Tuesday June 26, 2007

Inclement weather affects training but family perseveres

By LIM CHIA YING
Photos by AZHAR MAHFOF and KAMAL SELLEHUDDIN

chiaying@thestar.com.my

DILIGENT cross training has occupied the Phee family as the date for the Subang Jaya 10km Run nears.

However, the past two weeks haven't been exactly favourable.

“We've had to make changes to our training schedule due to the weather, which has been showering quite frequently in the evenings,” said father KC Phee.

Phee, together with wife Lim Peik Hoon, 12-year-old son Haw Tzer, and daughter Jinq En, would be participating in the annual run.

The family is now acclimatising themselves with a proper track run at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) sports complex.

The cross training for the children is interspersed with swimming to help build up their strength and muscles for the run.

Stretch: Phee (left) joins his family and friends at the track, warming up before getting to serious practice.

“After running, the muscles tend to get a bit tired, so the children relax and loosen up by going swimming,” said Lim.

“In the past week or so of school holidays, they have been doing at least two hours of swimming daily at the 3K Complex in SS13 Subang Jaya.

“In fact, I'm confident of their stamina; they are used to running and would have no problems. But we wanted to build up their leg muscles more so that's why cross training is good,” added Lim.

After appearing in the papers earlier, Lim said friends have been more encouraged to join them.

“Friends have called up saying they saw us in The Star so they too decided to sign up and have fun.”

The school holidays also proved to be a well-spent break for the family as they headed back to Lim's hometown - Penang.

“As part of our training regime, both my wife and I climbed up a steep hill in Kulim. It was definitely no easy feat but was a good workout for our leg muscles.

“Then, when we came back, we got to spend some time at the gym at Sunway Club, where we did our usual workouts on the stepping machine and cycling bike,” said Phee.

“We are also trying not to push ourselves too hard.

“We don't want last year's unfortunate injury to repeat itself this time around,” said Lim, referring to her husband's injury last year that resulted in Phee not making it to the finish line.

Good start: (Front row, from left) Haw Tzer, Jinq En and Thiang sprint for the finish line as their parents look on.

It was also a moment of disappointment for their son Haw Tzer who could not qualify for the 7km run due to his age. The Year Six pupil from SJK (C) Lick Hung in SS19 Subang Jaya had wanted to run alongside his mother who would be competing in the same category, but now has to contend with the 3km Fun Run.

“They rejected our application when we sent in the forms, as they told us the 7km run is for those aged 13 and above. Usually in other runs, they would have allowed it if the parents signed the consent form.

“Guess it's not meant for him (Haw Tzer) this year, and he will just have to wait for the next.

“Well, he still has his sister to run alongside him,” said Phee.

Also present during the family's training at MPSJ were Haw Tzer's good friend Edwin Thiang and mum Foo Sook Ying, who is a Pacesetters Club member for close to six years now.

“The Pacesetters members run every Sunday as early as 7.30am at the Bukit Aman carpark. There are different routes that they can choose to run, with even a beginners programme for newbies,” said Foo, adding that the Pacesetters Club would help out with coaching their members' children who are taking part in the SJ 10km Run.

The SJ 10km Run is organised by MPSJ, The Star, and the Selangor Amateur Athletics Association.

– We take a glimpse into the normal life of the Phee family next week.

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