Media Release : EDUCITY SUNDOWN MALAYSIA 2015 - JOHOR’S MOST ANTICIPATED NIGHT RUN IS BACK!

16 June 2015, Petaling Jaya: World Endurance Malaysia SdnBhd, the organiser of EduCity Sundown Malaysia 2015, is pleased to announce today that the second night run will be held on 5 September 2015. The first flag off will be at 8pm at EduCity Sports Complex in Nusajaya, Johor.

With over 5,000 runners participating in last year's highly successful first ever night run in Nusajaya, CG Lim, General Manager of World Endurance Malaysia SdnBhd, and venue sponsor, EduCity, have promised a more thrilling excitement and experience in this year’s edition.

“Last year, the gathering of our participants filled the night air with so much energy and the experience was thrilling for us as the organisers as well as fulfilling for the participants.  We are very much looking forward to see familiar and new faces to this highly anticipated night run. Whether you are a competitive distance runner or just running for fun, EduCity Sundown Malaysia 2015 is the perfect event to do just that,” said CG Lim.

As the premier night run in Johor, EduCity Sundown Malaysia will take runners on a scenic track across the beautiful coastal side of Nusajaya.

“EduCity is proud to be the title and venue sponsor for the second year running. We believe the unique landscape around EduCity and Nusajaya provides the ideal backdrop for a scenic night run such as this. We hope all participants will have a fun and rewarding experience,” said SugumaranKailasan, Chief Operating Officer of EduCity Iskandar Sdn Bhd.

The race will feature two distance categories, a Half-Marathon(21km) and a 12km run, with six runner categories - Half Marathon (Men’s and Women’s Open, Men’s and Women’s Junior Veteran, Men’s and Women’s Senior Veteran) and a further two categories in the 12km (Men’s and Women’s Open).

In addition to the one-of-a-kind experience, participants can also look forward to receiving a running vest, official timing, finisher’s medal, E-certificate and, of course, a goodie bag! Runners in the 21km category will also receive an exclusive finisher’s tee.

Apart from encouraging runners to finish the race, experienced pacers will provide on-site pre-event coaching and training.

Prizes for top finishers in each category will be announced by organizers closer to the event.

With registration already opened, interested participants are invited to visit the event’s official website at http://sundownmalaysia.com for more information and to lock down one of the limited spots available.

Early bird prices of RM85 are valid only in June and will increase to RM96 in July and RM106 in August (subject to availability). 

Press Release : 1300 Participants at TKC Walk-a-Run Carnival

Putrajaya, 15th February 2015 – Malay Girls College (MGC), now known as Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC) Old Girls Association organized a fun-filled, family event on Sunday, February 15th 2015 from 7am at Kompleks Sukan Air, Presinct 6, Putrajaya.

The Wife to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berbahagia Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, a TKC alumni herself, graced the event as the patron of the TKC Walk-a-Run Carnival alongside the Youth and Sports Minister, Yang Berhormat Encik Khairy Jamaluddin.

The carnival aims to raise RM 2,000,000 in stages for the benefit of athletic and sports development facilities in the newly relocated school in Bandar Enstek, Nilai. The first stage of the fundraising aim to raise RM 500,000 towards the #TKCfieldproject.

The Carnival’s main attraction is a 5km run or walk, with participants encouraged to be dressed to the nines! There are also other activities at the carnival site, including a Bouncy Castle for the children, and aerobics, zumba, poco-poco and insanity fitness for the adults.

YAB Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah danced the poco-poco alongside YB Khairy, she then cheered on from the sidelines while YB Khairy went one-on-one with Encik Mohd Farid Isham (nicknamed Cat) for the KJ Challenge, where Encik Cat beat YB Khairy 3-2 and won an iPad Air. All donations from the KJ Challenge go towards the #TKCfieldproject.

The VVIPs were accompanied by the MGC/TKC OGA committee throughout the event; Tan Sri Datuk Dr Rafiah Salim, President MGC/TKC OGA, Pn Mariam Tun Sulaiman, Deputy President MGC/TKC OGA, Datuk Hafsah Hashim, Vice President Agama & Education MGC/TKC OGA, and Datin Norhizan Ibrahim Vice President Social & Welfare MGC/TKC OGA. The Race Director for the MGC/TKC Walk-a-Run Carnival is Pn Nik Lini Hayati Nik Kazim (Pn Lini Kazim), who is also the current Best Malaysian Female Triathlete at Ironman Langkawi 2014.

From MGC in Bukit Damansara to TKC in Bukit Merbah and now the new school in Bandar Enstek, the college has been both a school and a home for many bright young ladies who then went forth to become prominent figures in various fields both locally and internationally. TKC prides itself in being excellent academically, there are also potential athletes among the girls that require proper athletic and sports facilities to train in and it is through this carnival that the MGC / TKC OGA hopes to raise adequate funds. The new school has yet to have a Sports Day since moving to Bandar Enstek in 2012. The MGC/TKC OGA hopes that this fundraiser will be a success to ensure a return of Sports Day to the TKC school grounds.

The main supporter for the event includes UEM with the co-organisers Perbadanan Putrajaya and MGC/TKC OGA. A full list of winners and sponsors are provided below:

Fastest Male (Open)

1. David Mutai

2. Paul Kimani

3. Edan Syah

Fastest Malaysian

1. Edan Syah

2. Vadiveloo

3. Riki

Fastest Female (Open)

1. Dorcas Jebotif Tarus

2. Loh Chooi Fern

3. Mayumi

Fastest Team (Open)

1. Pacemakers Malaysia

2. Spartan

3. ACAC Team 1

Fastest TKC Girls

1. Alyssa Sofea Ahmad Zaharil (Form 3)

2. Nur Alyssa Nadia (Form 4)

3. Nur Fauzana Munawar (Form 4)

Best Costume (Individual)

1. Amelia Ang Peck Har (dressed as a Butterfly)

2. Abmin (dressed as an Egyptian)

3. Aleximon (dressed as a student)

Best Costume (Team)

1. Flintstone

2. Spartan

3. Legion

Most “Likes” Received for Selfie

1. Elisakamarul (30 likes)

2. Mieraazhar (12 likes)

3. Merlin_mahajud (10 likes)

Most “Likes” Received for Wefie

1. Shaxu_8 #Merantau9600 (23 likes)

2. tcerfudgy #hotmama (9 likes)

3. nadihilafs #snowwhite&7dwarfs (8 likes)

Sponsors List:

Organized by: MGC/TKC OGA

Supported by: Perbadanan Putrajaya

Sponsors:

UEM

SME Bank

Allianz

SME Corp

Boustead

Dutch Lady

PLUS

Agro Bank

PNB

Bouncetopia

DRIVE

Lifeline ID

Running Malaysia

Dinastia Jati

Moola

Doof

QSR

Tesco

Athlete’s Circle

Ecoride

Insanity Fitness

Milo

Northport

Hyrax Oil

Tenaga

System Consultancy

JCorp

FiberG

The official Facebook account for the event is:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/TKC-Walk-a-Run-Carnival/

The official website for the event is: http://tkccarnival.wix.com/tkcwalkaruncarnival

The official instagram account for the event is: @tkccarnival

Full set of photos taken by me can be found here : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.637174499744751.1073741937.215755491886656&type=1

Press Release : TKC Walk-a-Run Carnival

Kuala Lumpur, 27 January 2015 - Malay Girl College (MGC) or now known as Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC) Old Girls Association will.be organising a fun-filled, family event on Sunday, February 15, 2015 from 7am at Complex Sukan Air, Precinct 6, Putrajaya. First Lady, Yang Amat Berbahagia Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor will grace the event as the patron of MGC/TKC alongside with Youth and Sports Minister, Yang Amat Berhormat Encik Khairy Jamaluddin on that day.

The Carnival aims to raise RM500,000.00 for the benefit of athletic and sports development facilities in the newly relocated school in Bandar Enstek, Nilai. The Carnival Main attraction is a costume 5km run or walk, and there are also other activities ongoingnatbthw carnival site, including Bouncy Castle for the children, and aerobics, zumba, and insanity fitness for the adults. Prizes will be given to the fastest runner by their respective categories. In addition to that, best dressed participant will also be rewarded based on "selfies" and "defies" uploads which will be actively monitored by social media during the event day.

Starting out as Malay Girls College in Bukit Damansara to TKC in Bukit Merbah and now the new school in Bandar Enstek, the college has been both a school and a home for many bright young ladies who then went forth to be a prominent figures in various fields both locally and internationally. TKC prides itself in being excellent academically, there are also potential athletes among the girls that require proper athletic and sports facilities to train in and it is through this carnival MGC/TKC hopes to raise adequate funds.

The main supporter for the event is Perbandaran Putrajaya and Gold Sponsor is UEM.

Online Registration : Click on this link.

Registration Fee : RM50 (Entitled to Personalized LifeLine-ID Wristband)

Standard Chartered KL Marathon Thanks Loyal Runners - Vox Pop Video

Kena "interrogation"

And here it is. Remember a few weeks back I did mentioned about an "interview" I was going to do with a few of my running buddies. Well, here it is!

The Zainal Family - Zaini, Raimie & Marlina (Lina's Backyard Fame)

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon people has a special video done to thank all loyal runners; like me and you. Thanks to the SCKLM team for organizing and it was indeed a great experience. I was unusually nervous when I did the interview (hence I figured why my part was heavily edited. :P) but it was great to be in the company of friends.

So here is a special video HOT out of the oven. Enjoy!

Educity Sundown Malaysia 2014 : Official Launch & Press Conference

Official Launch of Educity Sundown Malaysia 2014 - VIP and Sponsors photo call

BRING ON THE NIGHT! 

Sundown is finally expending to the shore of Malaysia and we have many reasons to be excited about it. Debuting Educity Sundown Malaysia is part of a plan to expand the Sundown Marathon brand, created in 2008 in Singapore. Previous Sundown participants would know how great and unique the experience is over the years in Singapore and finally Malaysian runners would be able to experience it for themselves in their home country.

We were recently invited for the official launch and press conference for the event. The event kick started with a welcome speech by CG Lim - Managing Director of Hivelocity Events Sdn. Bhd. Key notes and highlights pointed out the reason of Johor being chosen. The aim was to anchor a major run in the southern part of the Peninsula as major runs has often taken place at the central and northern parts. This is also to promote sports tourism from across the border and at the same time showcase the beauty of Nusajaya to visitors from overseas as well as locals.

Welcome note by CG Lim - Hivelocity Events Sdn. Bhd.

The race will feature both a 21km and 12km distance and would start and finish at the magnificent, new EduCity Sports Complex. The route is fairly flat and great for runners seeking to better their personal best or at least experience the scenery along the route. Since registration started in March, numbers has been very encouraging and slots are running out. A target of 5000 participants is expected with 2000 participants for the half marathon and 3000 participants for the 12km run.

Notes from Mr. K. Sugumaran - CEO of Education@Iskandar Sdn. Bhd.

The event was further carried on with a short note from Mr. K.Sugumaran - CEO of Education@Iskandar Sdn. Bhd. highlighting what EduCity Sports Complex has to offer and many upcoming international standard events that is going to take place at the complex in the near future.

Photo call with the Official Pacers of Educity Sundown Malaysia 2014 - Athlete's Circle Athletic Club (ACAC)

I'm pretty excited as well as I would be also part of the official pacer team for the event! Athlete's Circle Athletic Club (ACAC) will be pacing with runners on the 21km route. If you are seeking to finish the race at a certain time, watch out for us as we will be pacing to 3 different finishing times, Mainly 2:00 hours, 2:15 hours and 2:30 hours.

There is currently running clinics and training being held specifically for Sundown Malaysia participants. Look out for updates over at Sundown Malaysia's website or Facebook fanpage here at this link.

Or perhaps join us for an impromptu hand stand.

So what are you waiting for? Go sign up quickly before all the slots are taken.
Besides, we wouldn't want to take a break and escape for a "running event holiday"?
I know some has already made plans for Legoland and Hello Kitty Town as well.
*wink *wink ;)

For more photos from the launch and press conference, click here.

For more information about Educity Sundown Malaysia 2014, click here.

Rudy Project Firebolt : Unboxing Review

Unveiling the new Rudy Project Firebolt!
A new frame sport sunglasses by the Italian makers, Rudy Project.

The new Rudy Project Firebolt - Lime Gloss Photoclear. Profile View

When I got my hands on this pair of sunnies, I couldn't be more excited to try them on. Hey, I'm a guy who love his sunglasses on every outdoor activity. Anybody who saw my previous sunnies could vouch how battered and seasoned it is. And who wouldn't be swooned over by such Italian craftsmanship, class and fashionably chic! But most importantly, it's the functionality that counts.

So let's get right into the unboxing of the Rudy Project Firebolt.

What's in the box.

The unit I received for review is the Firebolt Lime Gloss with Photoclear lens. In the box are the Firebolt itself, a soft microfiber casing and instructional guide. Pretty straightforward.

The Firebolt is incredibly ultralight; weighting at only 9 ounces (26 grams).

Firebolt with Microfiber casing.

When storage, the Firebolt is folded into the microfiber casing. For more protection, you could opt for a full covered casing that could be purchased separately.

Side by side comparison with Firebolt's brother - The Stratofly

For Rudy Project users and fans, this model may look similar to a current existing model. That is because it's actually the brother/companion of the Stratofly series. The key difference are between a full frame (Firebolt) and half frame (Stratofly) AND also a different cut to the lenses.

Generally I like them both but from past experiences, I'm much better off with full frame eyewear. I lost count on how many half frame sunnies I've dropped and broke the lens.

So now let's look at the close ups.

Lense close up - With air vents.

One of the unique features of the Firebolt are the air vents on the side of each lens. Called the "Integrated Air Conditioning" System, it naturally keeps flow of air into the lens during wear to prevent fog up and also keep your eyes "cool". This is actually great as it doesn't rely on some special coating on the lenses that will fade off over time. It took me less than 5-10 seconds to have the fog cleared up during a run. Major good points for that!

Firebolt logo

The inner parts of the frame (for this model) are Neon Green and guaranteed to be eye catching. It's wrapped around anti-slip system with soft rubber temple tips. True enough it didn't flung off my face when I've tortured it to some extreme trail running.

Adjustable Ergo IV Nosepiece and inserts for RX Optical Inserts.

Heading towards the nosepiece are the ultra comfortable and adjustable Ergo IV nose piece. A closer look are also inserts for optional RX Optical Inserts for prescription wear. They are discreet and still packs a good look.

Photoclear lens.

This model comes with Rudy's Photoclear lens which reacts to UV lighting. The lens would gradually darkened accordingly to the outdoor conditions without affecting the wearer's vision. This feature works well for me as I often go in and out of trails with very different lighting conditions. Previously I have to repeatedly
put on or remove my glasses according to the conditions. Well, not anymore! I even wore it at night and I could still see what is in front of me. Brilliant!

Removable Quickchange lenses. 

The Quickchange lenses are removable and there is a variety of lenses to choose from like Smoke Black, Transparent, Multilaser Orange and Hi-Contrast. There could be purchased separately at Rudy Project dealers.

Italiano~! 

Last but not least, the "Made in Italiano" sign engraved at the side of the tips. Assured that is not another "Made in China" knock off.

So far I've tested out the Firebolt on 2 races; both Xterra Trail Championships and Deuter Trail Run. I've also used them in my daily runs. I must say I'm impressed with it and being the "rough user" that I am known to be; it handled well and suited to my activities. Despite the minor accident of dropping it and the accidental scratch (someone banged into my poor glasses at Deuter during the slide obstacle), it took the beating quite well despite owning it for less than 2 weeks!

The Rudy Project Firebolt is now currently available at all participating dealers and this model is retailing at RSP RM760.

A big thanks you to Rudy Project Malaysia Brunei for letting me review this lovely masterpiece.

For full specs of the Firebolt, do click here.

For more photos and views of the Firebolt, click here.

Motivation for the Athletes in us : I Used To Think

I just recently came across a beautifully written Facebook note written by a friend and I thought that has got to be some of the most beautiful words I've heard in a long time. 

"I used to think that it was important how others perceived me,
I realize now that what I think of myself takes precedence.

I used to think that delivering great work brings promotion and recognition,
I realize now that striving for excellence should bring personal satisfaction.

I used to think that driving a flashy car would make me feel young,
I realize now that I can get the same gush from riding a cute little bike.

I used to think that money buys happiness,
I realize now that happiness is actual wealth.

I used to think that being on the cover of a magazine would make me proud,
I realize now that my 5 year old daughter's portrait of me on her sketchbook makes me prouder.

I used to think that running 42km would make me a man,
I realize now that 5km runs make me cry.

I used to think that a prime rib eye steak would fill my stomach,
I realize now that sharing my daughter's cookie fills my heart.

I used to think that having 500 friends made me cool,
I realize now that its not the numbers that count, but those that stand up when counted on."

-by Eugene Teoh

There comes a point in time we have to stop and look back what we really want in life and what makes us truly happy. Yes, we all do want to do great in life but sometimes it's just not based by the quantity we do but the quality of it.

Cheers and have a good day. :)

PS: Eugene and his wife are young parents to 2 beautiful daughters and he is an athlete at heart and appearance. Thanks for letting me share this passage, bro. 

Quick Cooking : Homemade Basil Pesto (ala my own version)

The finished product. Spinach Fettuccine tossed in basil pesto with poached egg and chicken. 

Wow. I can't remember the last time I blog about my cooking.

Well, I've been having "mental cooking blocks" for the last few months. Just couldn't get inspired.

So just the other day I was at Ben's Supermarket and I saw a pack of Thai Sweet Basil Leaves that I decided to make homemade basil pesto for my pasta dressing. And just like that, I grabbed a few key ingredients, went home and started whacking the pesto out; even though it was very late at night.

Basil pesto is usually used as a sauce/dressing for pastas and a great vegetarian dish for vegans and for the health conscious. I've made this pesto before but I've changed a few ingredients to make it my own. One of the ingredients is Tahini but it's incredibly pricey here; so I used a bit of sesame oil instead and added walnuts for more chunky, creamy texture.


So basically, here are ingredients I used for my own version of Basil Pesto.

Do take note, that I don't exactly measure my ingredients as I go by feel most of the time.

1. 100mg Fresh Thai Sweet Basil Leaves (Any variant of basil will do. Thai has a bit more of an aroma kick)
2. Few cloves of garlic (About a good 5-7)
3. A handful of toasted pine nuts
4. A handful of walnuts (or more if you prefer a more creamy texture)
5. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (accordingly)
6. Sesame Oil (alternative to tahini. About 1-2 table spoons)
7. Dash of grated cheese (optional)
8. Salt & Pepper to taste




Making this dish is practically easy and you just need a food processor. I use a manual hand-wind food processor as I have a bit more control over the texture consistency of the pesto.

Make sure your basil leaves are washed, cleaned and spin-dried with minimal water residue.

Next up, blend up the garlic, walnuts and toasted pine nuts first until you get .......

to a somewhat chunky mix like so.

Then add on the basil leaves into the mix with the sesame oil and olive oil and blend. Gradually add the leaves and olive oil periodically after every spin.

The result would be something like this. You can go "creamier" by adding in the cheese, more walnuts and oilve oil to get a semi smooth texture of the pesto which I did. I always prefer to have a bit more bite to my pasta dressing.

The result would be something more golden in colour compared to the very green pesto you see in the supermarkets. Once done, keep the pesto refrigerated and it would last no more than a week. 

As you can see, I used my pesto to go with my favourite Spinach Fettuccine and topped it over with a poached egg and chicken. An excellent healthy choice for those "lazy" to cook like me or just couldn't find time to whip out something too grandeur. 

And now, this blogger is now attempting to venture into some baking. That is if he still has the "balls" to take out the oven that is still sitting inside the box!

Polar Loop : Unboxing Review

It's here folks!

After it's announcement last year, the new Polar Loop is finally coming to Malaysia soon.

I had the privilege to test a unit out for a few months and it has been awesome so far.

PS: The author was so super excited that he unshamefully squealed when he got hold of one.

Here is what the new Polar Loop is all about. The Polar Loop is a 24/7 daily activity tracker that tracks your daily activities and feedback the benefits via your connected Apple devices (eg. Iphone or Ipad) or from the bracelet's LED screen. You wear it like a watch and this hip, fashion forward gadget will definitely be the talk among your peers. I could definitely vouch for this as I got A LOT of attention and people inquiring me about the gadget.

For Android users, fret not. You still will be able to have a summary of your daily activities when you transfer your data to your computer via the provided USB cable.

This is the first Activity Tracker in the market that is waterproof (up to 20M) & also the first to be able to connect with a Heart Rate Transmitter (via Polar H7). You could just bring this baby anywhere and fret not about getting wet!

A more detail review of the Polar Loop in my next blog post. Let's have a closer look from the unboxing first.

The Polar Loop comes in a sleek, minimalist packaging that includes the following :

- A Polar Loop Activity Tracker Bracelet

- A Polar Loop USB cable 

- Wrist measuring chart + Buckle detachment tools

- Instruction guides

The Polar Loop comes in one standard universal size and users need to cut and adjust the strap accordingly. This is great as you could custom fit it accordingly to your wrist.

First of all, you need to determine your wrist size with the provided wrist measuring chart. For in my case, it shows "5 & 4". That means I needed to cut off 5 & 4 indicated sections on each side of bracelet strap.

Then you need to unhooked the buckle with the provided special buckle detachment tool. Once the buckle is removed, proceed to cut the silicon strap according to your measurements. The sections are indicated as holes at the side of the bracelet.

Here are a few tips before cutting so that you wouldn't make any mistakes.
- I recommend that you cut the strap slightly "bigger" first before going any more shorter. This is just a safety precaution and you have better custom fit of the bracelet.
- Instead of scissors, use a sharp blade, steel ruler & cutting board to cut the silicon strap. You will have a much cleaner cut that way. But if you only have scissors, make sure they are larger ones and sharp.

Do make sure that you often check the length of the bracelet strap by wearing it often as you cut. Just make sure it isn't too tight or too loose. It should be a perfect fit like your favorite watch. After all, you want to wear the bracelet with style and comfort and NOT the other way round.

Once you have your custom fit done, don't forget to charge it! Your first charge would be around 2-3 hours.

The Polar Loop charges with the supplied propitiatory USB cable charger. Just plug it on your laptop. It also doubles as a data transfer. Just make sure you have Polar Flow installed in your laptop before proceeding any further.

Attaching the USB cable to your Polar Loop for charging and data transfer is easy. You won't go wrong on which side to attach. It fits like a jigsaw puzzle and it's secured with it's magnetic hook. 

The bracelet would start charging as per indicated on the LED screen of the bracelet. 

As of to date (accordingly to the unit I'm testing), every new Polar Loop should have a new update upon first connection to Polar Flow; the mobile and web service app for Polar Loop. So far I've already had 3 updates on the Polar Loop during the last couple of months of testing. It provided me with more information of my daily activities and goals in my Polar Flow account. Pretty awesome, right? ;)

I'll be following up with an in-detail review of the Polar Loop in the near future.

In the mean time, here are technical specs of the Polar Loop:
Activity guidance
24/7 activity tracking
Activity Guide
Activity Benefit
Activity zones
Smart Calories
Steps
Sleep duration and quality
Distance measured in activity
Inactivity alert with Polar Flow mobile app
Advanced activity analysis at Polar Flow mobile app and web service
Training diary at Polar Flow web service

Heart rate guidance (with optional heart rate sensor)
Heart rate in beats per minute
EnergyPointer

Waterproof for swimming
Custom-fit bracelet
Time of day
Display texts in English
Data transfer via custom USB cable or Bluetooth Smart via Polar Flow mobile app
Memory capacity 12 days activity data
Rechargeable battery with 5 days continuous use
Web service compatibility with Mac OS X 10.6, OS X 10.7, OS X 10.8, or later, and PC Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or later
Mobile app compatibility with iOS 7 (iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPod touch 5th generation) or later

For more info of Polar Loop, click on this link at Polar Loop's official website.

Fore more images, click on this link to my personal FB fanpage.

Polar Loop is going to be launched soon in Malaysia and pre-orders can be made at Athlete's Circle Malaysia (Jaya One). Do call 03-7960 2313 for more information.