Global Races

There are 2 upcoming global races that you can participate. 

Nike+ Human Race 10K

The first one is The Nike+ Human Race 10K happening on Aug 31st. Malaysians can run the race virtually on that day in this country, since only Singapore is selected in this region to be among the 25 cities around the world hosting this run. Participants will be treated to major concerts after the run lending an air of festivity to the day. I'll be setting up a blog early August to chronicle my training for the event. So chart your 10K course and register! Visit the official site here. 

Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon Challenge

The 2nd event is the 3rd Annual Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon Challenge, which includes a Kick The Couch 5K distance. More info and registration on this completely fun, run-where-you-are, and free race can be found on the official website. As the race draws nearer you can even print out your race bib and upon completion of your run, log down your timing and print out your certificate. A podcast has even been setup to keep participants up to date. For this head on to The Extra Mile podcast.

So c'mon. Join me and be part of the worldwide running community and register yourselves for the runs!

The 2nd Pheddipidations WWHM Challenge

I was quite unfit going into this run. The intention was to do a 30K and take the first 21K as the WWHM timing. Geraldine, Lai, Kenny and I started off around 5:45am. Kenny and Lai are both in training for the Singapore Marathon. The others started later with Ronnie at 6:30am. Things got tougher for me after the 17K mark and I made the 21K point barely. Things started to go downhill after that. I walked on 3-4 occasions - basically I was more out of breath than anything to do with the legs. Indications of poor aerobic conditioning. I shouldn't have been so harsh on myself as this 28K (didn't make it to 30K!) is a sudden bump out of nowhere in my just restarted training program. As I'm typing this belated report, I'm already 30% back on my fitness. It'll come, it'll come.

It's only right that I record my heartfelt thanks to the WWHM race directors, John Ellis, Mal James, Terry Higgins, Ben Deutschle and Steve Walker (who nailed his marathon PR last weekend - woo hooo!), for doing such a great job with the site and organizing all the race logistics. The number of registrants says it all. It's the first global race I know of which takes place simultaneously (almost!), that has it's own bib, podcast, goodie bag and best of all FREE! We runners come together last weekend and proved to the world besetted by war, corruption, selfishness that when it comes down to coming together for something, runners just do it! No hidden agendas, no greed. Fellow runners, I bow to all of you! Run long and strong!

With Ronnie Der_Pacemaker (bib 0210)

With Geraldine

Second Annual "Phedippidations" World Wide Half Marathon Challenge: Official Press Release

Next weekend is the "race day" and you still have time to register. For those in KL, we will start at the Bkt Aman car park over 2 waves. First wave is for marathoners who want to put in extra miles and we will take off at 6am heading towards Hartamas plus 1 loop around the Petronas station before heading back. After you get back and want to do extra, just stop your watch and record your timing. You can then submit your timing at www.worldwidehalf.com with photos and reports. Second wave starts at 6:30am. In case you didn't know there are 21 of us who registered from all over Malaysia. Outstanding! If 13th or 14th are not viable dates for you, you can also run it anytime between today and then. And as long as your route is 21K, you can run practically anywhere.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4th, 2007

Contacts: London, UK : Mal James. mal.james@worldwidehalf.com Knoxville, TN: Terry Higgins planet3rry@gmail.com Columbus, OH : Ben Deutschle ben@buckeyeoutdoors.com Boston, MA : John Ellis john_j_ellis@hotmail.com, Worcester, MA : Steve Walker steve@steverunner.com

World Wide Half Marathon
1000 Runners from 45 countries "Think Global, Run Local" in global race.

Boston, MA. - Over 1000 runners in 45 countries across 6 continents will be running together on the weekend of October 13th and 14th for the Second Annual "Phedippidations" World Wide Half Marathon Challenge, and "Kick the Couch 5K".

Co-race director John Ellis, from Boston, Massachusetts, said "This is a unique race that embraces the spirit of the running community across the entire world."

The "Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon Challenge" (www.worldwidehalf.com) is an open invitational event where runners from around the globe will run either 13.1 mile (21 km) or 3.1 mile (5km) course on their own or as part of a local race in their region.

Teams of athletes around the globe have come together, in countries such as Austria, Bahrain, Columbia, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Vietnam and Yugoslavia.

Co-race director, Mal James, trained for the vent in both Israel and Australia, and will be running locally on race day in the Munich Germany Marathon. "This has truly become a global event", said James, "runners from all over the planet have been training together for the past four months and encouraging each other to go the distance on race day."

Co-race director from Knoxville, Tennessee, Terry Higgins, is impressed with the new runners who have accepted the challenge of running the race. "It's awesome to hear that this will be the very first race for some runners, or that this challenge has rekindled someone's passion for running", said Higgins, "We joke about the 'Couch of Doom' that too many sedentary people spend too much time upon, and we are very please to know that people all over the world are getting off that couch!"

"We've more than doubled the number of entrants we had last year" said Co-race director Steve Walker, from Central Massachusetts, "we've made friends across 44 countries, and now we'll be able to share our race reports, photos and audio recordings about our race experiences!"

The event is completely free and is being organized online at www.worldwidehalf.com .

Entrants who run the race will record their finish times, and have the option of uploading a written race report, a photo and audio recording to share a description of their experiences of the day for posting on several online blogs and Internet radio "podcasts".

Co-Race director Ben Deutschle, from Columbus Ohio, says the event's motto ""Think Global, Run Local", best describes that goal of the race. "We run in our own home towns all over the world, but are aware that at the very same time we have friends who are out there running with us" said Deutschle, "Runners aren't limited by geographical or cultural differences...we celebrate what makes us unique and share this common passion for running".

Further information about the First Annual Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon can be found at www.worldwidehalf.com

Currently Listening To These Podcasts

Besides the entertaining and informative Phedippidations podcast, I've been a fan of Endurance Planet for an equally long time. Though This site deals primarily with triathlons, there are segments devoted to running and books, a combination that I really dig! If you're new to Endurance Planet, there's an episode that I fully recommend you start with. You can right click on the logo below and select "Save Target As" to download the MP3 program.



There's another new running podcast on the scene called The Extra Mile Podcast. Set up primarily to compliment the Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon, this neat cast features the stories of runners as they train for the Worldwide Half. If you're one of them, you may want to contribute a 2-minute audio to these guys for their next show. To get to the podcasts, just click on the banner below. And if you haven't registered for the Worldwide Half, perhaps you'd want to do so and join hundreds of runners all over the world. So far, Ronnie, Choi, Chin and another runner in Sarawak have also registered. Registration is free!

Where To Go From Here?

Following the failure in Penang last Sunday, my next marathon will only be next March's KL Marathon. Going with a 4-month training program will mean starting my training in November. Between now and then - 4 months - what am I to do? Needing to keep up the motivation, I've registered for the August 12th PJ Half Marathon. I'm not a fan of this race since it's run on less than conducive route where the road works never seem to end. That means we runners will have to contend with traffic and dust throughout the race. But having come very close, to close to a medalling position last year, I thought it's good to just run this for some speedwork. I'm certainly not concerned whether I improve 1 position to a medal (yes I was that close!) or not. The other speedwork would be Der_Pacemakers Anniversary Run and the Worldwide Half Marathon. All that should hopefully provide me with some diversions during these 4 months.

The 2nd Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon

Welcome to the only global running event (I think) where everyone's invited. There's the 21K and 5K categories. Registrations are free, so keep your calendars free! Registration begins June 1st! Meanwhile check out the website at www.worldwidehalf.com. I shall also be releasing more info and try to coordinate a group here in KL.