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BEN TIREBUCK
Sports & News Editor
editor3@classactmedia.co.th
UK born and bred but living and working overseas for 20+ years. A career working in sales, marketing, news and media has seen him based in Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, San Diego and Singapore. Most recently with Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg, both in Singapore. Ambition in the heart, not in the head
What a catch!
What a catch!
FISHING: Dutch expat Eric Smulders recently reeled in what he believes is the largest grouper fish ever caught on a line in Phuket.
The Quarantine Runner
The Quarantine Runner
MARATHON: Should you be faced with the scenario, how would you likely spend your time during COVID-19 quarantine? Relax and do very little? Watch an endless amount of TV? Catch-up on current affairs, box-sets and movies? Learn a new language? Read a series of books? Write a book even? For Phuket resident Naruttama “Nick” Jarat the answer was none of the above. Instead he decided to take a leaf out of Forrest Gump’s book and run. And run. Then run some more. Nick, 37, recently spent two weeks in quarantine at a hotel in Bangkok after he and fellow crew members had delivered a yacht to a customer based in the Philippines. Faced with the daily restriction of his hotel room’s four walls and the ensuing boredom this would bestow on such an active character, Nick decided to use his time as productively as possible by conitnuing his hobby of running. In total he had amassed more than 140km by the time his quarantine ended. Nick and the crew left Phuket on Dec 4 and sailed their client’s 115-foot boat to Manila, arriving on Dec 17. The client had invited friends for a nine day cruise which took in island hopping, snorkelling and New Year’s Eve celebrations at sea. Nick worked onboard as the head chef. They flew back to Bangkok on Jan 19 after a mix-up with the initial immigration stamps in Manila meant they had to stay aboard the boat until the situation was resolved and they could leave the country. On returning to Thailand, Nick and three of his colleagues stayed at the Radisson hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit 13 where they served their mandatory quarantine, paying B43,000 for the two-week stay. Managing to see out the first day ok, Nick knew he would very soon get restless. However, that same day a friend who had recently undertaken quarantine in New Zealand messaged him to say she had run 10km one day in her hotel room in a bid to pass the time. A keen runner since a youngster, this was a light-bulb moment for Nick who decided to not just emulate his friend’s feat but to take a it a step or two further. “On my second day of quarantine I ran 15km, non-stop,” Nick told The Phuket News. “The room was relatively small but I was able to run back-and-forth in the corridor from the front door to the window, using my watch and running app on my phone to track the distance and time. “I made sure I had water and fruit to hand so I could grab it when needed and not interupt my running, which I did barefooted. I completed that first run in one hour and thirty minutes.” Nick then staggered a further nine runs across his remaining 12 days of quarantine, running an impressive 144km in total. “I managed 20km on day 8 in 1 hour 49 minutes,” he beamed. “Although day 10 was my highlight – I managed 42km that day in 3 hours and 55 minutes!” Focused Nick said the manner in which the quaratine was handled by hotel staff was very professional. “We had to remain in our room without exception for the first five days,” Nick said. “We had temperature checks twice a day during that time, once in the morning, once in the evening. “After five days we took the mandatory COVID swab test and were then allowed to go onto the roof of the hotel for fresh air but were not permitted to use any of the facilities such as the gym or pool. That’s why I took to running in my room,” he added. “I’ve always been an active person,” Nick said. “When I was a child I walked 3km to school every day for years. I took up running seriously when I was 31.” He also inspired one of his fellow quarantine mates to take up the activity, although he did not achieve anywhere near the kind of distance that Nick accomplished. “Even a small amount of exercise is better than nothing during quarantine,” he said. “I would find it very challenging to be so inactive for that length of time.” On arriving back in Phuket post-quarantine, Nick immediately took to the streets of his Pa Klok neighbourhood for a 14km run. Did he find it strange running once again in a more familiar or natural environment? “Actually I did, yes,” he replied. “The one thing I did notice when running in the room is how much more focused you become – there are no distractions or potential dangers that are presented when on the streets such as traffic, other people, etc.” It was that laser focus generated in his hotel room in Bangkok that allowed Nick to breeze through his quarantine and not be at all desuaded if he had to do it again. “We are waiting on the finalisation of a contract with a client which would mean delivering another boat to the Philippines,” Nick said. “I would be more than happy to take on quarantine again if necessary. “It would be a great opportunity for me to beat my personal best,” he concluded with a smile. Nick is part of a 25-strong running group that regularly meet and take on routes in the Pa Klok area. Anyone interested in joining in the fun can contact him on 091-154-4569 or Naruttama4569@gmail.com Nick’s quarantine-run breakdown was as follows: Day 2: 15km, 1hr 30mins Day 4: 21km, 2hr 5mins Day 6: 7km, 40 mins Day 7: 11km, 1hr 2mins Day 8: 20km, 1hr 49mins Day 10: 42km, 3hr 55mins Day 11: 11km, 1hr Day 12: 15km, 1hr 30mins Day 13: 11km, 1 hr Day 14: 1hr, 2mins
No Mercy for disqualified Yan as he loses UFC belt
No Mercy for disqualified Yan as he loses UFC belt
MMA: Petr Yan lost his UFC bantamweight championship to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259 in Las Vegas on Saturday (Mar 6) due to disqualification, the first time that a UFC belt has changed hands in such a manner.
Will it be derby day blues for the Reds?
Will it be derby day blues for the Reds?
FOOTBALL: Tomorrow (Mar 7) sees one of the most passionate derbies in the English football calendar as Manchester United and City meet for the 185th time.
Silky Ilkay steps up as the unlikely hero
Silky Ilkay steps up as the unlikely hero
FOOTBALL: When Manchester City’s captain and talisman Kevin de Bruyne was injured in the 2-0 win against Aston Villa last month it was feared that any Premier League title aspirations the club had could be derailed.
‘2 Man Scramble’ at the Blue Canyon
‘2 Man Scramble’ at the Blue Canyon
GOLF: Ahead of their Canyon course reopening next month, Phuket’s Blue Canyon Country Club welcomed over 100 golfers to its ‘2 Man Scramble’ event on Jan 24.
Painting a brighter future for an endangered species
Painting a brighter future for an endangered species
“Steven Spielberg has a lot to answer for,” German expat Holger Schwab quips when asked why the worldwide perception of sharks is predominantly negative.
Manchester City turn on the style to join title race
Manchester City turn on the style to join title race
FOOTBALL: Much resembling a champion racehorse, Manchester City seem to be timing their Premier League title challenge in perfect fashion as they manouvered themselves into second place in the table after a 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace last Sunday and a midweek 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa.
The Way Of The Dojo
The Way Of The Dojo
JIU-JITSU/JUDO: Less than a year after being founded, a Mixed Martial Arts Studio based in Phuket is the talk of the town after an impressive medal haul from a series of recent national competitions.
Game on in 2021 - hopefully!
Game on in 2021 - hopefully!
ALL SPORTS: COVID-19 devastated the sports landscape in 2020 with competitions all over the world affected resulting in high profile postponements and cancellations.
When form hits the fan call ‘Big Sam’
When form hits the fan call ‘Big Sam’
FOOTBALL: If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire: Big Sam.
Liverpool and Spurs held, Foxes sniff top-spot as Arsenal implode
Liverpool and Spurs held, Foxes sniff top-spot as Arsenal implode
FOOTBALL: Liverpool and Tottenham were both held to 1-1 draws yesterday (Dec 13) as Leicester edged ever closer to the summit and Arsenal imploded in a home defeat to Burnley.
Mourinho gets his groove back as Spurs jangle
Mourinho gets his groove back as Spurs jangle
FOOTBALL: It is fair to say that when Tottenham Hotspur appointed Jose Mourinho as their manager in November last year the reaction was very much sceptical.
Magnificent seven for Villa, United hit for six
Magnificent seven for Villa, United hit for six
FOOTBALL: Sunday is, traditionally, widely regarded as a day of rest. Not something that applied to the scintillating action that transpired in the Premier League yesterday (Oct 4).
Five star Foxes stun City but VAR controversy dominates
Five star Foxes stun City but VAR controversy dominates
FOOTBALL: The Premier League introduced a new anthem this season that is played at all grounds as the teams enter the field prior to kick-off.
Has technology in football gone a step too VAR?
Has technology in football gone a step too VAR?
FOOTBALL: On a day of high-octane Premier League action yesterday (Sept 19) that saw 21 goals scored across only four matches it is somewhat unfortunate that the main talking point to emanate is a controversial one related to the use of technology in the game.
Gareth looking to Bale out Spurs
Gareth looking to Bale out Spurs
FOOTBALL: The new Premier League season is not yet a week old and already has received a serious jolt as the news was confirmed yesterday (Sept 18) that Gareth Bale is returning to his previous club Tottenham Hotspur in a loan deal from Real Madrid.
Phuket’s ‘Crazy Viking’ makes ONE Championship debut
Phuket’s ‘Crazy Viking’ makes ONE Championship debut
MMA: Phuket-based Magnus “Crazy Viking” Andersson makes his ONE Championship debut this evening (Sept 18) in the main event of ONE: A NEW BREED III in Bangkok.
Local horse riding school helping forgotten kids
Local horse riding school helping forgotten kids
HORSE RIDING: Red Bamboo Equestrian Center, a horse riding school that recently opened their stables in Koh Kaew, has stepped in to help a group of local children who have been left stranded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team-by-team Premier League 2020/21 Preview
Team-by-team Premier League 2020/21 Preview
FOOTBALL: After the shortest of post and pre-season breaks, the Premier League returns to action tomorrow (Sept 12).
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