Sunday, November 8, 2015

Merapoh Forest Run 2015

The elephant can survive only if forests survive

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Last week, i finally came back to my adopted village (Merapoh) with Khairi Muin, not as RD but as a participant. I haven't done much running since Italy due to recovery and the bloody haze. My training mileage was abysmal. The real training done was eating and eating..

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The 5 hours spent hiking Nuang peak from Pangsun a week before was my only preparation for this 30km MFR. It's nice to back here in Merapoh, be recognized and meet the friendly faces among the crowd.

There are two categories for this event, 15km Men/Women Open and 30km Men/Women Open. I started at the front pack and leading these elite young fast runners, sometimes i forgot that i'm nor longer young :/ - at 43 it's hard competing with these young guns.

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I come to my senses when i looked at my GPS watch and it showed me 3:50 mins/pace. I slowed down running up the first steep hills. Think of dragon back, that's what it's like running the road from Taman Negara Sg. Relau towards Kuala Juram. It's endless rolling steep hills, no kidding!

It was also slippery due to the rain the day before, many runners complaint that their shoes can't get a grip on slippery road. Not a problem for me, i guess the 3D Salomon technology work perfectly.

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The lack of training mileage really hits me hard, almost cramp every time i tried to push running up those damn hills. Ah never mind, i just fast-walked it. The volunteers were awesome and the drinks was ice cold. What a pleasant surprise to have this "luxury" at WS inside the rainforest deep in nowhere.

Turning back from the u-turn at Kuala Juram, i noticed the runner in front of me was struggling. So i kept reeling him in until i finally managed to overtook him, i kept my pace and found another runner struggling and cramping. I was struggling too, serve me well for the lack of running mileage.

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Keep repeating this and managed to overtook 5 runners at the end. I just wish the distance was longer though...pleasant surprise when i finish with a podium position. Just a little hamper for my effort, but i gladly take it.

Finish the 30km run in 2:45:57 . My GPS watch showed an under distance race.
Overall a great challenging route, i love it. Although it's a road race it's not flat. Cause flat is boring!

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Gear used:

  • Optic Nerve Sunglasses – Model Vahstro
  • Salomon X-Scream 3D shoes
  • S-Lab Sense Tee M (Sleeveless)
  • S-Lab Exo Twinskin Short (White/Red)
  • Salomon Hat

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