One Day Soon

Mac Ritchie 25 Ultra Marathon

“Keep on doing what you love to do. When you do what you love, eventually love will find its way to you” – Quoted from Hilwan blog

After running the 10km Rakan Muda Run in the morning, i took the midnight bus to SG from TBS-BTS (Terminal Bersepadu Tasik Selatan). I had hoped that i could get some rest on the bus before running the MR25 Ultra Marathon the next morning, i didn’t booked a Hotel – decided to sleep on the bus.

Unfortunately for me the sleeping part did not really happened as the bus arrived at Lavender street at 4 a.m. – 2 hours early!

I took a taxi and gone straight to Mac Ritchie Park and arrived at 4:30 am, way before any runners nor organiser arrived.

It’s was a drama getting to the park, as my bad luck continued. Unfortunately, I took a Cab with a PRC driver, whom speak little English and does not know the way to Mac Ritchie park! Instead, he handed me the book map of SG and asked me to show him the Mac Ritchie Park in the map. What? Come on! I have high expectation of SG Cab drivers before this! This utterly nonsense, i had to call Kash at 4:00 am and plead her to direct the cabbie to the Mac Ritchie Park! Thanks a million Kash, if it weren’t for you i might be circling around SG with the uncle Cabbie PRC….duh

I rested a bit at the park bench before performing my Subuh prayer there, runners started arriving by the numbers as the clock ticked by. This was my 1st MR25 run and with the lack of proper rest and sleep deprived, my strategy of running my Virgin MR25 on this lovely Sunday morning was to take it real easy and try to complete the minimum 5 loops (51km).

The run started at 7:00 am with 300 lucky runners (limited runners), good job with organizer banning the transfer of bibs. Only qualified and legally registered runners are given the coveted finisher vest.

What no medal? Yes no medal, we crazy ultra runners was running for the 2XU vest only, plus some pride and bragging rights. There were strong numbers of Malaysian runners that came to run MR25, which i could describe as too familiar with the word – ULTRA.

I started running with front pack just to get some mileage before everyone started overtaking me, i forgot how painful it was running this trail with the loose stones and hard sharp rock scattered all over since the last TNF.

I swore i never came back to Mac Ritchie Park right after completing TNF, but look at me now…

After 1 loop i remembered back all the TNF Hell in details, thankfully the weather was kind to us, cooling and light drizzles somewhere along the run. Oh thanks to MM Clifford for collecting my bib and good luck for his HK100 Ultra Marathon, he told me that his recent 100km TMBT was only “an exercise” for his HK adventure. I just stared at him, too numb to response to this insanely macho statement...

 

Kash came to support us runners

Two slow loops completed without any problem, just plain hungry coz did not have breakfast before the run. The Mushroom cafe at the park was not open before we started the race, so i was depending solely on Mars Bar and Powergel to fuel my run. Really bad strategy…

It was great a race running with Ultra Maniacs buddies such as Nyoman, Superman Yimster, Frank, Jeff, Poh Chye, Uncle Oliver, Yip, Sam, Mohan the Kenyaporean, plus other super duper athletes.

Unlike the 10km Rakan Muda run yesterday, i felt at ease running Ultra distance which allowed me to run at my “happy pace”. It’s too demanding for me running shorter distances with the huffing and puffing just to keep hold on to the fast pace.

 

With Frank at the half way point (the turn around)

It was around 11:30 am and i just completed my 3rd loops, great timing as lunch was served in boxes. Decided to stop and ate with Frank as i was famished, did a PB eating that wonderful rice:)

After our meal, it was just another 2 loops to complete the minimum 51km, Frank and I walked the first few km due to our full belly, after few clicks i decided to run slowly as Frank decided to continue walking.

Nearing the end of the fourth loops, Mohan caught up with me; i was slowing down nearing to a walking pace. But as always, when running with Mohan it’s like he’s blowing magic aura out of his whistle, all of a sudden i gained back my proper running pace and i learnt something from Mohan that day. How to run trail properly and how to run efficiently on those sharp hard rocks, thanks Mohan. Every time i learnt something new from Mohan the Marathon Guru.

MR25 was a great experience, as fellow runners encouraged each other as we passed by in the trails, just like TUC. As i was about to complete the 5th loops, the sky opened up and it rains heavily, cool heavy showers great for the runners soul. Completed 51km in 8:26 , showered and changed into dry clothes before making my way to back KL, via JB (midnight bus).

More than 24 hours of non-stop running and travelling is a good start to train for multi-days Ultra Marathon eh? Sounds like Sabah adventure running will be high on my agenda list next year.

MMU Rakan Muda Run

The 10.4 km run was considered as my speed training before taking the midnite bus to SG for the MR25 Ultra Marathon Trail on Sunday morning.

The plan was not to pushed too much, as i was reserving my energy for the impending Ultra Marathon the next day.

Started the run at 7 am, start slow and pace well throughout the first few kilometres; when my body felt warm enough i pushed on a faster pace. The route was considered semi-hilly, some runners called it mini-Ammah Hills. But those inclined really tested my endurance, half way through about 5km i settled into my pace and started to chase few runners in front of me. Darn, short speed run is not really my cup of tea, my lung screams for me to slow down but i refused and endured till the end.

I completed this run with the timing of 52 minutes, my second running event in Cyberjaya and my maiden run at MMU. What a way to start your Saturday morning right peeps?

Now some rest before taking the bus to SG and embarking on 24 hours non stop travel and Ultra Marathoning.

With the usual suspects after the run

PBIM Grand Slam

I just realised this when updating my photos in Picasa today.

I have completed the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) Grand Slam, the Full Marathon medal that i acquired recently completed the medal set.

I did a back-to-back run last year (2010), doing a 10km recovery run after completing the Half Marathon.

Little that i knew then, this would later be a unique collection of hard earn running Medals in my possession.

Running Shoes for Orang Asli

Today i donated my old running shoes to the Running Lab, although i missed the 11th Dec dateline to get RM100 vouchers, i really did not care as long as these shoes find new owners at the Orang Asli village.

Those shoes still have plenty of mileage left. In fact, the Adizero Adios just clocked a mere 100km with me before parted our way.

I passed those shoes to Frank’s dad as he wasn’t at the shop during that time.

I guess i might be the last one donating old running shoes to the Orang Asli cause, as all the other shoes were already in boxes.

I counted them with Frank’s dad and the total numbers of running shoes donated easily amounted to 300 pairs (mine included). Well done runners!

I hope initiative like this will continue on in the future.

Tibi & Adination Run Weekend

This was my back-to-back running weekend.

TIBI RUN

First, i ran Tibi on Saturday, actually i pushed the stroller with my kids – hence the return of the Stroller-man.

This run considered as my strength training for the big event next year. There were many familiar faces at the start of the race, including Diket Mencanak and his sidekick Dett.

The route was full of hills and more hills...no prize for guessing why it’s called Double-Hills! Pushing a strollers weighted more than 20kg up and down the hills is no joke, but somehow i managed to finish this run as always, although we started from all the way back, we managed to overtook few runners along the way.

Thanks to Mawar, who paced with us during the early stages, before she zoom off to the finish line, she’s becoming a faster runner since coming back from Singapore Marathon. Congrats Mawar!

I completed the 8km run in a slow time of 1:02

Highlight of the day when a lady runner which i overtook earlier, stopped by at the end of the run and congratulated me on securing the limited medal. Thanks, i might left a good impression eh   :)

 

Entering Padang Merbok

ADINATION TRAILS RUN

The 7.8km Adination Trails run was my second run on Sunday morning. Limited only to 500 runners and the best part is that the registration is free, unless you opted for the Medal which cost you RM25. The venue this 4th Adination Breakfast Run was located at Cahaya SPK Resort at Puncak Alam, Shah Alam.

 

We started running through a lame trails, more of open clearing fields to be precisely, then about 1km we hit the tarmac running towards a hill, then after coming down the hills, we passed through a nice row of houses along the route before entering a lame construction site to the finish line.

The finish line

I completed this run at position 60 with the timing of 45 minutes, i guess it’s enough for a warm up before the MR25 Ultra Marathon Trails next week.

(Photos taken from KC & the Sunshine Runners)

SCMS 2011–Anniversary Marathon Edition

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) is my Anniversary Marathon, i completed my 1st Full Marathon (FMV) last year (2010) with 5:20 timing. This year i’m looking to celebrate the anniversary with a better finishing timing.

Thanks to SCKLM for sponsoring my entry fee, which i won on FB contest few months back.

This time around SCMS FM runners amounted to 20,000. It's going to be tougher than last year to overtake crowded runners and endure the mental challenge East Coast Park and the boring Golf course route. If you wanna run for a PB at SCMS, make sure you’re in the sub-4 pen after the Elites.

My bib collection went terribly wrong when they issued me the Red bib (sub 7 finisher) which will be the last pen for the Full Marathon runners. I supposed to get the Green bib (sub 6), middle pen as requested on my form, thankfully thing sorted out when i approached the Help counter and showed them my confirmation email. They issued me a  new bib without customised name on the bib, which is fine as long as i’m not stuck at the back the crowd of holding hands walkers. When i tested the B Tag at the REPC scanning counter, it showed blank particulars which worried me. The guy manning the REPC counter assured me that my particulars will be transferred to the new bib soon.

Started the race at the middle race pens (sub-6 hours), it was very slow pace with runners occupied fully the narrow road with few bottle necks during the first 5km.

The road began to opened up after 5km, it started when we entered the F1 track going towards the highway. I began to pace properly at this stretch, my timing was over few minutes after the target pace. No way i'm gonna catch up the 4:00 hours pacer’s balloon, i overtook the 4:15 pacer’s balloon just before entering the ECP. It was pitch dark, but i still managed to maintained my pace. I paced an elderly Norwegian runner that i met here at the ECP, he was running strong and keeping a good pace.

Completed at the half way point (21km) at 2:06, darn too much time to catch up!

The pace began to deteriorated after that, i guess i need to reworked on my fuelling strategy. I can’t even ran a proper pace during these time, it was so frustrating. Finally at 29km, i stopped and stretched my legs, that's when i began vomiting air, oh no deja vu like PBIM!

Took a good few minutes to recover before deciding to continue with pathetic pace, going towards the Golf course route after the ECP was extremely boring, thank god the weather was fine, the sun was not out yet during this time unlike last year.

At 36km, my saviours came in the form of Kash and Kak June. They were there at the side of the road supporting us runners, blessed you guys for your kind deeds.

The ice cold Coca Cola was heaven sent! Like magic my feet began to pace properly after that! Either it was the magic Coke or the support by these two angels that worked wonders.

When 4:45 pacer's balloon overtook me, i don't need an invitation to chased that balloon! Unlike last year, i felt strong running the last 8km, zig zagging the 10km runners at the overheard bridge felt like nothing. In fact i just loved doing the game of zig zagging these runners. I didn't stop until the finish line, not before overtaking the 4:45 pacers.

Completed my anniversary Marathon with the timing of 4:39, although most of the route was flat, but too many runners made it a demanding and challenging route as echoed by many runners.

When the official result came out, my worst nightmares came true! My timing was missing! Darn it, somebody screwed up my bib somewhere along the process of changing the bib.

Will i be back next year, you bet my sorry ass i'll be there to make sure my timing is secured and to celebrates 2nd Marathon anniversary in style.

Photo log:

Depart via TBTS

MRT ride

Completed my 5th Full Marathon

With celebrity runner Mohan Marathon

Anniversary Marathon

See you this Sunday morning Orchard Road!

We have a date with destiny.