Yangon Marathon 2013 - Running tips for oversea runners

Yangon Marathon running tips for oversea runners.

The inaugural Yoma Yangon International Marathon will take place on Sunday, 27th January 2013.

You can refer to their official web: http://www.yangonmarathon.com/ to register.  Since Air Asia is flying to Yangon, this inaugural Yoma Yangon marathon becomes runner’s choice to join!

Since im back to running, running around with uncles, rejoins with runners at park, joining Pacesetter 30KM… somehow, during the run, I joined with runner’s conversation about Yangon Marathon from visa, flight, accommodation and some tips travelling at Myanmar.  

Visa

You need to apply visa to enter Myanmar. The visa will cost around RM100 plus valid for 3 months. (It’s just back on conversation between runners, for accurate info, kindly check with ambassador of Myanmar.) So now it’s about good time to apply for visa.

Flight

I think those who join Yangon marathon would already brought Air Asia flight ticket to Yangon at cheap price. At this point of writing, flight to Yangon from KL 2 days before race is RM203 and back to KL 2 days after race day is RM201.  

Accommodation

Not much details I have as those places mentions were hard to remember. Generally, accommodation in Myanmar are expensive with hotel, perhaps, runners im with are staying comfortable 3 to 5 stars rated hotel in the city. All prices are quoted using USD.

Currency

It’s was advised you prepare USD note, 100 note, NEW and without any staple HOLES. I repeat, 100 USD NOTE, NEW and NO STAPLE holes on your 100 NOTE. When you pay your things with USD 100 note, the local will give back local currency change to you. So, unless you planning return trips to Myanmar, spend all the Kyat currency before leaving the country.  

Running tips

Here come the running tips for Yangon marathon. No one have ever runs a marathon in Yangon. But there’s runner who familiar with local situation advise: “Prepare worst out from the best”

The water station: I was told, be careful with the water provided. If it’s in mineral water, it’s safe. If it’s open, mixed with ice, then have to be careful and try your best to avoid if possible. This is because, local uses “cloth” to cover / carry ice. So when the ice melt, the water dip and the cloth might not be hygienic and it’s mixed with water.

Road conditions – Never expect the road condition would be like your home country, wide and flat with tar surfaced. Expect some rough road conditions according to one of the runner who recently visited Yangon city.

By the way, there’s also travelling information available at the official web: http://www.yangonmarathon.com/event-info/travel-information.html

Enjoy the marathon!

Batu Caves - 20 sets @ 11182012

While everyone, most of the KL runners were away, were at north running marathon, i'm took this opportunity to do 20 sets to catch up! hehe... 

Completed 20 sets in 2 hours 24mins 41 seconds, included 14 mins break chit chat with Tey before he leaving as he completed his 20 sets.  

Thank you Tey for taking the photos before you leave. 

A lot of things spark my mind when im was climb stairs... 272 steps repeats for 20 times up and 20 times down. There's a wish lists that spark my mind during my training... 

World Heritage? As we know, govt intended to submit application for Batu Caves to apply as World Heritage. Talk is easy. Talk is bullshit. What to do to qualify for World Heritage status? You should come and have a look for yourself, does Batu Caves current situation can be qualify for World Heritage? No. A big no for me. A lot of effort need to put in, be it the management of temple, the tourist, people like me go there up downs 20 times for nothing, and at last the government. 

Maintenance of Batu Caves. It's heart breaking when you see it. Specially when you up 20 times and down 20 times seeing the same spot.... Sigh... 

At Batu Caves, you always get to see people's determination to climb up 272 steps to reach top. I'm really admire their determination. It's would be best if the stairs can be just like old days where there's number of steps from 1 to 272 repaint back. 

20 times thingy, really let me thinks a lot. 

I'm just wish for better Batu Caves.  

It's November now. Thaipusome is coming soon... 

Batu Caves Training @ 11.11.2012

First of all, I would like thank you to Tey! A very big thank to Tey Eng Tiong who so supportive in taking photos of running! I'm really likes the photos you snapped while im just trying to run up in front of you! wahaha... With such nice photos, it's really added motivation to train harder! :) 

 Thank you Tey. 

15 sets of Batu Caves training on 11.11.2012 Sunday evening. 

Batu Caves @ 11.11.2012

Since TPRC sifu and his gang started Batu Caves training not long ago, i wanted to join them in past few Sundays... but somehow, i'm still finding my time to join them on Sunday evening. Today, finally, i'm available to join them for Batu Caves training.... It's was a good weather... 

Sifu and his gang started their staircases training since 3pm, while i'm only arrived around 4:15pm and started my staircases climbing around 4:28pm. 

When was my last training @ Batu Caves! I'm trying to recall back. I was at Batu Caves training from end of last year until early this year for my HK100 which im successful completed! Re-track my blog on Batu Caves, it's was Batu Caves - January 2012 ! The photo above shows the current situation ! 

Somehow, i feel good or perhaps it's because there's many other runners also training at Batu Caves, I managed to complete 15 sets of climbs up and downs which i never ever done before. Previously i only managed to do once maximum of 10 sets, while other days just 8 sets.  

You wont be escape look at staircase. The paint is not more! :(  The staircase paint are at it's worst situation. sigh. I was wondering, why the management never try the weather proof paint to paint the staircases? or why the paint companies never thought of doing their CSR program at Batu Caves? They can promote their weather proof paint to Batu Caves management and get it paint on the staircases! 

Instead, management of Batu Caves uses normal paint to paint the staircases. When its was painted if you asking me? I know the answer! It's were painted early this year January, weeks before Thaipusom !How i know? Because i were running up and down during the period! Batu Caves is a great place, I likes it very much just like you and me! I wishes the best for Batu Caves! 

It's always tourist attraction. 

I cant believe i still can smile even after i completed my 15 sets of Batu Caves climbs. :) 

20 sets shall be the next target to train with TPRC gang. 

Look at the newly painted paint staircase during early this year. 

Staircase before painting. Before cleaning. Before red-painted. 

It's history. No body care about the numbers painted on Batu Caves staircase. No one will know Batu Caves have 272 steps. No tourists will ever know, even they know, they have nothing to show to their friends and family that proof him/her climbed 272 steps of Batu Caves. 

Do you have Batu Caves staircase photo with number? it's now become history, it's become more valuable! 

test test

Test test test... Saucony shoes mileage record.

Explorer Outfitter @ Publika, Solari Dutamas

Surfing FB, and i'm so happened saw my friend's post his bladder photo at some where, some shop. Later i got to know it's Explorer Outfitter at Publika, Solaris Dutamas.

So, i was nearby yesterday, and i visited Explorer Outfitter, to discover new land, to see whether can discover any nice good value items for my trail running..... 

start with left side... explore row by row... aiyah... everything is mean for hiking... but i no hiking... argh... the more i walk, the more disappointment, dont have anything relates to trail running... 

Then... then... i saw this! headlamps ! Currently few models of headlamps on the shelf display. 

First thing first, check out the price tag before checking out the functionality and features! Wow... 

Wow... it's value for money for the amount of Lumen from the Explorer brand CREE LED headlamp! 

It's simply can match with big branded headlamp. 

Too bad, I'm just got mine from one of the top brand of headlamp recently! 

Slapping myself, why i no discover earlier! 

As i'm got my own headlamp, i no further pursue to see the details of those headlamp, as my headlamp are not comparable to these.  I asked the staff, what's is this "Explorer" brand on this headlamp? I never hear of this brand.... He replied: "Explorer" is in-house self research brand... Generally, these headlamps are good for trail running with amount of lumens offered with the durability of battery power! i can sense it's really good in-house brand which know what's consumer want! 

For those who planning to get new headlamp, it's worth to discover yourself on the headlamps! 

Next: Water Bottle. 

As cyclist, i know this water bottle! Some cyclist are using it! I'm been thinking of getting one, but it's so expensive! 

Now they are selling at RRP RM49.90. But here, at Explorer, they are having promotion, selling around RM30+++ !  

Argh... very tempted to get it at that time... but i keep refuse ! 

Maybe when next time im here again, i will get it before promotion end ! 

Next: Hand Warmers ! 

Er... what is this thing! Really can get warm by shaking? Dont you thinks it's like some kind of magic thing? 

haha.... Guess, people around me hardly / never done any extreme hiking. Thus, never get to know this kind of products! 

Asked the staff on how it's work, and asking with dis-believed attitude, is this really work? After some explanation, okayla, i believe 50% first, have to ask Mr Google second opinion before believe 100%. 

This 1, I'm going to get it to test it out in cool weather trail running! 

Argh.. i wish i know this much much early too! If i know, i can bring some spare for my HK100 ! 

argh... ai... 

Btw... 

The staff told me, currently in store only have 40% of what they have now... meaning new products are adding each days, and there's also trail running related products too! 

Good to know! 

Nothing much discovery other than 3 items above. 

Till next visit discovery. 

Before ending, info about Explorer: 

Level G4 (11-19), Block C5, Publika Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

+603-6206 2831 / +603-6201 0551

(It's located at block that faces open area stage where people perform, ground Floor is The Social, second floor Iciban Boshi, and third floor Explorer Outfitter! )  

Ciao. 

End.