Kyoto Marathon 2016: Race Day

Two years ago I made the bold declaration by saying that my first marathon can and will only happen in Japan and in winter. Much like how Puteri Gunung Ledang laid down her conditions to the king of Melaka, these were my conditions to my friends who kept insisting that I run a marathon. The condition got them to shut up about it but little did I know I had just inception-ed myself. Because the idea just grew and grew.

Two years later, it happened. In Kyoto.

Kyoto Marathon 2016 - Race Expo and Race Pack Collection at Miyako Messe

Ah the Kyoto Marathon race expo.

A mere teaser of what an awesome event race day itself was going to be, a preview if you will. To say I was excited to go for it was an understatement. The expo was held at the finish line destination of the race itself - Miyako Messe (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall) right next to the iconic Heian Shrine which will be part of the finishing background.

We took the Keihan train from Gion and transited over to the Tozai line where we got off at Higashiyama station. From there, it was a 8 minutes walk to the race expo. Directions were no issue with clear signages showing us the way from the station to the torii gates. From there, volunteers were at hand to direct us into the hall and to ensure we had all the necessary documents for the bib collections. Easy peasy.

5 Things to do in Melbourne that doesn't involve cafes and coffee

Every time I asked 'what is there to do in Melbourne' I always get the same answer, "Go cafe hopping!" "Try out their coffee!" Okay, I will but what else is there to do that doesn't sitting in a cafe/restaurant and sipping coffee like a hipster.

Well, as it turned out, plenty as I discovered on my recent trip there. And it also involves not just the city but also the outskirts of Melbourne as well.

MHWH Night Run Goodie Bag worth over RM500 revealed!

Here's a sneak peek of the goodie bag of one of the most anticipated night runs in Malaysia, the Men's Health, Women's Health Night Run.

The goodie bag will consist of but is not limited to:-

Kyoto Marathon 2016 - The Tapering Stage

Ah the tapering stage.

Many runners hate it, I on the other hand, love it. I love being able to take it easy and eat more, I love that I have a reason to eat more pasta and potatoes. I love that my Sunday runs don't require me to wake up at 4am to training early and that nothing goes beyond 10km.

Except that I fell sick right after my 30km LSD, hence the delay in this post. Body just went into shock and immune system rebooted itself. It started with a sore throat which soon became a fever. It would have turned into a full-blown cold with the sneezes, sniffles and coughs had I not taken preventive measures immediately.

That Time I drugged myself on a Whale Watching Cruise

In all fairness, it wasn't on purpose.

Whale watching was something I've wanted to try for a while now and on my recent trip to Sydney, managed to sign up for one along with my sister and friend. According to the email we got, it departs from Darling Harbour at 8am and it was advised to take seasick pills if one had a tendency to get seasickness. Not wanting to spending the trip heaving breakfast into a brown bag, we went out and bought seasickness pills from Chemist Warehouse.

When we got to the dock, we quickly saw why medication was needed. We were heading out to sea on a small jet boat that could take up to 15 people, a pitiful sight compared to the other cruise boats that towered over us like ferries. It reminded me of the speed boats used to ferry people to Taman Negara in Pahang.

Should You Invest in a Running Watch

Why should I invest in a running watch was a question I've asked many times. Why should I pay loads of money for a watch that can do what my smartphone can?

Well, as I found out during a half marathon, a watch can do so much more and is so much more reliable when it comes to GPS tracking and pacing.

I used to rely on Runkeeper app on my phone to track my pace. For 10km and less, it worked fine but was a battery-drainer even without the 3G on. I attributed that to the iPhone's poor battery life but that wasn't the only reason I opted to switch to a running watch.

Salted Egg Yolk Croissant at Le Bread Days, SS2

I was at New Paris restaurant for a Chinese New Year lunch with my colleagues and thought hey, why not try my luck with the famous salted egg yolk croissants from Le Bread Days next door. The first time I tried it was long before a certain blogger drew attention to it and I was curious to see if the quality remained.

It was past twelve by then and their first fresh batch of croissants comes out of the oven at 11:30am. The last time I tried getting it, a guy ahead of me bought the last four croissants which sent me to Bake Plan to get my fix.

Coastes Restaurant Siloso Beach, Singapore

We came across Coastes in Sentosa Singapore by luck. We were hungry and tired, having just ran through a 10km, 10+ obstacles OCR, Viper Challenge. Post race, we returned to Costa Sands resort, my hotel on Sentosa to freshen up before heading back to the beachside strip in search of food.

Thankfully, Coastes caught our nose and our eyes with the delicious scent of seafood and its blue and white hues perfect for the beachside setting.

Under Armour Announces Global Partnership with Dwayne Johnson

Share the same taste in sport attires as one of the fittest actors to walk the earth when you work out. Under Armour has announced a global partnership with the dynamic actor, producer and global superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. As part of the long-term partnership, Johnson will work hand-in-hand with the innovative performance brand to create a range of products across footwear, apparel and accessories as well as support Under Armour’s Connected Fitness initiatives.

This multi-faceted partnership will include the collaborative development of original content, inspired by the actor’s lifestyle, fitness regimen, and philanthropic initiatives. Johnson will play an integral role in the promotion of Under Armour’s Connected Fitness platforms, including the recently debuted Under Armour HealthBox™ and Record™ application. Additionally, the brand will develop product capsules including footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the films Johnson is currently working on. The first product capsule will feature a Rock-inspired backpack and duffle bag.