24th Marathon @ BIM

 

It was last minute decision, bought plane ticket at 2 am Saturday morning for 7 am flight to Kota Kinabalu.

 

The route this year was more challenging than last year “fast & flat”, you know exactly what I'm talking about when you running uphill around UMS.

 

The race started at 3 am, and I was planning to run this smartly or so I thought....

 

Then I met Erwan Kasim and Jiki John after about 1km, Jiki whom I paced last year at BIM was running for a "cancer cause" this year.

 

So we end up being pacer and pacee again this year, after my unfinished business at Leadville; I wanted to find out whether I still have my running mojo.

 

BIM was my comeback Marathon run so to speak.

 

After few kilometres, I felt good and my running legs are nicely warms up. I decided to push a faster pace and try to maintained the pace just nice and easy under 5:30 per km pace.

 

We eat up the miles or km quickly, reached 5km marker and I was stunned to cover this distance in a jiffy.

 

I stopped at every water stations (estimate every 3km) to hydrate, wash my face and wet my hair (my usual routine at WS).

 

But, Jiki just passed the WS grab a cup and drink on the fly. I had to play catch up every time I stop at WS. She's a strong Sabah female runner I tell ya.

 

I make sure I quicken the pace every time my Garmin showed 6:00 km pace or more.

 

Finally, we caught up with the leading female runner at the final UMS uphill. It was Judy, last year Women champion and also Jiki’s close friend. They said hello and exchange motivations before we moved on running downhill. The camaraderie between these Sabah runners is exemplary to other runners, although they're rival during the race but there're best of friends outside it. I hope more runners would follow this great camaraderie.

 

Nearing he final u-turn at 29km, both my hamstrings and quads are trashed and are on the verge of cramping breakdown. I slowed my pace and urge Jiki to continue running without me. Judy then arrived besides me and complained the same thing, we’re cramping badly at the same time. Talk about misery loves company…

 

Judy stopped at medic to get cramp spray just before the u-turn.

 

I continued running in pains, both of my legs are now numb. My legs screaming for me to stop, it was so easy to stop. I fought back mentally and continued running - now more slower pace, around 7:00 km pace.

 

I stopped at every WS for medics to get anti cramp spray, it works for a while. It cools off my burning quads and hamstrings.

 

The final 2 km was hell, I gritted my teeth and dug deep for that final finish. What do you expect, still reeling and recovering from 40 miles trail run in another continent. Plus suffering from jet lag, a Marathon distance run is not exactly a good recovery run.

 

I made it to the finish line in 4:15 for my 24th Marathon.

 

Huge congratulations to Jiki John, she emerged Women Champion for Borneo Marathon 2013.

 

p.s. Leadville race report will be here, soon I hope :p

 

With Jiki John, BIM Women Champion

Acclimatizing at Leadville

Summit of Mt. Sherman (14,036 feet / 4096 meters)

 

My 3rd day at Leadville was tough, although I drank and drank, I still get headache - a common symptom of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

 

Nevertheless I need to climb more than 10,200 feet (Leadville) to get more acclimatization.

 

On Monday morning, I followed Matt to run/hike/walk/crawl to Mt. Sherman - one the 14er in Colorado. 14er is referring to mountains that have height of more than 14,000 feet. There are fifty four (54) 14er in Colorado state.

 

Matt is my new friend, I met him at the hostel where I stay for the LT100 race. Matt had completed Leadville 5 times, Hardrock 100 finisher and WS100 finisher, and he's only 58.

 

We started to climb about 8 am at elevation of 3671 meters. As Mt. Sheridan located besides Mt. Sherman, we decided to climb both. More value for my limited time at Leadville to acclimatize.

 

 

There were many hikers that morning going up Mt. Sheridan 14,036 feet / 4,278 meters. We met few runners preparing for the weekend LT100 run. All the hikers were dressed up in warm clothes, while we only wearing short. It's a bright morning with sun up, but in the mountain its cold. The wind makes it even colder. Lower torso don't need much protection compared to upper torso, I put on my windbreaker over my only shirt. It's warm enough if you keep moving in these kind of mountain temperature.

 

I forgot to bring my gloves and as a result, my hands were numb.

 

It took us 4:05 to summited both mountains. There were a lot of loose hard rocks and gravels, you gotta be careful not to sprained your legs doing this. The climb were easy enough, but the altitude killed you. I try to run up a couple of times, only lasted about 10 seconds when we realised there's less oxygen up there. Boohoo ...

 

Going down was the best, all that downhill Nuang training paid off. My strategy for LT100 would be walks all the inclines and run all the downhills.

 

It's a personal record for me summiting both Mt. Sherman (14,036 feet / 4,278 meters) and Mt. Sheridan (13,748 feet / 4,190 meters). It the highest mountain I climbed so far, both mountains are higher than Mt. Kinabalu (13,435 feet / 4,095 meters). And I haven't done Mt. Kinabalu yet...sigh

 

I got my first 14er in Colorado, only 53 more to go.

 

(Photo: Matt Mahoney)

 

We got a bit of snow here near the summit

 

 

(Photo: Matt Mahoney)

Leadville 10k Trail Run

 

I safely arrived at Denver on Thursday (6 pm local time), after more than 30 hours of flight (including transits, connecting flights).

 

Wearing compression during the flights did wonder, I wasn't too tired at all. The biggest scare was at Chicago airport, I was held more than an hour for extra verification on my visit to stateside. I did missed my 2:30 pm flight to Denver though. At last, I was permitted to enter USA after the immigration verify my details. I wasn't complaining coz I understand these people are just doing their job, I must recommend that the officers was in professional conduct throughout my ordeal.

 

I spend the first night at Denver 5,000 feet from sea level to acclimatize before making way up to Leadville 10,200 feet.

 

So far I feel pretty good, I heed the advise to drink more fluids at this high altitude. Plus Gatorade is pretty cheap here 77 cent for 946 ml bottle.

 

I arrived at Leadville on Saturday, it's a race day for 100 mile MTB bike race. My hostel was full of bikers and there's few runners already stayed at the hostel to acclimatize for the 100 mile foot race.

 

On Sunday, I collected my 10km trail run bib. The run started at 12 noon. I decided to wear my full "Baju Melayu" since it's still Eid Fitri. It attracted a lot of attention from other runners, some asked to be photograph with me.

 

The weather was quite hot, because we're at high altitude the sun was pretty merciless. You'll get sunburn immediately when exposed in the outdoor.

 

But for me it's still bearable wearing the baju Melayu coz the humidity here is low and you wont get sweat a lot.

 

There were about 500 people running the 10k run, I met a Japanese runner right before the start. He was transiting through Denver and registered the run on the spot.

 

We started running on the road for about a km before entering a trail. The trail was easy, wide off road but the altitude killed you. This was my first experience running at this high altitude, it's like using straw to breathe. Tell ya it's not easy running here, I had difficulties breathing while running at 10,200 feet / 3100 meters.

 

Water station was located  at 5km turn around, glanced at my Garmin - I made in in less than 29 minutes. I was going to fast, I decided then to slow down on the second half by taking photos with my camera.

 

Completed the run in 1:07 . Not too shabby with camwhoring, drinking 3 cups of water at WS and 2 pieces of watermelon. Definitely a good introduction to running in high altitude, hope to get more acclimatize soon for LT100 next Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Ray @ the Star 1st day of Eid Fitri

By the time you read this I am halfway to Leadville.

Found free wifi at London Terminal while waiting for my connecting flight to stateside.

Thanks for all your support peeps, especially close friends sending me off to the airport yesterday.

Stay tune for more updates from Leadville.

Eid Fitr Greetings

Running is my outlet for frustration, anger, disappointment, betrayal and everything that goes wrong in my life.

In running, I found solitude, I found peace and calmness.

Running Ultra is about finding yourself, to understand yourself better, be closer to god.

I always been selfish thinking that I am running for myself, but the fact is I touched so many life either indirectly or directly through my running adventures, non intentionally of course.

Through running I have made many great friends, these runners inspired me in their own unique way. You don't have to be fast to be great, you only need to be sincere.

Of all the races I ran, it all lead to one race in Colorado - the Leadville Trail 100. I might fall down flat on face, I might fail. But one thing for sure I am living my life to the fullest, I'm living my dream. Nothing else matters.

Its clear now, Destiny awaits me in less than 9 days in Colorado.
As Eid Fitr is nearing, I seek you forgiveness my friends if any of my words or actions offended you.

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin

I seek your du'a and prayer for my ultimate race across the sky, thanks a million for your endless support friends.

p.s. look out The Star tomorrow (8th July), yours truly might be feature in it. Great timing on first of raya and when I fly off to US. Hopefully it's a good omen.

Dream Race – LT100

 

Thanks Tristupe for supporting my dream race (LT100).

 

Excerpt from Tristupe blog about my run. You can read the rest here

Thanks also to fellow bloggers for their supports towards my run and my cause.

Jamie Pang

OrangeMan

Captain Nick Skerchers

Lina The Running Bunny

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