CHAMPION!! 2013 XTERRA Malaysia Championship

Yes, my bib name is BAD ASS KICK ASS

 Its been a while, but hey.. an experience is worth sharing and have no expiry date.

Since end of last year, I have been practicing to increase my speed by doing more interval training, tempo runs, and limiting long runs only on weekends. It is only logical the way to test my speed is by racing sprint races. After the successful 11th placing in 2012 MALAKOFF Powerman Asian Championship (Sprint) in November and breaking my personal best by running a 1:33 hours Half-Marathon at Penang Bridge Marathon in December, I wanted to test my luck in triathlon. 

I saw the ad online and my friends all racun me to enter the race, I register myself. I knew my chances of winning will be high since I'm quite good in off-road races. Plus, elites will most likely register in the full-distance category and most triathletes I knew doesn't even own a mountain bike. XTERRA is not even popular in Malaysia. Having said that, my imaginary calculation in probabilities of winning is high - though I am not a fast swimmer, an average road/mountain bike cyclist, and just above average in running.

Using my ALSTOM sponsored De Soto trisuit. All white theme in off-road race =/ .... not a good idea

Got there extra early. Weather was good. I dip myself in Putrajaya lake to test the water, and it is warm. Everything was perfect for me. When the race started, I pace myself with beside a white chap on my right as a guide since I breathe easiest on my right and I don't have a good sighting skill. It was a good strategy, I can follow his pace but at the end of the 750m swim I lost the sight of him, I think he slowed down since I swam really close until after a few strokes, we will collide. I didn't mean to play dirty but I couldn't see well since the water visibility is bad. I ended the swim in 6th place overall. I knew it by this time the elites aren't here - my time to shine ~ LOL!

On roads and mild path, I could just keep up with the front packs and some racers from the back started to catch up with me. But in technical tracks, I'm a wee bit faster than most and I manage to get myself to overtook a few riders. *Thanks Zero2Hero mountain bike coaching I sure learn a few tricks to get faster in trails. I love the single tracks but nearing the end of the cycling discipline, I got a flat tire. I brought an extra tube but I left my mini pump at home - SMART. I ended up running & pushing my bike the last 2-3 kilometers. So, the few racers I overtook, overtook me back plus some other racers. *sigh* 

It wasn't all bad, after the 20km bike discipline, I can straight run normally without the normal awkward feeling of running that I felt after cycling - thanks to the running + pushing my bike earlier. I manage to overtook back ALL the racers that overtook me. Anyway, signage is poor, I got myself lost a few times luckily with the front pack and no one from the back overtook us. I ended the 5km run in 6th place overall position and 1st in my age group.

Flat tyre? no problem.

Hoo-ah!

Harimau pun menang.

A bunch of friends. Yes, life is good.

Brag shot 1

Brag shot 2

Came back the next day to change to a more funky themed Julbo sunglass.

I hope to get some cash, but I got a Julbo sun-glass instead =.=' It is a good brand, a very good quality sport shade, light weight etc.. but I had my sports shades already and another shades will be a waste. Anyway, I went the next day to see the full-distance race and the elites. I also change my glasses to a more funky theme glasses. Looking at my age group category, I still have a big chance of winning if I race both races. Maybe next year I'll race both.

Official released results.

Went directly to a friends wedding after the race. Smells good =p

The bride: Chief of Chap Ayam Runners + srikandi TTKuda Runners.