Jumaat, 24 April 2026

Glamping @ Wetland Putrajaya

 Aku rasa trip ni antara yang paling “hidup” setakat ni. Bukan sebab semuanya perfect, tapi sebab dia datang sekali dengan hujan lebat, anak-anak yang over-excited, dan momen kecil yang jadi besar tanpa kita plan pun.

Kami pergi 18–19 April, short getaway je, 2 hari 1 malam. Lineup standard keluarga kecil kami — aku dengan pasangan, plus tiga orang anak umur 7, 5, dan si kecil yang baru nak masuk setahun. Ini first time diorang rasa glamping, jadi dari dalam kereta lagi dah boleh nampak excitement tu. Yang sulung dah tanya macam-macam, yang tengah ikut je, yang kecil… dia happy je asalkan ada orang.

Tapi sampai-sampai je, macam kena prank sikit. Hujan lebat gila. Bukan jenis hujan yang romantik tu, tapi yang buat kau duduk diam dalam kereta sambil tengok wiper kerja overtime. Kami memang tak boleh turun terus, jadi tunggu dalam kereta agak lama. Dengan anak-anak yang dah tak sabar, memang rasa macam mini survival test. Tapi dalam masa sama, entah kenapa benda tu jadi kelakar pulak bila ingat balik.

Parking pun agak limited, ramai yang park tepi jalan je. So memang kena ada sikit kesabaran masa mula-mula sampai tu. Tapi once hujan reda dan kami boleh check-in, terus rasa macam okay… adventure dah start.

Kami ambil tent jenis quadruple, dapat dua queen bed. Dalam tent tu sebenarnya quite complete — ada aircond, dua kipas, plug semua cukup. Petang lepas hujan memang best, sejuk je, memang rasa cozy. Malam pun sedap tidur. Tapi bila masuk tengahari esoknya, panas tu tetap terasa walaupun aircond dah on. So kena faham la, ini masih tent, bukan bilik hotel. Dia ada limit dia.

Toilet, shower, surau semua ada, tapi bukan betul-betul sebelah. Dalam 50 ke 100 meter jugak dari tent kami. Taklah jauh sangat, tapi cukup untuk buat kau fikir “nak pergi sekarang ke nanti” especially waktu malam. Tapi okay je, masih manageable.

Environment dia memang nature betul. Bukan jenis cantik tapi steril. Ada semut, ada monyet, ada siput babi. Maksudnya kau memang share space dengan alam, bukan sekadar tengok dari jauh. Personally aku okay je, tapi kalau jenis yang expect clean gila macam hotel, mungkin kena adjust expectation sikit.

Kalau nak cakap pasal highlight, memang anak-anak punya dunia kat sini. Ada swimming pool khas untuk budak, flying fox, basikal sewa, playground, trampoline, archery. Malam pulak ada campfire dengan fire show. Diorang memang tak duduk diam. Yang paling win mestilah swimming pool, itu memang repeat banyak kali. Dari pagi sampai petang, kalau boleh nak duduk situ je.

Moment yang paling melekat untuk aku, kami sambut birthday pertama anak bongsu kat situ. Tak ada decoration besar, tak ada setup fancy pun. Just simple celebration je. Tapi suasana tu… dengan lampu-lampu malap, bunyi orang borak jauh-jauh, bau asap campfire… dia jadi satu moment yang rasa tenang. Jenis yang kau tak plan pun nak jadi special, tapi bila jadi, kau tahu ini akan stay lama dalam ingatan.

Ada satu lagi moment yang agak cinematic sikit. Pukul 3 pagi, bini aku nak pergi toilet. Dengan keadaan gelap, kawasan hutan sikit-sikit tu, memang rasa macam masuk scene cerita seram. Dalam kepala dah macam-macam. Tapi bila keluar je dari tent, rupanya laluan ke toilet tu agak terang. Lampu ada sepanjang jalan. Jadi yang “horror” tu lebih kepada dalam kepala je. Jalan sama-sama, sejuk-sejuk pagi tu, sunyi sikit… last-last jadi moment yang kelakar pulak bila ingat balik.

Bab makan pun senang. Semua dah included — hi-tea, dinner, breakfast, lunch. Dinner siap ada kambing dengan ayam bakar, memang sedap makan masa lapar lepas seharian jalan sana sini. Cuma satu benda yang kami tak tahu awal-awal — tak boleh makan dalam tent. Kena makan dekat area luar. Mula-mula rasa macam leceh sikit, tapi lama-lama okay je, lagi masuk dengan vibe camping tu.

Harga aku ingat dalam RM400 lebih macam tu. Untuk aku, memang berbaloi. Sebab kau bukan bayar untuk tempat tidur je, tapi experience sekali. Aktiviti ada, makanan ada, dan paling penting, masa dengan family tu.

Of course ada benda yang boleh improve. Parking limited, tengahari agak panas, toilet tak dekat sangat, dan ada haiwan kecil yang mungkin tak semua orang selesa. Tapi semua tu manageable kalau kau datang dengan expectation yang betul.

Kalau tanya aku nak repeat lagi tak… aku rasa ya. Bukan sebab dia perfect, tapi sebab dia real. Ada hujan, ada penat, ada chaos sikit, tapi ada gelak, ada moment yang kita tak boleh beli.

Kadang-kadang, trip yang paling kita ingat bukan yang paling selesa. Tapi yang ada cerita. Dan trip ni… memang penuh cerita.

Rabu, 22 Oktober 2025

I Hate Running — But Here’s How I Ended Up Finishing a KLSCM 2025 Full Marathon Anyway

I HATE RUNNING

I really do.

Ever since I started lifting weights and putting on muscle, running became my least favorite thing. The heavier I got, the harder it was to carry myself through even a 3 km jog. I’d be out of breath, hating every step — but still forcing myself to run just to tick that “weekly cardio” box.

And honestly? I’d skip it any chance I got, even with the weakest excuses.


2020: When MCO Left Me No Choice

During the MCO in 2020, gyms were closed and I had no access to weights. The only way to stay fit was by running and doing some bodyweight exercises.

That’s when my reluctant relationship with running began. It wasn’t passion — it was survival.


The Turning Point: Hazim

Before the pandemic, my friend Hazim left the company — back then he was on the heavier side. A few years later, after MCO, he rejoined… but this time, he looked completely different. Lean. Fit. Confident.

He told me he’d been running marathons.

At that moment, something clicked. I wasn’t jealous — but I was challenged. I thought to myself, If Hazim can do it, I can too.

I wanted to run a marathon. At least once in my lifetime.


The Goal: KLSCM

Among all the races in Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) stood out — it’s the most iconic one. Many of my friends and colleagues ran it every year.

Back in 2021, I told myself:

“One day, I’ll run the KLSCM Full Marathon — all 42 kilometers of it.”

The goal was set. Now I just needed to earn it.


The Journey

It started with small steps — literally.
My first event was Coway Run 2022, then a few more fun runs (5K and 10K) here and there.

In 2023, I ran my first Half Marathon (21 km) at Score Run. Then another. And another. By the time 2024 came around, I had already completed four half marathons — and could run 20 km solo without thinking twice.

That’s when I knew: it was time to go for the full 42.


2025: The Year of the Full Marathon

At the start of 2025, I made a promise —

“This is the year I’ll run a Full Marathon.”

My first one was Score Marathon 2025 (July) — my debut full marathon (you can read about it here).

Then came KLSCM 2025, my second full marathon, on October 5th.


KLSCM 2025: The Experience

Preparation started about two weeks before the race — tapering runs, gear checks, carb loading (thanks to Hazim for all the tips). On race day, I woke up at 1 a.m. for a light meal and sodium load.

To avoid traffic and road closures, I parked at Bukit Aman, about 2 km from the starting line.

By 3:30 a.m., the gun went off.
My strategy was simple: keep an easy pace (around 7:00–7:50 min/km), stay close to the sub-5:30 or sub-6:00 pacers, take a gel every 5 km, and sodium shots at KM20 and KM30.

Everything went well until KM20. Then came AKLEH highway — the elevation was brutal. I saw runners cramping, throwing up, even fainting. Soon after, cramps started creeping into my quads and calves.

Still, I held on. Pace dropped slightly to around 7:30–8:10, but the atmosphere was electric.

KLSCM has a vibe like no other. Running through the heart of Kuala Lumpur, passing the nightlife, then into the quiet highways — it’s surreal. You get to see the city skyline slowly lighting up, something you’ll never notice from a car.

And the crowd — absolutely crazy.
Buskers, cendol stalls, people handing out candies and chocolates, runners in costumes, funny placards — the entire route was alive.

By KM30, my legs were screaming, at this point I just walk-jog only. By KM38, I was done. My legs wouldn’t listen, even walking is painful. That’s when I told myself:

“Think of a happy place. Forget the pain.”

So I imagined walking in a park — calm, breezy, no pressure. Step by step, I moved forward. Before I knew it, I saw the crowd growing louder near the finish line.

That final kilometer was pure adrenaline. I pushed whatever energy I had left and clocked my second full marathon at sub 5:47.

I was proud — exhausted, blistered, but proud.

I took photos, sent updates to friends and family… then realized my car was still 5 km away. No Grab, no cheering crowd. Just me and the walk of pain. One last silent victory lap. 




The Grind Behind the Finish Line

Training for a marathon isn’t glamorous.
With work, a newborn on the way, and family responsibilities, I had to squeeze every run I could:

  • Wake up at 4–5 a.m. for long runs.

  • Run after 10 p.m. once the kids were asleep.

  • Sometimes sneak in a quick 5 km before or after lunch.

Knee, ankle, and joint pain? Normal.
Blisters, lost toenails? Part of the deal.

But every grind, every small struggle, taught me something new — about patience, discipline, and resilience.


My Training Routine

I usually run 3–5 times a week, covering about 40 km per week.

  • 2 × Easy runs

  • 1 × Long run

  • Add intervals/speed work if I can fit 5 sessions

When I only run three days a week, I do strength training (PPL split) on alternate days.
If I’m running more, I squeeze in 15-minute strength workouts whenever I can — just enough to maintain muscle and stability.


So, Do I Still Hate Running?

Yes. I still do.

But I’ve learned to love what it gives me: peace of mind, discipline, and a sense of achievement that no other workout can offer.

Running humbles you.
It breaks you down — then rebuilds you stronger.

And maybe that’s why, deep down…
I’ll keep running. (maybe no more full marathon)

Ahad, 20 Julai 2025

Score Marathon 2025 - My debut full marathon story

 

This year, I set my New Year’s resolution to run my first ever full marathon (42km). So when registration opened for the Score Marathon, I signed up straight away—even though I knew a newborn was on the way, my project at work was reaching a hectic point, and I probably wouldn’t have time for proper training.

Before this, the farthest I’d ever run was a half marathon (21km), which I’d done a couple of times. I knew a full marathon would be a totally different ball game.

Still, I kept training, squeezing in whatever mileage I could—even though I knew it wasn’t enough. Early on, I was targeting a sub-5-hour finish, but looking at how training was going, I lowered my expectations to somewhere between sub-5 and 6 hours.

As race day approached, I started regretting my decision to sign up for this madness. I even considered selling my bib. But with the support and encouragement from my family and friends, I kept going.


So here’s how the run went:

KM0 to KM24 – I managed to maintain a pace of 6:30 to 7:30, even through the brutal rolling hills of Putrajaya.

KM24 to KM30 – My pace slowed down. The cramps were catching up, but I kept going (sometimes just walking).

KM30 to KM39 – I could only walk. I couldn’t feel my feet, and pain was everywhere. Every step felt like stepping on sharp glass. I emptied my mind, tried not to think about the pain, and distracted myself by thinking of my happy place.

KM39 to KM42 – I met the sub-6 pacer. So I just followed them and dragged myself to the finish line.

I completed the run ngam-ngam under 6 hours—official chip time was 6 hours 3 minutes. Strava recorded a moving time of 5 hours 49 minutes (excluding stops for solat, applying Counterpain at water stations, checking if there were rocks in my shoes—there weren’t, it just felt like it).


Thank you all for the support and encouragement, and congratulations to all runners. Next up: KLSCM Full Marathon.

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