Running in the jungle at night?

Running...yes!
Night time...yes!
Jungle...well, not the primary jungle where you'll find tigers or elephants or orang utans...it's just old rubber plantation which looked a bit like jungle and it comes with trails where MTBikers and hikers enjoy their nature escapade.

So, it's a night trail run. Yeah! At Kiara "jungle"!

These were the crazy trail runners...9 in all. Usually we do evening trail runs in Gasing hills. But for a change, we want something different, something more exciting, more adrenalin rush.
Usually in bike rides, we hear the slogan "No helment, no ride"
Night trail runs you'll hear "No headlight, bang your head" Hahahah! Seriously, without headlight means you can't see shit! Oh ya, it's true. You can't see anything including shit.

Weather was not on our side when we started. 8pm. Heavy rain in KL. Kiara was drizzling when we started. Trails were wet and some parts muddy. Slowly we could feel the rain getting heavier. I put on 2 Energizer headlights, still I wish it was brighter. When it comes to night trail run, a nightlight like what the MTBikers use comes in very handy. Their lights were blinding bright!

King Kenny MTBiker led us all the way. Fantastic! Night runs is different! You need 100% full attention on the trails. If not, smack, bang, splash...you're in the mud!

With rain getting heavier, lightning flashing and thunder roared, I felt as if I was in a werewolf movie. We ran and ran for our lives with werewolves chasing from behind. Hahahaha!
Maybe next time to make it more real, I'll play some eerie music from my phone. Not forgetting the long werewolf howl. Awooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

Till next night trail run, stay tuned!

Fasting...does it have to be abstaining from food?

I received this in my email and it's something I must share in my blog.

The source is from 
http://www.gotquestions.org/



Question: "Christian fasting - what does the Bible say?"

Answer: Scripture does not command Christians to fast. God does not require or demand it of Christians. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable, and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when fasting from food. Extended periods of time without eating can be harmful to the body. Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh, but to redirect attention to God. Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either. The purpose of a biblical fast is not to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Anyone can fast, but some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example). Everyone can temporarily give up something in order to draw closer to God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can more successfully turn our attention to Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Marathon holiday in HK

Hong Kong as many of us know it, look like this...

 and this

but in our trip, we also explored places like this...

 and this...

And in the midst of the holiday, I was doing this...

Hong Kong Marathon

My 9th marathon. This time it's in Hong Kong on 5 Feb.

Honestly, I was more into the holiday trip rather than the 42km run. Hahahaha!

Running story and pix coming up!

Gasing hills as trail running training ground

Gasing hills are excellent for trail sprints up hills apart from the usual undulating flats. Distance it doesn't have but elevation, yes!

These are 5 hills and these are what I call them.

Temple hill
Water tank hill
"Mother" hill
Cempedak hill
Highway hill

Mix and match and you'll get a lung busting hill training.

3km...2 hills
4km...3 hills
5km...4 hills

Map of Gasing Hills

Yellow paths mark the main trails.

Gasing forest area is fast shrinking. Over the couple of months running inside, I've been witnessing construction of a recreational park taking place. Fences being put up on the usual trails so had to detour and by doing this, discovered less trodden trails.

http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyScene/TheStarOnlineHighlightBox/18143/0/0


On the other side where the condos are, a bigger property development is eating up Gasing green lung. Soon, you'll find bungalows up on Gasing hills with multi millionaires and billionaires. In the map above, it's marked as light green shaded on bottom right.

So better run it while it's still there!