A THIN LINE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

Life is separated only by a thin line with death. Thats how fragile life is. Each of us do have a choice - to live the life that we want or to live the life of others. But how often and how many of us truly live a life in its true sense?

When I first started running, I ran around the Kwantung cemetary in Old Airport Road where the Warisan Jogathon is being held every year. It all started because of the severe headache and the Australian doctor whom I met during my one term assignment with Club Med Cherating recommended that perhaps I should take up an exercise on a regular basis.

Since then, there is no looking back.

And in 2006, I was introduced to the Kuala Lumpur Association of Veteran Athletes. A year later, I was nominated as the Honorary Secretary for 2 terms. It was during this short time that I began running more regularly either running in road races or on the ground meeting members and suporting them.

It was in one of the Master's meet at Stadium MSN, Bukit Jalil that I met many other veteran athletes around Asia including Chin Ah Lan @ Jacinta.

Since then, she never failed to walk up to me and greet me at all road races and other veteran meets. In her 60s, she is still very active taking part in many road races. Tho running in slow pace, she is a very consistent runner. She is also a regular face volunteering in many road races organised by Pacesetter.

Last week, she had a fall and fainted at her home. A while later after recovering, she managed to call a friend to drive her to the clinic and immediately being referred to Hospital UKM, Cheras. She later slipped into coma.

Yesterday she was operated on and was warded at the ICU still in critical condition. This morning, she was transferred to the surgical ward but still unconcious.

I visited her this afternoon. There is a small tube attached into that tiny little hole on the right of her head to allow some kind of fluid flowing into a tiny pocket by the pillow and another tube on her neck. She is also on drip as her body temperature has been running high.

Doctor could not confirm anything now but her future to live her normal life could be bleak and uncertain. And there is medical bill to take care. I met her younger sister, Judith with her son at her bedside caring for her. The rest of the siblings live in other states.


Jacinta is now warded at
Hospital UKM
Jalan Yaacob Latif
Bandar Tun Razak
Kuala Lumpur
(Opposite Taman Tasik Permaisuri)

5th Floor, Ward 5E, Bed 24
(Chin Ah Lan)


For those who wish to contribute, you may bank in your contribution to :
(joint account)
Albin Aleinus / Chin Ah Yung @ Judith (hp no : 016-588 7011)

Banker : Malayan Banking Berhad
Acc No : 160193004740


No amount is too small to bring a ray of hope to human kind.

ADMIRAL 5A CHARITY RUN - T-SHIRT

SIEMEN RUN 2011

Date
10 July 2011

Venue
Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Start Time
7.30am

Download Entry Form HERE

SCKLM REACHES 10,000 ENTRIES

MORE THAN 16,500 RUNNERS HAVE REGISTERED FOR STANDARD CHARTERED KL MARATHON THIS YEAR

Normal registration period to end 15 May 2011


Kuala Lumpur, 4 May 2011 – The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 is expected to break another record this year. To-date, less than two weeks before the closing date of normal registration period on 15 May 2011 at 11.59pm, the organizer has received registration from more than 16,500 runners and is confident to break last year’s 17,500 entries soon.

Besides Malaysia, runners from 68 countries have also registered their participation in this race, exceeding the organizer’s initial target of runners participation from 45 countries. The organizer is targeting for 25,000 runners this year, comprising of local and international runners

The 3rd running of the nation’s largest annual marathon is scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 2011 with the first flag raise at 5 am for full marathon runners at Dataran Merdeka.

“We are very pleased with this overwhelming response we received to-date, especially from Malaysian runners. For full marathon category alone we have recorded 20% participation increase compared to last year. This clearly solidifies Standard Chartered KL Marathon as the biggest and a truly Malaysian running event where everyone, regardless of age, experience, or background, can run and have fun together,” said Rainer Biemans, Project Director of Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011.

The normal registration period has started from 1 March through 15 May 2011, with registration fee for Malaysians RM 45, RM 60, RM 65, RM 70 for 5km fun run, 10 km run, half marathon and full marathon, respectively.

Besides the above, the organizer is also still opening registration for the followings:

- Corporate Challenge – More than 25 companies have registered participation for the Corporate Challenge, including Genting Malaysia, IJM Corporation and FIAMMA Sdn Bhd. The last has committed RM 10,000 to the Standard Chartered Trust Fund. The Corporate Challenge is a platform for companies to compete in the race as a team, while also giving back to the community by raising money for charity.

- Volunteers – More than 700 people have registered as volunteers to help support the Standard Chartered KL Marathon this year. For the 2011 event the organizer is looking into 1,000 volunteers to help monitor the race route and distribute beverages to runners, among other activities throughout the race.

- Cheering competition – students nationwide are encouraged to form a team and register themselves to participate in the cheering competition, an integral part of this annual race. The most vibrant, creative, dynamic and energetic team even stand a chance to win great prizes.

For more information on registering for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon, the Corporate Challenge, becoming a volunteer or entering the cheering competition, please visit: www.kl-marathon.com.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM A RUNNER

The last few years, entry fees for road races have escalated by 2 folds. Gone are the days when one can run a road race for RM10 with a cotton t-shirt. Yes, the t-shirt’s quality may have improved to micro fiber material but does that really justify the high entry fee? What about the quality of the event? The safety precaution and the very essence of sportsmanship – ethical and fair competition.

Below is an open letter from a runner to the organizer of Shape Run 2011. Shape Run started off with a registration fee of RM20 few years ago and this year the fee has been hike up to RM50! So, what does a runner really want? Is that goodie bags really worth RM300? How many of you really redeem the voucher at the fitness centre? Those little bottle of shampoo, conditioner and some other supplement foods/products expiring in matters of few weeks or a month . . . . aren’t runners being used as ‘dumping ground’ by these marketing agent in the name of sponsorship?

Read what one of the runners wrote to a road race organizer voicing out his sentiment.

Dear Merina/Michelle,My name is Calvin Chan and I'm a regular participant in local and international road races. The reason I'm addressing this email to you is because I do not know the name of the person in your organization who is in charge of the Shape Run.

As an avid runner, I really do appreciate the initiative shown by your organization in promoting running locally. However, there has been growing dissatisfaction within the running community regarding the Shape Run.

To make it simple, please allow me to put my comments in point form.

1. The entry fee of RM50 this year is 25% higher than the RM40 charged this year. The increase is exorbitant.

2. No doubt that your organisation is using the Shape Run to promote your brands and that, I believe all runners can accept. However, runners are starting to feel that we are paying too much to help promote your brands and are getting too little in return.

3. You keep promoting that runners will be getting goodies worth more than RM300 in the goody bag. In actual fact, most runners feel that the goodies are not worth that much. You may include the market value of those items (including True Fitness trial vouchers etc) to arrive at RM300, but to us the items are not even worth RM100 as we won't spend our hard earned money on most of the things you are giving away anyway.

4. To organise a run, you should first understand what runners want. Actually we runners are not difficult to please. We just want a well organised run, sufficient water stations and a finisher medal. Every runner would like to go home at the end of the run with a momento in the form of a finisher medal to preserve their memory of the run. You have to understand that 12.3km is not a fun distance. Runners do have to put in a lot of effort to complete the run, even those who need to walk to complete.

5. Since Twenty First Century Sports is your co-organiser, why not seek their view on finisher medals? Almost all races organised by them provide runners with finisher medals.

6. It is true that the total number of medals for this year's Shape Run have increased to 450 from last year's 375. But almost all races charging RM30 and above and for distances of 10km and above are providing runners with finisher medals.

7. I have attached herewith a summary of races for the past 2 years for your reference. You are welcomed to cross check the accuracy of my list with anyone who is a regular participant in road races. You will find that in terms of fees charged, the Shape Run gives runners the worst deal. Please remember, we don't want the shampoo, the energy bar nor do we want any of the vouchers.

8. I am guessing that you have in the past consulted FTAAA on medal allocation. Why? Because FTAAA are the most stingy when it comes to medals. But then again, FTAAA normally charges registration fees of RM20 and below. That's why runners tend to understand why there are fewer medals given.

Thank you for spending your valuable time in reading my mail. I would really appreciate if your organisation can seriously consider the points I've mentioned above.

It will be to everyone's benefit if the Shape Run continues to be held annually and all participants of the run can go home happy.

Best regards,

Calvin Chan


Lets take a look at some of the road races that Calvin mentioned to back up his claim on some the the events that are reasonably priced. I will just take a summary of the long list.

Event /Entry Fee /Race Kit

CICM Responsible Care Run (10km) : RM25/RM30 - T-shirt, Medal, Cert

Bareno Run(5km/10km/15km) : RM15/RM35 - T-shirt & Medal

Setia Eco Half Marathon (5km/10km/21km): RM30 - T-shirt, Medal, Cert

Saucony Pacemakers Network Run (12km) : RM30 - T-shirt. Medal

BHP Orange Run : F.O.C. (11km) - Top Prizes Only

NB Klang Pacers Run4it (12km): RM30 - T-shirt, Medal

Centro Klang (10km) : RM30 - T-shirt, Medal