JANAMANJUNG FELLOWSHIP RIDE 2008

With the heat of 160km century ride that i did on early July, i decided to partipate into this first year of 143km ride organise by Janamanjung. This event is held in my hometown and i definately wont be missing it.

We start off at Teluk Rubiah, a spectacular golf resort with nice beaches. We will be hitting the first climb right after heading out Teluk Rubiah Resort and there will be no uphill till KM60. Right after the climb, we will be passing by one of the biggest power station in Malaysia. Next, we will be passing by Seri Manjung, a develop town that is currently rising up fast before hitting into open road with kampungs, scenic route with rubber and oil palm plantations towards the only rest stop in the whole ride at Pasir Salak.

It was relaltively flat and little downhill all the way. After Seri Manjung, we will be passing by Lekir and Kayan (the last town in Manjung district) fill with rubber and oil palm plantations. After Kayan, we will be heading to Seberang Perak, a felcra estate that most of the land is cover with "padi" - malaysia national food (rice).

On KM60, there will be a short steep climb right after Seberang Perak before reaching Pasir Salak. There is food, drinks waiting for us in Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak for us to refuel before hitting the road again to Bota via Kg.Gajah.

Another spectacular route with kampungs view all the way from Kg.Gajah to Bota, another old small town in Perak. After Bota, we will turn into the main road between Sitiawan-Ipoh with double lanes wide. Suspected the wind is going to pick up where most of the surrounded area is widely open.

Titi Gantung is the next town we will be passing by as most of the people here mostly works in plantations division. Soon we be arriving into Ayer Tawar, a town that split into two (right and left) where the main road was build through right into the middle of the town.

About 20km to go, we will be passing by beside Sitiawan town before reaching back into Seri Manjung town which we have start from earlier. The finish line is back into the Teluk Rubiah Resort.

This whole ride may take up to 6 hours. Imagine 6 hours on the saddle may cause your neck, shoulder, hand, thigh sore and numb.

No pain, no gain.

The night before

There is a ride briefing by the marshall on the night before the ride. I'm suprise with the names thats on the board - Team LETUA and ARMED FORCES group is participating, i believe tomorrow ride will be mostly control by them. There is also Ipoh riders, Kulim riders (MKH), local Janamanjung riders and our Manjung riders. Few solo riders also can be seen around the area that couldnt wait this first ever ride organise by Janamanjung.

After the registration and goodies bag collection, I begin to felt I just couldnt wait till tomorrow. After the briefing about the route, safety, water stations stop, I left and begin to gear up my bike, supplies, fluid and power gels. I slept early for the night for a good rest.

RACE DAY stories ahead! Stay tuned!

The night before (Century Ride 2008)

It was 1 week left for the Century Ride 2008 after my first Ipoh International Run.

Everything was prepared as earlier as possible (3 days before)- the bike, gearing, tools, jersey, power gel, muscle cream and the leg’s muscle of course.

On Saturday, I and Yong decided to go down to Ipoh earlier to collect the goodies bag and race tag number for all Sitiawan participant.

We travel at 3pm and once we at the race secretariat area, we were told that the jersey provided has run out of sizes. S and XS is the only size left to be collect. We collect for total of 19 participant and begin to feel the heat of tomorrow race. Lots of national, state riders were hanging around at the hotel lobby.

Once we left with the goodies bag in our hand (all 19), we drive our self to our accommodation (arrange by our coach Kong Hing) It was a great place, with 6 rooms and fully air condition with TV provided.

We unloaded our bikes and begin to look for food while we waiting for others to arrive. Team TNB came early and took their goodies bag together with their race number. Pangkor Kheong is next to take the goodies bag as he is staying overnight at a different location.

Ah Chui, Rafi, Kumar arrive not long and we have our self loaded with carbohydrate. Nasi Goreng Ayam, Roti Canai is among our carbohydrate loading.

Soon we are heading back and rest for the night. At 12am, I woke up due to loud noise outside of my room door. And then I realized, Hamid, Remy, Jasni, Kong Hing and Ming Meng is all here. I tag my race tag number on the helmet/bike the same night and we managed to chat for a while before heading back to sleep.

RACE DAY stories coming up soon. Do Wait!

Century Ride 2008

3 more days to the ultimate challenge of cycling. The century ride 2008 is finally here.

Confirm participants list representing "MANJUNG". We come from all different type of culture, religions, races but we all are ONE! This is the true cycling spirit.


Nor young or old, Nor tall or short, Nor black of white, Nor strong or weak, we all are ONE!


Representing Sitiawan
Yong (domestic rider)
Albert (backup rider)
Kong Hing (coach)


Representing Manjung
Ah Chui (time trialist)
Remy (climber)
Kumar (climber)
Rafi (climber)
Jasni (domestic)


Representing Pantai Remis
Eng Chong (solo rider)


Representing Ayer Tawar
Ming Meng (sprinter)


Representing Pangkor
Hwa Hong (endurance rider)
Kheong (endurance rider)


Representing TNB Janamanjung
Zaki, Jefri, Wan, Raja, Faudzi and Azhar.

TOGETHER we make it GREAT!

IPOH INTERNATIONAL RUN 2008

ITS HERE! ITS HERE!

After a long wait, its finally here. This is my first time joining the IPOH INTERNATIONAL RUN 2008. 10km it’s the distance I’m gonna do it for thi s year. I registered myself early June to book my placing in this event.

Before the event, I was training almost everyday, 5km – 8km in distance. The last 10km non-stop run I did was last year on the Powerman event which I was in walking pace for the last 4km.

Can I do it this year? I don’t know.

On Saturday, the night before the big event, I was gearing up all my necessary clothing, power bar, isotonic drinks and travel down to Ipoh for a stay.
July 6

Sunday. I couldn’t sleep well, probably too excited for the event and finally woke up as early at 4.30am. Gearing up and getting myself into running attire and begin to travel to Stadium Ipoh for the start/finish area.

There were thousand of participant already warming up and couldn’t wait for the race to start. International participant also can be seen especially from Kenya, Thailand and Africa.
Getting myself into registration area and registered myself on the 10km run.

5.30AM
I begin to warm up with Kheong (Pangkor), stretching my legs muscle and consume myself a bottle of 100plus. Being too excited before the race begin, I make my way twice to the washroom.

6.50AM
All participant for 21km and 10km Men’s Open, Woman’s Open, Veteran categories were call to the start line before the gun blow’s off exactly on 7am.

7.00AM
BOMB! The gun fires and the race start. I was in the middle of the pack and begin to push the front row to move. It took me about 2 minutes to free myself from the heavily pack after 300m into the race.

I begin to push myself hard and my heart rate monitor begin to sound when I hit 1km mark. I was worried and begin to slow down the pace. Lots of runners passes me by my side (right and left) and I begin to drop to the back.

I keep on running on my pace and hoping to complete the whole 10km without walking. I go on and on and somewhere in 4km mark, I begin to realize there is lots of others runner slowing down and drop to walking pace.

I can feel my leg is still strong and I begin to push myself again. Passes the Ipoh Parade roundabout, I feel great and carry on to move forward, overtaking one runner and on runner.
Water Station ahead but I did not manage to grab any cause there is too many participant queuing up for it. Instead of stopping and take turn to grab the drinks, I go on without looking back.

I was not told about the route and decided to keep my normal pace before pushing myself all out for the last 2-3km.

On the first turn back to the Stadium Ipoh, there is a sign showing “6KM”. I was surprise with the time I did till 6KM sign, I shouldn’t be that slow. I was actually mistakenly thought it a was 6KM to go but it suppose to be mean that I’m already at 6KM point.

Without blowing myself all out, I keep on running and pass the Polo Ground area.

Another water station ahead, but instead of giving out water, they giving you sponge with water to cool down. I grab 2 sponge and drain myself with the cold water on my neck, hand and thigh.
On the Army area roundabout, I saw the 5KM and 7KM distance runners joining with us and I realize that the finish line will not be that far anymore.

I push myself hard and started to make my way to as front as possible. With the runners from 5KM and 7KM distance joining my route, its sometimes impossible to passes them as most of them were walking, talking on the phone. There is a few times I have to budge into them to go through.

There is another water station ahead but with less than 2KM to finish line, forget about the water, I’m aiming for the finish line.

I go all out and my heart rate boost up to 200 per minute causing me almost black out for a second. I crosses the finish line at the time of 1hour and 9mins beating the time limit of 1hour 20mins.

I was extremely happy that I did it my actual first 10km in a race within time limit.
It was a hard day but its worth it. 13000 participant from all around the world joining this Ipoh International Run 2008 for 21km, 10km, 7km and 5km distance.

Joining again next year? That’s for sure!