Happy New Year 2012! and Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Happy New Year 2012! The year started with a bang and like the bullets fly, time went past in a blink. It was chaos, work was so cramped into the short span of the few weeks before Chinese New Year. The tempers and flare-ups so rampant and often that taking time off is a good idea. There were also the pressure from 'Home & Financial Minister' about financial status, 'incoming windfall', 'extra hidden interests' and sorts. It was tight! The sheer pressure piled up even more just before the Chinese New Year. Situation was bad when pressures from both sides were mounting to pinnacles.

Anyway, was down with a bad and wicked cough since Wednesday, trying me best to keep 'afloat'. The manageable runs were as follows:

23/01/12: HHH, Desa Aman Puri

Chinese New Year – 1^st day, nothing to block me from going for run! The morning and afternoon were filled with eating lots of food but the regrets would be later during the run! There wasn’t a large crowd, some less than 40 guys that started the run. I was 5mins late, the start of the run was a steep climb near the roundabout. OnSec was seen bending over, leaning on a tree and ‘talking’ to the ground. I kept on while Doc came from behind to greet us, the climb ended after reaching a path. The path running was good and took us round the hill to see even more hills. The checks must have been very easy as the runners were not even heard! I managed to catch up with the back pack and past them after running downhill through the sapling farm. The cross over the open area, climbing over a short hill and down, got us to the offtracks heading towards the kampung behind the Hospital Sg Buloh. A check near the kampung, enable me to catch up with the front pack; that was broken with some confusing papers. We finally got on the trail behind a house that went uphill, it wasn’t steep but a long gradient climb on the cooling paths. These trails were laden with friendly, blood thirsty, leeches! I stopped twice to pull out some 20 of them!

The uphill seemed endless until we made a right turn up on a clear trail that we headed towards the water pipe trails. We continued on climbing till the top of the trail and down. Another check kept the runners busy, it was broken on the Pacat Trail. It was then all the way downhill again till we got to the sapling farm again but on the other side. We ran on home trail through the usual trails through the back hills of the school. It was a 10km run that the runner took 1hr46mins while I was lagging some 7mins behind. Fantastic sweat with a fair amount of leech bites. Itchy nights coming!

09/01/12: HHH, Taman Agrotek Batu14 Hulu Langat

Ahhh!! It was another area known for its hills and one can expect a good run. The run started with heading towards a small climb that only OnSec was the only one there! The guys were laughing their heads off seeing OnSec’s expressions on finding the first check that was visible standing on the tarmac. The check was broken by none other than the sober Gila climbing the really steep offtracks. We were the first few but there were Cushion and Kecik in front of us! It seemed that Kecik complained of the slope to be somewhat more or less of a 45°. It really was and I could say of even a little more than 50! The climb took some time to conquer and after a left side trail took us into some thick bushes for a downhill run. We soon find ourselves in the usual rubber estate terrains. The hare took us round the hills on the slopes up and down, looping from one hill to another. We knew it was to be nearing the last leg of the run when we climbed the bushy uphill trail towards the bamboo jungle. There was honking from behind and we thought it was the Sumo but at last we saw the co-hare doing another round of the run! He was not having enough sweat and ran the trail again to get some! We got to the used-to-be a bamboo jungle, the sight of the heavy machineries’ trails told us the whole story. The bamboo jungle was left with only small patches here and there. We got to the top of the bulldozed hill to see the rest of the developing sites. The 2km downhill and the tarmac run concluded the 7.5km run with a less fitter me in 1hr26mins.

03/01/12: CH4, Sungai Jelok

The invites to this run were too overwhelming, I was not to escape, I was not to give any excuse and in which if I failed to turn up would cost a good friendship! Though the run was only 3.5km long, it was set on the few steep climbs that gave us some great moments! It was really straight forward on the sloping paths towards the northeast, a steep downhill towards the orchards and then the long and steep uphill through the chilli plants. From the top, it was only downhills that brought us through the rubber estates and past the durian orchard and towards the skoping paths for the home trail run. Nothing much could be said thereafter we finished the run, the CH4 ran its course of the circle and dinner! A night filled with laughs, beers and more food!

02/01/12: HHH, Broga

I was not as fit as the previous day as the previous night’s drinking was heavy, where the Joint Masters were very generous! I think I gained somewhat 2kg from last sitting!

Ah! Broga! Land with hills! We drove towards the back of the temple and parked in the open area. The sun was in full force, the earth was baked and the guys were cowering in every shade they could find. The New Year resolutions were sensed but I doubt there were many. They guys were brimming with smiles to greet everyone they meet. There were guys from Guam which they nearly bought off everything from hasherdaberry, even the clothes on that skinny guy.

The run started with OnSec got to the first check where some smart-alecs were speculating where the hare trail would lead the pack before reaching that first. OnSec was smart enough to stay on paper and broke the check with few other guys. It was on the trail beginning towards the dreaded long climb! Doc was yapping about escaping ‘home nags’ and feel rather better to stay on a torturing trail instead! I do agree at times when husbands were taken for granted. That’s real torture!

The climb was long and we anticipated more ‘good ones’ ahead. Almost everyone was gasping for air, the tree canopies did shaded us from the sun but the heat radiated through, it was very humid. The climb continued on towards the east and inclined steeper. There was a check that didn’t even seemed like one as the runners just kept on forward. We finally reached the ‘highway’ and it was downhill all the way with a nice running trails but we had to keep an eye on the short stumps. We ran past the vast orchards, few Orang Asli kampungs, the few really huge chicken farms and more orchards before the even longer tarmac run through the rubber estates. The weather was not that easy to cope, the sun was setting but not the heat. Exhausted both in mind and body, a good welcome was a bottle of chilled beer! The 8.5km torture that I used 1hr46mins was well worth in terms of beer value!

01/01/12: HHH, Bukit Subang

It was a hot and sunny day as I was caught up with work that my ride nearly left without me. We managed to reach the run site with ample time to mingle around and exchanging New Year wishes. We had the some ‘long lost’ members showing up as well especially those that flew in from Spain, Canada, US, Thailand, Korea and those that drove from Singapore! It was good to see those guys and it seemed that they too really missed Mother!

The run started with some warm up walk behind OnSec towards the temple and themto the right into the OP for the first check. The check was tricky and had the whole pack running in all directions to break the check that was finally found on the opposite hill slopes. It was a clockwise run through some familiar places through the young OP behind the water reservoir, the OP/Jungle side hills towards the south, the southwest OP, the plain ‘plains’ before the long home trail run to come out from near the first check. It was about a 9km run where my unfit and gained on weight body managed a 1hr 38mins.

Hashing in December 2011!

It was a busy time, real work finally started after taking over the site. It was and is going to be a busy year ahead. What's more timely? Whichever comes first on my free time will become the priority then. So, it would be a mixed, jumbled-up and should be made an enjoyable or as pleasant as possible!

December 2011 was a busy month but I managed these:

26/12/11: HHH, Tiara Melawati

A 12km run that was filled with scenic views, fantastic climbs, good running trails and an appropriate length but the checks were a bit too easy. The pack seemed to like it as the run length was enough to satisfy the ‘running itch’! The weather was fantastically windy but at some point a bit warm.

At the beginning of the run, it was all climbs – one after the other till the top most offtracks. It was then a downhill hill run and a check or two was thrown in to confuse the runners. A right fork path had most of the guys running downhill to the river that was so ever familiar. A foreign worker’s hut by the creek with the owner pointing to the direction where we should run rather than stomping his front yard! It was another winding uphill with lots of good size rattans crawling all over the paths. The jungle was not pillaged for fortune and nicely intact.

I was steady with my new pair of ‘drinking vessel’ and doing good time, slightly behind the runners. Another loop round the hill got us crossing another path of a water body, yet many did not realize it was part of the Klang Gates Dam! Hills upon hills, we were cooled by the cool strong breeze; the climbs were so refreshing instead of tiring! We had another view of the dam before a right turn down another familiar trail with lots of bamboo trees. Stooping and bending down to avoid the pointy bamboo while running was no fun for the not vertically challenged body but us Asians were just fine! A good laugh while running did some good to take some tiredness away!

It seemed that the hare was about to make the run longer by running round the dam but another right turn proved he still had his head just below the airy line. Though that was the case, the home direction was still quite thrown off. We ran on the jungle paths that took us out into the open area that looked like a ranch, downhill run ended when we reached the picnic area that was filled with children’s joyous noises. Some already had the idea of where we were and was expecting a last stretch torture trail.  A hair pin turn uphill on the tarmac got us running past a few local guys burning loads of coconut husks and shells while some of a large conglomerate’s cows were grazing without a care. We came to the end of the tarmac and into a small rubber holding, climbing it was not what it seems – a hidden steep slope had a few of us drooling! The climb took some time and we got to the offtracks where we started the run at the top of the first climb after the first check. It was then a speedy downhill run for less than 2km to reach the parking - that was ‘clouded’ by the dust from the crusher run road.

25/12/11: SH4, Villaraya Industrial Park

It was a short, less than 4km run but with a few climbs.  Some considered, even me, did not have the chance to leg stretch to the fullest! Some considered it to be a good one as they have had a chance to finish a run without suffering too much! Overall, there was a good cheery crowd ready to be merry on this Christmas day. The night was spent drinking and horsing around. I got a new pair of shoes and was my drinking vessel later in the circle!

16/12/2011: DTH3, Sungai Jelok

12/12/11: HHH, Ulu Yam Bundoora Estate

Late again! Me car was not at home when I was early and luckily I could hitch a ride with Peter Giant. We left around 4:10 and arrived at the run site at 6:30! I was not very comfortable to have a beer without a sweat at the run site, so I opted to go chase the pack. The trail paper was thought to be at the OP but not! I was running around to spot one but failed. With the never giving up spirit, I got back to the parking and the hare and co-hare were laying the last bit of the run and they pointed to the InTrail that was on the right. I was alone and was crazy enough to get in deeper into the trail, it was then 6:45. The connected checks were confusing as papers leading to checks, falsies, back check and a circular check was not picked up! The figuring out where the trail was going was not easy if you are alone! I soon met Plasticman and MMoi turning back on paper. It was a hilly climbing trail and towards the usual running site by the river picnic area. After reaching the OP hill top and it was about 7, I heard the honker in the opposite far side of the valley. Realising it was not wise to pursue the trail further, I decided to get on the down hill offtracks to run with all my might. I then met DKhoo, San and Fong Wan deciphering the paper trail! They hit paper on both sides and was asking which was was the home trail. DKhoo was quick to conclude that the right way was right while I went left to try meet the front pack. I got to the bottom by the river that I met Super Oldman and Ah Meng. It was there that I turned back and headed on back up the hill and home trailed on the last bit to conclude my 5km run! It was 2km shorter than the whole run but I was back safely!

11/12/11: SH4, Broga

We arrived late; YM was still having trouble with her knee joints and backaches. I was a few kilograms heavier than the previous month! I wasn’t the last to chase the pack as Big Mouth Monkey was late too. Definitely he was much faster and soon he disappeared from sight. The run started with on tarmac heading towards the back of the temple. A kilometer or two we were led towards the rubber estate towards the back after the famous fish BBQ restaturant on the left. We went past some foreign workers’ settlement that was very well kept and nicely ‘decorated’ with some stupa like structures. Yes, there were friendly greets and the facial expressions to state our craziness!

The hill climb started after that and, boy, that was steep! The last sweeper’s honking was nearer and nearer, soon enough there was the last pack struggling on the steep climb. I was huffing and puffing too, the extra weight provedto be something not to mess with! Got to shave some off!

The climb was long and continued after one another stacked on hills! We soon saw what was like the top and the noises made by the dirt bikes, had us thinking the climb was soon to be conquered. It was the otherwise, a right turn and cutting cross the steep slopes had the pack on the climb again. It was on the back hills of the ‘highway’. We soon had the task of the long steep climb that generated a lot of sweat. Soon enough, the ‘highway’ was in sight and the home trail was through the usual areas past the dirt bike course and some rubber estate. It wasn’t a long run but it sure beat the hell out of the fat me!

5/12/11: HHH, Bukit Lagong

We were in time with ample parking as many guys were yet to be there. The weather was kind and it didn’t rain till that time compared to the previous day’s heavy down pour.

The run started with a warm up walk trailing the JM on the tarmac heading to the village. The first check was on the right, by the fence after a ‘short wall’ climb. Easily enough the check was broken with a back check and going up the offtrack steep. The climb was quite taxing in the late afternoon heat and many were panting like mad, tongues were wagging. The keep right trail after reaching the high tension pylon continued on but the runners were turning back in confidence of a back check. True enough, it was and it was on the left going down hill on an old forgotten path. It was towards the orchards and another check was there. It took quite some time to break and finally the SCBs got it right! We were heading deeper inside and the packs were lining up after reaching a clearcut area that was recently carried out. The tree trunks and branches were everywhere and it was a like an obstacle course. Up and down, we were trudging on the fringes of the jungle and finally into the jungle following the flowing creeks. There was Arthur Hoi slowly scooting from one high point to another, avoiding wetting his shoes! Barry wasn’t patient and so was the line that he held up! It was an uphill and rock to rock, we reached the hill top with a slippery and taxing climb. The front pack was heard checking and just before we reached them, it was broken. The runners were quick to disappear on a long down hill path till a pump house. The run was that short as exclaimed by many and a less than 2km tarmac run got us back. The FROP was in at 7:07 while the last came back almost 9pm! Who else? Anddrew!

Marvelous Week

28/11/11: HHH, Genting Highlands

By the knowledge of a holiday on a Monday, the hare must have been quite adventurous to have the run in Genting Highlands. Not that it was on the lower part nor some where halfway towards the country’s only inland casino, it was near the Mushroom Farm – a piece of land on the already crowded mountain top. The day was misty, real thick fog-like! The parking was a fantastic site. We reached the run site to see the only few that had arrived early while the hare’s and co-hare’s cars were neatly parked in a row. The cold immediately came biting just after we got out of the car! The wind blew and laughs were abundant when seeing most of the guys ran to find warmers, some got their jackets on while some got creative to use huge rubbish bags to cut out like a poncho (guest KorWong and Yap Fu Hoi), some even resort to wear a shower cap to keep dry (guest SK Tham)!

OnSec was yet to be able to run after the minor surgery to remove some lazy veins and had JointMaster Jeffrey to lead the pack on tarmac downhill road. Briefly stuck with the first check after the false check call, the pack broke the check quite easily with what looked like an abandoned road project. With more runners due to the cold, we could see more of the usual back pack guys up front! We then continued on downhill for another kilometer to get on the 2^nd check, it was tricky but was broken by the guys who did a Thursday’s run here. The steep and slippery ‘wall’ climb had the pack lining up to take turns and the few clumsy ones especially Anddrew got Opera real impatient. Someone did yell about yanking them down rather than holding the line up!

The climb up part of the mountain was not easy as the air was thinner; it was a short climb and back onto the abandoned road project. By now the rain had stopped and the view down towards the lower land was fantastic! There were ‘flowing clouds’ through the rows and rows of hills and mountains. That scene sure get one less tired but the run has yet to get into! Further climbing a little bit more, opened up to an open space blasted for a road project – the project was on and extensive stage when it was stopped as we could really see the shape taking place on the hard rock surfaces. There were plenty of plants around and there were the few guys who enjoyed the sea of beautiful wild orchids and oceans of ‘Monkey Cup’ (Nepenthes or Pitcher Plants). The terrain that we gone through were not all rocky but some wet and muddy side of Genting Highlands! By then, we have yet to reach the halfway point of the run! We got to see First World Plaza upclose but from the back! The climb back up was anticipated as it was quite near the run site but too soon though, barely 6:45pm!

The hare smelled something and took a right on the tarmac for a long gradient uphill and a right turn into the old broken road. A check was loosely connected and went along uphill by the slope concrete drainage. We got to another abandoned project! It seems that Genting Highlands is also peppered with abandoned items! Well, we got past it and it seems that we are the last pack as the usual ones must have turn left on the tarmac! Further climbing a little more had us going down a ‘wall’ with a makeshift ‘handrail’ to get down! It was getting darker and the fog was looming over where we were. We found ourselves at the gates of some telco towers, ran on the tarmac past a curious man in his hut waving at us; the paper trail went on and on on the road for a few kilometers. We met a group of foreign workers that their UMs were giggling away after we bumped into them - they mights have been frightened by the few crazy guys running in the dark in the fog at that time of the night! The steep downhill road led us to the main road that was the last leg of the run by going up and down the few slopes before we reached the run site about ten to 8.

The weather was cold! Cleaning up was no easy thing – quickly wet, shampoo and wash, sooner than to finish a long pee!

27/11/11: SH4, Venice Hills

It was a rainy Sunday. It was expected to be very slippery and the pre-run mini circle adviced those that could not make it should turn back. Furthermore, the impending heavy rain was there and ready to rip the skies. Anyways, it was a cool day to be enjoyed.

The usual InTrail through the old golf course trail, it was much more over grown with acasia trees saplings. The single file path was heading towards the new developed area and the ‘crawling’ pace going by the fences of that area. The first check was just after the fence into the jungle, there were the smart ones that went back check even upon me advice to look forward. Initially it was a small climb and then it ‘grew’ one after the other. The direction was heading towards ‘Ah Pak san’ and we were on some old trails that were not ‘touched’ for quite sometime. It was nice to see the untouched old jungle trees again. Well, the pinnacle of the run was this long and gradient climb; some were even heard complaining if there was no end to it. The top was a nice walk on the ridge after the taxing climb and soon we reached some familiar trails after a short climb through some old trails. The rest was ‘Ah Pak san’ trails, the downhills on the well trodden paths but it was sort of like deserted maybe because of the rain. It didn’t actually rained heavily but just drizzles. Soon, we got to the river rest area and what looked like the last climb was proven wrong. We got to the old ‘Ah Pak san’ parking by the housing areas and the last kilometer bit was on the main road and the hill. Overall,  a nice run with good sweating time with the hills.

26/11/11: 8^th Batang Nash Hash, Taman Rawang Perdana

It was a sunny day and 2 things to plan – attending Batang Nash Hash and charity dinner, both compulsory! Luckily enough both events were in Rawang and what was more interesting after I got to the latter event is that it was held in the same area as the hash event!

Well, I got me Mrs to my colleague’s house to get the ride to dinner event while I sped on to the run site. I managed to get myself to the run site but was a tad late. I saw the guys were cutting into the bushes after the road turn. The run site was not in sight yet and the concrete road leads uphill and continued on with offtrack till the top of the hill. A ‘roadblock’ manned by Tiger Lee and Puduku was to get registration fees and hand out tees and sarongs. Further uphill was the parking area before the hilltop event area. I hurriedly put on me shoes and sped on with Steven (Seremban Hazards) to catch up with the pack.

The climb was like going back up the hill that we just ran down! We caught up with the pack on the first check and the climb continued. I met Lauda huffing and puffing while Disco was the sweeper pointing on the trail. It was a long climb that ended with a walk on the offtrack near the top and the chance to chat a bit with Micheal Choy. A slippery down hill that was steep, it was made even more difficult with the deep footing and almost nothing to hold on to. The down hill sliding was adventurous. Another long climb waited and with that climb I managed to catch up to chat with few blokes from Jantan Jerantut and a little further uphill to chat with another few from Seremban Hazards with Choon Toy making the noisiest of the noises. The hilltop ridge run was good to wear off the tiredness, the cut across the thick fern bush was like scrapping off excess mud and soon enough another climb started. This time it was short and finally we started the downhill. The wet condition was surprisingly not infested with leeches! We went through the creeks between hills, following a creek downhill and passing another creek a few times but there wasn’t any! We finally got to hear some machinery noises from the quarry and thought we could smell the beers from where we stood. The trail was on the slope facing the quarry but the tree canopy blocked the view. We got to a slippery short climb to the narrow peak where it felt like the top of the world, with views of Rawang town clearly and crisp! The clearcut’s soft slopes was good traction for the steep descend and we got to the quarry after a steep 10ft slide down from the hill side! The lorries were traveling up and down the quarry while we shared the same road to get back. The home trail on this down hill and winding road was also shared with another run that started at 4:30 that was a stroll to some. The final few hundred meters were the uphill road towards the run site!

Better Weather

21/11/11: HHH, Taman Agrotek Batu 14 Hulu Langat

The pack anticipated a run on the right side from the road. The start of the run was on the left side with a steep offtrack road climb. There were some that hesitated and waited by the road thinking it would be a back check. The front pack was further uphill and found the first check, more getting down the hill thinking it would be waste of energy climbing forward. Further and steeper uphill, OnPaper was just there in plain sight. It was steeper at the last and we got to the top to hear the front pack met with another check. The steep down hill on the offtrack was sure enough to have the check broken and it did. It was another uphill climb there waiting for us after the creek crossing. One after the other, we were being put through 3 consecutive steep hill climbs and down. The rubber estate hill run was good turn around for the men to be able to run and the SCBs were seen doing their thing and got forward in a jiff. The last climb in the rubber estate brought the pack out to a clearcut slope overgrown with ferns. The runners were seen caught in a check and falsie on the tarmac at the bottom. The run on the tarmac had everyone thinking it was the long home trail but was proven wrong when the paper trail led everyone up a steep and slipper hill in the bushes. The climb brought us to a fresh clearcut hilltop with the view of the main road and the home trail less than 3km tarmac run. On the whole, the run was about 9km long with the runners in at 7:10pm while the last was before 8pm.

20/11/11: SH4, Bandar Teknologi Kajang

The heavy rain in the late afternoon didn’t deter most of the hardcores to show up for the run. The rain was just a test of will, it stopped quite some time ago when we got there. There were not many people around and the run started with about less than 50 people. The usual runners were not around, some were said to be touring the northern country.

Well, the run started with the usual walk past the factories, the cleared muddy construction land and the side of the OP estate. The first check confused some with a falsie, a right turn walking up the hill saw it was an easier check. Overall the trails were all so familiar - the hilly bushes, the rubber estate, the OP estate, the climb on the highest hill around, the cow farm, the hilly offtrack and back to the OP home trail.

The whole pack was back just before half past seven, all were safe on the less than 8km run.

Slippery, Dark, Good Laughs!

18/11/11: DTH3, Cheras Hatamas

It was another rainy day, also another run day. I got to the run site about 10mins late, saw a lot of cars but the beer wagon was not around. Duckula was the night’s caterer and was entrusted to guard the keys. Black Ass and Dipstick was late too. Black Ass was ready in a minute and sped off while Dipstick was taking his sweet time and was behind me to go on trail. It was about quarter past six and getting dark.

It started with a walk/run on the tarmac heading towards the flats and lake. We heard the pack was calling on a check ‘just’ on the first hilltop nearest to the flats. We finally got to the foothill and started our climb and still hearing the pack calling on the check. Well, 2 things in Bukit Hatamas – the hills are darn good climbs except that it’s too often running here and the other was ‘slippery when wet’. The climb was steep and the slippery top soil made it more difficult. We heard the OnCalls just as we got to the pack, a long back check. The downhill was steep and heading north to cross a river, followed with another climb that was more slippery. The condition was such that at this point, the tough gets going and the toughs could be funny people around you on such a day! There were laughs on those with funny postures while they avoid slipping and the difficulties to move forward.

Well, the rest of the trails were on the one and only steep trail on the north side up till the ‘Level 6’ as the sky was getting darker. The slippery condition sure drain up energy and luckily, the top was within reach. It grew dark too fast and I caught up with Menses who seemed ‘lost’. He was not good walking in the dark and ‘some assistance’ needed (but shy to ask-lah). I got my trusty torchlight, after recharging the batteries, to accompany us. Soon enough, we were at ‘Level 3’ and were joined by Fuck Off. Clumsily enough, we got back to the run site after the few slips and falls, slightly before eight.

Juiced Out!

14/11/11: HHH, Kampung Sungai Buaya

The drive was supposed to be pleasant if not for the ‘choose-a-wrong-time-for-road-resurfacing’ people did their thing just before Commonwealth Recreation Park. The traffic backed up for miles and that would have themselves being cursed that would last some aeon! Fortunately, the traffic was smooth after that. I got to the run site with just enough time to get ready.

The OnSec was on time to start the run with the sun setting and bright. The first check was near and broken easily by following a trail towards a shiggy and a small shack by a pond. The first climb was long and the second check just on a downhill trail, on the edge of an abandoned OP. That was broken with a back check but that downhill was slippery. The men were making fun and chit-chatting about some other than were so ever careful not to fall and injure something. The crossing of a shallow yeah-high river, followed with a hill climb headed northwest uphill brought the pack nearer to the dam. The skies started to turn, the strong wind brought along a friend – heavy rain! It rained hard, really hard.

The pack was in a the steep hill slopes one after the other, the downhill was like hopping from one tree to another below, the gang was pulling and holding on to dear-old twiggy like growth so as not to slip and fall. The front pack was heard calling aloud in unison to signal the check was broken on the felt-like northeast direction. Everyone was soldiering on in the heavy rain and it was already getting dark. I heard someone muttered that we were like in a war movie where the ‘specialists’ were moving in droves quietly and swiftly. Soon enough, we reached a river, and without even noticing if we were on paper or not, crossed it, climbed on to a fallen tree trunk and continued to climb the adjacent hill. Some guys noticed that we were not on paper and started a search and back tracked downhill to find the trail paper following the river! The OnCalls were relayed from time to time for others to follow. Everyone was in the river walking ever careful not to get caught in between rocks, holes or tree trunks. This continued on about a kilometer and we were able to catch up with the front pack, still trying to break a check! The surrounding hills were ‘conquered’, every river paths were steeped and not sure enough, they did every path again! It rained harder and the river began swelling, it was already dark and the men were in the river!

A decision was agreed to that everyone is to gather and turn back together. That was the time that I took out my torchlight, used it and its juice ran out! OK, that was still fine as we could see with others’ light on. Then, the whole pack also decided to use a mobile to contact the run site – I took out mine and batteries were dead too! No one else had a mobile phone; the GPSs were of no use as the few had not any satellite signal as well! There were jokes all around as to the modern amenities’ ablity when there’s no batteries and no signals! The pack turned back in the river and after a few hundred meters, one brought up his GPS and tried. Voila! Signal! The pack, in unison, yelled out to follow that darn good gadget! A slippery hill climb, making our own paths, some even threw fresh paper (for just in case) and whacking through the thorny bushes – in steady speed and a good cooperation among the men, got ourselves on to an offtrack. We could make out that it was an OP estate that was abandoned. The honkers were great – non stop to lead the others. Finally, we found trail papers and some small discussion to confirm that it was the home trail. Well, it wasn’t that easy, the GPS ‘shows’ 1.5km but the terrain would not be dictated that easily – we had a few more hill climbs, a trench crossing on a skimpily built bridge (one stepped and fell between the ribs, he was bleeding on both shins and slightly on the crotch!), the ‘wavy’ up and down fern bush trails, the rubber estate hills and finally some stretch in knee high bushes before getting onto the tarmac. Some fellas were offered a ride by some UMs in a ‘nice car’ and some few fellas came back the other way. The FROP was said to be back at 8:35pm and the last group was in at around 9:10pm. It would have been a fantastic and an incredible run if it didn't rain. Though it did, it was still a fantastic and incredible run but the hare was to do one again in 10 weeks!

13/11/11: SH4, Taman Agrotek Batu 14 Hulu Langat

The weather was the usual for monsoon – rain! Me Mrs has already decided to stay dry though the sunny morning seemed promising. Soon after noon, it turned in a blink of the eyes. The sudden violent wind and the dark skies, soon as fast as you could say “yalamalakazoo-kalagulumamoo” – it rained hard. We waited for no one and no time that we loaded up the car and sped towards the run site.

We reached the run site just after the heavy rain stopped but still drizzling. The people that showed up are the hardcores while some cited the morning’s half marathon event near the coast sapped-up their energy and spirit.

The run setters came into view at the top of the steep offtrack just before the run started and they had given away some clues as to where the pack would be running. The InTrail was on the right side of the tarmac heading towards the river and with some slightly slippery trail had the pack lined up to pass! Well, at least those made some talking time for the pack enjoy and joked. We soon came to the river side and got back on to the tarmac for the straight walk up the steel bridge and already the pack knows where it would go. The first check after the fern hill was tricky, the runners, were too confident that it would be forward, were stuck. A back check on a slippery downhill slope found by Sotong got the pack moving on a fast pace, though the slippery downhill. We got to the river and after crossing it, the big, slippery, steep, long and killer climb waited. Everyone had the same problem – difficult to find a firm footing! That was the only long climb that brought the pack to the top and the downhill was as slippery. It was the usual home trail on the offtrack with the steep slopes. A refreshing river crossing just before last few meters was good to get whatever dirty cleaned!

07/11/11: HHH, Tekali Industrial Park, Batu 14 Hulu Langat

The directions were clear as stated with Big Shirley's yummies along the way towards the 'nuclear installations'. The road was blocked from the other end so that no other cars could delay our arrival. Most of the 'agents' that were early have already geared up for action whereas the 'head-honcho' has already walking about ready to 'instruct'. However, there were some secretive going ons behind his 'special vehicle' - boot lifted up to reveal some special 'bulletproof vests' for the few who have yet to get them. The rest of the 'agents' arrived in good time as not to stir up suspicion among the locals on our 'congregation'. Though we are known to be 'specialists', some do forgot to pack the most essential - 'static free non-toxic radiation free but biologically hazardous' socks! Already, some 'agents' have 'neutralized' some of the surrounding radiated trees. A few 'special agents' from the States and Down Under were getting 'climatically atuned' by wearing some 'airy attire' while the other was 'airing' his butt beside Special Agent D-Shit's bollocks proof vehicle. A 'looked like an Indo' special agent was salivating around greeting the rest while one MI-6 was planning his 'action' to be short and nice.

The Run

The InTrail was a 'quite tight' with the men lining up to take turns under a tree - going up the sudden slippery steep. There were many poking around as the men were fully geared up and the close confined trail was really too tight. Laughs were heard too when there were the few that needed some good push. The following area was shiggy enough to moist the inside of our shoes whereas some did manage to stay dry for that time being. The first check was found slightly less than half a click and was broken in a jiff. The climb up the lime tree orchard was swift and conquered immediately with the second check on that hill was bulldozed through. The 'teams' were moving better, faster and smoother than SEAL Team 6 to get downhill to check out the freshly laid nose-full organic-plant-fatteners. The one house village was deserted when we passed through and the 'front lead points' were already on the top of the hill. The loop to the back got the 'teams' looking at some terrains to be conquered.There were a few more hill climbs mixed with some good but short running trails that brought us to the bushes that we encountered our last steep climb. The top was cleared of any trees and we could see the 'LZ' that was about 4 clicks away. The hilltop run was no hurdle and we could enjoy the 'bombed out' face of the hill to mine some kryptonite. The home trail was 3.5 clicks run, to sum up the 6.5 clicks run. The 'front leads' got back in an hour plus five. While the 'airy attired' US attache who managed to get some local assistance to locate the 'LZ', came back on a special 2 wheeled vehicle at 21-hundred-hours.

Still a rainy week

3/11/11 GAB Bar Visit hosted by BKH3

31/10/11: HHH, Selayang Baru Quarry

The afternoon cloudy at first and turned dark with cumulus nimbus floating around laden with loads of water. It was later that it rained real hard that some parts of KL were flooded and luckily the roads leading towards the run site was not backed up with traffic. The hash sign at the Lagong flyover junction must have been blown off to point the opposite direction! Fun Kok Siong nearly followed that and could have taken with him on a long detour. Edwin ended up in a housing estate after following the GPS, he obviously didn't read the newsletter throughout after punching in the coordinates.

The Run

We parked by the wide enough road with a refueling shed made useful as the guys were sheltered from the slight drizzling. OnSec was all over the run site sniffing out the InTrail. It was seconds before he called out that he saw Ah Hock, Lin Kam Cheong and Taufu Soo sniffing by the guard house!

The run started with a left turn at the guard house into some shiggy and onto a slippery trail. The queue had backed up till the guard house and Zurich was complaining while some Hokkien gnikcuf were uttered. Michael Lee was teaching the few youngsters on how to walk that walk on such terrain as the runner were calling on the first check. Opera was asked to go for a back check as he was pulling out his tiny Willie to wee before he shouted back stating he was checking his. Laughs broke out and some funny exchanges ensued. Boey Yew Fook and a few others went back to the road thinking there would be paper there. Finally, the check was broken on top of the hill. The hilly trail was difficult as it was much more slippery than the 'personal lubricant'. OnSec was seen 'waiting' for us half way up that hill and it looked like he was planning some thing already. We were led deeper into the slippery rubber estate and into another 2 checks before exiting into the west side of the quarry. We got a good view of the quarry and the city from the clearcuts. The runners were seen on the far north end on a new uphill tarmac after another check was called. Kojak was stating that he would be checking out the quarry and made some other plans while the rest just followed the call to run uphill on the tarmac. We reached a flat top at the end of that tarmac and to more clearcuts, the trail was leading us deeper into more jungles and bushes and it was about 7pm. Some had wondered off to face the home trail and ran while we were left following the trail with gradient offtrack climbs one after the other. OnCash was seen checking his GPS as the sky grew dark as we ran past him on the hilly bushes. The climb was almost endless and daylight was dimming, the honking was not heard as well. We finally reached a right turn off to go downhill on an old familiar trail beside a gaping divide that it has now 'grown' wider. The detour trail to avoid the deep fall was slippery and we almost lost the daylight totally. By the time we got to rock dump, it was dark and luckily some distant 'kongsi' lights shone us the paper trail. As we looked back, there were quite a number people at the back with their torchlights. Just before we reached the quarry road, we had to 'slide' on the 2 steep and grassy slopes. The last leg stretch was about 2km run back. FROP was 1hr13mins on 7km trail.

30/10/11: SH4, Villaraya Industrial Park

Me Mrs announced to me after visiting the Chinese medicine doctor that she had to stop running for a month to help the back injury heal faster. Well, I was sure if I was to get myself some good sweat or just laze around the house. The queen wanted some fresh air and her can’t-sit-still legs were itching.

The attendance was not the usual large crowd but a good 70-80 people with itchy legs as well. The usual parking, the usual InTrail (on the left, through the rubber estate), the usual climb and we ended up on the offtrack downhill as well. A check had the runners going down the hill while some smart fellas found the falsie and one smarter guy broke the check eventually near the falsie. We were on the over grown round the hill offtrack till we got to the high tension pylons for another check. The runners again went downhill to check! It was broken with a smartest runner continuing on that over grown offtrack. It was a long downhill and as expected, we climbed back up on the hill on the steepest side till we got to the rubber estate. Reaching the top was not as easy as it seemed and a left turn into more rubber and the last climb back up to the top for the final leg back. The final leg trails were winding left and right almost like the run setters’ lead was lost. The only hazard was the thorny-twines that were already grown every where. Voila! Finally, we were out in the open. The replanting activities seemed to have stopped as the weeds have almost taken over. The downhill was in a jiffy to end the 4.6km hilly trails that some considered a tough one as no one said anything about an easy run.

28/10/11: DTH3 AGM, Broga

It was sun shiny day! Parts of the world were flooded and we are very lucky! The dark clouds are nowhere to be seen and happily making my way towards Broga. The sunny side changed after turning into Jalan Broga, from afar I could see beautiful rainbows over Broga and that only means rain! The nearer I get the wind was lashing about the rubber trees and brought about some havoc scenes. It rained hard and I got rally soaked even just putting on me shoes.

DTH3 GM was on the dot and started the run with some hesitant crowd. But just then, it stopped! The trails were flooded and with water flowing from from somewhere to don’t know where. The usual walking past the well kept orchards, the guys from almost all Klang Valley’s Batang chapters also attended! It was indeed a large crowd, some what like a mini celebration run. While catching up with the pack, I managed to almost welcome every one of them.

The usuals were the trails and what looked like a climb heading towards the Big Brother was made into a falsie and the front pack spent some time breaking it. I was halfway up when the runners called out the falsie that I went back to the rubber tapper’s path junction that I broke it. It was more than 200m from the check and the back pack do managed to catch up. It wasn’t long after the 1km run back into the rubber estate with a slippery climb that we met the last check. The back pack found the paper that was another million miles away at the left side of the junction. We were caught way back and running past the back pack was not that easy as they took some ‘early’ lead. Good to kcuf up the runners on the really short run. We got back just 5 past 7.

The rest of the night was monumental, loads of food and drinks. The AGM started after the circle was called, the appointed SMC as the Erection Committee, immediately carried out the ‘erection’. The night went into more controlled chaos with more drinks; it lasted longer than the crowd!