Longest ever......

MR Ultramarathon 2007

It was never in my intention at all to complete yesterday's MR ultra of 5 x 10.8km. Min 5 laps between 7am - 7pm. Some target to go beyond 5. But somehow, just a few days before the actual day, I felt a sudden urge and are motivated to complete the 5 loops. I was feeling good mentally and decided to give it a try, subject to body condition with lots of lots and reasoning :

1) I am not familiar with the terrain in MR
2) I have not trained under such terrain before
3) I've never run longer than 23km before

Nevertheless, 2 loops is the min, best to go for 3 loops, excellent if I can push for 5 loops. I will decide to go for the next loop at the end of each loops. No pressure at all.

Reached MR at 6:40am yesterday and get to see all the excitement that everyone has. Here's what happen throughout the run.

1st lap: Ran with Tiwazz. The day before, over MSN, we have agreed to run together as his pace is very comfortable to me. It was a good one but there's some downhill slope that I couldn't land properly. Hit my toe hard on several times. But it's ok. Next, just before reaching golf course, I trip on a huge rock/stone whatever you call it. So hard that I almost push the gal in front of me. Luckily managed to balance in time without falling BUT dunno how I ended a pull on my butt and upper thigh muscle. It's an almost immediate cramp on my butt and upper thigh. Jialat... I walk for a while and ask Tiwazz to move ahead. I tried jog slowly, luckily the pain faded off after 5 mins and managed to catch up with Tiwazz again. Have not run this 10.8km route before and my goodness..so many slopes!! Being just the 1st lap, everything went well. Reached the start point in 1.30hr

2nd lap: Started off with Tiwazz again. It was smooth sailing until we are about to exit Lornie Road. While trying to balance myself on the downslope on those rocky terrain, I sprained my ankle. Started to give me some slight discomfort, I have to run/walk all the way. Tiwazz is already way infront, like 200m infront of me. I thought the pain will fade away just like the 1st incident I have in the 1st loop. Reached the 2nd water point, took a powergel and slowly make my way to the end point. Rested a while, chatted with FD and had a choc bar. Feeling the pain on the ankle is getting more painful, I'm in doubt if I should go for the 3rd. Tiwazz keep jio-ing me. I hesitated a while but decided to give it a try. Can walk the entire loop I really can't run.

3rd lap: It was the most painful and torturing and longest 10km that I've ever done in my life. Just when I started the 3rd lap, I'm already feeling that the ankle is acting up in pain. It's not even into the trail yet. I asked Tiwazz to go ahead and I'll follow him from behind. Should I u-turn back? or should I continue? Maybe it'll get better later? The same thoughts is in me in the first 2km. I decided to take the risk. I continue to walk and try to run slowly. It lasted for a little while but the pain is getting serious as I doesn't seem to be able to bend my feet during landing. If not I'll have to run or walk on the inner side of the foot. I am trying all sorts of method to run/walk in order to speed up. Helps a little but doesn't last long. Then.... my planter faciitis act up!! On the same feet! So my right feet is basically out of function at this point. There's like 6km more to go and I'm walking like a snail. Even the tourist taking pics of monkeys are faster than me. I sat at the Ranger station, took off my shoe and do some massaging, seeing all runners passing by still in high spirit. Sigh..... so demoralized. I'll have to rely on my left leg to do all the climbing of slopes and draw more strength from there. But as expected loh...the left knee will also be screeming in exhausion..haha..Serve me right... Along the way, Jodan catch up with me. Chatted a while and he passed me his EZlink card. Told him I don't think I need it but just in case, I took it from him. It was really a mental torture and it's so tiring to walk a 10km. It's taking forever and ever and ever to reach. I tried a couple of time to run but serve me right again, that same spot on the ankle got a slight sprain again. So it's double attack. I made my slow slow way towards the 2nd water point and catch up with Jodan. Took a long break with him at the bus stop. I decided to slowwwwllyyy walk back with him to start point. Maybe just 20m after walking, I decided to u-turn back and take a bus. Just about 3 bus stop away. Totally not a good way to end the 3rd loop but I think this 3rd lap is already a total failure. So it doesn't really matter haha.. A bit demoralised already. Weak mind? Maybe. Why do I want to risk for more injury and may not able to run for the next month or so, worth it not?
Anyway, I alighted 1 bus stop earlier so there's still a bit of a walking to do before I reach the end point.

I guess each of us have different goals in mind. Some wanted to push hard enough to earn the MRUltramarathon finisher title no matter how much pain they are bearing. But to me, there's no hero here. I am very conservative. We know our body best. There will be peer pressure to push us along but they wouldn't know the agony you are having right now. Some commented that with 5-6 hours left to go, I can easily walk to complete the 5 loops. Yes I agree. But that will be 100% walking in SLOW speed and in pain. It has totally defeated the purpose to taking part in Ultra. Even without a sprained ankle, I don't think I will adapt a run 2 round, walk 3 round method. I hope to be able to run as much as my body can take.

So in a way, I'm not totally disapointed (hmm...maybe a little lah) that I did not complete the 5 loops. At least, I've achieved my 2 loops min, 3 loops will be best expectation :) A little pity that JC is not able to participate in this run, as I'm sure he will be one of those who will push to the maximum throughout the 12 hours. Anyway, safety comes first. Stayed through until 530pm and it was pretty enjoyable to catch up and chit chat with all sgrunners and witnessing all the runners finishing lap after lap. It is heart warming to see the them coming in to the finishing line, though exhausted and some are in pain. I'm happy to share their joy :)