Craze Ultramarathon 100 Miles

Maiden 100 Miles completed.

Alhamdulillah, thanks for all your prayers and support peeps.

I.Am.100Miler.Man

The longest single stage road race Ultramarathon in Southeast Asia.

T-3 Craze Ultramarathon

Running isn't a sport for pretty boys with visions of grandeur.

It’s about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet.

It’s the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut.

It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead.

It’s about getting out the door and running even when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with.

It’s about being on a lonely road and running like a champion even when there’s not a soul in sight to cheer you on.

Running is about having the desire to train and persevere until every fibre in your legs, mind and heart is turned to steel.

And when you’ve finally forged hard enough, you will have become the best runner that you can be. And that’s all you can ask for.

- Paul Maurer

Athlete’s Circle 10km Simulation Run

What a way to start your Monday with 10km run. That’s exactly what i’ve did this morning in conjunction with Malaysia’s Day public holiday.

ACTraining Run Group lead by my friend – Alex Au-Yong the ExtraMiler with coach Edan, came down to Putrajaya this morning to conduct this training. It’s focus is on the beginners. The run started around 6:30 am after warming up session with Coach Edan, runners can choose to do either 5km or 10km run.

The 5km loops is around the Palace of Justice (PoJ), 10km runners need to completes two loops. Water and fruits were provided to all. I came down to shows supports and do my recovery run at my neighbourhood.

Alex said that this is one of the company’s (Athlete’s Circle) way of giving back to the community, instead just selling shoes; they provides training on how to run properly. Bravo AC, we hope this kind of trainings will continues on – we need to promote healthy lifestyles and convert more couch potatoes into runners :)

If you interested to join this training / running group, just check out their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/ACTraining.

They normally organise training every Wednesday’s night at Dataran Petaling (opposite Amcorp Mall), and it’s FREE. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best runners in the country.

Free style pose after the run

Know The Lingo: The Unique Jargon Of The Ultrarunning Community

Taken from Outside Online.

ACROPHOBIA: An abnormal fear of being in high places. As the Hardrock runner’s manual reminds you “if you suffer from this and see it in the course description, you will not enjoy that location on the course.”

AID STATION: just what it sounds like. Aid stations are a runner’s lifeline in a long race. Beacons of hope that turn 50 or 100 miles into eight-10 mile increments. Think a smorgasbord of M&M’s, potato chips, powdered energy drinks, flat soda, bananas, potatoes, gels, and sometimes bacon and beer. If you’re feeling terrible, we suggest stopping to talk with volunteers. They’re usually the coolest people around.

BELT BUCKLE: The most common finisher’s prize for the heavy-hitting hundreds (Leadville, Western States, Bear, etc.). Not much for prize money in the ultra-circuit, but man, those belt buckles sure are nice.

BENCH: A naturally occurring shelf typically found between two higher points.

BONK: Severe fatigue caused by a loss of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles.

CHICKED: You can thank Dusty Olson (Scott Jurek’s longtime pacer) for this term. It’s a little derogatory, but basically means getting passed by a girl. See iRunFar’s full discussion of the debate.

CLIMB: Running uphill. (Here’s a little secret: Unless you’re in the elite crowd, most ultradistance runners don’t actually do a lot of uphill running. This is for two reasons: 1. It’s hard, and 2. usually the alternative, power hiking, will get you up the hill faster than attempting to run, while simultaneously helping conserve energy for later.)

COMPRESSION TIGHTS: Form-fitting running tights that help keep muscles warm to regulate strain/fatigue by focusing the direction of the muscle and perhaps reducing the build up of creatine kinase (muscle tissue damage). Generally good things. Plus, they make you look like a superhero.

CONDOM JACKET: A lightweight rain/wind shell.

CREW: Your support team. Typically one or two very patient friends who you’ve bribed to drive to various aid stations ahead of your arrival. Hopefully they’ll be adept at filling water bottles/bladders and offering or not offering whatever encouragement you might need. Veteran crews like to think of their job as an acronym: “Crabby Runner, Endless Waiting.”

DARTH VADER: Raspy-voiced runner who hasn’t been drinking enough water.

DNF: Did not finish (usually written in big red letters next to your name).

DROP BAG: Something in which to pack your preferential race day items (extra socks, fried sweet potatoes, headlamps, etc.). Volunteers will typically collect this motley assortment of bags on check-in day and drive them to designated aid stations for en-route access.

DOUCHE GRADE: When you’re training hard, “douche grade” is considered a bit of a cop out. It’s basically the goldilocks of trail grade. Not too flat, and not too steep. A recent trail conference in Italy placed Douche Grade at about 5.63 percent.

TOURIST DOUCHE GRADE: Just enough of an incline that you’re moving uphill, but not enough that you’d actually notice.

ELEVATION GAIN: The way runners measure the difficulty of the trail.

EURO-HIKING: A good way to execute a climb. Basically an uphill power walk, except that you keep a hand on each quad and press down a bit with each step.

FUEL: Calories, usually in the form of sugar or some gooey concoction like brown rice syrup and artificial flavoring. Yum.

FKT: Setting a non-race speed record (fastest known) time on some particular route, (e.g. Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, trans-Zion, etc.).

HYPONATREMIA: An electrolyte imbalance that typically occurs when the body’s sodium concentration is lower than normal, causing tissues to swell dangerously. While ultrarunners definitely worry about dehydration, overhydration in the case of extreme physical activity is also something to be mindful of.

MICRO-TRASH: The wrappers and other debris often left behind on the trail in the act of fueling.

MINIMALIST SHOES: Shoes designed with little or no support and no stability control. Arguments in favor: They’re closer to the natural way humans have been running for centuries (barefoot). Arguments opposed: Running long distances without some support takes its toll on the body. If you’re curious, try ‘em. You’ll probably know right away whether or not they’re going to work for you.

PACER: A very good friend who runs with you for part of a 100+ race. The use of pacers is a topic of some contention among ultrarunners (Karl Meltzer is fundamentally opposed, while others rarely race without one). Though the debate could certainly go either way, with some of the more difficult races, having a pacer is more of a security blanket than anything else. Someone to make sure you don’t deliriously wander off the trail or freeze to death on some remote section of the course.

QUAD BUSTER: A steep, downhill run, usually executed at a pace so brisk that the runner seems somewhat out of control. A quad buster late in the race can be torture particularly if followed by a section of flat trail (Bear100, we’re talking about you).

SKYRUNNING: Any sort of mountain running exceeding 2,000 meters where the incline exceeds 30 percent and the climbing difficulty does not exceed 11 degrees. Born in Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa in the early '90s there’s now actually an International Skyrunning Federation with races in the Himalayas, Alps and even on Mount Kenya.

TRAVERSE: To move laterally along the face of a mountain.

UDO'S OIL: A miracle blend of essential fatty acids. Intake by the spoonful.

Maiden River Jungle Marathon

I was supposed to run KOTR’s 16km run.

But, i was under mileage for this week quota.

My Saturday’s 20km LSD was interrupted by the news of the passing of my dear old college friend. Succumbed to cancer on Friday night, i spent Saturday grieving and attending her funeral. These days the reunion old friends took place in either Hospital or cemetery – and i hate this! I really do.

If i do KOTR, i will be under mileage. What happened next was magical.

Due to work commitment's – Arman had to let go his RJM’s bib. He was generous enough to give me his bib, thanks a million dude.

With that i DNS this year edition of KOTR, seduced by RJM’s bright lights.

Band of Marathon brothers (reunion of the Songkhla 3 Musketeers)

By 4:00 am race day, i arrived at race site at Pekan Batu Batu 18, Hulu Langat. I said my hello to Kak June, Azza and Kak Tiff, once i located them busy packing the goody bags – they were there as volunteers.

The 3rd edition of River Jungle Marathon (RJM) started at 5:00 am. It was a simple affair, a simple briefing before hand and then we’re all off. I decided to start the Marathon at the back with Ijam, we’re the last group to cross the start line.

I decided not to carry water bottle for this Marathon,  as i was confident with the arrangement done by James Wong – the race director. As a runner himself – i believed that James knows what runners want. The water stations was perfectly located between 3 – 5 km apart.

My game plan for this RJM was to clock the required mileage and treated as another LSD. Most important thing was to take it easy and avoid getting injured as the BIG race is coming closer.

I started to increased my pace after 2km, i was warmed up and had to say goodbye to Ijam. The first 10km i was famished, i only had a slice of Gardenia bread and a cup of hot Milo prior running RJM.

Two Power Gels only – that’s what i brought with me that morning. After the 11km and passing the 3rd water station (i think), i caught up with Karen and Catman. I decided to stop for Subuh prayer at one of the Surau around 11km, took me about 10 minutes. For Muslim runners, if you plan to run RJM next year, worry not; there are many Surau and Mosque along the route to perform Subuh prayer. You only need to “tepuk dada dan tanya iman”.

The weather was great and very cooling that morning, i just loves the cool weather.

After Pekan Batu 14, runners turn left into Jalan Sungai Tekali where the inclines towards Bukit Hantu began around 17km. Suprisingly, i felt energized after two days of resting.

I ran all the way towards the top of hill.

After 21km, while running downhill i finally caught up with KA. Damn this boy was fast, he was pacing with Cikgu Syed and completed the first 10km in 54 minutes. Prior, I passed Jeff Ooi with his costume dress on top of the hill.

Finally after 23km, i arrived at the bottom of the hill. The water station was a welcome sight, plus Bananas was served there. I took 2 bananas for instant energy, took a Powergel earlier at around 14km and planned to use another one around 30km. When you run LSD, you don’t need that many Powergels to fuel your run.

Running besides the Semenyih dam was a beautiful sight, i concurred that this is the most exotic and beautiful Marathon in Malaysia.

While running towards the u-turn, i saw Shine and Karen on the other side. I increased my pace tried to catch up with this strong bunch of runners.

Found out that poor Shine was injured when i passed him around 27km. Try to look for Karen and Cikgu, but they’re long way in front.

The Coconut drink served at 30km water station was the highlight of the run (for me), sweet coconut drink – immediately replenished my energy.

Finally saw Karen’s ponytail after that, such a strong runner. I finally caught up with her after 31km. Overtook Cikgu at 32km – he was complaining about his knees. Again? it’s like Songkhla Marathon. Cikgu started the Marathon too fast and paid dearly at the second half of the race.

Kak June was waiting at finish line with finisher medal for all runners – fantastic to see a familiar face waiting for you to congratulates and loop the medal around your neck. Thanks Kak June, even though you cannot run these days but still manage to conjure that special inspirations for us runners.

Special thanks to Yim, for photographing all the runner photos after he finished his run.

Completed my 15th Marathon (10th FM) in 4:20:21 , better timing than SCKLM with the hills thrown in. I satisfied because this 42.195km was the easiest FM for me, i’m beginning to understand how to run the perfect Marathon – just like i understand how to finish sub-2 HM timing.

 

I only took one Powergel for this FM, and managed to conserved my energy through out the run.

Glad to finish this Marathon injury free, now that the training almost completed, it’s tapering time and planning for 100 Miler race hydrations, food and mental perseverance.

See you nuts in few weeks time – we gonna have a blast running our maiden 100 miler and 100 km.

Craze Ultra LSD @ Putrajaya

About 30 nuts / crazy runners turned up for this event at early hours in Putrajaya.

When i arrived 5 minutes before 3:00 am, Arman and the rest of the guys was already at rendezvous point. They seems eager to start this maiden 12 hours LSD, among familiar faces was Kam Kasturie, Arman, Zinov, Catman etc.

I was not surprised when Shine was already there running from 6:00 pm a day before, plus Paul Lee join the fun at 11:00 pm. These runners are already an icons among the local Ultra Marathon runners – Meganuts!

At the end of the day, Shine and Paul Lee covered 84km and 50km respectively.

We started the event by a simple briefing given by yours truly, i stressed on the safety during the runs and Shine added by reminding runners that this was not a race – just run at your own pace.

Briefing before LSD

Craze LSD officially started at 3:20 am, and the weather was super nice – windy and cooling.

The first group ran the 11 km loops about an hours plus, quite a fast pace – maybe due to excitement running this LSD.

When we arrived back at rendezvous point for refuelling, Jamie and Nick just arrived. Thanks guys for sharing the pot-luck water and food.

The first group start at 3:00 am

The second group was lead by Jamie, they intended to do about 30km LSD distance.

I stopped for Subuh prayer after the first loop and when i continued running after that the sun was about the rise. It was a beautiful sight around Putrajaya, more runners arrived around this time.

Jamie and the gang stopped after completing their 30km ish run around 9.00 am.

The second group start at 5:00 am

After that, only three of us left standing and running – Arman, Zinov and i. The sun was out in the full force after 9:00 am, we’re roasted alive while running the remaining of our target distance. But we need this run in the hot sun – to acclimatize with the real harsh conditions during the Craze Ultra Marathon.

I managed to completed 50km only, just not feeling to go further. Arman almost completed his 50km target – but his office called and he had to leave at 48km.

The food and drinks that day – thanks guys.

Congratulations to Zinov for completing the longest distances in his whole life, he completed 50km that day. An accidental Ultra Marathon was born, and his official maiden FM will be this coming River Jungle Marathon.

More gossiping than running – that what we actually did :p

It was nice to catch up with these bunch of down to earth runners, we shared experiences and tips during the break – thanks Shine, Paul, Jamie, Nick etc

Overall it was a successful event, and a few of the runners requested us to organised more of this LSD at Putrajaya in the future. We will plan something – just watch out for announcement in FB guys.