Just came back from my very first marathon event!

Today's blogpost is a sequel to – this entry.

Just a lil selca of the panting, energy-drained & sweat-laden me at the finish line! 

My first ever 10KM run went superbly well considering the fact that I was running with two injuries – a bike accident last week & a sprained ankle yesterday 

It hurt so bad to the point that I was contemplating whether or not I ought to pull out from the race.

But when I woke up this morning fully energized from a good night's sleep, I knew there was no backing out from this Penang Bridge run. 

Ready to run the 10KM… with an ankle support LOL

After all, I have been looking forward to the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) 2012 for several months now! Am I really going to chicken out from this? 

No way Jose, I'm still that tough cookie you used to know. And I'm all out for the race!

A power breakfast before my first marathon event : A banana and oats with soy and papaya! 

If you were wondering what happened to my PJ Half Marathon, there was a miscommunication in my participation; found out that I wasn't registered 🙁
So, I'm not gonna let anything get in the way of my will to finish that 10KM again… Not in a million years!

Thus began my foray into the world of marathon running..

Oh no! Human gridlock beside Eastin Hotel as we flagged off!

It was difficult to maneuver my way to the front, where the path was much clearer. 

To get there, I had to weave in and out amongst the sea of people in bright yellow

Whilst running, I must admit that I was, instead of focusing on my run, observing a lot of things around me like a curious kitten in the woods 
There were Boy Scouts and Girl Guides on duty manning the water stations, traffic police making sure we don't stray from our routes and Red Crescent Society members on stand-by with ice-packs and deep heating rubs.

The police shutting off main roads and highways for us!

Among the other things I saw were couples holding hands while running (umm.. what?), loving fathers piggy-backing their tired young sons, kids running in groups, fit Indian men sprinting, a Malay man running in his Baju Melayu, a white-haired Chinese septuagenarian running, several Caucasians and smelt people reeking of the most dreadful body odour, the type that would make you accuse them of smuggling expired cheese in their armpits.

For heaven's sake, please acknowledge the existence of deodorant.. I implore you!

Getting closer and closer to Penang Bridge!

Approaching the middle span of the Penang Bridge encouraged me to push myself further. (Before you reprimand me, I'm fully aware that I shouldn't run with a sprained ankle, much less exert pressure on my injury!) 

I particularly fancied the motivational signboards that were sparsely placed along the race track. It gave me the encouragement to keep running, just as my pace began to slow down.

Included in this enry, are three out of the many aforementioned signboards. Here's one:

Hear hear!

Running on the 4th longest bridge in Asia, couldn't ever have felt more fulfilling 

It just gives you that high you'll never get from anything else 

The accidental sunrise

The above photo is named as such because catching the sunrise this morning wasn't even part of the plan!

You know how I love waking up early to watch the sunrise or hike up a hill to wait for the sunset? This habit (or should I say, effort?) of mine is especially intensified whenever I go out of the country LOL. 

And today, the giant ball of resplendence – in such a perfect circle, no less! – had risen right before my very eyes. Being me, I whipped out my iPhone and started taking photos.

Clocked in 5KM in 35 minutes!

I carried a tiny waterbottle with me but disposed of it after hitting the 5KM mark as they were giving away mineral waterbottles 

Oh and, rumour has it that this year's run will be its last.

Next year's will be carried out on the 2nd Penang Bridge – estimated to be completed by mid 2013 – instead.

 At this point, I was even more fuelled keep going & ran as fast as my legs could carry me 

I finally clocked in 10KM at 1 hour and 10 minutes!

"Made it… at last", I muttered under my breath and gave the beads of sweat trickling down my forehead a final wipe down.

Yup, I felt like a million dollars the moment I crossed that finish line… You bet! 

LOL at the Charlie Sheen motivational signboard!

I guess I'll give myself a pat on the back for today's efforts 

Running with an injury isn't exactly the most pleasant feeling to have, as the burning, painful sensation was throbbing throughout my entire run. How unlucky! 🙁

Oh, really now? How apt for my condition 

Disregarding the pain, my experience as a first timer proved itself to be a very exhilarating one.

I managed to catch sight of very interesting occurrences along the race track; things that I would not have seen had I not partaken in this marathon event.

Received a certificate of participation! 

As I always average at 35 minutes for my 5KM run (part of my usual workout routine), today's 10KM fun run helped me set my benchmark for future races apart from gauging a personal record of my own pace and speed.

Today's unofficial record of 1hour and 10minutes included taking photos and tweeting (LOL!) apart from the ideal running, jogging and brisk walking intervals.

Fellow runners taking a rest after completing the 10KM

I don't know how the full-marathoners do it, to be honest. 

Finishing the 42KM, which takes approximately 7 hours, is downright impressive!

7 hours is the duration I take to sleep but the estimated time-frame they take to finish a full marathon.

At least I managed to finish my very first 10KM at my own pace, within the qualifiying time!

I know I'm a newbie in marathon running, but I'll get to the 42KM one day.
After all, we've all got to start somewhere 

I know this seems strange that you're gonna look at speeding race cars and grid girls from a girls blog. Not that you haven't before in my previous posts, but hey, you know I was never really into all the girly stuff, sugar, spice and everything nice kinda stuff 😀

Anyway! Another sequel of my adventures in Singapore during the weekend!

Read the previous 3 – Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 *clickety click*

My entry pass for Saturday! This is where life began for me on a fine Saturday morning

Thanks to Maxis & Lotus Racing for the sponsor 😉

That day began early for me, after having my favorite Old Chang Kee curry puff from the store (try it OMG it's unlike any other currypuff I've tried!) I headed off to the Circuit Zones 🙂

Here is a Porshe exhibition with some grid girls in tight outfits prancing around in their killer high heels.

Very pretty Porshes, but I don't fancy them too much compared to my undying love for Ferraris 😀 😀

Another one driving past during the Porshe Carrera Cup Asia Race practice

Fast forward to the night, FINALLY!

It was all about red hot Ferraris.

This is one sexy mean machine

(sorry was really dark. Forgotten to lug along my flashgun!)

It was an exclusive on-track program managed to raise $378 200 in US Dollars for the Presidents charity track parade. It was by Ferrari Owners Club Singapore and there were 25 owners participating altogether!

When I'm much older, more capable & more successful, I swear I'm getting a Ferrari.

Mark my word.

Okay, pretty pretty sights I saw during dinner! The Singapore Flyer in all its glory 😀

I remember spending an entire day up there with the boy a few months back

We're going again soon!

Are you ready for the speed demons?

You better be!

It was a frickin' uphill task shooting all these speeding 360km/h cars. My first experience in shooting F1 race cars was during Sepang F1 Grand Prix : here!

Of panning, sweating, burst modes, smeared left eye make up 😛 These are what you'll get

 Renault – Robert Kubica!

BMW Sauber – Kamui Kobayashi

Virgin Racing – Timo Glock

 HRT – Christian Klien
 

And our top 3 champs!

Say hellllooooooooo to Fernando, Vettel and Hamilton 😀

Fernando Alonso!

Sebastian Vettel!

Mark Webber!

Throughout the race, I was constantly moving all around the whole grandstand to get a better view and a strategic spot!

Absolutely despised the metal cage barricading my camera from the sight. Yeah yeah, I know it's for safety precautions and whatnot, in case F1 pulls a Final Destination 4 on us in Singapore LOL But hey, it was very obstructive 🙁

Here I am stopping at one of the spots I managed to shoot the speeding cars

At the Curve 1 – where those speed demons turn the corner after the pit stop. Drift Drift Drift!

Another oncoming bright yellow Renault – Robert Kubica!

Loves!
 

Lika bright yellow schoolbus ain't it?
 

Force India – Vitantonio Liuzzi

Mercedes GP – Micheal Schumacher

Red Bull Racing – Jamie Alguersuari

Breaktime!

When I left the grandstand to catch my breath, I was stoked to see these extremely stilt-tall men playing their music – entertaining everyone around!

They were just strolling around the entire circuit zone with their musical instruments

There were many kinds of these people around

Below is one more that I managed to catch for a picture!

Poor fellow was struggling to run on his stilts to catch up with his clan

He's like a little lost sheep! 😛

Okay, back on the race tracks!

McLaren-Mercedes – Jenson Button

McLaren-Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton

SORRY the poor guy crashed! 🙁 Getting him kicked out from the race. Disqualified!
 

Here's Hamilton again, just minutes before he crashed. Damnnn!
 

Renault – Vitaly Petrov

I shall spam more piccies of Scuderia Ferrari's Fernando Alonso simply because I was rooting for him (and his sexxxy car) from the beginning till the end. Come on red hot speed demon!
 

Show the circuit who's boss 😀

Alright. I promise you won't see any more piccies of him hereafter 😛
 

(just in case you get sick of him LOL)
 

Well, being a new fan of F1, I haven't followed closely enough to recognize all the cars and especially their drivers yet. Thankfully my good friend Bart helped me out with the identification.
 

Cheers mate

Yes I do realize I look pudgy in the photo as I was trying not to block the logo above me

yet attempting to stand straight. So here you go, a not-standing-nor-squatting version of Jess

To save the best for last, Lotus Racing racecars!

The Lotus Team have been an excellent company being with us throughout the 3 whole days of F1. They were informative and patient in guiding us all around and all we needed to know!

I even got to enter the NO ENTRY zone which was the Pit Stop paddock! Watched how race cars were perfectly engineered from scratch as well. Bits and pieces of car parts were put together by those car technicians, mechanics and engineers. The amazing thing I wondered was how they still managed to look so good looking and well groomed despite having to crawl under cars and getting their hands dirty.

I even got to take over one of their jobs for a few minutes 😀 That's for another story in the next blogpost!

 Meet Jarno Trulli of Lotus Racing
 

Behind every winner, there is a dedicated team of workforce

And I know I played a teeeeeny weeeeny part of it for those precious few minutes of helping them do up the car!

So, somewhere, somehow if you scrutinize hard enough, you'll see which part I laid my hands on! 😀

"Golden touch" LOL

I had an amazing and an eye opening experience! 😀 Thankew Lotus Racing and Maxis.
Oh and I spotted a headless board so naturally, I felt an incessant need to place my head there and be in the shoes of a racer for once!

Say, I look like racer material, do I? LOL. Tell me I do look the part hahahhaa!

Me making a funny face on the right.

The hole was too tiny for everyone and lotsa people had a hard time putting their heads in. I had to just squeeze my face and ludicrous expression in that small hole! 😀

Gooooooood morning!!!!
 

Today's my last day in Singapore. I totally KO-ed last night after such long hours at the circuit zones!

My heart skipped 21487246839471 beats each time the drivers turn the corner. They were so close!! (except for a few who were lagging behind)
 

When Mark Webber overtook Lewis Hamilton, I was like WHOAAAA! Two drivers from Red Bull Racing in Top 3? 😀
 

Alonso at the trophy presentation ceremony

He burst the GH Mumm champagne all over everyone!
 

I was cheering along with other Ferrari fans and screaming like a mad woman when Alonso zoomed past me for the 61st consecutive time. It was clear that he was leading all the way! GOGOGO Ferrari!
 

On another note, yes ima Ferrari fangirl for obvious reasons. I've loved Ferrari's since I was a kid and well, it's in my favorite color too – RED! The drivers are pretty hot too 😛

So anyway, congrats on making the Top 3 fellas!

Champion!! 😀 Fernando Alonso of Scuderia Ferrari
 

Second place – Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing
 

Third place – Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing
 

Also coming in 4th place was Jensen Button of McLaren and 5th place, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP! 😀 Grats on making into Top 5 😀
 

Oh and I recall squeezing through sweaty smelly fellow photographers trying to get perfect angles and perfect shots of the speed demons racing their heads off on the circuits! Was so difficult to capture cars speeding with the speed of light especially when you're being pushed and shoved. But it was all worth it! 😀

IT'S A GOOD CHALLENGE!

All was well and nerve-wrecking throughout the entire 61 laps. But 3 VERY interesting highlights during that fateful final race night were these :
 

When a Kingfisher totally broke down in the first few minutes and had to be towed – coincidentally right in front of where I was standing! Gosh. Sucks to be him =/
 

-sorry no photo was too engrossed in the whole commotion with my jaws hung open LOL-

Lewis Hamilton kicked out of the race when he tried to overtake Mark Webber for 3rd place, crashing his McLaren race car… and his way out of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix finals 🙁 Ohnoes!
 

When a Lotus caught fire and ended up in flames by the last few minutes of the race! Lotsa officials ran there to extinguish the flames. Poor Heikki Kovalainen!
 

Wait for the upcoming posts, of Adam Lambert's GLAMNATION concert tour, Mariah Carey's concert, and me exploring the pit stop paddocks! 😀 Was a super fun learning experience! And *psst* those car engineers and mechanics from UK were smokin' hotttt too 😉

In the meantime, check out my 1st day at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, okie?

Took lotsa piccies around and even caught Chris Daughtry LIVE in concert too – here!
 

Camwhoring by the Pit Stop Grandstand
 

Again, I'd like to thank my main sponsors Maxis and Lotus Racing for this amazing experience, making this all happen for me 🙂 Gracias

More to come right after this!! 😀
 

So here I am, living outta suitcase yet again for the 4th consecutive week. Have been traveling back and forth from everywhere that I don’t even remember what the color of my condo’s walls are anymore.

Kidding, it’s whitewashed with pale beige.
 

I think.

I was extended the privilege of a fully sponsored trip down to Singapore to watch the F1 Grand Prix courtesy of Maxis, Lotus Racing and of course, Nuffnang. Also very pleased with my passes to the Grandstand worth $1288 SGD! 😀
 

Red Zipper headband by Soak Republic of course!!

😀 Check ’em out for more

As I’m typing this with my frozen fingers, I would also like to accredit the place accommodating me for these comfy 3 nights.

Grand Park Cityhall Hotel. 😀

Thanks guys for making my weekend a blast 🙂
 

After dinner, I headed to the circuit tracks to catch some rounds of practice sessions before their big day for tomorrow’s qualifiying race and Sunday’s final night race! I also made my way into the concert of a certain band; an A-Lister of my top 10 favorite bands of the century.

DAUGHTRY!

For those not in the loop of who and what Daughtry is, where have you been!!?? LOL

Daughtry is an American rock band from North Carolina and frontlined by none other than Chris Daughtry himself – finalist of American Idol Season 5. I adored him waaayyy back in 2006 when he was still in the running to become the next American Idol!

Those rock driven tracks  ‘It’s not Over’, ‘Home’, ‘Breakdown’, ‘Over You’, ‘No Surprise’ and all the others got everyone feeding off their infectious energy, singing along at the top of their voices! Yours truly included 😀

Yup. It’s affirmative. Chris Daughtry and his band are love <3

They sounded more fabulous LIVE than they ever did before on telly!

Absolutely love them.

I‘m going hommmeee~

To a place where I belong~

Where your love has always been enough for me~

But I especially adored his acoustic version of ‘Home’. It was so beautifully performed. Sweet!

Chris, the man himself!

Initially wanted to watch Missy Elliot perform as well, but it was waaaayyyy tooo faarr r  at the other end of the circuit. A good 40 minutes walk from Daughtry’s stage.
 

Despite her being my HipHop idol when I was growing up, lazybones got the better of me and I opted to stay longer for Daughtry and explore the nearby grounds instead.

Lay by the grass to relax and take pretty pictures of my surroundings!
 

wheeeee
 

Love the scenic view
 

Dear Singaporeans, what bridge is this? 😀
 

So that was what happened much  earlier. On the later part of the evening, I headed out to Phuture Zouk w a buncha friends to party the skies down.

Is Zouk SG better than its counterpart Zouk KL, in my homeland Malaysia?

Perhaps! Not really but kinda at the same time.

Of Tequila Pops and Dry Whiskies

 Yes, twins. Say hi to Matt & James. If you took a 2nd look at this photo 😀

Yes, my ambiguity isn’t meant to vouch for any club!
 

I still love them both all the same.

Who wouldn’t? 😀

Right, that’s about all for Day #1 in Singapore this weekend!

More deafening (think F1 speed demons) and mind blowing stories next 😀