Showing posts with label Trail running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trail running. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

G5N - First stimulation G3N - 17-18 Jan 2013 Gunung Nuang!

It's good to back to trail running since i hang up my hydration bag somewhere after April 2013, after TNF100 Philippines. 

It's the Gunung Nuang hikes. 

4:00am wake up
4:45am leaving home. 
5:20am felt hungry, stopped by at Batu 14 the chinese kopitiam shop for paos. Had Red Bean pao & Char Siew Pao with coffee. 
6:00am reach G.Nuang car park and the gang were leaving for their runs! 
6:20am my turn to start my hike! Its just pressure-less, no expectation, 2 gels, 1 Clifbar, snack bar, 2 500ML of POCARI drinks & 1.5L of water in bladder & the most important thing - Petzl Nao which the main drive / motivation i decided for the hike. Need to warming up / utilise the Petzl Nao where its shines ! 
Glad to have Khairy to pace / accompany from beginning until Pacat. 



I never expect i had my personal best time for Nuang to peak and return - 6 hours 20mins. 

The POCARI drinks works wonderful ! 

The gang finished 1 loop of G.Nuang and their continue 2nd. Meanwhile, Im just relax, busy body sitting at pondok. Hungry. Went to Batu 18 chinese kopitiam shop (where i were here on Tuesday for Asahi Ride) for lunch. Ordered fried rice (which i saw Liew ordered on Tuesday, its were looked nice, smell nice), 2 half boiled eggs, 100 Plus, Kopi Peng. 


Before leaving, tapaos fried rice for friend who said he will completes his 2nd G. Nuang loop by 5pm. 

From 2:30pm until 5pm, im were seating at the pondok with Nuang keeper. So many campers were coming. FYI, for a big group who wish to camp at Nuang, they are required to list down all names and details, get Batu 18 police station to endorse before they can camp @ Nuang. 

By 4:30pm, he's back! 
We were leaving for Nuang peak @ 5:30pm where he's 3rd, me 2nd. 
On the way up, so many people were surprised / shocked to see he doing it again! haha... famous yo! 

We noticed, there's 3 main trail shoes wearable by hikers. Salomon, Brooks & New Balance. 
There's even full range of Salomon products from head to toe wear by some runners/hikers. I was keep thinking, really need that boh? As if you're doing some Killian ultra running! 

The sky become dark around 7:30pm, show time begins! It's time to on my Petzl Nao! Friend & i both have the same model. We shines in the dark. it's hassle free, no issue hiking up Nuang in dark! 

Surprised! Surprised! Guess what's happened. We met a young couple who only have a brave heart & ego to concur G.Nuang peak waiting at somewhere after kem Pacat. It's never crossed in our mind that we should ASK them to return but to let them tag with us, worse, we guided them, we worried for them. 



This slows us down a lot. We were waiting them. Husband is first timer, wife mentioned she hikes before, sound like experience hiker, looks like experience hiker. pity the husband. 

It's around 10:30pm when we were reached at Peak. Its windy, its cold, and for us, we wanted to go down as soon as possible, but...but... but... speechless.... (Dont wish to share it here). We met the mystery guy! he hikes up ALONE in dark and he U-turn to go down with us. 

We going down. Again, with much much slow slow pace. morale de-motivated. Keep telling myself that it's not everyday we can help people. It's just big failure in inception my mind ! 

Worse, the torch light aka RM10 LED light that you we can find in pasar malam runs out of batteries. Here the young couple are smart - THEY BRING SPARE BATTERIES! Worse, after batteries change, its not working anymore. We continue without the light, lagi slow. 

Friend offered his Petzl Tikka spare headlamp to the young couple. Our speed improve a bit. We reached at Kem Pacat at 11:30pm and its run-able, where we left the young couple behind. Aiks, i cant run fast as others and my turn being left behind alone... but I gotta speed up downhills. It's all about calm in heart and mental, and keep going without thinking left right in mind. Focus on each every steps downhills. 

Regroup at Kem Lolo. Glad to have friends back! We reached at the last 5km point at 12:30am. Another 55 mins to go! On the way back, surprised to see people were just heading to campsite. First young couple, another couple and followed by a group of 5, and another group of 7! People are so desperate for camping nowadays?

Quad muscles are giving signal of soreness. Walked all the last 5KM. Finally crossed the gate in 8 hours! 

What's an adventures in G.Nuang. I had my personal best time and worst time! haha. 

it's good to have my Petzl Nao perform excellence & serve me well in the dark! 


What's he doing at female toilet entrance at 2:00am? He stick a note with hand phone contact there! What's his purpose? To seek friendship to end his #Foreveralone ?

We were so tired and we cant afford to have luxury of waiting for the young couple. 
Friend is posting note with his contact number hoping the wife of young couple using his headlamp will seeing his note and contact him to arrange for return. 
Pity my friend's headlamp. 


Congratulation to friend who did G3N from 6am until 1:30am or earlier as he have long legs walks faster than us and leaving 2 of us behind. 
Congratulation to Lee, mystery guy aka new friend who did G2.5N 
Congratulation to myself who first time did G2N. 

Future? Stay tune some hot chili run. You know where to find, if you're experience runners. 

Sekian my sharing. 

P/S: Writer is just an ordinary ultra runner who uses Petzl Nao and he is not paid to promote Petzl Nao. He did Sundown 100 2011, TMBT 2011, Vibram HK100 2012, TNF100 Philippines 2013. He brought his Nao back in end of 2012, where he was first using Petzl Nao in Ultra event in Philippines on Feb 2013 (too shy to mentions as the writer DNF the ultra event) and at the same time, he shares / showed his Petzl Nao around during the event, and by March 2013, he thinks he managed to poisons a few ultra runners namely from Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia which he planted in Feb 2013! haha.


Remark: The above posting first appeared in my personal FB on 18 Jan 2014. 

Sunday, December 08, 2013

H1 100miles UltraMarathon @ Kayapa, Philippines

A very very long long outstanding blog on my H1 100 miles Ultramarathon at Kapaya, Philippines back in February 2013.



I still can remember how's i feel how's the weather on the race day! Being my virgin ultra trail race in Philippines, I never come across this tough. I'm basically under estimate the terrain, the weather (which play a very important part in the ultra), I'm basically unfit for the H1 Ultra!




First wrote: 1 March 2013
Second updates: 24 Aug 2013. 
More updates coming soon. 

Friday, February 22, 2013

H1 : Hardcore Hundred Miles Trail UltraMarathon Philippines 2013

While i'm still on the run after 12 hours running the 100 miles course at Kayapa, 2 hours from Baguio, North of Philippines, there's some information i wish to share. 

I'm surprised when friend told me there's a 100 miles ultra run in February in Philippines without tell me much information about it back in 2012. Before that, i'm already thinking to joins one 100 miles run in 2013 to experience the lifetime experience as I'm hitting 30 years old...  

With the help of Google,  i managed to find out this H1 race, and it's really something new. Something totally new and im keep reading the information again, again, and again until i lost count how many "again" i did! 
I'm surprised H1 is UTMB qualifying race which will entitle for 4 points! 


This is too good to believe! 4 points worth of qualifying race in this H1 100 miles run and yet it's CHEAPER, or rather affordable for me! 

While i know nothing about the run, somehow, my gut told me just sign up ! Sign up! Think later. As time comes nearer, i got to know local runner linked up by Tey and Yim who referring to the same runner! haha... 

From there, more information and details of the trail obtained! It's COLD in night time, it's HOT in day time, and worse there's possible of RAINING which can become even worse weather for runner! 



All photos are from: 
http://www.kotmtrailrun.com/





Monday, January 14, 2013

Gunung Nuang - Run & Hike 130113

First of all, I would like to thank to God, that i'm still alive writing this blog. 
Then I would like to thank SKINS compression top and tight that im wearing are giving me comfort when doing this G.Nuang run and hike. 
Next, i would like to thank to my new trail shoe New Balance MT110 for giving me good grip in the wet condition. 
Lastly, I would like to thank to my Salomon Hydration pack S-Lab Skin 12 for storing sufficient water and nutrition for my G.Nuang run & hike trip. 

Previously I did some light running at G. Nuang. it's always in my thought that to hike & run to the summit of Gunung Nuang since December 2012 after being introduced by another runner. So on this one fine Sunday morning 13 Jan 2013, planning to reach at the entrance of G.Nuang at 7:30am, but i'm somehow overslept by little... only start my run at 8:14am... 

Time: Total time spent: 4 hours 8 mins. 
Starting point to waterfalls: 51 mins. 
waterfalls to Kem Lo Lo: 16 mins 
Kem Lo Lo to Pacat camp: 51 mins 
Pacat camp to somewhere half way: 10 mins decided to U-turn 
Somewhere back at Pacat camp: 5 mins 
Pacat Camp to Kem Lo Lo : 49mins 
Kem Lo Lo to waterfalls : 25 mins
Waterfalls to entrance: 40mins.... 

130113 would be my third time here. Hardly come to here as its quite fast and not many people coming. So on this fine Sunday, i memang dah plan to run hike G.Nuang. 

 Entrance of Gunung Nuang, mark the start of my trail running for the day. 


It's was a wonderful morning with some cloud, cold morning and sun was hiding behind the cloud! 


My new trail shoe - New Balance MT110 ! Stepping into G.Nuang for the first time and also it's my second time wearing for trail running after my hike and run back on 29 Dec 2012, at Youth Park, Penang. 

Spotted this somewhere before Kem Lo Lo after waterfalls. 

Flowers on the tree... first time seeing this! it's marked my wonderful day! 

Another shot closer to the yellow flower.... 

River stream! Initially im really hates it as it's will make my shoe and feet wet ! I'm quite happy when i managed to cross the first small river stream with dry feet ! But the joy short live as there's bigger and wider and longer river that i need to cross ! Argh.... 


Glad to find out that New Balance MT110 did not holds the water... Shoe become dry very fastonly wet shocks i need to handle. 

After river crossing... shoe become clean! hehe... 

After Kem Lo Lo, next is Camp Pacat. 1.2KM up, estimated 150 minutes.... 
hmmm.... 

On my way up, i met with Swee Kiah and his group. I'm surprised when i heard my name on my way up! It's him... i continue my hike and overtook them... 

The terrains after Kem Lo Lo, it's become tougher... keep going up! Up and UP UP !!! It's become so technical that not able to run, even try to walk up also will find some difficulties. I keep walk up, jumping here and there following the foot steps mark on the ground... But... the sky become so dark! 

It's become so dark that i feel like i need my headlamp! It's look like 7pm alike and it's when rain start to pour. Rain started. My initial plan to hike until summit seem facing some challenge. Anyway, im still feel motivated and im keep on going up! It's going to rain and it's so dark, so cam-whore first ! hehe... 

Before the rain started, it's look foggy and cold. 

Reach at this section, somehow, felt it's unique. 

I thinks when you seeing this photo above, rains been pouring for at least 30 minutes. The trail now become small river stream... Zzz... it's making my hike further difficult to hike as the water that im step into might be a big deep hole! It's also slowed me down! Every steps i have to be very careful. 

Reach at section where its brighter. What else, cam-whore la! Rain getting heavier and i'm still continue to hike.  

Rain non-stop and it's still not yet melt my motivation going up! 

Finally i reached at Camp Pacat... what a relief. 

There's few people inside the camp... 

Bersusah-payah reach at Camp Pacat, sure have to cam-whore as souvenir ! I'm was here! wahaha... 

Continue to hike up! 

Oh, another camp side at Camp Pacat. 

Rain still heavy! i thinks somehow i'm feel exhausted and it's become some de-motivated when keep seeing stronger water stream flowing down on the trails...! Gr... 

Anyway, i'm still not yet give up! 1.2KM should be manageable! 

Another souvenir before continue my hike.   
After Camp Pacat, continue my hike and rain still heavy, water stream become strong, and after 5-6 minutes hike from Camp Pacat, it's where i'm falls down for the first time. It's too slippery! I fell down and my hand hit the plant at side, and i looked at my right hand it's full with plant thorns! Alamak... i'm quickly carefully clean up and remove the thorns from my palm. Lucky non of thorns were deeply "cucuk" on my hand! Checked my hand carefully, no cut, nothing serious... Look good, i'm continue to hike... 

As it's getting heavier rain, and more water flowing down, and the trail become more slippery! I have another fall again! It's really frustrated ! it's remind of me my The Most Beautiful Thing 100KM trail race back in 2011, where the same condition, raining and slippery, i was keep falls down every few steps !  Really frustrated and i decided to call it off for the day! Zzz... 

Turn back heading down, argh... 

Look down, water flowing so quickly! i wish i can be like water just flow downhills ! 

Every step have to be very careful... It's really change my style on how i'm going downhills... Water is every where, either just step it or be very slowly put my feet on it... 

It's full with water, i have no where to avoid but to brace it... run with water! HUAT ah! 

When bored, time to take out camera and cam-whore... 


At a section where larger space... take a few second breaks... 

Now you can see how deep the water it can be on the trail! almost reaching my knee! 

within 1 feet away, my other leg step on the swallow water.. you can see how drastic it can be! 

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All the way down... the trail are filled with water flowing down! How i wish i can be part of water flowing down quickly... 

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i thinks it's almost all the way like this from Camp Pacat to Kem Lo Lo... 

Cant even go fast when downhills... 

Reached at Kem Lo Lo... way before im reaching, i can hear the loud waterfalls sound... argh... water stream seem so strong! im in doubt. I'm stopped. I'm asking people, is it safe to cross the river? he said yes, just now there's a group of people safely crossing the river. 


The strong water flow after heavy rain! 


NB MT110 serve me well ! 


Before im crossing this river, i'm been wondering around for few minutes and finally i brave myself to cross the river step by step... thinking of im going to have famous Ampang Chicken rice Loke Yun later... 
haha... 


The deepest section were just below my waist level... 



Kem Lo Lo... when i crossed, i thought no more river crossing... ! Zzzz 

999999999999









It's relief when im back to luxury trail road... 5km to reach back at starting point! 





I'm just love my New Balance MT110. 


Gift from G.Nuang appear on my hand after 1 day, which was on Monday morning. The red spots were the effect from plant thorns. By now, which is Wednesday, the red spots are also gone.  

End. 


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