Flashback: Powerman Malaysia 2012

Doing back to back races is hectic. Once you completed one race, you need to prepare another one (mentally and physically); plus you need to pack and repack your traveling bags. In between i need to balance work, family and kids.

This hectic schedule of mine kinda left the experiences un-blogged. Now i understand why Sarongman Yimster left his blog in cobwebs.

There’s few past races that i need to blog for my future references; Powerman Malaysia, The North Face 100 Singapore, Berlin Marathon and Craze Ultra. So this is kinda of the Flasback Series, lets start of with the Powerman Malaysia experience.

Powerman Malaysia or The Malakoff Powerman Asian Duathlon Championships, is a Dualthon race; which requires a participant to run the distance of 10km or more, then 60km or more cycling and then finishing with another run with the distance of 10km or more.

In the case of Powerman Malaysia 2012, the 11th edition was held in Putrajaya (4th November 2012), one would need to run 11.4 km, cycling 64km and finish with 11.4km run to earned the title Powerman. Only Individual Long Distance finisher can claim this title NOT the Sprint Finisher nor the team relay. Comparatively when you ran the Full Marathon distance and finish it you have the right to be called a Marathoner, certainty NOT 10km finisher nor 21km finisher.

Malaysia is the only country in Asia that held this annual international Dualthon event, hence called Powerman Asian  Dualthon Championship. This year it attracted over 1850 participants from 30 countries all over the world.

Other Powerman events, includes Powerman Alabama, USA, Powerman Holland / Horst aan de Maas, Powerman Germany / Falkenstein, Powerman Vlaanderen Geel/Belgium, Powerman Weyer, Austria, Powerman Fuerteventura, Powerman Italy / Malgrate and the World Championship Duathlon Long Distance held in Powerman Zofingen, Switzerland.

Powerman Malaysia was divided into few categories;

INDIVIDUAL LONG DISTANCE : 11.4km Run - 64km Bike - 11.4km Run
(2 laps of 5.7km Run - 2 laps of 32km Bike - 2 laps of 5.7km Run)

TEAM RELAY LONG DISTANCE : 11.4km Run - 64km Bike - 11.4km Run
(2 laps of 5.7km Run - 2 laps of 32km Bike - 2 laps of 5.7km Run)

SPRINT DISTANCE : 5.7km Run - 32km Bike - 5.7km Run
(1 lap of 5.7km Run - 1 lap of 32km Bike - 1 lap of 5.7km Run)

First and foremost, i would like to thanks dear friends of mine – Ziff and Dett for sharing their past Powerman experiences. It was really helpful for a Dualthon newbie like me, especially it was my first ever official Cycling event.

The cut-off time for  my category event was 5:30 hours. For my maiden Powerman, my only is target to complete the within the cut-off time and most importantly having fun doing it. Especially when i’m still green with my cycling and lack off cycling mileage before the race. I kid you not, my longest cycling distance prior was only 40km. When i complete this Powerman, the 64km cycling distance would be my longest ever.

 

“Rocket Queen” ready for maiden official race.

The Race

I  woke up early for the race and arrived at the venue before 6:00 am, did my Subuh prayer at Perbadanan Putrajaya’s Surau. Then quickly set up my bike at the transition area among many expensive road bikes. I found out that, Yim was placed few bikes away from mine in the transition area – great, now i’m nervous..he he. The atmosphere for this Powerman event is totally different from running scene. It’s like a family day said KA, which i concurred.

Most participants were looking professional with their expensive bikes, cool shades and trisuit. But don’t let their appearances fools you, once the race started if you don’t do the required trainings – all that expensive bikes and trisuit won’t be much of a help during the race.

I was glad to met so many familiar faces, after i met Yim. I saw Nick Arthur, Azlan Aiman, friends from Singapore running scene.

Running Leg 1: (55:39) 11.4km

The race started at 7:00 am, the weather was super perfect – kinda cool morning with expectation of a rainy race. My strategy was to run as fast as i could in the running legs, as i expecting that i would perform badly later during the cycling leg.

I guess i started running too fast, i was in horror when after 2km i saw i my pace was sub 5:00 (4:32 and 4:44). I quickly adjusted my pace and slowdown around 5:00. As this was my first Powerman, i don’t know how fast i should go and decided to conserve energy for the remainder of the race – still a long way to go.

My run was stabilized after 2nd loop, i stopped at every water station and drink half cup of water to keep hydrate. The weather was still  perfect and the water stations was plenty every 1.5km or so. I saw Azlan Aiman overtook me when i stopped at water station to consume my first Powel gel, i need the energy for cycling leg later. I said hi to AA as i overtook him later before entering the transition area.

Completing the first running loop (first leg)

I completed 2 loops of the 1st running leg (11.4km) in 55:39 mins, T1 took me 3:23. As i arrived to my bike, i was surprised to see that Yim arriving soon after. I thought he was long gone by now, it was funny when AA and i said it out loudly “alamak, habislah kita Aiman, Yim sudah sampai” he he.

Before entering the transition area, i remembered what Ziff told me – calm down and think clearly what you should do step by step when changing into cycling gears. First, i put on my Garmin GPS watch from my wrist on to the bike’s Garmin pod, then i put on my Chap Ayam Cycling Jersey, i put on the helmet next, gloves and finally change my running shoes into cycling clip shoes. Yay, my first ever transition done! Never had the time to practice beforehand. Great now we ride!

Cycling Leg: (2:25:48) 64km

I pushed the bike along transition area before riding it on the road. I haven’t rode the bike in the past few weeks, hopefully i remembered how to change gears and cycle…dang!  Ray, are you sure what you’re doing? Not really, i said to myself quietly – “ini bidan terjun namanya atau luncai terjun sungai dengan labu”. We shall found out soon enough.

Wow i said to myself when i started cycling – this is fast, i felt great and light; yeah especially when you rode a full carbon road bike. An investment that paid off handsomely in the end – i bought the bike earlier in June for the sole purpose entering the Powerman, now i’m living my dreams – no more a wannabe!

I overtook few bikes on the Seri Wawasan bridge, then entering Lebuh Sentosa, i overtook few more bikes – the bike route was just like PNM route. The first loop (32km), i maintained around 10 minutes for every 5km. The rolling hills around Putrajaya were merciless, thankfully the weather still perfect and cooling with drizzles during the second loop of cycling leg.

I was playing cat and mouse with AA during the cycling, whenever i overtook him, he will came back and overtook me few km down the road. This game really took of my mind during the boring cycling leg, thanks AA. I completed the first loop around 1:08 hour, so far so good.

Now as i’m still green in cycling event, and top it off – this was my first ever cycling event, i still figuring out when to consume energy gels. During the cycling leg, my strategy was off – i took Power gels much too late. When nearing a bonk state, that’s when i took the gels – already too late. As a result, the second loop was a disaster. Plus i felt a cramp coming up on my left leg during the attack on the hill around PICC at the end of first loop, i lay off and dare not to push as i did during the earlier part of the cycling leg. Which was a wise decision, once cramped – game over! DNF! Like few unlucky participants i encountered during cycling route – i could see huge disappointment in their faces.

 

During the second loop, i really took it easy plus i was bonked, dang!

Then all the bikes that i overtook earlier came and passed me by…double dang!

I could say about 200 bikes or so…the highlight was when a foldie with aerobar attached overtook me during the hill climb…triple dang!

I really learned my lesson that day – never ever racing without enough cycling mileage after this, plus my butt hurts like hell after cycling leg.

I completed the cycling leg in 2:25:48 , i couldn’t wait for the cycling part to be over with and get me into familiar territory – the running part. I was relief when seeing the transition area – i made it without major problems (cramps or getting my tire punctured).

As i was entering the transition area, Lina Jumaat from SG arrived, oh no she just caught up with me. Gotta run fast now!

T2 took me 4:39 min, changing from cycling gears into running gears now plus i was limping and walking funny along the transition area.

Running Leg 2: (1:07:17) 11.4km

I couldn’t help to laugh it out loud when i started running, and it’s funnier when you see all around you people running like a zombie lol. Now where’s that 200 peeps that overtook me earlier? This what happened when you used different muscle set from cycling to running, i tried to push it off by running faster and overtook more and more peeps. By 2km, i was back to normal running. YES!

I passed Dett nearing the end of the first loop, said hi and bye. Met few more familiar faces during the run. I saw KA at the side road cheering for me after completing the first loop, thanks dude, that made ran faster.

The second loop was the best, i was having a blast! I knew this Powerman was in the bag, i knew i will finish sub-5 and within the cut off time. That piece of information made me happy, so i said to myself let try to finish this sub 4:30, if you don’t try you never know. So pushed on all i got during the second loop – i ran with my heart that second loop i guess. I didn’t felt tired, i didn’t felt pain – i just felt light and overjoyed running. I could say i was FLYING :)

Now i must confessed that Powerman has the most photographers in any races that i ever entered. You feel like a movie star when they took your photos in action. I sincerely thanks all the photographers for all the support you  given us – without you guys there’ll never be our photos in action. Thanks a million.

Entering the finish line i saw KA, and i high fived him. He was there supporting friends – thanks bro you’re the best!

I completed my first Powerman in 4:36:54 (Position 53/117 Age Group 40-44). No. i didn’t made it under sub 4:30 , but i was overjoyed to finish my maiden Powerman (Dualthon) almost one hour under the cut-off time and earning the Medals and Finisher Polo Tee.

 

My hard earn Powerman’s Medal and Polo Tee

I have another confession, Powerman will be my annual event from this day onwards; i had so much fun it’s addictive. Plus it was great seeing friends from Malaysia and abroad, see you guys soon at next year edition of Powerman 2013.