UTMB 2017 – The Ultimate European Dream Race

“Every great dream begin with a dreamer – Harriet Tubman”

My love affair with Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) started 5 years ago when I watched Kilian Jornet effortlessly won the 2011 The North Face UTMB. Right there and then I knew it, this is the dream race.

And 5 years ago, I posted the video highlight of the race on this blog. aptly titled One Day Soon. Just a foolish dream and I didn’t think at that moment I could ever run a 100 miles trail mountain race. That’s just for crazy people! It didn’t occur to me at that exact moment, I planted the seed in my subconscious mind towards UTMB without realising it.

Never in a million years would I believe that one day I would actually have the opportunity to chase my dream running the UTMB. I have my doubts, especially when I only started running in 2009 with a mere 5km at the age of 37. I entered more races with increased distance and I started collecting all these UTMB points.

Finally after 3 years and two denied ballots, I am one step closer to that dream. Next summer I will run my dream race - the UTMB.

Never give up on your dream, if you believe it hard enough, it will comes true!

If you’re balloting for this race, I wish you best of luck and hope to see you next summer in Chamonix.

My qualifying races for UTMB are taken from Tor des Geants (Italy, 2016), Northburn Station 100 miles (New Zealand, 2016) & TNF100 Australia (2015).

BDB Climb & Run Langkawi Route Preview

Recently I had the chance to review this new event in Langkawi, introducing BDB Climb & Run Langkawi !

Thank you Ariff Syafik and mind@works communication for your kind invitation.

On the morning of 24th April, we started to test the route around 8:00 am. The start point was at Tangga Seribu Kenangan, Hutan Lipur Lubok Semilang,

Full details:

• 21km total distance
• 1,182m elevation gain
• 4,287 stairs of Tangga Helang Seribu Kenangan.

Group photo with running bloggers before the route test (Photo: Miss Ella)

I was climbing the stairs with  Ajis & Deo throughput the first section, there were two false peaks at the stairs section. I must say this was a tough climb, most of the time i fast hiked the stairs only ran few sections either flat or going downhill.

It was tough! but i loved it. Lung busting exercise.

Took me about 56 minutes to complete the stairs section (3km), Ajis & Deo finished few minutes earlier than me. But that's ok for old uncle like me, can’t compete with these young guns.

Three of us decided to continue running up to the peak of Gunung Raya (801 masl), it was a great view up there. Now the fun part, downhill yay!

15 km of downhill to the start point, about 13 km to the base of Gunung Raya (the street junction). It was cool  day with misty weather of the top part of  the mountain.

As we ran nearer to the bottom the mountain, it gets warmer and hotter. From the junction of the base to the finish line it was about 2km of winding road. It was bloody hot now!

It took me 2:33 hours to complete  the whole 21km course. I highly recommended this event for runners looking for lung bursting challenge. See you guys this coming 4th June 2016.

You can also read these blog reviews by other blogger.

Sam McComa
http://vesparunner.blogspot.my/2016/04/bdb-climb-run-langkawi-2016.html

Miss Ella
http://misz-ella.blogspot.my/2016/04/bdb-climb-run-langkawi-route-preview.html?m=1

Aizat Yanan
http://runningco-bear.blogspot.my/2016/04/bdb-climb-run-langkawi-2016-route.html?spref=fb

Marlina
http://linasbackyard.blogspot.my/2016/04/langkawi-trip-for-bdb-climb-run.html

Evelyn
http://www.missyblurkit.com/2016/04/bdb-climb-run-langkawi-2016-route-review.html

Shen
http://www.dream305.blogspot.my/2016/04/bdb-langkawi-climb-run-route-preview.html

Jerome
http://runhikeasia.com/bdb-langkawi-climb-and-run-preview/

Miera
http://www.mieranadhirah.com/2016/04/bdb-climb-and-run-langkawi-2016-preview.html

There’s also two more events with conjunction with BDB Climb & Run Challenge.

• Jitra Extreme Challenge
• Jitra Marathon.

Registration is now open at hooha.asia portal.

4th June 2016. CLIMB & RUN LANGKAWI

10 Sept 2016. EXTREME CHALLEGE JITRA

26 Nov 2016. MARATHON JITRA

Summit of My Life 3: Langtang

Running Project is proud to presents "Langtang" charity screening in Malaysia.

Kilian Jornet's 3rd film from Summit Of My Life "Langtang" will be shown at Golden Screen Cinema, IOI City Mall, Putrajaya on 25th April 2016. Tickets are free but limited.

Thank you mynic.my for sponsoring these tickets and Ten Senses Sdn Bhd for the movie hall rental.

Go to Running Project's Facebook page and "private message" us for free ticket.

(Note: All tickets are now taken in record time when we open for public this morning. Thank you Malaysian running community for supporting this charity event).

For those lucky enough to get ONE ticket each, we hope to see you soon for this charity event at Golden Screen Cinema (GSC), IOI City Mall, Putrajaya this coming 25th April 2016.

April 25 marks the first anniversary of the terrible earthquake that rocked Nepal in 2015. To commemorate this sad event, Summits of My Life is initiating the campaign #SOSNepal to raise the funds needed to complete the charitable project that was begun in December to coincide with the premiere of “Langtang”, the project’s third section.

To achieve this Summits of My Life is holding fund-raising screenings of the film around the world. People from countries as disparate as the United States, Spain, Japan and Qatar can enjoy the film while making a charitable donation. All money raised goes towards the Summits of My Life charitable project.

http://blog.summitsofmylife.com/?utm_source=soml.info&utm_medium=urlshortener

You can also contribute towards rebuilding of Langtang valley in Nepal through kind donation at this link below.

The funds can be donated directly to the charity online platform:http://www.migranodearena.org/es/reto/8922/langtang/