LSD 12: WORKOUT BEFORE PARTY!!

The weekend was our 12th Slow Long Distance (LSD) run to prepare our group for various running events and to ensure that we are on target for our year 2011 resolution!! What was our New Year Resolution? Click here for refresher... for season runners such as Rose Emini Pahamin!!! Freda Liu!!! John Chuah!!! Joe Liew!!! Rienna Choo!!! James Fong!!! Viki Lim!!! Jeffery Wong... yada yadaa... must target for at least 11 races that comprised of at least six 10kms, four 21kms and one 42kms. For beginners such as Lorrine C Xavier, Micaela Soyza, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Umesh Narasimhaiah, Felicia, Colin Chong Wern Loong, Nik Aida, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, at least six races with four 10kms and two 21kms races.

Since January todate, we have ran the following races:

1) Mizuno 10km Wave run at HERE;
2) 1 Vision 10km Race at HERE;
3) Brooks 21km Half Marathon at HERE; and
4) Singapore 15km 2XU compression Race at HERE

This weekend, the Bali Marathon  and so far we have clocked-in twelve LSD as follows:

LSD 1 at HERE
LSD2 at HERE
LSD3 at HERE
LSD 4 (Desa Park City) at HERE
LSD 5 at HERE
LSD 6 at HERE
LSD 7 at HERE
LSD 8 at HERE
LSD 9 at HERE
LSD 10 at HERE
LSD 11 at HERE

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH JOE LIEW YAW LOONG

JOE LIEW YAW LOONG whom was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, graduated in 2001 from the University of Missouri-Columbia majoring in Marketing. Upon graduation, Joe Liew came back and run his family business which was established out of his forefathers' interest as a hobby in supplying martial arts and self-defense equipments in Kuala Lumpur. Although Joe Liew has always been exposed to sports by virtue of the equipment supplies but his interest in sports and outdoor activities was far fetched. He was never an athlete and totally hated being all yucky in sweat playing sports... Joe Liew would simply resist any opportunity that would expose him to the sun and humid!! Since childhood, the word that best described Joe Liew was a "Couch Potato".

Under duress from parent's pressure, Joe Liew took up taekwondo only during primary school then fencing in secondary school and in university because fencing was less strenuous. Swimming that washes away any chances of being drowned in sweats was Joe Liew's preferred form of exercise which he mastered and was certified as a Live Guard.

Joe Liew (on right) during his first month of COBC. Checkout his meal.

Joe Liew first heard of the outdoor group personal training bootcamp from Staff Sarge (COBC) Dann @ Daing Daniel Fitri whom he has befriended for many years. Staff Sarge Dann was a recruit at Padang Merbuk then, whom was under training to sit for his 5th Dan Taekwondo assessment. Having known Daing Daniel Fitri for years, Joe Liew was impressed at how much Daing Daniel Fitri had lost weight and toned-up that Joe Liew enrolled himself at the Chief's Original Bootcamp (formerly known as Original Bootcamp) (COBC) when COBC first opened in Bandar Utama. Joe Liew is a pioneer and still is a member at the COBC.

PEDA FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH DRB-HICOM GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR DATO SRI MOHD KHAMIL JAMIL

Barely 2 weeks after DRB-HICOM obtained its shareholders's approval for the mandatory general offer to acquire all of PROTON shares, Dato Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil called to meet PEDA and others from PROTON eco-system. Dato Sri Khamil had also met Proton Vendors Association and is scheduled to meet Proton workers union too. As the President for the PROTON Edar Dealers Association Malaysia, I led my senior executive committee that was comprised of Armin Baniaz Datuk Pahamin (President), Dato Nik Izani Dato Nik Ibrahim (Deputy President), Lee Lick Sai (Vice President), S.B. Siaw (Vice President), Malkeet Singh (Secretary-General), Dato Yahya Jaafar (Hon. Treasurer), Mohd Nor Azam (Asst. Secretary-General) and Tuan Haji Aref Borhan ( Chairman, Service Sub-Committee). Dato Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil was accompanied by DRB-HICOM Group Chief Operation Officer Dato Lukman Ibrahim, Abdul Harith Abdullah (Head, Automotive & Defence);

Abdul Rashid Musa (General Manager, Group COO’s Office), Kamarul Zaman (General Manager, Group COO’s Office), Sulaiman Yahya (Head, Corporate Communications) and Balqesh Abdullah (Manager, Corporate Communications).

PEDA Vice-President Siaw Siew Bee with Abdul Rashid Musa

PEDA Secretary-General Malkeet Singh with Abdul Rashid Musa

LSD 11: THE DURIAN RUN!!

The 11th Long Slow Distance weekly run was held at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail lake on Sunday, 8 April 2012. There were two targeted distance with 21km as the farthest and 12km. We all gathered at the park as early as 6pm and began our run shortly later at 6:31pm. The route map was as the chart below. Conveniently, we plan a 13km run instead of the 21km but targeted for a faster pace. There were Rose Emini Pahamin, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Abdul Adzim, Maslina Mohd Ismail, Nawal Aini Zulkifli @ Sarge (COBC) Nawal, Faizul Zainol, Yvonne Tan, Nik Aida, Dalyn Nunis, Afiza Abdul Halin, Yvonne Chen Ling Sze, Freda Liu, Azhar Jamal, Alice Thien, Zakir, Angela Loo

Our warming up session comprised of some camwhoring grinders

THE SPIRITS OF CHIEF'S BOOTCAMP!!

Do you know who were the first recruit that was voted as the Spirit of Bootcamp at Bandar Utama? Damansara Heights? Subang Jaya? Shah Alam? Ampang? Cyberjaya? Penang? I bet you dont...Please read on...

Do you know which recruit was voted the Spirit for Bootcamp over and over again because he/she is simply so inspiring and motivating? Yes you guest it right!! Who? read on...

Do you know why the Three-Jays (3Js- John Chuah, Joe Liew, James Fong) were so popular? Yes.. because it is either one of them three, that was always voted the SOB for most of the months during the first year.

Did You know that there are a total of 289 candidates that have been nominated as the Spirit of Bootcamp since inception? Well, it is true!!!

Did you know that there are almost 100 recruits that have been voted into the Spirit of Bootcamp Hall of Achievers!! Did you you know that most of the SOBs are also very successful as a person whether in their career, love or social life? (Get up close and personal with them by clicking on their name and read their profile but some of their profile are still a work-in-progress)

Now it is that time again, for you to vote for your hero/heroin for March Spirit of Bootcamp!! To Vote, log-on at 'Existing members' at HERE.

WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OF BOOTCAMP? Read more at here.

2XU COMPRESSION RUN 2012, SINGAPORE

There were more than thirty of us from the Chief Original Bootcamp, Malaysia that ran the Singapore 2XU run on 1 April 2012.. and it was no April Fool. Rose Emini Pahamin with a group arrived earlier to collect our race number and race kits. We stayed at the Park Royal on Beach Road, Singapore. Rose Emini Pahamin left with Nyna Mohsen, Bahariah Bahadom in a car and after collecting our race kits, she checked herself at the hotel where our parent also stayed. Since we start running for almost 10 years, this was the first time that my parent came to cheer for us.. it was either because they were really bored or maybe they actually love us more than we thought.

Blog compilation of various pictures of COBC pips taken in Singapore during the 2XU.

Mum & Dad was already at the hotel when Rose Emini Pahamin arrived. Nawal Aini Zulkifli and Aaraf Armin and me have not even left Kuala Lumpur.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH RIENNA CHOO

Rienna Choo is not just the ordinary women next door but she is a great mother, a wonderful wife and a pioneer at the Chief's Original Bootcamp. Being a mother is a blessing but it is also physically and mentally challenging especially to maintain the same physique after giving birth and to have the extra energy to care for the expansion in the family and maintain her household chores as well as the family's welfare. Many years ago, Rienna Choo barely weigh 60kg before giving birth but after 6 months, the wife to a general surgeon at Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital weight more than 65kg and the weight continued to grow bigger and better than most investment's unit trust and stock market irregardless of whatever the economic climax was.

The biggest challenge was after Rienna gave birth to her second child and that was the point of no return... where everything from dieting to endless visits at slimming centres and workout program had all failed. Being positive, Rienna had to always joke with her husband that the surgeon had invested well in her as she continued to grow stronger, broader and bigger even when the financial market crashed but when Rienna Choo could not fit into size 'L' clothing, she knew she had to take a drastic action. Rienna being the smallest and shortest in her family could not accept her bigger than her usual size and was so desperate to lose weight that she wished there was a military-form of exercise without having to enroll as a military personnel. Her dream came true when she saw a small advert in the Star that reads "Chief's Original Bootcamp (formerly known as Original Bootcamp) from Australia" at Padang Merbok.

LSD 10: PUTRAJAYA & THE GUNGHO LADIES

I was in Penang and had missed the long slow distance run at Putrajaya for our 10th COBC weekly running session but with or without me, our COBC celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Rose Emini Pahamin and Abdul Adzim Zaharudin had never failed to get the best route and distance. The target for this run was for 13km and there were at least two dozens recruits that attended the session.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MR & MRS BAAKE

If there is one most talked-about couple at the Chief's Original Bootcamp Damansara Heights, then it must the Baakes!! Mr & Mrs Baake is  one of those many couples at the Chief's Original Bootcamp that inspired many others to take charge of their health and fitness. Thomas Baake and Stella Baake met in 1993 and after 5 years of courting, they took their relationship a step further into marriage. Their wedding was held in Germany. When others would be honeymooning romantically by the beach with beautiful sunrise or up the mountains with stupendous scenic, the newlywed Baakes, went for the Hash-run instead... I mean.. they both participated in a running event in Bangladesh!!! 19 Years later, Stella is still waiting for a nice Honeymoon but that did not stop them from expanding their family!! The Baakes are blessed with 6 children and 7 grand children.. even without the nice honeymoon.

Before coming down to Malaysia, the Baake was in Thailand for 3 years and 6 months. In Thailand, they adopted a healthy lifestyle by going to the gym daily and even participated in various 10km and 21km runs. They both experimented various physical exercises and even tried different gym club membership to find the mojo for a continuous aspiration to workout. The now Chief Executive Officer at the ERL Maintenance Support Sdn Bhd (E-MAS) was a member at the Clark hatch and Stella at the Fitness First for several years. They were never exhausted of effort and an active 5 times a week gym-goer but they gained more weight during this period than before. Both of them simply love the local cuisine and pubs at the amazing Thailand.

LSD 9: 25KM RUNNING GETTING LOST IN BUKIT AMAN

Stephanie, Mas, Rose, Evonne, Baba

25 March 2012. Inspired by last week's runner's heaven with two drinking stations serving freezing Glucozade while doing LSD, today I conveniently and happily assumed the Pacesetters drink station will also be there for our 25km run at Bukit Aman and left all monies, and drink bottles at home. Although today, we had similar number of crowd with more than thirty pax but today was extra special because Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad was five-fingered!!! Eww.. that sounds wrong, lets rephrased that, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad was Vibram-atised!! Red Vibram Five Finger!!!  We started out abut delayed with Stephanie Choong, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Rose Emini Pahamin, Evonne, Bahariah Bahadom, Wennice Chai, Tan Wee Liam, Sarah Tan, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob, Abdul Adzim Zaharudin and Taj Mahal but along the way, other late-comers appeared.

Our 25km route is as per the map below (note the mileage in the map is in Mile and not kilometer).

CYCLIST BEWARE!!

On behalf of all bootcampers and all outdoor sports enthusiasts, we extend our deepest condolence and our prayer to Rafizi Hamdan, a 37 years old cyclist that was killed in a hit and run accident in Taman Melawati. What happen to Rafizi was tragic and could have happen to any one of us whom are very much into outdoor activities and sports. Infact, a few years ago before we start bootcamping, we were an avid cyclists too and had participated in various dualthon and triathlon series. Our Chief's Original Bootcamp community had just planned to began our training for the Port Dickson triathlon and we are disturbed with Rafizi Hamdan's misfortune.

The accident was recorded by a cctv from a nearby petrol station.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH AFIZA ABDUL HALIN

Afiza Abdul Halin was born a Virgo some 29 years ago to a family of lecturers. Her father was a lecturer, mom was a lecturer, her two other siblings are both lecturers and so are their wives but the blacksheep of the family chose to be in the corporate sector instead. Afiza is also the youngest, the only daughter and probably the most stubborn in the Halin family. To top them all, Afiza owned a strong handsome Spanish Stallion that is popularly known as Jorge, the husband. Jorge was one lucky catch for not many can tolerate the only princess of Halin being too manja, spoiled and pampered.. Jorge is the world to Afiza.

The sweet tanned skin lady known to her comrade at the Chief's Original Bootcamp by her trademark pink-short was brought up in a little town in Bandar Baru Bangi and spend most of her childhood venturing into sewers and forest. She was born hyper-active and spend most of her free time picking on boys by throwing stones on them and when there are no boys, she would climb up rooftops and trees to steal her neighbor's rambutan fruits. That became the foundation of her solid upper body and she did make the most of that lengthy leg from the early age by chasing chicken and at time, be chased by dogs.. As she grew up older, she stopped climbing trees and stopped chasing chicken but started cycling, blading and even reading!! 

With that childhood foundation working out with trees, rooftops, chicken and dogs, Afiza quickly became good at long jumps, high jumps, hurdles, sprinting and disc throwing at school and later in college. She loved team sport the most and was active with Handball, volleyball and netball. With that super-hyper lifestyle, Afiza was blessed with a fit body during her teens and college although her regular meals includes endless kuey teow goreng, nasi goreng and sambal petai.

AY YARIBBA YARIBA!! COBC MEXICANO PARTY...

Ya know...  these people partied again over the weekend.. With them.. its either party, eating, running or exercising... and this time its another graduation. Graduation from what? yaa.. you are right... Graduated from another successful month of consistent, hardwork and teamwork towards training to achieve our own personal goal. But WHY must graduate? because for us to move forward, we must acknowledge however much we have improve this month compared to previous and what will be our next target for the next month. This month, we party in Mexico!!! err.. I mean Mexico theme rather...

Ay Yariba yaribaaa..... In line with our theme, we held our party at the Las Carretas, Mexican Restaurant at Damansara Heights and it was organised for High-tea because with our healthy lifestyle now, bedtime is at 9pm? So we gathered to Mexico and arrived there in time for a feast at 5pm... As always there were almost a hundred that came.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH WAN HAZRIQ ABDULLAH

Wan Hazriq Abdullah or more fondly known as Corporal (COBC) (P) Wan was born in Kelantan when all other love birds were celebrating the Valentines on 14 February. The strict, firm and no non-nonsence lead instructor is far from the military figure portrayed at the basecamp. Corporal Wan is not your ordinary Corporal. He may not look friendly but he will take care of you and make sure you get what you paid for and achieve your target even if you feel like giving up and rather do without the goal. He wont let you give up and with him.. its either do or die (so far no one die yet)!! but you will thank him when you see your benchmark time is faster and when you had to shop for new pair of cloth when the current became too big for your shrunk and improved body.

In person, Corporal Wan is not only friendly but hilarious and humble in nature. There is nothing else more important to Corporal Wan than his family and the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP. He will drop any other errand for that two most important factors in his life. Family values and his passion in his work, made him an outstanding person that only grew stronger and better with every feedback received from anyone and anybody.

BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 AT STADIUM BUKIT JALIL

More than 30 of us from the Chief's Original Bootcamp ran the BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 and I almost missed it but arrived just-in-time when the traffic to Bukit Jalil from Damansara was smooth. The weather was also good but we were disappointed when we had to waste more than 10 minutes to enter the Stadium. There was only one small lane to enter the Stadium for the flag-off and people were climbing up the gates when the queue was terribly bad.

I had retired from running more than 10km distance since the Melbourne St George full marathon on 10.10.10 in Australia. My knees were too painful and I refused to agree on the knee surgery. After almost 2 years of staying celibate from running, I was more than excited to run today. Upon my arrival at the Stadium, I saw many recruits from the Chief's Original Bootcamp.

The runners from the Chief's Original Bootcamp that ran today were Colin Chong Wern Loong, Lorrine C. Xavier, Dixon Thum, Tan Mein Mein, Advance Tan, May Lyn Wong, Adam Heng, Patricia Lim, Dalyn Nunis, Sarah Tan, Abdul Fattah Mokhtar, Affiq Zakie, Shazni Az, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Jadite Liew, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, Afiza Abdul Halin, Tan Wee Liam, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Jeffery Wong, Viki Lim, Lick Hau Loo, Sabrina, Jorge Arena, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob,  Luyen Ow, Noor A. Othman, Anis Ramli, Janice Wee, Eric Chang, Freda Liu, Faizul Zainol, Syamala Pillay, Yalin GM, Loo Lick Wei .. (who else did I miss?). Sorry I was only able to take this picture with my blackberry but I had also search and find some pictures from Tey Eng Tiong Facebook (our pro papparazzi) but will continue to update the blog as and when I discover more pictures.

The Brooks was also the maiden 21km race.. aka Half Virgin for Dixon Thum, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Sarah Tan, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, May Lyn Wong, Freda Liu... and also the maiden 10km run aka semi virgin for Patricia Lim Poh Kam, Jorge Arena, Lorrine C Xavier.... Soon, there will be no semi and half virgins at COBC and all will be a qualified runner.

MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING

First it was the running and seriously, the runner's fraternity within the Chief's Original Bootcamp community is rapidly growing. Tomorrow, a few dozens will be running the Brooks run, then in about a month, a dozen of us will be running the Bali International Marathon which was organised by our Malaysian bank Maybank!!! Naturally, we support our local companies abroad.

Second, bunch by bunch of those within the Chief's Original Bootcamp Community successfully conquered the highest peak in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu. They are non-stoppable. Third, more and more recruits at the Chief's Original Bootcamp are turning into Divers!! The diving community within our community is also expanding and in April next month, they are going to Mabul/ Sipandan in Sabah.. that was after an orgasmic dive at Puerto Galera in Philippines!!!

Fourth, a new activity within our group would be the Triathlon!!! 

CHILD ABUSE AT TASKA PERMATA 2, KOTA MASAI

I received an email from an ex-colleague in Bangkok whom viewed a disturbing news in Thailand Channel 5 news and in various media including their local newspaper about the abuse of children in Malaysia which is damaging to our Country's good name. A copy of the video was widely circulated even in Thai cyber space such as HERE.  I felt embarrass and replied stating that it was not common in Malaysia but when he sent the link and I saw the Youtube video clip, I could not help but to totally feel disgraced and disturbed!!

WHEN DREAM BECAME A LIFESTYLE

Taj Mahal Aquino born in Mandaluyong, Phillipines is an expatriate in Malaysia attached to the Partnership Management and Market Development department for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) side of VADS. Taj Mahal Aquino was head hunted for the job before she even graduated from her Bachelor in Art major in Asian Study at the University Santo Tomas, Phillipines in 2008. Beside being good in her studies, Taj Mahal Acquino had also excelled well as an athlete during her school days having competed and won medals in both local and regional competition for swimming (breast stroke and free style) until she graduated. Swimming was a sport that Taj Mahal had acquired since pre-school when she was only 4 years old.

Taj Mahal Acquino is also the jacks of all trade with other sports having being active and game to sweat out anytime for volleyball, basketball, flag football, badminton, ultimate frisbee or in any other sports and when there is no sports to play, Taj Mahal Aquino would literally climb up walls and trees or just run under the sun being hyper active with excessive energy. Naturally, when Taj Mahal arrived in Malaysia, she quickly became restless in search for some activities and challenges. 

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT

This morning I received a disturbing news. A friend lost his father at 3am due a heart failure.  I befriended the father Lt Col (R) Affandi  formely the Director at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and my friend Razman Affandi way back in the mid 1990s where I was courting Nawal Aini Zulkifl.  My regret and deepest condolence to Razman Affandi @ Gmey and his family for the lost.

I was a fortunate subject whom was given the privilege to experience the worst emotional roller-coaster when I was diagnosed with terminal cancer during my mid-teens. That privilege had given me a different insight into life and especially to experience the love from my parent, from each and every family members and as well as from relatives and friends. To see the sacrifices made by my parent and siblings whom we sometimes (maybe always) took for granted was heartfelt.. a moment that is still fresh in mind although it was more than two decades ago.

The video below depicted the unequivocal love from a father, the same way I received and the same that I would do for my son.

We would only know the true meaning of love when we have been tested with great obstacles and especially during the most trying moment in our life but please do not wait until a downturn to appreciate those that have been there for us since birth.. our father.

MY LIFE IS JUST A PAIR OF JEANS

Vimalendran Shanmuganathan, aged 30, is a graduate from the University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI) and the co-founder of www.gottagrabit.com, an online e-commerce specializing in toys, gadgets and collectibles (action figures) that was established in 2009 as a hobby, and it still is. Vimalendran is also currently attached to Hewlett Packard and whatever balance time he has, he sing as the lead singer and guitarist for a band that was founded in 2001 called the Qings & Kueens.

Vimalendran's life is at his primest being a successful singer, guitarist and an e-commerce entrepreneur over and above the career at Hewlett Packard. He even recorded his own album in 2004 and received various invitations to perform at weddings, Corporate events and private functions. In 2008, Vimalendran traveled to Singapore for a performance, a shopping trip and an apparent holiday with his girlfriend then. The performance was well received and went smooth, Vima bought himself a pair of jean and wore it for a nice romantic dinner before departing out of Singapore but the planned romance was short lived. Vima's love life ended that night when both Vima and his girlfriend decided to be separated and chased each other's dream.