What happened in 2009?

Oh wow..It has been a while since I wrote something here. What happen? Well, a lot I guess. Been busy with things... here and there.

This is what I did in terms of running:

28.06.2009 : Standard Chartered KL Intl Marathon 4:39:00
02.08.2009 : Adidas Shah Alam King Of The Road 22.3km 2:06:00
04.10.2009 : Cologne Marathon 4:06:22
25.10.2009 : Mizuno Wave Run 11.6km 0:58:28
22.11.2009 : Penang Bridge Marathon 4:25:14
06.12.2009 : Standard Chartered Spore Intl Marathon 4:19:43

Not bad. 4 marathons in a year (with 1 almost hitting sub-4) !

Add this to my previous 3 marathons, I have now 7 marathons in hand. I am pretty sure Year 2010 will be much better.

This is what I did in terms of places that I have visited this year:

Germany - Trier, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich

UK - London, Manchester

Luxembourg

Holland - Amsterdam

Belgium - Brussels, Antwerp, Brugge

Italy - Rome, Venice, Milan

France - Paris, Nancy, Metz, Strasbourg, Colmar

Poland - Lodz

Austria - Vienna

wow..looking back, 2009 has been an enriching year for me. An unforgetable one indeed..

Happy New Year !! See you in 2010 !!

Marathon Hunt

Is it me or the marathon fever seems to be haunting me in April especially after I registered to run in the KL Intl Marathon happening on 28th June. In the few cities I visited (Luxembourg, Paris, London, Antwerp), I saw many advertisement and posters promoting their runs. This sent a chilly feeling into my blood vein. Am I ready for a 42km run in 60days' time? Thats the time needed to prepare for a 10km run to achieve a reasonable timing, not a marathon ! One consolation was that I knew running the KL Marathon was for fun as I wanted to be part of the crazy runners out there to participate in the 1st ever marathon organised by the banking group. My training have been pretty "lame" lately, just like my blog page. Both are not as active as I would like it to be. its time to get the engine running.

In London during Easter week

Avenue des Champs-Élysées : Start point of Paris Marathon on 5th April

ING Antwerp Marathon was on the same as day London Flora Marathon-26th April

After reaching the hotel, with the fine temperature of 19degree, sunset at 9pm and armed with my Ipod Shuffle, I was off to River Mosel and managed to spend 1hour 15mins running along the river bank. It was a wonderful feeling...Trees are in green, famous historical bridges along the river to appreciate, water flows peacefully, cool air etc. At this temperature, you don't sweat as much as in KL and therefore not feeling tired and tend to continue running. At the river bank, there were enough local runners (and cyclist too) to keep me company. Some are not there to run but indulged themselves in reading and sun bathing ! I met one colleague from Canary Island and he too used to be active in running half marathon.

With this, I hope to keep the momentum running high and shall be back to the river bank not just to run but for people watching .....

Note: ING Luxembourg Marathon is on 23rd May 6pm but I am due to return to KL on 22nd May.

Just Do It !

Yes, Just Do It !

Don't think too much. Do it and you will find ways. Thats what I did. With just a few clicks, I have registered myself for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009 on 28 June 2009. And when was the last time I ran a competition?? It was May 2008. And in late Dec 2008, I started running to get the momentum going but alas...it was interrupted by my involvement in company project that required me to based in Trier, Germany since Jan 2009.

With Imperial Baths as background

So, after paying (only) RM50 (early bird rate) as registration fee, I put on my running gear and went for a leisure jog along River Mosel. At this moment, I just need to have my feet getting used to running. It was not that simple though coz I have not been running on regular basis. The weather in Trier at 7degree was slightly better than 1degree when I first arrived. In fact, I bought the cold season running gear in January because I wanted to experience running under cold condition. Lack of oxygen and avoiding running nose was the most difficult task.

Getting ready to run along River Mosel

Speaking of task, its not going to be an easy task to train for a marathon in 3 months time. The attraction of running in the first ever home marathon organised by the banking group was too good to resist. Memories of SCB Singapore Marathon 2007 is still in me. Besides, RM50 paid is nothing compare to the rate for Berlin, Paris or Rotterdam Marathon. I will take it easy. In a way, I am glad I signed up. This is the only way to get my foot into my Mizuno shoes and hit the road once again...

New Year, Old Habit !!

Yeah…I am finally back to my old habit. Don’t worry as it is not something harmful. It is actually running or jogging or exercising whichever terms we prefer to use. See, prior to June 2008, every Sunday morning (as early as 6.30am), I will be at Bukit Aman (near National Monument) to join my colleague and other runners for our usual 10km or 20km run.

Why did I stop running? I was very much occupied with preparation to move into this new condo in between April to June 2008. By the time I settled down in the new place, my body has adjusted to late Sunday mornings and it became very challenging to instruct the mind and body to run again. The temptation of longer sleeping time, LCD TV, internet etc etc has managed to replace my favorite hobby of more than 10 years.

I like to thank the long weekend of Christmas and Awal Muharram where I have spare time and managed to put on my Mizuno shoes and started my hobby again. The trick is that I need to start really slow as my knee have rested for close to 7 months. Day 1-I started by taking the stairs from Level 17 to Level 6 to visit the gym in the clubhouse (Oh ya...the clubhouse and swimming pool are located on Level 6). Day 2-I did the same walk down the stairs and completed 60mins slow walk (less than 5km) on the treadmill in the gym. Day 4- I think I am now ready to run. I did a slow 2km run on the road and continue on the treadmill for another 5km run (approx 35mins).

Treadmills in the gym. The 2nd treadmill from the left actually has KLCC view!!

If I were to describe my effort in another different perspective...it would be akin to driving a Kancil 850cc now when I have driven Honda Civic 1.8cc seven months ago. That's how I felt. I know I can run faster (my mind can do it) but there is no way my knee can support this task. So, I will need to continue to drive this Kancil (twice a week) for another month before I can pick up the key to the Altis !!

And what a good time to start the New Year with this healthy activity.. Happy New Year 2009 to all runners out there wherever you are !!

My previous run at RMAF Half Marathon in May 2008 with timing of 1 hour 50 mins at #114.

Passport To Europe

It was certainly a relieved when we were told that our application for German Visa has been approved, a process that took only 3 weeks to complete. With the temporary 3 months visa issued locally by German Embassy in KL, it will then be converted to a long term work permit by the local office in Trier, Germany upon our arrival in mid January 2009. Apparently, this is how process will be to ensure we are legally protected while being attached to the company's project based in Trier for the whole of 2009. (For the record, Malaysian is able to enter Germany for a maximum of 3 months)

Each countries has their own set of procedures for visa or work permit application. It was really unfortunate that my application for work permit to the UK was rejected in August this year. (Hence, I was there only for 2 weeks). There were certain point system that was in placed (coupled with the infamous cases of Malaysian who "jump aeroplane" in UK) and although I was a genuine case whose application was submitted by a reputable UK company, I was in the end turned down. It must be a simple process then; Take a look at the form, checked the documentation and wa-la.... did not meet the requirement and therefore stamped as "Rejected". No consideration on other factors such as purpose of application, the company, the kind of work, the period etc... (For the record, Malaysian is able to enter the UK for a maximum period of 6 months on social or business visit).

Well, that chapter is closed now and I should now look forward to Germany instead. "Willkommen to Germany"...

Christmas in KL

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to everyone !! Christmas falls on a Thursday and with Monday being a public holiday in Malaysia, I get to enjoy continuous 5days off by taking leave on Boxing Day...Thats nice huh...

I have been back to KL since 15th Dec, after spending 2 weeks under the dreadful weather in London..That 2 weeks was an interesting chapter in my life.. I mean London is the place to be..with so many attraction and historical places to visit etc etc.. I must talk about it and show some pictures ... I'll do that in another posting..

In the meantime, I am posting some pictures of Christmas decor in KL. Shopping centres in KL are competing in trying to amaze shoppers with their creativity year after year and celebration after celebration. (wait till you see the Chinese New Year decor). Kudos goes to the respective Advertising and Promotion dept and to the managment for allocating huge budgets for all types of celebration.

White Christmas at One Utama

3 version of Xmas decor at Mid Valley

Xmas tree at KLCC concourse. So tall that I need to combine 2 shots..

p/s: On Saturday 27th Dec, The Star reported that Mid Valley won the grand prize in the Best Decorated Mall contest for Christmas 2008 for the 2nd consecutive year.

Welcome to London

I am so confused with the time now...My body is on KL time (3.30am Sunday) but its only 7.30pm Saturday here in London. I spent 12hours in the plane (watching 4 movies coz I am not the type that can sleep while travelling on the road or in the air) from KL to Heathrow Intl Airport (Terminal 3) and head straight by taxi (30mins ride) to a hotel in Weybridge, located South East of England. The fact that the sun set pretty early here in Europe, add more to my confusion state of mind. At 4pm, it was like 7.30pm back home. Temperature was at 4 degree celcius.

KL-Heathrow in 12 hours

I am here for 2 weeks on business trip, paying a visit to one of our inter-company and is looking forward to visit places of interest in London, approx less than an hour train ride from Weybridge. Being a stranger here, I am fortunate to have my KL colleague (who has spent close to 3mths here) to become my tour guide tomorrow. The plan is to do a lot of walking tomorrow (Sunday) + some serious shopping of branded stuffs (with fx rate of 5.5++ now), we might be able to save couple hundred ringgit. Anyone want to order anything?