A ROOKIE DUATHLETE'S MAIDEN RACE : 2016 POWERMAN ASIA DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS - MALAYSIA

Before the start of the race, beside the Transition Area

It was 3:30 am on 6th March 2016 and it was also stiflingly warm and humid.

Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead, nose and lips as I went about getting myself ready before How How would arrive to pick me up in an hour’s time to Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, the venue of this year’s Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships.

In just a few hours’ time, I would be crossing the start line along with 2,644 other participants and racing my first duathlon event in the “Short” category (Run – 5km, Cycle – 30km, Run – 5km in succession). Just thinking about all these, sent a rush of adrenaline through me and the blood started to throb in my temples. I had only slept for 2 hours due to a very upset tummy that had seen me commuting to the toilet at least once every hour. Until today, I had no idea what I had consumed to give me such bad diarrhea.

Undergoing intense training in Putrajaya with How How for company

“Today is The Day! This is It!”, I thought. After months of doing Brick Training and going through the motions of transitioning, I was ready. In fact, I was 120% ready and that was a good sign as I typically never sign up for anything without being well-prepared for it. For the benefit of readers who have never heard of Brick Training, it’s a type of workout where after a full bike ride, one immediately does a full run session. This kind of training is not unusual for people training for duathlons or triathlons. Sometimes, it can also involve doing a full run session first followed immediately by a full bike session and then followed by another full run session in succession. 

Bicycles neatly parked in the Transition Area in front of the Palace of Justice

I diverted my attention to running through the list of items I needed and ensuring they were packed neatly in their respective colored bags so I would not leave anything behind. In actual fact, this was a needless activity, as I had pre-packed everything a week in advance and had re-checked so many times, it would drive any person insane.

Yukiko and me in the Transition Area before the start of the race

With nothing else left to do except wait for my pickup, my thoughts wandered to Kew and how I came about doing my first duathlon in the first place. 

Kew, whom I met through the GCAM MY Team running group, had always been very supportive in my athlete abilities and encouraged me no end to challenge my limits. He was the only one of the group who continued running with me to complete > 42.2km during one of our training runs in Putrajaya, even in the heat and the haze. 

I will always remain grateful to him for that because as a result of that run, I managed a breakthrough that would see me running my best and strongest compared to all the prior years.

Cycling along the Putrajaya Highway during training weekends

I had bought a bicycle initially, to cross-train and maintain my fitness as I couldn’t run much after sustaining a long drawn-out painful foot injury. My real aim was to enjoy life riding recreationally for health and fitness. I was not interested in competing in any duathlons or any other race involving cycling, much to the disappointment of some of my friends who automatically assumed I would join a duathlon once I got a bike. Hehe.

Checking out the Transition Area after Bib Collection on Race Day Eve

Anyway, even as his condition deteriorated, Kew was always persistent in encouraging me to do a duathlon during our chats so much so that I found myself inevitably mulling over it. One day, I woke up and thought to myself, why don’t I just do one for the sake of seeing his reaction.

So I chose to sign up for the Powerman Asia Duathlon because of it’s reputation of being a well-organized race. But I would go for the “Short” or better known as the Sprint category as it was my first duathlon and I am a strong believer of starting from the bottom and progressing incrementally upwards. However, I also knew from the moment I registered for this category and also from past racing experience, that short distance does not mean easier, it means you have to go harder and faster as the pace will be even more intense. So I had crafted my training around this concept while preparing for it in the months before the race.

I remembered walking into Kew’s hospital room in the last few weeks before his death and breaking the news to him. I remembered seeing the light come into his eyes and watching his face brighten into a huge smile and him saying, “Well, now, isn’t it about time? And let me tell you, I may not be here to watch but I know you will do very, very well. In fact, you will do so well, that you will progress to many more events. A triathlon will be next eh?” It was all I could do to hold back my tears.

Kew then became animated and alive when he started to talk about sports and recounted how, in his own words, he was actually “foolhardy enough” to sign up for a Half Ironman event without even having done a single triathlon yet. Gosh, talk about courage and being an inspiration, this guy had it! 

I promised Kew I would do my best and complete my first duathlon.

I left the hospital that day knowing that I would do this race in his honour. 2 weeks’ later, he passed away and regretfully, I was unable to attend his funeral as I had to travel outstation at that time for a pre-booked holiday. But How How will tell you that I spent most of the holiday trying hard to mask my miserable feelings and pretending to smile for the camera. I fear I will never forgive myself for not sending him off with a proper goodbye.

My phone rang, jerking me out of my thoughts. How How had arrived in his dad’s 4WD and it was time to load the bike into the car and get going. The agreement was Yukiko, my bike, was to be brought to the race venue in one piece without separating her front wheel. It would then be an easy load and unload and off to the Transition Area to check her in, before meeting the rest of the AGRR team members also participating in the event, before the start. It would also be easier to reload her onto the car and drive off quickly as we had to attend one of How How’s friend (Liew)’s baby full moon luncheon in Klang.

With AGRR Team Members before the start of the race

Thank goodness we started our journey early as the parking lot still had plenty of space when we arrived but was filling up fast and looking at the traffic cones placed along the road, it wouldn’t be long before road closure would be enforced. We bumped into Jamie Pang who was coincidentally parked right next to us in the parking lot. After a quick hello, we joined the rest of the participants wheeling their bikes in the direction of the transition area for bike check-in. 

With the AGRR Team Members in
high spirits before the race

Along the way, we met Jeremy and Yuen Ting who had also parked in the same area and was heading in the same direction. However, my tummy started to signal again and I had to stop for a toilet break before proceeding to the transition area.

Yukiko is safely "docked" in the bike transition area

Before allowing us to check-in our bikes at the transition area, officials had us first wear our helmets at the entrance and it had to be inspected for quality. Then we had to present our bikes for inspection of brakes, pedals and whether we had any electronic device installed on the bike as that was not allowed.

Laying out the items that I would need for a smooth transition in order

I got through the screening without much ado and quickly found my “docking station” for Yukiko according to my bib number. As luck would have it, it was the first slot after the sign for that entire row of bikes. I then set myself to the task of laying out all the items I would need during each transition in meticulous order. Once that was done, there was nothing else left to do. 

Sharing a light moment with the AGRR Team and Supporters before the start of the race

So I hung around with the AGRR team members and supporters before the start taking photos and having our photos taken by professional photographers, event photographers and our own supporters. There was a very relaxing atmosphere present and except for one last toilet break (thankfully the last one!) I didn’t feel in the least bit nervous or anxious at all.

Cheering the AGRR team members in the "Classic" 
category from the sidelines

Soon, it was time to flag off the “Classic” category who would be doing a 10km Run followed by a 60km Ride and another 10km Run immediately after. Members of the AGRR team who were in this category entered the race corral while we stood at the sidelines to cheer and support. You could feel the atmosphere was electrically charged up with excitement. Everyone was in high spirits. The gun sounded and the “Classic” participants were off on their adventure.

Flagged off at a fast and furious pace

Next, it was the “Short” category to flag off. Looking at the huge number of participants, I quickly entered the race corral so that I wouldn’t end up standing too far back from the front to avoid being blocked by human bodies when I started my sprint. I needed to finish this race as quickly as possible so that I could make it back home in time to freshen up before traveling to Klang with How How to his friend’s luncheon.

That All-serious, don't-mess-with-me look,
I focused on reaching the end point as quickly as possible

The gun went off and the heat was on! I ran so fast that I could not see the ground passing by before me. In fact, I could not see anyone that I passed at all. My mind was totally focused on getting to the transition area as quickly as possible. I had rehearsed the run route many times before so I was familiar with the terrain. After tearing down the final short slope and heading back to the Palace of Justice, the transition area finally came in sight. There were ample volunteers directing runners the right way.

Entering the Transition Area

Getting ready to roll out of the transition area

To avoid confusion on race day, I had made careful mental notes of where exactly to enter and exit the transition area and the exact position of my bike within the transition area, the day before, after the race pack collection. This extra measure proved to be a boon as I entered the transition with ease and went swiftly through the calculated motions of transitioning onto my bike as I had practiced endlessly before.

Finally, I rolled off with Yukiko and the breeze on my face and bare arms and legs was a cool respite from the stifling heat. Yukiko and me flew down the tarmac with ease having already had rider-bike integration after almost a year of riding together.

Rolling off with Yukiko

Again, the bike course was already familiar to me as I had practiced riding the route countless times over the past months with How How and sometimes Ken Seow during our intense training. I knew exactly where to push and where to cut back. The only surprise was instead of taking the u-turn where normally we would head up the flyover before doubling back along the highway, we had to use a makeshift platform u-turn directly below the flyover. I slowed down a bit at the u-turn to get onto the wooden platform and over to the other side before picking up the pace again. 

Bike and Rider Integrated

Along the way, I noticed there were ample water stations. However, I had to avoid a lot of empty plastic mineral water bottles strewn about the road by some unscrupulous, irresponsible riders who after finishing their drink, would just discard the empty bottle onto the road. Rolling over one might jeopardize my tires so I’d prefer to safely avoid them just in case.

A 30km bike ride is very short and pretty soon, the Palace of Justice was back in sight. I slowed down to enter the Transition Area and begin my final leg of the race, the 5km Run. Transitioning with ease, I started to run out of the Transition Area. 

On my final Run Leg of the race

I managed to spot and wave at How How, nearly tripped over a makeshift road bump but managed to right myself in time and continued my run.

As expected, and also during my training, this final run segment would be the worst and there would be pain and suffering. Especially after doing the 1st run segment and the bike segment at high speed, I knew I would pay dearly for this during the 2nd run segment.

My legs felt like cotton wool and seemed to have a mind of their own, but I held my ground and using my past road running race experience, used my mind to control my legs and the rest of my body to stay as near as possible to the furious pace of the 1st run segment. With the rising hot sun, the heat also escalated and added to the challenge with trying to match the earlier pace.
   

Struggling to keep the same pace as the 1st run leg

No smiles on my face now. All I wanted was to have this race over and done with, and sit under a tree with an ice-cream and lots of iced coconut water!

The last hill was pure agony and my muscles were screaming in protest at a 4 min + pace. I continued to push and finally rounded the last corner towards the finish line.

I guess the exhaustion suddenly took it’s toll then. From lack of sleep to dehydration from diarrhea to high speed racing, my vision suddenly got affected and I could not see the signage showing the arrow pointing towards the finish line. I thought the finish line was the same as the start line. How silly of me! Thank God for a volunteer who shouted “Finish Line this way!” and I suddenly realized I was supposed to run towards the centre of the road towards the finish line instead. 

Boy, was I glad to see the Finish Line!

Once directions had been made clear, it was an all-out to the finish and in 1 hour 48 min and 53 seconds. It was over, or so I thought! I walked over to receive my finisher’s medal before collapsing against How How and then moving off to the Recovery Area for Drinks. As I couldn’t stomach any food yet, I gave my food to How How and we went in search of the AGRR team supporters.

Finally received my Finisher's medal

Kew, this race is for you!

Seated beside the road cheering and waving on the remaining team members who had yet to complete their race, I got back a little of my appetite and accepted a banana and a few more drinks. It was great seeing the race in progress in the cool shade of the day. AGRR team supporters had brought sandwiches and roasted chicken even for us. So nice of them!

  

The AGRR Support Team were great!

I was enjoying the race scene when suddenly, Yuen Ting mentioned that the results were already out and one could check them online. My phone was having some problems so I asked her to check for me and she sent the results via the Whatsapp chat group.

  

With Kok Leong, who also finished his first Powerman Duathlon race

With Nancy who completed her first competitive race event and also her first duathlon!

I looked at the screen shot of my results and then did a double-take and had to zoom-in for a closer look for there it stated that I was in 1st position in my age category and 8th position amongst all females in the “Short” category. I could hardly believe my eyes!

This is a mistake eh? That was my first thought. I had only meant to participate in this for Kew’s sake and do it as fast as possible for How How’s sake. Oh no, if this is true, then that would mean I would be late for Liew’s luncheon as I had to wait for the prize-giving ceremony!
  

Receiving my Champion trophy on stage with the 1st Runner Up

I informed How How who, by the way, either from the heat or from lack of sleep, was having trouble digesting this sudden piece of news. Anyway, he had already prepared for this eventuality of not being able to attend his friend’s luncheon party. 

All smiles on the winner's faces. What a nice surprise.

I had to leave the rest of the AGRR members and supporters to go to the stage area for a long wait in the hot sun for the prize-giving. I guess, a sun-burn was one of the other things I received that day other than my trophy. I heard later, the rest of the team all finished despite the fierce heat which came on strongly in midday. Well done to all of them!

Overall, it was a well-organized race. A good experience for my first duathlon coupled with that nice surprise thrown in at the end. 

Sometimes, good things happen when you least expect them to.

  

My trophy.. A momento of my 1st Duathlon race

I would like to think that Kew’s prediction came true as well. It wasn’t easy, to be honest, especially racing with other more experienced duathletes in the short but fast category. In any case, I did my best and I fulfilled my promise to Kew in the process. To me, that was all that mattered.

And yes…. In the end, we did not make it for Liew’s baby full moon luncheon as the prize-giving ceremony ended late. I am truly sorry to him for that.

Photo courtesy of Cycling Malaysia Magazine

*Note : Photos in this blog post are a combination of photos from friends, my own mobile cam and courtesy of some event photographers.