Malakoff Merdeka Penang 26KM, 2008

Date:10 August
Start Time:5.30am
Venue:Taman Perbandaran Penang
Closing date:30 July or 1500 participants
Entry fee:RM 40(Public),RM 30(Pacesetter member )

Entry form: here

Source:
http://pmtey.multiply.com/journal/item/187/
2008_Malakoff_Merdeka_Penang_26km_

Raising Club Funds

We have come up with some T designs (sample on the left) with the intention of raising our club coffers, however I am not so sure if we can succeed with this scheme.
What we are looking at are:
• Other than T-shirt printing/selling, what other methods we can employ
• If T-shirt is the simplest route, how to make it profitable
• Do you know of any philanthropic individuals who would be generous enough to advertise his deeds on our T

Would you like to give suggestions or volunteer to help our club raising its coffers?

Note to Eddie: Pls help to print out the graphics displayed here.

Run-up to Round-Island-Relay '08

We will be conducting tune-up runs culminating towards the Round-Island Relay which is usually held in early December. The tune-up runs would be held on the first Friday of every even-numbers month, where possible.

For those of you who are new to this event, this is an annual do organized by the PAAA. It covers the entire circuit around Penang island; starting from the Esplanade and ends there. Circuit distance based on my guestimate is about 72km, but I need to confirm this with the officials. Each team (only men, in case you wonder why; well there are isolated spots where runners waiting their turns, would be deemed unsafe for women runners) comprises of 12 runners and each of them would cover an average of 6km or so. The blast-off time is 6am and the top teams would be completing the run by 11.30am or so. BDRC's men-senior (Forward Sports Club, in reality) which has always competed for the top 3 finishers, would have completed the circuit by an additional hour after the first arrival.

This year our target is to send two teams for the run - senior and open categories. We have never (really) competed in the open category even though a few years back we did send a mixture of such due to lack of runners, so this year we are gearing ourselves to mount a credible challenge to some of the better teams in the competition. Out of our league are the top 3 finishers, which they have recruited among themselves some of the fastest runners in the country. Nevertheless we would like to see how we measure up against some of the exciting teams in the competition, namely O2-Hikers, BM Leopard, Brooks Runners, Old & Young, and the likes. That explains why we are in early prep work right now due to lack of credible runners (capable of 25min or less over 6km), to start recruiting talents - island wide.

Come this June 6th, we will be conducting time trials based on the circuit mapped here. We will be doing 9 laps (each lap's distance is approximately 800m), and we invite everyone to give it a shot here - not just BDRC members but friends of us or anyone giving it a shot to be part of a fairly fast team, or just to size up. These trials will be conducted at every two months interval, and intensified towards the meet.

Note 1:
We hope some of our younger runners like MHNiam, Hafiz, Calvin pick up pace soon, as we need more good runners in the open category. We would like to see you coming for our trials.

Note 2 - running routes:
Some of the routes covered are strenuous, like the uphill terrain of No.7, and the latter routes which the merciless tropical sun will be beating down on you real hard (No.10 onwards). Some are real cool to run, like the No.5, with its flat and green-lungs terrain. And then, there is one super short distance (less than 4km) but fairly uphill - the No.3. No.8 and 9, have some very fast rolling terrain, for which you have to be very careful with your knees.
From No.10 onwards, you need to keep yourself hydrated and drenched - especially if it shines brightly. Coupled with the dry northwind blowing at this time of the year, one can get hallucinated in the midst, and hopefully you don't get yourself into an lsd-induced trance by then...lol (there have been mishaps of runners collapsing due to heat exhaustion).

As an added incentive one gets to see some parts of the island which in isolation during the early hours can be awe-inspiring - like seeing the lone eagle up there soaring amid the breathtaking background of rolling hills and big open sky (you don't have tall monoliths there - welcome to majestic nature, unmatched by any man-made structures, no matter how eloquent the artist/visualizer would want you to believe).

Interested? Come join us this June 6th for the trials, or you can contact me (JC) if you have further questions. If you do not belong to any running clubs but would like to have a feel of the event and you think you can fulfill our aspirations, and friendly to boot, do not hesitate to show up. If you are not our club members, please leave your contact-info here.

1st Tune-Up Run
Date: Fri, June 6th, 2008
Time: 6.30pm
Place: Jln Thomas, Tmn Bkt Dumbar Circuit (behind Bkt Dumbar)
Contact: teohjc at gmail dot com
*Ladies are invited too

p/s.
This coming Sunday, May 11th, a 4.5km PKR-sponsored run will be held at the Esplanade. We have registered most of the BDRC members. Do show up by 7.00am, if you wanna have some early morning fun.