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113 TriFactor Bike-Run-Bike Melaka 2017: Most forgiving race thus far

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 06 Nov 2017   Posted by Cheryl Tay


WHEWW! A different type of Sunday I had yesterday – 1st in age group (called Youth Open for 25-34 yo) and 2nd overall for Women at today’s 113-TriFactor Bike-Run-Bike Melaka!!

I’ve actually always wanted to try this bike-run-bike format. TriFactor has this format in Singapore (shorter distance though) but I’ve always had clashes with the dates, so when I heard of this I was like OKAY I WANT TO GO. Besides, Malacca isn’t too far away and all I have to do is load the car with the bike and drive in.

It’s named 113 because it includes a total of 113km – 60km bike leg, followed by a 13km run and then a 40km bike leg at the end. If you’re wondering why ‘113’ sounds familiar, it’s because 113 organises races of the same distance as Ironman 70.3 too, such as the 113 Desaru.

After the SCSM Women Squad training run in the morning, Connie and I cleaned ourselves up in the toilets of OUE Downtown Gallery (nowhere to shower and no time to go anywhere else to shower), dabao-ed food from The Autobus and immediately set of for the Tuas checkpoint. There was a compulsory race briefing at 3pm at the REPC and I was worried we couldn’t make it in time.

I was actually quite excited because this is the first time I’m driving to a race. I’ve gone for overseas races by plane and ferry, so this is something new. Malacca is about 250km away from Singapore, so it should take about 2.5 hours to drive BUT there is almost always a jam at the Malaysia customs that will delay you. True enough, we were stuck there for 1.5 hours and I totally forgot about the Touch ‘N’ Go (TAG) card so while Connie waited at the customs booth for me (other cars couldn’t be let through), I went to queue to purchase the TAG card. There was only one self-service kiosk and it was so slow that it finally hung and the group of technicians sitting there had to manually serve us (which took a lot faster tbh). Now I know why there was a jam lah.

The drive was straightforward and we tried not to stop too frequently because I wanted to reach the REPC by 3pm!! We eventually reached Mahkota Parade at 330pm and I managed to catch part of the briefing. Collected my race pack, went to take a look at where the transition area was, bought dinner and some essentials at the supermarket, checked into hotel then proceeded to prep everything for the race before turning in early!

It rained during the night and I woke up to raindrops beating against the window, oh shit. Looked out the window and saw that the rain was subsiding, so that’s good. By the time I got to the transition area to check in, the rain had already stopped but the roads were slightly damp. Ok, so long as there’s no more rainfall that’s fine.

I went to prepare my stuff and then I stood outside the transition area to wait. (I only went to get my bike out when it was closer to the start time.) During this time, Queen Bitch II was a tourist attraction. I felt a sense of pride when people watched past her and turned back for a second glance. Some of them were also taking photos of the her! The funny thing is, when I was with QBII, people stopped to comment on her beauty and asked to take pics of her (WITHOUT ME). She’s a superstar in her own right and I was just her loyal servant LOL.

The race start was delayed about 25 minutes and I was getting a little sleepy, haha but once the horn went, it was game on. We did 3 loops of 20km first and it was pretty cool ‘cause the main road (both sides) was closed for us so there was a lot a lot of space. The 113 category I was in had a nondrafting rule but I saw many in groups!!! Anyway, there were a few bridges (which means slopes), but other than that it was mostly flat so lots of aero time.

The first transition was what I’m used t0 – getting off the bike to run. The run route was a bit tight – for the first half of the run, we ran along the narrow paths of the river and I had to keep turning and twisting and going up/down steps. After that we ran into some small roads so it was ok. But then there was the large slope near the end of the route, wah lao!

I got to transition and this time it was quite strange changing from run to bike, and I was hoping I didn’t forget anything. While on the run, this is the first time I’m cycling after a run and I didn’t know how it feels like, so I wasn’t sure how to pace. In the end, I just ran at a comfortable pace so I could save my legs some for the last bike leg.

When I first got back on the bike, the legs felt a bit funny. Hahahahaha! Cycling after running hurts too, but after a while you get back into a rhythm and it’s fine. Nothing is more painful than running off the bike I feel!

Fortunately the weather was overcast today so it was the most forgiving race I’ve ever had. I actually enjoyed the race and didn’t have any bad thoughts in my head. I didn’t even need to wear my shades much! Heng ah.

So, I’m grateful for another safe race and am getting excited for IM70.3 Phuket in exactly 3 weeks!

Thank you BFF Connie for being crazy and driving into Malaysia with me just for this. Best support crew ever xx

P.S. The trophy very cute hor!

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    First establishing herself in the world of cars and motorsports, Cheryl Tay is a sports and fitness blogger who advocates living an active and healthy lifestyle. Founder of body image movement Rock The Naked Truth, Cheryl overcame over a decade of eating disorders and is now passionate about helping people with similar struggles. She also has a running club ROCKrunners and a tri-enthusiast club ROCKtri.

    Rock The Naked Truth encourages others to be comfortable in their own skin and to learn that there is more to life than just being a slave to the numbers on your scale. Truly, life has more meaning than just forcing yourself to look good - it's most important to be happy and feel good about yourself!

    Previously...
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    > Founder of ELITE (fitness competition)
    > Motoring writer for TODAY
    > Columnist for Rev / Run magazines
    > Official photographer for ONE Championship
    > Media manager for Formula Drift Asia
    > PR manager for PETRONAS Syntium Team
    > Business development for Kartright Speedway
    > F1 youth speaker for Singapore GP
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    Work hard but remember to set aside time for leisu Work hard but remember to set aside time for leisure too! It has taken me 35 years to find a decent work-life balance, between work, play, fitness and personal.

I used to be a full-on workaholic, working every day till late, eating rubbish and not exercising. And then I was trying not to eat so I could be skinny. And then I would fall very ill when my body snaps because I wasn't resting enough.

I've since learnt that we need to take care of ourselves properly, because work is important yes, but the effects of overworking and too much stress are very detrimental, especially in the long term.

Quality of life, always remember to enjoy quality of life!

P.S. Little Oli's face is everything!

#beachday #bikiniempire
    Been a while since I’ve gone on the ground to sh Been a while since I’ve gone on the ground to shoot and report on sports! I love watching sports and this has been such an amazing experience.

I can't help tearing up when I see dreams being made and broken. These SEA Games athletes are fighting so hard and leaving nothing behind. You can see the highs, the lows and the unexpected.

The emotions in sports are so raw and pure, and that's why I love sports. You can't cheat the feelings.

Go Team Singapore!!!

#sportplussg #seagames2021 #seagames #sportphotography #teamsingapore
    TOP 5 TIPS TO SAVE WATER! Tip #1: Cut your shower TOP 5 TIPS TO SAVE WATER!

Tip #1: Cut your shower time by 1 minute and save 9 litres of water.

Tip #2: Save 11 litres of water when you rinse your teeth with a mug instead of using a running tap.

Tip #3: Use reduced flush for liquid waste and save 1.5 litres per flush. 

Tip #4: Save 14 litres when you wash vegetables and dishes in a filled sink instead of under a running tap.

Tip #5: Do not use the washing machine for just a few pieces of clothing.

Did you know that the BMW Group powers production of two of their electric vehicles, the BMW iX and BMW i4, entirely with regional green hydroelectricity?

We recently went down to the NEWater Visitor Centre and learnt a lot about water conservation. There are also a lot of mind-blowing facts - pre-COVID, we use 145 litres of water per person per day (as seen in this photo), but during the pandemic when everyone was home, that number went up to 158 litres 😱😱😱.

Watch the video to learn more mind-blowing facts!
    Got to hang with @sweetvarnvarn this week! She is Got to hang with @sweetvarnvarn this week! She is really fun, friendly and I wish we had more time to go out and play. Next time! Perhaps I need to go to Thailand hmmm...
    WE FINALLY HAVE A DATE FOR OUR WEDDING! This is s WE FINALLY HAVE A DATE FOR OUR WEDDING!

This is super exciting, after all the hurdles we have had to overcome. From being turned away by venues, to not being able to do a wedding because it has to be ROM registered due to COVID-19 restrictions, to finally, finally being able to hold our wedding because private events are now allowed.

YAYYYYYY!!!

Our union may not be legally recognised in Singapore, but we still want to get our nearest and dearest together in the name of love. Can't wait to celebrate our love and share this special occasion with y'all!

P.S. for those asking, we will get our paperwork done somewhere overseas at some point.

#TaykeMeHuangMoreTime

Gown: @thegownwarehouse
Suit: @stitchedsg
Makeup: @clarasongmakeup
    What a wet weekend! Got drenched while riding yest What a wet weekend! Got drenched while riding yesterday and then ran in the light rain today.

But I didn't mind today's run at all because it was a bagel run! That is, we ran from home to CBD to get breakfast. Today we got bagels!

And then cabbed home, not run home, in case you're wondering lol.

#RoadToBerlinMarathon #wetweather #runintherain #runtobreakfast #iloverunning
    Bikini Empire beach day, extended pack! Thank good Bikini Empire beach day, extended pack! Thank goodness we had such good weather yesterday and also happy that we don't have group size limits anymore!

I love that we can bring our dogs to @olabeachclubsg so that they can hang with us, nawwwwww.

Swipe to see all the nonsense we were up to!
    If you know me, I love my snacks - A LOT. And some If you know me, I love my snacks - A LOT. And sometimes the guilt does get to me. So I'm glad that I have found plant-based snacks, without the guilt, with the same pleasure. This really helps as I'm trying to cut down on the bad stuff as my training picks up. These Nuggets, Bites and Strips are from FIRST PRIDE and are entirely made of plants. Best part, they taste like the real thing. Whuuuttttttt!

These have a three-step coating so it has maximum crispiness, meat-like texture made from plants so they feel like your usual nuggets and they have 0% trans fat. You won't even realise they are made from plants honestly. In addition, they make for a good source of protein and fibre.

Available at FairPrice, CS Fresh, Giant and RedMart, these are going at a promo price of $6.95 per packet (from 12 – 25 May). More details at @firstpridesg!

#FIRSTPRIDESG #SOOOGOOD
    New HM PB!! Put on a little bib for the first time New HM PB!! Put on a little bib for the first time in over two years for the Shufflers invitational half-marathon event and omg I was feeling a bit nervous, so silly.

It was more of a time trial than a race for me (because I wasn't gonna win) so I just focused on pacing and running my best.

Man, it really hurt! I haven't been running this distance much, so by the 18km mark my legs started to fade and I could see my pace dropping.

But I've already come so far, so I just sucked it up and somehow managed to make it to the end.

Really happy with my time - my fastest HM ever I think. Woohoo! Thank you to the organisers for the effort and to the volunteers who made this event run so smoothly.

Woke up this morning with sore legs but with a silly grin on my face, because I've missed this feeling!

144 days to Berlin Marathon.

#roadtoberlinmarathon #bmwxcheryltay #halfmarathon
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#showgratitude #beachday
    You probably have seen this photoshoot that I rece You probably have seen this photoshoot that I recently did for @shiseidopro_official, where I was very fortunate to have had a team of professionals glam me up for this.

1 hair stylist, 2 make up artists, 2 stylists, 1 photographer + assistant, and of course the client team and the agency team. Totally made me feel like a superstar for a day!

You know what? The younger me would have killed for this opportunity.  I suffered from various eating disorders so I could become skinny and I really, really wanted to become a model.

Swipe to see my journal entry where I talked about how badly I wanted to be one and get in print ads and do TVCs, how I still felt I wasn't skinny enough, and how insecure I felt about myself. It's crazy!

Oh if I could talk to my 21-year-old self I would tell her how amazing she is and how she doesn't have to be skinny and become a model to prove her self-worth. Somehow I kept thinking that if I became thin, I would be better accepted and being a model would validate my existence. No gurlllll you already are enough!

BONUS - swipe to see some of my photos from my modelling days back then. WHO IS DIZ?! I did get some jobs here and there, but they weren't big jobs. @thehuangergames had a good laugh at these pics, but hey we were all young once ok!

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    I used to hate my legs, thinking they were thick a I used to hate my legs, thinking they were thick and huge and ugly. I hated how my shorts would keep riding up between my legs because I have no thigh gap. I hated how I looked terrible in short shorts because my legs just looked fat.

But now I'm proud of these legs. They can do so many things and right now they are training for a marathon, on top of achieving many other things that I like to do like cycling and swimming and wakesurfing and taking long walks.

So don't hate your legs or any part of your body. It's yours!! It doesn't have to look a certain way because who gets to decide how it should look?!

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    This is probably the best and only proper photo we This is probably the best and only proper photo we got that day, because with @jyanyoga and @constancelaujm always goofing around, it's hard to get a decent pic.

Swipe to see what I'm talking about.

Still, always happy for time spent with these siao zhabors!

#beachday #bikinigirls #sunsandsea #blueskies #fitgirls #bikinitime
    I'm always up for anything interesting so when @sh I'm always up for anything interesting so when @shiseidopro_singapore gave me this opportunity to get creative with my hair, I was like, BRING IT! Totally loving this split-coloured hair with the magenta shade that is new to their ULTIST by PRIMIENCE range.

This hair colour formula is developed for Asian hair and has COLOR-in-CORE Technology that locks the colour into the core, so it really brings out the shade you want. I also like how my hair does not feel dry at all, which is a big thing for me when I colour my hair.

I get that some people cannot be too wild with their hair because of work, but a shade like that is not too loud and probably more palatable for the office? So, go on and get creative with the new trend shades from ULTIST - and ask for a split colour like mine!

#ShiseidoProfessionalSG #PRIMIENCE #ULTIST #BeautyStreamSS2022 #SpectralAllure 
#TogetherWithBeautyCreators #BeautyCreators
    The latest Honda Civic, which is in its 11th gener The latest Honda Civic, which is in its 11th generation now, is something I was curious to try as this is the successor to the Civic that I currently own.

For starters, the new Civic has a cleaner look but the interior is where the difference is greater. The cabin ambience feels more upmarket now, with premium features like wireless charging, a bigger 9” screen that sits atop the dashboard and a honeycomb mesh that runs through the dashboard and conceals the aircon vents.

One thing that stood out is its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that is now the only engine variant that the Civic is available in, in Singapore. Mine is the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine, so I’ve really missed driving a turbo with its quick pick-up.

But I feel the biggest thing to note about this 11th-gen Civic is the range of safety tech features. It has adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist to prevent you from veering out of your lane, collision mitigation braking that alerts when you get too close to the vehicle ahead, and something called the LaneWatch system which essentially is a camera under the mirror of the passenger door that shows you what is in your blind spot when you are turning left. With all of these, you have less excuse for bad driving behaviour.

I definitely enjoyed this zippy drive and I had a lot of fun!

Engine: 1,498cc turbocharged inline 4
Power: 129PS at 5500-6000rpm
Torque: 180Nm at 1700-4500rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable
0-100km/h: 10.5 seconds
Price: S$143,999 with COE*

*A low downpayment option is available, starting from only S$14,400. You may leave your details at https://bit.ly/11-CivicSG to find out more.

#HondaCivic #Civic #Builtaroundyou #KahMotor @honda_sg
    Rented a motorbike for a week just for fun, before Rented a motorbike for a week just for fun, before I start my Class 2 lessons next month. Oh how I've missed the feeling of the wind on my face! And of course it has to be a sports bike. Can't afford a sports car so sports bike it is!

Taking my motorbike licence at such a late age in life feels like some kind of mid-life crisis for a need for speed you know hahaha. I first took 2B lessons in 2010 but gave up then, which I regretted, but it's ok NEVER TOO LATE!!

#motorbike #bikergirl #yahamaR3 #sportsbike #class2a
    We finally got blue skies for wakesurfing! OK in t We finally got blue skies for wakesurfing! OK in this photo the cloud cover came but I swear there were blue skies, just swipe to see the rest of the photos haha.

I am really grateful for my life, that I get to do this; for my friends, whom I can do this with; and for my body, that allows me to do what I want.

🙌🙌🙌

#wakesurfing #blueskies #watersports #dreamwakeacademy #fitgirls
    Saturday night boxing! Was wondering if I would r Saturday night boxing!

Was wondering if I would run into any friends there and I'm glad I did yayyyyyyy.

#boxing #superdrysg #fjbenjaminsg #fitnessclass #workoutime #fitpeeps
    After two rained-out Saturday mornings, we finally After two rained-out Saturday mornings, we finally made it out to ride with @teamfugu!

It's been a full Saturday for me from 4am to 10pm and I'm ready for a good sleep. Tell you more tomorrow!

📷: @tubberchubbs
    Excited to announce that I'll be racing the BMW Be Excited to announce that I'll be racing the BMW Berlin Marathon this year!

2022 is the year I'm on a mission to do better - for myself, the environment and those in need.

I'll be representing BMW Group Asia in the BMW Berlin Marathon, which is a World Marathon Major and the exclusive slots are usually via ballot. It will be my first WMM and I'll also be raising funds for the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

I recognise that environmental and social sustainability are essential for our future, so to do better for the environment, I'll be embarking on beach clean-ups and other conservation activities with BMW Group Asia and you can join us too. Stay tuned for more updates on how you can do your part.

It's gonna be an exciting year, I can feel it!!

Come on, do it with me and make this year YOUR year as well. Time to set some goals!

Shot by @jerrytangcl
Edited by @thehuangergames

#berlinmarathon #bmwgroupasia
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