A Blockbuster Running Weekend, 19-20/Dec/2015 !!!
THE LAST HURRAH
For many runners, last weekend meant officially signing-off their 2015 running calendar with one last hurrah event. Boy, were there so many exciting events happening on that penultimate Sunday. There were Melaka International River Marathon, Newton Challenge, MyBuddies Run, and not to mention, Taiwan Marathon & Chiang Mai Marathon too! As for me. I was invited to the inaugural Semenyih Eco Trail Run 2015 (SETR 2015) at the Hot Springs of Sungai Lalang which is only an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.The idea of trail running through natural greenery and getting away from the everyday concrete jungle of the city sounded very appealing to me.
RUSTIC COUNTRY ROAD
Without the help of GPS, I headed to Cheras and Kajang, before reaching Semenyih Town where I turned-off unto the quiet back road of Jalan Sg Lalang. About 5km from the main intersection, I reached the race venue which was essentially a Hot Spring recreational area which was converted to our event venue for that mild morning. I would not be far wrong to say that there were about 300 runners for the 16km category, and around 500 runners for the 7km route. There was a pre-race warm-up & stretching session for the runners to limber-up which is also a good way to shake-off any muscle-stiffness and rev-up the body’s engine.
100% OFF-ROAD
At 7:30 sharp, the first group of 300 eager runners were flagged-off under a cooling mist of fresh morning dew. Although, I had no clue what stood between me & the finish line, I was, nevertheless thrilled at the prospect of running in such natural surroundings and filling-up my lungs with fresh air for a change. 
The terrain underfoot was a variation of grass, dirt, and gravel. We ran through shaded palm and rubber estates, as well as along fruit orchards and small rivers. These well-kept trails were were normally used by the estate and farm workers. 
At times, we ran along the wider dirt tracks which were used by trucks to ferry workers, equipment & harvested fruits. The route was hilly which tested the fitness levels of the runners going uphill. The downhill portion favoured runners with strong leg muscles who could withstand the additional strains on the knee joints as they bombed down the hills. The final hurdle was a river crossing situated 100 metres from the finish line. Although, the water was only ankle deep, the slippery and muddy embankment added a final challenge for the weary runners.
AT THE FINISH
According to the official Seiko timing system, the average finishing time for the 16km was around 2 hours, and by that time most of the 7km runners were already back to the finishing area too. Upon crossing under the finish arch, every runner was given a medal, and we waited in line for our delicious egg sandwiches, donut, banana, watermelon and cold drinks. Some runners were wading in the hot springs as they rested and waited for the lucky draw ceremony. Afterwards, trophies and prizes were given away to the top 5 runners from the Men & Women Open & Veteran categories for both the 16km & 7km distances.
A SPLENDID DEBUT
In summary, the race organiser Innotex Sports Management did a great job looking after the welfare of all the runners from start to finish with adequate course marshalling, sufficient water and isotonic drink stations available, and the chosen trails, be it 2km under-distance for the 16km route, were well mapped-out and it gave the runners an exciting all-terrain trail running challenge with the bonus of a beautiful countryside backdrop no far from the city centre.
For more SETR 2015 photos, click HERE.
8 TOP TIPS FOR TRAIL RUNNING
- Wear proper trail running shoes which are lightweight, sturdy, waterproof, and have the right traction for off-road trails.
- Always wear a hydration pack to keep water, energy bars, handphone and some cash in case of emergencies.
- Never run in a trail alone. Run with someone who is familiar with the trail.
- Novice trail runners should stick to easy trails such as the one in Bukit Gasing in Petaling Jaya or in Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong in order to familiarise themselves with trail running.
- On the uphill, stop or walk slowly if you find your heart beating too fast or if you are out of breath.
- On the downhill, be careful not to take too big strides as it will difficult to balance and control your speed.
- Remember to pace yourself, and reserve enough energy to last you the whole distance.
- Inside the trails, never litter and do not damage the natural flora and fauna.
About The Author
Gus is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Running Toons and he is passionate about endurance sports. As a writer, he has contributed numerous insightful articles to The Star newspaper, Running Malaysia magazine, Cycling Malaysia magazine, Cycling Evolution magazine, Swim Bike Run magazine and more. LIKE Happy Runner and follow gusghani @Instagram.
Malaysia Women Marathon 2016 Drawing Contest by Running Toons
Compressport Combo & Ultra All-Stars 2016
NEXT, PLEASE: On 12th December 2015, Compressport officially launched their next two new Ultra Trail Marathons (50km & 25km, Solo & Team) to be held in Penang Island on 20th Aug 2016 and in Semenyih, Selangor on 5th Nov 2016 respectively.
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: The official launch event in Petaling Jaya was witnessed by more than 50 Newbie & Seasoned Ultra Marathoners at Xero Gravity Climbing Gym. The guests were all given an attractive Compressport blue “media” dri-fit running Tee and a Compressport visor as part of their goodie bag.
BEAUTIFUL BEAST: Our first speaker was Ironman & Director of My Triathlon Shop, Ms Karen Geh, who highlighted the “no-loop” breath-taking scenery of the Penang Series trail, as well as its monster total elevation GAIN of 2,800m.
GIVEAWAYS & ADDED VALUE: Our second speaker was Mr. Kishen of Compressport Asia Pacific who revealed Compressport commitment to provide Malaysian runners with high-quality and value-for-money running apparel and events. For our gathering, Compressport & MTS sponsored 3 Lucky Draw prizes of free running slots to Compressport 100 UTM 2016 for 3 lucky guests.
ULTRA PIONEER: Although Mr. Ng Seow Kong, the President of Malaysian Ultra Runners Association (MURA) could not attend the launching because of his involvement in staging UM24 on the same day, his message of support for the ultra running community was read-out ably to the audience by veteran endurance runner, Ms Amelia Ang. I recommend that all local ultra runners read his full text given below for a great summary on Ultra Running in Malaysia today.
LIVING LEGEND: An Appreciation Award was presented to the guest-of-honour, Mr. Oliver Ker, for his admirable dedication to running and for inspiring so many of his fellow runners to run with heart, to never give up and to walk to the finish line if you can no longer run. As a senior veteran of long-distance running, Oliver’s incredible passion for running until today at the age of 74-year old provides constant inspiration to the whole running community regardless of age, gender and status. Being a humble guy, Oliver is the first to say that there are other runners who deserve this award more than him. Nevertheless, we can all agree that the enormous contribution to running made by Oliver deserves more than a simple award.
Malaysia Women Marathon 2016 (MWM 2016) !! 
The list of sponsors and partners for MPI Generali Run 2016 includes New Balance (Official Apparel), Revive Isotonic (Official Isotonic), Pacific Regency (Hotel Partner), Running Malaysia (Media Partner – Magazine), Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur (Medical Partner), Affin Hwang Capital, BP Healthcare Group, Mamee, Sworke, Magnum, Nestlé Fitnesse, Nestlé Milo, Pilatique, Garmin, KT Tape, Leong Adjustment Sdn. Bhd., Massimo, Penyelarasan Angkasa Sdn Bhd, Simply Juice and Sugar Kid Malaysia.
The token of appreciation for donors of the third Project Good Deeds was also unveiled at the cocktail: the Pandanus bookmark. Made from pandanus leaves, the bookmark bears the weave patterns based on the indigenous Mah Meri latch weaving of a traditional pouch.
The amount of work that goes into the making of one bookmark gives the token a special touch. Donors will receive the bookmark in acknowledgment of their donation of sports shoes and T-shirts to Project Good Deeds, which is set to benefit another four Orang Asli kampungs this time.
What does the Organiser have in store for the community in MPI Generali Run 2017? The Organising Committee assured supporters and followers of the Run that they would be the first to know once plans could be finalised. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, partner or corporate supporter of future MPI Generali Runs, kindly get in touch with Natalie Hau at +603 2034 9888 Ext: 7807 or or natalie_hau@mpigenerali.com.
Compressport Ultra Contest
Compressport Running Start
After Karen’s presentation, Singapore-based Mr. Kishen of Compressport Asia Pacific addressed the crowd & he explained about Compressport AP history, as well as thanked the audience for supporting Compressport Events & Merchandise.
Blogging & Photography Contest
Deserving Acknowkedgements
Ice-Watch Light Up The Night Run 2015 – Press Conference
There, I could see this female covered in mud, jumping energetically over the last fire hurdle and gleefully skipping to the finish line with arms raised and her joyful face full of relief and satisfaction. “Could it be?” – I asked myself. 
As I walked closer to her, I rubbed my eyes to get a clearer view, and to my surprise, it was Maryati, almost unrecognisable from her muddy appearance. Admittedly, I felt guilty for doubting my wife’s ability to finish the course, and promised myself to not make that same mistake again. Only at that moment, I could completely relax, and bask in the glory of reaching our newfound status of Spartan. The next big task was to get ourselves cleaned-up. Fortunately, there was a big fire truck with firemen hosing down the muddy Spartans. It was refreshingly fun being hosed down by the high-pressure hose. In no time, the mud was removed from our clothing. Then, it was time to gather our belongings and take the shuttle bus back to Setia City Mall where we had parked our car.
gusghani 