Manjung people said, it was raining season there for the last 2-3 weeks. But it’s turned to be scorching hot on the event day!!! No rain even in the early morning before the event. The heat was as same as 2 years ago where i did my first Powerman.

the usual suspects from Chap Ayam Runners. some are Powerman 1st timers - photo by Abd Azri

With Chap Ayam frens at our homestay, moments before we left for the event - photo by Zila

Before the race, with Hadafi - photo by Zulhassan

With Hanafy & Det after setting up the transition - photo by Zila

Me posing before the starts, showed no sign of nervousness at all - photo by Zila

The race started with an 11km of run - photo by Jason Thai

The 1st loop - photo by Tan Kien Boon

yeayyy!!!! the usual jumping pose - photo by Izuan

After the 2nd lap of 11km - photo by Azri

Bike out - photo by Jason Thai

Speeding on the bike start - photo by Elaine

Approaching 2nd loop - photo by Elaine

My unofficial timing was 4:33… and it’s a PB ALhamdulillah.. that’s a bonus for me.. a big achievement for my hard work. Next year, of course will try a new PB again

The rewards, a nice medal and a Brooks finisher's t-shirt

For me, the medal & finisher’s T is secondary. The most important thing to me is the enjoyment of the gathering with my sports friends & doing what like together.

This is my opening triathlon race for the 2011 season. Kenyir was the place where I started my 1st triathlon last 2 years. So here I am again doing triathlon here. The famous Kenyir triathlon’s tag line : “Malaysia’s toughest triathlon race”.

Breakfast stop at Gambang RnR on the way to Kenyir (photo by Julie)

Went there by car pool in Julie’s car, Hancik (Rusfarizal) on Saturday(9/4/2011) 5.30am. Arrived at Kenyir Lake Resort & Spa at 11.15am. Checked-in, registered & went for a delicious ikan patin lunch Heavy rain started to pour.

A unique way to do election campaign, somewhere near Ajil, Terengganu

The rain stop for a while in the evening, that’s when we took the chance to try swimming at the swim course. The water was quite warm, and a nice swim we had.

Ready for tomorrow action! Notice my racing number sticker, so hard to stick it neatly

After the dinner & race briefing, we prepared our race essentials for tomorrow morning. And the rain still pouring heavily. Wondering how the weather will be tomorrow morning.

As I wake up tomorrow, it’s still raining. Wow!!! This is gonna be a tough race!

There’s a bit delay on the race start because of the bad weather. Mr. Chan, the race director announced that there’s a stranded lorry, blocking half side of the road on the bike course. Waiting the confirmation from the police whether the road is safe or not, or else, it will be just swim and run only After a while, the police confirmed it safe to cycle there, then the race started at sharp 8.30am, in heavy rain. Yeahhhh!!! This is gonna be an exciting race!

With Jaja & Hancik, while waiting for the race to start (photo by Ah Yim)

The race is about to start. Notice the heavy rain. Everybody are shivering in the cold!

The usual chaos of the swim start

Started with a cold body, fear to get cramp in the water during swimming. but it all went well…
Quite a chaotic swim start as there were lotsa 1st timers. Kick and slap here and there, there’s also a panic women hold my hand tight as she struggle to float, i lead her to the buoy. Finished the swim in about 38mins.

Quenching my thirst after the 1.5km swim (photo by Ah Yim)

I really like the cycling course. It’s a new route this year. Its a rolling course. Except for a one long (about 800m long) steep uphill climb. I managed to crank just 3/4 of the climb, then push the bike laaa the remaining climb Very mental challenging! I loike!!! hahaha …

It was still raining heavily during the bike course. Some part of the road was covered with water and small rocks that are dangerous to the small bike tires. Have to be careful for not to puncture my tires this time.

Clocked about 1 hr 40 mins for the bike course.

The running course also has a slight change this time, and i love it!!! Mentally & physically challenging! Lotsa steep hill climb.
The best part of the running course was we get to run on the road on top of the Kenyir dam. The view from the top was very nice, a beautiful panoramic scene of the man-made lake. Stunning! I wish i had a camera that time…

The finishing line getting closer and closer. Suddenly heard somebody shouted my name, a familiar voice. Its Julie, “Go Fairul go!! Sprint to the finishing line, beat the other two triathlete!” hehehe. I took that challenge. I sprinted to the finishing line, side by side. I win!!! hahaha yeahhh!!! No laa… i won the sprint to the finishing line only

All in all, it was a great triathlon race. Clocked 3hrs 20mins (unofficial timing), probably a new PB for me! A new experience for me, doing a race in heavy rain from the start till the end. Nice experience i must say. The cold weather helps too for not getting too tired.

Alhamdulillah, i survived another triathlon in my life. 6th triathlon done! And Alhamdulillah i managed to overcome the fear to get cramp because of the cold weather.

A view of Lake Kenyir from my room, it's raining heavily

Another view of Lake Kenyir

• I highly recommend the Lake Kenyir Resort & Spa as an accommodation option if u are having holiday here. Nice, spacious & cozy room, big bathroom, nice lake view. For more info, click here>>

• My two other triathlete friends, Julie & Hancik are first time doing Kenyir triathlon. Glad to know that they enjoyed the race so much! They even did their PBs! Congrats guys!!! Extra congratulations to Julie also for the 6th placing in her age group, entitled her cash prize of RM400! Happy to tag along & carpool with them, and be the unofficial tour guide for them.. hehehe

• A friend of us, Ajis has DNFed the triathlon. He got panicked during early stage of the swim. He was pushed, kicked & swam over by faster swimmers as he started the swim at the front row. He felt can’t make it through the swim anymore.

The new course map

• After lunch on saturday, we surveyed the cycling route, according to my last 2 years experience racing here. But the route seems impossible to race as the road was too badly damaged. Potholes here and there. We decided that it will not be the bike course this time. Later on the nite at the race briefing, mr Chan showed the new race course. Phewww…

• We had a great lunch at Jeti Pengkalan Gawi. The “Ikan Patin” there was tasty & so fresh. Highly recommended! And after the race on our way back to KL, we reward ourselves with “Ikan Patin” again. This time was at Temerloh RnR that is famous with “Ikan Patin”. Slurppppppp!!! RM12 damaged

• It took nearly 6hours to get to Kenyir (with half an hour breakfast stop)

• Not much photo taken this time because of the wet weather, not dare to take out my camera phone to snap pix

 

Kenyir mission accomplished, had lunch, tired, loads of satisfaction.. time to sleep. See ya again next year, Kenyir (paparazzo: Julie)

This year’s Powerman, i came with a target in mind. It’s to qualify within the 5hrs given time(getting the finisher’s T-Shirt off course), thus a PB for me.

Depart from KL a bit late, around 2:30pm, waiting for my friend Bedul(Shahrudisah) for his company training. The journey was accompanied with hot weather, but went smoothly. Arrived at Sri Manjung around 6:30pm, we went straight checking out the cycling route since this is Bedul’s 1st Powerman.

Reached Lumut Valley(our accommodation) around 7:30pm. It’s an apartment with 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms. Quite spacey and comfortable, worth the money since we r sharing it with 5 persons.

Went for dinner at KFC Lumut, surprised with a long queue there. Well, its a Saturday nite I like Lumut very much. It’s a small town, with a small jetty for tourist going to P. Pangkor. Unique, clean, friendly folks, not crowded, peace and i love to be there. Still remember last year’s Powerman, went for evening teh tarik at a stall by the jetty, on the evening after doing the Powerman, so relaxing…

Went back to apt, did my final prep for tomorrow’s race. Race bibs, bicycle, tri-suit, running & bike shoes, endurance drink, etc… Slept at 11.00pm.

Race Day

Woke up at 5.00am. It’s drizzling and cold that morning, a good sign for us Set up my transition, did a light warm-up run around the track and headed to the starting line. Meet some friends whose 1st timer in Powerman. Great to have them join in, hope to see more new faces next year ahead

1st Run

During the 1st 11km run. Photo by Snap Attack (snap-attack.com)

The race started sharp 7:30am. My strategy for this 1st leg run is to take it easy, not to push as i have more kilometers to go. Over took Nik Raiha, look like she’s taking it easy too. Not far ahead is Anchik (Rusfarizal). I just maintain the pace throughout the 1st run. Managed to clock 1:02 for it.

Bike

I’m a bit slow at transition area. Slowly catching up with the heavy breath after the run. Saw Shakhir and Dett came in after me. Aikkk? They were strong competitors, look like they were taking it easy too but i bet, they r strong in their bike leg. Have to queue when going out of the transition area. Ate a banana & drank a cup of Powerbar endurance drink at the water station at the bike exit. Took a pee stop at the toilet behind the grandstand and off with the bike.

Like the last Desaru Triathlon, i’m using the fast cadence method to get my legs warm-up in the early stage of the bike. As the distance built up, i shifted up to a heavy gear, 1 at a time, with no heavy force on my legs. Then i maintain that pace & gear throughout the bike course.

The most challenging part of the bike course was the long climb (abt 500m of climb i think) of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Bridge. Unlike last year, this time the climb seemed to be easier my bike training really works well used the lowest gear while maintaining the cadence, i even managed to overtake some crawling cyclist. Yeahhhh!!! Feel great!

The bridge emblem

Raja Permaisuri Bainun bridge

Long climb

The bike course went smoothly, except the feel like wanna cramp at earlier stage. I quickly eat the ORS, and drink the water immediately to dissolve the ORS. That’s what i normally do when i’m facing the cramping feeling, it will came into effect in no more than 5mins

One more problem i faced was during unclipping my bike shoes upon reaching the transition. Tried to unclip it before reaching the no-bike zone, but it’s too tight. My bike had slowed down, so slow but trying to balance it while i’m unclipping the shoes. Cant do it myself. While balancing my bike, i asked for help from a supporter there to hold & support my body while i’m doing the unclipping. Successfully unclipped then. Phewww.. THat’s my 1st time experiencing that. I think because of the mud that stick under my bike shoes, got dried & made it stuck.

I didnt quite sure my timing for the bike, it’s around 2:20ish.

2nd Run

Starting the 2nd run, i stopped for pee again. Uhhhh.. i think i got bloated already. My legs feel easy, no pain, no cramp this time. This is a good sign. I managed to maintain the pace, slowly. I think i’m slow enough, but still managed to overtake quite number of runners too, hehehe Keep on running and running. Walked at the water stations only.

The weather was already hot. This time, the water stations served the iced water, good improvements from last year. Cool down my body at every water station.

1st loop was slow. Julie tapped my back & she overtook me… like zooommmm.. That was fast! She was in her 2nd loop and was about to finish the race. Saw Zulhassan in front, he was on his final loop also. 1st loop done. Looking at my HR watch, i got 45mins before the cut-off time, 5km to go. I can do this, just maintain the pace.

2nd loop was better than the 1st one. My pace was faster. Saw lotsa runners walking & stretching because of cramps. I just go on, dont wanna be affected of that scenes. Dush came beside me with his bike, offering a bottle of iced Coke. He asked me to just finish it. Thanks Dush. That was a instant supply of sugar inside my body, really need that. Didnt managed to finish it all, gave it to other runner. Then, Abu gave me another half bottle of Coke, again. Hhehehe.. thanks Abu. I just gulped a little, and made my way to the finishing line.

On my way to the finishing line. Photo by Aileen(Stupe's wife)

I finished in 4:49. A new PB for me. I qualified, finisher’s t-shirt & medal for me

Nik Raiha finished 6 mins after me. Congrats Nik for qualified on your maiden Powerman!

Post-race

Put my bike in the car, went for a shower at the toilet inside the badminton hall. Then off to the post-race lunch. Gather with my friends and congrats each other. Around 3:00pm, me & Bedul departed for KL.

My housemates during the event. Me, Julie, Fitri & Bedul.

This time, I have to write this race report. There’s some interesting things happened, that i would like to share with u all about this race, the trip, the ambiance and the whole event.

For the 1st time, i’m going to do a half IRONMAN distance. That is 2km of swim, 90km of cycling and 21km of run. Look at the distance, sounds ‘easy’ rite! Hahahha. And still, i’m doing all these JUST FOR FUN yoooo!!! (Don’t ever ask me about what’s my placing in the race!!! seriously sick of it) Just ask abt how i enjoyed the race, that’s better

Me, Julie, Hadi & Bedul RVed at Pandan Indah & headed to Sg Besi Toll to fetch adik Fitri. Convoy in two cars all the way to Desaru. Pitted at S’ban RnR to quick breakfast. Exited at Kulai Jaya exit & headed straight to Desaru. Arrived at Lotus Desaru at 1pm, collected our race kits, had lunch and checked-in at Golden Beach Resort, abt 4km further ahead.

Had lunch at a food court near the Petronas(Photo by Bedul)

Heading to our room at Golden Beach Resort(Photo by Julie)

After a nap, me, julie & fitri went for short run & stretching session meanwhile bedul went for a short ride around there. Then we off to the race briefing at 6pm. We had dinner at the same place we had lunch earlier. The sup kambing, & sup ayam there was marvelous.

Short run & stretching session with Julie & Fitri(Photo by Julie)

The funny race director, Mr. Chan giving his race briefing(Photo by Julie)

Bedul(Shah), me & Nik after the race briefing. Bedul & Nik was in a team in long distance relay category (Photo from Nik)

Checking out our timing in the last PD Triathlon certificate(Photo by Julie)

Race Day

Unknown wood structure at the beach

The morning before the race, we took a walk by the beach & enjoy the sunrise(Photo by Julie)

Desaru Golden Beach Resort, last year's race venue

The race will start at 10am! That’s quite late, rite! But the reason Mr. Chan(the race Director) did that was because the start of running course will be slightly 2-3 pm, not so hot. OK lah.

My bike at the transition area, beside my dream bike. FUUUUU!

Swim

With Shahrizal before the swim started(Photo by Shahrizal)

Started at sharp 10am, the sea was very calm, but the underwater current quite strong. The sea water was clearer than PD, i even can see fishes & the sand below clearly. My strategy here is to follow the swimmer in front of me, so i dont have to make more effort to look up & navigate, less tiring If the swimmer in front slow, i overtook them n find other faster swimmer Had no problem at all during the swimming course. Finished my swim in about 1:02.

Bike

Start of the bike leg(Photo by Abg Sahril)

My biggest worries was bike course. I’m not good on bike. But i had made some effort to improve my cycling during the Ramadhan nite rides & after Raya rides with my cycling frens. Hopefully it’ll work now!

Started with a short climb towards the main road, i begin with a fast cadence to warm up my legs muscle, learned it from my cycling sessions with friends. As the distance build up, i’m already warmed up my legs, adding my speed, choosing the best gear while maintaining the cadence, going up & downhill. On the 1st loop, i think i’m slow. Dunno about what to expect on the bike route, where to slow down, where to sprint. So, i more like cruising on the 1st loop. The sun was freaking hot! Feel like wanted to faint. Once i reached the 1st water station after the 1st loop, i pour my body with a jug of cold water. What a relief. I feel re-energized & fresh! Completed the 1st loop in abt 1hr.

Drinking & pouring my body with iced water(Photo by Abg Sahril)

2nd loop was better. I know the route already, now i can plan my speed to conserve energy, and maintaining the cadence above 90. I managed to overtook some slower cyclist, that’s an improvement for me! The best thing was, i managed to overtook an expensive looking TT bike!!! What a morale booster!!! Nice one!

3rd loop, i started to feel bored already… with the hot sun burning my skin, just keep my pace to finish this cycling part faster. Arghhhh… i’m so bored! Hmmm.. what if i sing while cycling… hahaha, that’s a good idea to keep the boring feeling away! I sang some song along with what my iPod playing. A good method to forget about the tiredness also

Finished my bike leg in about 3hrs 30mins.

Finished the bike leg(Photo by Abg Sahril)

Run

Running is always my favorite part in a triathlon. Coz i came from running background. But running after doing a cycling, is not easy as it may look. DUring the early stage of running, my both legs felt so hard & heavy. But not long. Slowly the muscle adapt from cycling to running mode. No cramping this time Running all the way smoothly, with my own pace. Met some friends along the way, wave hands & gave high-five!

The heat on that day was killing! I showered at almost all water station. Have to do that to prevent heat stroke & fight fatigue. There wasn’t any shortage of water supply in all water stations. Some water stations served bananas, ‘lepat’ (power bar), endurance drink & iced water.

I was about to 'potong sayur' Jaja. Hahahah (Photo by Jaja's friend)

Finished my triathlon around 5pm. That was abt 7 hrs, i finished my 1st ever long distance triathlon. Alhamdulillah! I made it! Another title earned, another distance covered, another victory achieved!

The unusual group photo in front of our room. Look at the tan lines. Hahahhah(Photo by Julie)

Thanks to my tri & cycling friends for the Ramadhan nite rides, the brick trainings!

Driving back to KL along with Hadi. Nice chatting with u, bro(Photo by Hadi)

The end…

Pedal Away Polio Flyer

This is to promote Pedal Away Polio event organized by Rotaract Club of Taylor’s University College.

This event will be held at Sunway Pyramid where they have agreed to be the venue sponsor on the 18th of September this year.

The objective of this event is to channel every dollar raised to Rotary’s International PolioPlus Fund to help eradicate poliomyelitis globally.

Come on in cyclists, let’s join this event!

The Young Endurance Athlete 2009 will be held in Putrajaya on the 17th and 18th October 2009.

Details are below:

Date: 17 & 18 October 2009
Venue : Kolam Renang Awam, Precinct 6, Putrajaya.

Tentative

17/10 – Triathlon Clinic (7.30am – 2.30pm)
18/10 – Race Day (7.00am – 12.00pm)

Age Categories

Boy
A : 7-9 yrs
B : 10-12 yrs
C : 13-15 yrs

Girl
A : 7-9 yrs
B : 10-12 yrs
C : 13-15 yrs

Closing Date: 7th October 2009

For more info, call:

Amir at 012-219 5552 or email at ybicycle [ at ] yahoo.com

Mejar Kalam at 019-271 2569 or email at kalampie [ at ] gmail.com

Julie at 017-332 3451 or email at missjewelz [ at ] gmail.com

Hari ni aku pegi lagi training cycling. Tp kali ni ngan 2 member aku. Sorang ni baru jer join.

RV kat Bt 14. Started at 8am. Kitorang kayuh pelan2. Sampai IKBN, aku berenti jap amik gambar, sementara tunggu member aku sampai.

Wap air panas yg keluar dari dasar sungai.

Sambung ride. Sampai Bt. 18 plak. Aku stop dulu, tunggu member2 aku yg kat belakang td. Sambil tu layan gambar dulu.

Flat design mcm kat Cameron Highlands.

Simpang di Bt 18

Tgh berpoyo-poyo

Baru 7.39km

Member2 aku pon sampai

Signboards...

Kat sini kitorang tukar2 basikal. Member aku tak larat nak kayuh mountain bike. Biler dpt bike, terus berdesup dia ke depan… hehhehe.
Aku follow dr belakang jadi sweeper plak. Akhirnya sampai Sg. Congkak. Kitorang stop sini, lepak2 tengok org mandi, sblm berpatah balik ke Bt 14. Layan gambar sketttt…

Member aku yg berdesup setelah dpt kayuh racing bike

Sg. Chongkak

Antara hadirin yg hadir

Ni ler bike aku

Keindahan & kedamaian di Sg. Chongkak

Dah lepak2 tu, kitorang sambung perjalanan patah balik ke Bt. 14. Kali ni tak sampai Pangsun. Maybe next time.

Perjalanan ke Bt. 14 lebih senang. Menurun bukit. Singgah sebentar di kolam air panas depan IKBN. Rendam2 kaki jap, pastu teruskan ride.

Kerja2 merendam kaki sedang dijalankan

Pemandangan di kolam air panas IKBN

Sampai di Bt 14 lebih kurang 11am. Melantak tak hingat di warung traffic light corner & break convoy. Nice ride guys.

Hari ni aku training cycling sorang2 kat Ulu Langat, without my usual cycling mate. Kul 8.30am aku sampai di Pekan Bt. 14 Ulu Langat. Cuaca redup.

Aku kayuh slow2 jer ari tu sbb dah lama tak cycling. No pressure. Nak dekat2 sampai Pangsun tu, kepala aku mula dah berpinar. Dari tadi tak minum air sbb lupa bawak air. Adehhh.

Sampai jer bus stop kat Pangsun tu, aku cepat2 parking bicycle aku. Terus duduk kat bus stop tu, picit2 kepala. Rasa nak pitam pon ada. Aku terus berdiri jln mundar mandir sambil picit kepala. Finally lega jugak sakit kepala aku.

Rest jap ambik angin. Pastu sambung balik ride, patah balik ke Bt. 14.

Ni gambar2 yg aku sempat amik.

Jalan terus ke Empangan Ulu Langat

Pencawang elektrik di Pangsun

Masjid di Pangsun

Jalan terus lagi ke Gunung Nuang