TNF100 Thailand: Race Report

“Dedicated to Haza Zean: thanks for inspiring me to take up Ultra Marathon”

TNF Thailand was my 5th Ultra Marathon overall, my trainings towards the 100km race started right after TNF Singapore last October. Combining trainings and running Marathons towards 100km race was the plan, managed to includes PBIM, SCMS, MR25 and Chiang Mai Marathon into the training plan for the last few months. Surprised myself with new PB at Chiang Mai, although it was considered as training run towards TNF100km solo in Thailand.

Ray and Rex ready to rock Amphawa

If given the option between running Full Marathon (42km) or Ultra Marathon, i would pick Ultra Marathon as my first love without blinking an eye. Towards the final weeks of the race, my training was somewhat lost it momentums; i was losing training days and mileage. Only managed to compiled the 100km weekly mileage a week before the event, and i rested those feet the whole week leading to D-Day hoping that i recovered in time to run 100km race.

I brought two pair of shoes for this event, as a backup if it rains in Amphawa; one was a road trainer (Adidas Supernova Glide 3) and the other was a trail shoes (Adidas Response Trail 18). After studying the route map, I assumed the trail would be a mild and flat and i decided to wear the road trainer. I left the trail shoes at 50km check point, just in case if i need to change shoes later. It was a brilliant decision as it turn out that the trails was a bit lame and flat.

The race started at 5:00 am (local time), deferred an hour late due to park authority on runners safety, especially during those dark hours running in the trails. Somehow i made my way in front the pack with the elites at the starting line, looking at the photo i just remember talking with Rex and trying to calm those nerves and race jitters.

There were five categories at TNF Thailand, the 100km Solo, 100km Duo, 50km Solo, 25km run and 10km run. But the focus was on the thirty seven (37) 100km Solo runners at the start line, they will made history to run the maiden 100km race in Thailand. Those who completed the 100km run, will pride themselves as the first elite group of 100km Ultra runners in Thailand.

When the race started at Kaew Cha Roen Temple, the 100km and 50km runners was flagged off together. The weather was cool and quite nice at this early part of the race, it was dark when we started running – that’s why it mandatory to carry head light/torch light. Rex and i used our head lamps from the Energizer Night race, we put the light around our waist instead at the head for better lighting on the dark roads/trails due to lower height.

Ultra Marathon is all about strategy, when to speed up, when to slow down, when to eat and hydrates etc. My strategy for this race was to gain as much mileage under the cool weather, before the sun rises and burn everything under it’s heat ray which makes running much more harder and difficult.

I was going a bit faster but at a comfortable pace, a bit slower than my marathon pace. I was pacing with a Thai women runner at that early stages, she was tall and running strong. Found out later, that she’s a podium finisher at many runs in Thailand.

After the 1st CP, i decided to stop at the WS inside the trails to consume my energy gel and stretch – i forgot to stretch before the race..dang! This is where Shine and Hafiz from SG overtook me, resume my run and caught up with Hafiz and decided to pace with him until CP2. It was getting brighter when we reached CP2, where they served us with water, isotonic, bananas & watermelons. Compared to SD100, this was just bare but sufficient for the runners. I can considered SD100 as 5 star event, their Water Stations looked like night markets with abundance of food and drinks.

Few minutes after arriving at CP2, Kat (Katherine) a runners that i met during the last Chiang Mai marathon caught up with me. Hafiz left earlier to catch the speeding Shine, while i decided to pace with Kat – it’s like Chiang Mai Marathon all over again.

We reached CP3, the 20km marks just under 2 hours, great job so far and the energy level was high. There were four runners in the women 100km solo category, i encouraged Kat to go for it as the leading ladies were not far in front. After CP3 at the SanChao Temple, we heading into the maze inside the coconut plantation – the trails was flat and lame. Nearing to the CP4, somehow my energy levels dropped plus my left knee started to acting up, i had to slow down and let Kat go, she was looking good and started to pick up more pace.

I reached CP4 at 8:04 am, i have been running about 3 hours and 4 minutes now. After doing the WS rituals, top up up my Camelbak, ate few bananas and watermelon and had iced cold sponge bath i left the WS and pace with Tom from Los Angeles, he ran the 50km category. Tom is a veteran runner, he had run all the great races, including Berlin (2 times) and Boston. When he looked at my yellow bib (100km runner), he gave me “are you nuts?” looked. I just laughed it off as we ran very slowly in the hot sun to get to the CP5, which took us forever. We thought it was 10km from CP4 to CP5, boy we’re wrong, it’s 16km! No wonder it took us eternity to reached there.

At CP4 with Roman (Race Director), Hafiz and Yim

As i reached CP4, i met Hafiz there – he was injured and decided to DNF at 50km. As we left for the 50km mark, Yim arrived and we took few photos before continuing the run. I reached 50km mark in 6 hours 14 minutes, at 11:14am. Great first half and i rested for 30  minutes at rest tent, there were food and drinks served. Rex was already there when i arrived, Yim and Hafiz arrived soon after.

Rex & Yim took a breather at 50km rest tent

I started my second loop just before 12 noon (11:50am), it was bright and hot at the time. I was dreaded this 2nd loop when thinking about the barking dogs, my concern soon comes a reality when i reached this particular village road between 50km –60km, there we two dogs parked in the middle of the road… dang! I had enough, i took a big stick from the road side and showed it to the dogs – magic happened! The dogs moved away from the road, although still barking at me, they were just testing me. The tips was just to ignore those dogs and continues running at your current pace – the dogs were there just to guard their territory.

Every time i felt too hot by the burning sun,  i stopped by at the village shop for iced cold Cola Cola – cost me only 15-20 Baht each. I guess i need sugar loads during the run, stopped 5 times that day during my 100km journey.

Like SD100, TNF Thailand also have cut-off timings. 100km runners need to complete the whole run in 18 hours, 50km in 9 hours (2pm) and 70km in 12 hours (5pm).

The second 50km was a insanely hot, i run between the tree shades and walked a lot during these times. Met Yim at CP7, he was bitchin about the weather and the boring route..he he

Made my way to 70km CP at 3:11 pm (10 hours 11 minutes), glad to reached that final cut-off CP. 30km to go with more than 7 hours to spend, i could walk all the way with this time buffer.

Then it’s another run into the boring maze inside the trails of coconut trails, i was bored out of my mind running during those 5km trails. When i reached CP 10, i knew i got another 25km to go at 5:01pm and it was going to get dark soon. Another runner soon arrived at CP10, he was a Thai runner named Jan. I decided to paced with him to the finish line due to safety reason, it’s better not to run solo in dark and another pair eyes is needed to looked at the route markers, especially after many marshal no longer at the road junctions.

We reached the final CP (CP11) at 7:07pm, it was already dark when we reached the check point. Felt relief and quite happy here as i need to cover just another 10km, we walked a lot the final 10km. We walked on the concrete road and only run on the tarmac on the main road.

With Katherine (Women 100km Champion)

Nearing the finish line, we were escorted by the 2 motorcycles. As this was Jan’s first 100km Ultra Marathon, i asked him to go ahead and finish first. I arrived 10 seconds later with Malaysian flag flying high, i completed my second 100km Ultra Marathon in 15:53:19. The Malaysian contingent waited for us at the finish line, thanks a million guys for your support. I could see Shine, Yim, Rex, Aini and even Mohan from SG waited at the finish line.

Rex completed his second Ultra stronger than before, given his age at 25 – i believe he can improves to be a competitive runner in the future, he got plenty of time in his side.

Amazingly, the next day i was walking normal as ever. I completed the Ultra without any injury, just a small blister on my left feet – that’s all. It felt like i never ran 100km a day before, I recovered quickly and could run another Marathon. Training wise, i might be doing something right after all.

Overall, the organization of the this race was excellent, the route markers were clear, the water stations were sufficient – the iced cold sponge was heaven sent, the volunteers & staff were attentive from morning till nightfall and marshals were placed at every route junctions.  My only comment is that the medal given to the finishers are all the same – 100km finishers received the same medal as 50km, 25km & 10km runners, unlike TNF SG.

Congratulation to Roman - the Race Director for the job well done and providing us runner with great experiences and memories in the inaugural The North Face 100 Thailand.

My 100km splits

Start	0	5:00 am
CP1	53:39	5:53 am
CP2	1:40:05	6:40 am
CP3	1:59:36	6:59 am
CP4	3:04:21	8:04 am
CP5	4:53:03	9:53 am
CP6 /Start & Finish Line	6:14:42	11:14 am
CP7	8:25:43	1:24 pm
CP8	9:40:57	2:40 pm
CP9	10:11:59	3:11 pm
CP10	12:01:38	5:01 pm
CP11	14:07:12	7:07 pm
Net Time:	15:53:19	8:53 pm
Finish Time:	15:53:22