Hatyai Marathon: The Pacer Edition

“What you seek is seeking you.” – Rumi

Malaysian contingent at Carbo-load session

I haven’t run an official Marathon since SCKLM 2012, that was last December. Between that – it was mileage accumulation and trainings for Ultra Races.

The difference between Marathon and Ultra Marathon are “Timing” and “Finishing”.

For 26.2 miles or 42.2 km – the Marathon distance is all about finishing in the fastest time. While, Ultra Marathon is all about completing or finishing the distance. Different strategy on how to run these two race.

I decided to run all my Marathon this year in leisure or LSD pace, this to avoid risking injuries by running too fast. All i need from my Marathon races are mileage accumulation towards my Ultra races, especially for that prestigious Ultra in Stateside.

For Hatyai Marathon, i decided to pace a friend. Let see if i could turn this runner into something more than she believe she can.

We decided to try for sub 4:30 finishing timing and running pace around 6:00 min/km.

It was great atmosphere at Jiranakorn Stadium, we have a Brass Band playing and leading the way towards start line from the stadium where we gathered. When the race started at 3:30 am, the organizer had confetti thrown from the sky – small race but we appreciates every small details that goes into it.

On the morning of the race, it’s a gathering of friends at the start line. Some new and some old friends like Mohan and Winnie. Mohan was surprised to see me there at start line, “What are you doing here running a Marathon bro? you suppose to run only Ultras”. I said it’s my LSD, which broke into a laugh between us.

For those who haven’t met Mohan a.k.a Kenyaporean, he is a Marathoner/Ultramarathoner that run Marathon/Ultra distance every other week without fail. I think he’s getting closer into his 200th Marathon. Always an inspiration to mere mortal like us.

When the race started, we were running slowly before settling into our agreed pace around 6:00 min/km. The town was empty, a bit dark and the weather was nice.

After we ran through the town street, the route took us further away running though dark road into housing areas before we reached the highway. The first water station was located around 2km before the second one at around 6km – too far.

After 10km we reached the long and dark Lopburiramet highway, it was closed for the Marathon event. I set the pace for us, i ran a few yards in front so that my pacee could follow and stayed within the 6:00 – 6:30 pace.

At 21km, i looked at my Garmin watch – it showed 2:15 . Right on the dot (our target timing), no reserved time for pace correction later in the second half of the race. I’m a bit worried, the second half would be tough for my pacee to maintain the same earlier pace . We stopped at 10km, 21km and 32km for Powergels and Salt pills consumptions.

The route was a bit boring for me (the same route as 2012 edition), total flat – which reminded me of Muar Half Marathon. A friend warned me that after running trails, you might lost  interest in running road race. He was right, my interest in running road is getting faded – i could feel it, there’s no mountains scenery nor running on a ridge 2,000 meters in the sky.

Finally we reached the 25km U-turn in 2:39 hours, now it’s all the way back to the finish line. My pacee was getting slower, i need to motivates her and help her getting water at the Water Station. The best thing about this Marathon is that there’s bundle of WS every 2km or so – no complaints there – no isotonic though, just ice cold plain water and water melons.

Every time we getting nearer to WS, i would sprint ahead, waited and took the water for my pacee. She’s getting slower – i literally had to pushed her walking faster at every water station – we not going to the market babe, walk faster please.

Being a pacer is not easy, you need to understand your pacee – her strength and weaknesses. Being a pacer it’s not about you, it’s ALL about your pacee. The pacer is solely responsible for the pacee well being and health – the pacer need to know when to push or hold back. In a nut shell, the pacer need to have empathy and be smart to motivate the pacee in completing the Marathon.

As we reaching the 30km mark, i suddenly found myself running alone in front. It’s a bright Sunday morning now, the weather was only 25 degree Celsius, but the humidity killed my pacee. At 83% humidity level, it was a hot Marathon, my pacee said later after the race. Well for me it was an average weather coz i had it worst in previous races.

I was puzzled as i was running slow at 6:30 pace. When i looked back, my pacee was getting more slower, she was struggling. I immediately abandoned that sub 4:30 timing, not possible now with her conditions – given her lack of proper trainings and mileage accumulations.

I slowed down and waited for her to caught up with me. I need to motivates her to continue running in completing this marathon.

A boot camp style of shouting in giving encouragement would never work! Plus i never approves this kind of method.

My pacee was in another place mentally– in zombie land to be exact.

She asked me to leave her at 30km, i said no way – we came this far in the race just to give up? No way Jose! I could hear she muttered “what i got myself into running with you?” lol hey i heard that!

All she need right now is a gentle persuasion – that all i did, she responded well and kept running.

Her strength – strong runner and correct running form. All she need now is the belief that she can finish this.

Well she made it! My pacee completed her first Thai Marathon!

4:45:28 was the finishing time, good enough for 4th place in her age category – a podium finish.

Isn’t that grand?

A medal and winners trophy completed her day.

As i said it’s ALL about the PACEE not the PACER!

For me, I completed my 23rd Marathon overall, the easiest Marathon by far.

 

 

My Garmin stats reveals that our moving time was 4:42 hours . It means that we stopped still and drink at all WS for only about 3 minutes. The rest was running and walking.

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TNF100 Philippines: Race Report Part 2

“Relentless Forward Progress”

The beautiful Philex Ridge trail

 

AS5 To AS6 (Camp 1 To Tabaan Sur) 10.1km : Uphill (Elevation Gain 816)

It’s now the hardest part of the race, all the “Up Hell” i endured for the past 50km was nothing compare for what waiting for me in the final 50km. I just completed the easy part and i should feel relatively good (physically and mentally) this far in the race.

An uphill attack on the highest point of Baguio – Mt. Santo Tomas (2203 meters) is next!

But first thing first, i need to ascend to AS6 – another 816 meters climb before a face off with Mt. Santo Tomas.

At the Aid Station 5 (AS5), as soon as i arrived, i quickly grab a bucketful of water and bath myself with it. A small bottle of ice cold 100 plus was drank in a record time afterwards. Then I sat down eating buns with others runners after retrieving my drop bag.

My drop bag contains spare shoes, spare socks, power bank to charge my Garmin watch, a bottle of Red Bull, 5 packets of Power gels. I consumed 4 gels up to this point. I added the gels, power bank, red bull into my bag pack. I topped up my hydration bag (1.5 litres) with 100 plus. I ate some more buns, bananas at the aid station – unfortunately they ran out of Seafood flavour noodle..dang!

As i was about to make my move, Mirko arrived at AS5. He asked me how many hours did i arrived before him? He added that i was running downhill superfast prior AS5. I advise him to take his time and recuperate well – eat some noodles and drink more water.

I asked few of the Pinoy runners that ran with me earlier to accompany me running the final part. Most were reluctant and needed more time staying in the shaded tent and away from the hot sun. One guy told me to go ahead first, he will run after 3:30 pm; when the sun will be less hot. I don’t want to stay much longer at AS5 – coz it’s a DNF trap. Once you comfortable sitting down, it’s hard to get up. I found out later that many runners DNF at AS5, mentally exhausted.

I met Janice (Team Salomon Philippines) and Levi (Technical Race Director) – the guy responsible for designing the TNF Philippines course as i was leaving AS5. They asked me about the route – i said i've done TNF Thailand 100km and TNF Singapore 100km, it was nothing. This route is  H E L L !

They laughed and i laughed too thinking about another 50km of “UPHELL”. They wish me good luck after a quick photo session – yes i really needed luck for what’s coming my way.

With Janice and Levi (Photo: Janice Ann)

From AS5, i need to cross a long hanging bridge for my ascends toward Mt. Santo Tomas. Before i clear AS5, the Marshall checked my bag for mandatory items (headlight, jacket, phone etc) – they really serious about this. I agreed this route is not for beginner, it’s actually quite dangerous especially running the small trail route with a ravine besides it.

It’s few minutes before 3 pm, when i made my ascend and met Alvin a strong Pinoy runner on the other side of the river. He was just starting to climb the mountain. Climbing mountain took a lot of my energy and the frustrating thing was you just can’t run – my feet was itchy to run. I could clearly hear my heartbeat – bang like a drum during the ascend, it was getting closer to maximum range. Every few meters i would stopped and took 5 long deep breath before continue on climbing.

It was a never ending climb, finally i arrived at a clearing – i sat down few minutes with Alvin and recuperate. We ran a bit after that – a few kilometers of village road towards AS6. There was a checkpoint where Marshalls took our numbers for verification, it was about 5pm. I checked for Shine timing – the Marshall said “your friend was here at 1pm (4 hours ago)” – pretty fast for someone claimed that he had foot injury. Yes Shine, foot injury my ass ! hehe. Care to comment on this? I know you reading my blog…

It was pretty easy route running towards AS6, i arrived at the aid station and took two bananas. Then i continued running as i was feeling pretty good at the time.

 

Distance Covered: 10.1km
Accumulative Distance: 64km
Time Taken: 3:12
Accumulative Time: 15:12

 

AS6 To AS7 (Tabaan Sur To Mt Santo Tomas) 9 km : Uphill (Elevation Gain 1,010)

From now on it was getting tougher, it’s the face off with Mt. Santo Tomas. My mind was focus, each steps, each climb was a steady “Relentless Forward Progress” and I accompanied with Zikr every hard ascends.

It was getting dark as i reached the foot of Mt. Santo Tomas, i put on my headlight and switched it on. My Garmin watch sounded a beep! Which was a reminder that it was running low on batteries, i stopped at the side of the trail and look for my Garmin charger – which was nowhere to be found! Dang i left it at the Hotel.

In the darkness of the trail, my Petzl Nao brightly light the trail. I was running with Alvin and a group of strong Pinoy runners from this point on. Cheryl Bihag was also in this group.

First rule of running trail in dark – run with partners! For safety reason i ran with Alvin, anything can happened in trail especially running in the dark.

Every few meters of ascend this group would stopped to drink and eat. I was feeling strong but to run alone in the dark was not really the best option. So I stayed with the group, i didn't realised at that time, it was getting higher and the group was making frequent stop to acclimatize to the higher altitude.

One of the Pinoy runner named Allan said that it was his second TNF Baguio, he DNF last year – so he was there to get revenge! He said i was strong and doing a good time for first timer in Baguio. “You will make it to the finish line with this pace”, he assured me.

It was endless climb, thankfully there were a Marshal located throughout the route. As i was about to reached AS 7, my Petzl Nao headlamp ran out of batteries. Dang! Another set back. Alvin gave one of his lamp for me to use – i just worried the Marshall would disqualify me due to the headlamp. I brought 4 AAA batteries as back up, i will changed them when reached AS 7; i said quietly to myself.

Finally our group reached AS 7 at around 9:42 pm. I was hungry and cold, but they serve only water at AS7. Hot food was at another aid station – 2.9km away at AS8.

I stopped for few minutes to changed fresh batteries for my headlamp and top up water for hydration bag.

Distance Covered: 9km
Accumulative Distance: 73km
Time Taken: 3:35
Accumulative Time: 18:42

 

AS7 To AS8 (Mt Santo Tomas To Cabuyao) 2.9 km : Downhill (Elevation loss –170)

I was pretty glad that i conquered Mt Santo Tomas, the worst was over! or so i thought.

Now a run for my dinner, downhill all the way to AS 8.

But now another bad news - my Garmin watch died! Dang!

I was running blind beyond that, i ran with open heart and hoping that i will make it till the end, I promised my kids i would.

It was a short run, i was glad to arrived at AS 8. Another mountain conquered – Mt. Cabuyao.

The aid station was well lit, there were lots a cars including ambulance. I was told a runner was taken to Hospital due to difficulty to breath. Most importantly at this aid station, there’s food and isotonic here.

Time for dinner and a bit of breather.

I checked in as runner #76

Distance Covered: 2.9km
Accumulative Distance: 75.9km
Time Taken: No idea.
Accumulative Time: ?

 

AS8 To AS9 (Cabuyao To Camp 6). 7.6km: Downhill (Elevation loss – 1006)

Levi the Technical Race Director was there and asked about my conditions. I said i was doing pretty good and confidence to finish this within cut off time.

I took a good rest here at AS8, i had a hot seafood noodle. Great food to top up my sodium level. One of the Marshall offered me to warm up inside one of the house – i declined as i had my jacket on don’t intend to waste more time than i needed to.

After topping up my hydration bag and front 2 bottles with 100plus, i made my way out of the aid station. I grabbed two bananas on my way out, another mandatory item checked was done before i was cleared to continued.

I was feeling really good, spirit high, confidence high, my belly full of noodles. As i was walking, i hurriedly ate the two bananas.

BIG MISTAKE!

As i was descending the steep Cabuyao mountain, i suddenly felt sick. I stopped by a tree and vomited. All that i ate earlier was now all over the ground, i could see clearly the noodles coming out of my mouth. Apparently, i tried to put too much inside my small stomach. Too much and too soon, i should have taken more time to digest the food at the aid station.

Dang! This could spell a big DNF all over my forehead. All that energy and calories wasted!

A Marshall was coming out of nowhere as soon as he heard me vomited. He was worried and asked about my conditions. I said was better now but hungry….

From AS8 to AS 9 it a steep downhill, a total of 1,006 metres off elevation loss within 7.6km. It’s un-runnable trail, i had to go all fours on certain sections. It was too steep and too dangerous, one false move you could end up breaking your leg or worse – your neck!

Alvin soon after joined me, it’s nice to have company at these late hours in the night. The downhill took me forever – it was endless single slippery track going down to the centre of the earth.

During this period i was getting sleepy and i walked slower. Alvin was a great companion, he waited for me every time he was too far in front.

I was hungry, sleepy and pissed. This course was endless and run forever. TNF Philippines course at Baguio is not difficult – it’s TOO DIFFICULT. It’s no fun when you can’t run and had to hike or power walk 80% of the time due to single track course or it’s too dangerous to run at certain sections of the trail.

I was getting restless, there’s seems no light at end of the tunnel. Finally, a group of runners caught up with us. It’s Alvin’s friends – he soon later joined this fast group. I continued on with  another Pinoy runner – Leo.

We finally reached AS9 after hours and hours of walking. I was in Zombie mode, getting worse – sleepy but i tried my hardest to fight it off. My batteries ran out and i was left with the final two batteries – i was worried as there’s about 17km left to go.

 Distance Covered: 7.6km
Accumulative Distance: 83.5km
Time Taken: No idea.
Accumulative Time: ?

 

AS9 To AS10 (Camp 6 To Airport Road) 5:7 km: Uphill (Elevation gain 414)

As we reached AS9, the Marshall quickly tend to our needs. I just needed to change my headlamp batteries, it was quite dark at AS 9.

We ran into town after that and went into a maze between people’s house. Leo and I got lost following these markers – we wasted about 15 minutes before finding the correct route.

Another ascends, damn! I was tired and more importantly i was too sleepy. I feel i could passed out anytime soon.

But Leo was pretty persistence not letting me go off the hook easily. He kept on encouraging me to move faster and waited every time i walk slower.

Finally i had to forced Leo to abandoned me, i took shelter from one of the Marshall camped on that cold mountain. I just could not move my leg any longer, my legs betrayed me. I was hungry and getting weaker – all that calories that i vomited earlier has taken its toll. A permanent DNF this time for sure – there’s no way to escape it.

I said to the Marshall that i need to lie down a bit, so he offered me his hammock tied between two trees. I asked for for the time – it was 4:45 am he said. I asked him to wake me up after 30 minutes. In honestly, i  couldn't be sure if i could wake up in 30 minutes. Things happened for a reason, just accepted it – i remember thinking at the time.

I had run for almost 25 hours without sleep and the night before the race i couldn’t sleep. I just lie there and hear the melodies of Kam versus Ijam snoring in the hotel room.

It felt great lying down on that hammock, i took off my shoes and closed my eyes. It was cold on that hammock even with my jacket on.

Then i went BLANK…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I woke up later feeling refresh, felt like i was sleeping for a very long time. I asked the Marshall for the time – it’s 5:10 am he said. What? It couldn't be….

I just  had a deep sleep for 25 minutes. I asked him how many runners passed me while i was sleeping? He said only two !

If i remembers correctly, the organizer said the first 100 runners will get medal at finishing line, while others will have to wait for them to post it.

I don’t travel this far and run for hours to wait for my medal in the mail. No way! Now my motivation in to finish top 100.

I thanked the Marshall for his hospitality and off i went – i started running again. I felt great, i felt a renewed energy.

It’s getting brighter now, i took off my jacket and put it in the bag coz my body has warm up now. It’s a bit of downhill run and i reached AS 10 soon after.

Distance Covered: 5.7km
Accumulative Distance: 89.2km
Time Taken: No idea.
Accumulative Time: ?

 

AS10 To Finish (Airport Road To Camp John Hay). 11km (Uphill Elevation Gain 177)

As i reached AS10, they offered me coffee. I took the cup and walk fast, drinking that hot java somehow gave me some sort of strength – or caffeine effect i guess.

It’s a tarmac road towards the Loakan Airfield, i could see a runners in front of me. I quicken my running pace – i’m reeling him in. As i reached the end of the cross of Loakan Airfield, i was getting nearer to this particular runner. His name is Ralph, he told me when i finally caught up with him a km later.

We run together and overtook another runner, i was panicking whether i could do enough to secured that top 100 placing. We caught up with Leo a few km later, and the three of us ran together. Leo was surprised to see me! He asked whether i slept? Yes i said – 25 minutes!

That final 11km took us from tarmac road into trail around Camp John Hay. I was running faster now, even on inclines. I was so focus on my running that i didn’t realised i left both of them behind. When i looked back, there’s no one following me.

I caught up with Mirko inside the trail few km to the finish line.” Hey Canadian”, i said to Mirko. “You missed me?”, i said further. He smiled and asked where the hell did i went? I said that i stopped and sleep a bit. I overtook him and said “see you at finish line buddy – congrats you gonna finish this”. I frantically overtook about 20 runners in that final 11km of the race.

As I reached nearer to the finish line, i could see more runners from opposite direction. It’s the 22km and 11km runners, they just started. Most of them upon seeing me said "Congratulation sir”. I replied endless “thank you”, how nice these runners at this part of Asia.

I could heard noises and crowd cheers as i entered the final stretch towards the finish line. I grab a Malaysian flag tucked in my bag and ran the final meters with the flag. Proud to carry “Jalur Gemilang” to the finish line.

Completing the race (Photo: Nik Nasrallah)

As i ran further, the emcee announced 100k runner from Malaysia is entering finish line. The crowd roared and cheers for me. That was the best moment from the race. Shine was there waiting and taking my photos. Thanks Shine for your support.

I completed my 9th Ultra Marathon, my 3rd 100km TNF series at position# 68 in 28:27:49

Syukran i made it without any injuries, i couldn’t finish this without your support and prayers my friends. You know who you are. Thanks a million.

 Distance Covered: 11km
Accumulative Distance: 100.2km
Time Taken: No idea.
Accumulative Time: 28:27:49
Position : 68 /108

TNF Philippines 100km with elevation gain of 5,195 meters is higher than climbing Mt. Kinabalu (4,095 meters). With 56.3 per cent DNF rate, it was definitely one of the toughest 100km in the TNF Asia Pacific series. Only 108 out of 247 runners made it to the finish line. Even most local runners find it difficult, a DNF for first timer at Baguio is consider common.

As my new friend Allan said :

Ijam and Kam was at the Hotel lobby when i arrived battered, tired and hungry. Ijam said “i thought you would never gonna finish this”. “Congrats Ray” he added further with his astonishing face.

Thanks for the Vote of confidence guys lol. It was tough – i would never blame them to doubt me to finish the 100km at Baguio. The course was difficult – even season runners said it was much tougher than Lantau, Hong Kong route.

3rd TNF 100km completed, where shall we go next compadre?