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. :)