IMWA 2012 - My first Ironman

Ahhh.... Demmit... I'm still alive.  So let's complete this post then.

Looking at my timing, I'm sure you will say that, aiyahhhh I also can pull through an Ironman lahhh. Of course you can.   ;))   I scraped through the 3.9km swim in 2:07. (cut off is 2:20) The 182km bike in 7:38 (cut off for swim + bike must not exceed 10:30) and the 42km run in 5:57. (cut off for IMWA is 17 hours. For the uninitiated, it's not standard 17 hours cut off for all Ironman. Frankfurt is 15 hours. Switzerland is 16 hours. Just to name a few)    Sure, the swim was choppy.  But you just need to force yourself to remain calm at all cost. If you keep swallowing the seawater, then hell swallow it like drinking. Just don't choke yourself and panic and start flailing your arms about. Cos if the kayakers pull you out, that's it.  End of your whole Ironman.  If you puke, they can also pull you out.  So swallow your own puke at all cost. If you can't see where you're going, then you have to take 2 seconds to stop and look, then continue.  You won't sink. Cos you're wearing a wetsuit.  You don't even need to tread water. Hell in all my open water swims during triathlons, I learnt to just hold my breath for that few seconds and I will float. Then continue swimming.  Of course IMWA's swim is the longest and furthest open water swim I ever did.  But I knew, as long as I make it until the U-turn point,  half the battle is done and I just need to fight to get back to shore as fast as I can.  The only thing I was worried about is how SUPER DUPER BLOOPER SALTY the seawater is and how thirsty I'm going to get, and how hard it is going to be for me to sustain until I finished the swim.  You think I'm exaggerating?  You don't understand how salty is salty?

THAT is how much seaweed is washed up ashore okie!!!

Anyhow... let's get back to IMWA.

Here's an actual video footage from the swim leg that morning.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0r0cKsymjI 

When we first went down to the swim start that morning, the water looked calm.  Not as flat as the two swim practices prior but it was relatively calm. The shots below are from the video above.

The shot above is an actual shot from that morning.  As you can see the moment they blasted the horn, everyone started swimming aggressively! You can't see me. I can't point out which is me.  But somewhere in the middle there.  I was SERIOUSLY one of the last ones who was still standing, I really let EVERYONE go first before I went in.   For the simple reason that I didn't want anyone to swim over me.  You guys go first. I'll catch up later.   This is Ironman. I can't afford to panic in the water.   I somehow managed to stay calm despite the waters getting choppier and choppier the further we went out.  But I knew.  As long as I held on until the U-turn point, half the battle is done and I'M ON MY WAY HOME BABY!!!

The swim u-turn point. 

 

I kept being crushed over by the waves, so I had difficulty sighting and swimming in a straight line.  Plus it didn't help that I breathe on my right and the waves are crushing in from the right.  I also know I kept swimming off course as the kayakers kept coming to me and point, "Swim that way, Swim that way"  And I was like...I'm trying! I'm trying!  By the time I reached the U-turn point,  the waves were even choppier than before already.  Found my way to the other side.  And thought the waves will push me back to shore.  Yeah right.  Apparently swimming back was equally difficult.  The waves were NOT pushing me back to shore. Fat hopes. In the end, I just kicked like hell to try and finish it as soon as possible.  I swam until my fingers could stroke the sand, then I stood up. Looked at my watch.  2:06. Looked behind.  There still a few more swimmers behind.  I'm not last.  Okeh. Continue to transition.  The supporters cheered and clapped for me for finishing the swim.  The emcee called my name.  Then I started crying abit. I was so upset that I was over 2 hours.  Then the emcee said, "Oh! Tears of Joy!"  I was like... are you kidding me. I'm upset here.

Coming out from the swim, I needed to go abit further to the transition area.  You will run through this first before you take your bike bag, change and go out to your bike.  Why the need to change?  Well because I had gotten FATTER than my wetsuit, so it was SO FREAKING tight but I didn't have anymore money to splurge on a new wetsuit,  so I just wore my sports bra and panty underneath, suck it up, swim and now I just need to change into my trisuit.  In the changing tent below, you can change during your bike transition and your run transition.

Got in, took my bike bag that we had hung it there on saturday when we racked in the bike.
 
In it was my bib, my cycling shoes, my helmet, my gloves, my tri-suit and my sunglasses.  In the changing tent, there were volunteers who helped me get out of my wetsuit and put sunblock on me.  I learnt that most of the volunteers are those who've completed IMWA the years before.  So they know what we're going through!  Thank you guys!


Got out. Went to get my bike. By then, I counted there were less than 12 bikes left.  Everyone else was gone.

The one and only bike I have.  The same one I crashed in Laguna Phuket Triathlon in.

By the time I pushed my bike out,  Dennis and Li-Ann (and Sam?)  were still standing there at the transition area and cheering me on.   Thank you so much!

Courtesy of Dennis.  Thanks!

Though honestly I was already feeling abit dejected cos now I only have about 8 hours to get through the cycle.  (Swim cut off is 2:20.  Swim + Cycle must not be more than 10:30 including your transition time)

The cycling course was super flat throughout the whole 182km.  It's just the strong headwinds and crosswinds that you're subjected to as it is along the coast and it's super wide open like this.

After the first U-turn point, and past the second water station up Wonnerup road, THEN these trees will cut the wind for you and you can go faster.

 
The third U-turn point below is kinda tight cornering, if you ask me.

Photo courtesy of Dennis.  Thank YOU!  

I was so afraid of letting go, that I'd fall if I did.  So when Dennis cheered me on, I could just say thank you (I don't know if he heard me) but I didn't dare take my eyes off the road or wave back.

The whole 182km. I never stopped to pee. I never stopped to eat.  I never touched my special needs bike bag.  I would only slow down at the water stations and grab coke.   The whole time all I did was eat 4 gels and drank coke, coke, coke.  I never ate any of the bananas or cookies or jellybeans.  Cos I was already so slow.   By right, I should only use the disc wheels if I could maintain at least 30km/h and above.  Otherwise the strong winds are going to push me back instead. And that's exactly what happened.  Plus I only used one gear the WHOLE 182km. I kept pushing and pulling and pushing and pulling.  By my last lap,   I was fighting so hard to get back to town asap, when I was approaching town,  my inner thigh muscles started to pull really painfully.  But I didn't dare to stop.  As I was afraid they'd cramp up so bad and I can't move.  So instead I just kept spinning but slowly. Spin spin spin.  Eventually they went away.

By the time I got back in transition 2, the pain was gone and I felt okay NOW I CAN PEE!!! Spent abit of time in T2 as well. Grabbed my run bag.

My run bag was relatively little compared to everyone else's.  All I had inside were my Vibram Five Fingers and my cap.  Yes I bought a K-Swiss at the expo.  But we all learn NEVER TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY.  So... I wore my Vibrams.  I never ever get blisters in my Vibrams so I better stick to it.

By the time I ran out of T2 for my final leg, the 42k run.  I was just muttering, Ow Ow Ow Ow Ow Ow.  Cos my toes were super duper blooper garouper numb.  They were even painful.  Though not as painful as the thigh muscles pull earlier.  But I was in high spirits when I hit the marathon leg.  Why?  Cos running is mine.  I may not be as fast as you. But running is mine.  Between all three,  running is my strongest card.  And I've done four freaking 100km ultra marathons. I can do this 42k run.

I don't really have pictures of the running route but along the way on the pavement, in addition to great supporters who will cheer for you even when they don't personally know you,  are messages like this scribbled on the pavement from other people's loved ones.  But they all bring a smile to your face.  :))

Both Pic above and below from Dennis.  Thank you!

This would be a treasured pic,  cos I was put in Ironmanlive.com  at 15:00 hours on the page for live coverage that day.  Thank you Robbie!

 I don't have much to say about the run, except that it was flat. The supporters were fantastic!  They stayed until late at night to keep cheering on the last few people like me. :))  Some residents also camped outside their house and cheered for us.   All the volunteers made sure we always had something to eat or drink. But those guys at the Goose. Crazy fellas! They stayed until the very last runner came in. And the atmosphere at the finishing.  IT WAS SIMPLY OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Thanks Dennis for the pic above and below!

 FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohooo!!!  I managed to SPRINT in as I always try to finish strong so that I can have awesome finishing photos.  Those who've seen me at my finishing know that I always do this.  Yes. It is baffling.  Why I can still run like that at the ending but never from the start? 


Post Mortem.

My swim still sucks. Why did I take 2 damn hours when everyone else is doing 1.5 hours or less. What the hell is wrong with my swim?  Here.

 

My right hand is not high elbow-ing enough. My left is not high-elbowing at all. It's just flailing straight through. And my left hand isn't catching water.  My leg sinks too much. Dragging me along.  I'm not gliding at all. Well what can I expect. I'm not a water baby like the rest of you. I only learnt to swim and start swimming properly about 1.5 years ago. And since I didn't join any swim squad this whole year and train like the rest did. I basically did the whole 3.9km swim in Ironman with pure brute force.

Instead I am high elbow-ing OUT of the water. 

                                        

I have a lot to fix in my swim. I'll figure it out somehow.  That's what happens when you learn to swim late as an adult and you're not a natural in water.

OKIE FINE. I have to fix all three.  I've gotta train alot harder in my bike too. All I can say is.  With three months to go before Ironman Melbourne,  time is ticking by so fast, it scares the shit outta me.   And Ironman Melbourne is not gona be anywhere flat like Ironman Western Australia is.  BUCK UP WOMAN!!!

29 Days

That's it. I only have 29 days more to my first Ironman attempt in Ironman Western Australia on Dec 9th 2012.  Truth be told.  I don't feel ready for it physically.  I am much fatter now at this exact time NOW, than at this time last year.  Mentally I think I can force myself to get through it.  But we all know how strict Ironman is and every leg's cut off is final. This is not Uncle Chan's race. You don't get second chances.

Why did I even register for it in the first place?

Especially when I had just survived a bike crash in Laguna Phuket Triathlon and didn't get to start in Ironman 70.3 Phuket seven days later. But I did. I had just come back to KL.  IMWA had just concluded (for 2011) and the burning desire to complete a damn Ironman (whether 70.3 or full 140.6) was so overwhelming. So I registered.  Thinking I have a whole year to train for it.  No worries.

Fast forward almost a year later now.  And I'm still nowhere near ready.  Why do I say this?  Despite the confidence that I could possibly hack it, I still feel challenged in terms of timing.   In all my races, I always just scrape through.  I'm not fast. I have never been fast.

Or is it my damn bloody defiant ego.  I want so badly to be able to pull this off within two years from when I first started.  My first ever race was the 7.7km run in Feb 2010's PNM. By Dec the same year, I did my first full marathon. 6 months later, I had done 8 full marathons and attempted my first 100k ultra marathon.  6 months after that, I had completely dropped running races and concentrated on triathlons.  I've done more triathlons than marathons and yet my swimbikerun timing still sucks.  For the simple fact that I suck. Only with Steve's coaching that I finally fixed my catch and pull.  And now I'm struggling to fix my bike timing. 

We all have dreams right? To run the prestigious Boston marathon, to climb Mount Everest, to survive Badwater Ultramarathon, bla bla bla.    None of those are mine, by the way.  As I don't have a bucket list.  I just make it up as I go along.  Up till the past 2 years, I never knew what it was like to be able to run that far or swim and then bike and THEN run that far.   I guess that's why I named my blog as Chasing Dreams.  Someone said dreaming is free. He is right.   But this is the one thing that gives me structure in life. 

For once I KNOW what I really want. For once I know what I am capable of. For once I am living MY LIFE and not just rolling in the shadows, fulfilling what my family wants for me and just going through the cycle of life. I DON'T want to just get married, make babies, have a huge mortgage that will follow me to the grave and sitting around waiting for something to happen. I want it to happen. I'm going to make it happen.

Yes. I do wonder what the hell am I doing all this for? Particularly when I don't have anyone to be proud of me. It's not like I have a mum or dad to seek approval from. I do get envious when I see friend's and their families who are ever so supportive. I will never have that.  So why do I want to do this for?

Because it is the one thing that makes me feel I am worth it.  That life is worth living. Friends. I thank each one of you who are still here for me and have my back.  I don't have many left. I know it's my fault. It's all too easy for me to just delete you and disappear.  This is me. When I don't feel wanted anymore, I just pack up and disappear.   I still feel all alone. But being accustomed to loneliness and the darkness is what gets me through all my 100k races alone.  I will draw on this to make it through Ironman. 17 hours is a long day. But I've been out there for 34 hours 41mins.  I know what is a realllllyyyyyyy long day. I still haven't figured out what God's plans are for me. But I know as long as I cling on to Him and to every single shred of hope,  it will be worth it.

Life. Will be worth it.

Pink's latest song "Try"

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M

Sabah Ultra TMBT 2012: My fourth 100km attempt since Sundown Ultra 2011 and successful finish.

When I first came back from 2012's Hong Kong Vibram 100km Ultra, Allan Lee asked me this question and said these things to me:

"Actually why are you doing all this for? I know alot of other people encourage and support you.  But your base is not good. You are not strong. We are real sports people. We know the truth."

Thereafter I learned that this whole group who call themselves the FRIM triathlon team, joined this year's Sabah Ultra TMBT 100km due to Allan's encouragement,  regardless of what their background was.  Then he roped me in. I even did a "presentation" in Ong's house, showing the pictures I took and the journey of finishing 2011's TMBT.  He even said to them, "You look at Cynthia like that also can finish leh"  That is in addition to some *&^%$# named Aleximon Lee who wrote in his facebook, that thanks to ME, everyone else knows that they can finish TMBT.   It was very degrading. It's like saying the most retarded person on earth can finish it.  So of course you can.  This is largely due to me having finished 2011's TMBT in 34 hours 41 mins and being third last overall.

Anyhow, I made a promise to myself that I will fix this shit. I will do a much better timing this year.

I spent a shitload of money on my gear.  Brand new and fifth hydration bag - the Salomon S-Lab 12. It cost me RM601 after a 30% discount. Without discount it would have been RM859.  I also bought another brand new and my fourth minimalist shoe - the Salomon S-Lab Sense.  That cost me RM708 after shipping and tax. I also bought a new headlamp, the Black Diamond Storm which was about RM180 after sharing the cost of shipping with Jeff.   My cheapest gear would be the trekking pole at SGD8 from Mustafa's, in Singapore.  Let's just say that I REALLY aimed to go all out and fix my timing this year. And I needed much better gear to help me get there. 

Then comes the training part.  I did a mixture of training in both FRIM and Kiara, as well as once in Nuang.  Though nothing would prepare me for what the elevation profile was going to be like for TMBT 2012.

The first 50km elevation profile.

The second 50km elevation profile. And they were not shitting you. If the picture showed it being that steep.  IT WAS THAT FREAKING STEEP. 

It was quite a funny flag off. We didn't even hear the count down. I was still chatting with Osbert, Amy, Trish, Jacky and Kee Seng when suddenly everyone started running.   Some guys were even still peeing in the bushes behind. HAH!? Started d weih!!! Hahahahaha!  That was hilarious.

Dev's picture of the start.

 

All 25k, 50k and 100k runners started together.

From the starting point at flag off, we needed to get up this short hill slope.  So there was a bit of a bottleneck there.   

Thereafter it was downhill all the way for about 900 meters. I tried to overtake as many people as I could before we hit another bottleneck.  

Karsten and I at the first 900 meters going down.  He was so chillaxed about the whole thing.  He came for a holiday.

After going down, we turned off the road and climbed up our very first hill.

This was JUST THE FIRST HILL! Holy macaroni. I was in super deep trouble.

Once we got over that hill, then it was running over sand, gravel, some rocks, a small bridge and a smaller plantation before we reached check point 1.

MOUNT KINABALU!

When I reached the first water station,  I was already like....Oh.... Shit....

thanks to Pui San for this pic!

I had taken about 1.5 hours for just that first 10k. Pui San, Agnes and some of the FRIM team gang were also there.  Chill... Breathe.. Breathe...

After signing in and refilling my bladder,  we headed up another slope.

thanks Pui San again for this pic!

And this... ladies and gentlemen was actually the beginning of a loop, if you noticed from the map, the 50k and 100k had to complete a loop right from the beginning of the map.   This was an interesting loop.   We ran through some more gravel and sand and more plantation.  But the most beautiful part is the cabbage plantation.

thanks Steve for this pic.  Yes.  I like to stick my tongue out. It shows you I was dying. And this was only the first loop.

 When you complete that loop and reached the next water station, it is actually what was the first water station, but now it doubles up as water station three.  There was another trunk with water in the plantation which became water station two.

After WS3, to get to WS4 which was actually the finishing point for the 25k's,  I bumped into the others like Peter Liew, Tommy, Claire Andrew, Zack and Felice.   At first I was with Peter and Tommy,  then I started to chase after Zack.   When Zack and I teamed up,  we passed Cally Ng.   And then I got confused.  Why were the 25k's still on our path?  They should have been done by now.  It's already 1 something in the afternoon. We were flagged off at 7.30am.  Anyhow, eventually when we got to WS4, then we realised that that was the actual finishing point for them.

WS4 is also the surprise spot check station.  Pamela asked to see our handphones and headlamp.  I showed her and I passed the check.  Signed in. Took water. Went off.

On the way to look for WS5 and WS6,  now THAT seemed like a long ass winding road.  By now it was hot in the afternoon. It was starting to take its toll on us.  I exclaimed out loud that if we think this first 50km is shitty,  the second 50km is what will kill us.  One of two random guys asked me, "So do you think you can finish?"  I felt challenged.  So I retorted, "YES! this is my FOURTH 100km race.  And my second TMBT.  I completed last year too. I will finish."    They didn't respond.  They just looked at each other and went off faster.

By the time we went into another trail, Zack had started running again. Steve told me to go off.   Claire Andrew and Hana Harun caught up to me and overtook Zack and I.    Leong Kwan Weng and ah Leong also snuck up from behind.   Now to reach checkpoint 50km seemed like a longggggg time.   It was. It was uphill all the way.  And that's 12km of uphill.   But I wanted to reach it before dark.   In the end I reached 50km by 5.45pm.  Which was a good headstart for me.  Considering last year, I only reached 50km about 8.30pm.

At CP50km,  is where we had the drop bag option, so I asked for my bag and changed my socks.  There, KC Leong came to me and advised me to do the next 50km with someone.  I showed him that I'm going with Zack.  Then Tony Quay came over to tell me that I must eat something.  I'm notorious for not eating during a race. I would eat the whole KL on non race days. But during a race I don't want to eat.  Stupid right? It's got alot to do with the fact that I don't want to have to puput in the middle of a race.  And there are no portaloos  in TMBT.   Anyhow, at this time, Zack told me we'll leave at 6.30pm together. I said okay. Although I really wanted to leave there and then.   But I had promised Zack.  So okay.  I changed my socks. Changed my singlet to a shirt.  Ate some rice, long beans and eggs. Put on my headlamps.  Then we set off.

By this time, Osbert was also ready to go.  So the three of us set off from check point 50km together to conquer the second half.    The pic below is of the three of us.  In happier times.  *hiak*hiak*   before we knew how bad it was going to be in the second half.

I first met Osbert in the HK Vibram 100k this year.  Zack and I did our first 100k together in Sundown Ultra last year.  The ultra world is really not that big in this region.  When you get out there, then YES it's HUGEEEEEEE.

We set off going downhill.  It was a large road of gravel. Felice and ah Leong came up from behind and overtook us.   Osbert looked at me and said thanks for walking with him.  I said thanks for accompanying me too.   All this time, Zack was ahead of both of us.  Then out of nowhere, we hit a slope.  It was 45 degrees.  I started to overtake Osbert and Zack.  I just kept going. Up up up.  I expected them both to catch up with me later. After all, Zack is someone who normally bombs downhill once we hit a downhill.  But that never happened.  I kept going on. Until WS6. By this time, I had also overtaken ah Leong and Felice.

Signed in again. Took water. Left.

From this moment on.  CYNTHIA GAN WEN CHIN was completely on her own. In the dark. And this was a much longer darkness alone than last year for the simple fact that I left Zack and Osbert at that first uphill slope after CP50k.   Felice had ah Leong.  Further in front was Esther but she had four guys with her. Claire had Hana.  Judy had Kevin. I was completely alone.  Which was actually fine by me as I was in a really competitive mood.  I didn't want to talk.  I was gunning for time. I had set a target of 24 hours for myself.   To me, if I can do this route in 24 hours, then I have shot at that damn trophy in next year's HK Vibram Ultra.

So I trudged off alone. It was abit of a cat and mouse game between me and the rest. We'd catch each other. We'd leave each other. We'd catch each other again.  But nobody was saying Hi and talking each other.  It was a mind game.  I'm trying to beat you. You're trying to beat me. Even when we couldn't see who the hell is who in the pitch black darkness!  That Sept 15 night was the new moon phase.  Which meant that the moon wasn't out that night. If you didn't have your headlamp on, you're skrewed.  If your headlamp died in the middle of it, you're also skrewed.  Yours truly didn't bring extra batteries in her pack.  I had left them in the drop bag. I had expected the fresh batteries I put in that morning to last me for 12 hours.  After all, the damn box said it can last 70 hours!!! Bloody liars.  By 4am, my headlamp was getting dim.

I had to switch to the lower beam mode and whenever it was a road, I had to walk in the middle just to be able to follow the white line.

There is light in this pic only because of the flash in my camera, you have absolutely NO IDEA how dark it was and I was risking alot by being alone.  But I'm a risk taker. I'd do it alone again no matter what.

Every time I could hear the dogs barking, I knew it meant someone is hot on my ass.  At one point, I even frantically wanted to switch off my blinkers and my headlamp.  So that I can be in stealth mode.  If they can't see that there is someone in front, they can't try to catch me and beat me, right? I could hide by the hill slope. Be at one with the hills.  They won't even know I was ever there.

But then the other thought came into my mind,  if one of them accidentally shone his or her light at me,  I could be accidentally scaring the shit out of them,  they trip, they roll down, and then I have to spend the next 20 mins calling for rescue and/or I have to accompany them until the finish line.

Not good. Don't want.  Skrew it.  Let them catch me now. I'll catch them back later if I can.

So one by one they caught up to me and left me.

I managed to trudge on in the dark ALONE for all that journey with that dimming headlamp, passing WS7, WS8, WS9, WS10 until WP11.  All the while praying that the headlamp lights will last.  With no MP3 player for music. With no one else to talk to. With no more other shadows to chase. Only after WP11 that the daylight broke.  YAY! I can see better now! And I just need to find CP12 and then I'm off to the finishing! Yahoo!  By that time, I also knew I won't hit my target of coming back by 7.30am.  I was in a lot of pain.  And from WP11 to the finishing, I had another 12.5k to go.     When I left WP11,  Claire and Hana also got up and left and chased after me.     All this while it was a cat and mouse game between me, Claire and Hana.     They would stop and rest at each WP/CP but I would come, sign, take water and go.

Just before we hit the gravel and trails again, I caught Bobby Tcc.  He asked me about my new shoes.  I snapped, "Don't Ask".   Later he would find out why.

Once we hit the trails and it is going down again, I knew I would lose to these people.  I can power up hills, but I just cannot run down.  And these guys can.  I can't run anymore. My blisters were hurting like hell.  That last portion to finishing was simply excruciating to say the least.  Yes.  Insisting on running in minimalist shoes when your feet is not ready to run in them for the whole 100k is suicide. Especially when the shoes were created for Killian Jornet.  And I'm no Killian Jornet.  I had originally wanted to pack a second shoe but it couldn't fit in my bag so I took the risk of doing the whole 100k in the Salomon Sense.  Suicide Suicide Suicide.

So the last 12.5k was gravel up, gravel down, gravel everywhere.  And soon Trish caught up to me, with two other guys.  She told me not to give up.  I was like, I won't be giving up lah. But I don't know how to withstand this pain until finishing.   I told them to go off ahead.  And when they left, I squatted down to pee.  In broad day light. I'm sorry. But if you see a pic of my fat ass online taken by some villager, please help me delete it.  I really couldn't care less anymore when I was in so much pain.  My malaysian forest was facing the other side anyway, so you'd be spared from that.  Anyhow we all know what each other has right. I lost count how many times I had to pee in the open by the road side like that. And every time I had to put my hands together and ask for permission from surrounding spirits to forgive me for soiling their territory.

When I finally reached the very last check point, CP12, we had to cross this thing and start going down some vegetation/plantation.

 

And all the while I kept looking out for an orange building, which denotes the school.  WHERE THE HELL IS THE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!?????

Finally after some time,  when I finally reached the foothill, then I saw the orange building.

DOESN'T THAT LOOK FREAKING FAR TO YOU?!  

Anyhow, I'm almost finishing already. Shut up. Suck it up. Trudge on.

It took what felt like forever to get out of more gravel, uphill into a slope and finally I was on the road side going into the Zen Garden village again.

this was the last mountain view we had from this race,  if you arrived here on this road at night, I'm not sure if you could see it though.

From the roadside to the finishing in the school, it's about another 1km.   But I've never been so glad to see a school in my life!!!

FINISHED!  YAY!

In the end my garmin showed that we were over-distanced by 1.39km.  With the amount of elevation we went through,  I guess it came to a point that I didn't care anymore.   And when you've done as much races as I have, you learn to take it all in stride.  Not enough water? Tahan loh.  Over distance? Tahan loh. Sakit? Tahan loh.    Cannot tahan?  Then don't race loh.

I finished this year's TMBT in an official timing of 26 hours 32 mins and 43 seconds. Alot better than last year's TMBT timing of 34 hours and 41 mins.  Last year I was ranked 10th overall in the women's 100k.  This year I only managed to go up to 9th spot despite an 8 hour improvement.  But it's okay. I'll take it.

I think what's on everybody's mind is this.  How different is this year's route compared to last year?  The only people who finished both this year and last year's 100k were Jiri, Cornelius, Mia, Felice, Jonas and I.   That I can remember off, anyway.

In my opinion,  last year's TMBT was more technical.  It definitely had less elevation but it contained the elements of an adventure race.   River crossings.  Dangerous hanging bridges.  Slippery bridges.  Narrow hill ridges cut into pineapple plantation.  Psychotic Miki camp inside Miki loop.   

This year's TMBT wasn't technical at all to me.  Sure our elevation profile was killer enough.  But the roads were wide. It was mostly sand, gravel and tar all the way.  Except for after CP12 when we went into someone's plantation backyard.

So if I were forced to compare for the common layman to understand and you're based in the Klang Valley,   I would say last year's TMBT route is abit like Kiara trails and Nuang with all the technical and narrow terrain. (see http://www.cyng-chasingdreams.blogspot.com/2011/11/sabah-ultra-2011-100km-trail-most.html)   This year's TMBT is abit like FRIM and the accompanying steroid hill in there.  WITH ALOT MORE steep elevation of course.   I would say alot of people did well in this year's TMBT as it was pure brute force of pounding up and down that steepness and those hills.    But don't get me wrong. Those WERE killer hills something like HK Vibram Ultra.

So did I really improve given that they are two different terrain and routes?  I don't know. I will never know.  Unless I go back and do last year's route on my own.  Nah...... no freaking way.

I have now achieved the 7 points needed to register for UTMB next year.  Will I actually register for it? I have until Dec to think about it.  If I haven't drowned in Ironman Western Australia on Dec 9th, then maybe..... just maybe... I will.    I don't know.  One step at a time, please.

Huge thanks to the SAC team for a well organised event.  I am looking forward to what is in store next year.  Thank you Aman, Claus, Rudy and Dev.  The four of you are sincerely the most SADISTIC race directors to say the least!!!

I will kill you guys later.... adios pistachios... till my next adventure...

The hunt for the perfect shoe... Salomon Sense

It's been aeons since I last blogged. 6 months to be exact. Mainly cos I didn't feel like talking about my "performance" in Singapore Aviva IM70.3 since I didn't exactly make it in the official swim cut off of 1 hour 10mins. Although I am satisfied that I did finish it below 8 hours.  7 hours 48 mins to be exact.  The run was the only card I had left since my swim sucks and my biking is dismal.

Anyhow this post is about the new Salomon Sense that I just bought and received yesterday.

I ordered them from www.racingtheplanet.com at USD195, got a discount as I'm a participant of Sabah Ultra: TMBT 2012 but in the end that discount amount was replaced by the cost of speedy shipping at USD30 as I wanted them delivered FAST.  Otherwise you only pay USD10 for standard shipping. Ordered on saturday. Delivered to malaysia on tuesday. But our customs held it back and as soon as I received the official letter from customs on saturday to go to Sepang and collect, I went. Had to pay another RM61.85 for the release. So yeah, in total it cost me about RM709.85 for this shoe alone.

In my previous three ultras, I had worn the Asics Kayano 16 for my first ultra, Sundown Ultra 2011 which gave me bad ass blisters this big.

Since then I have stopped wearing cushioned shoes and switched to the VFF and the NB Minimus MT10 (vibram soles). I wore the Minimus for the Sabah Ultra: TMBT 2011 and it really really really hurt alot on gravel.   I then bought a North Face Cyprus (also vibram soles) for the Vibram Hong Kong Ultra.  Those shoes helped me run better than the Minimus but it feels really hard when the terrain switches to tar road since it's primarily a hiking shoe.

Therefore, in anticipation of more gravel in Sabah Ultra: TMBT 2012's edition, I decided to hunt for yet another shoe.  I read about the Salomon Sense in Jeri's blog,  http://fatbirdgoesultra.blogspot.com/2012/07/salomon-sense-review.html and http://ultra168.com/tag/salomon-sense/  Watched the review on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF1pv1Bgtpo.  There and then I decided to give it a try.    I CANNOT wear cushioned shoes anymore, cos even when I tried to wear the Newtons for my runs lately,  the blisters came back.

Took the Salomon Sense's out for a run in FRIM this morning and goshhh. I was completely bowled over. Firstly, it's really soft and it didn't feel like I even needed to break in the shoe. It's also super duper blooper LIGHT, (210grams) I kid you not. Secondly, it fits like a glove even without socks.  And most importantly,  I didn't feel the edges of rocks, pebbles and gravel.  The protection is just right albeit being a minimalist trail shoe.   These have got to be the best Salomons they have produced thus far.

From left to right:  the NorthFace Cyprus, the NB Minimus MT10 and the new Salomon Sense.

Now. Salomons have been around for some time, but I never bought them as the other models have cushioning (which I am avoiding) and the heels are high.   I prefer the heels of my shoes to be as low as possible particularly when running trails as they make me feel more stable.   Have a look at the pic above.  The heel of the NorthFace Cyprus is still quite thick and high.  The heel of the Minimus is low.  Now the Salomon Sense's heels are abit higher than the Minimus but still less thick than the NorthFace Cyprus.

Okie don't get me wrong.  If you're running on terrain that is mostly earth, then the Minimus feels great.  I LOVE wearing them when I run in Kiara particularly running down that spiralling trail which leads to the Mont Kiara lookout point.  (I think you call it Magic Carpet?).   On tuesday this raya week, I wore the NorthFace Cyprus to Gunung Nuang and FRIM on the same day, (yeah trying my best to shove in as much training as possible),  they can handle the gravel but it rained so heavily that day, the shoes became heavy to run in. Plus the clay-like terrain made me skate in them in the rain.

I haven't run in heavy rain with the Sense yet. Let's see if it rains this weekend, then I can test them out. I did find them abit soggy from this morning's run and they're still wet right now since I sweat a tad too much. But for now, they feel really really adequate to tackle this kind of gravel and keep me going.

It's quite surprising since the sole isn't as fierce as the Speedcross's soles are. In fact, they look pretty normal to me.  

I felt quite stable and agile when I was running down the other side of the mountain bike terrain. My toes weren't hitting the front of the shoe. And just to be sure, I ran up and down that mountain bike terrain loop 3 times just to be sure that the grip feels just right and it does. So I know I won't be getting more black toe nails from this one. 

A forewarning first though.  Before you immediately click and purchase the Salomon Sense, note that

1. The front of the shoes are narrow.  If you're the type who needs a 2E or 4E or mak-kwai E, then it's going to cramp your toes.
2. As with all other minimalist shoes, you need to be fore front landing. If you are still heel striking, this shoe is not for you.
3. As with all racer shoes, there's a paragraph in this review http://ultra168.com/2012/06/18/gear-review-salomon-sense/  which says:

"Well, unless you are Kilian and can run a 100 mile trail race in around 15 hours, then this shoe would be ideal up to 100kms or around 12 hours of wear time. Why do I say that  ? Well I think as you run through the day and into the night during a 100 miler, comfort starts to take over from performance in my view, and with such a low heel drop and a super light weight construction, this must take its toll over the hours ?"

Essentially it means, they're not going to last long. But I'll take my chances.