Somehow, despite everything, I'm still all good when Powerman Malaysia rolled around. Against the better judgment of about everyone involved (except myself), I got myself in for the Long Distance one - 11km run, 64km ride, 10km run. Two weeks before the du, I was hit with stomach issues and some other fun stuff which meant I had done all of TWO brick workouts before raceday.

Needless to say, by the time I got to Malaysia after an 8 hour bus ride, I was pretty much a wreck and then my spare tube sprung a gash at the valve 7 hours before the race. Note to self: Carry around 3 spare tubes at any one time if you must insist on riding 650cc wheels. Really.

But by the time I got my butt to transition area, got the tube problem sorted out with the help of my partner and found myself at the start line with a couple of friends, everything felt good.

The highlight of the whole race was pretty much the first 11k which I managed to run a PB of 55 minutes for. Pretty good for someone who a year ago claimed she would never run.

The bike leg was utter misery, dropping my Clif bar halfway into the first lap did not help because for the second lap, in addition to miserably aching legs and butt, I was utterly starving as well. The turnaround point for every lap involved a long, long climb up a steep bridge, I have never looked forward to seeing a climb so much before. Really. I'm sure the view was beautiful and there might have been a salt mine along the way but I wasn't paying attention, I was mostly glaring at my speedometer and wondering if I was going to have a prayer of finishing the race under 5 hours.

The final 10k were horrible with my butt cramping up everytime I tried to run and by then, the sun was out in full force and happily helping to make sure that Powerman lived up to its reputation for being the 'hottest' race around. In the last 4 k of that run, my partner suddenly turns up on his bike having finished his race to pace me. I have to say, having someone pace you really helps because you cannot stop running. And FINALLY, I see the stadium loom up ahead of me and I start running for it, feet pain be damned. Nearing the finish line, this dude is walking (walking!!!!!!) in front of me and I overtake him to cross the finish line in 4:42.

So, I did it, I finished the race in under 5 hours, didn't get a DNF and FINALLY, a hot shower. Except that was all followed by another 8 hour bus ride home which was total agony. BUT I FINISHED!!!! WHOOOO!!!!