Persistent & Determination from within the Heart!
- Joe Liew Y L -

18 April, 2011

Energizer Night Race Malaysia 2011 - Sepang F1 Circuit

Event: Energizer Night Race Malaysia 2011
Date: 16th-April-2011
Location: Sepang F1 Circuit, Malaysia
Distant: 21km
Flag-Off Time: 20:00 (21km)
Categories: 5.5km, 11km, 21km & 42km



5.5km Race Route

11km Race Route

21km Race Route

42km Race Route


The COBC group of Runners
The Energizer Night Race Malaysia 2011 was held on the 26-April-2011 (Saturday) in Sepang F1 Circuit, Malaysia.  Racing / Running on the Formula-1 race track was an awesome experience and it's an experience not to be left-out, hence we all signed up to mark our mile-stone w/ a rare opportunity. 

We! The BootCampers of the Chief's Original BootCamp (COBC) are always in a run together as a group, to Motivate, to Inspire and to experience pain among each other.  Our group just got merrier w/ a total number of 33 runners, in categories of 11km, 21km & 42km; whom some are doing their maiden run in this event.  

List of COBC-BU&SJ runners (Compilled by www.arminbaniaz.com)
1) Sarge (COBC) Dann @ Daing Daniel Fitri - 11km
2) Corp (COBC) Chun @ Chun Chia Kai - 42km
3) Corp (COBC) Nawal - 21km
4) LC (COBC) Ody @ Nurfuadi Ruzalli - 11km
4) LC (COBC) (P) Wan @ Wan Hazriq - 42km
5) LC (COBC) (P) Letch - 11km
6) LC (COBC) (P) Rose @ Rose Emini Pahamin - 21km
7) Armin Baniaz Pahamin - 21km
7) Nyna Mohsen - 21km
8) Joe Liew - 21km
9) John Chuah - 21km (Maiden Half)
10) James Fong - 21km (Maiden Half)
11) Chan Meng Yam - 11km (Maiden Quarter)
12) Shear Ling Toh - 11km (Maiden Quarter)
13) Yum Kin Kok - 42km
14) Norliza Mohd Khaled - 21km (Maiden Half)
15) Ilyanna Aylin Ayob - 21km
16) Suriana Saiful Yazan - 11km
17) Bahariah Bahadom - 11km
18) Vivien Luyen Ow - 21km
19) Shazu Sabri - 11km
20) Viki Lim - 21km
21) Pooi Ching Khiew - 11km
22) Fareen Dzulkifli - 11km
23) Freda Liu - 21km
24) Lilian Lee - 21km
26) Joannita Zaleha Yusoff - 21km (Maiden Half)
27) Noor A. Othman - 11km
28) Raja Affandi Jamaluddin - 11km
29) John Ong - 11km
30) Jun King - 11km
31) T'ng Yng Tan  - 11km (Maiden Quarter)
32) Jeremy Liew (Maiden Half)
33) Yvonne Chen Ling Sze

The RUN
This was my 2nd 21km marathon since PBIM last year.  Nervous & Excited since I had not been running much since the beginning of 2011, but thankfully I had been doing my Chief's Original BootCamp (COBC) (www.hooyah.com.myPhysical Training and Sarge Dann did us a great favor in loads of Intensified Core & Staminas to help COBC runners (cum Race Horse) in achieving PB (Personal Best) as the Marathon schedules get close.

Positioning myself at the Starting line of the race track alongside my fellow 21km runners / COBC Bootcampers w/ Armin Baniaz Pahamin, John Chua, James Fong & Jeremy Liew, we were cam-whoring and enjoying the cheer-leading in awaiting for the starting horn to blow. 
20:00 - Flagged-Off, here we go another round of craziness & madness in running.  James Fong & I managed to squeezed through the crowd in leading the pack, for once we were in the leading front of the flagged-off; as usual posed for the video camera & cameras, waved at the crowds like a Champs, this was a golden experience.

The 21km route was 1 loop around the F1-Circuit exterior compounds woods (approx: 10km) & 2 loops on the Circuit's Race Track (approx: 5.5km each).  Nite running w/ our Head-Lights on to shine the path, got my head spinning; I switch it off & tagging along other runners w/ lid lights.  Runs, Sprints, Ascending & Descending, Inhale & Exhale in synchronizing my breathing, wondering Why do I get into this madness of running, but it was Cool running in the woods in darkness. 
Approaching the entrance into the circuit for my 2nd half of my 21km, I was really excited to lay my foots on the Formula-1 race track; to race like a F1 driver but with my pair of legs.  Did my 1st loop in 01:30 and speed-up hoping to sub-2 this 21km, but both my legs gave-in to the muscle cramps from my ham-string down to my toes (I called it Monkey Cramps); I continue my run in small steps to ease the cramps.  Along the way I was caught up by Norliza Mohd Khaled,  Ody @ Nurfuadi Ruzalli ,  Suriana Saiful Yazan & James Fong; it's a good sight to see our Chief's Original BootCamp (COBC) running vest on these bootcampers.

I clocked-out my 21km race in "Energizer Night Race Malaysia 2011 - Sepang F1 Circuit" in 02:11, in exhaustion, in cramps, in excitement, in satisfaction & in assurance for I completed my 21km race.

Sepang F1 Circuit starting line

Flag-Off line



Starting Line! In Position for Flag-Off

Let's Rawk & Roll
(From Left: Armin B.P. & Me-JoeLiew)

COBC Maiden/Virgin 21km Runners (in black tops)
(From Left: Me-JoeLiew, Jeremy Liew, James Fong & John Chua)
We'r the J's!

Running in my Chief's Original BootCamp Running Vest
(Compliment of COBC www.hooyah.com.my)

Final Cam-Whoring w/ Armin B.P.
seconds away from flag-off

B'day cupcakes from YKK & Nana
(Front Left: PooiChing, YKK, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob,
Rose & Norliza Mohd Khaled.
Back Left: Nyna Mohsen, T'ng Yng Tan , Shearling Toh,
Bahariah Bahadom, Chan Meng Yam, Joannita Zaleha Yusoff,
Lillian Lee, Suriana Saiful Yazan)

COBC Chic Runners!
(From Left: Suriana Saiful Yazan, Norliza Mohd Khaled,
Rose Emini Pahamin, Viki Lim, PooiChing, Bahariah Bahadom,
 Corp Nawal, Nyna Mohsen.)


COBC Guys!
(Front Left: YKK, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob.
Back Left: Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Noor A. Othman,
James Fong, Jeremy Liew, John Chua, Ryan Wong & JoeLiew (Me))


COBC's Hunks!












Copr. Nawal & Armin B.P.
Armin B.P.

- Newton Runners -

My Race Bib #: G0921

Thumbs Up for
Chief's Original BootCamp (COBC)
Physical & Endurance Training

Time to go Home!


The Event & The Organiser
Energizer Night Race Malaysia 2011 - Sepang F1 Circuit was PROUDLY brought to the running community by Energizer and organized by Expose Media.
The event was an ALL TIME CATASTROPHE due to organizers incompetencies & dis-respects to the participants and the event's purpose.
The race compound was like a hugh Carnival, except deprived of qualified marshals & crews. 
Organizers failed to arrange/ill-prepared the marshals & officials in guiding & directing participants to respective locations for Registration, Head-Lights Collections, Flag-Off site. Some runners were running w/o their Bib # & chips (as anticipated for on-site race pack collection).  On the Race track, situation was in total chaos as there were lack of qualified marshals / crews to distribute ribbons at check-points to mark the distances completed by runners.  Presence of un-qualified "Security Guards" were asking runners to exit the race track upon reaching the finishing line w/o knowing the remaining distance these runners needs to complete. (Duhh! Finish Line meant u completed ur run???)

There were extremely LLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGG queues leading to Finisher medal, Finisher Tees & Goodies Bag collection counter's shut doors; due to an earlier incident by a previous group of runners that stormed the collection counter and took away the finisher medals & Tees for 21km & 42km runners.  Runners were waiting in lines and demanding for an answer on the silence treatment by the organizer. 

For a running crowds of 10,000 runners, perhaps EXPOSE MEDIA will be prepare on the next Prime Event!  You fall & you rise again...Prepared & Smarter! Quite an experience everyone shares on that very nite!

Statements from both Title Sponsor & Event Organizer

Energizer Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
- Title Sponsor -

* I ran for a great cause, in determination & in enduring the spirit of the race, a refund is simply an insult & dis-respect to the spirit.  Finisher Medal & finisher certificate are more encouraging in respect of the hard-ship & the spirit in each runners.    

Expose Media
- Event Organizer -

Expose Media


For more info on ENR-2011 kindly click on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150150312671439&set=a.386956006438.166141.644376438&type=1&ref=nf#!/EnergizerNightRaceMalaysia

Energizer and Expose Media apologise for night race foul-up, click link below:


Energizer "World's Longest Lasting" Batteries Maker???
- Dun Think So! -

Perhaps Energizer Night Run will Rise Again!
- But Till Then....Adios! -


* Source from: www.arminbaniaz.com, Joannita Jaleha Yusoff (FB), Nyna Mohsen (FB), Ilyanna Aylin Ayob (FB), Bahariah Bahadom (FB)
* For more write-up on our COBC running experience, kindly visit www.arminbaniaz.com

12 April, 2011

2XU Compression Run 2011 - Singapore!

2XU COMPRESSION RUN 2011 - SINGAPORE

Event: 2XU Compression Run 2011 - Singapore
Date: 10th April 2011
Venue: Marina Promenade (Singapore)
Flag-Off Time: 0700 AM
Distance: 12km (Quarter Marathon)
Race Route

Men Finisher Medal
Women Finisher Medal

Complimentary Gifts from Sponsors

2XU Compression Calf Guard
- Complimentary Gift -

The Trip
Our COBC (Chief's Original Bootcamp) BootCampers - Runners that signed up for this 2XU run months ago consisted of 9 runners who were:
1) Sarge Dann-Daing Daniel Fitri
2) Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli
3) Joanitta Jaleha Yusoff
4) Noor A. Othman
5) James Fong
6) Chan Meng Yam
7) Lillian Lee
8) Norliza Abdul Khaled
9) Joe Liew (Me).

While Sarge Dann & Ody drove down to Singapore on Saturday (9th-April-2011) right after Chief's Original BootCamp's Seal-Pups session, the 1st group of runners (Joanitta, Noor & Lillian) Flew down to Singapore @ 0800am. Followed by me on the next flight FY3503 @ 0910am by Firefly Airline (A division of MAS Airline) from the Subang Air-Park Terminal in Subang Jaya. With a flight time of approximately 45minutes.

Subang Air-Park Terminal (FireFly Airline)

Firefly Flight FY3503

My flights arrived in S'pore @ 10.30am, after completing authority clearance in the airport I hopped on to the MRT / Subway and headed straight to meet up w/ my fellow COBC BootCampers in "NOVENA SQUARE".  FRANKLY, my fellow bootcampers are Crazy in Physical Training, Marathon Running & even.....SHOP...PING...like mad for Marathon Running Gears & Gadgets. 
I met them up in the shopping mall w/ my luggage hoping to check-into the hotel "Ibis Novena", but to my dismay the Shopping Spree had began about an hour ago when they first arrived and they showed no sign of leaving soon.  OH MAN! Shopped w/ my luggage on, why not since I am used to running w/ Jerry Can for Core & Staminas.

1st-Stop was the 2XU retail shop, where all of us got ourself a pair of Newtown Running shoe, 2XU compression wears and some fancy gadgets like the Spiebelts, pouches and Bib-Holder.
1st-Stop 2XU retail store
(From left: Joanita (Jo), Chan Meng Yam (Yam),
James Fong (Sitted) & Me (JoeLiew))

I was convinced to get myself a pair of Newton shoes
(From Left: Jo, Yam, Noor (in Blue), Me & James) 

James & Me trying out our Newton Fore-Foot Running Shoe

Getting ready for Test Run

RUN...RUN...RUN...!!!
Crazy BootCampers Runners in the shopping mall,
the sales person was speechless when we
starts running along the walk way in the mall; 
We bought 5 pairs of Newton shoe in this visit.

Going once, Going twice, SOLD!

While the ladies went shopping for their Marathon Apparels,
James & Me were eating our MOS Burger, we were starving.

Can I get a proper meal???

Halo Head Cover

 Ice-Cream Shop

My Newton "Trainer" Shoe &
Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) "Comodo"

The Race
The race began at the Marina Esplanade and next to it was the Eye-On-Singapore.  We arrived @ the flag-Off site around 0600am, began our warm up and stretching and began cam-whoring for our blogs & FaceBook posting.
This was my 1st race in 2011 and my 1st International run (Singapore), with 3 months of NO RUN this was really a challenge for me to jump-start my run.  Especially with the immense impact on both my ankles while running, it felt like these ligaments gonna tear up; my previous ankle injury really annoyed me to the extent.  
Eye-On-Singapore


Lobby Cam-Whoring @ Hotel Ibis Novena
(From Left: Me (JoeLiew), Joanita, Lillian Lee & Noor)

Race Site Cam-Whoring
(From Left: James Fong, Joanita, Yam, Lillian Lee & Me)

Race Site Cam-Whoring
(From Left: Noor, James Fong, Lillian Lee,
 Joanita, Yam, Joann & Me)

E=MC2 we brought Newton along
(Our new run gear - Newton shoe)


Run Completion! - Got our finisher medal
(From Left: Noor, Sarge Dann, James Fong & Me)

The Good Old Days - Iphone Technologies
(From Left: Noor, Sarge Dann, James Fong & Me)

Don't Mess w/ Us!

Oh Man! We Cam-Whore for fun

Posing for the Camera

Group Photo - After the Race!
(From Left: Me, Sarge Dann, Lillian Lee, James Fong,
Yam, Joanitta, Joanna, James Brother &
Sister-In-Law (In Blue), Liza & Noor)



(From Left: Me, Joanita, Lillian Lee,
Liza & Sarge Dann)

The Newton Guys!
James & Me

I Ran 2XU Compression Run 2011 - Singapore!



1 run down, what's next!

Snapped by Yam in the New Balance Store


My 1st run in 2011
completed with a PB of 01:05 for 12km
BIB #: 6690
Race Category: 12KM MENS
Nett Time: 01:05:35
Gun Time: 01:05:43
Rank: 782 of 5411

"The Power To Challenge My-Self"



Just For Fun Shot!

Re-enactment of the National Service Joke,
where by a national Service Soldier who came home & his
maid was carrying his bags.  What a luxury as a soldier!


* Photos sources from: www.arminbaniaz.com , Chan Meng Yam (FB), Lillian Lee (FB), Joanita Jaleha Yusoff (FB), Sarge Dann(FB)