TMBT 2014 - 50K + 25K Combo Race Report

This story is probably not going to excite anyone coz once 100K virgin is broken, everyone assume you will survive any race below 100K. They are right to some extend, but not entirely right to assume.

After last year virgin 100K and confirmed with Translantau 100K, I am pretty sure I do not enjoy so much of midnight run/walk, so I am glad I did sign up only 50K and add up bit of challenges by signing up the 25K next day too. Both races originally were supposed to be 55+28... I may be a bit over confident that I will survive this 50K race, but I too have target timing to achieve, in case you don't know, this is actually my virgin 50K ultra trail...

Last year at 50K mark I did 11:40 hrs, this was with the early section traffic jam and a nice lunch break at pineapple ridges before completing the miki loop. This year, before the release of the course description by race director, I actually set a target of sub 11 hrs, given that there will be a 1st 5KM elevation and the total elevation is slightly increased. After reading the race director's guide with an estimated finishing timing of 10-12.5 hrs for AVERAGE runners, I work on the math and elevation graph again and I decided that I WANT TO BE JUST BETTER THAN AVERAGE, so there you go, my stretched target became 10hrs.

As you can see, cheatsheet ver.1 says 11:00 hrs target.

Cheatsheet ver.2, target became 10:00 hrs

The race flagged off at 7am sharp and it was a small stretch of easy trail before turning into a steep uphill climb on tar road. Having had previous experience of getting stuck behind slower runner, I managed to speed off a little before hitting the uphill, and that, was hell of an uphill, except those strong runners ahead, everyone walked up the 3-4K hill. What followed next was downhill in trail, anyhow I was still stuck behind other runners, since it was still early in the race, I decided to take an easy break here and wait to see if the trail will get wider.

The trail didn't get wider but people got slower, after 2-3K I have rested enough and decided to over take and charge on till the hanging bridge area which was last year starting route where most people stuck for at least 30-45 mins. Arrived at WS1 ahead of target time of 2:00 hrs, somehow gave me a good feeling for this race. From this point on, it was much easier to run solo with some occasional meet up with runners who slowed down up hill. One bad incidence here was I overtook 2 foreigners and made a wrong turn under their sight but they didn't even make any effort to call me, I came to realize my mistake pretty fast and managed to overtake them again and this time, no fxck was given, no hi no bye.

Managed to get across the familiar route towards WS2 that was gradually uphill in less than 2 hrs, a good 20 mins ahead of target time to be better than an average runner. Followed was an uphill climb where the split with 100K runners was and the rain for this year came slightly early around 12noon. Took sometime off to chew my lunch and catch some breath at half way point. I managed to hit WS3 by 12:30pm, a slight slower than planned time for this segment but still ahead of total time.

Leaving WS3 was a steep downhill via concrete stairs where I fell last year, this time round I took extra care to slowly move on step by step, Solomon Speedcross really can't do well under this kind of route. Strong veteran Kian Chong overtook me here at this point together with a few more Guai Lou. Just when I finally get off the stairs, the insole of my shoes misaligned due to heavily soaked, and this continued to haunt me for the rest of the race whenever I ran downhill. Having the insoles moved in the shoes had me stopped and remove my shoes to manually put it back in place and tighten my shoes further to stop it from moving a couple of times.

4.5K from WS3 to WS4 though was short but there was a steep uphill similar to the 1st 5K of the race under the rain, the misty view over the Kinabalu valley was very nice, same location last year, was heavy down pour to the extend that me and Patricia missed the WS4 all together... This year food was served at WS4, I spent sometime here to take my lunch, replenish the drinks while adjust my shoes again. At this point, I was quite certain that I will be travelling the remaining of the race either together or not far from a few foreign runners. 

Did I tell I bump into the Australian guy who finished ahead of me in SAC ? :) And yes, we finish this race together at the end...

From WS4 to WS5A was a long stretch of route going through highway, long stretch of it... I practically spent most of the journey walking between a few big guys who has brighter reflective vest and better blinking light. I also found out that TMBT route actually had leeches coz I found one on my socks before it managed to feed on me.. :P 

Turning from highway into trail before final WS5A was where I lost the few guys and traveled alone. I missed Patricia somehow, lol! Probably this was the only time I actually spend time and energy to look at the surrounding and slowly catch up again with some of them in front. Together with my buddy met at SAC, we exit the trail into the main road leading to the finishing line. Unfortunately this time, I depleted my energy too soon and didn't managed to make my final dash to the finishing line and yup, I failed to be better than an average runner in race director's guide. Clocked 10:02:14 and finished 18th in male category and 19th overall.  

Was I happy? Certainly.

Did I achieve the result that I wanted? Yupsolutely

Tired? Yes and No, energy depleted but I knew at some early parts I didn't push hard all the way. It could be the reason why I ignored the sign of energy depletion too. 

Took my time to change, to connect back to internet world while trying to finish as much left over food and drink in my hydration bag as I could, just realized I ate up only 1/3 of the food I prepared, shame on me for such poor intake. I waited until Chang arrived before I went to take my proper dinner in the hotel. After dinner, I knew I couldn't wait much longer as I need to handle my transport to my hotel and get as much rest as I could for the Hasuu Tasu the next day. Like last year, many people withdrew from the race due to heavy rain again, van after van returned transporting the runners from different check points. I was lucky to find one of the driver to drop me at my hotel J residence on his way back to fetch more runners.

By the time I settled down in the room, unpack and repack my hydration bag for next race, it was already close to 10pm and it was extremely cold due to whole day's rain. Though with no fan no aircond in the room, I was wearing jacket on the bed, using the poor signal trying to check out on the rest of the team if they have completed the run safely...

It was a pretty cold night that I even had to wear jacket to bed until I lost consciousness into dreams.... 

Day 2, I was thinking to run it as normal as I could, yet I set quite a challenging target at 4:40 hrs, and after the release of the race director's guide, I was crazy enough to adjust my cheat sheet to match the average runner's timing...

Before race director's guide

Slightly adjusted to meet AVERAGE runners' standard.

The race started with slight drizzling in the morning and I had some side stitch from the beginning. Tried to pace and follow Renee for the 1st few KM (on the road most of the time actually) and slowly adjust and regain my rhythm to run. 

Coming to uphill stretch on the road I just carry on with slow jog trying not to walk, and slowly I was overtaking more and more people until I can hardly see anyone in front. The route later enter trail after CP where I met the 100KM category bunch, lol! and in the trail I was more comfortable with the run.

Tailed a foreigner couple for almost throughout the entire trail until I lost them and as I approached some of the familiar ending, the feeling of missing that important junction and ended up with empty bottles surfaced, I will remember that moment forever...

There I went on with the right junction and dash towards the finishing line (since I already know how far it will be from that point onward). Surprised and happy to finish no.7 in less than 4 hours as I started slow, hard to tell how many people ahead of me.:)

The next question always will be: Will I return for TMBT again ? may be No for now, I have nothing to prove.

Don't I want to repeat the 100KM category to see how much I have improved since the 1st time doing it? Yes, I want to know, but with 2 experiences running almost the same 1st half, I roughly estimated my finishing time if I were to do it again, with the same harsh weather condition, perhaps less weight, better fueling strategy, stronger mind and more experiences on the same routes. So, may be save the time for other races 1st. 3 years later may be?

Vietnam Mountain Marathon 70K - Race Report

There are a few things you need to know about me on this race:

1. I never expect this race to be this tough.

I know it is going to take a long time, based on previous year's result, I was guessing may be runners took their time to enjoy scenery and take photos. One thing I know, the final 10K of the race, is going to be different, with a little spike. Trail runners we all know, any spike in elevation, is never just a spike, especially if it comes in later part of the race. :)

2. I never train for this race. I can 'hear' your [NAH....] in your mind, let me rephrase, I did my training for TMBT 55K and since the elevation for VMM 70K is similar to TMBT 50K, over a longer distance, I was not planning any training for VMM, so I rested after TMBT 55K.

and I was expecting a much better weather, much better trails, much better support stations, in VMM.

3. I was rushing all the way for this race. How so? I had a working trip to Singapore few days before departure and I was only home for few hours to pack and depart to Hanoi. I left a few important items home, e.g. my Nike bottles for my hydration bag, which, to me, are very important gears in this race.

and I almost wanted to buy this item, clear its content to use as my replacement bottle, suicidal I know...

A little history about this race, I learnt about this event when I was tagging with Patricia Lee, TMBT 2013 50K participant in the 1st half of my 100K race, tempted to join last year itself, despite the race director actually open for my registration, I figure that it was too rush to plan and I had some injuries from TMBT that I do not want to risk a suffering trip, even though it was one month away, so I didn't pursue, but I made up my mind to do it this year.

Why 70K? Patricia finished 2nd in 42K category last year and I figure that it might be too easy for me to just complete a trail race in 6 hours, pain in the @ss I know, but isn't that what all ultra trail runners do ? Pain in the @ss.

SO, here I was, took early flight on 18th Sep 2014, met up with the rest of the Malaysians who are doing 21/42/70K of VMM, upon arrival at the airport, quickly went to get a local simcard for internet access. From internet reading, Viettel seems to offer best coverage, paid 200,000 don (USD10) for the simcard, unlimited internet access on finger tips right away!

We spent sometime trying to figure out the most economical way to the train station where the train ticket collection center is at the Mango restaurant next to it. After some dingdong, Leslie sorted the negotiation part and all of us boarded the tourist van and dropped our luggage at the restaurant. Then we proceed for some shopping and lunch before return to collect our train ticket and little program sheet. After settled our dinner at the same place, off we go on the tuutuu train at 8:15pm.

Race briefing at Topas Ecolodge:

It was a very hot day and the briefing was done under a big canopy where there was not fan, the temperature at some point reach 42 degree....

Nice view at starting line/finishing line

Photo with Siaw Hua beside Malaysian Flag!

the cute village kids

The race flagged off at about 4:11am with some light dizzle... We ran through some tar road and wet stairs before entering the trail with clay path, it wasn't a difficult climb but the rain and the darkness made it slightly challenging, after the climb we entered the village, this was where I got lost the 1st time passing through the junction with marker until I noticed I couldn't see any marker anymore some 1-2km. Had to turn back until I managed to see other runners and followed them. The 2nd challenge of this race is that the marker was visible but far ahead in the wide open area, u have to figure out your own way to reach the marker, that include passing through the paddy field with extreme care to prevent yourself stepping into the wet paddy farm. Alot of energy was spent on balancing myself along the tiny path.

It took me quite sometime to finally reach CP1, this was when the sun finally rise and headlamp no longer needed.

Signing in at CP1

Trying to figure out where do I stand now in position...lol

From CP1 to CP3 was all the way climbing, the same challenges apply as the route was very uneven along some clay and tiny village routes, running was almost impossible, I had to go smaller steps to keep my balance and avoid any mistake on landing. Honestly speaking, I started to feel sore on my waist even at this stage. Good news is the weather was good and I managed to run ahead of planned timing.

There was nothing fancy about climbing route but the view got better as the elevation increased. As the 42KM category started at 7:30am just before the CP3 which was 3.5 hrs after the flag off for 70KM category, it was possible to meet the 42KM participants along the route after the CP3. To my surprise I started to bump into some 42KM runners as early as before CP4. Oh ya, the descent after the CP3 was very steep, runners need to be very careful of where they land the foot, it should not be big issue for runners who can manage technical trail well.

Keeping my spirit high

Banana was provided, good for filling tummy after 30KM

Water was sufficient

Photo with other runner at CP3 (i think)

The route to CP4 also involved some wet muddy clay route due to the rain, a wrong step into deep soft clay mud and u will never see your shoes again, the suction of the clay was very strong, I had to make sure I was pulling my leg out with my toes facing up. Fighting against the suction was quite exhausting!!! and the clay will stick on the socks... Good news is there are some river crossing allowing some simply washing..:)

Finally bump into familiar faces who did 42KM

Photo with the help from friends

After hard battle with clay mud before reaching CP4

try to have some fun too...

Thanks to Hong Lan for photos above

Fueling up at CP4, notice the hiking poles on the table?

Yes, I left my poles at CP4, had to turn back...

Lonely soul going back to retrieve my pole....

 Return of the Jedi (with the pole)

No energy to chase them already...

Tail gate the girl who eventually finished at 2nd for female

From CP4 to CP5 the weather start getting hot and it was more wide in the open field, the route was more manageable and easy to run, the challenge came from the heat and exhaustion after battling the a full marathon distance in trail. I bumped into Eldred and decided to tag along with him for as long as I could to take it easy. Most of the time was spent on walking jogging just to cover the distance.

 Tailgating Eldred...

 Not giving up...

 Continue to tailgate Eldred...

Smile for the photographer coz I am trailgating Eldred

From CP5 to CP6 was some steep climb but not as challenging as the ones at the beginning of the race, somehow I made it through without much struggling, partly because I was not pushing hard any more and enjoy companionship with runners around. Due to exhaustion, even though coming down from CP6 to CP7 was supposed to be easy route, I struggled to even keep up the pace with Eldred, my pace from CP5 to CP7 was average between 11-17mins per km, that tells alot on how slow I was going.

At the final climb after CP7 my heart finally gave in, with heart rate shoot up high suddenly, I was barely walking up the hill, I even took a rest by sitting down on the trail to allow my heart rate to normalise, the 3km uphill took me more than 1 hour. I was worried about the others because the 42Km runners are not required to carry headlamp, but if they are slow, when they reach this hill, it would have been late in the evening and it will be dark...

At the peak of the hill the race director was waiting with greetings, just when we thought coming down hill to the finishing line would be easy, the markers brought us to a wide paddy field, well, like it happened before at the beginning of the race, the village kids were having fun with the markers and I ended up at the front door of their houses twice, lol!

As we hit the main road, it became obvious where I should head for the finishing line, running the final 400metres was emotional coz I ran pass the flags of the countries which took part in this race and it made me feel like part of the family. Crossing the finishing line at 13 hrs 15mins was still way ahead of my planned 15 hours. Still managed to reach before dark and get my COLD shower done at the hill top (this part I leave it for runners who take part later to experience themselves, lol!) was both refreshing and struggling (grrrr!!!). 

After I am done with my shower, I head back to the finishing line to meet /wait for the rest of the friends to complete and enjoy dinner together. Then we took shuttle bus to return to Sapa town to rest for the night.

Group Photo at the finishing line (after shower and dinner)

Photo with Siaw Hua who finished in 14:20 and Hong Lan in 10 hrs for 42KM

Malaysian flag

Post race indulgence

That Final climb...

My Cheat sheet

Note:

1. If you like nature view and want to wake up abit late for starting and shower at own room after race, stay at Eco lodge. If you like shopping and like hotel stay and enjoy more restaurants food, stay in Sapa town. The organizer arranged shuttle van for people who stays in Sapa town.

2. Even though the total elevation is only 3000m for 70KM, the challenges may not come from elevation climb itself, the route will consume your energy.

3. If you are not in the hurry, bring camera to snap photos along the route, but be ready to get dirty, so, get some tough camera.

4. There is a 10KM recovery run the day after the 21/42/70km race, u may want to sign up to get more of it, the run will run through the Sapa town for finishing, where every one gets to see you.:)

5. Alot of stuff to shop in Sapa town, though the quality may not be guaranteed, but, with the price paid, it is really worth it, and u are helping the economy there, be generous but also bargain for a reasonable price. :)