

Next day, the sky was kind again. Lucky us! Did a slow jog from home to reservoir park. Along the way, stopped by our alma mater, Green Road school and St Joseph school.

Michelle lived 2-3years in Kuching when her dad was posted here about 25years ago. So a bit of her is from cat city! Hahaha!

The next couple of days, rain returned on and off. New year's eve was simple. No disco or pub crawling. Had a walk along the waterfront and had hot Milo to usher in 2012. Boring some would say...hahaha!

Oh well, it's just another day with a different number, that's all.

Christmas

2011-12-27T10:09:00.000+08:00

Ooops!

I've been using Facebook, SMS to wish friends and relatives a Blessed Christmas but totally forgotten about my blog... :(

Message from Jesuits...

Dear Friend in the Lord,

Christmas Day: Let us remember the real reason of our celebration, and not
get carried away by the gifts, drinks and feasts. Jesus, the divine “Word of
God” who existed for all eternity is being born into our world. We can now
see, feel and know the almighty God who has come to reveal God’s Truth and save all peoples.

Fr Philip Heng,S.J.

I went beyond 42km...part2

2011-12-23T16:01:00.000+08:00

Ok, ok...I better continue with this blog on TMBT before 2012 arrives and registration opens!

50km...scary if you think about it and if you're doing it alone. But a trail run (not in loops!) of that distance crossing rivers, villages, farms brought excitement as the views were spectacular! Mt Kinabalu in view from a different place was just awesome. Everytime I took a glimpse wherever I could in the journey, the mountain gave a sense of proximity between yourself and the Almighty. There and then, all that I saw around me, was beauty, created by Him.

Ok, let's begin with my report. The first 10km was on village road or gravel road. I thought those doing 50km will be sprinting off from the start but no! Those doing 100km were the speed demons. 5min after flag off, I couldn't see them in front anymore. That's how fast they went.

Initially, my hydration pack with 2litres of water + food supplies + windbreaker was HEAVY! Couldn't run fast with it. Settled for a comfortable pace along the gravel road, reached CP1 after 9.5km in 58min.

Stephanie, a local Sabahan who is our national triathlete and now a coach was kind enough to help out in marshal duties. Many thanks!

The scenery was pure beauty as the trail continues. Crystal clear rivers plus fresh cooling air and greens all around was simply perfect! And to top it off, weather on race day was priceless.

Have you ever seen Mt Kinabalu from this angle? Beautiful and breathtaking!

CP2 - 19.5km covered in 2hr18min. Marshals going through their records mentioned I'm at position no.5 for the 50km. Sounds good,,,but only if I can maintain the pace. Filled up my water bladder (not the human bladder la...hahaha!) up to the brim, munched some Powerbar and off I continued. Many thanks to a support group taking our photos.

Yup, that's how I looked like... :P

CP3 - 27.5km in 3hr 4min. Somehow the 8km from CP2 passed by rather quickly. I didn't expect CP3 to come so fast. It was in the middle of a village with loud music on the traditional gongs. At first, I thought someone's getting married. Surprise! Surprise! It was the welcoming party playing music to welcome TMBT runners. How nice!

After this CP, the trail and scenery became more thrilling! The real trail run...where mud, roots, tree trunks get in your way. hahaha!

Some pictures from CP3 to CP3A

Just before reaching CP3A, someone caught up with me and that's about the only time where I can have my own photo taken by my phone camera. That's also when the clouds move away from shielding the sun from us. The heat ...the heat!!!

I missed taking pics where we had to cross the river with water level up to my thigh. Cold & absolutely refreshing! Some took a break, jumped in, dipped n cool down. In my mind, all I thought about was...keep going...
It took me almost an hour just to get from CP3 to 3A. Was together with Erwan Kassim till CP3A and that's where Shine, a 100km runner caught up with us, the 50km-ers. 3 of us left CP3A together...not muskateers but the 3 ultrarunners!
Along the river, before hitting the hills, I had to stop and treat my blisters. Yeah, my downside is sweaty feet. I get blisters almost in every race...sigh...
Rested awhile and took in a energy gel, nuts, raisins, salt...practically it was a lunch break.

Journey to CP4 was back again on dirt / gravel road...uphills!

One long & never seemed to end hill climb was on cement road. Steep and endless left and right twisting. Just before that was a village and I managed a shot of a church. Alleluia!

At CP4, look who greeted me....

A stylo mylo mountain goat! He sure knows where to sit...the rest of the family members didn't have the privilege of sitting high up.

CP4 - 41.5km in 6hr13min. Took me quite a while back there from CP3A. Only 9km left but it's not easy. Whole body was tired especially the legs. Took a 5minute break before continuing.
Ford, who was one of the fast 100km-ers, had to pull out at CP4 due to injury. Injury...that's the scariest thing which can happen now. Saw marshal's record and the elite runners passed CP4 more than an hour ago. From here to CP5 finish line, I predicted another 2hours with my worn out muscles.

Slow jog...brisk walk...jog...walk...all the 9km. Mental strength was what I needed to pull through the entire 42km. Hitting 42km on trail did give me satisfaction as before this, I've never ran a longer distance than the marathon. Every step from then on was a personal achievement.

Interesting parts in the final 9km include landslide, 3 last 25km-ers and a black dog asking for food. Didn't offer the dog anything though...sorry pooch!

Near CP5, the dirt road became dirtier, well, a construction road is dirtier right? Saw the hill entrance to CP6. Very steep!!! Some 100km-ers were heading in as I passed by. Miki loop was their 'fun & exciting' part...hehehe! Heard it's the real trail, steep, single path, slippery up on the hill. Kudos to them!

As the road heads down the valley, Finish banner came into view. Yes! Relief! 50km...done!

15min faster than my 8hr target. Position 8th out of 33 completed. Next time I gotta shave a lot of time from there.

So i'm an ultrarunner now? 6km more than 42km...err...I think not la...

Only when I hit 100km, then I dare label myself an ultrarunner :D

Michelle came in 8hr39min, 4th. Just missed the top3 podium.
It's alright, our first try, so we didn't target any position, just to finish within a decent time.

Next year 100km or a faster 50km? Hmm...decision...decision...hahaha!

I went beyond 42km...part 1

2011-12-15T17:11:00.000+08:00

Running further than 42km? No way! I'm not into ultra running!
Well, that was history.

When Sabah Adventure Challenge came up with Ultra Trail Run, The Most Beautiful Thing, I saw trail running and forgot ultra! It was either 100km or 50km...trail. I'm not ultra ultra 100km yet so 50km will do just fine...I hope!
This year, the shift has been from on road to off road and I'm getting hooked. Trail run is just more exciting, more spiritually fulfilled!It's where you are 1 with nature...not like tarzan but somewhere there minus the gorillas and tigers. Hahaha!

Justice finally served on using my trail shoes. With splashes of mud, it looks the name, trail shoe. And I purposely bought a new pair for this 50km.

http://crazytomatoman.blogspot.com/2011/09/trail-shoes.html
Training saw me going into FRIM, Kiara, Gasing more than before and maybe be as much as on the road. Even started a group called Trail Runners in Facebook.
TMBT is the biggest event for me this year. 50km trail running is somewhat equivalent to at least 70km on the road.

Michelle & yours truly tomatoman flew to KK on 4th November. Met Shine in KLIA. After checking into official event hotel, Mega D'Aru, lunch time saw us together with Tony and Chong. Yim, Chin Ann, Paul joined later. After that, Yip. Seemed like lunch never ended. Good for carbo loading eh...Hahaha!

Afternoon nap...evening walk to Tanjung Aru beach front...dinner...back to hotel for race pack collection & briefing. Adeline arrived around 9pm due to flight delay from Singapore. Which airline? AA la...who else...sigh!

Last re-check of race pack before off to dreamland. Alarm set 4am but somehow woke up before it rang.

Breakfast with ultra ppl and off we went on bus convoy to Kota Belud. Quite a distance from KK and once arrived, we were all in awe with Mt Kinabalu in sight ... something different to the usual view from Kundasang.

100km & 50km runners started their ultra trail journey together.

Stay tuned for Part 2...coming to a blog near you... :D

MOU MAN TAI 2.0 Run

2011-12-12T09:39:00.001+08:00

Mou Man Tai means No Problem in Cantonese.

This was the first time I had BEER after running! Yes! Beer!

Dutamas Runners were one of the craziest & loudest group. You can see the crazy fun we had from the pix. Many thanks to Andrew for the shiok compilation!

Yammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sennnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A casual non competitive run but you know us runners. Any run is competitive. We can't help it. Somehow we just pia kao lat. Hahahaha!
It was held on a Sunday evening in TTDI. Organised by Tom Dick & Harry pub. Yes! any tom dick and harry can join in. :P
We did a 5km run from the pub to Kiara park & back.

Yup, I ran...or pia rather...pia kao lat and led from start to finish. Yahoo! My first win in a run...a casual run. Other runs....sorry la...I can't challenge the fast legs.

Got a voucher worth RM650 from Skateline. The only thing I can get with the voucher is a pair of inline skates.

But I don't skate....help!

Are you breaking the Law?

2011-11-17T14:42:00.000+08:00

Have you ever thrown money away? Sometimes I see small coins lying around the house and want to throw them away, just for a cleaning quick-fix. However, I recently found out that it is illegal to permanently discard or destroy money!

Did you know it’s illegal in God’s Kingdom too? But your currency isn’t paper bills or coins: it’s your gifts and abilities. Jesus told a story about three servants who were given different amounts of money by their master. The two with the most invested it and gained more, but the one with the least hid it in the ground out of fear. When the master returned, he congratulated and promoted the two profitable servants, but said about the scared servant, “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:28,29).

What talents do you have? And are you hiding them out of fear? No matter what, God has given you something—and He wants you to use it! “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). The greatest use of any gift is to bring glory to God so that others will want to know Him. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Here are some possible talents He might have given you: * Exhortation * Giving * Leadership * Mercy * Prophecy * Service * Teaching * Your gifts could also be in the form of art, music, communication, education, or connections.

Do you need help figuring out how to use your gift? First of all, ask God because He wants to help you. But secondly, we want to help you too! Respond to this e-mail and ask for guidance from an Online Missionary on how to use your gifts. The goal is that, at the end of days, Jesus would say to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” The world is waiting for you to give your gifts—don’t bury them!

Source : http://www.godlife.com/

PJ Half Marathon 2011

2011-11-14T15:50:00.000+08:00

A long anticipated race with a mission!
Target was to do a PB (personal best). 1hr 35min will be nice with current best time at 1hr38min

Running jersey this time is different. It gives a psychological boost as it was a gift from Marco De Gespari, the record holder of Mt Kinabalu International Climbathon. But in a way, it's also a bit of a pressure as I need to justify the speedy image. Hahaha!

At the start line, together with Moey, Jea-Pierre and Dave, we were laughing non stop as the Runkeeper app on my phone went on & off with loud "Activity started...activity paused!" causing runners around us feeling uneasy. Perhaps it disrupted their focus. Hahahhaa!

With a loud bang, Kenyans sprinted out of sight and together with them went Yip.

The first 2km I was pacing with Hin Tong. Once hitting Federal Highway, he went ahead, his way. I was on my own pace till the exit turning into the road to Subang airport. A blister formation nagging at my right foot which made me stopped to remove the socks. Looking behind, Ronnie also stopped to tie his shoe laces. Going down the gentle hill, he caught up with me and we paced each other till Hin Tong appeared. Asked him to join us but he said he 'koyak'. At the same time, Hooi Siah came along but chose to pace with us. So Ronnie, Hooi and me tomatoman paced each other till the U turn near Terminal 2 of Subang airport.

As we passed km15, Ronnie increased pace. I tried to stick to him but slowly drafted behind and the gap went longer as the km increased. My pace was also slowing down as I made my way up the last 'hill', the flyover above road going into Ara Damansara. Could feel my legs getting heavy. With 2km left, Julie Foreman overtook me. she had impressive fast cadence! Just as I was about to turn into Kelana Jaya road, a youngster speeding in his car jammed his brakes behind me. I jumped, yes, literally jumped! He could have knocked and sent my flying. Where was the marshal or police officer to control the traffic?!?!?

It broke my pace and got my heart pounding for a different reason. Damm!

I continued the final km and was glad I was still in one piece. Ran into the stadium, saw Ronnie reaching the finish line. I was about 200-250m behind him. Looking back to ensure nobody's going to overtake me at the last moment like adidas KOTR, I cruised to finish line with a time of 1hr 33min 49sec.

Yes! Mission accomplished! Did a PB which is sub1:35. Managed to shaved 4min off my last PB.

Position was 22nd and my bib number was A0222.

Happy happy joy joy!

Ronnie was 1min ahead while Yip was way way way in front of us, 1hr22min, 12th, just behind national marathoner, 10th, and 9 Kenyans.

Next race, mission is to chase Yip! Hehehe!

Michelle finished 8th, her PB as well. She did her target of sub1:50. Wonderful!! :)

Our next BIG race is The Most Beautiful Thing, Ultra Trail Run in Sabah. Both of us took the challenge of 50km.

Report up sooooooonnnnnn......

11.11.11

2011-11-11T12:36:00.000+08:00

Today, the date is 11th November 2011 or fondly written as 11.11.11
Just for the numbers, many are tying the knot,

similar to previous years of 10.10.10, 09.09.09, 08.08.08, 07.07.07.
Can't recall if people were using 06.06.06...the devil's number...hahaha!

Well, what is the significance of those numbers? Different couple have different reasons. All I know is that restaurants, hotels, churches, temples will be fully booked.

This came at the right time, something from Our Daily Bread

It's all about Him

When Sheri got engaged, her single friend Amy celebrated with her. She planned a bridal shower, helped pick out her wedding dress, walked down the aisle just before her, and stood by her side during the ceremony. When Sheri and her husband had children, Amy gave baby showers and rejoiced in her friend’s blessings.
Sheri told Amy later, “You’ve comforted me during hard times, but the way I especially know you love me is that you rejoice with me in my good times. You haven’t let any jealousy hold you back from celebrating with me.”
When John’s disciples heard that a new rabbi named Jesus was gaining followers, they thought John might be jealous (John 3:26). They came to him and said, “He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” But John celebrated Jesus’ ministry. He said, “I have been sent before Him. . . . The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled” (vv.28-29).
An attitude of humility should also characterize us. Rather than desiring attention for ourselves, everything we do should bring glory to our Savior. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (v.30).

Not I but Christ be honored, loved, exalted;
Not I but Christ be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I but Christ in every look and action;
Not I but Christ in every thought and word. —Whiddington

If we want an increase of Christ, there must be a decrease of self.

The Most Beautiful Thing

2011-11-09T09:08:00.001+08:00

http://www.sabahadventurechallenge.com/ultra/

I went I saw I finished 50km

Report coming soon...still tired...

Some photos from Kinabalu climbathon

2011-11-03T12:29:00.000+08:00

Kinabalu Climbathon Project - Finale

2011-11-03T11:29:00.001+08:00

View from Mt. Kinabalu at km7.5, altitude of around 3800m. Distance of 1.2km to the peak with another 200m elevation thereabout.
2nd time joining this Climbathon, 2nd time failure to reach the peak. This time, with added salt to the wound as I had another hour on top of the 2hr30min cut off time. Sad...

But happy on the other hand. Met the skyrunner champions from Italy, Spain, USA, New Zealand, Japan and our very own Sabahans.

Next year will be a different route. It'll be the Adventure Series, starting from Kinabalu Park, ascend halfway up from Timpohon Gate, turned to Mersilau trail and final 10km on tarmac to Kundasang.

Until then, enjoy the video...

1 November

2011-11-01T12:58:00.000+08:00

Today, 1st November is All Saint's Day ...

All Saints' Day (in the Roman Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas^[3]), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.
In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries. In the Roman Catholic Church and many Anglican churches, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven. Catholics celebrate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Other Christian traditions define, remember and respond to the saints in different ways; for example, in the Methodist Church, "saints who have helped extend and enliven God's kingdom" are remembered—that is—the entire Church universal and those significant to a particular local congregation.^[2]

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints

Solemnity celebrated on the first of November. It is instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown, and, according to Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.
In the early days the Christians were accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of a martyr's death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. In the fourth century, neighbouring dioceses began to interchange feasts, to transfer relics, to divide them, and to join in a common feast; as is shown by the invitation of St. Basil of Caesarea (397) to the bishops of the province of Pontus. Frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration. In the persecution of Diocletian the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. But the Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all. The first trace of this we find in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost. We also find mention of a common day in a sermon of St. Ephrem the Syrian (373), and in the 74th homily of St. John Chrysostom (407). At first only martyrs and St. John the Baptist were honoured by a special day. Other saints were added gradually, and increased in number when a regular process of canonization was established; still, as early as 411 there is in the Chaldean Calendar a "Commemoratio Confessorum" for the Friday after Easter. In the West Boniface IV, 13 May, 609, or 610, consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs, ordering an anniversary. Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for 1 November. A basilica of the Apostles already existed in Rome, and its dedication was annually remembered on 1 May. Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration on 1 November to the entire Church. The vigil seems to have been held as early as the feast itself. The octave was added by Sixtus IV (1471-84).

Source : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm

Kinabalu Climbathon Project - part 4 - Descending Toru style

2011-10-31T11:09:00.000+08:00

Marco reached Kinabalu peak in 1hr37min. 5minutes behind him are Kilian, Toru, Luis and the Nepali climber (I forgot his name).

At the spot (around 6.5km) where I recorded this clip, Kilian literally flew down, the lead Marco built on the climb has been reduced to 3min.

Eventually Kilian caught up with Marco as they exit Timpohon gate. Marco was unlucky cos he had a fall coming down and the final 4.5km sprint was affected.

Kilian however, gave all he had, sprinting to the finish line in 2hr41min48secs , with Marco 40secs in 2nd place.

Luis was 3rd, Nepali Sudip Kulung 4th, Japanese Toru 5th and the fastest Malaysian, Safrey Sumping in 6th.

These skyrunners are simply amazing!

They have finished 21km distance and 2,300m elevation up down but I still can't see the peak!!

Kinabalu Climbathon Project - part 4 - Descending Kilian & Luis style

2011-10-31T10:03:00.000+08:00

Kinabalu Climbathon Project - part 4 - the skills in descending

2011-10-31T09:39:00.000+08:00

Here you can see how Marco De Gasperi does it. Looks like coming down home stairs.

Kinabalu Project part 3 including Nepali's way of climbing

2011-10-30T16:52:00.001+08:00

cRAzYtomatoman Kinabalu Climbathon Project - part 2

2011-10-28T12:59:00.000+08:00

Part 2

At Layang - Layang hut with crew on duty. Many thanks to them! God bless them!

Kinabalu Climbathon Project

2011-10-28T11:52:00.000+08:00

This will remind you of the movie Blair Witch Project.

Only now, it's cRAzYtomatoman Kinabalu Climbathon Project

Still feeling high like the world champions!

2011-10-27T10:07:00.000+08:00

I'm still astounded on what took place over the last weekend. Still smiling. Trying to relive every moment of it!

So so happy to meet International Skyrunning Federation President, Marino Giacometti and his ISF Team at KLIA on my way to KK, Sabah. We happened to be on the same flight! Lucky me! :)

We are going to the 25th Mt Kinabalu International Climbathon, 22-23 October 2011

Marco De Gasperi was there! Yes, the Kinabalu climbathon record holder! Wow! I could hardly believe it!!

Last year, he broke the Mt Kinabalu climbathon record set in 2003 by 3min! Amazing speed! 21km of mountain climbing and descending with elevation of 2300m. He did it 2hr33min. The 2003 record was set by himself as well!!

This year, it's a blast. Why? Marco will be defending his title and Kilian Jornet, winner 2007, 2009 will be battling it out for 2011 champion. Not only that, this year is also the year of Super Cup. It is a title for the Champion of Champions.

Apart from these top 2, let me introduce another 2 elites. Luis Hernando, winner of 2011 Skyrunner Series and Brandy Erholtz, member of USA Track & Field Team, in trail running.

I'm so happy to meet them in person. Can't describe the feeling really... :D

Thank you Lord!!!

Kilian,Toru and Luis at km5

2011-10-25T00:56:00.000+08:00

Marco De Gasperi near km5

2011-10-24T23:53:00.000+08:00

Running makes you look good!

2011-10-24T22:17:00.000+08:00

KLIUC 10km run was by far, my personal best. I was pleasantly surprised with the time. 40:46. The actual distance measured by some runners' GPS watch was 9.8km.
Route was not all flat. It included a couple of long hills. Gentle slope it seemed but with racing pace, you'll be zapped dry approaching the top.
It's also the first run I got a prize! Well, I was lucky. KLIUC was generous enough to award top20 runners in each category. I managed 12th in Men Open.

The last 2km I tried to overtake or 'sayur' a Kenyan lookalike but he didn't let me. The moment I got close to him, he fired his turbo to hold me back. Final 200m was sprint to the finish. Boy it was tough but fun! Still couldn't 'sayur' him though. :(

Look at his shoes. Amazing ya. Leather without much padding.

In adidas King Of The Road 16.8km, I was 13th. Just a few more to be top10.Pace I have but not the speed endurance. Seriously need more training.

30seconds...the time I needed to shave off to be 10th. 1 day...I'll be there :)

Photos below shows the difference I look in 2007 and now, 2011

Skin colour...hair style...some fat...anymore differences? Hahahahahah!

What I dare to say is RUNNING MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD!

So come, let's run! You'll like it and it's addictive!!!

And it makes you feel good too...no doubt about that. The release of endorphin in our body does the trick.
If you feel down, sad, depressed, go and run it off.

If by any chance it doesn't help, let me know. I'll buy you laksa...or...kolo mee...the magical Sarawak hawker delicacies! :P

The last race to Kinabalu mountain peak

2011-10-18T22:58:00.000+08:00

This year marks 25th year of Mt Kinabalu Climbathon and it will be the final year runners will run up to the peak of 4,095m. Organisers changing the race route next year. Sad...

Two years ago, I tried but failed to scale the peak in given time of 2hr30min for Men Open category. I only managed just below km7. Peak is at km8.72
I was hoping the event will go on till I'm a veteran...hahaha! Cos then, i'll have another hour, yes, 3hrs30min to scale the peak. But no...it's now or never...
will try my very best but I doubt so...so just try to go as close as possible to the peak in that cut off time.

Believe it or not, I dislocated and fractured my finger in 2009 event. :P

http://crazytomatoman.blogspot.com/2009/11/kinabalu-climbathon-2009-day-3.html
http://crazytomatoman.blogspot.com/2009/10/kinabalu-climbathon-2009-day-1-2.html

It'll be a 50/50 work & play for me this time. Yes, work. One of the sponsors for this event. But I'm taking part...haha! Won't missed it!

An action packed event with so many elites...the leading world skyrunners.

Kilian Jornet...Marco de Gasperi...these 2 are among the best in the world. They will battle it out for the Super Cup.

Below are the sites for this event:
http://climbathon.sabahtourism.com/2011/
http://www.skyrunning.com/index.php

Deemed the World’s Toughest Mountain Race, the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is the ultimate challenge to take for those who are game enough to test their endurance by running up and down Mount Kinabalu for a total distance of 21 kilometres.
The first climbathon was inaugurated in 1987 when Sabah Parks decided to scout for people to be in the rapid rescue squad, who are a team of rangers who are able to bring down injured climbers in minimal time especially during times of bad weather or when helicopters are not available.
The participation for the climbathon was restricted to Malaysians only, until a year later when it was then opened for international participation. Starting 1995, the Sabah Tourism Board took over to organize this annual event.
The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is now very popular among the European mountain runners. The Climbathon Organising Committee has been working closely with the International Skyrunning Federation since 2004 to promote and expand professional mountain running together with the tourism destinations. Through the years, the Climbathon was a part of the Skyrunning World Series but this year it has become the Skyrunner Supercup.
Skyrunner® SuperCup
A new sports title has been introduced by the International Skyrunning Federation, where the world’s top skyrunners will contend for the prestigious Skyrunner® SuperCup. The competition will be held every two years as the final event of the year in which the European Championships are held.
The title this year has been awarded to the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon in Borneo, Malaysia, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on October 22 and 23.
This extraordinary 21 km race up and down the 4, 095m of Mount Kinabalu, boasts a gruelling vertical climb of 2,300m over a mere eight and a half kilometres. Mount Kinabalu is South East Asia’s second tallest mountain and is set in the splendid tropical Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage site.
The world’s top athletes will participate, including the Championship winners, those of the Skyrunner® World Series and past Climbathon winners and record holders. The outright male and female winners - the “champion of champions” - will be awarded the prestigious Skyrunner® SuperCup.

SuperCup star line-up

A star studded line-up is preparing for the Skyrunner® SuperCup which will award the “champion of champions” title to the winners of the 25th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon on October 22 and 23 in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Ready to take on the challenge are skyrunning giants Marco De Gasperi, course record holder and Kilian Jornet, 2007 and 2009 winner. Italian De Gasperi set the record here last year, bettering his own time set six years earlier: 2h33’56” for the 21 km round trip and summiting Mount Kinabalu’s 4,095m in a mere 1h35’29”.

Other top names include Spain’s Luis Hernando, recently crowned 2011 Skyrunner® World Series champion; Japan’s Toru Miyahara, 2011 Mount Fuji winner; Britain’s Ricky Lightfoot and Malaysian Safrey Sumping.

Potential podium contenders in the women’s field are New Zealander Anna Frost, second here last year; Russian Zhanna Vokueva (ranked 14th); American Brandy Erholtz, two times winner of the Pikes Peak Marathon, (ranked 16th); Japan’s Naomi Ochiaki (second on Mount Fuji);and evergreen local runner, Danny Gongot.

In celebrating 25 years of the Climbathon, the ISF has awarded the new biannual Skyrunner® SuperCup title to this long time favourite skyrunning venue. The extraordinary race up and down Mount Kinabalu’s 4,095m boasts a gruelling vertical climb of 2,300m over just eight and a half kilometres. Last year, as the final of the 2010 Skyrunner® World Series, 669 runners from 40 countries took part.

The race slogan, “Are you tough enough?” is the question many of the participants will be asking themselves next weekend.

Do everything , learn everything

2011-10-17T16:07:00.000+08:00

In the past year, I've done...

Business1
1. rented shop
2. layout for office, production room, store room
3. local authorities for approval
4. applied phone, fax, internet lines
5. selected contractor for renovation works
6. office workstations, store room racking
6. transfered and setup production machines
7. shipped in raw materials
8. designed label
9. produced packaging materials
10. run production
11. list products in retail outlets
12. sell
13. brand our products
13. make $$$

but this is not my own company!

I'm working for a company! Boss say "Do it", so I do...

On top of that, I've got more...

Business2
1. scout for products to import
2. select companies to do business with
3. import
4. sell
5. make $$$

Business3
Provide marketing, research & development, new product development support to a subsidiary company owned by the same boss.

Throughout my career, this job I'm in now is the most complex. I have to do almost everything. A lot to do!
But on the bright side, I must say I'm fortunate to have this opportunity cos I learned so much!!! So so much! And yet, I've got time for my outdoor hobbies...or passion...to swim, bike, run, hike, climb, and more...

And I really thank God for answering my prayers. Amen!

Have no fear for TomatoMan is here!!!

2011-10-12T15:47:00.001+08:00

I don't call myself crazytomatoman for nothing...muahahaha!!

Read this very interesting article...

Tomatoes and Skin Protection

Can tomatoes protect your skin?

There is a magical component in tomatoes that research is beginning to show could protect our skin from UV damage from sunburn. It’s called lycopene and it is a very effective antioxidant.
About 85% of lycopene in the western diet is obtained only from tomatoes and the best place to find it is in tomato paste.
Our test was to establish whether eating tomato paste could help protect the skin from UV damage and UV-induced reddening. We took 23 women who were used to burning merely at the sight of the sun and asked half of them to eat 55g of tomato paste every day for 12 weeks (giving them 16mg of lycopene).

"an unbelievable 30% increase in skin protection"

As a defence against UV rays, the body tans when exposed to moderate levels of radiation. This helps to block UV penetration and prevent damage to the vulnerable skin tissues deeper down. In order to test the efficacy of tomatoes on our guinea pigs we tested the lowest dose of UV needed to provoke a visible response on their skin. Then we exposed them to a range of UV radiation and compared the damage done to those who ate tomatoes and those who didn't.
After 12 weeks of rigorously following the tomato paste diet we brought our women back to the lab and burnt them all over again. Was it all in vain? When tested again our volunteers on the lycopene diet had a 30% increase in skin protection.
This doesn't mean that you should stop using sun block but it's good to know that simply by increasing tomatoes in your diet you can help protect your skin from the daily sun damage which happens without us even realising.

Source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/young/tomatoes.shtml

Getting there...

2011-10-11T12:54:00.000+08:00

September 2011 was a good month, achievement wise, personal best improved although it can still get better :)

Salomon X-Trail Run
Distance : 10.5km
Time : 46:05
Pace : 4:23
Position : 7th
Prizes only for Top5...sob...sob...sob...

Happy to know I finished Top 10

Is was more cross country/dirt road run rather than a trail run. Organised in UPM cattle farm by PACM, title sponsored by Salomon. This is my best Top10 position so far for this year. Started fast, kept 3rd half the way before the elites overtook me with ease. The route was slightly slippery with cow dung to avoid, not mentioning a couple of hills to tackle.

After so many road runs, this run was a good change! Something different. Hope they will continue to have more of these cross country runs.

Many thanks to photographers - Yap, Weng Kai, Moey and those whom I can't remember who :P for these awesome action packed shots!

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish: Steve Jobs' famous speech

2011-10-06T23:13:00.000+08:00

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish: Steve Jobs' famous speech

NDTV Correspondent, Updated: October 06, 2011 11:39 IST

Click to Expand & Play

New York: I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me - I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world's first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

2011-10-06T15:53:00.000+08:00

You can call me a gadget dinosaur cos I just bought (finally!!!!) a smart phone after almost everyone around me had been poking their smart phones day in day out, month in month out, year in year out.

Yes, I'm a really slow bugger when it comes to gadgets...sigh...

So last month I signed up a 2year RM79 per month contract with Maxis to be eligible to purchase iphone 3GS at RM199. Yes, I did it. It's worth it!!! Where else can you find an iphone3GS in bolehland for that price?

Now I have a smart phone and it is an Iphone from Apple Inc!!!! :D

The first few days was stressful...very stressful...in finding out how this iphone works! I'm not a gadget or phone freak and I'm getting old. So I'm a slow tech dinosaur. But don't let me catch you running in a race ya! I'll smoke ya!!! Hahahahaha!!!

Today, I'm a bit sad to read in the news that Steve Jobs, former CEO for Apple Inc has passed away :(

1955 - 2011

Your legacy will live on, Steve Jobs!

We will try to follow your words... Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

White Rock Mountain

2011-10-06T00:19:00.000+08:00

White Rock Mountain...sounds like a Hollywood movie, don't you think?

It's been months and I realised missing something in my blog...the Gunung Batu Putih hike!!!

A trip with something interesting that happened in the middle of the night...muahahaha!

Merdeka - Raya long holidays was hiking & camping for us, the mountain freaks. The only time when the mountains are not congested and there's more holidays :P 8 of us plus a guide and his assistant...pix above courtesy of guide mountaineer and outdoor adventurer, Ah Thong. Row left to right...Yoro, Kenny, Soo Min, Hsing Ling, Debbie, Michelle and Lian Meng. Kenny & Debbie are our kaki panjat gunung, by default. Another is travelling overseas. don't know why or how but we just clicked when it comes to hiking and travelling.

My last hike was last year, up Gunung Irau and transverse to Gunung Kuning. Can't remember if I blogged on that...ahahha!

Hiking is more an annual event, once a year and Merdeka long holidays or Raya long holidays are reserved for it.

This mountain is only a few feet shy of the G7 group. It's 6,993ft above sea level, if I'm not mistaken. Located near Cameron Highlands actually, somewhere in Sungai or Kampung Woh area.

This time, we only had 2 or was it 3 river crossings. Reason I mentioned this was because in 2009, our hike to Gunung Yong Yap had us crossing a river...many many times! It's not because we love to cross rivers but the trail was wiped out by serious floods which totally re-routed the river flow at certain parts. As to Yong Yap, don't ask me cos I have no clue as to who or why it called that name.

Anyway, back to White Mountain. Ahh yes, this name has a valid reason. Three quarter of the way up, you'll come across a false peak and there you can see a rock face...a white rock face...not totally white but enough white to be called Batu Putih. :P

Photo on the right showed where we slept...or camped...without tents...only sleeping mat & bag. Rock overhang was huge enough for shelter and to shield us from rain. This huge rock was halfway to the peak.

And that's where something happened in the middle of the night! First night, we celebrated mooncake festival. Brought some lanterns and mooncakes. It's also when we celebrated Lian Meng's birthday. Managed to bring up 2 cans of beer solely for this! Hahaha!

Good thing about this camp site is a crystal clear stream which flows beside it. If you stand ther and take a good look, it seems like water gushing out from a rock formation. Cold and fresh! That strikes out lack of water which happens to be the biggest problems during hikes.

Ok, back to that something which happened in the middle of the night. Happened on the 2nd night. It happened around 1am+...the night was pitch black as we didn't have the luxury of moonlight up on the peak. But then again, it was new moon, so no bright moonlight la. I slept about 3metres away from the group. Why? Space constraint...flat space...My spot was higher than the rest and it's more like the edge of the semi-enclosed area. What happened was of the supernatural. Something woke me up. Felt a rush of wind passing beside me. At the same time, I heard a sound resembling someone tripping. I thought someone went for a wee-wee came back and tripped on my shoes placed beside me. But no...it was still pitch black when I opened my eyes to have a look. Nobody! Silence...Slowly the creeps set in. Straight away I prayed to Jesus for protection and strength to overcome my fear. Moments later, I turned on my headlight lamp, shone around , expecting to be scared shitless with what I see but....nothing...my shoes were untouched. Everyone was fast asleep. No animals either. So what was it? You tell me...

1 2 3...Boleh?

2011-09-26T13:20:00.000+08:00

Last Friday afternoon, I was rushing to clear some work and banking chores. I could have used the fast flowing highway like I always do but ended up winding through LDP, SS2, Sect14, PJ State. Ironic isn't it? I have no idea why I did that then...
Stuck in traffic lights, I was scolding myself for being a dumbo!

Radio channel tuned to BFM...Business FM...and through that jam, an interview came on air. Usually BFM have corporate or financial experts in their show but that afternoon, it was different. The radio host interviewed a few children from Myanmar with the oldest being 15years...

Being Christians and of the Chin clan, their father a Pastor, they came to Malaysia as refugees to stay alive. In their homeland, their lives were threatened. Although they converse slowly, they were fluent in English! 1 The oldest attends school in the morning, works part time in the afternoon and study at night. He did say it's tiring. No doubt about that being so hard working. 2
His ambition? A doctor. Where? Back in Myanmar to help the people. 3

1 2 3...English...hard working...help

We need that 1 2 3 in bolehland.

Boleh?

Trail shoes

2011-09-15T13:35:00.000+08:00

New Balance 840 - my first trail running shoes. Maybe I should say imported trail running shoes as "kampung adidas" was my gear during Gunung Datuk race. :P

Believe it or not, this model I bought is in fact designed for women. Yes! Women...not men! Got it in Singapore in 2009 during the Singapore Marathon Expo. How Much? SGD50!!! Yes, only RM125 going by the present exchange rate. There's no way we can get it at that price in bolehland. Boleh? Tak boleh! Sad!
Anyway, back to the shoe... I felt very comfortable wearing them. Hmm...does that mean I have feminine shaped feet? Argh!! No!!!!! But then again, my feet are sexy aren't they? Hahahahah!

Ok, back to serious matters...
The heel to toe drop is minimal, giving more stability to the already low heel. It actually felt like road racers. Don't know the exact weight but to me, it's quite light comparing to other trail running shoes.
The mini studs provide excellent grip on rocks. Made of sticky rubber. Good for descending slopes. A good pick for dry trail but for muddy trails, you will be looking at weight training for your legs! Extra 1kg due to mud sticking to the soles. Well, it's a trade off for the excellent grip.

Adidas Kanadia TR3
The profile resemble NB840, only that the heel commands higher ground...slightly. I was looking at an orange coloured pair but stocks ran out. At that time, it was having a 30% discount on retail price of RM260. I hesitated at first but after surveying other brands around that price range, this is the best bet. But, stocks ran out and yellow ones had no discount. Darn! 2 weeks after that, God heard my cries. The yellow ones went on sale! Yup! 30% discount as well. Happy to get it under RM200. In fact, I've not bought running shoes above RM200...so far...except bike clip on shoes which puched me out for RM499!

Anyway, this pair of Adidas has aggressive looking mini sole studs. Wearing it makes you feel like Bumblebee Mustang. Hahaha!
So far, I've only tried it out once in Gasing trails and a recce for Salomon X-Trail Run. Good support, flexible mid & fore front, excellent rock grip but just like, NB840, muddy trail means extra weight.

It'll be my gear for the big one, The Most Beautiful Thing, a 50km trail run in Sabah.

An old Cherokee story

2011-09-09T16:43:00.001+08:00

A friend sent the following story.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on in every person. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves'. One is evil -- it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good -- it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grand son thought for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Phillipians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

From road to trail

2011-09-06T12:00:00.007+08:00

Merdeka day has passed. Fasting month & Hari Raya have passed. Holidays have passed...boo hoo hoo...but the sports events are coming back...a lot of them! Yahoo!

This coming Sunday, it's Salomon Trail Run at UPM grounds.
Invited by Pacesetters to recce the running route last Saturday. The trail is not so much of a trail which we are familiar with...jungle, mud, stream, hill, roots, trunks, branches, etc.

It will be like home for Kenyans as the route is in fact dirt road (red earth). A couple of small gentle slopes and the rest are flats. The run will be passing through spectators...cows, sheep, horses! Most probably disturbing their morning sleep!

Tried out my new trail running shoes, Adidas Kanadia TR 3. Black & yellow...nice colours to match my yellow Adidas jersey! The shoes, well cushioned, will be just right for long trail distances. The sole is yellow polka dot, black base with yellow mini studs providing strong grips on trails.My Adidas Kanadia beside cow dung or was it from sheep? Those natural fertilisers are the only "obstacles" for the run.

This year my runs are shifting into the jungle. Have been doing more trail runs the past few months.

Why is that?

Well, doing something different. Exploring a new horizon. The triathlons are still around but my biggest event for this year will be 50km trail run in Sabah this coming 5th Nov.

The Most Beautiful Thing. Looking forward for this!

Hmm...looks like everything is moving towards Sabah...workwise, HQ is in Sabah...and now the ultra trail run. It'll be my maiden try in ultra distances. There is the 100km but not yet. I'm not there...yet. Start with a 50 and gradually move on from there...hehehe!

In May, I DNF (did not finish) Tioman Eco Challenge, the 30km extreme tough trail...not run, but walk & climb in the jungle! I covered 20km+ together with Michelle but we failed the cut-off time. So in Nov, it's 50km for both of us, yes!

Bukit Kiara trail run

2011-08-10T14:52:00.004+08:00

Ramadan month means no competition. So it's training month for me. Last month, the number of events was amazing! Packed to the brim whereby the organisers cramped all they can before fasting month begins.

Last Sunday, instead of the usual road running, I grouped some trail lovers for a run in Kiara trails. Nice to have 10. Unlike road running where you need to wake up very early, well, not trail running. Can't start too early cos it's dark! Trail running needs sunlight. So 8am ok, 10am ok, even 12pm is ok! That's the beauty of it. Shades under trees give you enough cover from the sun.

10 of us, with a couple of newbies who's doing it first or second time. Glad they are exploring trails. We had it in Bukit Kiara. It's right in the middle of Klang valley, famous among MTB riders. I ran the trails a few times before but there's more to be explored.

We head off 830am...

The moment I stepped into trail from the tar road, I feel free! Freedom! Straight away I have a connection with nature. Fast, slow, up, down, climb, run & let go!

We covered 15km and time spent in the greens was about 2hr30min.

Great fun! There will be more trail runs from now on.

From silver to gold

2011-08-03T10:58:00.003+08:00

In June, I received silver medals...pewter also considered silver la...maybe I should put it as silver colour... more appropriate. Hahahaha!

Silver medals

In July, I got 2 gold medals! ntv7 fun run and PD Triathlon. Wow! From silver to gold. Terrific isn't?

Maybe platinum next?

Start...Pia...Finish

2011-07-28T13:04:00.004+08:00

Quite a few events have gone by and I have not blogged about them...
With FB, seems like putting comments, uploading, tagging pictures there have sort of replaced all these blogging.

Anyway, just to recap what has happened in the past month or so...sports events I took part in, that is...

Port Dickson International Triathlon - 23-24July
ntv7 Feel Good Run - 3July
Standard Chartered KL Marathon - 26June
New Balance 15km - 5June
ATM Triathlon - 29May (...oops, I've blogged on this)

Not many considering there have been endless events almost on every weekend. Good for active sporty people, good for event organisers, good for sponsors. Win win win!

Ok, now to blah blah blah on New Balance 15km run. Held in Putrajaya which I think it is a fantastic place as parking is not an issue and traffic is easier to manage. The air is by far much cleaner than downtown KL. And to top it off, PACM organised it A class!
We had about 1500 runners...quality runners this time with a few Kenyans. Putrajaya is considered a fast route, so sub1hr is no sweat for the elites.

I managed 1:07, position 16th in Men Open, behind 15 veterans and 1 woman...a very very fast woman. She's the national runner.

After 15km, cendol and nasi lemak gaves smiles to our tummies! :P
PACM never miss out in keeping their club runners happy.

In ntv7 fun run, thousands of people showed up...some in fancy attire with a few as superheroes. Batman was quite overweight though and he was not even running the 3km. He walked! Maybe that's why that guy needed to hide himself behind the costume?
The run was 7km and it's for charity. Too bad the sky poured heavily towards the end of the run. Everybody went everywhere looking for shelter. Kinda spoilt the after run fun carnival.

SCKLM - again like last year, unable to get my PB on KL roads...sigh...

PAWS

2011-07-18T14:54:00.001+08:00

Couple of weeks ago, Kelvin, Michelle & I had some free time on a Saturday and so, we visited PAWS Animal Welfare Society. It's a volunteering organisation which takes in abandoned cats & dogs, nurture them & putting them up for adoption.

Look at all these furry buggers. They can all stay in the same enclosure without fighting. How nice!

We volunteered to take some out for their walks.

Is she walking the dog or the other way round? Hahahaha! Doggie must have wanted to get into the bush for something...

This doggie has a cute smiley face but too bad I'm staying up on a condo so can't keep one. Otherwise, I'll adopt her.
We managed to walk 4-5 doggies during our afternoon at PAWS. They were all so happy & hyper once the handler enters their enclosure with a leash. Almost all crowded him asking for a chance to go out. Good thing about these doggies is they are all well mannered and they don't bark or bite. Safe for you to take them for a walk and adopt.

Ok, doggies, hope to be back soon!

You are special

2011-07-13T12:54:00.000+08:00

God Made You Special. Have you ever heard beautiful music, produced by a sympony orchestra? With all the instruments playing together but often with different notes, it builds such an immense, beautiful sound. But the instruments have to be shaped different to get that kind of full, rich sound. If all the instruments were shaped like a trumpet and played the same note, what kind of sound would that be? Probably a little overwhelming. Or what if they were all violins? Even as beautiful as the violin is, it needs the grounding bass of the cello, the rhythm of the drums, the high timber of the flute to balance and contrast its haunting sound.

It’s the same with you. God shaped you the way you are on purpose. Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands made me and formed me.” You may not be a violin; you may be the bass drum. And you may look at the other instruments and wish you were more like them. “Why can’t I be the flute?” But God made you just how you are to bring great glory to Him. Don’t try to be like the others that you are not made to be. Be who you are.

How do you do that? The key is to have peace in who God made you to be—to settle with it and thank Him. Romans 9:20 says, “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” But we are shown the right heart response in Isaiah 64:8: “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” You can rest assured that God is pleased with how He made you; you are not a mistake.

Take a moment and thank God for how He made you. Then ask Him what sound He created you to make for His glory. Your sound may just be the one the symphony needs to balance itself out. Your sound may be the one that is going to draw someone to come and hear the symphony of God.

So, this week, let us pray and thank God that

He made you special and lovely in His sight
He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins
He loves you so much and knows what is best for you

From Your Friends at Global Media Outreach

Transformation

2011-07-12T11:15:00.000+08:00

The government is doing their so called transformasi so I'll do my own at home. Had too much stuff lying around with no cupboard to hide in...made the dining area quite a mess and sore to the eyes la. :(
It's mid year already, and before the year 2011 is up, I better do something to 'clean' up & make things look better.

I wished all I need to say was "Transform!" but nope, needed half a day to put up a sofa bed and a cupboard...DIY style cos I found my sofa bed and dining area cupboard in Ikea.

At the check out counter.

DIY time. It's kinda fun actually. Made you feel useful. Hahaha!

Cupboard done! Yes! A lot of space to dump a lot of 'junk'...bottom for hiking & outdoor stuff. Middle for...watever...
Top for food stuff...only half full. Still got another half waiting for more food! hahaha!

Sofa bed done. Quite big actually...3 persons sitting on it with space to spare. If laid down, enough space for 2 to sleep in.

Ok, what's next? :D

Beer Beer Beer

2011-07-05T11:09:00.001+08:00

A month ago, my brother was over in KL for some medical conference. One night he's free from social duties in his work & we had a very meaty dinner plus of course, beers!

German beer...tried out a few of them not seen in supermarkets.

Nice!! Compared to our usual Carlsberg or Tiger or Heineken, these German beers were more on the malt aroma. The after taste stay longer which is great if you enjoy malt.

He's coming to KL this week...so...more beer! :D

Views from Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

2011-06-23T16:24:00.004+08:00

Too bad Mount Kinabalu was shielded by clouds

KK seaside view from Signal Hill

KK town and Sutera Harbour in the background

Stick insect. You don't get to see this in the concrete jungle. They move kinda slowly.

Love your enemies

2011-06-21T10:18:00.001+08:00

Dear Friend in the Lord,

“ Love your Enemies” – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to “love our enemies.” Humanly speaking, this would be impossible for most people. However, it is good to ask ourselves, “Would hating our enemies bring us peace?” Reflect on how Jesus wants us to bring His peace to others daily? .

Fr Philip Heng,S.J.

Not a chill out birthday

2011-06-16T13:30:00.008+08:00

What was I doing on my birthday?

Triathlon!!! Whats else....hahaha!
Triathlon organised by Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (Malaysian Military). A chance to race with the army, air force and navy!

Many will think I'm nuts...why the heck did I swim bike run...drank murky sea water...rode 40km under the hot hot sun...sweat buckets...puffed n looked like a deflated puffer fish...and ran as if my life depended on it when I can chill out at the seaside in a hammock seeping long island iced tea enjoying sea breeze listening to sea gulls??

Well, chilling out is just too easy isn't it? Anybody can do it... hahaha!

God can help you laugh again

2011-06-13T10:43:00.000+08:00

God can help you laugh again. Laughter feels good, doesn’t it? Recent health studies have shown that just 1 minute of laughter boosts your immune system for 24 hours. But 1 hour of anger can depress your immune system for the next 6 hours. Wow. Sure makes you want to laugh more, right?

But sometimes life and its worries steal our laughter. Remember how easy it was as a kid to laugh about anything? But now as adults, it’s so much harder to be carefree and laugh, with all of our worries and concerns. Who will pay the bills? What about finding my future spouse? How can I fix my kids’ problems? The list goes on.

But God laughs at His enemies—and that means we can too. Psalm 2:4 describes God’s attitude toward His enemies: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” Can you imagine God laughing? A wonderful image. Sometimes we picture God in heaven worried or mad about the current circumstances. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, God gets mad at injustice, but He is certainly not worried about the future—because He sees the end from the beginning. He knows He will set up His glorious kingdom and all His enemies will perish. Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Take a minute and thank God for the end result. Even take a minute to laugh at your current troubles, because they will soon come to an end. Ask for God’s perspective, seated victoriously in heaven with Jesus. He has a great plan for you and is not at all worried about your current—or future—enemies. He will defeat them, and in the meantime, you can laugh off whatever worries may come your way.

So, this week, let us pray and

Thank God in advance for the victory He brings in our lives in Jesus Christ
Ask God to provide financially for the needs of your family and the needs of Global Media Outreach
Ask God to bring His Kingdom here on earth

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves to hear the praises of His people! So this week let us rejoice — and laugh — and praise our Lord together this week. May God bless you!

Your Friends at Global Media Outreach

More random pix of Tioman Royal Race...

2011-06-08T10:25:00.003+08:00

Which run?

2011-06-07T14:28:00.003+08:00

This coming July, I have listed 13 sporting events, either a run, a ride or a triathlon. But it's more, a lot more than 13. Could double up for all I know. Looks like every organisers cramping them before the Muslim month of fasting begins. So here we are, deciding which to join...every weekend with 3-4 events taking place simultaneously. Bummer! Dilemma!

ntv 7 fun run, Siemens run, Subang Jaya run,McDonald Olympic fun run, Jog for Hope, Century Ride, Seremban half marathon, Port Dickson Triathlon, Centro Klang run, Admiral run, SHAPE run...which run to join?

To date, I've signed up for... ntv7 fun run on 3rd July. Only 1 for July? Yes, only 1...so far. Initially the plan was to go downunder, down to the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia. But...but...but...always a but...it's kinda pricey. Need about RM2,500 for a decent trip. Pricey! Expensive! Damm our lousy ringgit!!!

Talking about pricey, the local runs are all going up and up and up, in price. Hardly can find a RM10 run, not like before. Now the minimum is RM30 for a 10km. Worse still when you have event companies organizing them. For example, SHAPE/Men's Health run started RM20 a few years back and now it's RM50. Every year without fail, just like fuel prices, running in events is getting more and more expensive. And that is just running. In duathlon or triathlon, the charges are way above RM100.

As for overseas, the nearest...Singapore...the Sing dollar will suck your ringgit dry! What about Thailand? Cheaper runs but flights, accomodation...and mind you, some events there can get pricey as well.

So how? Which run?

SAS International Eco Challenge in Tioman

2011-06-03T17:05:00.000+08:00

This is the 2nd time I DNF (did not finish) due to cut off time. My first was Kinabalu Climbathon but it was expected then. The cut off time was 2hr30min to reach peak and 2hr down to finish line. Only the elites can do it. I'm just a elite wannabe so I still dream about it...hahaha!

As for this, the challenge is not just for anyone as well. The so called trail was cut out from primary jungle by the army. In fact, only about 20% of the race route was clear trail...the rest, we just have to look out for yellow ribbons tied up somewhere along the way...

Distance : 30km

Time : 7hrs
Registration the day before. That's the closest I ever get to the Kenyan elites!

Military medic on standby. They need the military to do it as it's a very tough job, not for school's St John's or Red Cresent.

Starting line.... after 1km along the golf greens, welcome to the jungle!

Climbed rocks, jumped over crevasse, abseiled down boulders, tripped by roots, scraped by thorns...things we did in Tioman island. Where was the beach? The sea? Fishes? Beach resort?Halfway checkpoint with Rescue Team. So many emergency beds...expecting participants to kaput?

Cooling down using village water tank before going inside jungle ...again...

Beach at Kpg. Genting, checkpoint D1, where we were stopped from going any further. Distance covered 20km. Time taken 7hrs15min!!
Although only 2 more checkpoints left to go but the distance is another strenuous 10km. So near yet so very very far!

At the jetty waiting for boat back to Tekek.
DNF comes with free Rescue boat ride! At least that's a consolation! Hahahah!
If you think you're tough, try this Eco Challenge. Out of 250 participants, less than 100 made it.

I failed to make it to the finish line, I'm still weak. So next year, I'll be back! I want to toughen myself up!!!!!!!

Pix from Chong, Yim. Muchos gracias!

Still on butter vs margarine

2011-06-01T13:08:00.002+08:00

Found more on butter vs margarine after my first blog on it.

Some are not true so we just have to be more cautious on these mumbo jumbo from the internet...but I must admit they're really interesting.

A will say this...
B will say that...

We are in the middle listening...

Sometimes the more we know, the more confused we get and the more we realised we don't know much....aiyoyo...

Anyway, here's the next episode of this Butter vs Margarine...

Margarine or Butter-Truth! & Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor:
A list of comparative facts about margarine and butter.

The Truth:

The heart of this eRumor, the comparison between butter and Margarine, has been circulating since 2005. Later versions added the tidbit about Margarine being manufactured to fatten turkeys.

We'll go through the email one fact at time but it needs to be kept in mind that not every Margarine product is the same. There are other spreads that are loosely called Margarine but may, for example, be part vegetable oil or a fat-free Margarine product.

1. Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed The turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a Payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this Product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food Appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in Place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever New flavorings-Fiction!
According to the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, Margarine was the idea of a Frenchman named Hippolyte Mege-Mouriez in response to a request from Emperor Louis Napoleon for ideas for a substitute for butter. In 1870 he used margaric acid and the name of his formulation became known as Margarine. It became a hit in the United States in the late 1800's.

2. Both have the same amount of calories-Truth!
A tablespoon of butter is 100 calories. A tablespoon of Margarine is 100 calories.

3. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study-Truth! But Updated!
We didn't find the "53%" study, but Harvard School of Public Health has published a report on this. It says that more than 30 years ago research indicated that saturated fat (such as in butter) was bad for the heart and people were told to switch to margarine. A Harvard study of women between 1980 and 1994 found a significant reduction of heart disease risk by reducing smoking, hormone treatment, and dietary improvements including reducing or eliminating saturated fat (such as in butter.) Further research has shown, however, that some margarines contained trans fat, which was even worse for the heart than saturated fat. The report cautions us not to make decisions as a result of just one study but to consider the body of recent research about an issue like butter versus margarine.

4. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 Grams-Truth!
A tablespoon of butter is 7g of saturated fat. A tablespoon of margarine is 2g of saturated fat.

5. Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other Foods-Unproven!
We could not find anything definitive about this.

6. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!
It depends on what you are measuring. The advantage of butter is that it is a more natural product than margarine and does have more vitamin content. But butter is high in saturated fat, which is associated with increased heart attack risk. Saturated fats are the ones that are solid at room temperature and increase the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) as well as the "good" cholesterol (HDL). The disadvantage of true margarine is the trans fat level. The more solid a margarine is at room temperature, the more trans fat it contains, as much as 3 grams per tablespoon. Margarine makers have responded to that by releasing tub or liquid products that have either reduced or eliminated trans fats. Watch for the labels. Heart doctors recommend butter over normal margarine but recommend trans fat free margarines over butter. It all gets very confusing. There are even margarine products now that say they actually lower cholesterol.

7. Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods-A Matter of Personal Taste!

8. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for Less than 100 years-Truth!

9. Margarine is high in trans fatty acids-Truth!

10. Margarine triples the risk of coronary heart disease-Unproven!
Although trans fats are to be avoided, we did not find any research that says that the use of margarine triples the risk of heart disease.

11. Margarine ncreases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)-Truth!

12. Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold-Fiction!
We could not find any substantiation of this claim.

13. Margarine lowers quality of breast milk-Truth!
We didn't find any research on this but there are studies on how a mother's eating of trans fats affects the level of trans fats in her milk. One study, for example, comparing Canadian breast milk to Chinese breast milk found that Canadian mothers had 33 more trans fats in their milk than the Chinese mothers. So the quality of the breast milk can be affected by the consumption of trans fats.

14. Margarine decreases immune response-Truth!
We found several references to this including an article by nutritionist Dr. Mary Enig that said that consuming trans fatty acids "Affects immune response by lowering effeciency of B cell response and increasing proliferation of T cells."

15. Decreases insulin response-Truth!
Actually the trans fat can increase blood insulin levels, which increases the risk for diabetes.

16. Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC-Fiction!
We found no support for this. Perhaps whoever wrote this heard a discussion about the "plasticity" of margarine. It is "plastic" at room temperature meaning that the shape of it can be changed when pressure is applied. That doesn't mean it is composed of what we normally think of as plastic. It was originally made of animal fats but increasingly now is made from vegetable oils.

Updated 3/29/07

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten
turkeys. When it killed The turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a Payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this Product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food Appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in Place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever New flavorings.

DO YOU KNOW... The difference between margarine and
butter?

; Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women
by Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8
grams compared to 5
Grams.
53% over eating the same amount of butter, according
to a recent Harvard
Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other
nutrients in other
Foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine
has a few only
Because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can
enhance the flavors
Of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine
has been around for
Less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine..

Very high in Trans fatty acids.

Triple risk of coronary heart disease.

Increases t otal cholesterol and LDL (this is the
bad cholesterol) and
Lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact.... HERE IS THE
PART THAT IS VERY
INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being
PLASTIC..

This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding
margarine for life and
Anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing The molecular structure of the substance).

You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your
garage or shaded area.
Within a couple of days you will note a couple of
things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go
near it (that
Should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it
has no nutritional
Value; nothing will grow on it Even those teeny
weeny microorganisms will
Not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you Melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to
"butter them up")!

Chinese Proverb: "When someone shares something of
value with you and
You benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others."

Comments from the Mayo Clinic on Butter vs margarine

2011-05-31T11:57:00.000+08:00

Butter vs. margarine: Which is better for my heart?

Which spread is better for my heart — butter or margarine?

Answer

from Martha Grogan, M.D.

Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it contains no cholesterol. Margarine is also higher in "good" fats — polyunsaturated and monounsaturated — than butter is. These types of fat help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol, when substituted for saturated fat. Butter, on the other hand, is made from animal fat, so it contains cholesterol and high levels of saturated fat.

But not all margarines are created equal — and some may even be worse than butter. In general, the more solid the margarine, the more trans fat it contains — so stick margarines usually have more trans fat than do tub margarines. Like saturated fat, trans fat increases blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. In addition, trans fat can lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol levels. Spreads such as Benecol and Promise Activ are fortified with plant stanols and sterols, which can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

When selecting a spread, be sure to check the Nutrition Facts panel and pay particular attention to the grams of saturated fat and trans fat. Look for products that have the lowest combined amount. Also, look for products with a low percent Daily Value for cholesterol.

If you don't like the taste of margarine or don't want to give up butter completely, consider using whipped or light butter. Or look for products that are a blend of butter and olive or canola oil. Per serving, these products have less fat and calories than regular butter does. The important thing is to use them sparingly.

Comments from a MD on Butter vs Margarine

2011-05-31T11:50:00.000+08:00

BUTTER VERSUS MARGARINE
by Lawrence Wilson, MD

In the rush to lower cholesterol, many health authorities recommend eating margarine instead of butter. However, there is more to consider about margarine than just cholesterol.

WHAT IS MARGARINE?

Margarine begins as chemically-extracted, refined vegetable oil. This is a poor quality product to begin with. The oil is extracted at high temperature, which damages the oil. It also destroys the vitamin E in the oil, an important nutrient.

To make margarine, the oil must be hardened. This is done by bubbling hydrogen through the vegetable oil at high temperature. The hydrogen saturates some of the carbon-carbon bonds of the oil. The product then becomes hard or solid at room temperature.

When the carbon bonds are saturated, the product is called a saturated fat. Margarine contains some saturated fat. Otherwise it would not be hard at room temperature. The ads and the packaging for margarine are often deceptive lies. Advertising often states it contains 'polyunsaturated oil'. However, the processing saturates or partially saturates the oil.

The final product also usually contains some trans-fatty acids, no matter what the label says. These are man-made fatty acids. Research shows that trans-fatty acids increase inflammation in the body. This can worsen illnesses such as colitis and arthritis. Very recent research indicates that trans-fatty acids in margarine raise LDL levels. LDL is the "bad" cholesterol.

The final product also contains nickel, cadmium and often other very toxic contaminants. These are introduced as hardening agents used in the production process. Nickel, for example, is an extremely toxic chemical that in excess causes lung cancer, kidney disease, depression and more.

Cadmium is also among the most toxic of the heavy metals. It may contribute to serious diseases such as arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and malignancy.

Margarine also contains artificial or natural coloring agents, or it would look like bicycle grease. In summary, margarine is a disaster, even so-called health-food margarine.

WHAT IS BUTTER?

Butter is made from the cream that rises to the top if milk is allowed to sit for a time. Butter is made by churning cream. This causes a chemical reaction that causes the cream to harden slightly, giving it the buttery consistency.

Certified raw butter is a fabulous fat that contains a number of natural fatty acids that are excellent for the body. Butter is an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K. These are not found to any degree in margarine. The vitamin content of butter varies seasonally, depending on the diet of the animals from which it is derived.

Also, butter does not contain trans-fatty acids or toxic metals, hopefully, such as nickel and cadmium. Butter contains some milk solids, giving it a whitish color. Ghee or clarified butter does not contain the milk solids.

Dr. Weston Price identified a factor in butter that is essential for proper growth and development of the bone structure. He called it 'activator X' or ‘factor X’ and wrote about it in his book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Dr. Price was able to reverse severe tooth decay in children by feeding them one meal a day of highly nutritious food - including butter.

Although many people are sensitive to cow’s milk dairy products, often butter is well-tolerated. This is because butter is almost a pure fat, and does not contain many of the allergens found in other milk products. For example, it does not contain milk protein (casein) or milk sugar (lactose). These are two highly allergenic components of some dairy products.

Butter made from raw (unpasteurized) cream is available in some areas. It the best quality butter available next to making it from your own cow.

WHAT IS GHEE?

Ghee, also called clarified butter, is a product used extensively in India and some other nations. It is just butter with the milk solids removed. As a result, it is clear in color and has less of a buttery taste.

Ghee is made by gently heating butter just a little, until the white-colored milk solids separate. These are skimmed off, leaving ghee.

Ghee has certain advantages over butter, specifically for cooking. Without the milk solids, ghee will not burn as easily, and can be heated to a higher temperature as a result. Ghee is also a little more yang than butter. These are its main advantages, as far as I know. If you are not going to cook with butter, or if you don’t care if it burns a little, then making or buying ghee is probably not important.

Butter, in fact, has a few advantages over ghee. The milk solids contain some added nutrients, which are lost when one makes it into ghee.

IS AVOIDING BUTTER THE WAY TO CONTROL CHOLESTEROL?

The observations of many natural health practitioners indicate that a balanced body chemistry is the key to normalizing cholesterol. Dr. William Koch, MD, an eminent physician, wrote:

"Cholesterol ... is no problem when the oxidations are efficient and diet is sensible. In all our observations, high levels drop ... it steadies to a good normal when the oxidations are re-established to normal." (Normal oxidations refers to the efficient burning of food and the generation of adequate energy from food.)

Most cholesterol is manufactured within the body. A maximum of about 4% of all cholesterol comes from the diet. Cholesterol is the raw material for the adrenal stress hormones and the sex hormones. The body often reacts to stress by producing more cholesterol. This allows the body to make more stress-fighting hormones. As biochemical stress is reduced through a scientific nutrition program, cholesterol levels often decrease without the need for restrictive diets.

In fact, eating some animal products often helps balance body chemistry. In these instances, cholesterol levels or the cholesterol/HDL ratio improves, although the diet contains cholesterol-containing foods.

FAST OXIDATION, FATS AND OILS

In general, fast oxidizers can and should eat more butter and other quality fatty foods. Their faster metabolism handles the fats and oils very well. These foods have a calming, relaxing effect on their metabolism. We say these people are like cars with 8 or 10-cylinder engines. They burn more calories and thrive on higher-calorie foods, particularly fats and oils. It they do not eat them, they will crave carbohydrates, the other ‘fuel’ food.

“True” fast oxidizers, those whose body chemistry is actually in fast oxidation, usually have low cholesterol levels. Today, however, many people whose hair mineral analysis indicates fast oxidation are only “temporary” fast oxidizers. This means they will quickly change to slower oxidizers when their bodies are properly supported nutritionally. These people usually do not do as well on more butter and other fats, although some is fine.

Even those with slow oxidation rates, however, can eat some butter unless they are sensitive to it. Butter is an excellent overall food for everyone at all ages.

SUMMARY

The argument for eating margarine and other products containing hydrogenated oils are their lack of cholesterol. Margarine is also less expensive than butter.

However, margarine often contains poor-quality, refined, artificially saturated vegetable oil. It also contains harmful trans-fatty acids, and often residues of toxic metals such as nickel and cadmium. It does not contain many nutrients at all.

Butter, by contrast, is a natural food and one of the best sources of important fat-soluble vitamins. You will pay more for butter, but nutritionally and for its purity, it is well worth it.

Butter or Margarine?

2011-05-31T10:45:00.003+08:00

So what is it?

No more margarine?

Butter truth?

I'm gonna dig for more info on margarine vs butter...

The Butter Truth

2011-05-31T10:44:00.000+08:00

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Home --> Food --> Food Warnings --> The Butter Truth

The Butter Truth

Claim: Ingestion of some types of margarine increases the risk of coronary disease.

Status: Multiple — see below.

Example: [Collected via e-mail, 1999]

The difference between butter and margarine?

Both have the same amount of calories, butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods, butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added! Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

Now for Margarine, very high in trans fatty acids triple risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Increases total and LDL ( This is the bad Cholesterol), Lowers HDL cholesterol and this is the good one, Increases the risk of cancers by up to five fold, lowers quality of breast milk, decreases immune response, and decreases insulin response.

And here is the most disturbing fact......

Margarine is but one molecule from being PLASTIC..... (This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated, this means hydrogen is added changing the molecular structure of the food.)

You can try this for yourself, purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area, within a couple of days you will note a couple of things, no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it, (that should tell you something) it does not rot, smell differently... Because it has no nutritional value, nothing will grow on it, even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow... Why?

Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Origins: The above-quoted compilation began circulating on the Internet in June 2003, often under the title "Butter vs. Margarine," and surprisingly enough there was a fair bit of truth to it, at least at the time. According to the latest findings in the medical world in 2003, margarine could increase the risk of heart disease, depending upon the type of fat contained in the spread. Previously, the dietary villain in the development of coronary disease was presumed to be saturated fat, but new evidence points the finger at trans fat (also known as trans fatty acids). Although butter has its own set of dietary shortcomings, it does not contain trans fat.

In 1994, Harvard University researchers reported that people who ate partially hydrogenated oils, which are high in trans fats, had nearly twice the risk of heart attacks as those who consumed much less of the substance. Several large studies in the United States and elsewhere, including the Nurses' Health Study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, have also suggested a strong link between earlier death and consumption of foods high in trans

fat.

Trans fats occur naturally in small amounts in some foods, including meat and dairy products, but most trans fats in the American diet are formed when vegetable oils are chemically changed to give them a longer shelf life. Cookies, potato chips, baked products, and the like are particularly loaded with trans fats.

The Food and Drug Administration, the National Academy, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the American Heart Association all recommend consumers limit their intake of trans fat wherever possible. Moreover, the federal government passed regulations requiring that by 2006 all food labels disclose how much trans fat a product contains.

Back in 2003 we compiled the following comparison chart for various brands of margarine as they were then formulated. Numbers given in grams refer to how many grams of each particular type of fat there are per tablespoon of that brand. (A tablespoon of butter or margarine contains 14 grams.) Numbers given as percentages represent the impact of one tablespoon of that spread on the recommended daily allowance of that substance. Margarines sampled were of the "tub" variety. (The same margarines in "stick" form had consistently higher numbers.)

	Total Fat	Saturated	Polyunsaturated	Monounsaturated
Butter	11g (17%)	7g (36%)	0	0
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter	10g (15%)	2g (10%)	4.5g	4.5g
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light	5g (8%)	1g (5%)	2.5g	1.5g
Parkay	8g (13%)	1.5g (8%)	4g	2g
Fleischmann's	9g (14%)	1.5g (10%)	4g	3g
Blue Bonnet	7g (14%)	1.5g (10%)	3g	2g
Imperial	7g (10%)	1.5g (7%)	3g	1.5g
Country Crock (Shedd's Spread)	7g (10%)	1.5g (7%)	3g	1.5g

Because butter is an animal product, it contains cholesterol, amounting to 30 mg per tablespoon or 10% of the USDA recommended daily allowance. Margarines, because they are non-animal products, do not. The preceding chart says nothing about which margarines contained trans fats (or, if they did, how much) because this information was not always included on product labels back then.

Since the issuance of warnings and regulations about trans fats in the last few years, many margarine producers have reformulated their products. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, for example, now (in 2006) bears a notice on its label proclaiming "NO TRANS FAT," and the amount of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat per serving has dropped from 4.5g each to 4g (polyunsaturated) and 2g (monounsaturated) per serving.

Although a great deal of the information given in the e-mail is valid, one bit of intelligence is nothing more than hyperbole tossed in by the author in an effort to make his point more strongly. The claim that some comestible is but a "single molecule away" from being a decidedly inedible (or even toxic) substance has been applied to a variety of processed foods:

[Collected via e-mail, November 2005]

I was told that the difference between Cool Whip and Styrofoam is one molecule... is this true???

[Collected via e-mail, December 2006]

Is velveeta processed cheese food really one molecule different from plastic?

[Collected via e-mail, March 2007]

heard that Pam spray is 1 molecule away from plastic and is therefore dangerous??

[Collected via e-mail, January 2008]

I am tired of hearing my husband say that Cheez Whiz is only 2 ingredients different from garbage bags. Can you please help me set him straight?

These types of statements (even if they were true) are essentially meaningless. Many disparate substances share similar chemical properties, but even the slightest variation in molecular structure can make a world of difference in the qualities of those substances.

Some of the "Butter vs. margarine" mailings circulated in 2005 had this preface tacked onto them:

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings.

Contrary to the claim, margarine was not invented as a turkey fattener. It was formulated in 1869 by Hippolyte Mège Mouriès of France in response to Napoleon III's offering of a prize to whoever could succeed at producing a viable low-cost substitute for butter. Mège Mouriès' concoction, which he dubbed oleomargarine, was achieved by adding salty water, milk, and margaric acid to softened beef fat. By the turn of the century, the beef fat in the original recipe had been replaced by vegetable oils.

In 1886, New York and New Jersey prohibited the manufacture and sale of yellow-colored margarine, and by 1902, 32 U.S. states had enacted such prohibitions against the coloration of the spread. (Folks got around this by mixing yellow food coloring into the white margarine.) In 1950 President Truman repealed the requirement that margarine be offered for sale only in uncolored state, which led to the widespread production of the yellow margarine that has come to be the norm.

Barbara "gold standard" Mikkelson

Last updated: 27 January 2008

Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2011 by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson.
This material may not be reproduced without permission.
snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com.

Sources:

Barboza. "A Warning in Expanding Waistlines.": The New York Times. 10 July 2003 (p. C1).
Lesie, Michele. "Making Sense Out of Fat Science.": [Cleveland] Plain Dealer. 14 September 1998 (p. F1).
Sagon, Candy. "Butter Is Back — and Other Ideas That Will Change Your Diet in 2003.": The Washington Post. 1 January 2003 (p. F1).
Squires, Sally. "Food Labels Must List Trans Fats.": The Washington Post. 10 July 2003 (p. A3).

No more margarine?

2011-05-30T13:56:00.001+08:00

Pass The Butter ... Please.

This is interesting . .. .

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine..

Very High in Trans fatty acids.

Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients withPAINT

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has nonutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

That was from an email...interesting in YES to butter and NO to margarine.

PCC Interstate Ride Day3

2011-05-26T12:03:00.006+08:00

Day3: Bkt Merah Laketown Resort - Damai Laut Swiss Garden Resort
Distance : 110km

Final day of the ride. This time, I rode and Michelle was kind enough to be support car all the way.
Started with Race Director leading us 5km before unleashing the speed demons on a flat & straight road. Averaging 40kmh, it was fast & furious. Being the last day, they just wanted to whack it riding to their limit.
Halfway pitstop with Lian Meng and Prakash after which we rode together with a group from Miri.

Damai Laut Swiss Garden Resort was great! What a way to end our 3day ride.

Many thanks to PCC organising committee for such a wonderful ride!

PCC Interstate Ride Day2

2011-05-25T16:11:00.000+08:00

Day2: Cameron Highlands to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
Distance: 200km

Michelle started...again... This time , a cold start from way up there on the highlands. Before anyone could warm up, it's downhill for 60km to Simpang Pulai. But Michelle didn't want to freeze herself so back into the car after 5km...hehehe!
Off we went, with our 2 wheelers inside the four wheeler.
We had breakfast at Simpang Pulai, near Petronas station, while waiting for the riders to pass by...and that happened to be one of the riders' pit stop as well. Here, Michelle joined Debbie riding through Ipoh town towards Tanjung Rambutan. One thing for sure is that there's no more cool weather like the highlands. Flat terrain from then on till the super duper steep hill in the Laketown Resort.
Halfway to go, the bike relay took place. Michelle out, I'm in. As for Debbie, she rode all the way. Respect!

A view from our room of the entrance to the resort lobby.
Room is HUGE! More like a studio unit.
Dinner time and briefing for next day.

Aiyoyo...I'm getting lazy to write...still got 1 day left...

PCC Interstate Ride 29Apr-1May 2011

2011-05-20T13:49:00.013+08:00

What is PCC Interstate Ride?
It is a group of cyclist riding long distances across 3 states in 3 days. Consider it as a cycling holiday.

My first Interstate ride was in 2008. That was when I heard someone said "you need to do the Interstate to prepare for Ironman". I needed cycling mileage so it fits the bill.

For this year, the ride started from Raub. About 300 riders with 60 support cars, the highest number of support cars ever recorded!

Actually, I'm half riding and half being a car support. Well, you can say I was doing a relay with Michelle. She drive, I ride. I drive, she ride. An interesting way of doing the Interstate...a non suffering way of riding 460km!

Before we hit the road with our 2 wheelers, I have to say something about this hotel. It's GREAT!
We were put up in a corner link house...yes, a house with a big piece of land beside it which can park 5 cars!

Rooms are named after tropical fruits and we got the Durian room. too bad durians not included.Big room but no durians were found in the Durian room.

Before my car receives the honour of being knighted a Official Support Car, I gave it a good wash...clean clean before that big sticker gets on its butt!There...nice sticker on a nice butt. You can see stickers of other rides on top of it...Interstate 2008, Century 2010...

Ok, here's the map of the 3 day ride.

Day1 - Raub - Cameron Highlands, 150km

Day2 - Cameron Highlands - Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, 200km

Day3 - Bukit Merah laketown Resort - Damai Laut Swiss Garden Resort, 110km

Day1
None of us two were riding till km50 where riders pitstop before hitting the hills up Cameron Highlands. That was the only makan place till we reach destination. Michelle started, joining Debbie, Lian Meng, Jyn, Dennis and others.

Support car, a new experience, it's pedal-less! :P

At km90+, Michelle called it a day and handed the imaginary baton to me. From that point onwards, it's uphill ALL THE WAY! She's smart!With fresh legs, it's climbing...and climbing...and climbing...
Riders have done 100km from Raub so it means not many smiles going around. The road we used is absolutely new to me. It's not in the maps. What's great about it is the quality. Smooth...wide...scenic!
Yip has done this before and he said it's tough. That means VERY TOUGH! Mentally prepared, I was up for it...starting from km90+....hahaha!

I was lucky to spot a scorpion crossing the road. A huge green fella. Managed to stop n snap a few pix of it.

Halfway up, the sky opened. Certain parts the shower became cats n dogs, the road became a stream. Already it was cool up that high so you can imagine how it felt with the rain. My hands went numb in the cold...bbbbrrrrr.....sorry no pix from here onwards. Blame the rain.

As we neared our destination, the climb gets tougher with steeper slopes. Michelle did a superb job stopping along the way to wait for us for food & drinks refill. Cold, wet, hungry, tired...that's my Cameron Highlands climb. Distance I covered was only 57km but it was the toughest ride for me.

500m from our designated hotel, the finale is...what else....the final climb. Rain finally stopped and boy was I glad. Happy to have climbed 57km!
Unpacked, cleaned both bike n me-self, freshen up and group photo time.Ok, I'll leave that for now...

Will continue soon...for Day2 & 3

Living in a prison?

2011-05-19T13:43:00.000+08:00

Furry pets...

Cute...

Living in a cage...
Food provided, water provided...

But...

Imagine you inside...

You call it prison...right?

Think about it...
Is this why the hamster runs non stop? Trying to run somewhere?

KL Towerthon 2011

2011-05-17T10:00:00.000+08:00

1km uphill road run plus 2058 steps in KL towerthon. This time, it's different. The race was at night.

Heard a lot of complaints from competitors. Many were stuck up there for 2hours due to the numbers with only 1 lift in operation. The other 2 lifts...1 reserved for VIPs and the other kaput!

Luckily I was in the first wave flagged off. Each wave was about 200 ppl. In the men open, we had 5 waves!
The race started with a 1km uphill run. The first 100m was a frantic sprint and before halfway to tower, 2 guys were already walking as I ran past.

This is 1 race where I have minimal training. Lucky I didn't hit the wall halfway up. Managed to do a PB! Yes! Shaved 1 minute from last year's timing. Could this be due to the kg I lost? Hmm...

Maybe next year can go sub18...hahaha!

My records so far...
2008 - 20:13
2010 - 19:52
2011 - 18:48
Medals - Left 2008, middle 2010, right 2011. Quality wise, sad to say 2011 is the worst although the night race was nicely organised!

When Everything’s Shaking, Find Something Stable

2011-05-16T11:17:00.000+08:00

What’s the advice they tell you when there is an earthquake? Find something stable and hide under it. The same wisdom applies to life. When things are shaking—and they will—you have to find the firmest structure and run to it. Nations will war, economies will turn, diseases will strike, and emotions will rage up and down, but the Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

You’ve got to have God’s perspective on the shaking. It’s not like He doesn’t know it’s happening. In fact, He uses it. God said, “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also” (Hebrews 12:26). It goes on to explain, “This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe” (Hebrews 12:27,28). You see, God uses the shaking of tough circumstances to reveal what is true and eternal—His kingdom and His glory. As part of His kingdom, you can know that you have an eternal city that waits for you—that your future is secure.

However, in the meantime, you’ve got to have something to hold onto. That something is Jesus Christ. Paul, in the midst of a lot of trouble, said, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love” (Romans 8:38). You can count on the love of Jesus to never fail you, never crumble, even in the hardest times. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Take a moment right now to breathe a sigh of relief and run to God’s great name. He will protect you and preserve you until His glorious kingdom fully comes.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to

Give us peace in the midst of the “shakings” of life
Provide finances to help Global Media Outreach to reach even more people for Jesus Christ
Help us know that God is our strength and our source in all of life

God can use you to help others in times of trouble. Thank you so much for your prayers! God loves you. If we can pray for you just hit “reply” and let us know your prayer requests. May God bless you!

Your Friends at Global Media Outreach

A, B, AB, O

2011-05-10T11:45:00.000+08:00

Last week, I got a sms from a friend. Blood donor needed.

It was her friend seeking for blood donors to help a lady with liver cancer. She needs a lot of blood in transfusions. As my last blood donation was in January, I'm good to go.

Met a guy at Sime Darby Medical Centre (formerly know as SJMC) blood bank. He's the son in law and contact point for blood donors. I had a small chat with him. He's shocked to know blood banks in Malaysian hospitals do not have sufficient levels. Being a New Zealander, blood donation is normal to him. He has not heard of hospitals in desperate need for blood. He said college students donate twice a year.

Here? Well, maybe once every few years. Maybe the hospitals themselves are not doing enough to maintain a healthy level in the blood bank. Are they doing blood donation campaign from 1 college to another? Klang valley has hundreds of colleges. And Universities?
Some companies do have their blood donation day. More need though.

End of the day, it all comes down to Ministry of Health...the government. More needs to be done to create this blood donation awareness.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

A kilo or two lighter...

2011-05-03T12:40:00.000+08:00

Lent season is over...

Good Friday was when Jesus sacrificed and died for us 2000years ago.

Easter Sunday, the third day of his death after being crucified, our Lord & Saviour Jesus is risen!

Resurrection!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

For the past month, it's my first time fasting a meal per day. I wanted to do fasting in this Lent season so I skipped having lunch. It was very tough in the beginning. Stomach started grumbling around 3pm onwards. Weekdays ok but weekends...oh...I have to miss fasting during weekends as those 2 days are always filled with activities, either cycling or running which require a lot of energy...meaning food! :D No food no action :P

My weight now is 58kg as I lost a kg or two over Lent. Could feel my pants a bit loose now and at the same time needing another extra hole or two on my belt!

Well, with a slightly lighter body weight, I sure hope I can run faster! Hahahha! KL Towerthon coming up this Saturday nite so it'll be exciting. :P

Eating Fruit

2011-04-27T14:12:00.003+08:00

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

Our Lord is Risen!

2011-04-24T09:55:00.000+08:00

Easter Sunday: 24th April, 2011 (Jn 20:1b-9)

Dear Friend in the Lord,

Risen Christ – Its Real: In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ resurrection brought great joy to Peter and the disciples. Indeed, there is life beyond death and all that Jesus preached and prophesized have come true. Do we live our life from this perspective of eternal happiness? If so, how is our daily living different from others?

Fr Philip Heng,S.J.

Salvation

2011-04-22T11:01:00.001+08:00

Good Friday: 22nd April, 2011 (Jn 18:1.19:1.4-6.16-17a.18-19.25.28-30)

Dear Friend in the Lord,

Humiliation – Salvation: In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes to His death even though He is totally innocent. He does this freely because He loves us unconditionally and so selflessly to the point of dying a shameful death of a criminal for our sake. How selfless is our love for Jesus?

Fr Philip Heng,S.J.

Malaysia needs this

2011-04-21T22:29:00.000+08:00

Below is the lyrics of Bob Marley's song , One Love.
Right now, our country needs this badly...the whole world needs Love!

One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One Love)
Hear the children crying (One Heart)
Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Sayin' let's get together and feel all right

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love)
There is one question I'd really like to ask (One Heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One Love)
So shall it be in the end (One Heart)
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One Love)
So when the Man comes there will be no no doom (One Song)
Have pity on those whose chances grove thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin' One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
I'm pleading to mankind (One Love)
Oh Lord (One Heart)

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let's get together and feel all right

"If you get down and quarrel everyday, you're saying prayers to the devil, I say." - Bob Marley

Blockbuster weekend

2011-04-20T11:32:00.007+08:00

What a weekend it was!

10th state election for Sarawak
2nd Energizer Night Race

You must be ask... what is the connection between those two??

Well, I'm a Sarawakian but I didn't go back to cast my vote. Instead I took part in the night run. :P

I'm not a responsible man ya. A chance to vote for the State government but I went running...running away in Sepang F1 track. Yes, this time the run was held inside the Formula One track.

Honestly I wanted to go back and vote but no polling date was mentioned when the state assembly was dissolved. Couldn't book air ticket...yet. So I waited...waited...waited...and finally the date was announced, 16April. Immediately I checked Air Asia; I need to fork out about RM400 for the trip back to Kuching.
Checking Suruhan Pilihan Raya website, I was to vote in Batu Lintang constituency. It's not a 'hot seat'. Back in 2006, DAP won easily.
Ok, decision done. Skipping the election this round. No worries as BN lost...again! Hah! We want to "Ubah!"

Now...let's go to Sepang F1 track!

Physically there watching and experience the F1 race - done.
Cycled on the F1 track - done.
Run on F1 track - yes! I didn't want to miss that opportunity!

Car pooled, arrived 7pm, forced to pay RM10 to park! $#@$%&*@!!!!!!
Didn't want to let that spoil the race but that was the beginning of a 'not so happy' night.
Arrived at grandstand but we were on the wrong side, together with hundreds of runners. Slowly everyone inched their way down some stairs, walked through a tunnel below the F1 track, up some stairs and fresh air! Beside the stairs, 2 girls...only 2 of them had to give out Energizer headlamps to thousands! Silly isn't it? Energizer wanted runners to use these headlamps but many missed out receiving theirs. Thumbs down to that!

Bumped into Tony who informed us there's a very long queue at baggage collection area. No map provided so we had walked quite a bit looking for a very long queue. And yes, we found the queue and we turned around in an instant to find a better place to keep our bags. End up, we hid them in a little room in the toilet. Interesting huh?

Chatted with friends and before you know it, it's flag off time. Oh man, I didn't have time to warm up! There's a first time for everything but that's not the first that I want! Ergh!! Runners covering the entire track width had to squeeze through a 6foot time mat from the start. What else can go wrong?!
The first 2km...well, considered as a fast warm up...200m from start line we were directed towards outside big loop...heck, the 21km runners supposed to finish 1 inside loop (F1 track) before going outside big loop right? What the?!?!

Outside big loop was DARK! Headlamps very much needed. Pity those who didn't get theirs...sigh...and imagine your foot going into a pothole...that's it!
So I tailed behind runners, reducing the risk of stepping into a pothole. It worked!

1 outside big loop done, 21km runners go back into F1 track. I almost overshot the turning back into tunnel entrance tailing the runners in front. Luckily a marshal asked for my category & flagged me into the tunnel. Ok, those 2 runners were behind me from then on...hahaha! But reaching the track, no marshal directing us where to run...
So again I tailed runners in front of me...left...200m in pit lane on opposite direction...exit to track...crossed time mat...what else could go wrong?!

Halfway into inside loop, bang! Human traffic! Everywhere! There's no clear path!! How to have a decent run? It's brilliant for rugby training but...not a run! My mood took a deep dive. Right foot blister getting to me. Mood...another dive. Stopped & removed socks. Much better.
Water station...overcrowded and the crowd didn't seem to be moving...
Gatorade...good...but paper cups were not filled fast enough so we took it from the cans. Big waste as half drank cans were everywhere on the track. Oh yes, the 1.5L bottles as well! Hazardous to runners! Not only runners to zig zag through...the rolling cans and bottles on the track were added obstacles.

What else could go wrong?!

The F1 track was straight but the way I ran was uncalled for! Left right left right...
Crossed timing mat 3rd time (start 1st time, back from outside big loop 2nd time, completed inside 1loop 3rd time) checked my own personal time... 1.08. That meant there's still another inside loop to complete in order to finish this 21km race.
I gave up! Sorry, no more racing. Another time la...
No way was I going to race through thousands of people walking on the entire track.

So I stopped, took out my HP, checked sms, called my brother in Kuching to get election results update. Ahh...much more satisfying. DAP won urban seats.

Slow jogged my way another loop to cool down and sort off finished the so called run. Personal time 1.49.32...it was not 21km...much shorter...

As for the rest of the night, you can read about them in the articles below along with articles on Sarawak state election.

It wasn't a good good night.

Damm "pekmo" is still the CM! Argh!!

Sunday, 17 April 2011 23:00

The new face of Sarawak politics

Written by Malaysia Chronicle

The "Ubah" wind swept across the cities and towns of Sarawak, from the southern Kuching to the central Sibu and onward to Bintulu and Miri in the north.

But it failed to make its way into the Dayak interiors or the Malay/Melanau coasts.

The outcome was pretty close to what had been widely anticipated. No surprises were in store.

Although BN lost its absolute advantage, the result was within its own expectations.

While the ruling coalition has lost a big chunk of the support of the Chinese, the community makes up only about 30% of all voters and Chinese dominated seats only constitute about 20% of all the seats up for grabs. In other words, they can't tip the table in any way.

The Malay/Melanau communities have always been the most important and unshakeable source of ballots in favour of BN, and the PKR and PAS have found it almost impossible to make noteworthy inroads into these staunchly BN bastions of support. The Dayaks, meanwhile, continue to lean towards BN in pursuit of stability and continuity.

The voting pattern has effectively dissected Sarawak into two halves: On the one side urban/Chinese voters yearning for change, while on the other side the rural/bumiputra voters remain contented with the status quo.

Urban Chinese Sarawakians have made their stand very clear. They have almost denied the SUPP outright, indirectly telling everyone they get so frustrated with Taib Mahmud and are utterly disenchanted with the SUPP.

They have used their ballots to express their aspirations for the state's economic development as well as their pursuit of social justice.

The ideology championed by the DAP goes well with the requirements of the Chinese voters in the state, and the Pakatan's model offers them an alternative option.

That said, the Chinese voters will also need to face an unknown future for the choice they have made. How they are going to get adequate representation in the restructured power framework remains to be seen.

Pakatan's hopes of Ubah among the Dayaks have been dashed.

PKR has put its stake on the six Bidayuh constituencies with a possible opposition lean in the south to turn towards them, as the other Iban and Murut constituencies plagued with land controversies or religious sentiments or forced relocation due to dam construction, with the hope that tide will turn in their favour.

The Dayaks are still willing to accept their political destiny in resignation. Living in difficulty, they are focusing on their realistic needs than any vision for the future.

Only a truly powerful leader and plenty of effort can bring on any opportunity to change the political inclination of the community.

The victory of Baru Bian in Ba’Kelalan marks an important milestone for the Pakatan, but to make further advances into other Dayak domains will require a whole lot more effort than this.

The Malay/Melanau communities have always been BN's fortress although they too are encountering difficulties. But as minorities in the state, they have enjoyed an adequate sense of security thanks to the political prowess of Taib Mahmud and his PBB.

Although the election outcome is well within many people's anticipation, the political face of Sarawak has undergone a substantial change following this election.

For one, Taib's strongman status is beginning to wither.

He has lost the support of the Chinese voters, and under the pressure from the federal government, he has unveiled his retirement plans.

Sarawak is gearing itself towards the post-Taib era. If Taib bows out two years later, the new leadership is not expected to inherit the charisma of Taib, and their grip of the state administration will very likely lax, which is favourable for Sarawak as it moves towards a relatively more liberal, counter-balanced and transparent society. Nevertheless, the same may also sink the state into fiercer power struggles.

Secondly, localised politics is diminishing in Sarawak while the influences of national politics are expanding.

Najib has projected himself as the central figure during the campaign period, Taib paling far behind by comparison. Such phenomenon took place not only in the strongly anti-Taib urban communities but also among the Malays and the Dayaks.

In a similar manner, the humiliating defeat of the SUPP points to the fact that the localised Chinese political party is set to be displaced by a national political party DAP.

Sarawak's political ecosystem is evolving towards a greater degree of nationalisation. This is true not only in the state BN, but also the state opposition.

Sarawak will from this moment move towards a new pattern in which the federal political forces signified by prime minister Najib, the native political forces signified by Taib Mahmud, and the urban Chinese grassroots signified by the DAP will see themselves locked in a tussle, or counteracting one another, to spawn a completely new political ecosystem.

- Sin Chew

Source : http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=10837:the-new-face-of-sarawak-politics&Itemid=2

Taib sworn in tonight after 55-seat victory

UPDATED @ 12:18:45 AM 17-04-2011

By Yow Hong Chieh

April 16, 2011

The Sarawak chief minister (in purple) celebrates securing his seventh term in office tonight in Kuching.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will serve a seventh term as Sarawak chief minister after a late-night swearing-in an hour after it was announced tonight that Barisan Nasional (BN) had retained its two-thirds majority.

Taib has helmed the East Malaysian state for 30 years but recently pledged to step down after this state election following pressure from the BN leadership.

His insistence on going for another term became campaign fodder for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) which more than doubled its presence in the state assembly.

It is understood that the ruling coalition views Abdul Taib, unpopular with Sarawak’s Chinese voters, as a liability and is eager to put the Sarawak BN chairman out to pasture.

But Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when asked earlier about Abdul Taib’s quit plans, would only say that the promise would be fulfilled when the time comes.

BN won 55 seats, seven less than in the 2006 state election. Its share of the popular vote also decreased from 62.93 per cent in 2006 to 55.24 per cent this year.

The ruling coalition managed to keep its two-thirds legislative majority in Sarawak but today’s results have shattered its apparent invincibility and the notion of a “fixed deposit” in future elections.

DAP doubled its presence to 12 seats and PKR tripled its representation to three although the PR lynchpin had contested in 49 seats. PAS lost all five seats it contested while independent George Lagong gained one seat.

The number of state seats to PR will spell danger for BN as it could help the opposition pact win more parliamentary seats when the general election is called by Najib. PR now has 75 MPs but the Sarawak win could translate into more in the future.

Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/taib-sworn-in-tonight-after-55-seat-victory/

No fun in this run

Submitted by shaza on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Sports Minister wants to know how race held without green light

Haresh Deol

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 12:21:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pic) said yesterday the Sports Development Act 1997 should not be taken for granted.

He was responding to a statement by organisers of the Energizer Night Race at the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday that they did not seek the Sports Commissioner’s approval as it was a 'fun run'.

Some 10,000 participants cried foul, claiming the event was badly organised and have not received their medals and certificates.

“I will look into it,” Ahmad Shabery said at the National Press Club.

“This is serious. We have laws that cannot be taken lightly. Organisers must do things according to the law."

Sports Commissioner Datuk Yasin Salleh said guidelines of the Act clearly states any sporting activity must receive the thumbs-up from his office. Expose Media director Josie Huang Wan Ling told The Malay Mail a sanction was not required as the event was considered a 'fun run'.

Failure to obtain the office’s clearance could see the organisers face a fine of up to RM5,000 or six months jail, or both.

“The Act states that any form of sports activity, fun or not, has to get clearance from our office,” said Yassin.

“We will ask the organisers for a written explanation. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for now.”

Article 36 (1) states: “A company shall not involve itself in any sporting activity or in any other activity related to sports as may be prescribed by the Minister in the regulations unless it is licensed to do so by the Commissioner.”

Article 39 reads: “Any person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.”

“I think it’s better for us to educate the masses then to threaten. Perhaps they are unaware of such requirements and hopefully they will not repeat this. If they continue to ignore the ruling, then it is only right for us to take action as stated in the Act,” said Yassin.

Participants at the run paid between RM50 and RM75 each.

They were asked an additional RM10 for parking. Many failed to receive not only their goodie bags but also their medals and certificates on completing the race.

Comments on the event were posted on Facebook and video clips uploaded on YouTube.

Organisers to make it up to the finishers

KUALA LUMPUR: Participants in the Energizer Night Race 2011 have been told sorry by race organisers for the poor conduct of the fun event.

Following all-round disappointment over the shabby conduct of the race, the organisers have apologised unreservedly to participants.

In a statement, Energizer Malaysia managing director Mike Foong, whose company organised the event, said: "We share the disappointment of participants in the Energizer Night Race and apologise as the race sponsor. We had such high hopes for the event."

Foong said Expose Media, as the official event organisers, took responsibility for shortcomings in all aspects of the event and committed to an official plan of reparation.

Energizer Malaysia will refund registration fees to every participant.

Details of the refund will be announced on Friday on the Energizer Night Race website and Facebook page.

Expose Media group director Josie Huang Wan Ling in a statement on Facebook page, said: "As event organisers of the Energizer Night Race, we apologise for all discontent experienced by the participants."

She said Expose Media took full responsibility for all actions directly and indirectly leading up to the issues before and on race day.

"We will hand out certificates, medals, finisher's T-shirts, headlights and complimentary gifts to every registered participant. The details will be announced on Thursday at 6pm," she said.

The winners would be contacted personally to come forward to receive their awards.

The Malay Mail received numerous complaints on the Energizer Night Race via email.

Calvin Tan, 31, of Shah Alam wrote: "During the race, there was lack of water stations, with only one water shed for so many runners.

"There was also no proper signage and no proper tagging for those who finished the run within the qualifying time.

"I'm sure Energizer doesn't even know who finished the run or within the qualifying time! I finished my race 45 minutes before the qualifying time of two hours and I queued one-and-a-half hours for my goodie bag.

"There was no proper crowd control and people started looting the goodie bags because of the long queue and waiting time. Eventually, the organisers closed the goodie collection counter. Many of us went home empty handed and disappointed."

Another participant, C.W. Mok, wrote: "Parking manned by Rela charged us RM10 per entry when during Formula 1 event, parking cost only RM5. It took years for Energizer to build up their brand name but this was crushed within a few hours of the race."

Others complained about the change of date for kit collection at the Tropicana City Mall in Petaling Jaya without notice.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/69875-no-fun-run

Energizer says sorry, offers refund

2011/04/19
By Sheila Sri Priya
streets@nstp.com.my

As the queue was too long, goodie bags were thrown to the crowd. — Picture taken from http://www.facebook.com/EnergizerNightRaceMalaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: All registered participants of the Energizer Night Race KL 2011 will receive full refunds on their registration fees following problems faced during the event which took place last Saturday at the Sepang International Circuit.

Energizer Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which was the title sponsor, also apologised to all participants in a press statement.

The event, which attracted almost 10,000 runners, had received a lot of flak from many participants who vented their frustrations and anger at various social networks on the Internet.

Among the complaints were the shortage of head torches which each contestant were told they would get, lack of drink stations and a lack of directional signs along the route.

The participants were also upset that there was no prior notification to inform them that a RM10 parking fee would be imposed.

Some of the complainants also posted pictures and videos on the Internet showing the crowd turning rowdy at the goodie bag counter as the queue was too long.

A video clip showed goodie bags being thrown to the crowd.

There were also claims of poor distribution of medals and certificates to participants who completed the race within the stipulated time.

Other complaints include the shortage of marshals along the routes and a lack of medical assistance.

Some also claimed that the master of ceremonies was not tactful when trying to disperse the crowd. They said there was also no announcement of the winners and the prize giving ceremony.

On the other hand, there were also posts on various Internet sites which blamed the participants for their unruly behaviour which led to the chaos.

Energizer Malaysia said details of the refund would be announced on Friday through the Energizer Night Race website (http://www.energizernightrace.com.my) and also via Facebook at (http://www.facebook.com/EnergizerNightRaceMalaysia).

The night run was conducted over a distance of 5.5km, 11km, 21km and 42km and participants had to pay registration fees ranging from RM65 to RM75 per person.

G. Rajaseelan, 31, who took part in the 11km run, said the race was poorly managed. He also blamed the participants for misbehaving.

Rajaseelan said he was not notified prior to the run about the RM10 parking fee which he felt was too costly. He said the Rela officers stationed at the car parks were collecting RM10 from motorists and he was not given a receipt for the parking fee.

Rajaseelan received his free head torches from the organisers but many participants did not. He also saw participants taking the head torches in bulk.

"There was only one guy distributing the head torches and I saw participants taking the head torches from him.

"This caused a shortage of head torches for other contestants. The head torches were important because the race routes were dark," he said.

Rajaseelan said the flag off for the 42km race went off smoothly. But contestants for the 21km, 10km and the 5.5km races were confused and lost due to poor directional signs.

He also claimed that there was only one medical booth and this was situated far from the running circuit. Injured participants, he claimed, were sprayed with mosquito repellent instead of anti-cramp spray.

It was also claimed that towards the end of the race, the police had to be called in to disperse the crowd.

Yim Heng Fatt, 41, who took part in the 42km race said the poorly organised run could have posed a danger to the runners.

He said part of the race routes were not lit and runners could have injured themselves due to poor visibility and lack of head torches.

Yim claimed that a friend's husband had collapsed near the finish line but there was no medical team to assist him. He was also upset that there was a lack of drink stations throughout the race and none at the finish line.

"Imagine after completing 42km and you are dehydrated but there are no drinks available at the finish line. Dehydration can cause death," he said.

Yim claimed he only received two check point markers and ran the rest of the routes with no markers provided.

"There were no marshals to give us the markers during the run. Some of the runners lost count of the number of rounds and ended up running either more or fewer rounds," he said.

Runners were also told to walk through a connecting tunnel with poor ventilation to the grandstand area.

"My friends and I were beginning to feel claustrophobic because the crowd was not moving inside the tunnel. The tunnel was stuffy and warm.

"I later found out that the organisers were giving out the head torches at the end of the tunnel. Why pick that spot when there was ample of space at the circuit? It was just bad planning," said Yim.

Jess Ross Francis Xavier posted on the Energizer Night Race Malaysia facebook that she was also frustrated over the run. But it saddened her to see people trying to exploit the matter.

"We were there for the love of the run. I even see a post urging people never to use Energizer batteries again. What has the batteries got to do with the night race?" she said.