twy’s blog!

OK, this blog is way way overdue. Was busy with some other stuff that I am doing right now. So, straight to the story.

Those that read my A Famosa Report would know that I was kinda late for the race. As for the Bukit Merah race, it was even worse. As to save some money, I didn’t stay at Bukit Merah. Instead, I travelled on Saturday to get my stuff (entry fee is more expensive than A Famosa, but less goodies in the bag?) and travelled again on Sunday morning for the race. And you know what? I woke up 1 hour late! Was suppose to leave the island at around 6am, arrive there at 7am. Instead, I woke up at 6am. Rushed like gila. One thing I learned from A Famosa was to get ready my stuff the night before. Good thing that this time I packed my stuff and bike into the car already. So all I had to do was to to dress up and go straight to the car. Picked my gf up and left. It was raining quite heavily on the way. I was hoping that they would delay the start because of the rain. However, the rain stopped half way on the way there, and I arrived around 7.30am. Quickly unpacked my stuff. Barely had time to warm up.

As I didn’t attend the briefing the night before (was there one?), I asked on Mat Salleh guy what is the swim route. Before that, I looked at the markers and it seemed pretty far. I thought that I only have to swim one lap. But he said that we have to swim 2 laps? I was like Huh? I remember from the Sprint that they had to swim one lap only, and theirs was 1km. Anyway, some VIP, as usual, flagged off the race. As usual, I started from the back. After a while, caught up with a few swimmers. But from then on, as usual again, mostly solo all the way. I forgot to spray the anti-fog onto my goggles, so had visibility problem all the way. I finished the same time as the first women to finish 2 laps! Looking at the results, her time was 31:17. Then I knew that it was definitely 1km per lap. Took a few breathers and went back in. Mr Chan was shouting at me and another guy to go straight into the water. But who cares, I’m the one swimming, not him. Went back in. I was starting to get tired, as I wasn’t prepared for the 2km swim. Came out in 1:05 hrs.

Slow jog to the transition area. However, there weren’t anyone to direct me on where to go. Again, probably I never attend the briefing. Anyway, as I was on the way out of Bukit Merah, the first guy, a Mat Salleh whom I found out later was French, was already on his way back. Man, this guy is fast. Cycling was pretty uneventful, although the route was nice. Pretty much solo all the way. The cycling route was less than 40km, about 36 or 37 km I believe. My time was 1:15 hrs.

As for the run, suffered all the way. It was starting to get quite hot as well. However, I ran more than A Famosa, which is a good thing. Again, nothing much to talk about. Time was a poor 1:15 hrs.

So, total time: 3:37:02. Compared to my A Famosa time, I think I improved a little. Overall, I am quite happy with my time. The swim distance messed things up a little, but nevertheless, it was quite a fun and enjoyable race.

Next up: Port Dickson International Triathlon 2007 report. Stay tuned!