♔ Le Blue Sky de Tea Wonderland ♔ 〉阿茶乐园之雨后天晴 : April 2013

~ This picture receive most like ~

VICTORY in my racing life!!! Very very long stories behind this victory, many many difficulties went through for this event. On 31 March 2013, 1^st edition of Penang International Triathlon & Duathlon 2013 (PgiTD) hold in Teluk Bahang, Penang. When I heard got such a big duathlon event held in Penang, I immediately register myself because I wish my parent can come and watch me race. When the registration closed, I just knew that among contingent UPNM, I’m the only lady registered for this event, others were stand for 20 guys. J Well, but many twists and turns happen before the race. It ended up with my parent fetched me to Penang but didn’t have the chance to witness me on podium. I don’t know how to swim, so I just put my name in Category Women Open Duathlon Age 18-29,

RUN 5.5KM – 40KM BIKE – RUN 10KM.

~ Things inside goodies bag ~

Problem1: NO Bike

I used to borrow bike from friends during game season. Previous game – MUDS 2012, I used to borrow bike from my friend, Polygon 100 blue color. This time, I also borrow others’ bike, Merida white color, Thanks owner of the bike--Izzat. I’m so pleased everytime when I need a bike, there will be a bike for me. Everytime when I need someone, there will be somebody for me, so glad I get a helpful and friendly friend. This should call my luck or my fate? Thanks to everyone.

~ Merida that helped me to stand on podium ~

Problem 2: Have proper training, but not enough training

~ Well-planned schedule ~

I planned a schedule for my training, this was my 2^nd time for a duathlon race. What I tried before just the Malakoff University Duathlon Series (MUDS), like a mini duathlon series compare to PgiTD. We trained every morning before class and every evening after class. I slightly change my training style for this event. I used to do striding, strength training, stairs and hill training during morning session while for evening session, used to go for cycling, slow run and drill training. It was quite effective and a good plan to improve running and cycling skills. Everyday I turned up for training but until 25 March only and I went to Langkawi for LIMA’13 on 26 March 2013. Stories for LIMA’13 >>> Day 1 & Day 2 in Langkawi were so interesting. During the whole Langkawi, my heart was so pleased to enjoy every single moment standing on the beautiful island, but another side was so frustrated worrying about Penang Duathlon. I skipped 5 days training before the event and didn’t touch my bike for 5 days, only straight rode on my bike on the event day.

~ Delicious food at home ~

Before the event day, spent 2 days in Langkawi, enjoyed delicious food in Langkawi very much. After Langkawi, spent 2 days at home, Cheng Beng season at home, for sure delicious food again, wa, really very full everyday before event. The night before event day, carbo loading dinner, my parent shocked after saw me take so full on my plate.

~ Carbo loading dinner ~

~ For the 1^st time my parent attend together with me to the carbo loading dinner ~

Problem3:ALK not release cadets >> NO TRANSPORT,NO ACCOMODATION,NO SUPPORT

His SMALL excuse became our BIGGEST problems. With the excuses created from upper side, then made ALK couldn’t release cadets for this important event. When the proposal not approved, then university won’t support our transport from KL to Penang, facility to carry bikes to Penang, No homestay for us, and no participants from UPNM to this event. We registered and paid everything (Registration fee - RM120) 3 months ago, if we just absent the event like that, not even the money burn just like that, our training also became meaningless at that moment. UPNM always relates with the word “LAST MINUTE”. We last minute just knew that our proposal was not approved; cadets always know get outing last minute, last minute cannot go for game and last minute cancelled the homestay.

What I planned was after I went to Langkawi, back home for 2 days to eat ho liao, then just go Penang to meet contingent UPNM. If well-followed with my plan, no problem for accommodation and UPNM will send my bike to Penang. What I need just to focus on game. BUT now all reversed!!! Who want to send my bike from UPNM to Penang for me since I’m in Kedah, my hometown that time. Where I want to stay on the night before event? Who can send me to event site?

I felt so nervous and I even can’t help myself on this. I use the last chance, POST a SOS status on FB, and thanks to bro Tey who helped me to post that SOS status too. Through him, I thought nobody can help me, but suddenly got people add me and gave me a help. He is a China Press newspaper reporter. He contacted me and lend me hands, such a great person. Thanks Abu who helped me to send my bike from UPNM to Pekan Sungai Besi for this good person. Thanks Chin Wei who helped me to carry my bike from KL to Penang for me, my bike was overnight at his car for3 days. J He helped me to carry my bike go Penang and back to KL.

~ A good person who helped me to carry my bike ~

Slowly, problems solved one by one, bicycle settled. Luckily got 7 seniors got overnight and drove up to Penang for race. They came Penang by 3 cars, with bicycles loaded in their cars, so atleast UPNM got 8 participants. Well, now times to worry about accommodation. Already finished contacts friends staying near Teluk Bahang, no any news. Then, on Saturday afternoon, my parent fetched me to Penang for carbo loading dinner. We went to motels one by one to check out their price and availability. I checked on website for cheap motels and guesthouses, all at Batu Ferringhi area, 8 mins to Teluk Bahang. Around 9pm, we just found a motel named KK Motel and Ferringhi Inn Motel. I book a single room with RM40, satisfied.

~ Cars with bicycles ~

~ Very cheap motel ~

On Race Day

~ UPNM contingent, 8 persons ~

I used to hang on a placing of “WIN & LOSE” category every race.Among my medals and trophies, there are 80 % are silver.I’m always no fate with gold,but this time I broke the wall and made my own VICTORY!!! Chin Wei handed over my bike for me on Sunday morning before the race,I didn’t feel my bike for so long. J I parked my bike at my place and went for warm up session.I noticed that my category only got 11 ladies,so I might all out to get the prize la. J

~ I bought this cycling jersey for so long time, this was my 1^st time to wear this ~

For the 1^st 5.5km, I felt quite hard to run, maybe because already rest for 5 days kot. My mental set to finish the race because so many people gave me support for this game. For cycling 40km, the route was so hilly and bent crooked road, but quite fun because I overtook many riders. J When I came back from cycling, I saw there was only a bike at bike area for my category. Lastly, for the last 10km run, I never run for so long distance after a ride. I pace a senior at 1^st then carried on with my own pace, everything went smoothly, I ran non-stop for the last 10km. Finally reached the finishing line and the marshal gave me a “1^st Card”. Argh???? What was happened? I thought I was no.2, how come became no.1 suddenly, haha J I can’t say anything that time. I straight called seniors and informed them : “ Boleh tak datang tengok? Saya dapat No.1”. “ Serious ah?????”They replied. Even myself also can’t believe that.

~ Trophy and medal ~

I’m so nervous and rest under camp. Then got Kwong Wah Yit Poh光华日报 reporter came and interview me. Continue with PgiTD cameramen came and took my photos and recorded my winning speech. 1^st time people interviewed me and the feeling was so great, like a big star suddenly, many people shake hands with me. When passed by people, they just opened big eyes and “wa, wa, wa”, because they saw “ No.1 card” hanged on my neck. J After the race, I back to UPNM with those cadets, it took 9 hours to reach KL from Penang because of big jam. Adui….

~ I bump with a nurse friend who I knew her from Famine 30 Camp during year2011. ~

Don’t know why the news spread so fast to UPNM. Before prize giving ceremony, many people texted me and congratzzz me. All the wishes I have received, thanks everyone from my deep heart, thanks everyone who helped me a lot for this event, thanks everyone who taught me running and cycling knowledge, thanks my family who gave me support and thanks to Kelab Sukan Lasak UPNM which upbringing me to this level. Appreciate it. J For 1 whole week after the event, wherever I go, at hostel, at café, at class, at everyplace, sounds of “ Tahniah Teh”, “Congratz Yong Le”, “ Oi, Champion” and many more always came to me. Thanks everyone. I like to hear that, feeling of listen good words really inspired me a lot. Yes, I will keep up my spirit of sports in future, and for my coming important race –MUDS in May. I will try my best. J

Here shows you some pictures of my victory:

~ Jersey of UPNM, smart ~

~ Blur ~

~ Cycling, style ~

~ Yes, I won!!! ~

~ Finally reached ~

~ Yes ~

~ After cycling, need to go for 10km more ~

~ Happy run although already tired ~

~ Get this voucher ~

So good to end March 2013 with such a great award. Luckily the race is not on 1 April, if not, I would think my winning was a fool, haha J I had a good month of March, went to LIMA’13 and became champion.

GREAT !!! AWESOME !!!

More photos >>> Album

Written On 9 March 2013

After Day 1 in Langkawi, here we go…. On 28 March 2013, 2^nd day in Langkawi, we started our new fresh day at 0830H. We had fun in Langkawi for 2 days only, for sure have to play until siao lo. J Before visit to LIMA, we paid a visit to famous cable car Langkawi. To get up to there, very high, but when you are up there, wa, was like at the heaven. Felt so great to stand at the highest point of Langkawi.

~ The Beautiful island of Langkawi at the back when we ride the cable car up to the highest ~

~ RM15 per entry ~

~ They said the mountain there like a “human face” ~

~ Too beautiful~

~ Posing J ~

~ The bridge ~

~ Maritime class ~

After that, we headed to LIMA’13 Maritime Exhibition at Awana Porto Malai. We saw submarine “ KD Tunku Abdul Rahman” but just from far la. There were 3 warships we can visit, other warships just anchored at beside. 3 warships that displayed were Bangladesh Navy - BNS DHALESHWARI, Royal Malaysian Navy – KD JEBAT and Royal Thailand Navy– H.T.M.S. PHUKET. Navy officers from Phuket very cute, very sporting, even can exchange facebook with us. J

~ Bangladesh Navy Ship - BNS DHALESHWARI ~

~ Other warships just anchored at side ~

~ Too action la… ~

~ Wow, stand beside GUN ~

~ Onboard H.T.M.S. PHUKET ~

~ A memorable photo with the officers from Thailand ~

~ KD JEBAT ~

~ With KD Tunku Abdul Rahman ~

2 hrs strolled around there then headed to our last destination, Pekan Kuah again. I bought about RM25 of chocolate again that day. J Haiz…..Yup, already is time to go home. We went to Jetty Terminal and waited for our ferry. Last ferry at 1900H, back to Perlis lorh….

~ Last photo in Langkawi ~

~ Ferry ticket, RM18 per head ~

~ Background of sunset, small island plus a ferry, is a perfect photo J ~

My granma, my mum and my sister came Perlis Ferry Terminal to fetch me, hehe J Went home for Cheng Beng la. My grandma staying in Perlis, so I had lunch at her house and paid a visit to my auntie there. Around 10.30pm just back to Kedah. On Thursday night, yes, I reached home finally. Woke up very early on Friday morning for Cheng Beng at Jeniang side. Anyway, was a great experience to visit LIMA and Langkawi. There are so great, super duper great. Now I’m planning some activities for my sem break, Langkawi is a nice choice.