Epic Valley ECO100 - Race Report

I never expect it to be this hard.

I bet most of the participants underestimated this race too. I mean, 2,000m+ elevation gain over 100KM run with mostly flat ground, how hard can it be, right?

Elevation graph released by organiser

Cut off table

My own chart

In the past, I learnt that elevation graph never actually reflect the level of toughness of a trail, but the Berapit/Tokun/Machang Bubuk hills were something else...

Cold, Dark, Wet, Lost.

I kind of join this race less than a month before the event when someone couldn't make it and the organiser approved the transfer, I was craving for some long distance training and some elevation training, I thought, this could be a good training... But I can't just go for a 100KM trail naively without any trail training, so I squeezed in 2 short trail training in FRIM and Wawasan to wake up some muscles needed for climbing, also to benchmark myself how much time I need to climb certain elevation gain, which may be helpful for me to make sure my cheat sheet prepared for the event is reasonable.

My cheat sheet, target 18 hours finishing

From the trainings I realise I keep losing grip descending, then I realise my Sense Ultra 2 was at its final term, it could handle some trainings, but I doubt it will last a 100KM without incidence, thus, I bought a new pair of SenseUltra 4 just the day before the race. Same breed of species with better feel and fit, it's new, so it has gotta feel better, lol!

Fast forward to race day, did the 2XU training clinic in the morning, took a short nap at home and off I started my drive to Bukit Mertajam after lunch. The weather along the normally 4 hours journey sent me a hint that this will not be an easy race, I went through a few raining zone and traffic jam and eventually arrived at the starting line SRK(C) Sg. Lembu after 5:30 hrs of driving. By then, I was a bit exhausted with light headache.

Quickily I went for bib collection and mandatory kits check to get my ribbon tied, then I got back into my car to get changed and prepare the 50KM drop bag. Bump into Edmund who also doing the same race while I was doing my changing, lol!

After all done and settled, proceed to the school hall to have dinner served by organiser, ain't great, but it is sufficient, a chicken curry with sweet potatoes would make it perfect, lol! Also managed to catch up with familiar faces from KL: Angel Tang (not running, hmm... supporter kononnya...), Teck Wei, Reyne, Elded, Uncle Chang, Edmund, YongNing Chen, Fakhrul, Rambo, Kelly Hoh, Leslie etc...

the organiser even took care of the muslim

this was my last bite before starting the race

looks good but I didn't try

Before the official flag off, there was a race briefing by Seow Kong on the terrain and cut off for each water station, good to know certain points, but too late to change anything, more like mental preparation for what's coming. Edmund kept telling me this hill jialat, that hill jialat, I was thinking, KNN, so jialat then why u join also? lol!!! JiaLat!

Cut off for each station

The race later flagged of sharp at 10PM after all photos have been taken (a must for every race!). As I wanted to make sure I stay in the top10, I need to know how many were ahead of me before they disappeared in the dark, I tried to keep up to the front pack for the start and found myself at about 7th or 8th, maintained my pace for a little longer to confirm my position and I was already at 4th position.  As the 1st 3 runners were obviously faster, I didn't want to waste energy in keeping up, thus slowed down to training pace and see if there is anyone catch up from behind to make a pack of our own.

I ran through the palm old estate alone, having the 3rd runner's blinker (quite bright actually) in sight while no sign of anyone catching up, so that was it, I didn't want to be really alone in the whole night, decided to maintain pace to follow on the blinker light for as long as I could. Soon after a few KM, we exit to main road where I slowly caught up with the 3rd runner, 1st and 2nd already no where to be seen, so I decided to follow his pace. After awhile, he suffered side stitch, I overtook and started to run alone again. Running alone without any target in front was in deed a bit boring and I need to be cautious about the surrounding more, before I reach the 1st hill of the race, some 2 guys approached from behind. Took an easy jog up the hill before I changed to 30 steps jog and 30 steps walk just to get over the hill, as the night still young and I was still very full at energy, the hill was passed pretty easy. Hit the 1st water station after coming down from the hill, I was actually happy coz I know I won't be alone with 2 runners coming along.

Some where between WS1-2

WS1&2 - (The Warm Up)
I didn't need much water replenishment, thus I took off earlier than them. The next 12km was totally flat (for trail run), it was pretty easy and comfortable to maintain endurance pace, I can tell the 2 were following behind but yet to come close. By the time I reach water station, I started to feel abit hungry, watermelon looks the most appealing to me, grab a few to munch and off I go. WS2 to WS3 was full of surprises as out in the open paddy field, came many yellow lights flying from my left crossing the path in front of me, they were a bunch of buffaloes!!! They ran along side on my right for some hundred metres before they cross my path again !!! I was thinking if this goes on for the entire section, I don't know when I will eventually get knocked down by them if I am ahead of them. Luckily the volunteers in motorbike came and keep them at where they are on the side of the paddy field, phew... I also realise, any dark patch on the ground, never ever step on them, they are soft in texture, u won't like them, lol!

WS3(29KM) - (The Cruise)

I hit WS3 almost back to back with 4th runner, this is where I 1st time seeing the runners in front still resting at the station and came the 5th runner who was eventually the 1st runner up who led the race most of the time. From WS3 to WS4 I was then accompanied by the 4th runner who was from France, we chat a little before he decided to drop his pace and that was the last time I saw him during the race. I cruised on until WS4, bump into the 2nd and 3rd position guys, I took off shortly after they left and found myself lost at a junction before leading up to the 1st big climb of the race: The Berapit Hill. 

WS4 (40KM) - (The Beginning of Nightmare)

I decided to take thing easy on this hill as it was the 1st of the 3 hills in the mid section of the race. Whack my 1st pack of 2nd Surge to get some caffeine into my body then I started to walk my pace up the hill and soon after some 200M climb, I found myself at a dead end where people stop for drink or bbq, definitely not a place I should be. So I back track until I saw a headlamp coming, I thought he would be the 4th runner, but he appeared to be 1 of the 2 guys ahead just now. Good news is I am now not alone, bad news is, if he is lost, then we are lost now!!! We moved back and forth the surrounding and couldn't find any marker that lead us else where, then came another runner, he was the other runner I met just now too!!! In other words, apart from the leading runner who was local and managed to cross this section, we all stuck here and lost in the dark with no marker to lead. 

At the end, with the expertise of the one of them (the HK guy who eventually won this race), we managed to find another track leaving this zone and head uphill again. Soon, we got lost again at another section but we managed to get out from it faster this time. At the 2nd climb of this hill, I lost the HK guy and the other guy failed to keep up, I was back to alone again. Rain came, the route became slippery and with solo head lamp, it became challenging to spot marker on my own while trying to make sure I don't trip and fall on steep descent. Then it was a series of steep down hills, getting lost some where a resting area for hiker where no other path was found, ended up at a tail of a small stream, washed my hands off muds and tracked back for another way. These went on for like forever...down down down down.... and the headlamp had lasted more than 6 hours, the light went dimmer and dimmer...

WS5 (50KM) - (The Start of 2nd hill in the dark)

By the time I finished the 1st half in 6:40 HRS, my GPS clocked 54.5KM, not a good sign but it was good enough. Collected my drop back, get rid of my windbreaker and 1st headlamp, replenished my raisin and prepared my bottle with 2 packs of Hammer Recoverite, I soon realised the complete silence surround me, I raised my head and I saw everyone stopped and looking at me (or my doing). It was very awkward, may be it was the volunteers' 1st experience in ultra race at 50KM check point, they wanted to see what kind of weirdo would do a 100KM in the middle of the night, but it was my 1st time being watched like that too, lol!!!

Finished my VSOY drink and a pack of Gardenia bread, at least some real food in the tummy now. I was ready to move, then I realise some pain coming from around my waist, I lifted my shirt and I saw chaffing on both sides of my waist, this was definitely unusual for me, but I guess the wet condition plus the constant movement going up and down hill have caused my pant to rub against my skin. Asked for plaster but was told the ambulance has it and it was located further down the road out of the check point. Didn't bother much with that, thus make my move out towards the next hill. 

Based the experience in 1st hill, I needed to re-assess my time planned for the coming 2 hills, I figured that I may take longer than planned but I have buffer time of about 40mins from my previous flat run, I just need to be realistic with my pace and take it easy, in other words, I walk, just make sure I get through the next 2 hills 1st. To be honest, I actually thought I could finish the race in 16 hours, comfortably.

While talk is easy, the moment I left the WS5, the cold wind send chills to my spine and I regretted for leaving the windbreaker behind. With new headlamp, suddenly the road got brighter, I walked down the road and made the turn to 2nd hill, saw the next water station (Tokun B which is same location at Tokun), but I need to complete my 2nd hill loop before come back here. The 2nd hill started off quite easy with some stairs and later entering into the woods which was already wet by the rain, I took my easy time step by step for this supposedly 5KM route (ended with 6KM somehow) to slowly finish my Recoverite drinks. As the 2nd hill would have 2 ascents and 2 descents, I just focus on getting through the 1st climb and make sure I don't exert myself. 

Sleepiness kick in at this time, probably because my heart rate was not high enough when pace was too easy, I had to push my climb to wake the body up with higher heart rate. At some point when the distance went beyond 5KM with no sign of returning to the Tokun B water station, I started to question if I may be taking the wrong way to the 3rd hill instead, anyhow, that question at least kept my mind occupied in the whole emptiness of darkness and jungle cries... Lucky me, I made it out after 6KM, so I was on the right track. The chaffing at my waist had gotten in my way by now, I had to nurse it with plaster and at this time, the sky started to get brighter, it was around 6:30am.

WS6 (55KM) - (The Donkey Kong Hill)

I kept the headlamp on as it still helped to detect reflective markers. The climb at 3rd hill reminds me of the Donkey Kong game where I move up the hills from left to right and right to left, all the way up, all the way... Now I remembered why Edmund kept saying Jia Lat, coz it was really Jia lat... I kept looking at the watch to see the elevation gain reading up, that was the only comforting info, as long as it kept increasing, I am happy.

Coming down the 3rd hill I noticed my feet didn't feel right, it was painful with every step, I immediately suspect it could be overnight soaking in wet, the feet had got wrinkled and pushed against each other, and may some mud/sand gone in the shoes causing blister too. But I strive on, continue to descent hoping to see the next water station at the bottom of the hill. I was wrong. At the bottom of the 3rd hill was a kampung, following the road leaving the kampung was long and lots of turning, from this point, there was a cyclist started leading my way. It helped a bit as I don't have to focus on looking for marker. I just focus on completing the remaining miles to get to water station 7, it just seemed harder and further than I thought some how, after looking at the cheat sheet, I realised the next stop was about 3KM away. Exiting to the main road, it was still a very long way (few km) till the next station. Once I reach there, it was about 11hrs into the race, I was the 3rd person arrived there and the volunteers showed great enthusiasm, but I was tired. 

WS7 (67KM) - (The Escorts)

I didn't want to spend too much time there, it was supposed to be 67KM by now but my watch showed 73KM, way above the distance, I have another 35KM to cover in flat route and another hill towards the end. If I stay too long, I may not even want to get up to continue, I rather to ponder about that question along the next 10KM to water station 8. The moment I left for the WS8 I was still alright, after 1km into running, the pain on both feet came back, they are not going away, I had to change to 200metres jog, 50 metres walk, when I felt better, maybe a 400metres jog with a 100 metres walk. I kept playing with these random combination of jogging walking to cover km by km. But the event videographer came along in vehicle to capture my suffering, so I had to pretend jogging again, lol!!! As I entered into kampung road again, my escorts had grown from 3 cyclists to another motorbike, and later another 2 motorbikes. At some point, I felt like doing a small business behind the tree but because they were waiting, I let go that idea. But I did it anyway at the end, lol!

Dude, give me a break, I wanted to walk la....

WS8 (77KM) - (The longest 11KM)

So our convoy exit to main road again, went up fly over bridge with heavy traffic before finally arrived at water station 8 located in a stadium. I lost my appetite here, only asked for ice cold water and isotonic drink, clear my shoes from sand, took some photos with the passionate volunteers before I took off for the next 11KM to WS9. Exiting WS9 was an housing area with shop lots where the local having the weekend breakfast also cheered for me, I felt very motivated, but the feet are giving up on me, every step was a torture. Despite having so many escorts, I only managed 2KM of running then switched back to walking.

"This is no longer a training" I kept telling myself, this is even beyond racing, I was stretching myself far more than what I have planned for. After short while the road then turn into trail with sandy rocky path, this was where the motorbike and cyclists escorts left me, they had done more than they needed to for me, and I was also relieved because I could just walked without feeling the pressure of being waited the whole time. Yet, 2 of motorbikes came back for me (was it 3 bikes? arghh! can't remember anyway), they said the no.4 runner was not announced leaving the hills yet, but I knew they were concerned about letting me alone, except this time they tailed me from behind instead of leading.

The route was pretty straight forward as there was only one way in along the new route opened into the estate, I can see the river on my left and on the other side of the river was the similar path and there were MARKERS!!! in other words, some where down the road I needed to make a U-turn (I did recall seeing some route like this at race briefing..), the further I run down this path, the more I need to run back later!!! Soon, I saw a cross over in the middle of the river, so I made the turn without checking because the mind already set for a U-turn route, one of the motorbike rider called me and said I should continue straight because he saw the markers ahead too, now I am confused. He went ahead to help to confirm the route while I walked back, I saw the red ribbon to block the crossover bridge on the ground, which means, this path was supposed to be closed but somehow it was cut. In all honesty, I carried on with the original route until we exit to another main road, just when I thought this was really the time to make the U-turn, I was called again that there was red mark on the road that says I should run along the tar road not U-turn, it puzzled me quite a bit but so far the markers had been correct.

Though I was a bit frustrated with both times of U-turn cancelled, lol! I decided to deal with my feet 1st, for the 1st time in the race, I remove my socks to check the condition of my feet, I realised my feet were in bad shape with full of wrinkles, funny idea came so I decided to take a break trying to use the heat on the tar road to dry up my feet and the socks. It was quite a funny to see me walking back and forth along the road to get more heat on to my feet, lol!!! Then come another bike and he mentioned the 4th runner was now on his way leaving the last water station, I went "what??!! I thought you guys said he was not even out from the hills?" lol! Should I be happy or not ? Someone was a few KM away from me and probably going to overtake me since I had turned into walking pace.

The feet looked like this

Somehow I needed to do something about it, so I decided not to wear my socks and went bare with my shoes, surprisingly I felt comfy for awhile (or may be the threat from 4th runner motivated me too, lol!). Not long after running along the tar road, I turned into trail again, which eventually joined back to where the opposite side of the river where I saw markers. Not long after I ran into this opposite route, I finally saw the 4th runner at the opposite side running with good pace, he was not whom I expect to see, but I think he was one of the 2 runners behind me before WS1. With his pace, I estimated that by the time I reached next water station he would have caught up with me, that somehow propelled me to turn walking into jogging but I didn't last long because running without socks and sand going into the shoes did cause other problem like blister on the toes and other parts of the feet.

So I took my 2nd break on this section, started to walk after I met Seow Kong in a 4WD blocking a junction so that runners don't accidentally exit the route, time for lunch I told myself so I took out my Gardenia bread to munch while taking another guess when will Mr. No.4 come catch me at this pace. After I was done with lunch and another pack of gel, I put my socks back on and continue to walk jog  until I exit to main road again where another motorbike marshal was waiting. He then lead me to the next entrance into trail where the water station was just another 1KM+ away.

between WS8 to WS9 under noon sun where I made wrong turn all the time

WS9 (88KM) - (The Dialogue)

I had come this far, I knew I was going to finish this race nevertheless, but may be the finishing timing will be around 17 hours with my kind of walk/jog. Refilled with iced water and iced isotonic, I was ready for a hot section at noon. This was also the section I expected the 4th runner to catch up and overtake me, it was on the open road the entire time for 1st half, straight and long until a junction where I was directed back into trail and this was when the heavy down pour started after I crossed the main road into the trail. It was very cold and my shoes getting wet again, that means my feet are soaking in water again too. I can't be bothered at this point but to continue to walk, soon enough, the 4th runner finally came and overtook me (hurray!!! that ended my forever guessing, lol!). Not long after, the men champion for 50KM category came along and overtook me too, one hell of a fast guy to be able to run this fast after that 2 starting hills and 40KM+ of running...My feet were killing me and the weather was killing me too, I started to talk to myself as 3rd person: "u can do this, 3km to go, less than 10km to go, u have done this before, u don't quit, u don't quit, inch by inch, step by step, don't give in, don't give up, remember the miles leading u to now, u don't quit, 8km to go, 2km to water station, it's only rain, u have been through worse in the night, conquer your feet, conquer your weakness..." I spoke to myself with all possible sentences I could find and remember, until I reached WS10...

WS10 (95KM) - (Final climb)

Reaching WS10 and I no longer felt tired, the goal become just complete the final hill and home run. It was less than 300 metres climb ONLY, I knew I have done this before and I will be able to do this regardless, one step at a time, good that it was steep enough so I don't have to take many steps to get elevation gain, it won't make any difference on my pace even if it was a flatter route, I was already walking anyway. Kept counting down the elevation gain needed to get before the downhill, 280, 250, 220, 200, 180, 160, 140, I kept speaking to myself again with what Al Pacino spoke in Any Given Sunday (if you haven't watched, at least go youtube and watch that speech he gave): "Inch by inch, play by play, until we're finished, we are in hell right now, believe me...." got easier when I reached half of the gain I needed to get. Half way there I kept telling myself, less than half, 100 metres to go, 80, 60... then comes the downhill. It's all over, I know I can nail this and it is just a matter time, even if I just walk, I will make it back within 17 hours. The rain somehow stopped, coming down the hill cutting through extra length in the wood were killing my feet, but I was already counting down on the distance, 3km to go, 2km to go, it got easier as I exit the trail into the main road again...

Towards Finishing line
Seeing the familiar road leading towards finishing allowed me to relax and took an easy pace to walk, the end was near and I checked my watch, I was doing better than I thought at the final hill, getting myself a very well ahead of 17hrs finishing, timing was not the matter anymore, I had a new learning about myself, that matters. As I saw the banners of ECO100 approached after the slight climb on the road, the music was drawing near, I could smell the finishing line  (ya, smell, this is what 100KM do to u...). I made that final turn and make a small jog towards to finishing line...

This, means pain inside...

Must gaya a bit a finishing

Winners:

The 100KM winner, from HK

Mr.No.4, The guy who overtook me at final 10KM, LOL!

Local guy who got 1st runner up.

50KM men champion who overtook me too at final 10KM

Notice the middle section of the hill at 45KM zone....

Did a lousy final 26KM at 9th place for that segment

Clearer look of the blisters when scars are formed

u can't see the blisters clearly

Can u see the blisters on both feet ? U can, but u can't differentiate.

The shoes did well for the race, hardly any major damage, but notice some parts of the sole got ripe open, need to check with supplier on warranty, it is not supposed to damage in this way:

Note:
Kudos to Seow Kong and Allan Lee on organising this almost perfect event, the route was torturing but it was great, the water stations were excellently managed by the IPK students, the road marshals did a great job and the Bukit Mertajam cyclists touched my heart with their escorts. Thumbs up for everyone and congrats to those who completed

Photo credits: Seanworld marathon, Leslie Ho, Angel Tang, CH Goon, Kelly Hoh, Hansen Chua