dannie choong

Hang Tuah got Facebook bor ?

2012-01-19T17:05:00.002+08:00

and now, I want to create a new Facebook account and the name will be Nobody so when I see some stupid crap people post, I can Like it. And it will say Nobody Likes This : )

hmmm, think I seriously need to cut down my time on this, otherwise Carrie might probably throw a book to my face one day !!!

anyway, I was kind of "perplex" when I learned that the great warrior name Hang Tuah which I studied during my school days was just a fiction figure !!! ??? hello..., i spend hours reading that blady thick History book, and memorising it so that I can pass my History exam, and now you're telling me that Hang Tuah don't exist ? and he's just part of the Malay's stories of myths and legends !!!???

didn't I did read somewhere before that a group of historians whom were appointed by the goverment found the grave of Hang Tuah ? going deeper, they took DNA from said grave and found that Hang Tuah is actually a Chinese guy (probably goes by the name Hei Tu Yar ?). and that famous weapon that Hang Tuah used - "Kris Taming Sari", till date is still with our Sultan of Perak, so how can Hang Tuah don't exist ?... and please don't tell me later that Kris Taming Sari is also actually a weapon originated from China used by some Shaolin monk yeah !!!

to me, history is a beautiful subject and should not be tainted by myth and fiction...

Hang Tuah as painted by Hadibi @ gndagnor

Hong Kong Marathon @ 5 Feb

2012-01-17T12:05:00.008+08:00

despite there's two more weeks to go, we're already getting excited over it already now. you, yes, the one reading my blog now, will i be seeing you there ??? weather are expected to be cold on said date thus don't forget to get yourself a pair of disposal gloves and disposal rain coat. you can get a reasonable good one at Daiso, the $5 ringgit shop...

this will be my 3rd time running said event. first time was in year 2010, which is also the first year the organiser gave out finishing medal to all full marathoners' finisher. yeap, all previous year they only gave participants a souvenir memento. local Hongkie find the weather for said year hot though for me it was just nice...

second time was last year 2011 where i ran with Carrie and she got her PB. this year, she will challenge herself to do a sub-5. hopefully i'm ready and fit enough to run along side with her all the way to achieve it. we also manage to register to run under PolyU running group where a additional Nike t-shirt will be given to us and some goodies at the end, weeezzzz :)

comparison on the flight plus lodging cost (for 2 pax), last year trip was 5 days 4 night via AisAsiaGo and it cost us RM$3026. this year, we cut down 1 day to 4 days 3 nights and booked it via MasHoliday, cost us this time RM$2602. a good deal if you ask me coz we're flying via MAS, and the main reason we're cutting the 1 day is so that we don't have to apply for leave from work. depart on Sat 4 Feb and return on Tue 7 Feb. Both 6 Feb (Mon) and 7 Feb (Tue) is a public holiday. this way we can save our annual leave for other overseas run :)

really huh ? :)

2012-01-16T12:03:00.001+08:00

being Chinese have no advantage on the age compare to others, as we Chinese have 2 birthday per year. one is your actual date of birth according to the current Gregorian calendar, and the other is our Chinese lunar calendar. so if you are not Chinese and you are born in the same year as me, chances are my age are double of yours... whatever, comes this coming CNY, I'm glad no one will ask me how old am I anymore coz' I'm married !!! weeeezzz :) in our Chinese culture, if you're already started working and still not married, rest assure you'll be quiz by your relatives on your age and why are you still not attached (for non-stop), and it can be pretty irritating !!! well, the table have change now as I'll be the one quizzing my non-married relatives this time. the setback is, i'm now expected to give away money to these single buggers in the form of ang pow which again by Chinese custom a requirement. damm !!!!!, now i realise why i was "force" to get married the soonest possible...

Mizuno Wave Run @ 15 Jan.

2012-01-15T17:05:00.007+08:00

a nice hilly 10km competetive run before we celebrate Chinese New Year next week. woke up as early as 5am in the morning. the journey to the run site event (which is at UPM Sedang) took us about 50 mins. despite many of our regular running friends didn't participate this event, the venue was pack with people already when we arrived. parking was as usual a woe. the ladies category started sharp at 7am, followed by the men category 10 minutes later. was pushing myself hard in order to catch up with Carrie, but somehow I think she was running pretty fast today thus' i didn't manage to see her on the route till i was back at the event venue. she completed the race slight a minute after 1hour, while i was about 55 minutes. breakfast was plentifully provided by the organiser Pacesetters, as usual another well organise run !!! more pictures can be view at my facebook...

Farewell

2012-01-14T22:21:00.002+08:00

All the best Bro. Lawrence as you & your wife move forward to the Maple Land !!!

Project 10/111

2012-01-13T11:52:00.003+08:00

We were given : two hands to hold, two legs to walk, two eyes to see, two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else, for us to find...

Civilized Society ?

2012-01-12T15:11:00.005+08:00

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The best test of a civilized society is the way in which it treats its most vulnerable and weakest members". I believe it is the only test that matters because if the weakest are well taken care of, everyone else has to be alright.

As we prepare to usher into "Chinese New Year" next weekend, I believes many of you will be probably very busy now doing shopping and stocking up goodies for said celebration. Just wish to encourage you guys to spend wisely and not wastefully. We used to hear people saying to purchased only what you can afford, but here's I would like to change that to purchased only what you really need. Let's discard the traditional boastful way of celebration, instead let's us share this coming celebration 'humbly' with the people that is less fortune around us...

Project 9/111

2012-01-10T12:35:00.003+08:00

Marriage is give and take. You’d better give it to her or she’ll take it anyway :)

just simple

2012-01-09T09:33:00.002+08:00

An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.

Newton 25km Run

2012-01-04T13:19:00.001+08:00

i find this picture....... nice !!! hehehe, just look at Carrie's pia face : )

Pacemakers Gathering @ 1 Jan 2012

2012-01-03T13:26:00.002+08:00

"It is better to be in chains with friends , than to be in a garden with strangers."

Newton 25km @ 1 Jan 2012

2012-01-02T19:14:00.003+08:00

nothing is more precious and enjoyable than spending 3 hrs 3mins 3 secs on a 25km running route with you wife on the first day of 2012 !!! : )

Working Life

2011-12-30T12:40:00.003+08:00

“Everyone faces challenges in life. It’s a matter of how you learn to overcome them and using them to your advantage.”

The above picture is the biggest project shipment I've handle thus far in my career. Loaded on m/v CSCL MERCURY voy 0005W from Port Klang on 29 Dec to Rotterdam. Stay at the port for more then 15 hours just to monitor this shipment, cinya tire but satisfied...

Project 8/111

2011-12-28T15:45:00.002+08:00

A man is incomplete until he is married. After that, he is finished : )

Project 7/111

2011-12-23T11:22:00.000+08:00

A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.

Project 6/111

2011-12-21T11:50:00.002+08:00

Of all the things which wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life far the greatest is the possession of FRIENDSHIP

Project 5/111

2011-12-20T19:12:00.003+08:00

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.

Malakoff 12km Hill Run

2011-12-19T10:05:00.002+08:00

"Running hills breaks up your rhythm and forces your muscles to adapt to different stresses. The result? You become a stronger runner."

New Year Greetings

2011-12-16T16:12:00.003+08:00

this is a short video made produce by my colleagues that was send to all our company oversea agent @ China. can you spot me ? : )

River Jungle Marathon @ 25 Sept

2011-12-15T12:13:00.003+08:00

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

21km NTCRC 3 States Run @ 4 Dec

2011-12-14T13:32:00.002+08:00

the joy of eating comes with the responsible on the joy to run ! :)

CHIN WOO INTERNATIONAL BIATHLON 2011

2011-12-13T22:33:00.002+08:00

my first biathlon event - 800 meter swim + 7km run

Project 4/111

2011-12-13T11:45:00.003+08:00

"Time isn't what makes a friendship last...It's love and devotion that keeps the tie between souls."

Project 3/111

2011-12-08T17:36:00.003+08:00

"Some pray to marry the women they love, my prayer will somewhat vary: I humbly pray to Heaven above that I love the woman I marry."

Project 2/111

2011-12-01T12:23:00.002+08:00

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

Project 1/111

2011-11-30T08:51:00.003+08:00

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

11.11.11

2011-11-29T14:56:00.001+08:00

“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving.”

Gratitude

2011-11-25T11:24:00.006+08:00

HE :running marathons is bad for your health lah !!!

ME : huh ?? really ar ?? why you say so ?

HE : it will destroy your joints...

ME : sure bor ??

HE : give you arthritis, knee problem when you're old...

ME : jialat ler...

HE : and make your heart work too hard that it will stop !

ME : hmmm, in that case should I take up smoking or competitive eating ?

HE : eeerrrr...

ME : maybe indulge myself with Ramly burger or Pak Nasser nasi lemak ?

HE : no lah, just that life is short. must enjoy meh...

ME : but i enjoy running ler...

HE : you all siow one lor, sunday wake up so early to run...

HE : got nothing else better to do meh ??

HE : run so much for what ?, one day also will die what !

ME : true lah, but I want to die healthy and looking good lor...

HE : ...

Yesterday 24 Nov was Thanksgiving day, thus taking this opportunity to express my thanks here for a wonderful year thus far....

My wife, has more patience than any person I know in the universe.

My family, who never ceases to amaze me with their love and strength.

For my running buddies, whom I love seeing at the races.

For my friends, who make me a better person every single day.

For my career, which challenges me and never gives me the same day twice.

For a hard run, and for the reminder that even if today wasn't my day, there's always be another race. Another day. Another chance to breathe hard again.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone !!! :)

Carrie and me will be at Morib Run this Sat (26/Nov), the Nike Run on Sun (27/Nov). Will try to update this blog more often in the future...

adiNation & Borneo Marathon

2011-05-05T22:48:00.001+08:00

adiNation Breakfast Run @ Metropolitan Park, Kepong on 30 April

these guys are really hungry huh ? :)

Borneo Marathon @ Kota Kinabalu on 01 May

(L-R) my darling Carrie with Ruby and Erni

the famous Doctor Pui San, Uncle Oliver (69 years old) and Carrie

even celebrity runners were there Mr. Yim aka Sarong Man and Khairul Anuar aka Thai Maniac

AirAsia support crew, later learnt that the reason they are there is becoz the CEO of AirAsia X were running there too

half way there...

beautiful (HOT HOT) running route, sun rises earlier this part of the world

Maybel (our running sifu Terence's wife) and Carrie

yeap, 10km more to the finishing line

the noisy brunch !!! (L-R) Mohan, noise victim, me & Jennifer

* Next Run : KL Night Towerthon Challenge (7 May) & Bomba Run (8 May)

and she said "YES" !!!

2011-04-20T08:18:00.001+08:00

Hydration ? I click "LIKE" !!!

2011-04-11T13:08:00.003+08:00

I didn't run on Friday, I didn't run on Saturday, and I didn't run again on Sunday. All becoz I went "hydrating" myself with plenty of good food !!! :) Self will be away at Kota Kinabalu this coming weekend (15-19 Apr) to scale a moutain via feratta. Come back soon for another round of photo update...

Next run - 23 Apr (KTM Run) and 24 Apr (Bidor Half Marathon)

Orang Asli Charity Run

2011-04-05T12:48:00.002+08:00

Orang Asli, which mean aboriginal people in Malay. A group of kind hearted runners organise said event over the weekend (3 April @ Batu 16, Jalan Gombak) to raise fund in support for said (unreached) group. It was a short 8km trail run which we can proudly claim that we are the very first group of people that run there as nobody have ever run said trail before...

a short story here on one of the many aboriginal type in Malaysia

Carrie and me at the starting point

even the Singapore's "FAT BIRD" running team were there to support

the usual running gang. L-R : Henry, Alexis, Lawrence, Yim, Carrie and Yin Yin

first aider ready and well prepare for the just-in-case

L-R : Crystal Lim and Rachel Yau

i only know the lady wearing jacket second from the left, Ms.Tan Yan Sok, rest not sure

that's Shanaz and Yanna, both lady will be in action at Paris Marathon this weekend (10 Apr)

my darling Carrie crossing one of the many stream in the jungle with some of the oboriginal children behind her

me trying to be artistic here by taking these wild jungle mushroom picture

a short road route to run after coming out from the jungle trail

more picture of said event can be view at my FaceBook

you have to ask her (Yanna) what she saw that she had that face on her

a run without food in the end is never complete !!! here's Derrick (the guy in red) with his running buddy at the same restaurant we went after said event

THANKS Lonely Planet & Shangri-La

2011-03-28T22:58:00.005+08:00

Time indeed move faster when you're busy (and running). It's been more than a month since the last I updated this blog, thus it's my sincere apology to those who have been faithfully coming week after week to "check" on me only to find the same old Safari Zoo news I posted weeks back. (Yes, I roughly know who check my blog as I can trace it from the IP address) each time you log into my blog-site)...

Since I've always been the man with few words, I shall briefly update here with a trail of photos leading from the time I last blog till... eerrr, maybe till a bit of the future event I'll be doing...

20 Feb - running next to a Shark-Man @ Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

Pui San the Lovely Running Doctor, Sir Mohan the Marathon Maniac and my darling Carrie

that's Terence, (our running sifu) who encourange Carrie along the route

me and Carrie with our proud Malaysia's flag at the finishing line

the finishing medal

26 Feb - Kuala Lumpur Heritage Xplorace

the crowd at Xplorace

though we manage to complete all the task, we have points deducted due to exceeded time

with the "Chap Ayam" running group friends

27 Feb - a short 10km recovery run at Bangi

06 Mar - Adidas Nation Breakfast Run event

L-R : Alexis, Carrie, Pui San & Sue

crowd at the starting line

L-R : Lawrence, Alexis, Yin Yin, Pui San, Carrie and Henry

12 Mar - City Day Run @ Dataran Merdeka

Carrie collecting her finishing medal

KL City Day's run medal

01 May - Bareno Run

L-R : Daniel, Anita, Mohan, Nik and Carrie

with the 2 famous running celebrity. Khairul, myself and Yim

Bareno 21KM medal with Carrie (B) and my (A) position number

20 Mar - Klang UNITY run

that's Yeong and Soh Bee, my KEC gym buddy

Shereen and Vincent bump into Mr. Lum Oldman along the route

the VIPs (Klang Police Chief, Dato Steven and Mr. Johnson) that's Mr.Mohan, he's chief event organiser for said event

nice traditional Malay breakfast after a good morning run, this is the "CHAP AYAM" running group

L-R : Yeong, Shereen, Ken Tan, Vincent, Kong Hooi, Soh Bee and Carrie

KEC Unity Run medal

and finally... in the month of January I joined a contest under Lonely Planet and wooohooo... got the grand prize of 2 night stay at Shangri-La S'pore with breakfast !!! never in my current capacity will i be able to stay at Shangri-La if its not for this. going to use it on my next trip to S'pore during the 100Plus Passion Run....

my next run will be this coming Sunday 4 Apr, a charity in nature run. come back then for more details and pictures yeah...

Safari Zoo & Valentine Run @ Singapore

2011-02-14T17:08:00.001+08:00

went down to Singapore over the weekend to participate this event.

Carrie showing the running route here.

Carrie & me at the starting line.

running inside the safari zoo was indeed humid despite it rained earlier.

water station was sufficient, well done.

the 3km route marker, nice.

with our Malaysia's flag after finishing the race

next day morning, we participated the Valentine Run @ Bedok Reservoir.

registration fees was only SIN$10 per person and we got a dry fit t-shirt, a rose for the ladies, light breakfast and a towel.

running towards the finishing line.

our new friends

on the podium with the local Minister, Mr. Lee Yi Shyan and our Malaysian flag !!!

having our 'brunch' at Bedok hawker center.

our new friend, Andy Ng, whom assisted us a lot in moving around during our time there. he works at the airport with a dog !!! cool yeah ? he's with the K9 police unit.

our last meal at Singapore - SABOTEN (a Japanese Tonkatsu Restaurant) which is located in the airport, Carrie loves it to the max !

more pictures available to view at my FACEBOOK

CNY is all about EATing

2011-02-07T20:58:00.000+08:00

Our local running celebrity - Pui San, add EXTRA rice to reward herself for running 4 days back to back during CNY (Chinese New Year).
L-R : Pui San & Henry. We ordered 2 different type of BKT (Bah Kut Teh) to enjoy after a long morning run.
L-R : Elaine and Carrie
L-R : Alexis, (Pui San hidden as she's busy text'ing on the Iphone), Henry, Elaine & Carrie

this is one expensive "lou sang" - RM$80 !!!
Carrie & me
with the cute & chubby baby Amanda
Lisa Soo (the event organiser) and Katherine (who's currently working @ DHL S'pore)
L-R : the hot RED couple - Eddy & wife, Pooi Fong and Shereen
Adrian getting the "lou sang" ready for us to mix

Time for a break

2011-01-31T14:02:00.006+08:00

It's the time of the year again. The Chinese community in Malaysia will be celebrating the Lunar New Year starting 3 Feb (which will last 15 days till 17 Feb). As for me, I'll be off from work beginning Wed afternoon onwards and back to office on 7 Feb. Didn't apply for any additional annual-leave as are saving it for the coming oversea marathon runs.

Hereby, wishing readers of this blog a Blessed Chinese New Year with good health in the Bunny year. Year 2010 has been a good running year for both Carrie and me. As such we'll be hoping 2011 to be a much greater year not only in our running but also in our relationship with each others. Below are our tentative running schedules, catch us there yeah...

January

01-01-2011 Klang 5km Run
23-01-2011 POAWP Cross Country
29-01-2011 Putrajaya Twillight Run

February

12-02-2011 Safari Zoo Run (Singapore)
13-02-2011 Valentine Run (Singapore)
20-02-2011 Hong Kong Marathon

26-02-2011 KL Heritage Xplorace / MISC Walkathon

27-02-2011 Larian Bangi Perdana

March

12-03-2011 City Day Run (Dataran Merdeka)

13-03-2011 Bareno Half Marathon 2011 (Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil)

14-19 Mar KL-Maran Walk
19-03-2011 PACESETTER ANNUAL DINNER !
20-03-2011 Klang Executive Club Run (KEC, Klang)

20-03-2011 World Kidney Day Run (Dataran Merdeka)

27-03-2011 Malay Mail Big Walk (Dataran Merdeka)

April

02-04-2011 KL Tower Challenge
15 - 19 Apr Mount K.K. Trip

16-04-2011 Energizer Night Run
24-04-2011 Bidor Half Marathon

May

01-05-2011 Borneo Marathon

08-05-2011 Coca-Cola Run (Dataran Merdeka)
21-05-2011 100 Plus Passion Run (Singapore)

29-05-2011 Ekiden Relay 2011 (Putrajaya)
29-05-2011 Adidas SUNDOWN (Singapore)

June

05-06-2011 Setia Alam Eco-Run (Shah Alam)

26-06-2011 Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 (Dataran Merdeka)

July

03-07-2011 Media Run (Press Club KL)
03-07-2011 NTV7 Feel Good Run

10-07-2011 Siemens Run (Dataran Merdeka)

17-07-2011 Olympic Day Run (Dataran Merdeka)
17-07-2010 DIGI Pacesetter Kuantan TC Run

24-07-2010 Klang Centro Run

24-07-2011 12 Hour FTAAA Run Circuit (Putrajaya)

30-07-2011 Shape Night Run (Putrajaya)

August
07-08-2011 Hat Yai Nature Run (Hatyai)

September

16-09-2011 Admiral Run

October

30-10-2011 Genting TrailBlazer (Genting Awana)
22-10-2011 Climbathon (Kota Kinabalu)
30-10-2011 New Balance Pacesetter 30KM Run

November

05-11-2011 Klang Hash House 30th Anniversary Run
13-11-2011 Powerman
20-11-2011 Penang Bridge Run
27-11-2011 Bangkok Marathon

December
04-12-2011 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon
04-12-2011 Angkor Wat Half Marathon
18-12-2100 Malakoff 12km
26-12-2011 MR25 (Singapore)

FTAAA Cross Country

2011-01-24T00:38:00.009+08:00

this is my 2nd medal for year 2011, happy that me and Carrie manage to obtain it as it was limited to only first 100 participants whom complete for the men open category and 50 for the women open category.

L-R : Carrie and Reen. we arrived early there so have extra time to camwhore around the place. for my visitor friends who don't understand Malay language on the banner - SELAMAT DATANG means WELCOME. MERENTAS DESA TERBUKA means CROSS COUNTRY OPEN.

L-R : Ruby, Carrie & Reen. they are the regular female runners you'll seen around at most of the Klang Valley organized run.

one of the FTAAA official explaning the rules and route to the participants.

into the 3+ km hot & humid jungle trail. total lenght for the men open was about 9+ km (according to someone GPS). women open and men veteran only need to do about 6+ km.

that's my position number in the men's open category, with time taken around 55 minutes to complete. even thought the route was really tough with lots of sloops and hills to conquer, i was happy with my result.

me with Ironman Yip here. he finished in 6th position in the men's open category, time taken around 40+ minutes only !!!

me with Steven, another strong veteran runner. he's also the President of Kota Kemuning Runners' Club.

Reen come back in 22nd position in her women open category.

my new "sweet & sweaty" friend, Ms.Wati. she finished in 25th position.

Ruby, who is one of my fellow Klang runner friends, finish in 28th postition.

and finally, saw my darling Carrie coming back slightly after one hour to be in 34th postition.

Yen Erl (in red) and Tan Yit Chang in the middle. the one on the right i can't recall his name.

L-R : Pui San and Alexis in sporting running skirt. they didn't participate at said event, instead went for LSD earlier in the morning and return there to support us.

finally, a group photo with fellow runners. more pictures available to view at my facebook.

Pacesetter LSD @ 16 Jan

2011-01-16T18:01:00.006+08:00

We were suppose to join Terrence and the gang for said LSD but by the time we arrived at the meeting point (6.30am), all of them have already gone. Car park were full with so many runners around, it was just like another race day at the venue. So we decided to run on our own then, to Solaris and back which cover about 15+km or more or less. Carrie run better today compare when she was running on the day before on Saturday (at double hill route). No vomit and with a good pace.

L-R : Carol, Lawrence, Carrie. We meet up with them on our way back to Bukit Aman. Stopping there for water which are courtesy from the PACESETTERS' Club.

fast and furious Pacemakers runners

That's Mr.Wan with his famous signature "pull" milk-tea !!! nice :)

Fellow runners enjoying the pot-luck. Provided by runners for runners !!!

L-R : Carrie, Pui San, Alexis and Uncle Oliver, who is 69 years old !!! Mohan Marathon commented that this photo may not add years to his life but surely add life to his years !!! well said.

Fellow runners don't mind waiting for Mr.Wan famous pull milk tea.

L-R : Nik Raiha, Mohan Marathon, Wai Mun, YKK, and Pui San.

L-R : Carrie, Pui San and Agnes digging into all the delicious available. More like a Eat'athon event.

Alex - the famous Malaysian runner who's "Powered by JESUS" wooohooooo !!!

L-R : Me, Mohan, Sofian, Hoo Ching Cheong and Yip Weng Tak. All the people above (except me) are IRONMAN participants!!!

This is one of the photo I like the most coz have most of my favorite people in it. L-R : Uncle Oliver, Elaine, Carrie, Aleximon, Karen Loh, Nik Raiha, Carol and Lawrence.

Charity Dinner for GSH Education Fund

2011-01-10T08:18:00.002+08:00

The other passion of mine besides running, I'm also actively involved in charity with one of the orphanage home in Klang Valley called Good Samaritan Home. Said home have about 32 orphanage children now. And beginning 2011, they'll have 7 little toddlers whom will be ready for Kindergarten (pre-school) whereby each kid would require about RM$2,400 in term of school fees for the whole year. 7 kids mean the home would need extra RM$16,800 for it !!!

Together with few good friends, namely Shereen Tan and Reen Ong, I spearhead said Education Fund project in mid-December in order to raise enough money to send these 7 little kids to school without adding extra financial burden to the home. Thanks to our many generous friends & donor, we manage to achieved more than the require amount within less than a month. Said charity dinner (on 9 Jan @ Klang Executive Club) was the last event for said project, whereby a total of RM$11,000 was raised through it.

Even though we have successfully reached our target for said "pre-school Education Fund", the home do still need our continuous assistance on their other daily expenses like food, clothing, transport, etc. As such, anyone who wish to participate in contributing to these needs, it would be very much appreciated by the home. Details of the home as follows ;

GOOD SAMARITAN HOME
2, Lebuh Jelutong, Taman Selatan, 41200 Klang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.
Contact Number : +6 03 33722289.
Contact Person : Pastor Albert Ong / Auntie Y.M. Tey / Pastor Esther Ong

Christmas Fruits Cake project (lead by Reen Ong) which contributed RM$4750

one of the little kiddie whom thanks to your generous support, she'll be going to pre-school without problem. (picture taken by Carrie)

L-R : Shereen, Alan Wong and K.M. Yeong

L-R : Reen Ong, Shereen Tan and Carrie

our generous donor friends !!! BIG THANKS to you guys

Reen Ong with Timothy

Standing : Richard & Jennifer
Seated : Badrul & Kim

L-R : Auntie YM, Eileen and Shereen

some of the kids from the home

some of the kids from the home

Starting 2011

2011-01-05T13:20:00.001+08:00

First medal for the year !!! 1.1.11 nice...

with fellow Pacemakers member (L-R) : Carrie, Kei Ming, Sue Wong and Y.S.Lee

L-R : ultramarathoner Uncle Wong, me and Chester Wong

our 1 Jan breakfast @ Chong Kok, Klang

Pacemakers' Anniversary Dinner (L-R) : Pui San, Carrie, Sue Wong, Alexis

Carrie with Uncle Kelvin and Mr. Adam "Hannah" Kok

(L-R) KK Yum,. Carrie and Uncle Kelvin

happy hours & more drinking @ KK Yum rental apartment

## more pictures available to view at my facebook ##

Ending 2010

2010-12-27T17:05:00.005+08:00

The greatest distance to cover in any race is the distance between your ears.

Melaka Coastal Charity Run was our (Carrie & me) last official run event for the year 2010. While most of our running buddy (like Pui San, Yim, Wendy) decided to end their 2010 with a "bang" at MR25 (S'pore), me and Carrie decided to take it slow, fun (and cheap) at Melaka. A week before this, we were just at Penang doing the Penang Relay Run with the Pacemaker Fun Team and with YKK as our team captain, we got 8th position !!! Roll back two week before this; it was 12hours Melaka Walk which is just a week after S'pore Marathon. So in total, 4 weekends in December we were away from home, and I was just mentioning to Carrie how I miss sleeping on my own bed over the weekend...

Looking ahead I do not know what 2011 will be in store for me. My running activity have surely increase much this year and it have brought me much joy, travelling to new places and getting to know many new wonderful friends. In term of personal development, I do felt improvement in many areas of my life except on the career part. Working life in 2010 has been very routine and monotonous for me. Somehow the "challenge" in work seems to have left me and there are times I find this very frightening. I used to enjoy and so looking forward going to work everyday but not so recently. Not too sure leaving my current comfort zone will help but it is one of the very serious items in my agenda which I plan to review when doing my 2011 resolution...

To friends who know me, I wish you & your family a Blessed Christmas and a very Healthy New Year. To people whom I might have offended, I wish to say I'm sorry. Life is too short to make enemies and thus' if I did or say stuff which could have offended you, please do let me know so that I can apologize to you personally. To friends who are reading this blog, alright I'll try to blog more often and thanks for supporting & reading it. To friends who have supported Good Samaritan Home along side with me, helping me to raise funds, baking cake for charity sale and spending time with the children, kamsiah manyak-manyak !!! To my KEC buddy, namely Yeong, Lee, Sofia, Sandra, Christine, Leng, Lim & Mellisa, thanks for the many hours of exciting bodyCombat together and all the delicious dinner after the class every week. And lastly to my chopstick baby Carrie Teong, thanks for loving me unconditionally and taking care of me when I'm sick, I LOVE YOU dearly...

As of now, my confirm participation for next year (2011) outstation run are the following ;

01. Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon

02. Borneo Marathon

03. Adidas Sundown

04. Gold Coast Marathon

05. Hatyai Nature Run

and with a via ferrata Mount Kinabalu trip in April being planned, I'm very sure it will keep me busy on all the weekends again. Still considering whether to skip Penang Marathon next year for Bangkok Marathon, and Singapore Marathon for Angkor Wat Marathon. Depending on time and finance, will have to decide on this later...

CICM Run 2010

2010-11-29T08:58:00.005+08:00

CICM Responsible Care Run 2010
Bukit Jalil @ 28 November

Maiden half-Marathoner Friends

2010-11-15T17:43:00.024+08:00

Since Penang Marathon, S'pore Marathon, Macau Marathon and Hong Kong Marathon is just around the corner or about weeks away, thought I should share these few incredible stories with you guys. Maybe you have read some of the story here before, then again no harm reading it again lah. If you think running a FOOL Marathon, ooopsss, I meant a FULL Marathon (42km) is tough, just look at what these guys can do and have achieved...

Dean Karnaze ran 350 miles non-stop. "The Relay" is a 200-mile, 12 person relay race. Not only did Dean Karnaze run this race by himself, he ran an extra 150 miles from his home to the starting point. Karnaze ran 80 hours straight and burned an estimated 40,000 Calories to cover the 350 miles. I couldn't even stay away that long, yet he kept a good pace the whole way. Karnaze has also has finished the Western 100 ten times, the Badwater four times, and most recently he ran 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days in all 50 United States. (eerrr... 350 miles is about 563 km !!!, this guy is like a robot running under solar power lor)

Three men ran 4,000 miles across the Sahara desert in 111 days. Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin ran the equivalent of two marathons a day for 100 days to become the first modern runners to cross the Sahara Desert's grueling 4,000 miles. They were stricken with tendonitis, severe diarrhea, and knee injuries all while running through the intense heat and wind, often without a paved road in sight. Temperatures varied from over 100°F during the day to below freezing at night. Typical day: up at 4:00am, run until lunch, eat, and run until 9:30pm. Then get up and do it again... for 111 days. (that's 6438km in 111 days !!!)

Ranulph Fiennes and Dr. Michael Stroud went seven for seven during a grueling week of marathon running and transcontinental travel. The pair ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents from October 26 - November 2, 2003. The men ran in Chile, the Falkland Islands, Sydney, Singapore, London, and Cairo before completing their marathon of marathons by running the New York City Marathon. Besides battling the exhaustion that any marathon runner faces, Fiennes and Stround also had to battle jet lag and dramatic changes in temperature and humidity during each race. The feat was especially impressive for Fiennes, who suffered a heart attack just four months earlier. (eerrr..., Mr. Fiennes was 59 years old while Mr. Stroud was 48 years old when they did this)

Mark Covert has run at least one mile every day since July 23, 1968. In the decades since he started the streak, Covert has covered more than 136,000 miles. At his competitive peak, he ran more than 150 miles a week and was one of the top road racers in the country, finishing seventh in the 1972 Olympic trials marathon. He still averages eight miles a day. Sure, on some days his running may only consist of 9 or 10 minutes, but did you read how long? Since 1968. Covert has said:

"I've trained through illness and injury, run plenty of times when I shouldn't have. I ran on the days my parents passed away and I've run when every one of my four kids was born. I still look forward to running every day, although the trees go by more slowly now."

Covert is now the Cross Country Coach for Antelope Valley College (he knows a little about running). I guarantee his runners have trouble finding excuses to miss practice. (eerrr.., this one is a bit extreme lah)

Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox, (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$500 million has been raised in his name.

Sure, we can always come up with many excuses on why we can't do it, and they can do it. (I read somewhere before that IMPOSSIBLE is just a word used for an excuse not to try). Why not... instead of coming up with excuses not doing it, we try to find ONE reason which we may or can do it, and work towards it ???

When I first started "running" back in year 2008, I too never imagine I will run a Full Marathon one day. I kept telling myself then, if only I can do and finish 1 FOOL MARATHON in my lifetime, I'll be a very happy FOOL !!! Today, I have done more than 7 officials Full Marathon and have no intention of stopping (being a FOOL) yet. Come next year (2011), I intend to challenge myself to do an ULTRA Marathon (which is 84km) at Singapore Sundown, and will also use said event as a charity platform to raise educational money fund for a orphanage home. I will share more on this next time...

Alright, some of you might say that these story I posted here are mostly "gwei lo" and you won't find Asian doing it. Adoooiii, if this have cross your mind as an excuse, please do read my above paragraph on IMPOSSIBLE again. We do have few "outstanding" Asian marathoners too if you've run long enough to know them, and I'm fortunate to know at least two of such person and meet them in person too !!! :)

First one was a Malaysian named Ng Seow Kong. (YES, he's a MALAYSIAN, I didn't type wrongly). He's the first Malaysian (and also probably the only Asian) to complete the 220km Amazon Jungle Run. His story was feature in the past two season of Pacesetters' magazine. Beside this, he also did the 100km Antarctic Ice Marathon, North Pole Marathon, Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon in Nepal, Great Wall Marathon and many more amazing Marathon challenge. Google it if you want to know more of those Marathon details.

Second one is a Singaporean. As for this guy, if you have run more than 3 FOOL Marathon and still don't know him, you must be running the wrong Marathon !!! I don't really know much of his running history, all I knew is that he manages to complete 100 FULL Marathon before reaching his 50th birthday, and are still running till today. My deepest impression about this guy is that he's always jovial and very encouraging to any newbie he finds on the marathon route. He is none other than Mohan the Marathon Maniac. No matter how slow you ran in a Marathon, you'll be very happy if you find him running beside you.

Come the next few weeks, I'll be so looking forward to these few individual friends of mine whom [directly or indirectly under my influence] will be turning into a half-FOOL runners too ! :) A stepping stone to Full Marathon one day I hope. They are, my lovely god-sis Sofia Chen. My bodyCombat instructor Yeong, and my very good friend Shereen Tan. These 3 will be running together with me and Carrie at Penang Bridge Half Marathon. And not forgetting, my first and only apprentice (yes, I had a running student too ! cool yeah ?!), Reen Ong who will be running her first maiden Half-Marathon at S'pore StanChart in Dec !!! woohooo...

Lastly, do you know how long did Forrest Gump run across the US ? 3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours !!! (Alright this is just from the movie, not true but I'm very sure one fine day some FOOL is going to do it). Then again, in UK it was reported that a grandmother actually did run 20,000 miles (32,187km) across Europe in 5 years ! Don't believes me huh ? read this – HERE

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1)

We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves... by Sir Roger Bannister

Genting Trailblazer 2010

2010-11-01T09:27:00.005+08:00

Me & Carrie, we finish at 79th position in our MIX Category. Our timing was 2hrs 45mins.
our first mud-pool bath together !!! hehehe...

Carrie, Alexis, Pui San and Lydia.
Carrie, Raymond, Michelle, Pui San and Alexis

It was Br.Gary Chin birthday the day before Trailblazer and we celebrate with him at Euro Deli, Damansara Kim.

Maybel, Trixie and Winnie with the giant burger !

Mizuno 11KM @ UPM, Bangi

2010-10-18T16:26:00.003+08:00

My timing for said run was 1hr 00min 32sec while Carrie was 1hr 22min 02sec. I think I could have achieved sub 1hr if not for the photo taking and walking at the last hill !!! Anyway, was glad that Carrie and me manage to obtain the limited medal...

2 Runs, 1 Wedding & 1 B'day Celebration

2010-10-11T10:10:00.000+08:00

Woke up 4.45am on said morning (10.10.10). Rush to KLCC for the NIKE run, then rush to Lot 10 for the hooHa run, then rush to Brickfields for my good friends (Choon Lai & Carolyn) ROM, then rush to Kelab Darul Ehsan at Ampang for Nik birthday celebration. Back home almost 4pm. Thus' 10.10.10 was a rush rush day for me, but it was all good... many more picture can be view at my Facebook...

The Heat & Hills that almost kill me !!! :)

2010-09-27T12:17:00.002+08:00

that's James WONG (1793), we pace together at the last 1km.

Newton 25km Run @ Puchong, Kinara

more pictures @ my MukaBuku

Ipoh International Marathon

2010-07-19T08:52:00.001+08:00

had a wonderful time there with them. check my facebook for rest of the silly pictures !

How I started Running

2010-05-08T10:45:00.007+08:00

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run" – this was written by John Bingham at one of monthly column in Runner’s World magazine years back.

My love for running started when my love of eating beginning to get out of control. Due to the nature of my work which requires lots of entertainment, I have been eating more than I should most of time, taking it for granted that after all, the bills are paid by the company.

Consequences of it, I trust everyone know that the result will be very recognizable through your waistline which improve prominently, and securing the job as a Santa Claus by year end at any local mall is already half achievable liow.

On the more serious side, when a person abuse his body with the pleasure of gluttony, the additional weight gain overtime will not be able to be supported by the current bone structure, and this beside inviting multiple type of chronic disease which only a surgeon can pronounce it correctly, I felt I’m beginning to look much more older than my actual age too. Recover time after a minor cough or fever also take much longer than it should be.

Being in that situation during the peak of your life is not something desirable. As such, it was then that I decided I have to help myself otherwise all my hard-earned money will be for the doctors at Glen Eagle pleasure rather than for me to use.
While deciding on which type of sports I should pick up again, an invitation to run was offered to me. Still remember very clearly that it was the Kota Kemuning Shoe String Run. Years back, it was not a family event like now as they do offered individual category participation. I gladly pick up said challenge to run my first 10km with less than 2 months of training and preparation.

Running within the company of the so called pro and seasonal runners did initially grip me with fears, angst, nervousness, tension and anxiety. Looking around, everyone seems to look so fit, well equip and ready for it, while the only thought that keep lingering around my big head was, can I finish the race ?

In moment like that, GOD suddenly becomes my besttest of friends as I have never talked to HIM so much as I have before previously. I did come back and complete my first 10km without being the last person and that’s more than enough to motivate me to run again in the future. Alas that’s the beginning of my many runs.

Slightly a year after that, I also did my first full 42km marathon by accident. I’ve signed up and was only preparing to run 21km for said event (Standard Chartered KL 2009) but somehow I got “push” into the full category, running under another person registration whom till date I didn’t know who is he. My training schedule two months prior said big event was only twice a week running around Taman Tun Dr.Ismail. And the person that I pace running with on said day was not even the same person that I have been training with for the past two months. Thus in a way, it was really a “messy” picture if you would to ask me on my first full marathon which I humbly complete in just few minutes before the 6 hours tab. More elaborate story on this another time, maybe.

Runnings have also open me to another world which I not aware of. Not until recently that I realise that the running community is really a huge one. Beside slowly gaining back my health and fitness, running have also lead me to know many good friends and not to mentioned my current sweetheart Carrie Teong.
Despite my vigorous running schedule recently, I would like to declare that I’m still very much a novice comparing to all my other friends who have been running much longer than me. Thus’ my participation into Der PaceMakers community hopefully will assist me to learn better running skill from the senior there. (Yup, I'm now officially PaceMaker member # 62)

It is also my hope that that as much as running have impacted my life, I can in return encourage many others who have yet to find running beneficial into it. Though the running scene in Malaysia is still not as popular as other local sporting events, we must admit that it is slowly making its pace into the community.

We might not have the like of Haile Gebrselassie or Usian Bolt yet, but we do have our own local heroes like Mr.Ng Seow Kong whom is the first Malaysian (and also the only Asian) to complete the recent 200km Amazon Jungle Run. Listening to Ng Seow Kong’s running story recently when I meet him at Hong Kong StanChart Marathon was indeed a priceless moment, which inspired & also humble me further knowing that such a simple event like running can do to a person.

Not forgetting also from our neighboring country, Mr. Mohan of Singapore that stay to run slow with any newbie every weekend, encouraging them as he run at any Marathon event all over the regions is just amazing. Hopefully in years to come, we will have more heroes like them, and I hope I’m one of them too.
Ending my story, I want to share a quote from Ms Courtney Pasron here with all of you which clearly summarize all I have written above - When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got.

I Ran with a Shark !!!

2010-03-03T17:13:00.001+08:00

Completed the recent Hong Kong Standard Chartered Full Marathon recently (28 Feb) @ 5 hrs 16 mins. More picture can be view at http://se7enty2.multiply.com

2010 - Year of Running

2010-02-10T13:28:00.012+08:00

we fall in love again & again during runs

my 2010 running schedule ;

10 Jan - 15km Klang Shooting Club @ Meru
17 Jan - Pacesetter 30km Run @ Padang Merbok
24 Jan - Pacesetter Breakfast Run @ TTDI
31 Jan - KLAVA City Day Relay Run @ Bukit Jalil
06 Feb - 21km Night Marathon Run @ Putrajaya
21 Feb - 7km KL City Day Run @ Dataran Merdeka
28 Feb - 42km Standard Chartered Marathon @ Hong Kong
07 Mar - 5km Tesco Walk for School @ Dataran Merdeka
13 Mar - "Ball Breaker" 8th Malaysia Nash Hash Run @ Klang
14 Mar - 15km Bareno Run @ Bukit Jalil
21 Mar - KL Towerthon Forest Challenge
27 Mar - 42km Energizer Night Run
18 Apr - Chap Ayam 10km Family Run @ Lake Garden
25 Apr - 21km Bidor Run @ Bidor
02 May - 10km Larian Bomba @ Dataran Merdeka
16 May - 15km Pacesetter Run @ Lake Garden
23 May - Kenny Roger Charity Run @ Sunway Lagoon
06 June - Setia Eco Half Marathon @ Setia Alam
13 June - 42km Laguna Run @ Phuket, Thailand
27 June - 42km Standard Chartered Marathon @ Dataran Merdeka
11 July - 12km Centro Klang Run
18 July - Ipoh International Run @ Stadium Indra Mulia Perak
25 July - Jacob Walk of Life @ FRIM
31 July - Shape + Men's Health Night Run @ Putrajaya
08 Aug - Hat Yai Nature Run
15 Aug- Jungle Marathon Run (organise by TheMarathonShop)
29 Aug - Pacemaker/Newton Anniversary Run @ Metropolitan Park
16 Sept - Admiral Methodist Charity Run, Klang
26 Sept - Newton 25km Challenge @ Bandar Kinara,Puchong
10 Oct - Nike 10km Run @ KLCC, then to Lot 10 for 5.5km hooHa Run
17 Oct - 11km Mizuno Wave Run @ UPM
24 Oct - Pacesettet Family Day @ Padang Merbok
31 Oct - 14km Awana Trailblazer Run @ Awana
21 Nov - Penang Bridge Marathon (21km) @ Penang
28 Nov - CICM Responsible 10km Care Run, Bukit Jalil ??
- or Hard Rock, Penang Charity Run ??
05 Dec - 42km Standard Chartered Marathon @ Padang, Sinagpore
12 Dec - 1st Malacca 12hours Walkathon
19 Dec - Round-the-Island Relay, Penang
26 Dec - Malacca 6km Coastal Charity Run

i miss going camping :<

2006-09-02T10:35:00.000+08:00

WHY ?