How To Become an Ultra Marathon Runner

Frosty - Emotionally Inspiring (Video)

Salomon Running TV – Season 3 Episode 02

Anna Frost has spent the past 8 years wandering the globe competing in some of the worlds top trail races.

Her win at Transvulcania in 2012 cemented her place as one of the top ultra trail runners in the world. Following that race, Anna was plagued by a string of injuries and forced out of the racing circuit. As a result, in late 2012 she decided to return to her home in Dunedin, New Zealand.

In this episode Anna reconnects with her identity and roots as she questions what running means to her.

King Salomon, Font Romeu And The Making Of A Classic

Taken from http://runtramp.com/killiansclassic/

I arrive at a place, high up in the French Pyrenees, in the village of Font Romeu, where log cabins and huge, beige canvas tents lie dotted on a hillside under tall pine trees. The large wooden sign at the entrance reads ‘Huttopia’ and although it sounds like I’ve stumbled upon some San Francisco hippie commune, it is, in fact, practically crawlingwith elite Salomon athletes, products designers & the rest of the team’s entourage. This is their secluded HQ for the five days before the Kilian’s Classic event and I’ve just landed smack, bang in the middle of it – into a kind of Salomon Shangri-La.

The man himself, Kilian Jornet © DROZ-PHOTO

It was during Kilian Jornet’s monumental crossing of the Pyrenees mountain range in 2010 that the initial, tentative idea for Kilian’s Classic materialised. During a stop in Font Romeu on that epic, eight day, 850 kilometre jaunt from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast, Greg Vollet, fresh into his new job as Salomon Marketing manager, envisioned a trail running event. ‘We made a stop in Font Romeu because his family and friends were all there,’ he says. ‘Kilian studied in Font Romeu and he had a very good relationship with the city, it was then that we started taking about doing something.’ What he wanted to do, however, was something a little out of the ordinary – something a little different – not a standard race but more a kind of gathering of the tribe. He wanted to achieve a triple celebration, that of trail running; the city of Font Romeu and it’s favourite son; Kilian Jornet.

Arriving at Huttopia is as daunting as it is delightful. This is, after all, going to be five days spent with the Salomon trail running team – the behemoth of the mountain racing world. We’re talking a team that has owned the majority of podiums in the trail races for the past few years. That dominance has manifested itself in an occasional bout of negativity in trail running circles – they are the classic victim of their own unbelievable success. Too good for their own good, some might say. Others see them as just an incredibly gifted group of athletes assembled by a forward-thinking, ahead-of-his-time boss. It would seem the current team-focussed trend from other brands is testament to that – Salomon just happened to be the first out of the blocks. Whatever way you look at it, they sure as hell know how to run and I’m about to become immersed in their insatiable appetite for the trails.

The team, in their element © DROZ-PHOTO

Pierre Dechonne is someone who could affectionately be called a fixer – you want something done in Font Romeu, you turn to Pierre, it’s as simple as that. Chances are that with a cool, gallic shrug of his broad shoulders and a quick chat on his mobile phone, what you wanted has been done – no problems. The guy oozes debonair. It’s no surprise then that in 2011, when Greg Vollet set about tackling the logistics of creating the Font Romeu event, he picked up the phone to Dechonne. ‘In January 2010, I started to organise the snow trail [race] “la Romeufontaine”,’ he says. ‘This race entered the French Salomon challenge in 2011 and after that, Greg called me to discuss a new race which he wanted to take place in Font Romeu.’ Vollet explained his vision to Dechonne that the event would be, ‘More a festival than a race,’ and together they wasted no time in creating the inaugural Kilian’s Classic, ‘The first KC was born on 2 and 3 of July 2011,’ says Dechonne, before adding, ‘Just before the race, we held the Kilian’s Classic running camp [for the Salomon Athletes]. It permits a break in the season, a time to test new products, a moment to exchange ideas between athletes and staff and a week to see where Kilian grew up!’

By the time it takes me to walk from my car along wood chip paths, past the small, open air swimming pool and to the Huttopia reception I’ve bumped into Kilian (Jornet), Frosty (Anna Frost) and Emelie (Forsberg) off to stretch their legs on an evening run in the warm summer sun, I’ve chatted to the young US hotshot, Mario Mendoza, who’s just gotten a brutal introduction to European style descents, ‘My quads are gone, man – you just don’t get those type of downhills in the US’ and I’ve met the team boss, Greg Vollet. It turns out the whole group has just returned after a long day running in the mountains testing product prototypes and while it would be natural to assume that an relaxing evening would be in order, that’s not the case at all. ‘In five minutes we are going to the ski resort for an uphill workshop,’ says Vollet as we stroll to our cabins. ‘You should come!’

Lunch time with Pierre Dechonne (right side, with the sunglasses on his head) © DROZ-PHOTO

Greg Vollet lives and breathes trail running – it hits you the moment you meet him. It’s now three years since he applied for a job online with Salomon for a position as marketing manager – an application that, to his surprise, proved successful. In that time he has been an integral player in, not just the development of the Salomon International Team and the Salomon trail running brand, but the development of the sport itself. He’s taken to it with an intense passion. ‘It wasn’t in my job description!’ He says laughing. ‘My job description was not developing the sport, it was to develop the business market.’ While the Salomon accountants would no doubt be happy with a bigger stake in the existing market, Vollet believes in a more organic way of achieving the goal. ‘My approach was that if I want to develop the business market then it would be done naturally because I develop the sport – the sports image and inspiration.’ On top of that he sees cotter mountain brands not as rivals but as an essential component in trail running’s future, ‘Other brands have amazing runners and I really want those brands to continue to develop and be involved in trail running. I don’t want us to have all the best runners – that would kill our image and kill the sport.’ Talking to Vollet gives you the impression that this has become more than his work – this is, without a hint of exaggeration, his life. ‘You need to be passionate about the sport – to invest in it – to have the vision,’ he says. ‘I find it hard to switch off when I’m at home, it’s something that I need to fix.’ It’s a level of commitment, an unshakeable dedication to the cause, that would show itself countless number of times over the course of my days with the Salomon team.

Anna Frost cruising the Font Romeu trails © DROZ-PHOTO

‘You just bounce off your toes and use your arms for momentum.’ says Jonathan Wyatt in the flattened vowels of his New Zealand accent, as he, literally, skips up the 60° incline, demonstrating his uphill running technique. Honestly, he looks like a gazelle gracefully hopping through the plains – he makes it look that easy. We’ve started the uphill workshop and Wyatt, a bona fide legend in the mountain running world, is putting on a show as the rest of the motley crew of team members, S-LAB designers and nearest and dearest look on, genuinely impressed. After everybody tries, to various degrees of success, to emulate the affable, forty year old Kiwi, up steps Greg Vollet to offer an alternative approach to the art of ascending – the euro-style power hike. ‘Big steps! Dig your heel in for grip, hands on the knees, push down…and climb.’ says Vollet as he powers up towards the piste’s top. Whereas Wyatt’s stride had an almost balletic quality, Vollet’s is the polar opposite – a utilitarian, primal looking assault on the hillside – it reminds me of one of the dance moves from Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. It’s awesome and, damn, is it effective. He’s eating up the vertical. Everyone, again, gets the chance to try and then it’s time for a Wyatt/Vollet double act as the two take off upwards at a blistering pace, Wyatt leading the way and a wolf-like Vollet snapping at his heels, hunting his prey. Everyone’s lapping it up at this stage, so the two photographers – Damien Rosso and Jordi Saragossa are roped into a climb-off. I’m not sure who wins, but the airborne full stretch dive at the finish line dislodges a rock that hurtles down the slope and smashes straight into Rosso’s iPhone.

Team physio, Arnaud, taking care of business. © DROZ-PHOTO

It’s safe to say that none of the Salomon Team that take part in Kilian’s Classic take the competition aspect very seriously – and that, according to Vollet, is the whole point. ‘Most are racing only because it’s a loop marked that will bring you out into nature,’ he says. ‘They are not there for the performance.’ In fact, Vollet looked to his cycling roots, and more specifically the mass-participation randonnée events, for the inspiration for Kilian’s Classic, ‘My idea came more from cycling where you have the cyclosportive – an event where you have thousands of people coming and they are riding all together,’ he says. ‘There is a ranking but it means nothing.’ What does mean something, though, is the relationship between the elite athletes and the other runners and it’s this that really sets Kilian’s Classic apart from the multitudes of other mountain races and gives it it’s party atmosphere, as Pierre Dechonne explains, ‘There is a real proximity between Kilian and the other runners,’ he says. ‘Because he is not here to show he is the best, he is only here to say he loves running and this love was born in Font Romeu some years ago.’ It feels that by unshackling from the accepted race structure they have also allowed themselves the luxury of experimenting with different types of races and fun concepts. In other words, by freeing their minds they’ve, in turn, freed their legs to explore the mountains in different ways. ‘The first year, on the Sunday morning, we had a downhill race that was really well received,’ says Vollet. ‘Last year we had a downhill training session with the public, 300 people showed up – it was crazy!’ This year it was time for an uphill race, albeit an uphill race with a Kilian’s Classic twist that would pit the kids directly against their idols.

‘Everyone had said that Salomon is a family and now I can see why they say it,’ says Salomon team newbie Stevie Kremer when I get talking to her beside the pool. ‘You know, they bicker like every family but everyone gets along and loves each other,’ she adds with a laugh. I can’t argue with her, there is a camaraderie amongst them – a playful banter – that seems genuinely heartfelt. They’re having fun, lots of fun. One aspect I didn’t expect is that the family-feeling isn’t just amongst the athletes, it spreads right through to the product designers, the photographers, the marketing and PR team. It stretches to the partners, kids…I mean UTMB winner Francois d’Haene is here with his wife and their daughter – she’s 12 days old. It’s a shared passion. As Kramer puts it, ‘We eat and we run, what more is there to life!?’ If my time here is anything to go by, there simply isn’t time for anything more, well, apart from signing autographs.

Kilian mixes with the fans © DROZ-PHOTO

It’s Saturday morning, race day, and the start gun fires for the beginning of the Kilian’s Classic 25 and 45k races. To the side of the start line, the Salomon team enthusiastically cheer and shout the other 1300 runners on. The sea of competitors move as one up the main street before swinging left onto the trails and the first sustained climb – the 2200 meter Roc de la Calme. After a two minute head start, the team members start their chase – it’s yet another way for the back and middle of the pack runners to get an opportunity to mix it with the elites as they weave their way through the crowds. It’s a cool concept – everyone gets a little boost when a team member passes by or runs with them for a while. It’s a needed boost too – Dechonne has created two solid mountain courses, taking in the best that the French Pyrenees have to offer. The short and long races share the route until they split at the striking Les Bones Hores Hotel nestled on the shore of the beautiful Bouillouses lake at 2000 meters altitude, from there the 45k takes in an extended route through the stunning Grave Valley and Blue Lake before both races finish back on the main street and the carnival atmosphere in the heart of Font Romeu. It’s there, after four hours and twenty three minutes that the first three runners cross the finish line, hand in hand and beaming from ear to ear, after the 45k main-event. Kilian Jornet, Greg Vollet and Zaid Ait Malek will be declared joint winners of the 2013 Kilian’s Classic. Vollet, however, is quick to play down the success and makes it clear that certain people where not exactly pushing it. ‘Kilian saw some chamois and went over to them to take some pictures,’ he says. ‘He kept stopping and talking to people all the time and then catching back up to us. It was… awful!’ he adds laughing.

The start of Kilian’s Classic 2013 © DROZ-PHOTO

It’s almost time for my stay with the Salomon team to come to an end. I’m sitting with everyone in the crowded food tent after the kids versus elites uphill race and Vollet is explaining the concept to me, ‘The handicap enabled the kids to win and finish in front of Kilian – the idea was that none of the Salomon athletes would qualify for the final,’ he says. ‘We want to always play with the interaction between the normal runner and the elite.’ That relationship is essentially what’s at the heart of Kilian’s Classic, the team are ‘on show’ for the whole weekend. They sign autographs and get photoed for hours on end, they run and talk with the competitors and they, when the time comes, party hard with the locals. They’re an integral, irreplaceable, part of the whole event. As we get up from our table and make our way outside, an impromptu applause breaks out from the other competitors. It’s not forced, it’s a genuine act of appreciation. It’s clear that everyone really likes what the team and brand are bringing to Font Romeu and Vollet, in return, is loving what he and the team are getting back in return, ‘The enthusiasm, the fervour, of the people is surprising,’ he says. ‘They want to thank us, so many people were coming and simply saying “thank you”, it’s…’ he pauses for a moment,‘…it’s amazing.’ Funnily enough that’s the same word most people I talked to used to describe their experience at Kilian’s Classic.

Thanks for reading - Robbie, RunTramp.

Salomon X-Trail Run 2013 (Malaysia)

I was under the weather right after my 16 hours trans Nuang adventure, flu and cough were my best friends for the past week.

So this 10km Salomon Trail run was my first run after zero mileage for the whole week, there' goes another week of training mileage into the dumpster.

The plan was to take it easy, just roll with the other runners on Mardi trail, finish the run, take the medal and go home continue snoozing.

I didn’t even know where the place was, a quick glance on Google map right before sleeping confirmed that it was 20 mins from my place. Great, i could do with extra sleep and rest.

Woke up just before subuh to a windy and rainy morning, man it’s going to be a wet and dirty race i imagine. Arrived at start line around 6:30 am, go around the place and met the usual suspects – Khairi Muin, Jamie Pang, Captain Nick, Dafi, Azlan Aiman and others. I didn’t see Puzi not until after the race.

Azlan Aiman with his selected pacers. Only the elite can have two pacers at one race :)

I started the run near the front group with Dafi and Azlan Aiman. We’re talking and i remembered at the time the race suddenly started. I turned around and Maman was gone, “puff” (insert smoke effect)  running fast catching the front runners. Such the ability of the great Maman, super ability to know the start of the race 2 seconds before it happened.

I tagged along with Dafi and run our paces, it was neither slow nor fast pace – it’s just a happy pace. It’s my very first time running the Mardi trail and the hills/inclines were quite challenging. I was very far from the physical state of being fit, at few of inclines i was reduced to walking. Yes the hills beat me up pretty good. But i really loves those nasty hills, i can imagine myself doing hills repeats here in the future. It’s a runnable trail with a good challenging hills, would be great for my Ultra trail training.

Photo credit: KH Tang, Tristupe

I looked at the distance marker and soon found out that it was under distance when i compared it with my Garmin. It was great to see friends volunteering their time here, Kelvin and Uncle Onn was working the water station. Glad to see those friendly faces.

After the last inclines, it was all downhill from there on and we passed the WS once again going back to finish line. My of my, i was surprised to see a lot of runners just starting to climb those hills that we endured earlier. I think to myself that we couldn’t be that fast coz there’s a lot more runners in front, finally it hit me – 2,500 runners in one single track trail.

After 5km, we were turned back into tarmac from the trail. Still i was pacing with Dafi but with great difficulties, i was so not fit and my stomach hurt – side stitch, either i ran too fast or drank too much water.

As we entered the final turn, i looked at GPS watch with disbelief. It’s only 7km plus, where’s the rest of the 3km route. Upon seeing the finish line, we scrambling faster and pushing for that final effort.

It’s only 7.25km, according to my GPS watch. I finish my second “10km” for the year in 40 minutes, it would be my greatest PB if it wasn’t under distance. Dang!

There wasn’t many runners at finish line but Maman and Khairi was already there. We went to collect our medal and food, the counter was quite empty – so no need to queue. Most of the runners are still in the trail i guess at the time.

Photo Credit: Azlan Aiman, Kam, Aizat, Jamie Pang.

Met Puzi at the food counter, he finished 2nd place in less than 30 minutes. The race was overall great except for the under distance route. I was informed later by Tristupe who was doing Marshall work that the route was change in the final minutes due to “a family day” event and parts of the trail was in bad conditions due to rain.

Most of the participants were happy with the race, the medal was nice (great quality) plus all finisher were given Salomon water proof waist belt (2 pockets) bag ala SPI belt. I tested the Salomon waist belt earlier today, it perform better than i expected – better than SPI belt. I don’t think it’s sold in Salomon store – more of a momento for this race.

The best part – all Salomon shoes was on sales. 30% discounts at RM300 – RM350 per pair, it’s a steal for a good quality trail shoes at that price.

Till we meet again next year. Train well and race safe.

Gears used:

• Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra Shoes

• Salomon Exo- S Lab Tee

• Salomon Exo S Lab Twinskin Short

• Wright socks

Trans Nuang 2.0 (The Five Crazies Edition)

“Life is a grand adventure or nothing at all”

Trans Nuang 2.0  a.k.a Trans Selangor-Pahang Mountain Marathon.

5 runners. 42km. 16 hours.

Elevation gains 2,878 meters / 9,442 feet.

Route: Pangsun-Nuang Summit-Janda Baik-Nuang Summit- Pangsun.

 

Pre Run

It started when i plan for Jamie Pang’s mountain training in preparation for his race in December. Jeff Ooi soon joined after hearing our plan. Then Zas started inquire about Trans Nuang adventure, he’s the next to join. Meanwhile, Puzi was the last member to join in the eleventh hour, when he heard that i’m going to Janda Baik through Nuang Summit; he dropped everything turn up earlier than me that Sunday morning.

So there we were – the five of us crazy runners assembled in the drizzling rain at 6:30 am at Pangsun carpark. And i’m the only one that have completed Trans Nuang route before this, so it was up to me to lead the adventure that day. That honour was a huge responsibility on my shoulder.

 

The run/hike/walk/crawl

5 Crazies.

Jeff "Iron Butt" Ooi

Jeff has over 13 years of years running experience. He’s also the Race Director for Mt. Nuang Endurance Run and Back to Endurance run. Although, Jeff have scaled Nuang Summit many times; he never done Trans Nuang yet. He eagerly join us for his UTMF 2014 training commencement.

Jamie “Carboman” Pang

Jamie Pang is an established marathon runner and one of the first sport blogger in Malaysia, recently bitten by trail running bug. He has never scaled Nuang Summit before and he’s going all the way in one attempt for Trans Nuang. He broke many personal records at the end our journey. Well done Jamie, you are in good shape for your first Trail Ultra.

Mohd Puzi Dolah

Puzi has over 20 years experiences in endurance races. He only attempted running Ultramarathon at TMBT 2011, his first 100km. He told me that he attempted this route (Trans Nuang) in 2000 (13 years ago), he got lost and somehow made it to Janda Baik nearing night fall. He then hailed taxi to get back to Pangsun carkpark. So it's kinda an unfinished business for him. When i told him about this adventure, he jumped at the chance and he's the most cheerful guy during entire journey. Never stop talking, our entertainment for the whoel journey. Thanks Puzi for sharing your experiences with us.

Zas Ibrahim

Zas has been around for years in local running scene, his marathon timing is about 3:30 but he prefer Mountain Running than road races. This mountain goat is very fast on technical tail, you can learn a lot from him on running mountain trail.

Yours truly – RaY

I just started entering race late 2009, did my first Marathon (42km) in 2010. I completed my first 100km Ultra Marathon race in 2011 and never looked back since. I guess i’m the guy with the least running experiences in this group – roughly 3 years of running experiences (races).

Pangsun-Nuang Summit-Janda Baik

We started the Trans Nuang expedition about 7:00 am, the drizzling rain finally stopped. We realised the trail would be in worst conditions due to the rain and corrosion; not to mention the 300 odd hikers hitting the trail a day before.

Trans Nuang - 14 river crossings

We quickly decided that we only gonna run on some part of the trail, especially from trail head to Camp Lolo (5km). The rest we would do a fast hike and even walk, it’s not worth putting up with risk of injuries. Plus our main agenda for the day was “time of feet” training, we estimated about 12 hours of training time from Pangsun-Nuang Summit-Janda Baik and return (7am to 7pm).

I knew it’s going to be a very long day when we took more than 4 hours to scale the Nuang summit. We really took our time, took plenty of photos & videos and too many breaks.

Going down to other side (Janda Baik) was totally a new experience for the rest of the group. The trail here was very slick and slippery, we had plenty of butt falling sessions – especially Jamie. You need a really good trail shoes here, the one with good lugs – for example Salomon Fellraiser.

1st summit for the day. 1,493 meters

As we arrived at Janda Baik, the sceneray was unrecognisable. I was here few months ago and now could recognise the trail.

I brought along my new trekking poles for product testing at Trans Nuang, it helps to relieve the pressure from my right knee. I’m still having pain on that right knee, so i was very slow and cautious not fall during the expedition.

Descending to Janda Baik

It was comfortably easy doing the first Trans Nuang last July with Zinov, now it felt hard especially with my injured knee.

After the 7th river crossings, we arrived at Janda Baik. But the usual eating stall was closed. We decided to walk further few more kilometers to find a place to have our lunch. It was a late lunch at 3 pm.

Janda Baik-Nuang Summit-Pangsun

It was getting darker in the trail on returning leg. Around 5:30 pm, it started to rain, it was a very heavy downpour. We came prepared, we put on our rain jacket and headlamp and keep moving. On route the summit, the trail was treacherously slippery. We took our time and continue moving cautiously. There’s a dangerous section nearing the summit (from Janda Baik), you need a bit of wall climbing skill and strong upper body to pull yourself on the big rock before final ascend to the the summit.

Lunch at Janda Baik (Photo: Jamie Pang)

It was abouot 7:15 pm when we scaled Nuang Summit for the second time that day. It was foggy, windy, cold and raining heavily. We’re hungry – stopped a bit to refuel before going down towards Pangsun. It’s a very different view now in the night time, my 365 lumen headlamp brighten the trail path like day time.

In my experience this is the worst and toughest Nuang trail yet for me. We got rain, cold wind, slippery track and precarious river crossings. I guess it’s some sort of evil initiation for Jamie entrance into Ultra Marathon Trail.

All of us got few scratches from the fall on the slippery trail, Jamie got is worst. I lost count on how many times he slipped and fell, now both of his hands are bloodied due to the falls. But he took it all like a man on a mission, no whiner in this group of 5.

At one time, Jamie fell right in front of me – strange though, no wind and no nothing, he just fell out of sudden. He said later that he was reaching out for a tree that doesn’t exist.

Now he’s seeing thing! Hallucination kicks in! A normal occurrence during a very long Ultra Marathon, due to tiredness or dehydration.

Although it was a very long day in the mountain, we know what we’re doing. Except for few in the group, majority of us have experiences running Ultra Trail in the mountain during night time. So it’s nothing new or something to be scared of. We are quite confident of completing Trans Nuang on our own terms.

We finally reached Pangsun at 12:24 am Monday, and in few hours i’ll be clocking for work.

Congrats to all, especially Jamie Pang for his maiden Nuang Summit and Trans Nuang adventure. He looked strong even after the reached the safety of Pangsun. Puzi and Zas looked like coming from 10km run, fresh and ready for more. While the rest of us was almost in the brink of losing consciousness.

This will be a great tale for our grandchildren and there will be more Trans Nuang adventure, this time we gonna takes it to the next level.

Pangsun-Nuang Summit-Janda Baik-Genting Sempah and return. 6okm ++. 20 hours of more training time.

I know Puzi is rubbing his hands in anticipation…….

Gears used:

• Salomon XR Crossmax Shoes
• Salomon Skin Pro 10+3 Hydration Bag
• Salomon Bonatti Rain Jacket
• Salomon Exo- S Lab Tee
• Salomon Exo S Lab Twinskin Short
• Wright socks
• Black Diamond Z Distance Trekking Poles

Trans Nuang 2.0 Trailer

Thailand Mountain Trail - TMT

My friend Sebastien Bertrand an Ultra Runner, whom currently resides in Chiang Mai is organising a trail running project in northern Thailand.

It’s a pity that it clash with my TNF Hong Kong race, it would have been a great seven days adventure for me. I am always looking for reason to return to Chiang Mai, this was one of it.

Details of inaugural Thailand Mountain Trail (TMT) as folow:-

So far, Sebastien managed to map down 4 out of the 7 stages of the trail route. He will constantly update the rest at TMT FB page.

Dates: 9th to 15th December 2013

Distance and elevations: 330k and 16.000m+ in one week.

 

1st stage is Chiang Mai - Ban Mae Kha

39km and 2880m+ in one day.

The track goes first on Doi Pui mountain. Through a good and wild footpath used also by MTB it crosses a Hmong village before reaching the summit. Doi Pui is the highest mountain around Chiang Mai: 1668m. After crossing the ridge also called "Buddha foot print" because of its shape the track goes down to Mae Sa "orchid" valley. Then it should go to Mae Kha which is a very pretty Karen village surrounded by rice fields and terraces.

We've been able to register the track from Chiang Mai to Mae Sa, thanks to James Pratt recorded GPS track. But we still need to find a single track from Mae Sa to Mae Kha. Until now we have only found a track which goes on dirt roads. We want to use mainly hiking trails, we still need to investigate the area!

 

2nd stage is Ban Mae Kha - Sop Kai

43mk and 2300m+ in one day.

It is a forecast because we have not been able to find a local person to show the track yet. We have been several times to the main villages on the way but nobody knew it. It's a part of the adventure and it will be a tough target to find the way. Fortunately it seams there's one and some people might know. Hope they are not too old or dead! We will find them.

The track goes through remote areas and villages. First point of interest is Wat Phrabat Si Roi well known for its budddha footprint. Then we will cross Pha Taek and Pha Daeng two small Karen villages in a wonderful valley surrounded by rice fields, terraces and waterfalls (Mok Fa). The arrival village is Sop Kai located on Mae Taeng well known for its wild river.

 

3rd Stage: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai

57km. 3,070m + / 2,680m -

This 3rd stage will be one of the longest of the week. It starts from Sop Kai. After going through many small villages of different hill tribes (Akha, Lisu, Karen) and passed mountains, rice fields, bamboos and pine forests, we will arrive in Pakhia. It's a Hmong village just at the foot of the prettiest Thai mountain Doi Chiang Dao. The track goes steep and wild to a pass before going down to Na Lao Mai a Lisu village. Then we will enter a new remote valley surrounded by green mountains and rocks. The last part of the stage will be wild in the jungle before reaching Mae Cha where wew will spend the night.

 

4th stage is Mae Cha - Pha Daeng

47km and 2100m+ in one day.

The 4th stage will see our group reaching the border with Myanmar. Going north for already 3 stages and more than 120k we will continue our way up before turning off east and north alongside the border. The landscape and atmosphere will change mainly in this long stage.

After a first big part going down or flat we will go up steep. Starting with jungle we will reach and discover the wonderful high evergreen mountains of the north at the end of our long day. Leaving Lisu-tribe village Mae Cha we will enjoy a down-flat run most appreciated by our legs after the high mountains in Doi Chiang Dao. Running in the valley and alongside Mae Ping the main river in the north (the one that runs in Chiang Mai) will allow us to see a wild and humid wildlife. We will go through butterfly clouds and will pass a dense jungle before reaching Ling Luang and find the mountains back. This part is one my favorite, the atmosphere there is different and wild. The last steep part at the end of the day will be tough after 40k. We will reach Pha Daeng a village created by Chinese Chiang Kai Chek fighters after being defeated by Communists.

Interested? Follow the TMT FB page for more information and updates. Say hi to Sebastien for me if you found yourself doing the TMT this December.

Why We Run (Video)

Salomon Running TV – Season 3, Episode 1

Bernd Heinrich is a retired Professor living in a log cabin in the woods of Western Maine.

He has held numerous running records throughout his life and has committed much of his time to the study of the natural world.

In Episode 01 we look back at this man's incredible life, his achievements, the lessons he has learned, and what we can possibly learn from him.

Putrajaya 50km (LSD)

If you looking for a challenge and training for your first Ultra Marathon event, block your calendar on 23 Nov 2013.

Team Pacat will organize an unofficial event, 50km LSD training run.

Unofficial means that there’s no medal, no.shirt and no frills.

Just you and the 50km distance challenge.

Be prepared for a long  hot day running under the Putrajaya sun.

Who knows one day you might run Badwater after completing this Putrajaya 50km.

Details as follow:-

Date: 23 Nov 2013
Time: 7am
Venue: Taman Seri Empangan, Precint 2, Putrajaya
Distance: 50km
Registration fees: RM20 (for water station at each 10KM and refreshment)
Limited slots available.

Contact: teampacatadventure@gmail.com

Register here.