The Power factor

On the morning Nov 14 2010 Sunday, standing on the start line of Powerman Malaysia in Sri Manjung, I was ready to take on the challenge of completing a Duathlon.

Start line. Background is the Majlis Perbandaran Sri Manjung's Mini Stadium

The main challenge of this race is the unbearable Lumut heat. It was very fortunate for me as for my first attempt in doing this, it actually rained in the morning prior to the start of race. The rain slowed to a drizzle and eventually stopped before race starts. The cool surrounding temperature helps to make this a little easier.

At 7:50am sharp, my category was flagged off. Before that, the Individual Full Distance had been flagged off at 7.30am and the Relay Full Distance was off at 7.40am. The Full Distance category will do an 11km run, 64km bike followed by a 10km run. As for me, I was in the Sprint, supposedly meant for beginners. Everything was halved of the full distance.

Started the first run feeling alright. Target to run at anything below 5:45mins/km pace, and I managed to do that. After about 2.5k, we pass by this Malay stall selling kuih and ayam percik. Who on earth eat ayam percik at 8am in the morning?! We had to run through the smoke coming from the grilled chicken. Hmmm, the aroma gives me POWER! Haha. I was pretty happy with my first run because I met target. :)

End the run as I approach the transition area.

End of first run: Running into the transition area

At the transition area, Andrew was the first to call out to me. He was happily waving to me and manage to snap of photo of me too (pic above). Ran to my bike, put on the helmet. I still have time to tidy up my hair a little, haha…coz some of the shorter hair stuck out everywhere from under the helmet.

With Vitus in transition area

Pushed the bike out of the transition area and out I go on the bike. I am a minimalist on the bike. First, I don't own a bike (this one loan punya), I don't have a bike computer to check cycling speed and no bike shoe. But it doesn't matter lar, I am very happy having this bike and able to do races like this. It is always good to be content with what one have instead of always wanting what one don't have. On the cycling route, head wind was strong throughout the whole 32km. It was an out-and-back, I assume that if the wind appear as headwind when I go, then it should be a tailwind on my way back but that is not the case. Both ways I had to fight headwind, which makes cycling harder. People kept over-taking me. I get to check all their nice bikes, and all of them look so cool and comfortable on their aero-position. At that moment, how I wish I have an aerobar too :(

The last bridge before the turn back point is a steep climb. I am not a fan of hills, I find them so hard to conquer. Slowed down tremendously, especially the second climb after turning back at the u-turn point. Bike was no fun. The road wasn't exactly in a good condition, almost the whole course has cracks on it.

I saw a couple of bikes stopped by the road side along the way, most of them got a punctured tire. Such an unfortunate thing to happen during a race. I felt so lucky that up to this point, I’m still safe. There was a road sign, "7km to Petronas", which also means I am about 7km away from the end of bike leg. I was talking to myself "Please please let me end this 7km safely".

At one point, I saw MeeLan on the side of the opposite of the road. She called out to me. I thought she had a punctured but after some shouting between us, found that she actually had a cramp. The cramp was so bad and wouldn't go away that she didn't manage to complete. No problem, try again next year MeeLan. Come back stronger!

Alas, I reached back to the transition area safely. Temperature was rising even though it was a cloudy sky. Hang up the bike back to the designated spot, remove the helmet, put on my cap and I’m ready to go for the last run.

End of bike and start of 2nd run

Can’t recall much about the last run. I just remember that I kept telling myself "it’s just 5km to end this". And so I kept running. Again, have to run pass the ayam percik smoke. Yummy! I stopped and walk for a short while at all 3 water stations while I drink water. It was so refreshing to have that cup of ice-cold water down the throat. It was already quite hot at that time, around 9.30am. I felt myself recharged after each of those water station, and that kept me going.

As soon as I cross the finishing line, I saw my parents standing not too far away, mum holding an umbrella. I guess they didn’t know which finishing line I’d be crossing, so they just randomly find a spot and stand...haha.

I got a medal, a towel soaked in ice-water and a bottle of mineral water for completing the race. And of course a whole lot of sense of achievement.

Overall I was happy with the result, 2hr 4mins wasn't too bad a time. I'd say that the race is not really too tough because in most of the trainings, I did it with the bunch of fit people who sign-up for the full distance. I've done longer distances in training with them, although I don't usually take training seriously. I slack and curi ayam whenever I'm tired because all this while, it has never occurred to me that I will do this kind of multi-sport. I join their training just for fun. Eventually, after some psycho psycho from fellow training members, I end up doing Powerman.

Completed a Powerman, I am now a Powerpuff girl...haha. Thanks to Ah Mak for giving me that title. I think it is so cute for Ah Mak to associate Powerman with Powerpuff girl :)