Raising My Profile

It was a surprised when I received a few calls from friend asking me, "Hey, how much did you pay Pacesetters to get your face printed on the cover of Footloose?". Then I thought, "Oh, it must be my article on Melbourne Marathon 2009". I didn't give much thought about it as I thought it just something "small". No big deal about it.

Only today did I find out what they meant. It is a "BIG" picture, basically the whole cover of Footloose! Ok, I got to put this BIG, BIG!! Thanks Michael Gan for making this happen. And thanks to Kenny Tan for giving me a copy of Footloose.

The cover - ok I didn't have that smiling face all the way! Just for the cover!

The 1 page article

Not only that. Wei Loon (The Star) also wrote an article today on the Saucony Pacemakers Network Run 2010. My name is in it, although am not the champion lah! Haha!

So who wants my autograph? : ))

Monday January 11, 2010

Local runner Muralinathan retains title in his category

By NG WEI LOON

GHANAIAN Richard Habeya stole the show at the fourth edition of the Saucony-Pacemakers Network Run at the Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur recently.

In completing four laps around the 3.06km course, Habeya led from the start to finish and posted 52:24 to emerge as the champion in the men’s 17 to 29 years category.

Runaway winner: Tan emerging as the top finisher in the women’s section for the second consecutive year.

Although the men’s 30 to 34 years section winner K. Muralinathan matched Habeya in the opening loop, the local challenger failed to sustain the pace and allowed the frontrunner to pull away for an untroubled victory.

However, Murali’s effort of 53’06 was enough to retain his title in the age-group for the third consecutive year.

Pacemakers captain Ronnie See said the participants felt the fatigue tackling the gruelling 170-step climb on the course and suffered at the closing stage of the race.

Foreign domination: Habeya crossing the finishing line unchallenged

“Previously, it was a relatively flat course of 2.3km around the lake. This year, we increased the distance to accommodate more participants. They found it very challenging and it was reflected on their lap time. Most of them were slower after the half way mark especially in the final two laps,” he added.

The event drew 190 runners in seven categories - women’s 34 years and below, women’s 35 years and above, men’s 17 to 29 years, men’s 30 to 34 years, men’s 35 to 39 years, men’s 40 to 49 years and men’s 50 years and above.

This year, the organisers - Pacemakers - included another three age-groups in their annual event.

“Besides introducing another additional category for the fairer sex, we separated the men’s runners aged between 30 and 39 years into two sections due to the overwhelming response. It was an interesting affair in the men’s 30 to 34 years with the competitors registering respectable timing,” said See, who set up the http://pm1.blogspot.com to cater to avid social runners in the Klang Valley.

In the men’s 30 to 34 years section, it was a tight contest for the second and third placing with Khoo Yit Kiat (54:35) edging Tang Yew Choy (54:37).

In contrast, Michele Tan Bee Kiang cruised home as the runaway winner in the women’s 34 years and below section.

For her second victory in the annual event, Tan clocked 43:05 in the three-lap race to finish way ahead of Haslinda Dolah (50:00) and Sylvia Moey (52:43) in second and third respectively.

Besides the contributions from the running community to host the run, Excel Chemical also renewed their partnership to support the event.

Currently, Pacemakers have about 60 active members going through the paces regularly at two venues - Lake Gardens and KLCC - in Kuala Lumpur on weekdays.

RESULTS

WOMEN’S

34 years and below: 1. Michele Tan Bee Kiang 43:05; 2. Haslinda Dolah 50:00; 3. Sylvia Moey 52:43

35 years and above: 1. Annie Lee Khum Chiew 53:26; 2. Agnes Chin 57:40; 3. Maybel Chung 58:36

MEN’S

17 to 29 years: 1. Richard Habeya 52:24; 2. Jasni Khairil Jamaluddin 53:16; 3. Tang Wern Tien 1’00:34

30 to 34 years: 1. K. Muralinathan 53:06; 2. Khoo Yit Kiat 54:35; 3. Tang Yew Choy 54:57

35 to 39 years: 1. Rozmi Yunus 56:33; 2. Kenny Tan 1’01:01; 3. Leow Choen Beng 1’01:28

40 to 49 years: 1. Ng Say Heong 55:07; 2. Alam Shah Ismail Ahmad 58:11; 3. Daniel Tan 1’00:02

50 years and above: 1. Chuah Seih Seng 1’07:00; 2. Peter Goh 1’11:13; 3. Tan Choon Seang 1’14:59