ELECTION FEVER

This is a video log Vlog.

TAIPING INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 2012

Sixty Six (66) from the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC)  regiment (from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang registered for the Taiping International marathon 2012. Those registered were as follows:

42km COBC Runners Kenny Lock Heng Weng, Shazni Abdullah Zubir, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Abdul Adzhim Zaharudin. 21km Male Runners were Joe Liew, Chun Chia kai, John Chuah, Jeffry Wong, Affiq Zakie, James Fong Khee Hoa, Mohd Faizul Yaakub, Sheikh Hisham Iskandar, Adam heng, Lilian Lee, Afiza Abdul Halin, Norliza Mohd Khalid, Viki Lim, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, May Lyn Wong, Toh Shear Ling, Sarge (COBC) Nawal aka Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Erny Marlina Mohsen, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Taj Mahal Aquino. Cheah Boon Chong aka Sarge (COBC) Boon, Corporal Kenny (Foo Sze Ken), Christina Cheah, Heng Lee lee, Kelly Ong Kai Li, Priscilla Lee, Sion Koay, Wong Kwei Yee, Lau Phaik San, Kevin Chew, Marccus Low, Novelle Ooi, Eric Yeoh, Patrick Phuah, Ewe Cheong.

10km Runners were Raja Affandi Raja Jamaludin, Advance Tan Sen Sen, Colin Chong Wern Loong, Darren Teh, Jorge Arenas, Tan Wee Liam, Ineo Yee Feng (IRINK), Chan Meng Yam, Nor Sabrina, Mohd Noor, Lorrine Cynthia Xavier, Sarah Tan, Yvonne Tan Yen Ching, Avril Chan, Ley Tzyy Jia, Patricia Lim Poh Kam, Elgy Tan, Rose Emini Pahamin and Bahariah Bahadom, Jelin Chew Ann Ling and Wong See Ying.

Kids runners, Raja Normaisara Iman, Raja Annastasia Mikyle, Asheley Karen Chiong Su Lin, Ashley Rui Jun Wong, Jayden Wong Ye Li, Jason Tam Wye Ki, Aaraf Armin.

Of course, those were those registered. From the list of those registered, some did not run due to some injury, some did not run because they lack the training, some did not run because they chicken out (FFK), some ran a shorter distance and some did not race because the organiser failed miserably from observing their own schedule.

I ran a shorter distance by "being Sheikh Hisham". I took Hisham's 21km bib instead of the registered 42km after being talked out to be abit pragmatic on the lack of training... but overall, those from COBC regiment that actually ran did well and some even to be among the top 10 best when they manage to secure a good timing.

BORNEO INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 2012: CONCURRED AND CONQUERED

BORNEO INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, Kota Kinabalu, 6 May 2012. It was our third trip to Kota Kinabalu with the first two, to climbed up the highest peak in Malaysia Mount Kinabalu and now the third, to run a full marathon course. Sista Rose Emini Pahamin had run the race (half marathon) twice but this was our first BIM... an adhoc crazy decision we made 7 hours before the actual run especially since our race were sponsored by TWL & Sarah Tan. To top that, we were also strongly and endlessly seduced by the mouth salivating list of food and especially the list of COBC recruits running the race!!

After everything was confirmed, I realized the 'weather' condition.. before 7am it look like this...

Oh my God.....  I am fried!!!

A group from COBC arrived a day earlier and May Lyn Wong who was in the first group collected our running BIB and race kits...

LSD 14: SRI HARTAMAS

After yesterday's food feast at the ORANG ASLI TRAIL RUN 2012 (see: here), I had no choice but to force myself out of bed this morning for the LSD 14 run training scheduled at Sri Hartamas at 6:15am. Although we target for only 10km but this we plan a faster pace for this LSD or the Durian and the Fish Head Curry and the Gearbox will be permanently converted to fat!! So we woke up and ran!!

LSD or Long Slow Distance run is an effort by the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC) Admin Rose Emini Pahamin and COBC Celebrity Runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob (whom is in Mecca performing her Umrah) to promote running as a healthy lifestyle over and above the 3x a week training at COBC. This LSD is also a mean to foster a closer community within the COBC past, present and future recruits.

Since early this year, we have organized the LSD on a weekly basis at different location as follows:

ORANG ASLI TRAIL RUN 2012

The Orang Asli (OA) (Indigenous People) Trail Run 2012 was held for the second year at kampung 16, Jalan Bentong Lama (GPS coordiates: 3.325979, 101.754792) by the Running For Orang Asli support group. We all run for various reasons but the noble objectives of the organiser for the Orang Asli Trail Run was heart warming. This year, the purpose of the run was primarily for:

1. For Kg Batu 14, Jalan Bentong Lama, a piece of the OA land is being cultivated to be a showcase of OA houses and huts for community centers exemplifying the lifestyle and culture of OA. The intention for this center is to create an eco tourism business for the villagers as extra income whilst maintaining their heritage. This is a sustainable project that the Running for Orang Asli group would like to assist. Reasons to which why they are yet to a obtain government grants will be made known in the event.

2. For Kg Batu 16, Jalan Bentong Lama, this event is created to give an avenue for them to earn extra income by providing the venue for the run, volunteers as marshalls and guides, and for cooking some OA dishes. The OA too would prefer to work for their income rather than be always dependant on donations.

Although the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) Community run merely for fitness and health but we were all in support for the cause of the support group to raise fund for the betterment of the indigenous people. In fact, our COBC recruit May Lyn Wong had even registered herself as a volunteer for the group.  In an army of more a few dozens pax, we convoyed to the OA basecamp.

MAYBANK BALI INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 2012

We were faced with various obstacles to run the race in Bali with the earthquake in Indonesia, bad pollution from the open fire burning, the driver-supir 1 hour late-arrival to pick us up at the Villa, the hot sun, the heat, the humid weather... Oh the list was endless but despite all that, we successfully conquered the Maybank Bali International Marathon 2012.

A troop of 12 from the Chief's Original Bootcamp left for Denpasar, Bali in three batches over the weekend. The first to arrive was Afiza Abdul Halin that took the 9am, Malaysian Airlines Flight on Friday, 20 April 2012. The same day, Caleb Lian Yoong Lauw and Angela Loo left at 3:45pm by Airasia and Shazni Zubir, Affik Zaki and Maslina Ahmad Ismail departed via Airasia at 6pm flight. On Saturday, Dalyn Nunis arrived shortly before ours. Our flight comprised of Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Aaraf Armin and me. Micaela Soyza and Sheikh Hisham were the last in that arrived on Sunday.

We stayed at the Villa Rumah Santai at Seminyak.

LSD 12: WORKOUT BEFORE PARTY!!

The weekend was our 12th Slow Long Distance (LSD) run to prepare our group for various running events and to ensure that we are on target for our year 2011 resolution!! What was our New Year Resolution? Click here for refresher... for season runners such as Rose Emini Pahamin!!! Freda Liu!!! John Chuah!!! Joe Liew!!! Rienna Choo!!! James Fong!!! Viki Lim!!! Jeffery Wong... yada yadaa... must target for at least 11 races that comprised of at least six 10kms, four 21kms and one 42kms. For beginners such as Lorrine C Xavier, Micaela Soyza, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Umesh Narasimhaiah, Felicia, Colin Chong Wern Loong, Nik Aida, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, at least six races with four 10kms and two 21kms races.

Since January todate, we have ran the following races:

1) Mizuno 10km Wave run at HERE;
2) 1 Vision 10km Race at HERE;
3) Brooks 21km Half Marathon at HERE; and
4) Singapore 15km 2XU compression Race at HERE

This weekend, the Bali Marathon  and so far we have clocked-in twelve LSD as follows:

LSD 1 at HERE
LSD2 at HERE
LSD3 at HERE
LSD 4 (Desa Park City) at HERE
LSD 5 at HERE
LSD 6 at HERE
LSD 7 at HERE
LSD 8 at HERE
LSD 9 at HERE
LSD 10 at HERE
LSD 11 at HERE

LSD 11: THE DURIAN RUN!!

The 11th Long Slow Distance weekly run was held at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail lake on Sunday, 8 April 2012. There were two targeted distance with 21km as the farthest and 12km. We all gathered at the park as early as 6pm and began our run shortly later at 6:31pm. The route map was as the chart below. Conveniently, we plan a 13km run instead of the 21km but targeted for a faster pace. There were Rose Emini Pahamin, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Abdul Adzim, Maslina Mohd Ismail, Nawal Aini Zulkifli @ Sarge (COBC) Nawal, Faizul Zainol, Yvonne Tan, Nik Aida, Dalyn Nunis, Afiza Abdul Halin, Yvonne Chen Ling Sze, Freda Liu, Azhar Jamal, Alice Thien, Zakir, Angela Loo

Our warming up session comprised of some camwhoring grinders

LSD 10: PUTRAJAYA & THE GUNGHO LADIES

I was in Penang and had missed the long slow distance run at Putrajaya for our 10th COBC weekly running session but with or without me, our COBC celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Rose Emini Pahamin and Abdul Adzim Zaharudin had never failed to get the best route and distance. The target for this run was for 13km and there were at least two dozens recruits that attended the session.

LSD 9: 25KM RUNNING GETTING LOST IN BUKIT AMAN

Stephanie, Mas, Rose, Evonne, Baba

25 March 2012. Inspired by last week's runner's heaven with two drinking stations serving freezing Glucozade while doing LSD, today I conveniently and happily assumed the Pacesetters drink station will also be there for our 25km run at Bukit Aman and left all monies, and drink bottles at home. Although today, we had similar number of crowd with more than thirty pax but today was extra special because Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad was five-fingered!!! Eww.. that sounds wrong, lets rephrased that, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad was Vibram-atised!! Red Vibram Five Finger!!!  We started out abut delayed with Stephanie Choong, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Rose Emini Pahamin, Evonne, Bahariah Bahadom, Wennice Chai, Tan Wee Liam, Sarah Tan, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Abdul Adzim Zaharudin and Taj Mahal but along the way, other late-comers appeared.

Our 25km route is as per the map below (note the mileage in the map is in Mile and not kilometer).

BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 AT STADIUM BUKIT JALIL

More than 30 of us from the Chief's Original Bootcamp ran the BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 and I almost missed it but arrived just-in-time when the traffic to Bukit Jalil from Damansara was smooth. The weather was also good but we were disappointed when we had to waste more than 10 minutes to enter the Stadium. There was only one small lane to enter the Stadium for the flag-off and people were climbing up the gates when the queue was terribly bad.

I had retired from running more than 10km distance since the Melbourne St George full marathon on 10.10.10 in Australia. My knees were too painful and I refused to agree on the knee surgery. After almost 2 years of staying celibate from running, I was more than excited to run today. Upon my arrival at the Stadium, I saw many recruits from the Chief's Original Bootcamp.

The runners from the Chief's Original Bootcamp that ran today were Colin Chong Wern Loong, Lorrine C. Xavier, Dixon Thum, Tan Mein Mein, Advance Tan, May Lyn Wong, Adam Heng, Patricia Lim, Dalyn Nunis, Sarah Tan, Abdul Fattah Mokhtar, Affiq Zakie, Shazni Az, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Jadite Liew, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, Afiza Abdul Halin, Tan Wee Liam, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Jeffery Wong, Viki Lim, Lick Hau Loo, Sabrina, Jorge Arena, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob,  Luyen Ow, Noor A. Othman, Anis Ramli, Janice Wee, Eric Chang, Freda Liu, Faizul Zainol, Syamala Pillay, Yalin GM, Loo Lick Wei .. (who else did I miss?). Sorry I was only able to take this picture with my blackberry but I had also search and find some pictures from Tey Eng Tiong Facebook (our pro papparazzi) but will continue to update the blog as and when I discover more pictures.

The Brooks was also the maiden 21km race.. aka Half Virgin for Dixon Thum, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Sarah Tan, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, May Lyn Wong, Freda Liu... and also the maiden 10km run aka semi virgin for Patricia Lim Poh Kam, Jorge Arena, Lorrine C Xavier.... Soon, there will be no semi and half virgins at COBC and all will be a qualified runner.

MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING

First it was the running and seriously, the runner's fraternity within the Chief's Original Bootcamp community is rapidly growing. Tomorrow, a few dozens will be running the Brooks run, then in about a month, a dozen of us will be running the Bali International Marathon which was organised by our Malaysian bank Maybank!!! Naturally, we support our local companies abroad.

Second, bunch by bunch of those within the Chief's Original Bootcamp Community successfully conquered the highest peak in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu. They are non-stoppable. Third, more and more recruits at the Chief's Original Bootcamp are turning into Divers!! The diving community within our community is also expanding and in April next month, they are going to Mabul/ Sipandan in Sabah.. that was after an orgasmic dive at Puerto Galera in Philippines!!!

Fourth, a new activity within our group would be the Triathlon!!! 

1 VISION, 1 PB, 1 RUN & 1 HECKUVATIME!!!

4 March 2012, we ran the 1Vision run in conjunction with Nawal Aini Zulkifli's birthday today at Padang Merbuk Kuala Lumpur. It was not planned but coincidentally it falls on the same date as Nawal Aini Zulkifli's birthday. A whole bunch of us from the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP participated in the run but we were split with some of us running the World Kidney Day Run 5 minutes away at Dataran Merdeka. Rose Emini Pahamin were suppose to run with us but she went err..  her ankle became err... err see for your self in the picture below.

Rose Emini Pahamin then became our De facto papparazzi. We arrived at the starting point late when we incidentally went to the Kidney Foundation run at Padang Merdeka but was rescued by Shazni Az whom drove us to the starting line a few hundred meters away.

Rose Emini Pahamin's ankle 1 day before the 10km 1 Vision run

 Our run was flagged off at 7:21am from the supposedly 7am? But of course, Chief's Original Bootcamp recruits  will never fail to first camwhore.....

LSD 6: THE BIRTHDAY LSD!!!!

Long Slow Distance run training went abit farther to Putrajaya on LSD 6! In an effort to promote running society on the backdrop of healthy living, community at the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP organised a weekly running together-gether. The LSD was planned and organised by our Chief's original Bootcamp celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob and Chief's Original Bootcamp Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. After exhausting their ideas to run in Klang Valley, they chose Putrajaya which is a safer place to run in the evening!! Why in the evening? Yes, because to give opportunity for many to run after their working hours. Why in the middle of the week from the usual weekend runs... it was because this weekend is the 1Vision run which many of us are running at Padang Merbuk but actually, I think Nana & Rosey purposely planned for me to run to end the day I was born on 1 March!!! Grrrr..

The meeting point is infront of the Palace of Justice and after being stuck in heavy traffic, Rose Emini Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zulkifli and me arrived shortly before 8:45pm. Our organiser Ilyanna Aylin Ayob arrived way before the expected time of running (ETR) 8:30pm. At 9pm, we began our running!! it was our first time running in the evening at Putrajaya!! Putrajaya at night was breathtaking!! It was an awe!! I thought I was in Paris!! Stupendous view and romantic landscape. The wind that constantly blew while we were running perfected the whole ambiance.

The whole town was lit up with amazing colours! This is Malaysia.. I could not feel more proud that now. The buildings, the sky crapers, the township architecture, the reflection of all the colourful lights in the lake was mesmerizing. I was lost in deep thought feeling so peaceful while Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad sharing some historic Persian stories. At one juncture, I wanted to just stop.. stop and stood still while admiring the beauty of Malaysia. This was my dream true.. to run and admire a beautiful scenery. I was overwhelmed with such a wonderful sight.

AN EVER GROWING COMMUNITY THAT IS LIVING THEIR DREAM

There is nothing more important than to make sure every week that passes by, were spent productively.. especially since we had just celebrated 2 'New Years' in less than a month!! The Chief's Original Bootcamp Malaysia (COBC) community ended every week of this year with a big HOOYAH orgasm! Last weekend was no exception, a few dozens participated in a few big events.

The first was the Pacesetters Mizuno 4 x 3km relay!! Majority of those that ran the Pacesetters Mizuno from the COBC were never a runner but proudly those once overweight Otai whom were a couch potato out-ran the Lead Instructor and his team from the other bootcamp!!! Waaa!!!COBC  relay team made it to the Top 15 best when they were placed as no 14.  The Otai Delta 3km timing were Joe Liew (14:48:95), James Fong (15:40:02), Norliza binti Mohd Khalid (15:44:00) and Letch a/p Sinadurai (15:52:24).

COBC Pioneer, Otai, Malaysia most-voted SOB Joe Liew

COBC Pioneer, Otai, SOB and Australia's first 8Week Challenge finalist James Fong!

WE ARE A CHAMPION!! ON EVERY WEEK!

Its COBC-LSD part 3!! Yes we hear ya.. To make this year better than last and to achieve this year's New Year resolution that we fix for our recruits (at here) with at least 10 races for season COBC runners and 6 races for COBC virgin runners, we began every Sunday with a Long Slow Distance running training. To make it more exciting and hip, we invited celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob to plan the running route with our COBC Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. For those that do not know Ilyanna Aylin, do read about her at here.

Now we are into our 3rd LSD.. and since I was in Penang officiating the Convent Green Lane School Re-union and alumni, I can only envy those runners from far while reading about it on Facebook. There were more than 3 dozens recruits that ran the running training. Click on pictures to enlarge.

COBC: HARTAMAS LSD 2

Yes we hear ya!!! You want a running-orgy.. we give you COBC-Weekend Running Long Slow Distance (LSD)!! This is the second weekend that we ran with celebrity runner cum COBC team-mate Ilyanna Aylin Ayob.. for those that still dont know her, click and read HERE.  The first LSD was held last week at Bukit Aman (click HERE to read) and this week, was at Sri Hartamas with a slight increase in level of running difficulty via a hilly route. Gathering time was at 6:15am and we started running at 6:30am... err after a group camwhore!!

Rienna Choo, Amy Ho and Freda started earlier and missed the group photo. Running this morning were Advance Tan, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Tan Wee Liam, Kym Wishnowski, Helmi Ruzaimi, Mohamad Fazli, Syamala Pillay, Jadite Liew, May Lyn Wong, Fairuz, Rose Emini Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Rizal, Azim and a few others (err knocking my head on the wall-cannot remember).

COBC RUNNERS: TRAINING FOR RUNNING

Its the best weekend to end the month of January 2012! In January, we completed at least 12 COBC training session, at least one running (more for some) event (Mizuno Wave) and one LSD (Long Slow Distance) to achieve our new year resolution. What is our New Year resolution again? Yes for the season runners, at least ten races including at least 1 full 42km marathons. For beginners, 10 races with at least one 21km races. Why the runs? Yes!! it act as an injection to our motivation and focus for us to train harder at our regular COBC training. Almost 30 of us gathered at Bukit Aman car park..

Spotted Wai Yee Chan, a Pilates instructor at the Fitness First and was a recruit at COBC where Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Rose Emini Pahamin, Luyen Ow, Ryan Wong and me used to train together. Now Wai-Yee is with the 'Auntie Hottie' runners?

With a lot of new runners, the objective of today's run is to learn to pace! As a rule of thumb, a good long distance running pace is a speed that we are able to comfortably chat and talk without panting or losing breath. Many runners that did not know how to pace, would end up over speeding beyond their heart & lung capacity and muscle endurance. As a result, they end up walking half of the total targeted distance or give-up half way before the end or continued running in pain with muscle ache and crams. Speed for long distance requires a slow progression and this is what the weekend run is all about.

PASSION WITHIN REASON

After more than a year of retirement from running, this year I did the unthinkable.. I took up running again... still with a damaged knees and have registered for a full 42km marathon (still cant believe). Why..? Yes... The super influenced of some super kiasu COBC Damansara Heights Otaiis.. How and who can turn down the dozens of invitations from friends whom are as enthusiastic as how I was. Birds of a feather, flock together.. In fact our COBC runner's fraternity has grown and recruits whom were once only a 'walker' are now becoming a runner. Those that had never imagine or even think of running.. are now running.. and I am so proud of them.

To keep the momentum high (err especially for me whom can still dream of running a full marathon with a damage knee), Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, had agree to train with us from COBC.. Ilyanna Aylin Ayob or more fondly known as Nana was previously our COBC Seal Pup instructors whom went on a long leave to pursue her dream to run around the world in various running marathons. Nana is also a blogger at HERE. Forget all the textbook and theories about running, the best way to learn is to share the experience from someone of our own 'species'.. someone who was never born an athlete, someone normal, someone whom had never run in her entire life and had only recently.. just a few years ago, started running.

Ilyanna Aylin, now a famous celebrity runner was a gym-goer!! Ilyanna Aylin attends the gym and an occasional futsal game to tone-up her physique and to maintain the sexy look. She began running in 2008 with Rose Emini Pahamin and first participated in races at the inaugural Singapore Sundown marathon with me, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Nyna Mohsen, Hani Muhaini and Rose Emini Pahamin. Since then.. from a commoner she became the Royal of runners. After the Singapore Sundown, Nana participated in the Adidas King of the Road race in Shah Alam but went to retire for a year after being diagnosed with Spondylosis L5 - a general degeneration of the spine.

2012 RUNNING CALENDER

After endless of interviews and conversation with fellow COBC bootcampers, except for a few but most recruits do not have a solid New Year Resolutions. As such and as an injection of motivation and aspiration towards a better training and target for the year, we have decided to draw the 2012 New Year Resolutions for you. We noticed there are 4 types of communities within our fraternity.. the top being Runners.. Secondly, Mountain Climbers. Third, Diving and fourth, Triathletes (swim, run, cycle) and dualthon (run, cycle, run).

For now, let us list down the list of Running Events for the year 2012 (we may add more runs to the list in due course) but for those season runners, at least six 10kms, four 21kms and one 42kms. For beginners, at least four 10kms and two 21kms races. We shall bring some celebrity and season runners into our group to further motivate our recruits while run-training and may organised some running clinics. Stay Tuned for events organised for the Divers, Mountain Climbers and triathletes/Dualtheles. Birds of a feather flock together. HOOYAH!!