Mandarin Oriental Charity Run

• 11 December 2016
• Taman Botani Kepong (FRIM)
• Flagged off at 7.45a.m. for 9 km (inclusive of 5 km trail)

• Price – RM65.00
• Race Pack – T-Shirt and registration bib
• Goodies – Medal, 1 banana, 1 apple, 1 mineral water, 1 juice, vouchers, chocolates, towel

This charity run was organised by Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. We were entertained by 2 radio DJs and did Body Combat exercises as a warm-up by one of the instructors from Celebrity Fitness. We were supposed to be flagged off at 7.30am but the organiser only flagged us off at 7.45am.

Our Body Combat exercises as warm-up

WWF mascot

The park was also open to other runners, i.e. for those who have their morning jog. We also saw senior citizens doing tai chi in the park.

After going through the park, we were asked to run into the jungle and to the start of the trail run. It was like OMG!!! Extremely steep hill and all the runners were basically walking. There was no way I could run up that hill, with lots of stones, uneven pathway and holes. Since I do not have trail shoes, I decided to walk and enjoyed the jungle trail.

It was hill after hill. We climbed 200 metres high. When we were up at the peak, we saw the lake at the park. It was so far. Then, it was downhill. No portable toilets and there were 2 water stations, serving mineral water.

Upon arrival, we were given our medal and goodies bag. All of us were so excited as there the organiser was so generous in giving us so many goodies. We even went over to the Red Bull car to have our imported energy drink from Belgium and got ourselves 100+ isotonic drinks.

Our goodies

For the first time, we decided to stay back and waited for the lucky draw as there were not many runners and perhaps, we could stand a chance to win something. We were close, unfortunately none of us won. The prices were so good, 3 days 2 nights stay at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Guangzhou, dinner vouchers, spas, a year subscription of the running magazines, hamper for baby products.

I had to go up on stage to collect 3 days 2 nights stay at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo for my sister-in-law’s colleague. She was the lucky one who passed me the registration bib and won the prize.

Check out the pictures below:-

Score Run – Conquer the City 2016

• 30 October 2016
• Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur  
• Flagged off at:-

6.00a.m. for 15km

6.30a.m. for 6km

• Price – RM54.00 (inclusive of GST of RM3.06)
• Race Pack – A paper bag, vouchers, Tape Fit, personalised name T-Shirt and registration bib
• Goodies – Medal, 1 kiwi, mineral water, cereals   

This run was organised by Berjaya Times Square and since it’s running in the city, the organiser flagged the 15 km runners off sharp at 6.00am and 6 km runners at 6.30am. They had to start so early, otherwise it will be super-jammed in KL city centre on a Sunday morning.

Starting point 

We were informed by the emcee that there were 7,000 runners. We believed that they received huge support due to the personalised t-shirt, i.e. the organiser printed your given name on the back of your T-shirt. There was no warm-ups organised for the runners.  

My name on the back of my T-shirt

It was super-crowded and difficult to run. We were running on the roads and highways. For the 6km run, we ran heading towards Jalan Bellamy (behind the old Istana Negara) and I finally found the Alice Smith International primary school campus, then we headed towards Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and back to the city centre, Berjaya Times Square.  The roads were not completely closed, often there was only 1 lane for the runners to run on.

The prestigious British school in Kuala Lumpur. 

There were 2 uphill runs. There were portable toilets prepared by the organisers. Also, 4 water stations for the 15km runners and 1 water station for the 6 km runners, i.e. at 3.8km, both served Revive isotonic drink and mineral water.

Upon arrival, we were given our medal and mineral water. Then I walked towards the entrance of Berjaya Times Square mall to claim my Zepri Kiwi fruit. Then, went over to the cereal counter for breakfast. I had 3 bowls of cereal to fill up my tummy with a cup of Milo from the Milo truck again. Thanks to Sheila’s brother, who managed to queue for it and gave me his.

Kiwi collection counter

Each runner will get one kiwi

Cereal counter

Looks delicious right? I had 3 bowls of cereal

My favourite Milo van

My running goodies

There were activities being organised after the run. This was my last run for 2016. More runs coming up in 2017. 

Check out the pictures below:-

Medic station. All volunteers on standby

Wow, boxes of mineral waters for the 7,000 runners

The mascot cheering for us

Faces for the 6km run

Getting ready at the starting point

Me, after the run. Yeah, some of you may say, did you actually run? Still looking good

The pole ninjas runners

Group photo, cannot wait for Virginie anymore.

My favourite picture done by Virginie. Blacklisted Sheila, all because of Edwin (Sheila's brother)

Our medals

The Running Diva Malaysia Pinktober Edition 2016

• 23 October 2016
• Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel, Putrajaya  
• Flagged off at:-

7.00a.m. for 10km

7.30a.m. for 3km

• Price – RM48.64 (inclusive of transaction fee of RM3.64)
• Race Pack – A paper bag and registration bib
• Goodies – Medal and a bun. Mineral water ran out  

We were asked to go to the starting line and there was a simple warm-up (body combat) for us.

Our warm-up session

The organiser flagged the 10 km runners off late, at 7.10am.

Super crowded to start with

It was super-crowded and difficult to run at first. We were running on the roads and highways. 

The best thing about running on the highway, was (what I believe was) the motorcycle lane that the runners used. In a way, it was pretty safe.

There were no hills and it was a nice run with beautiful scenery, i.e. government buildings of Putrajaya, race course, Pullman lakeside and greeneries. If you need the toilet, too bad, as portable toilets were not prepared by the organisers. There were 3 water stations, the 1^st water station at 3km,  2^nd water station at 6km and the last one at 9km; only the last station served both 100+ isotonic drink and mineral water. The 1^st and 2^nd water stations, only served mineral water.

Had to stop for a while to take photo

Upon arrival, we were given our medal and were given a bun. There were lucky draws and breast examinations.  

We hung around for a while and then queue up to get our cold Milo drinks. It was super refreshing!

The queue to the Milo van

Got mine, cold and refreshing. The way they make it is super yummylicious that you can't get it anywhere else 

Check out the pictures below:-

Our faces before the run

Me and my cousin, Mary in her very 1st debut run

Me, my student Hannah and Ginny. It was also Hannah's first 3km run

Just me and Hannah

Our waiting area

Our medals