TUC 2011 (Virgin Ultra Marathon)

Twilight Ultra Challenge was never on my running agenda, but Zaki Otoromen convinced me to team up with him for our TEAM RBU at TUC. He even registered and paid my fees before i had the chance to change my mind.

Imagine my horror when few weeks ago he goes mental and decided to retired from all running events, which left me high and dry for TUC. The event is more significant to him, i'm just there to support him and run the min Ultra distance without injuring myself in the process plus having fun running the UMV.

Thankfully friends rallied and persuaded him to reconsider his decision as all the fees (flight, hotel, race fees) have been paid for. Zack should thanks KA for this as he was very determine to persuade “that mental runner” back to “pangkal jalan”.

It was nice to see many familiar faces at ECP, the Malaysian contingent consist more than 20 runners for TUC.

At 5.00 pm the races started with a nice weather, not too hot and not too humid. Seems all runners were having bunch of fun, especially with Mohan Maniac antics :) The organization of the event was fantastic, with water station/aid station located at every 2.5 km plus the volunteers were superb bunch of peeps, stayed all the way till 16 hours were up.

I was pacing with Zaki Otoromen at the beginning of the race, he was doing about 9/mins. When he arrived at 7.5km check point he asked me to run at my own pace (happy pace), so i left him running with KA, i have no doubt Zaki will do great for TUC since he had great preps and few 50km plus LSDs under his belt.

This is my very 1st Ultra marathon race and logically my mind set on doing 50km and injury free as i had bunch of races registered for the future. And i'm still traumatized by my PF injury last year, so getting an injury is not on my agenda. I was excited with the sight of all the these great runners and some of these peeps you only knew by names and reputations, so i get to know some of them, getting tips and most importantly connecting with new friends.

The first 30k was tough, as the night came down the humidity goes up plus at some stretch of ECP it was total darkness and you need to be in your best to fight the fatigue and sleepiness.

I felt dizzy and light headed on completing 30km, i stopped, rest, had few drinks and bananas before continuing. Another 10km later, i was struggling i keep my pace and started walking as i felt lethargic, never had this experience before.

As i completed 40km, i retrieved my mat from the baggage collection and had 30 mins nap to refresh my body. Then i remembered that i had only consumed bananas and i haven't touch any of my powergels, a rookie mistake! Not enough fuel for the body intake.

After the nap and change of vest, i took a powergel and dried foods before continuing the run, said to myself i'm gonna walk first to warm up for the run plus i got a nasty blister on my toe. Then a groups of runners came besides me and asked me to join them run, it was Mohan Maniac playing the pied piper, Dr. Puisan and co, i joined them for steady pace run which lift my spirit like magic, the possibility of getting another 10k now seems possible. Now i got my running pace back and did everything not to stop as i'm afraid i gonna loose the good running pace.

I saw Kash pacing with Zaki at the other side of the road, my spirit soared! Thanks Kash for pacing Zaki, i'm sure you lift his spirit up as he considered you as his running idol, special thanks from me for the Kedai Runcit Kash, the iced-cold Vanilla Coke was heaven sent.

While Mohan and co waiting for Winnie at the 2.5 aid station, i continued my run and catching up Alexis and later Karen Loh, i held back my tears as i saw Karen run in terrible way, i reduce my pace and ran a bit with her before she urged me continued my pace, found out she was in pains from PF injury and the chaffing from the running skirt, but she soldiered on till morning completing 82km, Karen you're my hero :)

Then i paced with Nyoman (bib no.4), he was such a strong runner and went all the way achieving 100km. I reached my milestone 50k with loud shout at the finishing line, 50k its nothing for season Ultra Marathoner, but as a newbie with only 1 FM and few HM its everything to me, my 1st 50km, 1st Ultra Marathon event/distance :)

My legs stills feel light after that and i swore the compression tight did its job well, i was good for another 20k as i felt fresh and the legs were working fine.

Karen and Nyoman invited me for another 10k loops which i declined as i was contemplating not to get injury, believe me that wasn’t an easy decision to make (pursue of glory or risk an injury). I'm content and happy with my first 50k, i believe in Evolution rather than Revolution, i'm happy that completed my expectation and not anyone else! Most importantly, i broke the mental barrier! SD100 seems so possible now :)

My 5th medal for the year, one big mother of all Medals, very appropriate for an Ultra Finisher Medal.

Thanks to all volunters, organizers, Ben Swee, Runners, supporters/bandits/pacers Kash, Selly Selina, Wari etc. Bruder Zaki Otoromen you did exceptionally great, 90km is mind blowing distance for me, SD100 watch out for Zaki!!. You guys are all my heroes :)

Those completed the 100k and more, you're guys are insane lot and will inspires more and more insane Ultra wannabe in the future. Like Otoromen Yim said, doing an Ultra is addictive, plus with excellent management of the event, i definitely coming back for TUC 2012 to settle an unfinished business, join me will you?