CAN YOU ENDURE?
Scroll down if you can't be bothered to read my long and boring recapitulation of today's run :)
This is my running bib and my duo partner is Yuhong
This is a long story of NO TRAIN NO GAIN
Everyone has been training so hard for this crazy physically grueling run... EXCEPT ME haha.
Basically this is a 50km route which brings us through different type of terrains, mostly jungle trails with uneven stepping grounds, vines and rock and blahh. We must carry our own 1.5l hydration bag during the run.
There is an exclusive category, the 100km SOLO
These are the insane people who can really run the route TWICE and must complete it within 18hours.
That is something i would never want to try.
Early in the morning, i headed to Macritchie (Starting point) then i visited the loo on the hilltop cafe. I noticed a decent looking girl smiling at me, i felt something was wrong because even though i'm attractive she doesn't have to smile that way. It turns out that she wanted urine sample from all of us for some sports and nutrition survey/research?
My urine was yellowin color (didn't drink enough water the night before)
Before they flag off us for the 100km DUO run, my hydration bag contains
1 X 1.5l water bag
2 X powergel
2 X energy jelly
1 X salonpas muscle spray
1 X counterpain ointment
1X handphone and 10 bucks
I weight 64+kg before the race(0700) and 62+kg after
At the end of the run, i was left with
1 X 200ml/1500ml water?
0 X powergel
0 X energy jelly
0 X salonpas muscle spray
1/2 X counterpain ointment
1 X handphone and 10 bucks
Breakfast was half a piece of small bread. Thats all i had
I drank at least 2.5 litres of 100plus along the way, 6 powergel, 2 jelly and a little bit of counterpain (which is inedible)
I was feverently applying counterpain on my calf and thighs because they hate me. I was having constant cramp after 15km, couldn't even run more than 100metres before the cramp kicks in.
How the counterpain got into my mouth was pretty much common sense. I tore open a pack of powergel and inhaled it together with some of the counterpain ointment on my hands.
Till now, my throat is still sore from the burning effects of counterpain
Which brings me back to the subject of muscle cramps. The cramp was so bad until i decide to just walk because cramping every few minutes is hazardous to my muscles.
At 15km it was 0918 which means 2hours 18minutes. I was walking 5-6km/h for the last 35km which was amazing for a guy who's muscle is cramping everywhere.
Luckily i went through recce course 2months ago, so i could still walk fast and long distance despite all the aches.
Knee felt wobbly as i walked through dirt/stone tracks. It was as stable as a deck of poker cards stacked pyramid style.
For the 20-30km we entered a military training area which i'm quite familiar with. Inside, it was bad for us who knew the place because they made us run big circles all around before the turning point. We knew the direct path to the turning point, but being law abiding citizens we followed the designated path. It was hilly and difficult to run inside so i slowed down my walking pace.
After getting out of that place, i resumed my fast walk speed and continued the last 20km just like that.
At 37km mark (chestnut ave), there was a northface support station, so the girl was telling us that we have to hit the next checkpoint by 1.30 if not we will get disqualified. Timecheck now 1.20, and the next checkpoint is 3km away, its impossible. Ignoring her warning, we staggered onwards. All we have to do is hit 50km mark before 9hours, screw the intermediate checkpoint timings
I saw plenty of people giving up on the race after the girl's warning
To stop is certainly stupid, to stop at 37km is worst
Everyone has been training so hard for this crazy physically grueling run... EXCEPT ME haha.
- i'm lazy
- i conveniently forgot about the cutoff timing (9hours for 50km)
- I think i can do it (which i barely managed to meet the timing)
Basically this is a 50km route which brings us through different type of terrains, mostly jungle trails with uneven stepping grounds, vines and rock and blahh. We must carry our own 1.5l hydration bag during the run.
There is an exclusive category, the 100km SOLO
These are the insane people who can really run the route TWICE and must complete it within 18hours.
That is something i would never want to try.
Early in the morning, i headed to Macritchie (Starting point) then i visited the loo on the hilltop cafe. I noticed a decent looking girl smiling at me, i felt something was wrong because even though i'm attractive she doesn't have to smile that way. It turns out that she wanted urine sample from all of us for some sports and nutrition survey/research?
My urine was yellowin color (didn't drink enough water the night before)
Before they flag off us for the 100km DUO run, my hydration bag contains
1 X 1.5l water bag
2 X powergel
2 X energy jelly
1 X salonpas muscle spray
1 X counterpain ointment
1X handphone and 10 bucks
I weight 64+kg before the race(0700) and 62+kg after
At the end of the run, i was left with
1 X 200ml/1500ml water?
0 X powergel
0 X energy jelly
0 X salonpas muscle spray
1/2 X counterpain ointment
1 X handphone and 10 bucks
Breakfast was half a piece of small bread. Thats all i had
I drank at least 2.5 litres of 100plus along the way, 6 powergel, 2 jelly and a little bit of counterpain (which is inedible)
I was feverently applying counterpain on my calf and thighs because they hate me. I was having constant cramp after 15km, couldn't even run more than 100metres before the cramp kicks in.
How the counterpain got into my mouth was pretty much common sense. I tore open a pack of powergel and inhaled it together with some of the counterpain ointment on my hands.
Till now, my throat is still sore from the burning effects of counterpain
Which brings me back to the subject of muscle cramps. The cramp was so bad until i decide to just walk because cramping every few minutes is hazardous to my muscles.
At 15km it was 0918 which means 2hours 18minutes. I was walking 5-6km/h for the last 35km which was amazing for a guy who's muscle is cramping everywhere.
Luckily i went through recce course 2months ago, so i could still walk fast and long distance despite all the aches.
Knee felt wobbly as i walked through dirt/stone tracks. It was as stable as a deck of poker cards stacked pyramid style.
For the 20-30km we entered a military training area which i'm quite familiar with. Inside, it was bad for us who knew the place because they made us run big circles all around before the turning point. We knew the direct path to the turning point, but being law abiding citizens we followed the designated path. It was hilly and difficult to run inside so i slowed down my walking pace.
After getting out of that place, i resumed my fast walk speed and continued the last 20km just like that.
At 37km mark (chestnut ave), there was a northface support station, so the girl was telling us that we have to hit the next checkpoint by 1.30 if not we will get disqualified. Timecheck now 1.20, and the next checkpoint is 3km away, its impossible. Ignoring her warning, we staggered onwards. All we have to do is hit 50km mark before 9hours, screw the intermediate checkpoint timings
I saw plenty of people giving up on the race after the girl's warning
To stop is certainly stupid, to stop at 37km is worst
Bla bla bla
I finished the 50km at 8hours 54minutes++ (Just shy of 6minutes before they keep all the shiny medals) Yuhong did 7hours+
TAH DAH!
Completer of run only gets this cheap medal, not even a finisher tshirt :(
According to my Dad's GPS watch, it read 51.5km. It might be accurate, it might not
This is 1 of the hardest race i ever ran. Tougher than Sundown 42km marathon and 84km ultramarathon, tougher than my 60km long walk.
Northface 100 is a once in a lifetime experience which also means do once, never again! (Unless they give a finisher t-shirt then i'll consider)
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