Route 68 Challenge - 100 Miles

"Make Pain Your Friend & You'll Never Run Alone"

 

Photo credit: Rany Tan

 

Route 68 - 100 Miles Road Ultra.

I'm not a big fan of road ultra, I did my first 100 miles race 5 years ago at Craze Ultramarathon (2012) and I swore I would never do 100 miles on road again.

I guess we kept forgetting the pain until we signed up once more. The training for this race is abysmal with my busy prep directing my own Trail race (Sungai Menyala Forest Trail) a week prior.

I took this race as training for my big races later in the summer. So just take it as jogging stroll with friends alike.

 

                                  With the creator of torture, RD Jeff Ooi and Jason Tan.
                                                                         Photo:Mohan

 

                                      Photo: Mohan                                                               

 

Ironically, the pace most of this race with Ben Swee. RD for Craze Ultra which i participated in Singapore  4 years ago.                                                           

 

We start 7am Sat, it was cool weather in the beginning. Took me around 4:32 hours to complete the first FM (42km). Just another 3 FM to go, a fun filled weekend. But not for long, as when the sun came out we're burning on hot open road to "mental hospital'. I walked a lot after that, no more jogging.

I really took my time at all the CPs, eating and rehydrate my body. Although I drank a lot , still my pee is yellow. So drank somemore at all the CPs.

5 km to finish the first loop (84km), it started to rain very heavily. I felt relief from the heat but now all my clothes and shoes are soaking wet. I don't mind the rain but the thunder accompany the rain made me want to stop at the first loop. It's too risky running with raining thunders, i don't want to die on the road due to lighting's strike.

Eventually the rain stop. I changed to fresh clothes and new shoes - Hoka Arahi. Decided to walk the remaining 84km with Batman Ben Swee. Ironically he was the RD for Craze Ultra 5 years ago. Thanks Rino Irwan for sharing your coffee at start line.

 

Early stage of  the race, Sat morning with cool weather, just perfect for any race.

                                                       Photo: Tey

 

So off we go walking the second loop, someone said that walking is not considered as Ultra, but we don't care lah, as long we complete the whole distance without Kliwon.

I think Ben and I are meant to pace each other in this race. His walking pace is the same with my jogging pace, so all is fair in life and love.

The night came and at the Bentong Hotspring (around 121km) 5 km to A8, Ben finally said the magic words "I'm sleepy, let's try to run". Without further due, I started running and felt less sleepy.

Arrived A8 (Bentong Resthouse) just before 4am, sleepy Ben reached 30 mins later with blistered feet. Amazingly he continued the final 42km with borrowed slippers, real story! real hero! for me. Salute Ben!

At A8, I ate and drink and had 20 mins power nap before continuing the final 42km an hour later. Thanks Zaki Hafifi Zaiwai for the support.

The jogging continues in the dark morning road, my goal to reach finish line before the sun goes up again and burn me on the 2nd day. 

I walked on all the inclines, had 30 mins breakfast at local stall - Nasi Lemak & Hot milo at Genting Sempah gave me back the energy i needed to finish this gnarly race.

I felt relief as soon as I reached the bridge on the peak, it's about 15km to finish line and time to fly - I just love downhills section. I use gravity to my advantage, as Scott Jurek once said "free speed".

 

I reached the finish line just before. It got too damn hot. Took me 29:14 hours for a nice jogging in the hot sun. I was surprised to be the 9th person to finish 100miles, I just felt sorry for the rest of the runners still out there in the hot sun fighting to finish their dream race.

 

The Route 68 Ultra Marathon (100 miles) was certainly designed to break your will and test your mental strength severely. I just refuse to give up, that's how I finish this race. More training mileage sure does help a lot to burden my sufferings.

 

Congrats Jeff Ooi for this monster of 100miles race. One of the hardest things I done.

Thanks Jess Lim for the last minute knee and tampal stickers service.

 

I used two shoes for this race, Hoka One One Clifton 3 and Hoka Arahi. Best road shoes for me Congrats to all finishers and supporters. If you DNF it's only a Delayed Success. Don't give up, one day it will be your day in the hot sun!