Journey. Light.: October 2010

This is my second time taking part in TNF. Last year was the first time so everything was more like just giving it a try. This year was more prepared for it. Both physically and mentally.

As usual, went to bed early the night before. Woke up at around 0330Hr and took my breakfast. One whole loaf of Gardenia raisin bread. Went to clear my systems, changed into my race attire. Made sure again and again that I had packed everything that I need. And made sure again. Left house at around 0500Hr. Meeting Aileen at the Macritchie Reservoir Visitor Center at 0545Hr. Want to go there earlier to "chop" a locker for my bag.

Team LiquidXcape.

The Start and Finish Line.

With Gia Yee.

The North Face 100 banner.

With the Singapore Blade Runner.

We had to weigh our hydration bags.

With Mohan.

With Azhar.

One at the Start Line.

With the folks from Punggol Runners.

Team LiquidXcape.

Team Unstoppable Duo.

Team Fiery Duo.

Team Spassion.

Team kuay teow no hum.

At 0700Hr, the race started!

The route for the 100km Duo will bring us from Macritchie Reservoir to Bukit Timah via Rifle Range Road. Instead of going up Bukit Timah like last year, we would detour around it. Once we reach Zhenghua Park, We would turn North up to Mandai Road and into Asrama. This is similar to last year. Once we are out of Asrama, we need to head back to Zhenghua Park, Rifle Range Road and finally back to Macritchie Reservior.

This would be 50km of trail, road, level ground and slopes. Overall cut off time is 9Hrs. Intermediate cut off time is exit from Asrama (32km) by 1200Hr (5Hrs), reach Zhenghua Park (38.7km) by 1400Hr (7Hrs) and Rifle Range Road (42.4km) by 1500Hr (8Hrs)

My race strategy was to start slow, start slow and start slow. Having learnt my lesson from TNF 2009 when I banged wall at the last 5km of the race, I wanted to reserve my energy for the later part of the race. I had also been doing back to back LSD to prep my body for this race. It was also to get my body used to doing back to back runs as I would be having another 30km race at ECP tomorrow. I am not sure if I can make it for tomorrow but my focus would be for the race today. For tomorrow, it would be a relaxing pace.

Hitting the trails.

The trail was narrow, allowing for only 2 runners running abreast at a time. I just kept to the left and let those faster runners overtake me. Boy, there was surely a lot of people overtaking me. I stick to my pace of around 7.30 min/km. I had learnt over time to stick to my race plan. I want to conserve energy for getting me through Asrama, the most challenging part of the route, and for the return leg after Asrama. "They can overtake me now but I will surely catch up with them in the later part of the race." I told myself. I am confident that this strategy will work. I had overheard somebody said before that if we train hard before the race and when the big day comes, have faith in the training that we had put effort into. I have faith in them. :)

At the exit near SICC.

At 5km mark with Gia Yee and Anqi just before the Ranger Station.

At the T junction after the Ranger Station.

This stretch of trail was very rocky. I hated to run along here in the past. It was very difficult as the rocks would be sticking up, threatening every step of your run. However, after running there for a few months, I found that I had grown more confident of negotiating my way through them. The fear of being tripped by the rocks had lessen. Having said that, it is still paramount to be careful when running through trails.

Singapore Blade Runner.

The stream of water cutting across the path. It was not raining for the past few days, if not the water flow would be stronger submerging the rocks, leaving only the tip for us to step across.

Bee attack!

Back on track.

Reaching Rifle Range Road.

One for the location.

Happy to be running on road.

Runners making their way towards Bukit Timah.

At BKE flyover.

Water station along Rifle Range Road.

The wonderful race volunteers.

Free GU gel and MARS bar for participants.

Hungry ghost.

Continued running and we came to the 10km mark.

Water point at the foot of Bukit Timah.

Instead of going up Bukit Timah, we turned left.

Turn left here!

The first thing that greeted us was an upslope.

This was the first time I ran through here.

We had to rely heavily on such directional signs.

We came across a open field.

Being too dramatic.

15km!

We reached Meeting Point 3 at Zhenghua Park.

Cooling myself down.

Ok, the water got into my eyes.

We continued running up North towards Mandai. The route seems familiar now as we had gone through it last year. Memories of last year's run started coming back as I moved step by step forward.

Somewhere up the slope, I would bang my head onto a fallen branch. I was too concentrated on looking at where I was stepping that I did not realise there was a fallen branch.

"Kong!"

I was stunned for a short while. An "Ouch" followed quickly from me. I felt my head for any signs of injury. Luckily, there was no blood or what. Azhar remarked by saying: "That's for being tall, dark and handsome." Thanks eh. :s

From this point, Azhar and Gia Yee would occasionally overtake me and I would overtake them a while later. I was using them as a gauge for my pace. Not too slow till I could not see them in front. Not too fast till I could not see them behind.

Luckily there was some shade.

Upslope.

The long route ahead.

The runners behind. Gia Yee was always so hyper.

We turned left into the trail here. Last year, we went straight.

When we reached Mandai road, there was a group of wondeful people (I suppose they were also runners) who set up an adhoc support station. They were offering cold drinks and grapes! It tasted so wonderful!

Enjoying myself.

Crossing Mandai Road.

Water station at Asrama.

Off we go. Come hell or high water, we would overcome them!

The Asarama route begins!

Upslope. The heat from the sun was getting stronger.

We kept going. All of us seem to be looking out for Hill 265. Those who ran last year knew how it was like. Those who did not most probably also heard others talking about it. We were wondering whether if the next turn would bring us towards it.

Then it slowly showed itself.

Behind these vegetation .. hides Hill 265. We cut in through these bushes last year.

But this year we went a little further to this training shed.

Hill 265.

Alber came along as we were waiting for Azhar.

Up we go!

It was a slow crawl up.

No more smile on my face.

Looking down.

Just a little more.

We up!

We made it!

Perry making his way up.

Fia coming up too.

Same as last year, the organisers placed a timing system here to ensure everybody went through Hill 265.

The terrain at Asrama was tough. The heat from the sun did not help too. It wears out the runners fast and the running pack got thinner and thinner. Soon we found ourselves running alone. Many started walking. I was glad I was still able to run. I must thank all the LSD that I had done for this race.

It was getting hotter and hotter. We were getting worried we would run out of water before we made it to the exit of Asrama. Especially since I tend to drink more as I perspire a lot.

Fortunately, they set up this water station inside Asrama. It was a heaven sent.

Cooling down ourselves.

Took a shot of the water point as I made my way off. I got a cut off time to catch.

Return!

Since we had passed Hill 265, we thought the worst of Asrama was over. We were wrong. They had changed the route inside Asrama this year. Last year, the route after Hill 265 was generally flat. This year there were more slopes for us to go though.

Hot, tired and not knowing when would the exit arrive.

30km.

Yee Hua, a new friend made through this race.

I was a little shocked as I saw this 30km distance marker. My Garmin had indicated 31km so I was thinking I was only around 1km plus from the Asrama axit. The time at the moment was somewhere around 1140Hr. We need to exit Asrama by 1200Hr and the exit was at 32km mark. It meant I have around 20 mins to clear 2km. I was not sure if I could do it as I was uncertain of the terrain ahead. I was worried that I would be DQ.

I was thinking should I give up? At this juncture, even if I wanted to give up I still had to make my way to the Asrama exit since there were no people from the organiser around. However, I would not give up. Never! I knew in my heart that if I were to give up this time, there would be a second time. A third time and more. I would give it a good fight. Even if I really ended up being DQ, I would shorten the time I cross the Asrama exit to as close to 1200Hr as possible.

A second reason I could not give up. I had promised to show my good friend the TNF medal. I made my promise to her. I would make good my promise.

I pressed on.

Another high slope we had to go though.

Looking down the same slope.

I kept running. My pace went up. Now was not the time to conserve anymore. Its time to run!

Slowly the terrain switch from rocky pebbles to concrete. A sign that we were near the exit. Its just a little more!

Finally we reached the water point at the exit. When I reached there, I realised there were no time mat to mark the timing of the runners. So did it mean that we need not rush so much to reach here? There was nobody to answer me. The volunteers would not be able to answer me anyway. Anyway, I was sure glad to have arrived back at the training shed.

When I went in, the first person I saw was Anqi. I gave her a big hug. I saw many other runners resting there too including other friends. Its good to see familiar faces as it gives you a sense of motivation. We had all made it through.

Archer.

Collin.

Perry and Fia.

Azhar, Gia Yee and Anqi.

Azhar, Anqi and me. Anqi was standing on a support to be taller than me. :s

At Mandai Road, waiting for the traffic light.

Gia Yee and Anqi sped off before us. Ok. Now its time for me to run more seriously too. Ha .. :)

It took me a while to have Anqi back in sight. Gia Yee was way out of sight in front.

Arriving back at Zhenghua Park. This guy was kind enough to offer to take a photo of me with my camera.

With the 2 bananas.

With Anqi. Actually she had just returned from climbing Mount Kinabalu a few days ago. A strong lass she was.

Crossing the timing system.

40km! 10km more to go!

At the long pipe area.

We came back to Rifle Range Road and turned left back towards Macritchie Reservoir.

Back on BKE flyover.

Back into the trail.

Turning back into the Macritchie loop.

Turning left heading towards the Ranger Station.

45km mark. Last 5km to go.

I ate my last pack of GU gel for the last boost of energy. I was trying to hit sub 8Hrs. This was the most crucial part. I banged wall during the last 5km last year. That was the reason I spent so much time to train for this year. I wanted to finish strong.

But I could not pick up my pace. My body did not seem to listen to me. Every time I tried to increase my cadence, there seem to be something pulling me back. Arrgghh ..

I reached the short stretch of road along SICC. Over there I met Elaine. Think both of us were a little surprised to see each other.

"Why are you here?", she asked. She must have thought I should be ahead some where in the race.

I remembered during the 2009 TNF, I also met her in the last 5km stretch. That time she had already finished the race and was walking back in the opposite direction looking for her partner. "加油!", she said when she passed me. In my heart, I was thinking "Wow! This girl sure can run fast!" So this year I was also expecting her to be somewhere ahead in front.

Not here.

I did not answer her question. I just did a little wave at her and slightly shook my head. I did not know what to say. In my heart, I was also asking: "Yah, why am I here?"

I went on while Elaine stayed behind to wait for her friend.

Final stretch. Final chance.

As I slowly dragged my body along, I remembered I learnt during my trainings. Feelings. Go with my feelings. Trust your feelings. I used my feelings to guide me along. I thought of nothing but the finish line.

I remembered Jacqueline. Another friend of mine who was a triathlete as well as an ultramarathoner. I remembered how she would preserve to complete the Sundown 84km in May where she finished 6th. It was the second time she ran the 84km. In my heart, I was "calling" out to her for dear help.

"Jacqueline! I need your strength!"

"Jacqueline! I need your perseverance!"

"Jacqueline! I need your determination!"

Repeatedly.

I was not sure if she "heard" me. Or was it some psychological effect. I felt my pace slowly ramping up. Slowly and steadily, my pace was increasing. I was surprised I was still able to go at such a pace after going through 45km of trail. I did not check the pace on my garmin as I know doing that would somehow slow me down. I need to focus on the run. Focus on my running form. Focus on getting to the finish line. Nothing else.

However, I knew one thing. I was going strong.

As I was running along, I heard somebody called my name. I lookded clearly and I saw Seow Yen hiking through the trail with ther friends. Thanks yah. Ha .. :)

Eventually, I saw the open space through the bushes. I was smiling to myself as I saw the exit into the open. The female runner beside me saw me smiling to myself and thought that I had gone bonkers. When I made it into the open space, I clapped my hands high in the air and shouted "YES!". It was so loud everybody turned to look at me. Ha .. :)

My pace was still there. I kept the pace and run towards the Finish Line.

I crossed the Finish Line slight over 8Hrs. Missed sub 8Hr. I was not disappointed as the timing was secondary to me. My timing did improved compared to last year. I did not bang wall. i finished strong this year. I knew I had became stronger compared to last year.

I am satisfied. :)