CELEBRATING THE VIRGIN RUNNERS @ NEW BALANCE PACESETTERS

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How did someOne lost their Running -Race Virginity.........?

It all began in December 2009 during an innocent breakfast after the Bootcamp training session..

Everybody........ as always in extra-mega Hyper mood after a good training session at the Bootcamp and SomeOne came with a stack of registration forms for the NEW BALANCE PACESETTERS RACE...

As always.. Kiasu being Kiasu.......... They always Sign & Pay First then think later...

and within seconds, a dozen Bootcampers signed and most of them are VIRGIN RUNNERS...............

The Virgin Runners are as follows...........

To celebrate those NEW BALANCE RACE FINISHERS and ESPECIALLY THOSE VIRGIN RUNNERS......... We hosted a POT-LUCK BARBEQUE........... and the Master Chef BBQ is none other than.. ME!! (err.. maybe Master Grill'er.. since I only did the Grill'ing... buying, marinating, preparing the food was someOne else's Department)

There were Lamb, Beef, Chicken, SOTONG, Prawn, Fishes, Sausages, Burgers.......... etc.........

And the POT-LUCK food brought by everybody was even more.............. even DURIAN!!!

Before the guests arrived, we......... err.. Taste the food first .. Quality Control sort of speak............

My parents,family and Guests arrived with their portion of pot-luck.........

Since that SomeOne made manyOne signed, run and lost their Race Virgin....SomeOne had a payback time with a MOP (Memorandum of Promise)!!!!! Danial Ismail had prepare the MOP for ROSE EMINI to learn and go DIVING witness by the MASTER-DIVER CHIEF KIASU DR MALEK AZIZ. There are at least half a dozen DIVERS at the Bootcamp... maybe more!!

After the MOP was signed and Sealed....... Danial Ismail & Doc Malek thought they had the last laugh??

Little did they know, that Rose Emini Pahamin had prepare another stack of RUNNING FORMS and they with all others ended up signing yet for another RUN.............. not another MOP but a CAR (Commit And Run!!)

(Danial Ismail: Aiiiiiyaa.. aku pulak kena...!! Doc Malek (Garu kepala): Nasib Badan.....)

No matter how Kiasu anyone can be... there is always someOne else more Kiasu...... so who had the last laugh? ..... or who had the last 'Grunts' rather.................

(NYNA & NANA (dancing): hahahaaa Danial Kena Lari... Padan Muka)

Yaa yaaaa.. I know... I know........... these Kiasu just cant see a camera.... they will start endless camwhoring!!

In the picture above:

first Row on the floor:  Nana, Ili, Danial Fitri, RJ.

Second Row: Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zukifli, Ilyanna Aylin, Anita Ahmad, Farhanah Bamadhaj.

Standing: Arief Apek, Danial Ismail, Nikkim, Lizza Abdul Rahim, Shobha Bala, Luyen, Fazura, Suriana Saiful, Dr Malek Aziz, Ana Aziz Kasim, Nyna Mohsen

Standing last Row: Danny, Vinod Kumar, Rose Emini Pahamin, Chun Chia Kai SSJ, Zaiem Razak, Abu Lais Walli Mohamed.

Until Next Running celebration....... Dont RUN AWAY... and Stay Tune..........

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OBC-8/12: RUNNING WITH 'TAYAR & 100 REP

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NO DROP-OUT YET FROM ACE-rs on the 8th Bootcamp session! 4 more sessions to go for FULL 100% ACE!!!

NO AWOLS and NO LATE COMERS TODAY!!!!!!! WELL DONE KL ALPHA........  An EXCELLENT display  of DISCIPLINE!

After two consecutive daily dose of 1 hour Physiotherapy and Ultra Sound with Dr Aston, I was able to bend my knee and participated in todays RUN WITH TAYAR session. I have made arrangement for a whole week of physiotherapy and Ultra Sound to re-gain back my 'over-used' knee and so far, I am recovering well.

After the routine 5 minutes warm-up session, today's platoon was divided into three team with a mixture of Delta, Seals and Rangers. Sergeant Simran took team ALPHA, Corporal Faizal Ariff led team ZULU, Corporal Dharmendra and Lans Corporal Elin took my Team, the BRAVO.

After a 200 meter run, we stopped by the road-side for the Rangers to first lift a LORRY TAYAR. Five Rangers in our group, lifted and run with the Tayar for 500 meter up hill whilst others in the team sprinted forward and back to the Rangers with the Tayar until the Rangers reached the end-point. At that point, the Seal took-over the rangers to lift and run with the Tayar and 5 others in the team, had to collect and sprint with a Mock Rifle. The slower those that lift and run with the Tayar to reach the end-point, the more circle of sprints others must do. The Delta took-over from the Seals to lift and run with the Tayar, four others in the team pick-up and ran with a sandbag,  4 others continue to run with the mock-rifles and others just sprint to alternate carrying the sandbag and rilfes until the end.

Half way through, we all stopped by a field to performed 100 group repetition of Push-up, Jump Squat and Jack Knife. Our team was divided into 4 person per group and each person had to do 25 repetition of each exercise to get the 100 total repetitions. If any of the team members failed to do 25 repetition, others in the team are allowed to support by doing more for as long as the total group repetition is 100.

Then we continue to run with the Tayar, Mock Rilfe and Sandbag alternating the Delta, Seals and Rangers back to where we started.

After todays session, KL Alpha met KL Bravo for a short discussion on the forthcoming KL PLATOON VS PJ PLATOON challenge this Sunday 24 January 2010. May the force be with us.................

HOOOOOOOOYAAAAAH!!!!

Other ref: OBC jan 7/12, OBC Jan 6/12, OBC jan5/12, OBC jan4/12, OBC jan3/12, OBC-Jan2/12, OBC-Jan1/12, Kiasu 15, Kiasu 14, Kiasu 13, Kiasu 12, Kiasu 11, Kiasu 10, Kiasu 9, Kiasu 8, Kiasu 7, Kiasu 6, Kiasu 5, Kiasu 4, Kiasu 3 (timing), Kiasu 2, Kiasu 1,  Bootcamp 13, Bootcamp 12, Bootcamp 11, Bootcamp 10, Bootcamp 9,Bootcamp 8, Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1..

OBC-7/12 OBC KLA's fastest 30km RUNNER was SSJ

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Its the 7th out of the twelve Bootcamp session today and we are all still an ACE!!! 100% Attendance, Commitment and Effort. Yesterday on Sunday, the following 13 from KL Alpha recruits participated in the New Balance 30km Race (see Kiasu @ New Balance) (see bottom page for timing)...

1) Kenny smith
2) Michelle Smith
3) Chun Chia Kai SSJ
4) DrMalek Aziz
5) Farhanah Bamadhaj
6) Nawal Aini Zulkifli
7) Rose Emini Pahamin
8) Nyna Mohsen
9) Irwan Anuar
10) Zaiem Razak
11) Ilyanna Aylin
12) Danial Ismail
13) Armin Baniaz Pahamin

After a torturous NEW BALANCE run yesterday, every body was there at 5:45am, Padang Merbuk for the 7th Bootcamp session without any late-comers except for err... Vivien Luyen whom arrived 1 second later (*stick tongue out*..). I was still limping and in pain from the knee problem but did not want to break the training momentum especially with the ACE-pact made and took the 'knee-friendly-option' exercise during the warm-up instead of the squat and lunges.

After the warm-up, Sarge Simran came and whispered to me to care for the knee and do not participate in the training today... "Armin, you should avoid the training today and avoid further damage to the knee", said Sarge Simran, a very concern chief that received the respect of many recruits. "Thanks Sarge but I do not want to break my training momentum", I replied. "Furthermore, I can still work my upper body.", I added. "Oh... in that case Armin, maybe you should join Corporal Faizal Ariff's circuit, because the Delta will be doing alot of leg workout" Said SargeSimran. "Yes I will, Hooyaah Sarge", I was all smiling. At the Bootcamp, there are always options for 'problematic' recruits.

I joined Corporal Faizal Ariff's circuit with the Seals. There were three well-planned circuit prepared for today with the following summary:

1) Circuit1: Sargeant Simran & Sandra Baglog Legs
2) Circuit 2:Corporal Faizal Ariff & Mock Rifle
3) Circuit 3: Corporal Dharmendra & ULAT BULU

The circuit under Corporal Faizal began with the Seals being divided into two (2) ranks; front and back. The front rank began with 20 meter Bear-Walk to the yellow cone and back whilst the back rank performed 15 repetition each of Military push-up with Mock rifle, Squat with mock-rifle, front-deltoid lifting the mock rifle at shoulder height and shoulder press whilst waiting for the front rank to return from the Bear-Walk. The role was reversed and the circuit was repeated non-stop for 8 minutes. I did one set of the Bear Walk and stayed at the Back rank to performed all the workouts again instead of the Bear-Walk when my knee gave way again. Corporate Faizal vary the exercise and introduced a new 8-Point Push-up which I was not able to perform due to the over-used and painful knee. For the first time ever, KLA Seals were quiet without any moans, groans or any voices...............

We then left for Corporal Dharmendra's ULAT BULU (caterpillar) circuit
The circuit began with 8 repetitions for each of the followings:

1) Military sit-up
2) Monk Crunches;
3) 4 rep left and 4 rep right side bridges on the palm and side feet;
4) 1-leg/1-hand switch Jack Knife
5) planks with raised leg

After completing the above, we had to performed 20 meter ULAT BULU walk.. which began in a Push-up form, we move/walk both leg towards the hands that is stationary and fix on the ground (shaping a V-shape with the ass pointing up). As the legs get nearer to the hand, locked both leg and move the hand forward to form the push-up position. Perform the Ulat Bulu walk to the yellow cone and back to start point.

This is one of my favourite, 5 star circuit. KL Seals was too quite that I had to break the silence by screaming everybody's name.......... the field was too 'scarily' quiet.

When the Seal went to the third circuit with Sergeant Simran, I stayed back and re-joined the Delta with Corporal Dharmendra. At the Delta.... even Chun SSJ was without any voice... Everybody was quiet. Who would ever thought that Chun can be without any noise. The only voice heard from Chun was the initial....... "Hi Jordan"....  Yesterday's 30km race must have taken a toll to everybody's energy.

Sergeant Simran's circuit was Sandra Baglog Killer Leg exercise which was too strenuous for my knee but the workout comprised of 15 repetitions for each of the followings:

1) Bunny-hop over Sandra and back
2) Squat while carrying Sandra
3) Jumping Lunges still carrying Sandbag
4) Truster up Sandra

After completing the 3 above, with the sandbag raised high up with both arm, run 30 meter to and back from the yellow cone and repeat the circuit again for two sets of 8 minutes per set.

The session ended with the routine warming-down.............

Still feeling lethargic, exhausted and in frustrating knee pain, I have to salute all the Bootcampers that completed the New Balance Race yesterday and was still able to wake up at 4am to train with us today. The Kuala Lumpur Alpha runner's timing are as follows:

KENNY SMITH / KL Alpha Delta
New balance 30KM / TIME: 3 hours 19 minutes

MICHELLE SMITH / KL Alpha Delta
New balance 30KM / TIME: 3 hours 27 minutes

DR MALEK AZIZ / KL ALPHA DELTA
New balance 10KM / TIME: 1 hour 08 minutes

DANIAL ISMAL / KL ALPHA DELTA
New balance 10KM / TIME: 1 hours 08 minutes

CHUN CHIA KAI SSJ / KL ALPHA DELTA
New balance 30KM / TIME: 3 hours 07 minutes

ARMIN BANIAZ PAHAMIN / KL ALPHA DELTA
New balance 30KM / TIME: 4 hours 36 minutes

NYNA MOHSEN / KL ALPHA DELTA
New balance 30km / TIME: 3 hours 50 minutes

FARHANAH BAMADHAJ / KL ALPHA SEALS
New balance 30KM / TIME: 1 hours 22 minutes

NAWAL AINI ZULKIFLI / KL ALPHA SEALS 
New balance 30km / TIME: 3 hours 45 minutes

ROSE EMINI PAHAMIN / KL ALPHA SEAL 
New balance 30km / TIME: 4 hours 07 minutes

IRWAN ANUAR / KL ALPHA RANGERS
New balance 30KM / TIME: 3 hours 30 minutes

ILYANNA AYLIN / KL ALPHA RANGERS
New balance 30KM / TIME: 4 hours 35 minutes

ZAIEM RAZAK / KL ALPHA RANGERS
New balance 10KM / TIME: 1 hour 06 minutes

KUDOS........... SYABAS................ WELL DONE to all KL Alpha RUNNERS for the determination. 

HOOOOOOOOYAAAAAH!!!!

Other ref: OBC Jan 6/12, OBC jan5/12, OBC jan4/12, OBC jan3/12, OBC-Jan2/12, OBC-Jan1/12, Kiasu 15, Kiasu 14, Kiasu 13, Kiasu 12, Kiasu 11, Kiasu 10, Kiasu 9, Kiasu 8, Kiasu 7, Kiasu 6, Kiasu 5, Kiasu 4, Kiasu 3 (timing), Kiasu 2, Kiasu 1,  Bootcamp 13, Bootcamp 12, Bootcamp 11, Bootcamp 10, Bootcamp 9,Bootcamp 8, Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1..

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NEW BALANCE 30KM, against all odd

UPDATES:
The New Balance Race Result is available at PACESETTERS. Once you are at the PACESETTER result page, right click your Mouse, click on Search and type your name.
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The annual Great Eastern Pacesetters 30km run in January was replaced by the New Balance 30km run this year 2010. Last year, the event was held on 18 January 2009 at Taman Tasik Perdana which I completed in 4 hours 3 minutes. This year the New Balance Pacesetters 30km run was held at Padang Merbuk on 17 January 2010.

There were more than 20 of our family members, friends and fellow Bootcampers that had enrolled but at least 8 of us had FFK.... or chicken out for various reasons. My orthopedic doctor Dr Aston Ngai Seng Huey had advised me against running but I just could not resist the temptation to run.



My sister Rose Emini Pahamin was responsible for the bigger group of runners. At least half of our group are first time runners which some had registered under-duress not being able to say no to her. She happily registered us all, make payment and queue at Singgahsana Hotel to collect our running bib, vest and chip.

 

My Bib number was A0030 (Nice number!! )

Thank you Rosey & Nyna. Sadly, those that FFK (for whatever reason)........ includes Shoba Bala, Anita Ahmad, Farrah Vivien Raguet,Amy Shazwin Lais, Adlin Fatin Lais...

The New Balance 30km route

BIB Number ready, IPOD fully charged, Polar strap ready, Polar Watch was on the table, Polar footpod battery changed,water bottle filled with accelerade drink, bottle pouch in-bag, Phiten bracelet worn, change-cloth in-bag, towel in-bag............... We are ready to go!!!!!!!

We arrived at Bukit Aman car park at 5:10am. In an attempt to illegally parked the car by the roadside, I quickly reversed and incidentally knocked on a parked vehicle..... before I could pretend to ignore, a policeman chased us away and directed us to find a proper parking. Being late, when the policeman turned away, we left our car and ran to the race-start point.

The race was flagged off at 5:30am sharp. I started running with Nawal Aini but lost her when I had to empty my bladder and pee under a tree at a dark corner............. okay ok... too much information.

As I was running alone in complete darkness without any street light, I heard my name being called... I turned and saw Rose Emini......... "Slow down... I am scared, this is too dark" said Rose Emini. The road was so dark, we were blinded and Nyna Mohsen fell and injured herself.

After the race, Nyna saw the damage of her fall. She was bleeding & needed to shop for a new pants.

Running with Rose Emini was fun........... we stopped many times to camwhore. Who else would run 30km with a camera.

While running, we saw CHUN SSJ on the other side of the road........... Damn blurdy fast!!!

This New Balance route was all hilly with a few very steep hills. After running for 20km, my right knee gave way and I could neither bend nor move my right leg. I could not even walk properly and was dragging my right leg up and down the hills.

I recalled Dr Aston nagging for me to recuperate first for full recovery or risk going for both knee surgery. Dr Saw Khay Yong from the Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre had earlier recommended both knee surgery after reading my X-ray and MRI report...... Padan Muka aku... serve me right!!

The pain was excruciating. The hills were ugly and there was at least 10km more to finishing line. As I struggled to walk, I was stopped many times by unknown runners. Two of them stopped and massage my knee and another runner at a different time, offered me his knee-guard. I must have look really bad that they took pity on me. I was too much in pain that I forgot to ask for their name and number but I was overwhelmed at their kindness. Thank you very much for the assistant.

At 21km, 22km and 25km, I was stopped by the race-marshall on motorcycle whom offered to ferry me back to the finishing line.... Stubbornly, I refused... I have to cross the finishing line!!! even if it takes the whole day..... I thought to myself, or rather convincing the other little voice in my head that say.. What the F@#K am I doing....!!!

At 26km...  I was surprised by Kenny Smith and his wife Michelle Smith whom was honking their car and cheering me up... They completed their run in just over 3 hours and was on the way home.

After more than 4 hours of running, Abu, Chun Chia Kai SSJ and Farhanah came searching and found me 800 metres before finishing point. I was still dragging my right leg. Abu offered to piggy-back and Chun SSJ offered to carry me to the finishing line but still stubborn, I insist to complete without any help.

10 Meters to cross the finishing line.......... The pain was almost unbearable but the escort from Abu lais, Chun Chia Kai SSJ, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Dr Malek Aziz was superb.

I completed the 30km run in 4 hours and 36minutes and burned 3020 calories..

The medic came to the rescue the moment I crossed the finishing line. After the pain subside.... we camwhore again...........

Typical friends.. whilst the medic was nursing my knee... they all gather to pose & take pictures........

Other Finishers in the group............

30KM FINISHERS

Yaaa... I know its stupid to drag the leg in excruciating pain for more than 10km, for 2 hours but really......... it was damn worth it!!!


I am also very proud of all the new runners.. in particular Dr Malek Aziz, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Danial Ismail, Zaiem Razak. Keep up the good spirit guys.

Until next time............ Stay tune....

OBC- JAN 6/12- WHY JOINED THE BOOTCAMP?

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I woke up and sipped my thick, sweet, creamy, strong coffee...... Nothing awakens the morning better than that aroma from coffee at 430am to get ready for the three times a week sweaty, tearful, painful and muscle-burning exercise at the Bootcamp.

5:35am!!!! We are all at padang Merbuk without any late-comers but there were Three AWOLs and our favourite trainer, the Taliban was also absent today. There were three trainers available, Corporal Faizal Ariff, Corporal Dharmendra and Lans Corporal Elin.  Somehow,  our workout-chemistry is strongest with the husky-voice, bearded, forceful and yet attentive Taliban.. Come back quick Sarge, need that extra-dose of motivation!

Corporal Faizal, today's Bootcamp commander began the workout with his trademark extended warm-up session and 40 seconds squat pulses as oppose to the normal 30 seconds per set... and we had three, 40 seconds squat pulses for the three AWOLs.

There were three well-planned circuits for today (circuit nicknamed by us):

1) Ketuk-ketampi Circuit (ciplak from KLA Delta Danial Ismail's expression)
2) TABATA KONG
3) Indian Circle.

Corporal Dharma took the first 'Ketuk-Ketampi' Circuit. The circuit was prepared with 5 cones; 4 red cones and 1 yellow cones (that was used to mark the last point) with approximately 20 meters apart. The Delta began with 10 seconds push-up at the first red-cone before having to sprint and stop at every red-cone for a one rep star jump. At the yellow cone or the last cone, everybody must sprint back to starting position. (thank god there wasn't any grunts for the slowest person)

The circuit was repeated for 4 sets with a different starting exercise; First was the 10 seconds push-up,then the 20 second Mountain climbers, 25 seconds hand-to-elbow and 30 seconds Grunts.

After being abused by Corporal Dharmendra, we moved on to Corporal Faizal for the TABATA.. or Twenty Second non-stop exercise and break for 10 seconds before repeating the cycle with again with a 20 second workout and so forth........

The 20 second workout was alternated as follows:
1) 8 sets of 20 seconds King Kong Push up
2) 8 Sets of 20 seconds deep Squat

Although there is a lot of 'Ong' (meaning Prosperous) with the number EIGHT as the Chinese-belief but the EIGHT sets prepared was far from Ong...... and more like 'Kong' (meaning Die).

After being exploited with the Kong-Exercises, we move on to the third circuit that divides the whole platoon into three team with an equivalent mixture of Delta, Seals and Rangers.

The three trainers took one team each and each team was asked to make a circle with both arm-apart from each other. We had the muscular Wesley Snipe look-alike Corporal Dharma as our team-trainer. Everybody in the circle must do a deep squat. Everybody beginning with me, had to sprint anti-clockwise a full one circle back to their starting position. Once one-team member completed one-circle-run, Corporal Dharma will tap the shoulder of the next person on the right for him to run ala relay. During Zaiem's turn, he sped like a lighting bolt and tergolek....(skidded) on a muddy section which started the laughters in our team. Kenix ran like a wild horse blowing away my hair... catching up with lost seconds from Zaiem's fall but our team was second last and had to performed 5 easy grunts whilst the last team had to do 10 grunts.

The session ended with the routine warming down session. Today's session was quite mild and light. I prefer a session that knocked my heart out of my chest and pumped my vein out from my skin... a sort of hardcore, killer, breath-taking extreme workout!!

There were some good discussions @ OBC page today initiated by Rukaiyah Manis on "Why do you joined the Bootcamp?"... and here are some excerpts (extracted without any editing): I trust this excerpts will be an inspiration to others to take charge of their health and fitness........... it is never too late.

Rukaiyah Manis: "because I was diagnosed with high blood presser and refused to take medication for it. I wanted to have workout activities in my lifetyle... fate determine that i joined facebook, started to play games and saw bootcamp ad, that was 7 months ago......."

Celine Ooi: "I was bored in dec due to cancelled holiday plans. i read abt bootcamp at suanie's .... meant as a one-off in dec, but i continued in jan and have signed-up for feb!"

Shobha Bala: "I was hospitalized for bad eating habits, suffered from gastric ulcers etc, i looked for the easy way out to keeping fit, i.e. pills. My stomach crashed (yes, i'm still payin the price for it) and told myself no more. Saw the ad on FB, never looked back. Never felt healthier. OBC changed my life. aww.. hugs to my super duper instructors & fellow motivating recruits."

Shamil Tan: "I just wanted to eat Banana Leaf on sunday without guilt.....lol"

Amelia Shahrin: "I had enough of fat jokes from my parents and future in laws.. so that is why i joined OBC.. was already considering it for 3 months ago, then finally 2010 came and i made my decision to join for Jan session.."

Chun SSJ: 

"1. Recommend by Friend but still not convince till read advert in the star......."Guaranteed Results...No Matter What Your Current Fitness Level".....I personally LIKE this MOST " NEVER repeat the SAME session twice, whether u have trained with US for 6 months or 6 years....enuff said.

2. I still continue because of above and I want to "Train with the INNOVATORS, not the imitators" and I want to MAKE NEW BEST FRIENDS and ENEMY. I also want to FIT in 25 JEANS like YTF."

Suriana Saiful: "I just want more pain. Pain keeps me alive .. ;)"

Megaa Velayuthan:

"1.To get fit

2.To gain weight.(Now dont laugh Ruk)
3.For better stamina
4.Love outdoor workout"

Syuhada Adnan: "I had not much idea on what OBC is about until the first day and I was running and fainting at the same time (but still running). haha! And I was looking at the seniors on the first day; all muscle-y and thought, that's hot .. :) I guess the idea of waking up at 415am, driving from putrajaya to kl, get high on pain, and sleep-driving back to putrajaya before going to work is something really crazy. Might as well continue doing that (signed up for Feb, yeay!)"

Susoshini Jahanath: "I didn't like the fact that as a former runner, I had become so unfit and flabby (yes, the dreaded word - almost as bad as fatty). I got tired of people saying 'You've put on weight! Looking very healthy!'. I tried a few different gyms, but somehow it just never seemed to work out to my taste. I heard about OBC from a friend, signed up in November ... See Morejust to try it out, and I haven't looked back since. I've got a great group of people I exercise with, including the trainers. The motivation and the push is what I've needed. HOOYAH!!"

Chai Soo Pey: "A friend dragged me in bcos he needed someone to accompany him and to find out what it's all about... we went to the wrong field on the first day, i was cursing him mad bcos i thought it was a total conned case paying & waking up in the wee hours just to see an empty field... hmmm, who knows, i subsequently got addicted, this is my 3rd month in OBC!

The actual reason i agreed to try out in the first place was to challenge myself & see how far i can go. It's a big risk i took. I have very sensitive & highly allergic skin after a severe burnt by wrong cream prescribed some 22 years ago... My condition worsen & i almost gave up living then. Everything became a total nightmare. I was always being subjected to people's evil stares, teases & negative remarks bcos of my bad condition.. and my diet was drawn back to basic, eliminating most of the food from the list & slowly introducing one by one all over again to determine which food i can/can't tolerate... i was always on steroid jabs & pills... had no choice but to let go things i love, including sports & outdoor activities....

There were so much fun i missed out all these years, and i intend to do some catch up, it's still not too late... So i started with jogging, random trekking and a little hiking... testing out one thing at a time... each attempt took me a lot of courage because should things go wrong, i would be in a bad shape & would be back to the much-dreaded steroids again. And so far, i am ok. Then came Original Bootcamp, i was really skeptical and not sure if i would want to do it. I know there will be lots of contact with dirty water, mud, grass; lots of sweat - no big issue for healthy people, but definitely very risky for me... Well, i went into it without my family's knowledge. It was only after the 2nd session that i dare to inform my family, and excitedly spammed my friends' with emails! Well, so far so good, i am glad that i am still okay, although every now and then after a session, i do get rashes & have to wait for hours before they subside. Itchy, but worth it! OBC is pure fun & joy, I am always excited, looking forward to each session & i love the people in OBC! ...

Oh, i am now looking forward to trying out my very first water-rafting activity with one of my best friends, CH, end of this month! Hopefully it's materialised & i can pass that too. I am scared, please keep an eye on me, buddy, don't let me die yet!"

Rj Rahman Mansor: "I had always been active and but..just after April 2004 after achieving a target to complete my first (and only) TRI...motivation just faded...I tried to stay fit and keep in shape by going to the gym but gymming was starting to be a bore!...some routine and no one to push me...in the mean time, my already grown up kids was beginning to enjoy outdoor activities (they are into climbing and trailing) and they really would like dad to be with them...but I realize that my fitness was fading fast if I don't do anything about it...Danial my 20 yo son saw OBC and pointed out "Dad, this is YOU!" you gotta go!...I read about OBC somewhere before this long time ago and wondered when it was coming to our shores...when Danial pointed that out...it perked me up and I was game!...I was first recruit in KLA batch but didnt finish because of bad rib injury and...since terminating gym membership..I have enjoyed my new playground and playmates ( and play items too).. OBC Rawks.."

Faizal Ariff: "A different perspective: I joined Original Bootcamp MY because it is the only fitness program in the industry here that let me focus all my attention on the results of the participants (recruits) instead of other misc sales related agenda. Being exposed to the practice of commercialized gyms made me apathetic towards their real objectives. I'm there at the field in the wee hours of the morning because of you recruits. Not for my own gains. Hooyah! :) "

Lulu Cattywampus: "Last year, I set myself a goal to do at least one thing a year I thought I would never do in my lifetime. Last year I learnt how to scuba dive :) This year I thought...climb Mount Kinabalu!! I knew I was in terrible shape and I thought that OBC would be an ideal way to get in shape!

Now, I can safely say that joining OBC is something I thought I ... See Morewould never do in my lifetime!!! I mean...flipping tyres? carrying rifles? Sandbags? No, no...not me!! I'm too much of a girly-girl!! But I'm doing it...and I love it!!! HOOYAH!!!!"

Syuzana Amran: "I joined because I know I'm terribly unfit and missed how I felt 5 years ago. Also, was sick and tired of people passing 'fat' comments. As much as I'd love to say that I don't care what they thought of me, I do. Altho, the comments don't hurt as much as me knowing that I'm just asking for it for not taking better care of myself. So, I had to do something.

Admittedly I've been lurking around for a few months and even when Sulo and Ee-Lyn joined, I said I was too busy that month (I was!) but I knew if I had wanted it so badly, I would've just joined them. No excuses, right? So, after 'chickening' out a few times, opening and closing the OBC website, I (finally!!) registered for January. (And have registered for Feb as well.)

My goals are simple:...
1. Do NOT pass out/ throw up while running.
2. Get my ass into those jeans I've had to leave behind 4 years ago. I know they're waiting for me ;)
3. To live better.

Angela YTFoo: "Hello. I am Angela and I am an Obcholic.
I joined OBC because I wanted to fit into my 25.
Now that I can, I'm still staying because OBC is just too much fun. I think I'd be quite lost if I didn't have to wake up early on Tues/Thurs/Sat.
And I actually love the mud. :)"

Suanie T: "My mother offered to pay for me to get a gastic bypass surgery. i figured there's a less painful option somewhere out there."

Joyce Chuo: Recommended by a friend who have joined OBC 2 months earlier while knowing that I'm looking for a different work up besides my Yoga practice. Was told that this is a totally different sport/ exercise which everyone goes as a team & get motivate/ encouragement by each other to get you tru like a family ...

And of course, guaranteed results ... even thought the fee is slight "costly" but I always believe in what you pay is what you get ... and yet I would need to get myself committed or else ... what you've paid will gone to waste definitely...

I have actually loose 30kgs since 3 years ago ... but then gained 10kgs easily within 2 yrs of "honey-moon" period ... hardly denied that I just love fooooods soooooo much, you won't only see me having Banana Leaf on Sunday ... (some more CK now keeps offering me banana juice & durian juice ... hmmm = =lll ) Don't think of joining those fitness centre as I know I'll be end up watching TV shows, listening to gossips, enjoying the cool-air ... instead of working on the cardio/ classes.

I won't hope to fix in a 25" jeans but at least to get a firmer/ toner figure, healthier life style ... & "bonus" ~ meeting new faces and get real good laugh here :) Surrounded by lot of funny ppl in OBC even I might look bit quiet/ serious or perhaps shy *_* ...

Guys, you really make my day & you are the best! Gotta stick with OBC & HOOOYAAAHHH ~"

Gail Taylor: "hi rukaiyah :) thanks for sharing .. bc great workout for all of us , we will all be healthier, great for the body and mind, most of all the no1 challange is against ourselves to improve every month.. pls come and join us pj pm's again soon your words of encouragement was so welcome hooyah"

Shazana Agha: Wow - these are interesting stories guys! Even if it’s for banana leaf! Suanie, I’m glad you bypassed gastric surgery :) Corp Faizal - fake, plastic gyms reeking of commercial gluttony [oklah, maybe a bit too harsh…] and clinging on in desperation via compulsory yearly contracts – hmmm… certainly not on for me anymore.

Initially, I joined because of the usual weight loss motivation, the ‘feel good factor’ and OF COURSE to be able to have banana leaf/nasi lemak/teh tarik (kurang manis) without dying at a premature age.

But as time went by, it finally hit me, why people actually go crazy over sports. For someone who never really pursued sports in school, this was like discovery of the decade (for me lah) – exercise REALLY makes you feel good - my MUM’s really not lying!! It really does give you the whole ‘optimum performance’ thing. Dan secara psikologinya, [this is my last point, I swear!] something i noticed [yes lah, i know it's not ground-breaking!]:

In bootcamp, or in any form of competitive sports, everyone is constantly driven to do THEIR best, to persevere and carry on. And it’s amazing how this mental attitude can (creep into?) be translated in our real lives, whether it’s work, family, health, personal integrity etc. – you kind of get conditioned to only want your best, no compromise and no more self-sabotage.
Not that easy lah of course, but I'm think ground-breaking theory does work at some level.
Thanks Rukaiyah for posing the question. Have a good weekend everyone! 250 patah perkataan (haha...sorry guys!)"

Pilates WYC: "Although I have been doing group fitness classes for many years, have always been interested in doing military style training in outdoor conditions. I felt that my fitness level needed a kickstart to get it up to a higher level. My cardio level is good & my form is ok but I needed to get stronger.

So OBC is a real dream come true for me. I get to play in the mud & rain, I am definitely stronger & now I can run!!! I have also had the opportunity to train with a fantastic group of instructors & recruits who share my passion for fitness. The rapport & team spirit in KLA is really beyond awesome! You guys are the inspiration for me to drag myself out of bed at 5am 3 times a week when I am well known for being so not a morning person!"

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Armin Baniaz: The reason I first joined the Bootcamp was made known on my first Original Bootcamp BLOG click: here . After almost 13 years being a Gym member and 5 years of various outdoor adventure from mountain climbing, marathons, dualthons and triathlons, all other form of workout then became quite a bore and results was plateau. I crave for some kick-@ss workout and only wanted to try out the Bootcamp in dire desperation to shed some weight from the Hari Raya Aidiltfitri food-overdose last year... I ended-up having the best chemistry at the Bootcamp. The most attractive and important part of the Bootcamp especially for my busy schedule is the punctuality, the early 5:45am schedule (which is not available elsewhere) and the trainers preach what they speak. Every morning, the session never failed to start at 5:45am and ended at 6:45am. I was able to go home, shower, have breakfast and be at office on time. The trainers can performed well all the programs prepared for the trainees and at most time especially Sergeant Simran, would perform those exercises with us, leading us by example.

The actual eventual benchmark for the trainee is really................ the Trainers Timing themselves!!! Watch out trainers, if you lacked-behind in your own training... soon we will be telling you what to do! (*Evil wink*)

HOOOOOOOOYAAAAAH!!!!

Other ref: OBC jan5/12, OBC jan4/12, OBC jan3/12, OBC-Jan2/12, OBC-Jan1/12, Kiasu 15, Kiasu 14, Kiasu 13, Kiasu 12, Kiasu 11, Kiasu 10, Kiasu 9, Kiasu 8, Kiasu 7, Kiasu 6, Kiasu 5, Kiasu 4, Kiasu 3 (timing), Kiasu 2, Kiasu 1,  Bootcamp 13, Bootcamp 12, Bootcamp 11, Bootcamp 10, Bootcamp 9,Bootcamp 8, Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1..

OBC- JAN 5/12- Boom Shake Shake the Rope

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5 sessions down, 7 more to go for 100% ACE........ We had only two (2) AWOLS today and was penalised with only two (2) 30 seconds squat pulses for the AWOLS. Our trainers today was commanded by non other than the one and only OBC Sergeant, Simran Latiff and assisted by Lans Corporal Elin and Lans Corporal Stephanie. Corporal Faizal Ariff close rank and became one of us trainee.

Yesterday, I was at PJ Alpha at 5am as an observer.... to send Nawal Aini and sighted someOne for ACE. At PJ Alpha, I met RJ Rahman Mansor, Alex Nathan, Shamil Tan and for the first time met Yong Taw Foo.. she is smaller than I imagine. If there was any difference in comparison, it must be the team-work at PJ Alpha. The teamwork there was exemplary.. everybody contributed and worked hard to get 105 Grunts to lose more weight!! At KL Alpha, the most that we get, was only 20 grunts or 6 squat pulses. Congratulation and well done PJ ALpha.. keep up the good work.

Today, the recruits were divided according to their respective ranks Delta, Seal and Rangers and there were three (3) circuits prepared under each trainer.

Today's Summary
10minutes: warm-up & AWOL penalty
20minutes: Boom Shake-Shake (rope) & Sprint
15minutes: The Beauty & the Dirty
15minutes: Tyresome Flip orgy
 Total 60Minutes

Boom Shake Shake the Rope

Sarge Simran took the Delta on the first circuit with five (5) Ropes. 4 Deltas were assigned to each ropes. Danial Ismail, Marcus Jau Chan (again), Kenny Smith was in my team. With two (2) Deltas at each end, one Delta had to hold the rope whilst the other prepared to sprint. When the Sarge signaled for the start, BOOM... the two Delta holding the rope had to SHAKE-SHAKE the rope creating a wave-look whilst the other two deltas sprint for approximate 20 metres back and forth before tapping his partner to reverse the role from sprinting to shaking. The workout was repeated for three sets of 6 minutes, 4 minutes and 2 minutes for the first, second and third set. There were three types of Shake-shake the ropes but there are all for upper body and 'base muscle' workout.

The Beauty & the Dirty
The second circuit was for the Hour-glass shape workout .... in the MUD.. in pair. I was paired with superfit Marcus Jau Chan (again...scary but a damn good partner). At the Second circuit with LC Elin, we performed a non-stop 15 minutes endless sets of 5 repetitions for each of the following workout:

Circuit 2 (A) Squat, Military push-up, Jack-Knife, Military sit-up
Circuit 2 (B) Lunges, King-kong push-up, Monk Sit-up, Flutter kick

Tyresome Flip
We had a tyre-some Five pax orgy per team on the third circuit under LC Stephanie. Each team was allocated with a huge tyre. My team comprised of Shobha Bala, Jordan and Danial Ismail. Every Delta in the team, had to flip the damn-heavy tyre (alone) one-way from one end to the other whilst the other four team members in-queue for the tyre, performed non-stop of the following workout:

i) 5 repetitions of Star-jump
ii) 5 repetition of Push-up
iii) 5 repetition of Military Sit-up

Deltas had to repeat the above workout until the 'Flipper' reached the other end. The slower the flipping, the more sets of the workout to be performed by others in the team. I can hear Chun SSJ shouting (dont know why?) at Clair calling her Jordan, mistaken identity which attract the laughter of the whole platoon.

The total calories burned today was 651 calories only....... Maybe I did not gave my 100%, the average calory burn otherwise would have been 750.I tried to be serious while training but the moment weirdo Chun SSJ start cracking up spontaneous remark and teamed-up with Shobha..... i just cant help but to start laughing in Pain.

Today we partially completed the list of Seals as a monthly 'get-to-know' our comrade project first initiated by Super Senior Delta Dr Malek Aziz in December last year. The last posting (see: here), we listed down the those in Deltas at KL Alpha.

The Seals are:

1) Farhanah Bamadhaj

2) Nawal Aini Zulkifli

3) Rose Emini Pahamin

4) Farrah Raquet

5) Vivien Luyen

6) Lilian Loo

7) Suloshini

8) Arvind

9) Machiko

10) yus (from KLB?)

11) Amy Ho

12) Irwan

13) Ee-lyn

14) Rienna

15) Ashima Thomas

There are a few more Seals @ KL Alpha that is unknown......... Come on recruits, lets get to know our comrades...

HOOOOOOOOYAAAAAH!!!!

Other ref: OBC jan4/12, OBC jan3/12, OBC-Jan2/12, OBC-Jan1/12, Kiasu 15, Kiasu 14, Kiasu 13, Kiasu 12, Kiasu 11, Kiasu 10, Kiasu 9, Kiasu 8, Kiasu 7, Kiasu 6, Kiasu 5, Kiasu 4, Kiasu 3 (timing), Kiasu 2, Kiasu 1,  Bootcamp 13, Bootcamp 12, Bootcamp 11, Bootcamp 10, Bootcamp 9,Bootcamp 8, Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1..




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