I got this link embedded in a mailer from Run Singapore 2009 event today and I wish to share it with you, runners. Before this I have not seen any H1N1 advisory specifically directed to runners. Kudos for Singapore health authority for this advice.
Take care and run safe!
Please ensure that you are feeling well to participate in the run. You are advised to check your temperature at home before the run. Normal body temperature should not exceed 38°C.
If your initial reading is 38°C or higher, please rest for 5 to 10 minutes before taking your temperature again. Should the reading persist at 38°C or above, please go to the nearest Pandemic Preparedness Clinic (PPC) or polyclinic for initial assessment and treatment.
Runners who develop flu-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose) should also proceed to the nearest PPC or polyclinic for assessment and treatment.
Instead of blowing thousands of ringgit on travelling to Indonesia ...I paid RM78 only to enjoy three Indonesia top acts - Afgan, Yovie & Nuno and Maliq & D'Essentials in one show (with our very own Jazz Princess, Atilia thrown). Indeed value for money right?
But how come only a small group turned up for the mega concert like this? (Insert scratching head action here)
I met up with my friend, CK (who specially flown in from Sandakan, Sabah for this show) at Bangsar LRT station before taking a cab to Bukit Kiara Indoor Arena. I hated the venue because it is so difficult to reach that place unless you have your own transport.
We arrived at the arena about 6:30pm. The taxi ride took longer because the driver had mistaken the venue with Mont Kiara. So, we almost landed in Mont Kiara before I sensed something was amiss and asked the taxi driver make a long u-turn back to Bukit Kiara. Arrggggh!
Upon arrival to the arena, we were asked to wait under the white tent. The gate only scheduled to open at 7:00pm. So, we waited. It started to drizzle. Stuck with nowhere to go, we counted the people who turned up. Thirty – three!
Yikes! For a mega concert like that only 33 people at the gate waiting half hour before the show? I would be shitting bricks if I were the organiser! LOL!
There were three booths allocated to sell the concert merchandise. The one for Maliq was empty. Tees, buttons and keychains at Afgan booth while slippers, tees, CD (RM19.90) and other small items at Yovie & Nuno booth.
One of the major reasons for the poor turnout was MTV Live Stage was being held on the same night at Sunway Lagoon. International rock acts like All American Rejects, Kasabian, Boys Like Girls, Hoobastank and more were flown in for the show. And that concert was absolutely effing FREE.
It was reported that 15,000 turned up for MTV Live Stage while I think only about a few hundreds came for Illuminight! Look how empty the arena was...
Around 7:50pm, Atilia took to the stage. The show started with a bang with pyrotechnics and all. The stage was impressive. Huge screens. Booming sound systems. I must take my hat off for the organizer to have the balls to carry on with the show despite poor ticket sales. (Insert tabik hormat here!)
Atilia practically sang her heart out in her 40 mins performance. She looks uncannily like Sheila Majid from afar. Petite but with powerhouse vocal.
Atilia performed songs from debut album, Sangkar and also previewed some of her new songs slated for the 2nd album. She even collaborated with Maliq & D'Essentials on the CD. Wow! I can't wait!
Atilia is the daughter of popular Malay songstress Salamiah Hassan. Atilia updated one of her mother’s hit song – Gelombang. The songs is OK but I think the lyrics are too bleak for my liking.
Nasibku dirundung malang (My fate is unlucky)
Sederas gelombang (as fast as waves)
Menghempas di pantai (crashing at the beach)
Semalam aku ternoda (Yesterday I was made impure)
Dalam sinar cahaya di jendela (in the window light)
Tiada esok lagi (No more tomorrow)
Gelap masa depan (The future is dark)
Sinar hidup ini tiada erti (Life is meaningless)
Sweet but sexy dress.
Afgan was next. This boy CAN sing!
He looked kinda "chubbier" from the last time I saw him during his promo tour late last year.
Afgan performed songs from his debut album - Confession No.1.
He even tried to dance and did a couple of dangdut numbers in his tribute to his homeland musicians. LOL!
I love his voice. Reminds me of Brian McKnight and a little bit too much of John Legend.
Watch Afgan singing Bukan Cinta Biasa to an idol-stuck girl who got kissy kissy and huggy huggy with Afgan. Time to get envious girls!
Note: Commentary was done by CK unwittingly. LOL! In Cantonese!
ENJOY
Afgan completed his slot with Terima Kasih Cinta, completely rearranged. It was refreshing to hear the dance version of this song. To watch the video, please scroll down.
Yovie & Nuno were next!
Yovie and Nuno is huge in Indonesia and Malaysia with their hit - Menjaga Hati.
I left after the second song from Yovie & Nuno. It was around 10:30pm. I had to head home because I had a treasure hunt assignment as the photographer on the next morning. With a heavy heart, I decided to forgo Maliq and D'Essentials show. :(
I waited for 30 mins for a cab at the roadside before I decided to call for a cab home.
CK stayed on and was treated with a phenomenal show from Maliq and D'Essentials.
CK texted,"They did their set non-stop and it's like multiple orgasms and the crowd sing along was so impressive!"
Wow! Multiple "O"? That's crazy, man! LOL!
Will they be performing at the Jakarta Jazz Festival next year?
Gotta start saving now...Heheh!
MORE
Watch my other videos of Illuminight. I do not embed everything here because it might slow down the pageload. See the crowd small group of people that turn up for the show and the spectacular guy hanging on high wires with pyrotechnics.
Due to some unforseen circumstances, I was not able to attend the KL Terry Fox Run launch at Canada House yesterday. :(
Anyway, here's the details.
What? TERRY FOX RUN KUALA LUMPUR 2009
When? Sunday 1 November 2009 Flag off @ 9.00 a.m.
Where? Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens)
On the Road of Hope for cancer research
Terry Fox knew personally, the importance of the need for cancer research. At the age of 18, he was told that his right leg had to be amputated above the knee as a result of bone cancer. During this crucial period, Terry saw the intense pain and despair of other cancer victims and was deeply moved. In order to raise funds for cancer research, he decided to run across Canada asking for donations. This became “The Marathon of Hope”. Terry Fox died before he could complete his crusade, but his legacy is carried in the hearts of all who participate or donate to the Terry Fox Run each year around the world.
How the Marathon of Hope began:
Since it began in 1983, the Terry Fox Run has become the largest, single-day, fund-raising event for cancer research. Here in KL, the organisers aim to continue the quest to keep Terry’s dream alive. This year, with the support of sponsors and participants, we hope to raise both funds and awareness for cancer research here in Kuala Lumpur. The beneficiary in previous years and this year as well is the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF). You too, can take up the quest so that Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer can become a reality.
If you would like to volunteer
Or
If you need more information
Please contact :
Ms Yoon / Mr Peter Kang, CARIF, 2nd floor, OPC, Sime Darby Medical Centre, T: 56391874
Or email them at organizer(at)terryfoxrunkl.org
So, mark your calendar today for Terry Fox Run and do your bit for cancer research.
Please watch this inspiring story about Terry Fox.
The race atmosphere was great. Loud cheers. Colourful pom poms. Noisy thunder sticks and drums. Wandering mascots. Supporters came full forced with their corporate coloured T-shirts.
I was there to take pictures and soak in the atmosphere. Not eligible to run since I left the rat race already...Heheh! Saw Tey, CCube and Jason with their SLRs at the start point.
The Edge and Bursa Malaysia were once again co-organisers for this unique event. Donations collected from participating local and foreign companies in the race would be channelled to charity.
Modelled after the Carey Wall Street Rat Race, the Kuala Lumpur Rat Race is a platform for Malaysia corporate citizens to come together and help the needy in a novel way.
It rained at the start of the run, but not heavy enough to send everyone running for shelter.
There were two types of races - CEO race (1km) and the main race (4.5km) that took runners to the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest commercial area.
So, you get to see CEOs of various companies running on the streets of KL in their office wear – complete with neckties and long pants.
The ratracers were pampered with after race massage, drinks and some snacks after their race.
But where was the CHEESE? No Rat Race is complete without the cheese. Someone must have MOVED the cheese. LOL!
Here’s the video.
ENJOY
Note: Soundtrack – We Will Rock You (Club Mix)
Want more? There was a cheerleading competition to keep us entertained while waiting for the runners to come back.
Watch the video below.
Look out for
1) YMCA song creatively morphed into CIMB by the (who else?) CIMB cheer squad
2) Roaring Maybank tigress…
3) A funky chubby guy from DIJAYA who danced like there was no tomorrow to the tune of Boom Boom Pow! He certainly got the Boom Boom and the Pow Pow :) (Insert applause here)
ENJOY!
My personal favourite is the IJM team. Highly choreographed and they looked absolutely stunning!
Does anybody know who won the competition? I left before they announced the winner....
This is a letter I received from one of Gary's friends.
Please hear his plight. Thanks!
Dear Friends from RunWitMe,
Last Sunday (2nd August 2009), my friend, Gary Leon Robert went missing after completing a 22km marathon (Adidas King of the Road) around Shah Alam Stadium organized by none other than Adidas Malaysia. On Monday (3rd August 2009), his body was found in the Stadium basement.
The cause of his death is dehydration*, however we believe that perhaps the real cause of his death is negligent.
On Thursday, 'The Star' published 2 pages on how successful the event went but nothing on Gary.**
Participating a run may seem harmless, but in the light of his death we need to take steps to improve the facilities which sport event organizers provide and the care which paramedics give.
The Mayor of Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam said the Gary was given the best medical treatment. If he had, he would still be here with us.
Gary's friends and family are dying for answers and they want the Sports Ministry to have an inquiry on his death.
To do so, they need support from the public. Please help us out and click on the site. (I believe my friends are doing up a petition via the website)
Details of events following his death are published on the site:
*Unless he has an inherent biological condition in him which lead to him dying from a thirst, his death was SO avoidable.
Last words: What we want is to have safe venues, proper facilities and health care for sportswomen/men. The more people hear of his story, 'perhaps' organizers and care-providers will pull their socks up.
Please do contact us for more details of his story or you would like to know more of him.
A friend of Gary, Krishnath asked me to publish this photo that he got from a photographer. This could be his final photo alive.
From the video earlier, Gary was seen being carried away in a stretcher by three medical officers.
However, he did not reach the medical tent as we thought he would.
This was photo taken after the video (not by me but by another photograher).
According to an eye-witness, he struggled, got up and walked off from the stretcher before he could be brought to the medical tent.
On the next day he was found dead in the stadium basement.
Big Question - What happened in between the moment when he walked away and the moment his body was found in the stadium basement?
If you have any information or seen Gary at the King of The Road event, please contact Krishnath at 017-6625587 or email krishnath_87@yahoo.com / krishnath_87@hotmail.com.
You can more view pic from the same photographer here.
I would like to dedicate the video of Adidas King Of The Road to Gary Leon Robert. (1987-2009)
Gary was found lifeless at Shah Alam Stadium after he went missing for more than 24 hours after completing the Adidas King Of The Road run (22km). I am deeply saddened by this incident.
I had run the 11km or the race with my camera as usual, taking photographs and video clips along the route. I spotted a celebrity couple, Sazzy Falak and Nazril Idrus running the 11km event. Even got them to smile for the camera!
The weather was good but the air condition was hazy. Couldn’t even see the famous Masjid Shah Alam clearly. It was a beautiful morning with a sea of runners wearing Adidas orange vest flooding the road in the heart of Shah Alam.
I saw three of my friends, Kelvin, Ryan and Jacky at finish area after crossing the gantry. They were fanning a young guy who was lying semi-conscious while being attended by the paramedics. I continued shooting the video of him being carted away in a stretcher. Little that I know that was the last time we get to see him alive.
The running video above if quite different from the previous videos that I have posted. The speed has been slowed down two times.
See the wave of orange pulsating along the Shah Alam road
See the almost poetry like movements of the runners as their feet bounced off the ground.
See the expressions on the runners faces as they paced through the crowd.
I took this video as I passed the finish line yesterday. A guy wearing Adidas vest, White shorts and basketball shoes collapsed at the finish line. I walked away as he was being taken cared of by the paramadic.
However, I learned that he is still missing till now.
Name: Gary Leon Robert
Ic number: 870818145695
Bib Number: A 793 (Men Open 22km)
If anyone has seen this guy or know anything, please call
012-3802133 OR 016-977 8919.
Thanks for your help!
The Shape/ Men's Health Run returned after an overwhelming success when it made its debut in the Malaysian running calendar last year. However, instead of Lake Garden, the venue had been changed to a more spacious area in Putrajaya.
And instead of a morning run, they made it a Saturday night run! Since I love the night sceneries at Putrajaya, I had no qualm in registering for the run once the registration was made available.
Amy, Tan and I arrived at the start point around 6:30pm. The area was already buzzing with runners and the various sponsors. I hung around the stage area checking out the rehearsal from the Charm Allstars Cheer Squad and also games conducted by the two bubbly announcers from MixFm. Sham and Jay.
The Charm Allstars was at last year's run too. From their jaw-dropping midair flips and human pyramids, they are indeed a fun bunch to watch.
The Bidor Kaki Runners - They came all the way from Bidor for this run. :)
I also check out some of the sponsors booth. This one is Lab Series. I remember they gave free facials last year. This year they had additional something for the abs...
Me? I didn't try some. No need fancy tummy cream. I gave up on my gut long time ago. LOL! Eat and prosper.
Spotted - TV Personality, Azura Zainal with her Nike LunarGlide+ shoes.
We were hurdled into the waiting pen around 7:30pm. The evening was hot and humid.
I had to sneak out of the waiting pen to record the performance of the Charm Allstars Cheerleading Squad. The stage was too far from the start point. So, for those who were couped up in the waiting pen that evening, do click the video above to check out their awesome performance. :)
CLICK PLAY & ENJOY!
Note: I had to replaced the soundtrack because the original sound recording was really bad. Bad bad sound system!
We were set off about 8pm. (11.5km categories).
I lugged along my brick heavy Fuji camera. I left my Olympus at home because no way it can perform satisfactory at night.
I "bumped" into many running friends/ bloggers like Julie, ZulAzlan and Haza.
As I was running on the Seri Gemilang bridge, a bunch of ladies in green caught my attention.
Meet the bride, Sabrina, the one with the veil (second from right). According to her, she just got married the night before. She bridemaids ran beside her.
When asked where was her groom, she said he was out partying!
Damn! Why would any man in his right mind let her pretty wife run without him at night? He should be out running too. You know, keep up the stamina for ehem ehem!. LOL! Kidding!
Anyway, congratulations Sabrina! Hope to see you next year running with a pram! (Insert cheeky wink here!)
I enjoyed the run tremendously. Water stations were adequate. Direction signages were good even though I did see two 7.7km runners who had to make a U-turn after they missed the turning where 11.5km & 7.7km runners spilt. Too engrossed or too blind to see?
Distance markers only available after km 5.
Traffic control was good even though they didn't close the whole route to traffic.
I love the 11.5km route because we get to cross the three most beautiful bridges in the country - The Seri Gemilang Bridge, The Seri Saujana Bridge and The Seri Wawasan Bridge on foot. Simply breathtaking!
My right arm was sore after the run because of the heavy camera! Imagine yourself carrying a brick for the whole 11.5km run. Thank God the images were good enough for YouTube and I hope to entice new runners to this run next year! Heheh!
Meet the Orange fler - one man cheer squad! LOL! I wonder if his hand ache after slapping hi-five 4,000 runners' hands.
I have seen runners who do the "bite the medal" pose for the camera after their run. I got my friends to help me with the pose, with a little twist. Heheh!
BTW, the cover girl is Andrea Fonseka, the super hot chick Miss Malaysia - Universe 2004.
The registration fee had increased by 50%, from RM20 to RM30! But the goodies are quite similar. What we get in this year's goodies bag are...
• A Men’s Health bag
• A Runner’s Vest from Reebok worth RM79
• 2 pouches of Nature Valley® Crunchy Granola Bars
