Less Than A Month To Boston.....

Training has been slow, but generallly my fitness has much improved compared to months ago. I won't be expecting any miracle to clock a PB this time around (as I had in my last 4 marathons). I won't be pushing myself too hard this time judging from the mileage I've done. However, with the mixture of training on roads and trails, couple with the intervals training I've done, will aim for a decent timing. As Boston Marathon is the only marathon that needs qualification, I'm going to take this opportunity to bring a camera along and snap some photos along the way and soak up the experience running it. There will be plenty of opportunity in clocking a PB in future races. Just have to be selective in the venue, the course, weather and finding the right mix of training and hopefully I'll accomplish my aim for a sub 3:00 hours timing in near future. Just hope the Newton hills in Boston will be kind to me. So much stories about the "Heartbreak Hill".

Can't see much from this video, but runners seem to be slowing down their pace here....

Here's a a quick video tour of the route.

The Boston Athletics Association (B.A.A) has released the bib numbers and wave/corral for participants. Looks like all the guys from Malaysia will be starting from Wave 1. Good stuff! I already know all the guys in the list, except I've never met Yeng (Francis) in person yet. As for the sole female rep from Malaysia, not too sure I've seen her before. Hope to meet all of them in Boston!

Just checked for Singapore, they have 17 entrants! And 3 of them are in front of me! They must have clocked a really fast time to stand in front.

I will be flying early to meet my sister and my bro-in-law in St Louis before flying in Boston. Will meet up with Moey then. Speaking of flying off, I have not packed my bags yet!  

Probably need to do another two more LSD to clock in my mileage. Never treat marathon as easy!

Dutamas Runners Goes Trail Running

In the past weeks, Dutamas Runners had organised trail runs over in FRIM, Kepong & also in Taman Lembah Kiara, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. It was also a chance for me to test out my sponsored products from Salomon (thru World of Outdoors). 

It seems Dutamas Runners are a keen bunch wanting to give trail running a go. Most of them are experience hikers. As for myself, it was an opportunity for me to test out my Salomon products and also an alternative training route to strengthen my legs and also nursing my problematic left foot which has gotten better in the past months. So far I have not done any runs longer than 20km, so I am still quite careful in increasing my mileage too fast too soon. The last intended 24km run was cut short due to an allergic reaction to an insect bite. Hopefully I will hit at least 24km this weekend.

The first two trail runs we had at FRIM, Kepong attracted a good turnout. Raymond was there to guide us through the trails

Trail Run # 1 - FRIM, Kepong

Trail Run # 2 - FRIM, Kepong

Trail Run # 3 - Taman Lembah Kiara, TTDI

The third trail run we had saw us running in Taman Lembah Kiara Trail for the first time. Most of us had no experience running in that trail so it was more as an experiment for us there. But in the end, we had a great run, although in most parts we weren't sure where we were going.

A spot we found looking out to KLCC view.

It is just too bad the haze was quite bad and the visibility was poor.

Trail Run # 4 - Batu Dam

Bin organised a trail run over in Batu Dam just last weekend. As I was back in Kuching, I could not join. From the photos that I gathered, it looks like they had an awesome time running the "pacat" (leeches) infested trail.

Come on...give it a push!

 I guess Andrew never experience what "Hitting The Wall" is like....

Nice scenery

And check out this baby.....this has got to be in the Guinness Book of World Records...

Will we have another trail run? You betcha.....and guess what?

It's on tomorrow night. It will be our first night trail run happening in Taman Lembah Kiara, 7 Mac. Tomatoman will be leading us out onto the trail. Hope nobody go banging on the tree! Anyone keen? Be there at the carpark opposite the Sekolah Kebangssan Tun Dr Ismail 2. Run starts at 8pm. Bring on whatever lights you have, torch light, head light....see you there!

I had a good run out on Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral CS. Also check out this link.

This shoe was voted as the Best Debut shoe by Runner's World. As a first timer, I have a perception that trail running shoes are hard, heavy, inflexible but durable. However, this shoe is quite the opposite. Of course, it cannot be compared to the lightness of a road running shoe, but it certainly is close to it.

I even did some of my runs on the road using the shoe. Well, I guess it's meant more for trail running. It does have a feel of a road running shoe and it gives the stability & durability needed for trail running. It can still be use as a road running but I don't think I will wear it for longer runs.

The grip on the shoe is quite good. Coming from a road running , I've always used my road running shoe even on the trails prior having my hands on this shoe. Normally I would be very worried about the grip I have on trail using road running shoe but not so much on this one. As what the Salomon site described of the shoe:

"High mileage training shoe with unique climashield™ construction for neutral runners who want one shoe from door to trail all year long."

I will review much later if the statement holds true to what it states as high mileage shoe but so far so good.

Note: Photos courtesy of Andrew Hsien, Yvonne Teo & Wong Yi Bin. Thanks!