Penang Ultra 100 - 2014

End of 2013 or early of 2014, the Penang Ultra 100 first surfaced in facebook page when Penang Ultra 100 created an event. Saw few of my running friends clicked "like". 

Running around Penang island something new, something that never have people doing it before. Something interesting to consider to join. 

Today's the event become official and endorsed by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. 

Read, read and read. The killer part is the Penang Hill ! 5km over 670 meter elevations ! It's sound challenging ! 

To-date, Malaysian Ultra race i ever joint were TMBT 2011 held in Kota Kinabalu, where i paid RM300. After that, there's no 100KM ultra race in peninsular Malaysia. Now, 2014, there's Ultra road race in Penang that cost RM260 (early bird) and i suddenly felt expensive. *facepalm* Where's the kick! Previously joining HK100, TNF100 Philippines i paid without hesitate nor heart feeling heavy! 

Perhap i know Penang too well? I think i just need a person to fire up the flame and push me into the hell. 

Perhap i no longer likes road race? I only joint Sundown 100 road race as my first Ultra Marathon in 2011.   

TNF100 - The North Face 100km race report

I'm always fails to write my race report. So this round, try to write it while my memory still fresh. This round, i'm hardly took photos during my running as im so busy battling with the uphills and never ending hills again and again! 

On Friday evening, after dinner at 6pm, went back to hotel and try to sleep. Slept from 8am until 12am then get ready. This is 100km, not much mandatory items compared to my February 2013 (H1 ultra run, which i have not blogged about it) I felt much relax, as less things to put into the hydration pack. 

We went out around 1:30am. Lucky us, we managed to get taxi to the starting venue, Camp John Hay. The sky was like going to rain, can few rain drops, but it's never become heavier while im keep put on and off my TNF Hyvent jacket. so finally decided not to wear it. 

Before start let me list down my running gear from top until bottom: 

1. Headlamp Petzl Nao 

2. Salomon red cap 

3. 3 Buffs - Ah! so bad luck, i realized my HK100 buff was missing after im back to hotel ! Grr... 

4. SKINS top compression and TNF blue color event T-shirt 

5. LineBreak compression pant 

6. Injinji toe sock 

7. New Balance MT1010 trail shoe. 

8. Salomon S-lab 12 hydration pack. 

Once we were at race venue, all runners have to go though mandatory checking. The race started at 3.00am. While we were waiting

4 of us, Malaysians joining 100KM category before flag off. 

Beside that, we have 1 common thing in us! Can you spot what's that? hehe... 

The starting point ! 

Shine and me with our Philippino ultra runner friends. 

Wonderful mountain! 

this photo taken somewhere after 50KM, before the sky become dark! 

I enjoyed my Pepsi ! 

See the tower on top of mountain?? That's where we going to climb over it! 

Ok. Not really a detailed race report as its happens on April, now already 5 months lapse. some of the memory blur. But on the particular section, its already become a permanent mark inside my heart which i'm asking myself now how do you do it ! 

It's my first ever longest 100KM Ultra Trail race event which i took 29 hours plus to complete it whereares my previous 100KM races about 26 to 23 hours. 

Will i back to TNF Philippines next year? Will i? it's million dollar question that i keep asking myself. 

Shall share in my next entry on particular experience while I'm together with other ultra runners concur the A6 to A7 point! 

TNF100 Philippines Baguio. Benguet 100KM Finisher

Yay. I'm a finisher of TNF100 Philippines which took me 29 hours 4 mins (unofficial time based on my watch) to cross the finishing line! 

Okay. Safely back at home. Sleep now.

Tomorrow back to work. 

:) 

LeTua 100 - 130512 Report

LeTua 100, another riding event after the major PCC Inter-State 3 days event. Take it easy. Been thinking on how should i ride. Ride in aggressive mode aka kiasu mode? or leisure mode following the group as there's 1075 registered riders for this year LeTua event. 

I'm so surprised to hear this figure. 1075 man! where's all the riders coming from? Last year i was told there's not many riders... 

Just let it be mode.  

The starting line, where not many riders lining up yet...

 With P2K group! We were quite front, as we know, so many riders, when you stuck at behind, there's hardly got chance to overtake and to be front. At least we were front, when we drop (ok, only me drop others still with peloton) still at quite front pack.

Are you seeing what i'm seeing? FYI, this LeTua 100 is fast and furious ride, no cyclists will stop for re-fuel, drinking, makan teh-tariking at warung... 2 water bottles plus 2 pack of Rebenas at pockets, a secret nutrition to be top 20 ! Off course, legs must be strong too! haha...  

When started, i can feel my knee suddenly have some sharp pain... it's never happened before. Trying to keep up with group, and try to maintain my cadence to see how's painful on my knee. Keep pedal, pedal and the pains on knee is gone! Suspect i did not do any warm up exercise... 

First time riding in LeTua event, it's were awesome! 1075 cyclists riding both lanes ! First hills was around Bukit Arang... people slowing down, while i'm trying to keep up the pace... trying hard... Can see there's gap between groups. 

Survived Bukit Arang hills, and i found myself with 3rd group i believe, following the peloton with average speed of 35km/hr ... it's was smooth ride until KM 45... my tyre is FLAT... Grrr... stop at roadside and change tube... Thank god, Yan Kok and his friend stopped and helped me. Yan Kok's friend borrowed me his big mobile pump! hehe... 

Since i stopped at roadside, there's about 3-4 group passby! Heart feel so heavy and desperate wanted to chase them back ! Got back on road again, and there's another group is coming from behind! Yay, train mari.. can hope on to it and warm up back! 

The group average speed were around 30km/hr, but i feel i can go faster, no point seats behind the group, i'm just pedal away from the group chasing the front bike shadow... Found one far in front, keep pedal and chase, getting closer, overtook, find another target... 

at some where, i met my old man ex-colleague Andrew! Greet him, have some chats and left him behind... and that's when i came to dragon back! no wonder he slowing down! Again, first time riding Dragon back, never know how tough, how high the hills, i'm just pedal... Thank god, i managed to ride the dragon back hills, but with very very slow speed and high cadence ! 

After Dragon back, soon, I'm entering into UiTM campus, finishing line is on top... but never expect have to climb up to water tank ! That's was 1 very very step hill ! For the 1st time in my cycling life, i saw people pushing their bike uphills! I was thinking "NO WAY!" NO PUSH bike no matter how hard, how slow i'm, i'm going to pedal it to top!!! The last hill really trapped many cyclists... 

After reached top, slowly roll down and it's finishing line !!! I'm completed 100KM in 3hrs 22mins...! yay! 

Congratulation to Kelvin Khoo (captain of P2K) and Konrad Ng who also P2K members finished 1-2 positions and 9th & 10th & 11th & 15th too! Oh yeah... Kakak Andrea Tan who part of P2K finished at 15th position! Salute to her! She is 1st female rider to complete! 

As for me, I'm not as strong as other P2K members plus i had a flat in between. Completed with 265th rank... Not bad for 1st timer plus with a flat. 

Male & Female Top Riders are from P2K ! Congratulation to Kelvin Khoo & Andrea Tan ! 

My 1st ever cycling finisher medal. haha... 

Next Year, let's see. 

End.