Astro-Run-Travel

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

MR 25 ULTRAMARATHON

Heard about this run after the SCM 2005 as there were all kinds of post on the sgrunners forum - "What Next after the SCM?". A quick explanation for those of you not familiar with running. The MR 25 is an elite group of runners. MR stands for MacRitchie and 25 because you have to complete 5km (MR) in less than 25 mins to qualify as a member. They hold time trials every even month. I've never gone for one cos I can't make the speed. MR terrain is quite killer for me. A marathon is 42.195km. An ultramarathon is usually an event where runners try to complete 4 times that, or 168km. The MR 25 Ultramarathon adopts a slightly different format - try to run as many laps (10.5km each) in 12 hours (from 7am to 7pm). Those who complete 5 laps qualify as an ultramarathoner and get a T-shirt. Hehe I'm a sucker for finishers' tees so decided to go for it.

Am doing this for fun (vs the SCM where i had trained a long time for) so adopted a rather lax attitude. For the SCM, i was careful about my carbo loading, equipment (shoes, attire, socks etc), abstained from alcohol an entire week and rested my body well. The MR 25 ultramarathon had to take place during the festive season so couldn't decide whether to be a good or bad girl. Settled for half-half. Stayed up late the whole week and drank a lot on Fri night (11 weak shots and one cocktail) but skipped the annual Ritz Carlton xmas eve party. Carbo-loaded but ate all the wrong stuff. Wanted to go buy a pair of trail running shoes but too late.

The Race

Woke up to a heavy downpour. Msg'ed run3 and she said it was raining at MR too but we decided to go ahead. Just wear more to keep the muscles warm. I dilly-dallied a bit, decided it was difficult to get a cab in this rain and managed to persuade my doting dad to drive me down to MR. When I got there, there were many people huddled in the shelter. I spotted many familiar faces (sgrunners). Hehe so many siao on runners. Many of us left our stuff in Sotong's car (support vehicle for the day). We (run3, WS, taz and me) blur blur and started running about a min after the race started. Ran 100km and saw a group of sgrunners doing their stretching and stopped to join them. The atmosphere was v relaxed and everyone was bantering cheerfully.

Have you guys ever ran in the rain? How about running in MR in the rain? Me and WS were doing hopscotch throughout the first lap, as we hopped from here to there to escape the puddles of rainwater and mud. The girls were all impatient people so we ran ahead of the gang. Taz the sensible one advised us to conserve energy but the adrenalin rush was too much. run3 was in her usual unleashable mode and me and WS lost sight of her after a while.

Hey, I thought the guys were behind us? How come Sotong and gang are in front of us?! Turns out me and WS took a wrong turn and ran an extra distance. I ranted for the next few mins or so. Hehe but what's a few hundred metres in a race like this? Anyway, that was funny. There were these two guys walking in front of us and after we overtook them, we found them walking in front of us again.. Exactly like a horror movie, where you find yourself in the same spot after a long walk/run trying to get out of the place. Finished the first lap in about an hour and 25 mins. The sgrunner supporter Jamessoh was there, waiting with an umbrella in the rain. He opened Sotong's car for me, I took my secret potion, ate one banana and drank water. Rested for about 2 mins and went again.

New rule for second lap - walk every steep slope. I nearly tripped a few times and nearly went "superman" once but luckily WS grabbed hold of my hand. We were alternately stunned and tickled. We tried to stop her laughing, cos not good for so much air to get into your lungs when running... Finished the second lap in about an hour and 25 mins. Again drank my secret potion (Jamessoh still around), ate one banana and drank water. Rested for about 2 mins, toilet break and went again.

Third lap. Rain stopped but ground still v muddy. Change of rules again. Walk up every slope (steep or gentle). Was starving by this time and really can't bear to eat another banana... Much weaker this round and took an hour 35 mins. Saw balasing (heard jamessoh was pacing some runners on their third lap) and DO and they were offering me Don's Pie and prata. Sgrunners has the best support team ever! I attacked the food with such gusto DO commented I might put on weight after the run. Hehe, so be it then. Hungry woman must eat. Kay and Dasher were there to support us too! Rested longer this time round (about 12 mins) and went again.

Kay paced me and WS for the fourth lap even though he was recovering from flu. Woah... had quite a bad case of indigestion. Felt the food coming up so couldn't run for long stretches. Anyway have started walking all slopes (both up and downhill - knees can't take running downhill) and the entire rocky 1km after the ranger station (too much pouding on the feet). TLR overtook us somewhere along the golf course path. Wow his fifth lap already. Talked to him a bit and learnt he's going for 8 laps. Power! No wonder he's the penghulu... As I was finishing my fourth lap, found myself walking beside this uncle who was finishing his third lap. Chatted with him a bit and discovered he's been doing this for years. Was impressed cos he looked 60 plus (found out later he's actually 80 plus!!!) He said not sure whether can finish five laps this year. I said sure can - still got about 5 hours left. He said "Okay, I trust you girl." This lap took an hour 50 mins. slowed down by quite a bit already. More food. Another slice of Don's Pie and one power gel pack. Rested about 5 mins. WS said she needed a longer rest so I went off on my own. Kay's weak knee was hurting so he couldn't go too.

Digested my food by now so was running better. But lonely... Suddenly found MR v quiet... Can heard all sorts of weird noises... But not lonely for long. Overtook 4 runners this round (found out later one of them is a fellow sgrunner gentle). Couldn't overtake this 5th guy. Overtook him after the 8km but he sped up at the end and left me trailing behind. I had the satisfaction of him looking back over his shoulders a couple of time to make sure I was behind. (Found out later he's a legend in ultramarathons, champ of the day - finished 8 laps that day so that must be his sixth lap. He came over to shake my hand after the run and said well-done. *blush* No wonder so power...) Finished this lap in about an hour 45 mins. Saw run3. She had decided to stop after her fifth lap. Sub 7 hours. Amazing timing! Hehe no wonder dasher likes to run afterher... There's new food! Had half an old chang kee sardine puff, rested for 3 mins and went again.

Knew this was going to be my last lap. Not fast enough to complete two laps in the time remaining. As I was running along the golf course heard someone shouting "Astrogirl!". Turned around and saw Taz (7th lap) and gentle (5th lap). (Hehe, gentle told Taz he was trying to overtake me.) They eventually did, after the 8km drink-stop. Went past the 10km sign, over the slope and started sprinting towards finishing line. That same sense of exhilaration. Many of the sgrunners were cheering me on and I hi-fived a few along the way. Done. 6 laps. 10 hrs 15 mins.

Learning Points

Buy a pair of trail running shoes. MR is no joke.
Make that two pairs of shoes. The more experienced runners all came prepared with a change of shoes.
Be prepared for all kinds of weather. Means no skipping training just cos it's raining.
No use hopscotching. You're going to get dirty anyway. Just run through the puddles.
Familarize yourself with the route beforehand. Don't miss recee runs.

Thank You

Couldn't have done this without the marvellous support from the sgrunners. Sotong for letting us use his car. Jamessoh for being there for the first 2 laps. Balasing for being there for the rest of the run. DO and Sxuanjing for the constant banter. Kops for his Don Pie. Kay for running with me on the 4th lap. Taz for his valuable advice, and run3 for introducing me to the entire gang. Thanks!

Agree with Taz: I can't run fast, but I can run long...

Boo Boo: The champ ran 9 laps instead of 8 (as in my post above). Heard he ran 11 laps last year. Most people ran less laps this year. Perhaps it's the rain and resultant low morale. Heard he might be suffering from injuries also...

Just The Girl @ 12/27/2005 11:53:00 PM