Monday, October 31, 2016

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 is on 21 May 2017



Kuala Lumpur, 31 October - Back for the ninth year, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon is scheduled to take place on 21 May 2017 at Dataran Merdeka. The date was announced in a Facebook post on SCKLM official Facebook page today.

In the past years, SCKLM has always been organised in the second half of the year. Last year it was organised on 7 August 2016. The reason for moving it to May is believed to avoid clashing with the SEA GAMES (19 to 31 August 2017) and also the fasting and Raya months (June/ July).

Smart move, SCKLM!

The registration will probably open in early next year! But it's not too early to mark that calendar and start working on your training plan.

For more information on the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon, please refer to http://www.kl-marathon.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/SCKLmarathon.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Media Release: Nike.com Now Delivers to Malaysia



Malaysia, 28 October 2016 – Nike today announced that Nike.com now delivers to Malaysia giving consumers complete and immediate access to the best of Nike’s products and services, including the crowd-favorite NIKEiD service.

A hub for all athletes* to access all of Nike’s top innovations in one place, Nike.com provides a one-stop 24-hour service for athletes to become better athletes. Consumers will now have access to a full assortment of products across categories including Running, Football, Young Athletes, Tennis, Women’s Training, Nike Sportswear, Basketball, Jordan and Men’s Training.

Committed to encouraging athletes to reach their full potential through innovation and a strong community, Nike.com also serves as a link to combine product services to the Nike+ ecosystem. Consumers seeking inspiration can connect to the Nike+ Community through Nike.com as well as through the Nike+ apps such as Nike+ Training Club, Nike+ Run Club and Nike+ Football Club apps. Consumers may also seamlessly shop on Nike.com for looks they have discovered on the Nike+ apps, and even look out for ‘live’ experiences available through Nike.com.

Previously unavailable to Nike fans in Malaysia, NIKEiD, a highly rated service globally, will also be available on Nike.com as it goes live. NIKEiD allows consumers to design and customize their own Nike merchandise for a truly unique and personal product. Consumers can also expect regular updates including expanded color options and added product lines exclusive to Nike.com.

Shipping
Products purchased through Nike.com in Malaysia will be shipped from Singapore. NIKEiD customized items will be shipped from Hong Kong, thereby shortening the waiting time as compared to shipping from the US.

To begin your experience, head to http://www.nike.com/my/en_gb/

*if you have a body, you are an athlete

Friday, October 21, 2016

Annyeonghaseyo? Gangwon-do Here We Come!



We are all packed and ready to go!

There are many exciting marathons in Korea for example, the Seoul International Marathon, Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon, Jeju Mandarin Marathon, Jeju MBC International Peace Marathon and last but not least the Gangwon Province and Chuncheon Chosunilbo Marathon which will be happening this weekend. We are very excited since this will be our first trip to South Korea!

First held in 1946, it is the second oldest marathon in the country after the Seoul International Marathon. Sponsored by The Chosun Ilbo, a major daily newspaper in South Korea, the race is one of two in the country which holds IAAF Silver Label status, along with Gyeongju International Marathon.

Apart from running the 10K race, we will be doing a lot of sight-seeing including a bicycling trip around the beautiful province of Gangwon.

Here's our tentative itinenary:



Our racepack is already waiting for us in Gangwon!



Thanks to our travel sponsors:







Other sponsors:

Race Day Shoes and Apparels by Asics Malaysia
GPS Smart Watch by Garmin Malaysia
Sports Earphones by Bose (Atlas Sound & Vision Sdn. Bhd)
Other apparel sponsors: Abstrax and Ultron.

Please follow our Instagram #runwitmeingangwon for live updates from the trip.



Colour Your Life with the Goodness of Nature to Fight Cancer



In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Malaysia’s premier fresh fruit juice and smoothie company Juice Works Malaysia, has launched “Juice Works Breast Cancer Awareness” campaign to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy diet with readily available fruits and vegetables.

While temperate countries often have to source for fresh fruits and vegetables, natural harvests in all colours, sizes and shapes are readily available to us around the clock. So any time is right to get into the habit of adding more colour into our daily diets.

“Our bodies need a healthy diet to function at its best and this is especially crucial if we have cancer,” explains Juice Works Malaysia founder, Ling Mooi Li, who is a trained pharmacist.

“Optimal nutrition is very important because when we are eating well, it helps us feel better overall, strengthens us, and builds muscles, all of which supports us in tolerating the side effects of treatments for cancer. Fresh fruits and vegetables offer a boost to our immune system to hasten recovery and also decrease chances of infections.

“In line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are eager to share the incredible benefits of natural fruits and vegetables that can be incorporated into our daily lives. When selecting these natural produce, aim to go for a variety of colour, literally, eat as much colour as you can!

“Deep, dark shades indicate that the fruits and vegetables are rich with anti-inflammatory phytonutrients including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which have been shown to help fight chronic illnesses, prevent cancer and strengthen the immune system.

“Bright and cheerful orange-coloured produce like citrus fruits, pumpkins or sweet potatoes have a great supply of phytochemicals especially carotenoid antioxidants including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin.”

The berry family is an especially potent source of antioxidants including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. The rich greens of leafy spinach, kale and lettuces are also chockfull of fibre and vitamins. Scarlet tomatoes contain stores of lycopene while cantaloupe melons have vitamins A and C, minerals and hydrating water.

Studies have shown that higher intake of cancer-fighting foods like fruits and vegetables, fish, and fibre are associated with a decreased risk of colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Among the most highly regarded cancer-fighting foods abundant in markets and supermarkets in our neighbourhoods include:

Leafy green vegetables – rich supplies of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes, yet very low in calories, fats, and sodium. Think spinach, kale, romaine, and watercress. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) found in leafy greens, which are made from glucosinolates, have been reported to help detox your body at the cellular level.

Cruciferous vegetables – examples like broccoli and cauliflower are powerful cancer fighters with rich stores of Vitamin C and glutathione, a potent antioxidant.

Berries – renowned antixodant rich with vitamin C, vitamin A and gallic acid, a powerful antifungal/antiviral agent that increases immunity. Berries are rich in proanthocyanidin antioxidants, capable of lowering free radical damage.

Herbs and spices – even the humblest natural ingredients hold the key to health such as turmeric that contains curcumin, proven to decrease tumour size and fight breast and colon cancer. A single teaspoon of turmeric powder consumed daily helps or in the form of supplements.



In line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Juice Works Malaysia has launched two delicious drinks designed to offer some of the most potent health boosting properties to the body:

CHERISH YOUR HEART offers a naturally scintillating selection of strawberries, apples, spinach and pineapple to zest up your day. This is a potent potion designed to boost the immune system.

Strawberries are a member of the cherished berry family known for its extraordinary high levels of antioxidant content. Spinach gives a knock out punch to cancer, as studies have shown that the leafy green inhibits cancer cell growth. A new study from Harvard Medical School has shown that women on diets rich in the flavonoid kaempferol had a 40% reduction in ovarian cancer risk compared to women who ate the least amount of food containing the flavonoid. And an apple a day literally keeps the doctor away, as laboratory studies have shown that their potent phytochemicals help suppress breast cancer tumour growth.

SWEET HEART combines the juiciness of fresh plump strawberries with fragrant apricots blended to perfection with creamy bananas, muesli, low fat soymilk and mango yoghurt. Not only is the musky fragrance of apricots irresistible, these lovely golden fruits are rich in plant antioxidants. Yoghurt helps balance the digestive system and loads it with healthy probiotics, or friendly bacteria with live cultures.

Each 600ml cup of concoction is retailed at RM14.80 inclusive of GST.

Juice Works will be offering customer a 50% off any Meal Replacement (power, 600mL) drinks with purchase of BCWA pink ribbon/pin.

For every purchase of BCWA ribbons/pins will be contributed back to BCWA in support for the cancer patients.



Monday, October 17, 2016

Recap: UDA Pekan Bridge Run 2016



We almost didn’t make it for this inaugural UDA Pekan Bridge Run. Blame it on procrastination; thinking who would want to run in a small town like Pekan? Boy, were we wrong! The run as sold out after three days! I guess, the cheap entry fee - RM10 was simply too good to ignore. Plus you will get a nice finisher medal and a micro-dry tee from Ultron.

Since we do not want to miss this run - a run in our own hometown, we had to pull some strings to get hold of an entry. Being a blogger do have some perks like this! Heheh! Thank you En. Rayme, En. Hazrell and Puan Radziah or helping us to secure a slot.



The start venue was located opposite the Ancasa Royale Hotel, a 100m from the bridge.

The run was flagged off at 8am after an exhausting Zumba session. They did FIVE Zumba songs! FIVE! Two songs are good enough. Three is max. More than that it's an overkill. Pity those pakciks and makciks who ran out of breath even before the race. A warm up session should prepare the runners by getting their muscles ready with some dynamic stretching thrown in. It is not supposed to exert the participants to the point of exhaustion with fancy dance moves. Heheh!

A video posted by runwitme (@runwitme) on



The Abu Bakar Bridge is the main bridge on Pahang River. It is located at Jalan Kuantan-Pekan. Construction started in 1968 and was completed two years later, with the total cost of RM2.5 million. The bridge was opened on 28 February 1970 by Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang. Before the bridge was built, I was told by my late grandparents that they used to take the ferry or boat to cross the Pahang River.



"Do small things with great love."



We got a heavy dose of Vitamin D that morning! The sun was up and burning by the time we were flagged off.



It is true when they say running and marathon events have potential not only to draw foreign visitors but also domestic tourists. Here's one from Kuala Lumpur. Heheh! Nice meeting you here, Azmi!



Daulat Tuanku.



The Pekan town is located on the banks of the Pahang River 50 km south of Kuantan and about 280 km from Kuala Lumpur. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan. Being the royal town of Pahang, it is the home of the state's royal family headed by Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.

It is also the birthplace of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. The current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is also Pekan's current Member of Parliament.

After the crossing the bridge, the route to us to Padang Polo, where the official residence of the Sultan of Pahang is located, before making a U-turn back. We get to see the fast runners on the opposite side of the road.

The run had attracted quite a few African runners because the of lucrative cash prizes.



Our friend from KL, Azwan blazing through to win the first prize in the 8km Local Men's category,



The gading or elephant tusks are quite commonly displayed as they are part of Pahang's coat of arms. The tusks represent the abundance of elephants in the state and its importance in Pahang's economy in the distance past through its trade of elephant tusks. However, it is illegal now to trade elephant tusks, so you know.



The fastest local female making her way back to the finish line. Sorry ya...We don't know your name.



The Sultan Abu Bakar Palace, which is the official residence of the present sultan, is named after the late Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah.



The Palace is located near the Padang Polo, my favourite place to run.



Yay for the cold orange Lucozade Sport! Didn't expect them to serve Lucozade Sport in small town run. Two thumbs up!



"Pain is temporary. Pride lasts forever."



The ribbon distributors at the KM4 check-point.



We passed by many historical landmarks along the route. This is Istana Mangga Tunggal, an old palace named after a mango tree that bore only a single fruit every season.



The Chief's Resthouse - A charming circa-1929 colonial wooden building exudes atmosphere and style.



There are so many historical and beautiful landmarks that can be incorporated into the run if the route is longer. We have the Masjid Abdullah, Muzium Sultan Abu Bakar, Dataran Pekan, Pulau Beram and more. I wish they would extend the route to a 21km perhaps, to cover these wonderful places in the future.

Slowly we made our way back to the finish point at the Ancasa Royale Hotel, the biggest and latest hotel in Pekan.



Upon reaching the finish line, we were told that they would only distribute the finisher medal at 11am after the arrival of the Prime Minister and prize presentation. Since we had a bus to Kuala Lumpur to catch at 10am, we asked our friend to collect the medal on behalf.

Overall, UDA Pekan Bridge Run got off on the right steady foot. There is so much potential to make it a bigger and better run, judging from the overwhelming response. Who knows, perhaps, there will be a Pekan International Marathon (42km) in the future?

Media Release: RM 200,000 raised at the first ever RBC Race for the Kids in Kuala Lumpur



KUALA LUMPUR, 16 October 2016
– More than 1,500 people walked or jogged through the beautiful Perdana Botanical Garden today in the first ever Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Race for the Kids in Kuala Lumpur in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia.

The 5km charity run raised RM 200,000 for RMHC Malaysia to build a Ronald McDonald Sensory Room at two centres in the Klang Valley. The centres nurture the well-being and education of young people with special needs and learning disabilities. The Kuala Lumpur race exceeded its initial fundraising target of RM 90,000, paving the way for RBC and RMHC to double their target and fund an additional room.



“We are thrilled with the response to RBC’s first Race for the Kids in Kuala Lumpur and proud that RBC employees, friends, family and the local community came together to support such an important cause,” said Doug Moore, CEO, RBC Capital Markets Asia and Head of RBC Investor & Treasury Services Asia-Pacific. “RBC has a strong presence in Malaysia and we are delighted to establish RBC Race for the Kids in Kuala Lumpur as part of our global commitment to helping communities prosper.”



RBC established its first office in Malaysia in 2008 and today employs more than 800 people in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur.

“The support that we received from RBC and the community has been overwhelming,” said Victor Sim, President, RMHC Malaysia. “It was a wonderful event and the funds raised will help children with special needs and learning disabilities develop cognitive skills and build self-confidence in a positive environment.”



RBC Race for the Kids Kuala Lumpur is the latest addition to RBC’s series of 11 charitable runs that support causes in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States.



Increasing in popularity every year, RBC Race for the Kids events have attracted more than 110,000 participants to date, and raised over $CAD 26.5 million for children’s charities around the world.

The races are part of RBC’s larger commitment to kids and youth through the RBC Kids Pledge, a five-year, $CAD 100 million promise to improve the well-being of one million kids and youth.

Media Release: ASICS BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 Concludes with a Smashing Success



MALAYSIA, 9 October 2016
– Malaysian badminton enthusiasts from all walks of life converged at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall for a thrilling finale to ASICS Badminton Championship 2016 (ABC 2016). For the first time, ABC 2016 finals was played on a custom-built badminton arena staged over the shopping mall’s indoor ice skating rink, giving players and spectators alike a unique, one-of-a-kind experience. The badminton champions were crowned after triumphing through thrilling knock-out semi-final matches over 2 days, on the 7th and 8th of October and the finals on 9th October. ABC 2016 was also held in conjunction with Malaysia’s ‘Hari Sukan Negara 2016’ to promote sporting excellence across all layers of society.

The annual badminton tournament is organized for the second consecutive year by ASICS, a true sport performance brand. After an intense and keenly-fought competition, only 33 players went through to qualify into ASICS Badminton Championship 2016 Finals. The atmosphere was electrifying as finalists pitted their badminton skills against one another in a series of high-octane and action-packed matches.

The event was officiated by Minister for Youth and Sports YB. Khairy Jamaluddin.

“I am pleased that Hari Sukan Negara 2016 continues to draw support from global sporting brand such as ASICS in our efforts to transform Malaysia into a sporting nation. I am certain that the annual ASICS Badminton Championship will provide a competitive platform to identify and groom young Malaysian badminton talents into becoming future world champions,” said Khairy Jamaluddin during the opening ceremony of ASICS Badminton Championship Finals 2016.

“We are extremely delighted that ASICS Badminton Championship 2016 has received tremendous response from young talented Malaysian badminton enthusiasts, many of whom were inspired by the recent success of Malaysia’s national badminton team,” said Yogesh Gandhi, Managing Director for ASICS Asia PTE. LTD. “As such, we are certainly very proud of all the competitors who played their best at this year’s badminton tournament. They share the same vision and determination to constantly better themselves in line with ASICS’ mantra ‘Want It More’.”

Categories
The final matches were played across seven categories, including: Men's Singles Open, Veteran’s Doubles minimum age of 45 years each, Men's Doubles Open, Men's Doubles U21, Men's Singles U21, Women's Singles Open, Women's Singles U21 and Women’s Doubles Open.

Winners
Men’s Singles Open
Champion: Wong Kok Hong

Veteran’s Doubles minimum age of 45 years each
Champion: Ng Inn Sin / Chua Ken Seng

Men's Doubles Open
Champion: Ahmad Maziri / Amir

Men's Doubles U21
Champion: Puah Chen Hao / Sharul Shazwan

Men's Singles U21
Champion: Shahrul Shazwan

Women's Singles Open
Champion: Kong Yi Jin

Women’s Doubles Open
Champion: Lim Payee / Lim Phet Zhoon

For updates on event information, please stay tuned or visit:
Website: www.asicsbadmintonchampionship.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ASICSBadmintonChamp

Official event hashtags: #ASICSBadmintonChamp #ASICSGameOn

Follow ASICS Malaysia on Facebook for exclusive content and real-time news around ASICS products, events, and elite athletes. For more information about ASICS, please visit www.asics.com.sg

Friday, October 14, 2016

Recap: Hari Sukan Negara HSN21K 10Km Fueled by Lucozade Sport



How did you “turun padang” last Hari Sukan Negara? Just like last year we had a tonnes of event to choose from for Hari Sukan Negara, which aimed to garner the participation of seven million people through various programmes throughout the nation.

We decided to participate in the HSN21KM. It was a clear choice because it was one of the key events in conjunction with Hari Sukan Negara 2016, celebrated on 8 October 2016. Moreover, our favourite sport drink, Lucozade Sport is the official sponsor. Heheh!

A video posted by runwitme (@runwitme) on


The 10km race was flagged off at Dataran Merdeka at 7.00am by President of Muse Group Asia, Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin. One of the reasons we picked 10km, not 21km was because of the start time. 7am is just nice for us to take the earliest LRT to Masjid Jamek. No hassle to drive or to Uber.

We inched our way along Jalan Raja Laut before crossing the bridge to Jalan Kuching.

A video posted by runwitme (@runwitme) on


We told you to "turun padang" for Hari Sukan Negara. It's your own fault if you got stuck in the jam. Heheh!

The road was partially closed for the run, causing a heavy flow of vehicles on the open lanes. We had to eat exhaust pipes debris for breakfast here! Heheh!



Thanks to all the road marshalls and Traffic Police officers, the run was quite smooth for the runners.

I was shocked to see an overturned lorry along Jalan Kuching. According to the marshall, it accident occurred much earlier before the start of the run. I couldn't event imagine the outcome if it were to happen during the run. The result would have been devastating.



So happy to see this water station! A refreshing water stop along the busy Jalan Kuching, offering runners water and also cold Lucozade Sport.



The KLCC in the skyline behind us. Come to think of it, we have never run this route before. First time running on Jalan Kuching towards this direction. However, we don't quite enjoy this stretch of road due to the noise and pollution.



Good advice there - "Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction."



The run took a familiar turn into the Jalan Tunku area. The distance markers are displayed prominently along the route.



Our wish for fresh morning air after running on the polluted Jalan Kuching was ruined. Who in the right mind would do mosquito fogging on a weekend? Had to cover our mouth and show down to a walk while passing this area. Otherwise, we would have dropped dead like the mosquitoes. Heheh!



Keep calm and drink Lucozade Sport.



Sports drinks like Lucozade are an important source of fluids and energy while exercising or running; the carbohydrates found in sports drinks help to replenish your body’s energy supply for better performance. We are glad that there were two drink stations that served Lucozade on the 10km route.



Overall, the HSN21KM 10km was okay. We didn't quite like the first few km of the run in Jalan Kuching due to the pollution and noise. There is a safety concern too since the road is straight and the tendency for drivers to speed is higher. The second portion of the run is much better. The water stations are well-stocked with water dan Lucozade Sport.

Love the atmosphere at Dataran Merdeka which was a mix of merriment and excitement! Love the free ice cream for all too.



So, what’s next after the Hari Sukan Negara? We hope all of us will continue being active. More organisers would take a proactive step to organise better event, not just for profit’s sake. Let’s us join forces to transform Malaysia into a Sporting Nation by 2020.

Friday, October 07, 2016

Media Release: Gigi Hadid Joins Forces with Reebok in the #PerfectNever Movement



Gigi Hadid, style icon, fitness advocate and trendsetter, joins Reebok’s community of inspiring women as the newest face of the brand’s #PerfectNever movement; a powerful and inspirational call to action that asks women around the world to celebrate the beauty of imperfection and champions Reebok’s intrinsic message of self-betterment.

Together, Gigi and Reebok will challenge women to use physical fitness as an escape to drown out all of the negativity that surrounds them by deploying the three-point principles of the Reebok delta that puts forth the social, physical and mental benefits of fitness.



As an international supermodel Hadid is no stranger to the pressures of perfection placed on women, living under the constant scrutiny of a global audience of critics. It is through fitness that Hadid has found her tranquility.



“Working out isn’t only physical for me. It’s mental. It helps me escape the noise in my head. It’s the only time my mind goes quiet.” shares Hadid. “When I was a competitive athlete, I used to be so focused on being perfect that my coaches would take me out of competing all together. I’d focus on my mistakes which would breed more missteps - a domino effect. Until I learned to change the channel, to re-focus, re-set. It was my mistakes, my imperfections that motivated me most.”

Learning to “change the channel” and take control, Hadid discovered that it was in fact these failures and setbacks that helped her improve – accepting them and using them as motivation to better herself. Hadid will now work with Reebok to motivate women to accept their own setbacks and imperfections by embracing their inner strength, grit and determination.



Praising Gigi’s influence on women and women’s fashion in particular, Corinna Werkle, General Manager of the Training Business Unit at Reebok states, “Gigi is setting the standards of modern style across the world; her ability to fuse fashion and fitness together inspires people globally. The fashion icon constantly pushes the boundaries by not being afraid to take risks and be different. Working with Reebok, Gigi will empower women by challenging them to express themselves to the fullest through bold, fearless style and to be confident enough to embrace their uniqueness.”



Reebok’s partnership with Hadid marks the second phase in the #PerfectNever movement’s chapter. July 2016 marked its debut, lead by a powerful campaign video featuring athlete Ronda Rousey. The poignant video captured Rousey at her most raw and real, as she shattered the illusions of perfection and empowered women to be the best version of themselves through embracing and learning from their imperfections. Gigi and Reebok will work together in 2016 and beyond to further champion this message.



Fans wanting to stay up to date with Hadid’s latest Reebok news and stories should follow @ReebokWomen on Instagram and Twitter for exclusive updates.