Good Luck Duathletes!!

To all my duathlon friends...

Wishing you all the luck
& do all the best you can...
Happy racing for the MMDS1 this Sunday, 23 April 2006..
Satisfy yourself with this great race...
You people are SUPERB!!!

An article found in the newspaper on MMDS1 recently...

"From mountains to the roads CYCLIST SHAHROM ABDULLAH COMES DOWN"
EVERY cloud has a silver lining - this saying could very well sum up the sporting career of duathlete Shahrom Abdullah thus far. Shahrom, was a national mountain bike cyclist about seven years ago but his whole team was disbanded after their lacklustre results at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

"It was quite disappointing for the mountain bike event to be dropped then. There was no choice but to try out something new," said the 27-year old who competed in the 1999 Brunei SEA Games and the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Shahrom then tried out the duathlon event which consists of cycling and running. He also took up triathlon which has swimming included as well, but it was duathlon which worked out for him. "I wasn't very good at swimming, so the dualthlon suited me better. I knew that I was capable of winning at local competitions," said the Kelantan-born cyclist.

His first major challenge in the newly-chosen event was the 2002 Malaysian Malakoff Duathlon Series (MMDS), in which he was crowned overall champion after racing three rounds. "That series brought out the best in me and that was when my talent really emerged. From that point on, I started competing in overseas competitions," he said.

The following year he skipped the local meet as he was away training in Phuket, Thailand, for three months with Kenyan John Kelai, who had competed in Malaysia two years earlier. "Training overseas is beneficial in that I am able to fully focus on my task. If I was at home then I would have to worry about work commitments," said Shahrom who is presently working with Malakoff, a power producer.

The national cyclist's training efforts paved the way for him to compete at the 2003 World Powerman event in Switzerland." He finished 25th in his first attempt. The following year, after training five months in Switzerland, Shahrom finished 14th overall. He however did not finish the race last year. "Competition is tougher in Switzerland as the distance is longer and the world's best compete there. Most of them are professionals and have much experience and exposure under their belts," he said.

This year, he will be attempting the tough world race again in August, although his training will be based locally. "I am hoping to improve on my previous showings at the race," he said. Before that, however, Shahrom will be competing in the local circuit and defending his MMDS title won last year. This year's competition will comprise two rounds to be held at Dataran Merdeka on April 23 and Putrajaya on July 30. This will be a prelude to the main event, the Powerman Malaysia event in Lumut, Perak, on November 11. The competition has been gaining popularity and participation has grown since its inception in 2002, from 133 participants to 535 participants last year.

This year, there could have an estimated 600 participants. Together with the Quick Release Adventure and Powerman, the Powerbar Duathlete of the Year Challenge will be introduced this year. In this challenge, the best duathlete for the men's and women's category will be chosen based on a cumulative points system from the three duathlon challenges. The winner will receive a cash prize of RM3,000, a championship trophy and automatic selection to the Powerbar Team Elite 2007.

Happy sweating & racing dudes!!! Do your best...