~ 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, 1st 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.
Problem 2: Have proper training, but not enough training
I planned a schedule for my training, this was my 2nd
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.
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.
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.
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.
On Race Day
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
For the 1st 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 1st 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 “1st 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.
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. 1st
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….
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:
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
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