When i was 10, 17 and Happy New Year 2008!

Was at my parent's place yesterday to clear off some items.

They were shifting and i had to clear my stuffs.

And what a ride it was.


My Kad Sulit - pic of me at 10 years old

Apart from tearing and throwing away letters accumulated over the years from secret admirers, admirers and ex, i've also thrown away letters sent to me from friends i grew up with, way before they invented emails. Thanks Fay, Iqbal, Jen and Shahiman for making it all the efforts.

I recovered some uniforms i wore when i was 17 as well. And guess what, i could still fit into the pants...only thing is my thigh got bigger and i got slightly taller (yes, i did!)...


No.3 pants...seriously!

It's fitting, but not loose or tight. Just fitting, like how a military uniform should be.


















OK-la, it's a bit tight, but it did not burst the zip or make me looked like a constipated fella when i buckle it; and i was breathing!

I found my primary school report card as well. What a joy.


No RED marks inside

So, before the year end today, i wish all of you a very very good 2008 ahead. May it bring all of you much joy, health and prosperity...

As for me, i just hope i will be able to get over and finish the IronMan on 23rd Feb 2008!


Ryan telling me he will snub me if i dont' finish the race

Sunday - Run

Initial plan was to run 20 or 30km on Sunday, which explained why me and Shazly meet at Bukit Aman by 5am.

We were amongst the earliest there, apart from 2 cars full of uncles and aunties.

Shazly had a misfortune of a burst tubular on his return journey from Bagan Lalang the day before, and wasn't in shape to run 20km. We decided to take it as it comes.

We U-Turned at Masjid KL and headed towards double hill.

Seriously, double hill is nothing compared to Bukit Damansara. My HR did not even exceed 130bpm. OK, maybe because i was running easy. But in Bukit Damansara, running easy would had set me back to almost 155bpm...no less!



We exited from double hill and ran towards Bukit Tunku area/Parliment. Then up Jabatan Pertanian before heading back to Bukit Aman.

Along the way, we saw Jaja, May, Ariff and Ngae, amongst the familiar faces.

Were we shy for not completing the (very least) 20km? Yes and No.


Sweat sweat sweat at 5.30am

Yes because we intended to run until Petronas Hartamas (or beyond for 30km). No because Triatheltes need not be told what to do, they need to be told what NOT to do.

I decided against running after Jaja and gang as i guess i need to take a break as well. It has been a rahter tiring months since i've joined this new company and after committing to Shazly to run on 1-3-5 at 4.30am.

Speaking of which, i better start swimming soon. The short swim i did in PD on Thursday and Friday will not be enough to get the "water feel" eventhough now i could confidently swim freestyle and breathe every 3 strokes, on both sides. 53 short days to IM 2008...and i think i'm starting to get worried physically. Mentally i think i'm fine.

Upiq came cycling as we were running, he would had clocked circa 20km as he cycled to Petronas Hartamas and back. Not bad for someone his size...and losing 15kg in 3 months! How's that for inspiration?


From XXL to XL

And he could only be the biggest loser... Well done Upiq! You shy both of us la!

Merry Christmas!

Ryan with a bear cap

Merry Christmas to all that is celebrating and Happy New Year to everyone!

May 2008 brings more joy, love, life, health, ride, race, swim, run and money.

I hope i will get a chance to do a "Look Back" entry to reflect on 2007!


And me with my bike cap!

Saturday Bike, Sunday Run

I'm like doing all these in anticipation of a possible gluttony session over the holiday...

Saturday was spent riding up Peres and Tekala. A good 65km no less in 2:30. Average speed was maintained at 27.5km/h and going up Peres was never allowed to be lower than 20km/h.

I figured out my strength is my strength, Come IM 2008, it's all about endurance and i hope within the next 60 odd days, that would materialise.

Sunday was running with Shazly, followed closely by Upiq in his MTB. We started running at 5.45am and did not finish the run 2:15 later. By then, the whole Lake Garden - Hartamas loop was filled by top of their class runners (Awea and Ah Thiam la, siapa lagi).

Today is Christmas eve and i declare today to be rest day.

Total calorie burned over the weekend was 3650+1730=5000kcal plus plus. That would mean i can afford to gobble down 1/4 of a turkey, if there is any this year!

Dejavu

"Got one small black thing there la", Dr. Raman told me and wifey as he scanned through her womb.

"It's the bladder", he added.

"Doesn't matter doc, girl or boy, as long as they are healthy", i added and wife nodded in agreement.

"Nuchal scan shows the skin thickness to be 1.2mm, which is great, and the nasal bone is formed, which is good news too", Doc Raman said assuringly.

"That would meant chances of Down is now reduced to 0.01% for someone your age", he added again.

"And look at how much he/she is moving!"

Yes, me and wifey can't help but smile while looking at the screen. Our pride and joy.

I'm not talking about Ryan.



Say hello to Stupe/Aileen Jr. Number 2.

13 weeks in and expecting delivery by June 2008!

Now if you can't make out what the image above shows, just imagine it's like how John Travolta's hand action as pictured below...lying down...



Yeap, Drama King/Queen number 2 coming. And our dear Ryan will be a big brother soon!

175.4km - Putrajaya - Banting - Bagan Lalang - Bangi - Putrajaya

"...on the way we managed to meet up with the Ironman Wannabes aka Mutants (Adzim, Andrea,Azwar, Abu Sofian,Bacin & two young guys) at Sepang.... Please note that OP Ee-Van was somewhere near Morib! These fast & furious started their ride from Taman Warisan, Putrajaya & went tro Dengkil, Banting, Morib, Bagan Lallang & back & they started at 0730hrs..."

Those were the words from OP Fadzil "Panther" Chief Kutu" Samsudin in his report over last weekend's ride.

Yes, i was left alone while the main peloton blazed the road starting from Putrajaya itself. I was doing a comfortable 33km/h to 35km/h but i supposed they would had went like 40km/h at those flat stretch.

With only my Dream (as in the bike) to accompany me, i know this will be a long lonely ride.

Halfway to Banting, i lost sight of the main group as they managed to cut through the traffic light, leaving me stranded at the red light.

By then, Rashid decided to fall back and follow me.

As we passed Banting town, i realised that i do not know where to go. I only remember that we will pass through Tanjung Sepat(TS) and then to Bagan Lalang(BL). I saw the signboard for TS and that was indeed the last signboard i saw for that in Banting.

I went on straight, taking my chances, with Rashid on tow behind. I stopped at one traffic light and asked the locals.

"Boss, ini jalan pergi Tanjung Sepat ka?", i asked the ah neh driver.

'Wooo...manyak jauh mau pegi Tanjung Sepat, tapi boley, pergi terus", he answered as the light turned green.

5km into the ride from that junction, i received a call from Bacin. Yeap, i'm a good 5km away..which meant i will clock in extra 10km that day already.

Me and Rashid got back to the correct route and Rashid declared that he will not continue on and will go back from the same way he came. His hamstrings giving him problem, most probably because he is trying to get used to the SPD and clips.

So, i was alone...from Banting onwards...The road along TS to Bagan Lalang (17km) was a long, lonely straight one...


Me, Myself and My Dream

To cut a long long ride short, i got lost, twice after that.

The second time was taking the wrong turning at the second roundabout at Bangi (first roundabout 3 O'Clock, second roundabout 9 O'Clock)to get back to Putrajaya. I rode into Kajang and back to UKM's other entrance... That is a another good 15km extra clocked.

I reckon by then, the guys would had reached Putrajaya and packing up the bikes.

As we all know, bad luck comes in three and the third time (un)lucky was when i went straight (and not turn right into the road leading to Putrajaya) and headed to the Bangi Industrial Park, i climbed the hill where UPHA is, went down and climbed up again to get back to the main road. That's a good 5km plus.

I finally got back towards Putrajaya, found my way around the place (instead of taking the shorter route, i took the route which points for Precint 16...and that's a hell loads of riding to be done in the undulating road of Putrajaya).

My final mileage tally was 175.4km...

Ride stat:



Not too bad as my riding time for that distance was 6:21:08. Total time spend was 6:58, which includes time lost looking for direction, time on the phone with Bacin and Adzim, time spent refuelling at Shell Sepang (they left some water for me) and of course, one pee stop.

I tried to simulate the whole ride to as close as IM as possible; wearing my tri suit (and look fat in them), bringing 2 bottles of liquid (and refilling a third at Shell) with 1 bottle containing a potent mix of Ribena with Honey and 2 with plain water. Food was limited to 1 Powerbar (expired) for breakfast and during ride - 4 chewy sweets, 2 Cloud9 chocolate and some raisins.

Only thing that wasn't completed was not doing 180km that day.

My ride finished at 175km...and seriously, going anohter 5km would be crazy.

I'm Not Shallow

I bought a magazine last Sunday. The cover caught my attention. Really. I usually don't even spend more than RM1.50 for reading material (Yes, i complain about The Star being Rm1.50 during weekends).


I busted RM6 for this

See what i SAW?

No?

I bought this magazine (Off The Edge) because of this...


Serve To Lead

My alma mater. Royal Military College.




That was enough reason for me to buy the magazine (and not because of Hannah Tan)

Happy Birthday Dearest Wifey!

It's no coincidence that it's a Holiday in Selangor on your birthday, for you are a Royalty and you are my Queen.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!

Heartbreak Kid

Magnum Look

If at 13 months he is already posing this way, what will happen when he turned legal age?

Girls, better keep your daughter where they are safe. Don't say i never warn you all!

7.5km to office

Looks like a new route is discovered. Home to Office is just 7.5km away, will be great for a morning high intensity run or a quick spin workout to office (like i did this morning). If you can't bring work to play, then bring play to work.

Yes. I'm in office today. Deadlines to be met. Pressure mounting. 10 more reports to go by 15th December.

MTDC - Bagan Lalang - +/-100km

Flat, fast and furious.

Well, that was what it was intended for. The first league from MTDC to Bagan Lalang was done in a good 1:32, averaging about 31.5km/h.

Adzim IronMan leads the pack constantly in his new P3C. Blasting away at nothing less than 35km/h on the flat and close to 60km/h on the downhill. Pulling along him was Shazly, Bacin, Dicky, Azmar, Sheikh and Suffian.

I was struggling. As usual.


Seriously, i was struggling


They were cruising


And smiling

I finished the ride in a total time of 3:44 and total time of 3:51. The 10 minuets being me tuning the RD to shift properly.

The return journey took me longer because i've bonked.


The stats

If there is any consolation for that day, it would be my own personal weight lost.

On April 21st this year, during the Space Race, i weight in at 80.7kg in light weight racing clothes.

On December 2nd, i weight 74.7kg.

Bodyfat level went from 21.4% to 20.2%.


Yes!

Before any of you think i'm some aneroxic wannabe, rest assure that losing 6kg over 7 months is nothing to should about. Some i know had lost more than this.

My only wish is that the weight lost comes with better fitness, as believe it or not, my resting heartrate went from a low 48bpm before i joined this company to a high 72bpm 3 months after.

Slowly, i'm regaining, and hope to regain the low resting heart rate (and that means good fitness level) by doing those 4.30am runs with Shazly.

And my latest effort to lose more weight?

How about going "Number 0" crew cut on the back and side?

Yeah, perhaps i'll lose an extra 400grams.


heh...