Thanks to MKRC, we managed to get ourselves into 30KM and 55KM (ofcourse, is Vkey, not me) with little discount. The group is so encouraging and motivating, make us feel it is achievable! I was planning to join their Thursday night trail in Bukit Kiara, too bad I can't make it due to my work schedule. I started to worry about it as I knew the training that I have was mostly on road running, and some easy trail run only. The only tough training was hiking trip to Gunung Nuang. That was our first time to Nuang, and it took me almost 12hours (including rest and makan time) to complete. Then the last training was P.S.P King of Forest trail run in Bukit Gasing.
As usual, the closer the more nervous I am! I printed the guidebook and we literally read it like in-and-out, even more details than the time we study for exam! The more I read, the more I tremble - excitement and nervous. The last week before Cultra, we were so careful of the food we eat coz don't want to poo-poo in the middle of jungle, or even worst, diarrhea until leg jelly cannot run. Carb load is a must!!
I took leave for Friday and we depart on the day because the flag off was on Saturday. Me and my bro went for a short run on Thursday night, to calm down our mind body soul! Lol~ We pack exactly and for me pack even more than the mandatory list. So kiasu i know... My mom laughed that our luggage looks like we're going on some long trip but it just 3D2N to Cameron. Be prepared, be very prepared! Just like the slogan from Cultra.
Thursday, the last run before Cultra!
Pre-race
The traffic was smooth, we reached around 1pm as I drive quite slow going up. On the way near to cameron, we can see the banner around the town!!! We feel so pumped!!! Since it was lunch time, we decided to have lunch before we collect our racekit. Bad news for us, the only vegetarian restaurant closed down!! Luckily there's plenty of restaurant with vegetarian option menu on request!
After lunch, we head to Hotel Coolpoint to check in, it was just 300m away from the starting line and race pack collection site. We decided to walk and can survey around the race site as well.
The flow of race kit collection was smooth, as it already stated in the guidebook as well as crew member were there to help us. First time experience mandatory item check, it was strict but it is for the safety of runner, the most crucial part! We do appreciated that the organizer take this matter seriously and strictly enforce it.
I passed! The mandatory item check! Lol~
I have brought a few instant noodle along, in case we were too lazy or too tired to go out. We had vege-cup noodle and then final checking on our gear - shoes, hydration pack, mandatory items etc. Pin the bib nicely and it's time to rest. We need to rest well for tomorrow race but we're too excited (for Vkey) and too scared (that's me), can't fall asleep.
The ritual to calm me... #赛前忧郁症发作
Race Day
55km flag off 1hr15mins earlier than 30km, but I woke up same time as my bro. T.T Can tell from his face he was little nervous as well. Give him a strong hug, wish him all the best and he off to the starting line. Had my usual breakfast (we brought along my mom homemade peanut butter!), cleared "some weight" and final checking before I locked my room leave to starting line. The temperature was cooling, for me, a person who have zero tolerance on cold, have to wear a light weight jacket. Even though I know it will be troublesome later on to take off and stuff into my hydration pack.
Team Captain Vkey is ready to roll!
Runners at the race site getting more and more, the environment become like festival and everyone so eager to be flag off and on the course! Me and Linglyee position at the mid-pack as I do not really feel comfortable sprinting at the beginning not to mention a higher altitude and colder weather. The flag off was on time, and we were slow jog at the first KM to get ourselves get more used to the weather. The first 2km was tarmac road leading the way to trail head towards Jasar. We're so surprise the entrance is beside residential area, and not looks like at all. Since we started slow, now we were trapped with other in the middle, due to dark environment, the pack move even slower. According to the description of fast runner, that was "traffic jam". But slow and steady was better strategy for us as we're so new to the course and it was pitch dark!
Don't play play, we're serious runners ok! [Photo credit: LingLyee]
Can't wait to start!!! [Photo credit: William Chung]
We managed to overtook some runners before start the climb! The distance to peak is JUST 1.2km, but we took like forever to hike up! After we conquer the first peak, we feel so pump! The feeling of real start! The downhill was fun! Not typical technical trail, you are free to fly down, just have to look after do not over speed and spin yourself out of course! Lol~ The sun rise and it's time for me to take off my jacket. After the celebration downhill, we out to tarmac road again. We're out towards Brinchang (i guess) and heading to first CP - Sam Poh Temple. My weakness is always tarmac. I feel so lazy to lift my feet whenever I run on Tarmac. Lucky me and Linglyee were running together, so we can push each other! I followed her pace all the way to tarmac, that's what keep me moving.
Tarmac not really my cup of tea but we still looks fresh at the beginning [Photo credit: Leong Siew Shen]
Run a run, #边跑边影 [Photo credit: Linglyee]
Finally, the first CP! Make sure ourselves pass thru the timing mat and quickly refill some isotonic. Grab some gummy and we're ready to roll! The trail head was not far away from Sam Poh Temple after some stairs climb, and we knew the challenge getting tougher now! The mini hill hiking make us think that we actually conquer Berembun! Lol~ When we reminded ourselves that was just warmup for Berembun, it become not fun any more! After the mini hill, we reached CP2, since it was just 3km++ apart, we do not really stop for rest, just quickly refill and down with some oranges then continue our run.
The never ending climb to reach peak Berembun! Here comes all the "Almost there!" "Are we there yet?" "A little bit more!"! These sweet white lies!! When we stopped and rest, everyone was complaining and wonder what have we sign up for. But after all the jokes, everyone keep moving and pushing each other. Apart from the suffer hiking, the view is stunning! The flora is so much different with the view that on ground. We saw different kinds of plants, softer lands, cooling air and the mist make it looks heavenly beautiful! Then I remember, this is the reason why I signup for Cultra, not just for the challenge, but for it's beauty! The pain of hiking become much more relief when we started to admire the scenery.
Walking up to Berembun, get caught during my gel intake! Lol~ crop from video hence the blur [Credit Linglyee]
We constantly pushing each other and did overtook quite a numbers of runners here. Suddenly, panic attack! When i look at my gps watch after we reached peak Berembun, almost 15km but it took us 3.5hours almost 4hours!!! The COT for full course is 8 hours, and the next CP's COT is 5.5 hours. I started to panic and running down hill with full speed, jumping, flying, wanted to cut some time here. Before we divert into tarmac road again, we came out from jungle and passby some tea plants. (Ok la, not going into Boh plantation but still have some nice tea plant for us) Glad that we make it to CP3, means we were one step closer! We rested longer here, grab some drinks, and walk around a bit, then head to the final stage.
The happy face after conquer Berembun and running downhill [Photo credit: Running Shot]
The Robinson waterfall would be a nice place but we have no energy to admire it at the moment. After some brick road section, we reached the gate to trail again. Then i saw some one emerge from the ground! *Imagine horror movie when the ghost is appearing from nowhere kind of feel* Took a second look, it was Jun Wen. I called him and he look at us with heavy breathing :"yes, it is this way, to CP4!" We're stunt! And when we get closer only realise why the illusion of he emerge from ground, it was a deep drop, almost vertical, not gradually slanted. At the beginning we're happy to slowly move downhill but very soon we saw more n more runners run pass us from opposite direction. Sh*t!! Now I recall CP4 is U-turn point. Thats mean now we enjoying the downhill, but we have to payback very soon! No wonder the face of other runners looks struggle!
After we overtook some runners during the downhill, we reach another tarmac section. I tried to run but something happened. My ITBS decided to drop me a visit, surprise! I guess it overlimit when I run downhill just now and after Berembun. The road suppose to be very nice to run, but I couldn't move my leg, can only walk slowly. Panic attack again, worry that I cannot make it because of the pain. But I was already approaching (~4km) CP4, it would be wasted if I give up here. Saw Eunice was on her way back, cheer for her and she told me:"Still got one more hill!!" What?! Ok, it is the road toward CP4, is all the way ascending.
I can only drag myself up and keep walking. Try to focus on those who on their way back, and they're cheering for us:"Almost there!" "Welldone!" "Come on, you can do it!" That was all the spirit I enjoyed and replied them with cheers as well! It was almost noon, then sun was above us, and this part of road have not much shades. I would say this was the most challenging and torturing part if without the scenery. And finally, we reached CP4!!!! Saw some 55km runners there as well! Salute!!! I was disappointed there's no other fruits than oranges. Took some times here to replenish some isotonic and stretch my legs to relief some pain. Try to catch up with Linglyee as she started to run.
When we leaving CP4, my highschool-mate Siew Cheng told me that she counted runners who u-turned, that we were possible to podium (top10), asked me to run faster! I wish I could! My knee is holding me back that time, it was downhill, and very suitable for gaining speed. Don't wanted to waste the chance, I asked Linglyee to pia, just run it!! She then took off and I slowly to move up my pace, run with awkward posture, mainly shifting my weight to my right. When i feel better, try to pursue runners who overtook me just now but I can see Linglyee no more. When i reached the trail, have to climb like monkey and using my upper body strength to pull myself up. Some part I climb like orangutan, using both my hands and legs to pushing myself upward. At that point, you couldn't care anymore, just do whatever you can to finish it!
From CP4 back to CP3, suppose to be running but can only run-walk back. >.< [Photo credit: MrKumai]
I did tried my best to keep myself moving! [Photo credit: Running Shot]
CP3 like glowing when I finally back to it, glowing with light of glory. Since I knew it was close to finishline, do not bother to stop. The crew told me it was 1.8km away from finish line so I decided to run own pace for the first 1km then finish faster at the 800m. I keep running and suddenly heard another runner said she saw the finishline. O.M.G!! It was so near!! =.=''' I started to picking up my pace and run towards it. But it was too late and too short distance for me to make a difference. I imagined myself would be crossing the finishline with tears of joy, but it did not happened! Lol~ But that moment of happiness and fulfillment is overwhelming! And that is the reason why I always sign myself for all these challenge!
My leg shutdown after crossing the finish line, so i have to sit aside and do some stretching and cool down. Finished up my isotonic drink and saw LingLyee with her winner tag!!! Bravo!! She did it!!! I felt so proud that she could make it! We took some photos together and with other runners as well! The heat of sun was strong but we do not care, we just wanted more time for us to soak in happiness and enjoy the moment. I can't hold my smile and all the time big big smile on my face cannot be hide. Even though i finished far more than my targeted time - finished 6hours 54mins.
The hard earned medal!! Definitely hanging in my room for the rest of the year!
LingLyee with her winner tag! Bravo~
Li Leen from PAC and MKRC, known her sometime from the group but now finally we talked to each other! Lol~
Thanks to these 2 - Beatrice and Linglyee, pushed me to run whenever i felt like to let go and start walking
The world is small, my highschool-mate and now my running mate! [Photo credit: Siew Cheng]
I look at the time, and waiting for my brother to come back! The top5 runners for 55km men open were back and I kinda worry for him. I know how much time and effort he put in to prepare for this race. I was waiting beside the finish line hope to capture the moment of his finish. Junwen and Kelvin told me that he just passby and returning from CP6, still long way to go asked me to go back shower then only come back. Make senses, so I walked back slowly and think of quick shower then take a quick lunch before head back to finish line. Who knows when I just started to wash my hair, my phone rang, he came back!!!! T.T I missed it! So I quickly finishup my shower and rush back to the finish line. He sat at the same spot that i sat earlier, with a winner tag!!! So proud of him!!! Gave him a big big hug even he covered with mud and sweat.
Ok la, win liao lo! No more emo!
Congratulation and well done!! #TeamRealSteel #MakeTeamProud
It was so funny to finally see him walking up stair with struggles and groaning! We took some quick lunch (2 big bowl of Shin Ramyuen) and fruits from finisher pack, then totally KO!! The bed was never so comfy!! My spirit still so high, even I rest on bed but I could not sleep. The whole journey replay in my brain over and over again. Felt a little vexed for my ending not that well, blew my knee too early and scarified the latter stage. But overall my mood is on cloud nine!
- Stay tune for part 2 -
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