I'm listening to a CD which my friend from the UK bought for me- "Who Killed the Zutons?" Excellent stuff!

Wednesday's Fellowship Run was good, even if there weren't as many runners as I would have like to see in KLCC park. I do miss the gang. It would have been nice to see regulars like Rohaizad, Yong, even Draco and Newton. Still, the other regulars like Kenneth, Jamie, Ronnie, and Adam were there. I started out one lap with Adam and Kenneth before Ronnie joined us and embarked on a fast pace. I completed 9 laps.

Thursday- It took 3 calls to finally decide whether to head to Kampung Pandan for Thursday track. My indecision was due to the fact that it was raining in USJ from 430pm onwards, and I wondered whether it was raining in KL. It is a fairly long drive down to KL and I didn't want to waste my trip. I spoke to Jamie at first, who told me that the weather was good. Some 30 minutes later, I called Ronnie for his take on the weather situation, and he told me that while it was gloomy, it should be ok for track. At 520pm, I called Der KNN man and he told me that it still hasn't rained in KL yet although it was rather dark. Bear in mind that it was still raining in USJ at that time. I drove out to check on the traffic around 530pm and saw that the jam was really bad. That was enough to finally make up my mind, and I decided to run at MPSJ instead. Kenny Tan also joined me. All in all, we ran around 10k, comprising of 6k worth of speed work, 4k worth of warming-up and cooling down. The weather was perfect- by 6pm the rain had stopped and it was nice and cool. It gave us the opportunity to really let it rip in our workouts.

My childhood friend (who is a practicing Doctor in the UK, and doing extremely well) is back in KL to attend my wedding and I'm gonna have a good night out with him, so I won't be running today. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow evening as well, soI may not be able to run either. Unless of course I run sometime in the afternoon. And that is assuming I've recovered from tonight's exertions ; )

Short posting

Tuesday's track session was rather subdued with very few runners present. I think most of the triathletes are resting from their exertions of the Powerman which was held on Sunday. Kenny Tan wasn't around; he was away for a holiday. Der KNN man was missing too.

When I arrived around 550pm, I was surprised to find that Eugene (Coach's son) was already there. He usually arrives after 7pm. Shortly after, another surprise- at around 610pm, Coach was there too!

It was good to see some familiar faces. I was feeling slightly stressed, so running and chatting with the blokes- Ronnie, Adam and John was a perfect antidote. We warmed up together, before proceeding with the workout, which consisted of: 1x2000m, 1x1200m, 1x800m, 8x400m. Thereafter was a warm down of 5 laps. Tiring stuff, but rewarding. And, track work is much easier when you have a bunch of friends to suffer together with you.

Plan for today? Heading to KLCC for the Fellowship Run.

I can't wait to watch Jessica Alba's new movie where she prances around in a bikini!

I got a new job.

I'm back to being a lawyer, after almost 1.5 years away.

The office will be located very near my matrimonial home, which is good. Distance? About 2.3k. Office is at D'sara Heights.

I start after my honeymoon.

My new running place will probably have to be Lake Gardens. I've never liked that loop around the lake, so I'm hoping that Adam or Yaziz (both of whom are very familiar with Lake Gardens) will be able to show me a more interesting route.

Went to watch the Buena Vista Club gig last night at KL Hilton. Good performance, although in my opinion the crowd was rather subdued. I think this had to do with the fact that it was held on the worst day of the week- Monday. Plus the setting of the gig wasn't really conducive for the crowd. There was a stage and the crowd were standing, something like a rock concert. If the performance was held in a more conducive environment, maybe a lounge of some sort, it would have been better. Speaking of the crowd, many who were present are the usual Malaysian Tatler fodder. Bunch of snobbish, snooty upper class wankers, who are there just to pose. Typical of them.

Running? I've not been running that much, although I did manage a 10k yesterday, in a breezy pace of 49:25.

I'm feeling blue

Obi-Wan: Chancellor (bows)

Anakin: Are you alright?

Palpatine: Count Dooku...

(Count Dooku sommersaults down)

Obi-Wan: This time we will do it together.

Anakin: I was about to say that.

Palpatine: Get help, you're no match for him. He's a Sith Lord.

Obi-Wan: Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our speciality.

Count Dooku: Your swords please. We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor.

Obi-Wan: You won't get away this time, Dooku (switches on lightsaber)

(Anakin switches on lightsaber)

(Count Dooku switches on lightsaber)

(Anakin and Obi-Wan simultaneously attack Count Dooku but Count Dooku expertly deflects all the attacks with consumate ease)

Count Dooku: (smiling) I've been looking forward to this.

Anakin: My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count.

Count Dooku: (smiling) Good, twice the pride, double the fall!

(Both Anakin and Obi-Wan attack but Count Dooku, once again, has little trouble deflecting their attacks. Count Dooku then unleashes the Force towards Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan falls to the ground. Anakin takes a wild swing at Count Dooku and Count Dooku easily avoids that swing. Anakin then takes Count Dooku alone. Obi-Wan gets up and joins Anakin in attacking Count Dooku. Count Dooku manages to use the Force to strangle Obi-Wan, lifting him off the ground, while kicking Anakin completely off balance. Count Dooku then flings Obi-Wan all the way across the room, hitting the railing and falling onto the floor, rendering him unconscious. Count Dooku then uses the Force to pin Obi-Wan down with part of the balcony)

(Anakin gets up and then kicks Count Dooku down and they engage in another swordfight. They lock horns at one point for around 10 seconds, where neither can get the better of each other)

Count Dooku: I sense much fear in you, Skywalker. You have hate, you have anger, but you do not use them.

(The fighting continues, culminating in Anakin severing both of Count Dooku's hands. Count Dooku now kneels before Anakin, with Anakin holding 2 lightsabers to Count Dooku's neck)

Palpatine: (laughing with joy) Good, Anakin, good! Kill him. Kill him now.

Anakin: I shouldn't.

Palpatine: Do IT!

(Anakin severs Count Dooku's head)

Palpatine: You did well, Anakin. He was too dangerous to be kept alive.

Anakin: I know but it is not the Jedi way. He was an unarmed prisoner.

Palpatine: It is only natural. He cut off your arm and you wanted revenge. It wasn't the first time. Remember what you told me about your mother and the sand people?

(Thus planting the seed towards Anakin's descent to the Dark Side)

I'm more powerful than the Emperor, I can overthrow him!

Yoda: I hear a new apprentice you have, Emperor. Or should I call you Darth Sidious?

Emperor: Master Yoda, you survived.

Yoda: Surprised?

Emperor: Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda. Now, you will experience the full power of the Dark Side!!! (unleashes lightning from hands. The lightning hits Yoda and flings him to the wall, where he temporarily passes out, before regaining consciousness)

I have been waiting a long time for this, my little green friend. HEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHHH!

At last the Jedi are no more.

Yoda: Not if anything to say about it, I HAVE!!! (unleashes the Force that flings the Emperor across the room, hitting his chair)

At an end your rule is, and not short enough it was.

(Emperor tries to run away, but Yoda blocks his path)

If so powerful are you, why run? (switches on his lightsaber)

Emperor: You will not stop me! Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us! (switches on his lightsaber)

Yoda: Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced may be, as is your faith in the Dark Side of the Force.

(Yoda jumps forward and attacks the Emperor, and so begins the battle between the 2 heads/leaders of their respective Orders)

Now, you will experience the full power of the Dark Side

Anakin: LIAR! YOU'RE WITH HIM! You brought him here to kill me! (Uses the Force to strangle Padme)

Padme (choking): Anakin....no....no

Obi-Wan: Let her go, Anakin! LET...HER..GO!

(Anakin releases Padme, and Padme falls to the ground, lying motionless)

Anakin: You turned her against me!!!

Obi-Wan: You have done that yourself!

Anakin (filled with rage): YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER FROM ME!

Obi-Wan: Your anger and your lust for power have already done that. You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind, until now, until now, you have become the very thing you swore to destroy.

Anakin: Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan. I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the Dark Side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security to my new empire.

Obi-Wan: Your "new empire"???

Anakin: Don't make me kill you.

Obi-Wan (exasperated): Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!!!

Anakin: If you're not with me, then you're my enemy.

Obi-Wan: Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must.

Anakin: YOU WILL TRY.

(And so begins the titanic battle between Jedi Master and his former pupil-turned-evil)

PJ Half report

If I had to make a comparison between last week's Putrajaya Half and yesterday's PJ Half, the former would win hands down in terms of organisation, route, aesthetics, and just the general overall enjoyment value of the event.

Other than my plan of running 21km in what would be regarded for me as a tempo pace, (i.e under 5:00 per km pace) I had no specific goal. I had run rather leisurely in Putrajaya at a pace above 5:00 per km pace, and so I thought Ii should run a little faster, though not to the point of exhaustion.

I arrived at Kelana Jaya around 6:00 am and after giving my reporting card to the officials, I headed to the starting line and began my stretches and warm-ups. Up to that point I didn't see anyone I recognised, until I saw Li Sar running by, and in quick sucession, Yong, Rohaizad and Sim. I chatted with Sim briefly before heading to the starting line, which to me appeared to comprise very few competitors (today's Star reported that some 4000 runners participated but it certainly didn't look that way in the 21k). It was there that I saw Adam, Kenneth and Kelvin standing together.

The race started at 630am. As usual there was a mad rush at the start. Nothing much to report but I did get a shock when I saw that my time at the supposed 2km mark was 6:48. That would be equivalent to a 3:24 per km pace! I'm pretty sure that the distance marker was inaccurate, though, because I certainly did not feel like I was running that pace.

On to the Federal Highway, we were "treated" to the exhaust fumes of vehicles that were on the road. As usual there were some idiots on the road, honking us. Like last year, I saw Arul Thevar on the other side of the road. Although it didn't look like he was running fast, he was flying. These fellas make it look so easy, like they're out for a stroll in the park.

After passing the flyover, I was on the road leading to the old airport. On that road, just as I was running underneath the flyover, Chen passed me and told me he started late. He really looked like a man on a mission, running his heart out. I decided not to chase him. Still, there was this tall Caucasian fella (like Andreas's height) who was some 10 meters ahead of me, and this was going on since the 4km mark. I decided that I will use him as my pacer. Let's just refer to this tall Caucasian fella as "Kwai Lou Koh Lou" for here onwards.

It also started raining at this point. I tucked my cap at the back of my shorts shortly after 3km into the run, but with the rain pouring it was an appropriate time for me to wear it again. Thank goodness! It would have been difficult if the rain was pelting my face.

I overtook the Kwai Lou Koh Lou near the Hyatt Saujana mark, and held on for some 2 minutes before he overtook me again! At the old airport roundabout, I overtook him and this time I held on for some time. I thought that I will wait to make the u-turn before I really surged. So, we continued running and I thought we had almost reached the u-turn point, but there was no sign of it! Arrggh! The u-turn was still quite far ahead! I continued running, until I finally reached the u-turn at Terminal 3. Before making that turn, I saw that Ronnie was already on the other side of the road.

Anyway after making that u-turn in which we were given ribbons, I was about to bein my surge when the Kwai Lou Koh Lou overtook me and pressed on the pace! He gained a 20 meter lead. I knew then I had to respond and I managed to catch up with him. His breathing sounded a bit laboured by then and I knew he was there for the taking. Perhaps he surged too much too soon, and that knocked the stuffing out of him. By the sponge station just before the roundabout, I already overtook him. I heard him screaming for "WATER!!! WATER!!!" to which the boy scouts on duty there said "Sorry, no drinks, only sponge".

I ran as evenly paced as I could, and when I reached the final water station, I saw Azwar, who was taking photos. He shouted words of encouragement and told me that there was 2km left. I was pretty dead at the time and I thought "No lah, probably more than 2km to the finish". I also hoped that there weren't any silly shots of me (as it turned out, there was! I looked terrible! Haha!). It was during that time that I realised that this year's route was definitely 21km, because it seemed longer, with the u-turn only made at Terminal 3.

Back to the Kelana Jaya stadium, I completed the 21km in 1:42.08, a satsifying time for me because I achieved my goal of running under a 5:00 pace. I think I'm in reasonable shape considering my busy schedule and lack of training time. It is 10 minutes faster than last week's Putrajaya run, so it is all gearing up nicely. Who knows, maybe I'll run 10 minutes faster (1:32) in Singapore!!! Haha we'll see.

Hung around after the race to drink lots of water, and took some photos with the gang. A satisfying start to my Sunday, which wasn't over by any means. I had other things to do. Met with parents for breakfast, took them to my apartment, spent some time with Jeanne, before heading home.

Putrajaya Half and other ramblings

First and foremost, I must commend the organizers on the Putrajaya Half Marathon held last Sunday. The event turned out to be much better than I had anticipated. Some 7200 runners turned up for the run. I will definitely take the race more seriously, next year.

I adopted a rather laid back approach to the run, for the following reasons-

1) I have been rather busy with wedding preparations, leaving me with little time to do longer runs. I only have about 45 minutes to a max of 1 hour to run, although having said that, I have been doing some pretty intense training in the last 2 weeks, even leading up to Saturday evening, barely 12 hours away from the race. Saturday evening’s workout consisted of mile repeats (6 repetitions) run at 6:45 pace, among others. So you can imagine the state of my legs when I started the race.

2) I’ve been packing up barang in my room- partly to move to my new apartment, and also partly to re-decorate and paint my existing room, leaving me pretty beat at the end of the day. As we speak, I’m still assembling some furniture for my room, having spent the whole of Monday and yesterday painting 2 new coats in my room.

3) I wanted to treat the Putrajaya run as a training run, i.e. long run which I haven’t done in some time.

4) Singapore is my main focus. After all, I’m the defending Malaysian champion! Hahaha, only kidding.

I arrived at the mosque area around 6am and saw many familiar faces. Good friends. Jamie (who had just about recovered from a bout of flu), Ryan, Adam, Kenny, Ronnie, Khoo, and so forth. We were to start the race on the bridge. It was somewhat reminiscent to Singapore, with the long straight road and the arch specially built for the race. There was even an electronic timer! Too bad we didn’t have the time chips to accompany such pleasing race aesthetics.

I think most of the runners were shocked when the gun went off, signaling the start of the race, because most weren’t really ready to start as yet. I certainly wasn’t- I was chatting with Kenny and Chen when the gun went off!

The Putrajaya route was very challenging. It was undulating with some hills. It was somewhat similar to the Nilai Half route. And, when you factor in the heat (the race started at 7am, which is sheer madness), you can imagine how difficult the race was. The good thing is that there were many water stations, which helped many runners who were wilting because of the route itself, and the heat.

Having decided on the pace I would run, Ronnie, Kenny, Khoo and Chen were well ahead of me, naturally. But I derived a new-found pleasure- I met so many people who overtook me- Thomas, the Penguins, Ah Seah (track mate), Li Sar, Be Hon, and many others. I chatted briefly with Khee Meng and Ah Seah.

I completed the race in a very leisurely but thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable timing of 1’52.40.

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My room is in a complete mess. I’ve just painted the walls to a warm, cream colour to complement my new furniture, which is teak-like in colour. The wardrobe is much bigger than I had anticipated, because it didn’t seem so big in the showroom. Now I’m wondering if I had purchased one too many (I bought 3). All my barang (clothes, mags, CDs, hi-fi system, etc) have been moved out to the upper floor hall. So, actually it isn’t only my room which is in a complete mess- the entire house is. It will be clean for my wedding and chum char (tea) ceremony.

I wanted to go to track yesterday but was just too busy with my room project.

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The wife wants to watch the performance of Stomp on 20th September. What is Stomp?

“[An] explosive extravaganza of dance, theatre and percussion combined into one rhythmic and comical performance.”

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Once again, I’ve been asked to put on more weight for my wedding.

You will see a pudgy Justin in the next month or so.

Non-runners just don’t understand.

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I am so tired.

Someone left a pair of Nike Frees (yellow colour) outside his locker at Gold's Gym and it was so tempting to steal it! Obviously, I didn't.

It's been a busy few weeks. With the wedding drawing ever closer, there were things to be done- honeymoon, alcohol for wedding, music, sending out wedding invites, studio session, etc, all of which I was doing, or have done in that period. Plus, attending a few interviews. With all the things to be done I haven't had as much time to run. Apart from track, I've been plodding around, running slow 10ks. I'm not putting much hope in the upcoming Putrajaya or PJ half marathons. Tentatively, the following is my plan (after my wedding), although who knows? I may not be able to carry it out due to time constraints:-

1) I will start training harder, adding longer runs;

2) Get myself into a decent condition for Singapore 2005.

3) Having been to the gym more often of late, add some cross training and strengthening to my body.

For the wedding, I'd have to put on some weight because everyone else (apart from the runners, of course, because who else understand runners other than your fellow runners?) are of the opinion that I am too skinny. So, I'd have to put on 2-3kgs.

I played futsal with Kenny Tan and his group of friends at the Sunway Extreme Park yesterday. I haven't played any form of footy since I was painfully "knocked out" from the sport due to a vicious tackle on my left knee as I was flying down the left wing. I was out of commission for 2 months, limping around. I looked pretty pathetic. FYI, tennis was my first sport and football, my second, before running took completely over. Anyway futsal was very good, although my return was marred by me scoring an own goal with my first touch! Embarrassing. I'll have nightmares because of that. After futsal, I chatted with Kenny for a while.

Futsal was in the morning, and after a brief rest and filling out the names in my wedding invite, I went for my run. Yesterday's workout was as follows:-

1) 5k easy (6:00 pace)

2) 3 x 1000m (4:18, 4:10, 3:55)

3) 1 x 3200 m (12:31)

4) 2 x 1600m (6:40, 6:42)

5) 8 x 100 m (roughly 20 seconds)

My legs were like jelly after that.

Woke up this morning and my lower back is sore. I never experienced this before from running, but it may be due to futsal, because it is a more physical game, and you use more of your body strength when you play.

It's track today- hopefully I will survive!