10 Unusual Marathons

This instantly caught my attention when I was browsing the newpapers few days back. Then, I didn't know where that page went and I found it again on the net....take a look..

1. Marathon Du Medoc (Medoc wine region, France)
This marathon passes 50 chateaux, features Bordeaux wine at the water stations along the route and
provides foie gras to runners in need of refueling.
(Wow....foie gras...I wonder what the entrance fee is like.)

2. Little Rock Marathon (Little Rock, Arkansas)
This race features a 'lipstick statoin' at Mile 26.1, so runners can freshen up before their finisher's picture.
The race also boasts the lasrgest finisher's medal, measuring 6.25 inches (15.6cm) by 4.25 inches (10.6cm).
(I think it'll take more than just 'freshen up at a station' to make me look good for the finisher's pic...hehe)

3. Walt Disney World Marathon (Orlando, Florida)
Half Marathon and a full marathon on consecutive weekend days in early January. RUnners who complete
both get a special 'Goofy Medal', named after Disney's famous canine.
(Hmm this, I don't mind taking part. Perhaps I'll plan my holiday to Disney World to coincide next time :P )

4. Flying Pig Marathon (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Popular with first-time marathoners and those who may have said they would run a marathon 'when pigs
fly'. The title also honours the city's hog butchering history.
(Erm, nothing spectacular, just the phrase, I guess)

5. North Pole Marathon (Norway)
Takes place deep in teh Artic Circle around the summer solstice, attraction about 40 runners. In 2007, the
temperature was -4F (-25C). One year, runners donned snow shoes because of a storm.
(Wow! Think I'll pass this, but it'll be an experience....)

6. Country Music Marathon (Nashville, Tennessee)
Some 50 contry artists perform on 28 stages along the course. A post-race concert was headlined last year
by Steve Cropper, a founding member of soul ban Booker T. & the MG's.
(Entertainment as you run, sounds good...)

7. Everest Marathon (Nepal)
At 17,000 feet (5,184 metres), it is the highest marathon, taking runners along mountain trails starting at
Everest Base Camp.
(I'd love to try scalling Everest, but perhaps not in a race...)

8. Athens Marathon (Greece)
Retraces the steps of the messenger Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C. to deliver
news of the defeat of Persian invaders.
(Erm, ok la...Mum, wanna join me? hehehe since you love history....)

9. Great Wall Marathon (China)
This race starts with a 3.1mile (5 km) uphill stretch, includes part of the Great Wall, and takes runners
through villages and rice fields.
(Intersting!)

10. Safaricom Marathon (Kenya)
Two 13.1 mile (20.1km) loops of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy game reserve.
(Sounds intersting. Do I get to 'meet' some special spectators on the way?)

I wonder if Malaysia will try to have one up on this list?

The Weekend That Was....

It was indeed a looong weekend with Monday being a holiday cos it was Hari Raya Aidil Adha...

Neways, our weekends started on Friday nite when we dashed off to watch the MM semi-finals. OK la, wasn't too bad and being on the 3rd row from the front, was indeed superb.

On Saturday, I wanted roti canai for breakfast. Yes, it's been sometime since I had roti canai. Eversince project in Sg. Langat completed, I think, so that would make it almost errrr 3 months? Yah...oh no, 4 months, since fasting month...but this place in TTDI just wasn't as good as the one I've always had. Nevertheles, it satisfied my 'crave' la.

Anyway, we were supposed to go on a road trip to Simpang Pulai for hubby's friend's wedding. Yes, it was a looong journey and the thoughts of stopping over at Cameron Highlands on the way back was there. However, the journey took longer than expected. There were just too many vehicles on the road and I think most were taking advantage of the long weekend and the Raya break. And unknowingly to us, we found ourselved stuck too. With a convoy of 3 cars, we finally met at the destination at about 3pm. So, there goes the Cameron plan, cos it was just not worth the drive up and down in such a short time. Plus, the weather wasn't very promising. It was drizzling on and off.

The best part of the journey back was, less than 30mins on our way back, I just dozed off....awaking at one point to really heavy rain and then continued sleeping again. Must be the nasi minyak earlier.

Sunday was a lazy-day....well, not exactly lazy, cos we were 'spring cleaning part 2'. That was after lunch la. When we finished, we headed off to the pasar malam only to be dissapointed that there were no 'ekors' or fish heads left for us....so there goes plan for 'sup ekor' or fish head curry the next day.

Selamat Hari Raya

Woke up early, and it was again raining. The type that looked as though it will rain the whole day. And indeed it did.

Went to the mosque, came back famished, ate something and just relaxed to some non-holiday tv programmes, which were quite boring. Then cooked lunch, without the sup ekor (unfortunately) and decided to go out. Hey, we were planning to go out since friday anyway...keke Since it was raining, the only places we could go were covered or indoor, hence it spelled shopping complexes.

So, KLCC here we come!

Got tickets for Twilight and window-shopped for a while before the movie. Window shopped only cos the pair of shoes I thought was nice was out of my size. Darn!

After that it was time for a feast! Yes, had Braised Lamb Shank...:) Yummy, this time not at my usual haunt but it tasted just as good...Mussels Au Gratin & Clam Chowder

Braised Lamb Shank

Clam Chowder was a bit of a disspointment but the rest were fantabulous!

Came home happy, contented and ready to put those tired feet up and just chill!

Yippee, it's A Long Weekend!

The long weekend is almost here! Yes, Mon will be a holiday, cos it's Raya Haji. On top of that on Thurs, we get another holiday - Sultan Selangor's birthday! yipeee!! more short holdiays! But cos it's in the middle of the week, guess we'll be just around town or at home....

Nothing planned, we'll just have to wait n see...

Another round of 'spring cleaning' yesterday and I managed to unearth lots of books. Hehe so I guess I'll have lot of reading for next year! On top of that I added another 3 just now. Yeah, online shopping is addictive, especially when you've got nothing much to do!

And last night I felt that baby's getting heavier. Yes, I do feel more of the weight especially when I bend forward or when trying to get a 'perfect' sleeping postition. I can't wait to take another peek at him again sometime next week. Yeah, I think this time Dr will 'peek' to check on the fluid level, size and weight...

Had another round of soup ekor yesterday and it was splendid. Yes, it's gonna be a weekly thing, I'm presuming. We used to do that a couple of months back, until recently where we keep missing the weekend pasar malam, hence no supply of fresh oxtail. So we're back in business again, I guess! :D

Transporter 3

It is one cinematic experience I'll not forget - know why? Not because the cinema was superb, or the show was the best, but I was shocked that less than halfway through the show, I was perspiring. Well, that NEVER happened to me, throughout my whole preggy experience yet, but the fact that hubby wasn't even feeling the slightest bit cold tells me that it wasn't my thermostat gone wrong - but the cinema's.

Anyways, luckily the show and complimentary popcorn was distraction enough to make me sometimes forget about the trickling sweat...yes, it WAS that BAD....

We watched Transporter3, premier show before the release of the show today. Good action movie, but there were some unrealistic scenes and parts where the continuity of the scenes were not there. Go check the movie out and see if can spot them.

After that, Sup Ekor was waiting for us at home. Yummy....this time, really yummy (forgot about the pics) but then there were portions were meat was still relatively tough. Think it's either old ekor or it didn't spend enough time in the pot...

Crap

After completing my post, short of previewing it and posting it, my browser just decided to shut down. So now I'm not in the 'train of thoughts' anymore and perhaps only later shall I continue...

bleeeeuk!

Ah, I found it!

Hmmm I wonder if it's just me or is it that everyone is busy lately. Not as many online-active people are online lately. Perhaps all taken off for their year-end holidays while poor me, stuck here, with nothing much to do but just to fill up the office space for the moment.



Thank goodness my weird tummy has slowly recovered. Still got bits of that weird feeling though and I hope after lunch it'll just dissapear. I was worried last night as I had achy-joints and tired legs which usually leads to fever or something of that sort. Perhaps the lil' rub-down helped.



I'm still looking out for good deals and planning my holidays for next year. Amidst all that, few weeks back, I realised that I currently am allocated a really pathetic number of annual leave. SEriously, I don't remember when it became so little, but I never thought that it would be. Yeah, you guessed it - 8! miserably 8 only. The bare minimum which the Labour Law allows. Thank goodness, hopefully by next year it'll be increased. But goodness, it's gonna be a loooong journey to those 20-odd days in a year! Hah!

All the Glitz and Glam

The 2nd Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival wasn't so great to begin with. In comparison with Anugerah Skrin, in my personal opinion. Although the KLIFF was more grand, as it had international artistes, presenters and films competing with each other, not to mention Ministers and Delegates from all over the world, perhaps that was why it wasn't as great. Everything had to be kept formal.

Thank goodness for the performances in between which kept me alive and waiting for more. Although it was mentioned that there were 191 participants in the KLIFF, out of which there were only a handful which were nominated repeatedly for the various awards. Were the others totally out of the league of these few? Funny, to think of it. Anyway, I'm no expert in this field so I just took it in as pure 'entertainment'.

Everyone there were by invitation only. So the crowd was 'less happenning'. The opening act by Datuk Siti was splendid and the finale by Ning Baizura was no less. I enjoyed Point Blank's performance of 'I am Warrior' (or something which sounds like that) the song was superb and they had a small martial arts troupe as their dancers. IT was entertaining. It was interesting to note that when Ning belted out a medley of songs from the 007 series, 'junior' was also enjoying the music, kicking to every base beat. That and the medley of songs from Mamma Mia did 'wake' him up. The rest were pretty mild movements which didn't 'attract' my attention.

I love Sarimah's outfit (other than the puffed sleeves she had) and her wit on and off stage.

That was the highlight of Saturday...and Sunday began with a day filled with spending.

Warehouse sale was our first stop after brunch. It was stuff for junior. Then after some 'light entertainment' of badminton at home, we headed of to more shopping, this time the pasar malam and then the hypermarket. It's been awhile since we spent so much at one go at the hypermart. 'Stocking' up I suppose.

tired from all the shopping...

Weird tummy this morning makes things worse. I just don't get it. AFter brekkie, I just want something sweet, and since milo is out, I'll wait till later to have a biscuit or cookie. But today is just weird. I really dunno what to do. Just let my tummy rumble a bit once in a while, while I soothe it with plain water. If I take coffee or milo, the next thing would be me running to you-know-where. So there's just no point.

Arrrrrrrgh!

Another slow week ahead albeit some work already assigned to me. Boring! :p