2012 - The Power of Dream

I wouldn't have believed that until this day, I've completed 4 race events (with variety in distances) within 4 months of my very young and 'tender' running life. Thanks to that first '10k run on a treadmill in a hotel gym' 6 months ago, my life is now totally changed and I can proudly say to myself, 'Nothing is now impossible as long as you dream big and put one hell of an effort to achieve it'.

Just like the Honda tagline - The Power of Dreams..but with a big 'E' (effort) word to tag along it.

In honesty, masa dulu2..ana just berlari2 untuk menguruskan badan and also untuk meng'fit'kan diri yang sememangnya sejak kecik dah berada dalam bodyframe yang besar dan selalu semput2 ala2 enjin dah lama tak overhaul. In previous years, my ultimate max mileage would only be 8k of slow jog and itupun dah terasa sengsara nak habiskan. Sekarang ni, alhamdulillah..the mind and physical barrier of 21k or dalam bahasa canggih dier - Half Marathon, sudah ana pecahkan dalam last PNM2012 (Putrajaya Night Marathon) in Oct 2012. Bukan nak cakap sekarang ni that 8k distance is easy because you must always respect the distance even if it's only one short loop of 400m on a running track! Cuma sekarang ni, the mind and body can adapt easily if you train them properly and accordingly. One seasoned runner even told me, if you train hard, only the sky is your limit.

"Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be" - Dr. George Sheehan -

2012 bibs

So, untuk mereka2 yang dah lama berlari secara kasual tapi jauh di lubuk hati ada sekelumit niat nak meng'upgrade'kan the effort tu,my first suggestion yang tak berapa expert nih adalah untuk choose one race and register jer. By doing that, nak taknak kenalah training sebab dah bayar mahal untuk registration fee. And after that, along the way (i mean the training), you'll soon find that slowly and gradually, you'll awaken 'the runner' inside you. Same goes to the others. Be it yang kurus, gemuk dan berat, tinggi, rendah dan lebar, lelaki mahupun perempuan. Percayalah..deep inside each and everyone of us, there's always a 'runner' inside us and you just have to wake him up and see him go. Just like what happen to my younger bro. After ana cucuk2 dier join ana in one of the races (in the end he joined the 5k race in his maiden Royal Klang Run 2012), he completed the race in one piece, feeling satisfied and hungry for more. And now, after 3 months since that 'magical run', he is now training for a 10k run, comfortably and confidently. I won't even be surprised if he's now ready to run his first half marathon distance.

As for me, before I continue my running adventure in 2013, I couldn't just forget how much I've gone thru to be in this position and in the end, feeling awesome, healthier and met so many new acquaintances. I am really grateful that my family especially my wife supported me all the way in whatever that I do to achieve my goal whilst not forgetting my role as – a son, a husband and most importantly, as a father to a very beautiful baby daughter who were born last Nov 2012

She'll definitely be one of my inspiration and motivation to achieve my running goals..

My biggest adventure for year 2013 would be for me to get my first Full Marathon distance (42.195km) and its finishing tee. Bak kata mereka2 yang genius - nak memecahkan that 'Full Marathon Virgin' (FMV) title. So, setelah menelaah previous events in 2012, this target harap2lah dapat dicapai in May 2013 di Kota Kinabalu, Sabah dalam Borneo International Marathon 2013 sambil2 menghabiskan 2 HM before that. Hehe..In terms of preparation, I'm already at the early stage of it, adopting the Liz Yelling regime that I got from the 'The Ultimate Guide to Marathon Running - Third Edition'.

Of courselah bukan yang 3hrs 30mins or sub 2hrs 55mins tuh!!..hehe

Other major races that I plan to include in my 2013 would be:

• Multi-Purpose Insurans (MPIB) Run 2013 - The first event of the year (6 Jan 2013)
• Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2013
• Putrajaya Night Marathon 2013
• Penang Bridge International Marathon 2013 (I believe this would be on the new bridge)
• Standard Chartered Half Marathon Brunei (April 2013)
• Malakoff Run KL - (Nak conquer balik the 'hills have eyes' nih, InsyaAllah)
• Newton Challenge 2013 (this year punya tak sempat sebab on duty)
• and other races yang sememangnya banyak throughout the year. Tinggal sempat tak sempat jer nak join..

Akhir kata untuk tahun 2012 nih, if you strive for the best, you'll get the best. And jangan lupa untuk bertawakal bila kita dah berusaha sehabis baik untuk mencapai sesuatu sebab hanya Dia yang tahu apa yang terbaik untuk setiap daripada kita semua ini. :-)

My precious 2012 medals

May all of our dreams and wish come true. Like me, other than to complete my first full marathon, my other target is to improve my pace until I can run consistently and comfortably under 5:30min/km. If other people can do it, I can do it as well..or do it even better!!

Selamat Tahun Baru 2013 semua and see you all soon!!