XiaoMi Pop Run 2025 Half Marathon

Final result is 2 hours 2 minutes 28 seconds, in an under distance race of 20.5km, therefore average pace is 5 min 58 seconds per km.

This is my 11th Half Marathon Race. The final result is 7th (out of 11) in terms of pace but 5th (out of 11) in terms of total time due to under distance. 

The below average performance is mainly due to lack of training and stamina as a result. I am able to run sub 5'50 in the first 8km, but drop to around 6'00 mark from 9-12km. Pace is slow at 6'05-6'35 from 13-19km and back to sub 6'00 in the final 1.5km. 

Always happy after a race irrespective of results. YY's pace drop off in the final 5km therefore finished 2'04. Lee is as good as ever, finished at around 1'54. Wei Bin did a 10km run instead. 

Xian Jing Run 2025

It is an individual running competition, yet it is also kind of a team event as different association is competing against each other.  

For the team, TC Sports Club finished 2nd, 4th, 11th & 12th (although podium finish is only for top 10) whilst Hokkien has 4 in the podium including 3rd & 5th. Therefore its a slight improvement for us.

In terms of personal performances, I finished between 13th-15th, which is at least 3 minutes out of the podium time. However, the 51 minutes finishing time is already 3 minutes faster than the 54 minutes last year. As a matter, I recorded a PB for 5km during the run (probably in the first 5km). Overall 10km results is not my best, however, the route is very hilly and probably one of the toughest race.

Generali Half Marathon 2025

 I finished the race at 2'03 or pace of 5'50, which is my 5th fastest among my 10 races.  Although I do not achieve a PB, it's better than my pre-race expectations and I feel great during and after the race. My mate YY on the other hand, achieve PB but did not feel good about the race. This keep me wondering what is more important, the feeling or the record?

Photos are plentiful and some are quite pleasant as I wasn't over exert myself at the end of the race.

10th Half Marathon Coming Up

Heading for my 10th Half Marathon Races in two days time. The previous 9 races and my running time are as follow:

Rank 9:    Generali 2024 (Pace: 6'52, Time: 2'24)

Rank 8:    Twin City 2024 (Pace: 6'19, Time: 2'14)

Rank 7:    Twin City 2022 (Pace: 6'13, Time: 2'12)

Rank 6:    Garmin 2022 (Pace: 6'04, Time: 2'10)

Rank 5:    Penang Bridge 2022 (Pace: 5'53, Time: 2'05)

Rank 4:    KL City Day 2023 (Pace: 5'46, Time: 2'02)

Rank 3:    NPE Highway 2023  (Pace: 5'41, Time: 1'59)

Rank 2:    Hatyai 2023 (Pace: 5'40, Time: 2'00)

Rank 1:    Cybercity 2023 (Pace: 5'38, Time: 1'59)

I do not have high expectation amid poor condition lately. However, I do wish I can do better than the two races that I did last year. A time below 2'05, should I able to achieve, would consider a "Gold" achievement. The most important thing about this race is to feel good upon finishing. 

2025 Running Races

I have not been racing since last Marathon on October 6th, 2024 (and a short 10km race on 8th December, 2024). The five months of off-season have not been kind to my body. Gaining a few kg and fat % whilst losing muscle %.

The first race in 2025 will be Generali Half Marathon on 11th of May, 2025. Goal for the race: 2 hours and 6 minutes. It may be much slower than personal best of 1 hour 59 minutes, however, 2024 half marathon results are 2 hour 14 minutes and 2 hours 25 minutes. 

2025 Target Race are

- Generali Half Marathon (May-25)

- Xian Jing 10km (Jun-25)

- NPE Highway Half Marathon (Aug-25)

- Boom 30km (Sep-25)

- KLSC Full Marathon (Oct-25)

- TC Tower Run (Oct-25)

- Halong Bay Run (Nov-25)

Invitation to Squid Game

Got a shock error message from my Garmin watch on the eve of CNY. 

Was it the end of my Sports Watch life cycle?

Was it a world-wide error?

Was it a 'prank' from Garmin- wishing us Happy CNY?

Or was I invited to the "Squid" Game?

Funny thing was I just completed this quest couple of weeks ago.

Medals & Trophies

 All the medals won this year.

Mine: 8 Completion Medal

(2- Great, 3 satisfactory, 3 disappointment)

Hong Yi: 6 winning medal 3 completion medal

Hong Xin: 6 winning medal 2 Completion medal

China Malaysia Run 2024

Good run. This is the best 10km run this year and just few seconds short of personal best. Final result of 55mins 53seconds over 10.37km, average pace of 5.23/km (short of personal best of 5.22/km but ahead of 2024 best of 5.26/km). What amazes me is that I am able to run faster than a few faster/stronger runner in this rather uphill route. I guess the advantage for me is that I have been running the exact same route (almost the same) for seven times in the last three months. Practice makes perfect right?

Pacemaker- Pre-race photo

First km

Last KM

About 2km mark

Pre-race

Final Result

Tower Run 2024

Tower Run 2024 at Wisma Teo Chew. This is a "trial" event as we plan to organise a major open to public event next year. We did a two run, each run 20 floors. My final time is 8mins 21seconds (or 5.3 floors per min) according to Garmin. Finished 3rd (HY finished 2nd) in this trial run. It is quite tiring and I'm really just walking big steps after the 7th floor. Total participants in this event is much lesser than expected, however, there are no major issues or red light for next year major event.

KLSCM 2024

Very tough race. I was doing ok up until 33th km and then I suffer cramp at six different places- left upper tight, lower left leg, lower right leg, right shoulder, left and right sartorius (ie between tight and private part). On top of it, the race is also over distance by 500meters. 

Final result of 4:49:20 (or pace of 6:46/km), is 3rd among the three marathon in terms of total time, and 2nd in terms of pace.

Overall ranking = 2671 (of 12,425 participants) 

Overall men = 2342 (of 10,320 participants)