Hard Times @ G5N

Photo: Uncle Foo

So how was G5N?
It’s bloody tough, you need to be fit and insane to complete 5 loops.

G5N is the Malaysia version of Barkley Marathon.
100km. 48 hours Total cut off time.
1st loop (20km) – 6 hrs cut off time
2nd loop (40km) – 8 hrs cut off time
3rd loop (60km) – 10 hrs cut off time
4th loop (80km) – 12 hrs cut off time
5th loop (100km) – 12 hrs cut off time

8000 meters / 24,000 feet elevation gain/loss.
2 sadistic race directors – Shine Teh & Jeff Ooi
11 starters. 5 finishers.

G5N elevation profile

Two weeks after I slept during the night on Hope Pass AS, I slept on a Nuang peak (1493 meters / 5000 feet) this time. The race format is simple 5 loops of 20km, each loop the runner were assigned a specific page number to a book. This book “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens is located on the peak, the runner need to tear out the page and showed to the RD at end of each loop.

I DNS starlight ultra a week before due to fever, and just recovered two days before G5N. My experiences tell me it's 50/50 chance to make it past half way.

Gears for G5N plus shoes (Fellraiser & S-lab XT6)

That when I seek out friends to pace me during the run, thanks Cikgu Syed, Zas Ibrahim, Razis Rahim & Khairi Muin.

First loop no prob, 20km done in 4:55 hrs

2nd loop Cikgu Syed pace me for 6:30 hrs. I was beginning to tire and fading, 3rd loop would be a tough one.

Photo: Cikgu Syed

3rd loop after resting about 2 hrs, i restarted my run. Walk out of start line 5 mins before 8pm cut off time. It's dark, drizzling rain but so humid in the jungle.

3 km into the Balak Trail, i stopped and started to vomit, my first of many for the rest of the night. This doesn’t look good….

Top: Dizzy and sleepy at Balak Trail
Middle: Another nap at Camp Pacat
Bottom: Additional sleep at Nuang’s peak
Photo: Zas Ibrahim

My pacers Team Nitecore was held up by traffic jam. They joined me after about an hour into the run. pathetic effort to run.

The toll of the race beginning to take huge challenges on me and I started to get dizzy and sleepy. We stop many times for nap and continue on, giving up is the very last thing on my mind. These two guys, my pacers gave their time and energy to accompany me for the run, at least I could do is to suck it up the pain.

I crashed again on Camp Pacat, another 20 mins nap. Thanks guys for taking good care of me. I  started vomiting again after that, finally after a very long walk; we made it to the peak. My 3rd peak of the day. I need to take page 173 from the book. Ironically, i just realised the book was titled "Hard Times", I reflect this not only during this race but all those hard times during my life.

Hard time don't last, tough people do!

Team Nitecore @ G5N

So I was still tired and took another nap on the cold and windy Nuang’s peak. When we're ready to go down, it was about 3am, I got about 3 hours get my ass to the sadistic race director with page 173 in my hand. Hopefully I get the right page, my brain does not work well by that time.

I calculated that no way I could run down in 3 hours, in the dark foggy jungle, slippery and rainy. I don’t need to kill myself now, there will be other races waiting… lol

We didn't give up but took our time and finally made it to start line at 9:47am, more than 3 hours cut off time. 27:47 hours after the start. 13:47 hrs for the 3rd loop including sleeping time, vomiting time etc.

I made it G3N, 60km this time. I'll be back next year.

My final pacer, Khairi Muin made himself useful by pacing the eventual winner Ewegene Tan. A million thanks to my sapotkrew Cikgu Syed, Team Nitecore - Zas n Razis, and Khairi Muin for your time and effort.

Congrats to all starters and finisher, especially to the organizer and volunteers for making this the toughest sadisctic 100km race in Malaysia. Proud to be in this inaugural Malaysian “Barkley” race at G5N