It was abt 20mins cab ride from Hualien City to Taroko Gorge/Aborigin house where we are supposed to for a night and walk to race site the next day... I'm mentally prepared of the condition there but thankfully it wasn't that bad afterall. At least, rooms and toilets are clean with warm shower. It does reminds me of the days where we camp along with roaches and toads at Pulau Ubin under the atap house, does look similar in a way but much much much cleaner. At least, I managed to sleep well...Yah...me and regina were on bed, nothing to do at 730pm. All we get was that little 7-11 abt 10-15mins walk away. We slept till......5am :)

Was a good 1.7km walk to the race site. Started at 7am sharp for a 5km run before we head back to the Gorge....The drama begins...Up and up and up....and UP again..... It wasn't that bad at the start because everything look so refreshing with mountains at one side, rivers and waterfalls on the other with shaded route most of the time. Sight seeing cum run, that's my idea of doing overseas run :)

But after a while, when the legs are really feeling 'it' and it's still going up... it felt like forever to reach 10k mark. Suprisingly looking at the watch, it was abt the same as my 'standard pace'. Mentally prepared although the legs are not, it's still a few more kms to climb before reaching the u-turn point at 14k mark. Would have climbed for 8-9km by then :) So so glad to be able to turn back and down slopes all the way... No regret of not doing full...haha...Did managed to go slightly faster conservatively though...that poor knee has not be too good lately... kiang is enough, no need to be keh kiang...:P And then, I suddenly heard siren from the back... guess what..... the two kenyan elite for full marathon (started on the same time as half marathoners) is overtaking me in our last 4km!!!! haha..bugger....

Completed within cut off time. 21k on such terrain..is just nice and good enough for me :)