MIZUNO WAVE RUN 2010

It's my first run event. Usually would be going for a simpler 5km or 7km Fun Run. Not me. Being an ex-long distance runner in school (yes, I was usually forced to participate in long distance runs for the school), I know finishing a 5km run is just not enough for me. And besides, there are no medals for the 5km event.

So, a few months before the event, I began my preparation. I tried to control my food intake to lighten up my body as you might have read in my previous post that I have gotten quite ummm... Round if you get the drift.

So, talking about the event, being my first and all, I had to get someone to join me. And after some persuasions (and blackmailing, hehehe) I've managed to get one of my office colleagues to join even if he is going to go for the 5km run. At least I know that I'm not the only one waking up early on that particular day,

So, with the registration done, went to collect my kit a week before the event. They gave us the orange bib and bib no as well as D-Tag for runners joining the 11km race. For those who don't know what D-Tags are, google it, hehehehe...

So, a day before the race, I actually just ran about 5km to make sure that I can control my pace around 6:30 per km. Managed that and went to sleep around 11.30pm to make sure that I am well energised for the run. And yes, made sure that I got all my gears equipped for the run.

Nike LunarElite+, D-Tag (on shoe), iPhone 4 (Runkeeper app), Sennheiser earphones,

2Toms Sportsshield Roll-On, Nuun, Spi-Belt, Bib No, Madware Sports Armband, Mizuno Orange Bib.

At 5.30 am, on a Sunday, while others are still busy snoring away (even lovely wifey), I was awake to take my bath and took off around 6.ooam to pick my colleague who lives quite close by. We then arrived at he designated location of the run around 6.30am, and as being very early, managed to park quite close to the venue.

Once arrived, as I didn't had any breakfast, went on to gulp down a packet of AccelGel Lime, which I think taste very nice so early in the morning. While walking towards the starting point, suddenly I feel my stomach churning inside of me. Great, gotta find a toilet to do business now and 40 minutes left before the start of the race. Had to queue for 20 minutes, finished up what I'm supposed to do and then my colleague asked to snap some quick pictures before the race. So, here are some of them.

Posing at the Mizuno Wave Run 2010 Board

"And I shall finish this run there..."

While waiting for the run to start, we made a simple browse through of the competition and this is what my colleague had to say, "Bro, looks like even to get the top 1500 seems like a longshot for you." This is because all other runners look simply slim while I'm still a big slight on the overweight side. Well, I don't blame him saying so cause even I began to feel discouraged by the situation. So, I told myself that my goal is just to finish th run without walking, just run all the way.

After the Women Open has begun, I quickly made my way to the starting line, well, I didn't want to begin the run at the back of the crowd, minimizing my chances to get the so called finisher's medal. And at 7.25am, we were off!

If you can spot me, even Superman would take you up to be his sidekick...

I started off with a running pace of around 5:38 per km, which is very fast since my average pace is usually around 6:20 only. I guess adrenaline kicked in during the first hill that I passed through. Little did I know that this hill would be the most challenging of all later on.

During this run, the running track passed through the KTM Komuter railway line, where I guess the driver was friendly enough to honk as a gesture of good luck. Best part is, it also passed by UPM golf course, and though I'm an avid golfer, I actually totally forgot about it and didn't even check out the course. Well, I guess I have to set up a game there to try the course next time. From here on, I will use distance markers as to mention the going on off the runs.

3.5km : Arrived at the first water station. Some runners have actually stopped to refill or to quench their thirst. I jut went on as at that point I still did not find the need to stop for a breather.

6.4km : Split time for D-Tag. All 1km runners are supposed to run through this to get their run clocked at the halfway line. Mine was at 37:39.95.

7.2km : There was this volunteer dude that I felt like punching right in the face. He kept yelling to the male runners about how the female runners are faster than uscause they're in front. Look, the women started first and OBVIOUSLY some of them are still in front. Is that very difficult to understand???

8.4km : 2nd water station. I thought of just grabbing a cup and continue with the run. However, the volunteers are a bit slow on filling up the cups and there are even some runners that actually took up more than 1 cup. If you people need more thn 1 cup, just take a bottle lor... So, I had to take a bottle of water to carry with me, and continue with the race.

8.7km : Spotted a dustbin. Gulped down around half of the bottle, wet my hair a bit, and dumped the bottle into the dustbin. Unable to drench myself cause of the earphones. What a waste of good water!

10.0km : Final hill of the run. And what a monster it was! I think the hill was around 40 - 50 degress slope and 200 to 300 mentres in distance. Actually felt like walking then. But refused to and then the vomit feeling came. Managed to hold it back but that hill actually stopped me from actually achieving a pace of less than 6 minutes per km.

11.0km : Finishing line. I actually sprinted the last 300 metres after entering the stadium gate. Saw a lot of people by the sidelines, hoping that my colleague is there and capturing my finishing moments. Below is how the run looks like.

Unfortunately, he wasn't there as he walked most of his 5km fun run (no wonder it's called fun, if you're not having any fun, might as well walk, hehehehe...). When I finished, I was overjoyed to see that the volunteers giving out medals were still there. Collected my medal and then was shown the way to collect the gift packs (more of that later).

After queuing up for watermelons and cups and cups of Revive (Thank you so much Revive!), I finally called up my colleague who has just arrived at the finishing line. We mt up and I tried to sound disappointed for not getting the medal (sorry bro, hehehehe...). When I finally showed him the medal, he was more ecstatic than I am, for whatever reason he has. So we took turns taking pictures with the medal being all proud and such.

Proud winner of the finisher's medal

Though unhygienic, can't help myself from biting it...

Picture with Rafiqy, office colleague.

After gobbling down on some Nestle products as breakfast, we decided to go back although at that time it was only 9.30am. Need much needed rest after a hectic run as my colleague mentioned, hehehe...

However, when arrived home only my 2nd son was at home as my wife has brought my eldest out for a morning treat. So, not knowing what to do, here is the picture of the day.

This is what happens when you leave a very unoccupied husband with a baby at home, hehehehe...

There, I started to go through the goodie bag, and after the disspointment has gone away, these are the contents of the bag. Probably shouldn't have had a very high expectations on the goodie bag (was hoping for vouchers or discount coupons for shoes).

Nice but not what had in mind.

Finally, after a week, the list of runners and their time came out and I was posted at 466| 707 | 780. Can look up my position at the roster below. For a full list of the race, can go to this link :

http://myraceonline.com/download/MizunoWave2010/MENOpenFinal17OctByNameR.pdf

Can read or not?

SO, that's it for the Miznuo Wave Run 2010 posted by me, hehehehe... Before anyone ask, my next race would be Malakoff KL Run 2010 which would be held in November. Till then, cheerio...

Kiddster : Yeay, Got myself a medal!!!

Run on 22 September 2010

Today, I achieved more than 50km of mileage in a month. This is 7 times more than what I achieved in the whole of June when I started running.

Won't mention much about today's run as quite tied with a few more work to do.

Below is the post of today's run. Will from now on post in my blog each run that I made via runkeeper.



Kiddster : Run, Forrest, Run...

It's Raya Time

Selamat Hari Raya !!!

Salam Eid Mubarak !!!

We wish to inform everyone a very prosperous and merry Raya and also hope that those driving back to their kampung's, drive carefully...

Better late than never, as I always say...

Kiddster : "Share our similarities, celebrate our differences." - M. Scott Peck

Running

New hobby/sport that I've picked up.

It all started on this one night. The Kiddster Crew's just came back from the family outing at One Utama. So, as Kiddster Jr was quite tired, I decided to carry him on my back. The minute I put him there, SNAP!, my back pulled itself. It took me 25 minutes to reach my house from the parking lot which is quite sometime since usually will take me around 5 minutes.

At that moment it struck me. I'm only 28 and my back has already begun to reject me. This is not what I want. I used to be quite the sportsman. But at that moment, I can barely carry my son back to my own house. So, once arrived at my house in a new record time, I decided to weigh myself since my last weigh-in was like a year before. And what a shock it was!

94kg!

If I remembered correctly, my previous weigh was 85kg. What a difference a year make! I just couldn't believe it. The boy who used to be able to compete at the state marathon is now a man with a gut sticking out.

That whole night, I wasn't able to sleep. Not because of the pain at the back, but because of the pain in my heart (and no, it wasn't a heart attack). My ego has been bruised. I'm 28 and already having back issues? This should not be happening to me. It shouldn't. But it had. And it will become a much bigger one if I don't do something about it.

So now, I'm a proud owner of a Nike LunarElite+, Runkeeper as my iPhone running app, sportsarm band, Sennheiser PMX 80 Sport II, and a long list of sweatshirts, pants and socks. I have clocked in at least 150km of runnning/jogging. To me now, playing a round of golf walking, is not an issue anymore.

Probably in my later posts, I shall give a simple review about some other products that I have used, or I've tried to compare too. But all I can say for now is that though I'm using the LunarElite, I'm not really enjoying it that much as I thought I should have. But I'll save that for later, yeah.

Anyone who would like to ask me about my running experiences, please do not hesitate to pm me, or better even, would like to join me in my crusade on finishing a marathon and losing weight as a bonus, please, message me as things like this are better shared with friends.

And with that, I say, "Run my friends, Run like you've never run before..."


Kiddster : "Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." - Oprah Winfrey

Typical Follows Promise

Typical...

This is very typical of me to start and then pause for a long time on this blog. Actually not only on this blog but also to my work life as well. I am now really WAY behind deadlines due to my incompetence I think.

This should not be happening to me. This should not be my way of practice. What is WRONG with me??? Ya Allah, give me the courage and support I need to overcome this problem.

1 minute I'll be doing it like I need to submit it in an hours time. However, 30 minutes later, I'll be putting that paper into my stack of other pending projects that is still awaiting me to complete... Why is this so you ask me? I, myself am lost for words on this matter. Am I really that lazy? Or just bloody incompetent to myself and the company?

Buck up Azhari!!! You now not only have yourself as your responsibility. You have your wife, your two adorable children, your parents, family and even the company waiting for you to mature and pick up the responsibility that have been handed to you long enough. Isn't those enough reasons yet? What must happen before you start realizing that your whole life is in front of you, waiting for you to decide either to fulfill it or to ruin it.

So, with all of that out for the world to see, as a start I have promised myself to devote myself firstly to this blog. It should be stepping stone to show my commitment to something I'm doing. I promise that this blog shall be filled with something from me at least once a week.

And with that, I shall sign out for now and pray that I shall return and fulfill this promise...

Kiddster : "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." - Maria Robinson

28th Birthday!!!

And I'm officially 28 today!!!

I'm 28 and to be honest I do not know what I'm doing with my life. Not that I have not achieved anything. I'm married, have a wonderful child (and yes, with god's permission, would have another one by July 2010), the marketing manager of a food company, both my parents are still alive, have great siblings, drives a nice car, bought my own apartment, and so far am blessed with a good health.

Yet, I'm not sure what I'm doing with my life. What do I have to look for in 20 years time? Or in 2 years time?

As I'm working for my family, what do I do if I lose any one of them?

I see the company as a whole prospering, but where do I stand when they are big?

Will my siblings rely on me or do I have to look at them being more successful than I am?

I have my own apartment, but would I be able to provide my family with a bigger house if, as a family, we grow bigger?

Will my children be able to depend on me for years to come or would they think that my wife is the more suitable parent?

Though I do exercise quite often, is it enough for my health as I have already been diagnosed with HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)?

These questions have been playing around in my head for a few days now and up until now, I am unable to find inner peace with myself. I know that these questions could not be answered immediately, but for some reason, I hope that they can.

And due to these questions, I am not enjoying my Birthday so much compared to previous years. Although my family has just made a suprise party for me, which, of course I am very happy, but, as a whole, I am very restless inside.

Allah, please provide me with the light and road for me to take. Amin.

Commitments

Feels like it's been more than a decade since I opened up this blog. Couldn't believe the last date that I posted something here.

Well, let's see what's been happening recently in my life :

1. Got a nice job (well, actually working with my parents as they kept on pressing me to become the succesor. Not that nice actually)

2. Got married. Yeah, in 2007. So, it's been 2 years since then. And what a wonderful time it has been. (Have to write it like this since don't know when the missus would 'accidentally' go through this blog)

3. Got myself a kid. And he's a year older now. You should see him now. Just learned to walk. Now, mummy and daddy are getting enough exercise just keeping up with him. Hmm... Posting up his picture in the next post would be a good idea.

4. Took up golf again. Now, playing wonderfully. Could be at handicap 22 or 23. Hope the handicap will come down more.


Well, that's all from me currently. Chiow...

Another Beginning...???

Wow!!! Been more than a year since I updated my post. Not sure what could be falling me back behind on my updates. Well, there's the marriage, new house, traveling due to work, new baby in the house, new work environment and more...

Now, I have made up my mind that I'm just going to ramble all my feelings over here. Just need a place to vent my frustrations over the world. Couldn't keep it inside of me anymore.

So, wait for my next post, ya!!! And I promise it won't be more than a year...

Hehehehe...

C H A M P I O N S ! ! !

After suppoting for years and years, it finally paid off!!!! I actually felt emotional when watching the guys lifting up the Cup... *tsk* *tsk* *tsk*

And the mastermind that brought Liverpool to this victory against the likes of Juventus, Chelsea and AC Milan...

Liverpool - You'll Never Walk Alone!!!


A word from Kiddster:
"*Wahhhh!!!!!!*" (Crying out loudly)

F E V E R . . .

Sorry people... Caught the fever two days ago... Would post up the details later along with pics...

------------------
F 1 - F E V E R
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(|^_^|)

Faithful Or Not ?

A few years ago, I had this presumption that employees would stick in one company and work their way up to becoming the company's manager, CEO, CFO, etc... But lately, this presumption has changed due to the fact that I'm seeing that the working world is ever changing. Seems that rotating jobs are not the "in" thing as most of us would call it.

Just look at this scenario; A few days ago, a new exec just joined up into the company I'm working in. After just chatting with him for around 10 to 15 minutes, he just got into a mood of telling everything (well, not everything actually).


Kidd: So, how do you find this line of service?

New Exec: New enviroment, not many would ever thought of going to be working under this line actually.

Kidd: That's what me thought too, people find it kind of cool to be working under this service actually (sorry binx)...

New Exec: So, hmm..... How long do you think you'll be working here, huh?

Kidd: Huh??? What do you mean?

New Exec: Well, me thinks me would be here most also 2 years. So, what about u?

Kidd: WTF???!!! Hey, you've only been here like 2 hours and you're already planning when to leave huh?

New Exec: 2 hours and 20 minutes lor......

Kidd: $%&$%&#@#!%## ????!!!!


Does this mean that the new exec is much better than me? I mean probably he already has a future plan on what to do right? And me? Do I feel like staying with the same employer for years to come? Do I actually have a future here? What if suddenly I receive a better offer? Would I go there? Can I ever finish my studies while working?


I hate that new exec...

Already A Professional...

Got this message today from my one and only beloved:

"Call back, urgent"

Then it was followed by this message:

"Hie... Just got my CCP results, and I passed!!! First seating some more!!! Congrats to me!!! :D "

Quickly called her back to wish him a very big congratulations.


Congratulations,
And celebrations,
When I tell everyone that you're in love with me,
Congratulations,
and jubilations,
I want the world to know I'm happy as can be.


I think the song is actually meant for me, but what the heck. :P Anyway, congrats Sayang. Wish you all the best for your future. Wish me luck also in my studies. Wah... For sure you're getting a salary increment ($$$).

So, now she could actually certify any credit (or to us normal people we would call it as a loan approver) that one wants to take out from the bank. Great for me, right? Not!!! She could only approve commercial loans none from indviduals. Too bad.........

Anyway, for those who do not know what CCP stands for it's actually Certified Credit Professional. This is one of the toughest papers to be taken by people in the banking services industry (next to CFA that is). Only 17% from the whole of Malaysia actually pass the bloody paper. Tough or what? And me, I'm currently struggling with my studies in C**A. Can't wait for the day I could message the same thing to my Sayang...

Burst!!! What to do??? What to do???

Wednesday, middle of the week (in working days calculation that is). Woke up early and left the house 10 minutes earlier than usual. So, arrived at the office earlier than usual. Decided to grab some breakfast to start off the day. Had a plate of mee and some sambal (mix of chilli, onions and god knows what)

So, started my duties with a happy face (burp!!!). Was busy minding my own business, issuing receipts, doing my recon when suddenly... the sambal kicked in. Oh damn!!! My stomach was rumbling like no one's business. Only one solution to this. Men's room, here I come!

Went in and to my utter surprise all the toilets were damn filthy. Where's hte cleaners when you need them??? Ahh... fuck them. Picked up a hose, turned the tap to full blast and started squirting the whle toilet. Was happily "washing" the room (have forgotten all about the tummy ache)... Pom!!! WTF???!!! The water tap I was using, bursted!!! And the water was rushing like mad towards my pants.

What to do??? What to do??? Aiyark!!! Now tummy ache coming back... Water still running, ummy ache coming back and now my pants are drenched... How could it get any worst? Luckily it didn't. Now, what to do? What can I do? Ran out of the toilet, went to another floor and did my official business there.

When came back to my floor people were surrounding the now so famous men's room. ;) Went straight to my table and acted like nothing happened. And it was going on smoothly until my boss decided to call me. The minute I stood up;

Boss: Kidd, need you to do this for me.

Kidd: Sure, coming. (stood up)

Boss: Hey, why your pants soaked like just came out of the washing machine??? Ehh... you're the culprit who broke the tap izzit?

Kidd: ...........................

Boss: Aiyar, people like you also got meh??? Haih... Now got to replace. What were you doing with the tap until it burst-lar???

Kidd: Errr...... err.......

Boss: Haiyar...


What to do???? What to do???

Kicks and More Kicks...

Since resorting to lock myself out from watching football (or soccer for some of you) life has never been the same for me. Things I've done to make sure I've secluded myself from the football-natic world; 1) not go out on Saturday for football watching 2) make sure my bookmarks straight to the football websites are deleted 3) unsubscribe myself from receiving sms updated of football, and 4) stop playing football games either PS2 or PC.

And tough it was. It's like asking a smoker to quit smoking. You get the scenario right? But, I wuld not say that it's all hell, well, it's never even been close. But it seems that I'm missing something. And that's why being busy myself doing other things. Mostly playing ball and working out at the gym. Need to workout due to the excess fat I'm carrying aroung. :P

Since I'm into b'ball now, need to get some new gears for myself (the old ones are either too antique or really out of shape). So, the past weekend got myself new pair of shorts, well, 3 quarters actually cos that's the new hip for ballers. Now, what I need are new kicks to hype up my game, if I have any that is...

Currently, I'm using this pair for my game, and it has been loyal to me all through out. However, I think I need to get new ones cause this one cost me quite an amount of $$$.

It's the Nike Jordan XVIII. I've seasoned it quite a bit though. :( That's why I need to get new ones. So, here are some of the options that I have.

Jordan Serve'Em

Nike Huarache as worn by Jason Kidd (my idol)

Adidas T-Mac 4 as worn by Tracy MacGrady

Reebok A8 as worn by Allen Iverson

And1 Uprise

So, which one do I choose. If I have my way, I'll want all of it. Those things are magnifique, wonderful, astounding, beautiful, unique........ etc......

Well, from all of this to choose from I would prefer the Huarache or Jordan Serve'em. What do you think?

I'll Be Free on Saturday Nights

Since July 2004, my life on Saturday nights has been revolving around this box thing called tv or a white screen flooded on with pictures from a projector. Could you imagine that week in, week out, that was all me and a bunch of my friends would be caught doing. It was until too one extend that we do not have to call each other but just drive our way to the usual location and everybody would start coming one by one.

You see, all this while my life has been about the English Premier League and nothing else. The team I support? Liverpool. But let's leave that out of the big picture here. As I mentioned earlier, Saturday nights most of us 'big boys' would just go to our favourite mamak stall and watch the games shown live and even the replays up to 3 or 4 in the morning. This went on weeks after weeks and months after months.

Anyway, I've decided to end this once and for all. Well, for my side that is. To me there's no point for me anymore to dedicate my life to a sport that I myself seldom play anymore. Errr... did I just say seldom? I've not kicked a ball on a full field pitch for more than 2 years!!! Who am I kidding. So, I've decided to name the things I want to name as my top of the list doings.


1. Saifarahizah Ab. Wahap

What can I say about this girl? She's the love of my life. Although right now she's just there to share my life as I am to hers, I can't wait for the moment that she's part of me. We do have our ups and downs, yes we do, but then we seem to still through it all the time. Oh yeah and Sayang, you don't have to worry bout me ditching you on Saturday nights anymore. :D

(Can't wait to get my own digicam so that I could post up picts of her in this blog as well...)

2. Basketball (inclusive of NBA and street ball)

Hah!!! Now this is what I define as a true sport. Been playing with the dudes for more than 10 years now, yet I'm no where up to my actual ability. Sorry guys for not able to compete with you all. However, my love for this sport has never died out. In fact since meeting back most of the ballers, my love for it has grown strong (but don't worry Sayang, my love for you would never die).

So, practically I'm balling at least 4 times in a week, minimum. Need to be fit brother. As a fellow baller mentioned to me, "You keep fit so that you can play ball and not play ball so that you can keep fit".

Anyway, basketball games are much more intriguing. There's four quarters (more time to walk to and fro to the fridge), 6 timeouts (more walking), you get playes scoring more than 10 points each game (what's the maximum for football?) and also for the full game, it's action filled. There's reasons for every screen, every fadeaway, every dunk, every block. What can I say, basketball is an art to me. Even Shaq's dunks is an art by itself.

3. Music

Music represents my soul, my attitude at that current moment. Need I say more?


Kiddster thinks that's enough reason for me to ditch football for good. Well, there would be an occasional football watching and even playing futsal. But as I've mentioned, O-C-C-A-S-I-O-N-A-L-L-Y. Oh yeah, and guys, I'll be free on Saturday Nights (Duh!).



PS. Did I mention that Liverpool lost to Chelsea a few hours before this?

Me, De' Intro

Persuasions, after persuasions... Sweat after sweat, I've finally restarted again my blog page. And this time it comes with a new look. It's not that such a big deal anyways but still I got something to be proud of (I guess).

Well, what do people write in their first blog? Introduction of myself? Too normal... Write about my favourite items? Too lame... How about my loved ones? Hmmm... Too mushy I guess for a first blog. So, what do I write about? Ha.... Got it.

Welcome people to the blog known as The Effigy Realm of Kiddster. Here, you would find lots and lots of musings from yours truly. Topics talked about could cover from East to the West, from small viruses to the solar system, from politics to religion. Simply put, anything that amuses me or crosses the unexplainable mind. Let it be short or long ones, it would not escape the grasp of Kiddster's Blog...

So, take a seat back, grab a bag of popcorn, heck, make that two, and enjoy the realm of kiddster's blog.........

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.