Penang Ultra 50KM - My Story

I start to write my report late because I wanted to find out how did I end up being the 1st male to cross the finishing line for 50KM. Drama right?


Here is the story:

The race for 50KM started at CP3 which is 34K point for 84/100KM category, the cut off for 84/100KM at this CP was 2:30am but was extended till 2:40am, with some runners managed to get through this window period, including my ex-coleague. But unlike many of them, he was motivated to carry on, while a few of the runners I observed, they looked like the game ended long before they reach here. In fact, they need volunteers to tell them that they should continue their run, but I know, they have lost the battle, or maybe they just never take this seriously at all.
 

Back to 50KM race, so we flagged off at 3am, out of the school gate, I tried to get to the front pack to know where do I stand for the start and to pace myself accordingly. 300m into the run I was able to see clearly that there were 2 guys far ahead followed by Debbie Chin, ya, she joined the 50KM this year, so the race was to determine which lady will be the 1st runner up not champion and my vote went to Toh Hui Sung as I know she is fast.

That said, means I was once again started a race at 4th position like how it was in Eco100 last month! I tried to keep up with the front pack but to realise after 1KM they were still drawing distance away from me, and that was at a pace of 4:50min/km!!! I told myself it is time to pull back and do what I planned instead of chasing the rabbits and risk burning out too early and worse if I exaggerate my on and off shin splints that put me in rehab mode for most of the September.

So I slowed down, keep my pace around 5:10-5:20min/km, and watching the blinker at the back of Debbie's hydration bag fading away from my sight in the next 2km. I was kind of like back to Eco100 all over again, lonely but not alone coz there were a lot of the 84/100km runners along the route. Time flies as I followed the route, overtaking them who had done more than 40km at this point, with the throbbing pain at my left shin distracting my mind. I was hoping it to go away as I switch to lighter mid foot and smaller strides, 10km into the run, it didn't get better, or worse, I supposed I can assess if I am still good at the next CP. Bump into Hong Lan towards the end of this stretch, she was walking but she seem ok, based on timing she was doing well for half mark of 84K.

 

The 2 leading guys from the start

Debbie, the leading female all the way (that's me at the back)

me tailing far far away behind

Reaching CP4 5mins ahead of my upside timing, which was a good news to me. CP4 was supposed to be a very happening place to be in, but I didn't make a long stop, refill some 100 plus and off I go.

I wish I could slowly keep up with the 2 guys ahead later of the race, but I was happy with where I was then. Took a slow jog to the starting of the Teluk Bahang climb to allow the gas from the 100plus to come out from the bottles. Moon was out and the sky was clear, pace was better than I thought, average 6min/km up without exerting much of my energy and surprisingly the pain at the shin stop coming back. While I enjoyed the cold breeze going up, I saw some ambulance lights further in front, I was thinking the organizer must be expecting people to need help especially for the  84/100km runners and stationed medical assistance on the way up hill.

Soon I realised I was not reaching the ambulance at all, it was moving! But which ambulance would move so slow if it was fetching casualty? Soon the truth revealed when I got close enough to see it, it was actually a police car moving slowly, so the next thing came to my mind was: it's a podium runner ahead. The best thing about ultra running is that there is no rush and I have plenty of time to think: so, a podium runner at this point can only be from the 50K category, ahead of me is only 2 guys and 1 lady, I don't think Debbie will slow down so early in a race given her track record of winnings, that means it must be a guy in front.

 

My best guess, must be the 2nd guy with orange calf guards, because he did look like he was following the 1st guy's pace and following someone else at fast pace probably was draining him fast early. While I was having these thoughts above I was slowly closing the gap between myself and the police car, and I was able to see the runner ahead, yup, it was him. This came to me as a bonus as I never thought of catching any of them 2 this early. So about 1.5km before we hit the end of the up hill climb, I overtook him and I didn't know how the policemen know I am from 50K category, the car started to follow me.

 

Before I reached the peak of the climb, I saw Tay Poh Chye, gave him a shout out to overcome the climb and there came the down hill ride. For the beginning of the down hill I do enjoy the pace but as I feel more vibrations on my quads and impact on my shins, I started to worry about later part of the race. The downhill was as windy as uphill, some parts were pretty dark, while I adjust my hydration bag fitting coming down hill, my blinker on the shoulder fell and crashed to the ground, I didn't realise that until I reach dark zone to notice no blinking light coming from shoulder. i blame it to the police car because its siren light blinded me from noticing the blinker fell off, I heard something fell but never thought it was my blinker.

 

Down hill was good, I was trying not to land too hard or run too fast, reached the next CP (CP5) after 8KM+ of down hill, to my surprise I saw Debbie was leaving the CP, checked my watch to measure the difference in timing between hers and mine until I leave this CP. Refilled my bottle with 100plus, took a banana and do some stretches before I hit the road again, the difference? 2mins++ I wasn't planning to chase Debbie, knowing that there was a guy much ahead of us, at least I have no obligation to chase her. Still managed to see her from far in the dark but after awhile, lost sight of her again.

The next 10KM was along Batu Ferringhi, while some may like the flatter route here, some may not, this 10KM is rolling hills up and down, while I hardly do any long distance training since RJM, I spent the next 1hr trying to maintain an average of 6min/km pace while taking time to finish the bottle of Recoverite mixed with 100plus (by accident actually, I handed the wrong bottle pre-filled with Recoverite powder for 100plus). There were less runners along the route now, traffic was a lot busier than Teluk Bahang with buses moving both ways every now and then. There were quite some runners doing their training early in the morning here. Before I knew it, I was already at CP6 (37KM mark) and again, right before I went in the CP, Debbie was leaving!

I was a bit tired now, sat down on the chair while waiting for my bottle to be filled, 100 plus and iced water, I was not feeling hot, not sure why I felt the need to fill both bottles for a 8KM run next. Left CP6 about 3mins after Debbie. The next 8KM was actually quite a pleasant route to run with the sky getting brighter and running into housing area with many runners pack doing their training here, exchanged hi-bye with them and the comfy route made me wanted to take a walk somehow, so I did, took a 2mins walk before I picked up jogging pace and running again. Ended up spending extra 6mins vs planned. 

Reached Gurney Drive CP7 which was the last CP, no longer seeing Debbie, of course, she won't wait while I did my walk before coming here. Routine of filling up some 100 plus, and this was the only stretch I knew where I am heading. Took a slow jog along the Gurney drive and enjoy the morning scenery of the sea before taking the cornering and turn straight towards the city hall. Wanted to take a walk in the final 3KM but told myself to hang on as it was the final 3KM, instead I picked up the pace a little, after a while I could see the town hall and the familiar road, followed the longer loop while I saw Debbie already crossed the finishing line, there was no rush at all here. Made the final turn and cross the finishing line at 4:54 hrs in my watch.

Though I hit my target timing on the upper side, I feel there is room for better timing, psychologically I was tuned to be 2nd for men open, thus I was not on racing mode.

 

I later found out that I came 1st for male category, the next question was: what happened to the leading man ? if he dropped from the race, when did he drop ? I spent the next few days looking through the photos from the race and I couldn't find much photos. The only clue may be at Teluk Bahang climb, he was already not there, thus the police car was already following the leading male which I overtook. So, it was a win by accident, would I have chased after Debbie if I knew I am the leading guy ? Probably yes, but I don't think I am a match with Debbie on road chase, :P