I was mentioned in the Malaysian New Straits Times today. I was asked to give a quote by Ironman journalist Emma Bishop but I did not expect my picture to be included. Full text of the article below or can be found in this link. Thank you, Emma for the opportunity!
The events are a welcome reintroduction of the Ironman brand here, giving local triathletes the chance to take on the ultimate endurance challenge.
But before that finish line can be crossed, there is a lot of work to be done. Not for the faint-hearted, Ironman is often regarded as the toughest endurance event in the world.
Training for the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run can take the average weekend warrior up to a year. Some athletes may require the full 17 hours allocated to complete the distance while professionals may need less than nine hours.
ENTERING THE SPORT
If you are new to the sport or interested in taking part but find the full Ironman distance overwhelming, then the Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya is a great way to enter the sport.
The half Ironman distance of 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run also has a relay team option.
Geoff Meyer, Ironman CEO Asia Pacific, says the relay option gives more people the opportunity to take part in an event where they may not be comfortable in all three disciplines. It’s a great stepping stone into the sport and gives athletes a taste of the Ironman experience and healthy lifestyle that triathlon offers.”
Local athletes who deemed themselves newbies a few years ago are now leading the charge for a surge in participation.
Lim Ee-Van, 37, is ecstatic that Ironman is back. “Triathlons are very much a lifestyle for me and my family and having Malaysia back on the Ironman map means a lot.
“The chance to race alongside the world’s best triathletes and friends and the camaraderie during training goes beyond transition. It is a huge commitment to train for the Ironman but the rush to complete the race and taking part in the event is unlike any other.”
MUSCLE OF METAL
Kevin Siah, 30, is a Malaysian living in Toronto, Canada. He has many races to choose from in North America but has chosen Ironman Malaysia as his race for 2014.
“Langkawi is where my Ironman journey started in 2009. There’s something special about racing on home soil with the Malaysian triathlete community. I know I can pick one of the many North American races to enter but I wouldn’t miss Ironman Malaysia for the world, even if it takes me more than 30 hours to get there!”
Ironman Asia Pacific will be setting up a permanent presence here, working alongside local partner Hivelocity Events to deliver a complete athlete experience that will reflect the international quality Ironman is recognised for while embracing Malaysia’s local culture and communities.
Registration for the two events is now open. Details at www.ironmanmalaysia.com and ironmanputrajaya.com.
Follow IRONMANAsiaPac on Facebook. E-mail your enquiries to ironman@usmevents.com.au
2 comments:
Nice article. Since you previously completed Ironman Malaysia, do you have any tips? Ironman Malaysia 2014 will be my second Ironman and the first time to do this particular event. Definitely looking forward to it. Good luck!
Hi Anonymous, thank you!
Without going into too much detail, be prepared for the heat and humidity. So doing some long runs in midday and don't skip your brick runs after your long rides! The course itself is not easy either. There a couple of short, steep climbs about 1km, about 3% gradient and we go through a few times - 8 climbs in total. So some hill training will come in handy too.
If you have further questions, feel free to contact me on kevinsiah83 (at) gmail (dot) com
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