The Magnificent Merapoh Trail. A trail running event around Merapoh, Pahang park with three distance of 30km, 70km and 100km. As I did not finish any ultra race before hand, I knew 70km is going to be a big challenge for me especially with a cut off time of 13 hours, but I was determine to at least finish an ultra marathon before this year end. So I registered and waited for the time to come but then I had a minor problem.
While training for TMMT. I had a minor injury with my knee which resulted to little or no training for this marathon three month prior to it. The only training was probably one of the 22km night marathon 3 weeks before TMMT but other than that, I did not collect any mileage. Nevertheless, I went ahead.
5th August 2017, my knee gotten a lot better and all my ultra runner friend was with me this time, MF, TF, CK and Quan (Yes, sadly they are the only trail running friend I have now but it was much better than the last time where I had none). We went the day earlier before our marathon using their transport service to Merapoh. Once there, we bunker down, shower like those Japanese public toilet, eat very basic food prepared by the local but it was nice, and went for early bed since our marathon were at 4am.
Unfortunately, as I went for bed at 8pm, I couldn't really get some rest since it was a bit cold (they had no blanket and I was nervous like hell) and I was actually having a bad toothache. No proper training with not a very good start condition, I thought that it... this maybe another DNF race or worst, DNS race....
At 2am, it was time, woke up feeling quite bad.. Almost wanted to DNS the race.... But after saying a few grace and prayer, washing myself up and just clearing my mind. Something told me why give up so early when it haven't even started, DNF mah DNF lar, but don't DNS a race.... At least before you DNF, you get to see the beauty of the trail got to offer. So I set myself a target, before I DNF, I must at least reach the cave part of the trail.
My starting item were 1 litre of water mixed with hydration pill, 5 energy gel, extra battery for head lamp, headlamp, sandal, a tube of hydration pill contain 14pills, some raisin and a banana. My drop bag contain 5 more energy gel, change of cloth, extra headlamp with battery, more raisin and spare sandal. Also had an action camera with me. Even with not at my best initial moment, I told myself all I have to do is just keep focusing on the next water station, small bit by small bit and you will get there.
4am, drop off my drop bag and everyone was at a starting line. My second attempt on ultra marathon and my first ultra trail marathon was about to unfold. Everyone was eager to start, my friend and me were all laughing. Then the bell rang and everyone start running into the dark forest.
The initial 5km were mostly just wide open dirt road running which everything went smoothly, after that, it was along the oil palm plantation road and dirt road. Thankfully all was dry so one can just run without focusing too much on avoiding on slipping (it can be very tiring). Elevation was flat and it was easy to run, but to save my energy, I was running slow at 6km/h or 10min/km in the dark forest, sometime alone with just the headlamp lit-ing up the path. It can be scary but I did night jungle marathon beforehand so I wasn't too terrified when I was alone.
After 15km, it was that part of the race... Around 2km+ of not river crossing but running on river with depth varying from foot ankle to as high as stomach level with the starting point that one must climb up mini waterfall in the dark. It was a very slow and the water was cold and after 1km of it, agonizing. As I was reaching the end of the river run, the day was almost brighten up. Turn off my headlamp but I was a bit tired to bother about placing it in my bag. I didn't bother resting and the run continue...
As I was running, I notice I was a bit behind schedule for the next checkpoint cut-off time no thanks to the river run. I buck-up, took a sip of energy gel, eat up my banana, drank my water and ran for the cut-off time. Running along the rubber plantation. palm oil plantation and sometime just wild jungle trail, it what one would expect running in the trail of Malaysia.
Reaching the 24km mark, it where our drop bag are located. I took some rest time off here, change my cloth since they were soaked. refill all my energy gel and raisin and decided not to change into my other sandal. Took a 10 minutes rest, and off I go aiming for the next checkpoint that has a cut-off time which was another 10+km away with 2hours more.
After 1.5 hours of running, I finally reach the first checkpoint with a cut-off half an hour early and sweet mother of heaven, they have cup noodles and plenty of other food. Knowing my time is not really on my side, I prepared one of my fastest instant noodle in my life and ate some of the bread and rice prepared. I was out and running again after 10+ minutes eating and resting.
From here onward, it was going to be a hot run. It was 11am with the sun shining down on some of the barren land we were running on. It certainly was not easy and with each water station distance between 10km average in between, I knew I have to carefully plan my water consumption and conserve as much energy as ever before, only running downhill and a slow hike uphill. Before this we were running in the cool breeze morning, now we were running under the blazing hot sun.
Not long after that, we finally reach the cave of Merapoh. I was ahead of time at this point here so I took some time and just enjoy the view of the caves. Though the journey through the cave was short, it was one of the best moment in my running life. There were two cave run which is separated by around 7-8km run under the sun and along the estate. After reaching the end of the second care, Gua Persik and it checkpoint, I never had so much joy before. With 4hr15min and another 21km more, although my leg was not at it best, I knew I can still hold on and finishes the race. I push on...
There was a last checkpoint between where I was and the finishing line, which was roughly 11km and I needed to get there by 3pm (it was 1.45pm at that moment). To normal runner, that plenty of time to cover, unfortunately under my condition, my best I could pull of was only 11.5min/km or 5.4km/h but I was confident I can do this. Keep telling myself, it only 11km more.
Luckily on this section, the view maybe boring (and also saddening) as we were running along the deforestation of our forest and along road construction but I found someone to talk with along, for the next 6-7km, we were at the same pace and somehow the kilometer were just flying past. After that, we ran at our own pace which is also good and fun as sometime as he cut me off, this actually motivate me to push myself to end the race.
55km and the last checkpoint. Boy I was dam happy to see this checkpoint and reaching it before 15min cut-off time. I knew I can do this. My first ultra marathon finisher. But of course, there was the last obstacle. With the last 10km and 2hour more to spare, it was still not going to be easy as this section has the longest uphill trail which will reach the maximum elevation of this race course. That trail section alone was 5km and after that it was my most hated type of marathon... Road marathon... Come to think of it, majority of the trail before this was on dirt and jungle road since I was complaining a lot in my head on this part of the marathon.
The last 5km road marathon was more tiring than the previous 5km uphill but it wasn't physically tired, it was more toward mental. I just feel like sitting down on the grass and lied down for a while... But on all my hiking experience, I knew that "for a while" is going to cause my finisher. One step after another, there it was, the finishing line... It was an emotional finish for me even though I was one of the last few to finish. Tear of joy roll down as the emcee called out "Lim Kee Ming has finish the 70km race in 12h43min!" as I was desperately looking for coconut water...
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| The Starting |
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| Climbing up the mini waterfall |
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| River Run |
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| River Run |
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| Rubber Plantation |
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| Moar Rubber Plantation |
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| HOT!! |
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| Farm Area |
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| Almost at the cave point |
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| The first cave |
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| The second cave |
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| The second cave |
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| The second cave |
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| The last 21km and it still HOT!! |
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| FINALLY!! WITH 20 MINUTES TO SPARE |
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| http://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/2377492283 |
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| TMMT 70KM Done!
TMMT 2017, 70KM
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The Magnificent Merapoh Trail was indeed magnificent and eye opening. The cave was beautiful and never realize so many villager still rely on our forest reserve to put food on the table for their family. With the deforestation going on there, I do hope the government at least control every activity is going on in there.
This was my first ultra trail marathon but it definitely not my last. It was fun but also very tiring. Thanks God for being there for me, I was at my worst at the start but this race ended up one of my best marathon in my life. Suffered little to no cramp with minimal chaffing, never hitted the wall and did not vomit unlike most of my past marathon which had at least one of those problem. Nevertheless, it does not end here...
Edited: 1st October 2017
(Some will ask why go through the torture? All I can say it for the view and it kinda like hiking in express mode and it has become an addiction. There is one thing I usually won't tell the non-runner and only to the one who think running was impossible but still want to try it out, "I was once a non-runner too, I couldn't clock a single kilometer properly in the past until I was 21 years old. Running 10km was impossible for me during that time. Then my friend challenge me to a 10km marathon. Train for it but the training was very tough and right to start of that marathon I kept on telling myself that this 10km marathon will be my first and last marathon... Little did I know, I would be here... Of course there were plenty of hardship in between, had 2 DNF marathon, never had a proper running buddy, all the "negative comment" saying your leg will not take it or you just not meant to do it... Thankfully, I found a few friend and got back my motivation and decided to go further than ever..." One can say, I mainly doing this for the nice view the trail has to offer and where hiking will take too long to reach but also at the same time, maybe inspired anyone out there who maybe going through the same trouble as me in the past... And also partly, this has turn into an addiction)
