Penang Ultra marathon 2015

50 km runners registering and checking of running gears

After three full marathons in my credentials I thought it is time to go for greater challenge in my running craze. So here I am registering for the 50 km category in Penang Ultra Marathon 2015. I registered as an early bird with an exorbitant fee of RM 130.  I was quite confident that I would be able to complete the race within the cut-off time of 8 hours 30 minutes since I could finish a full marathon of 42 km close to 7 hours. There shouldn't be any problem for me to cover the balance of 8 km in one and the half hour.  I was too optimistic and over confidence and I did not train as hard as when I was preparing for my first full marathon. I ran three or four times a week covering a fixed distance of about 10 km on flat land. I thought that is the only preparation I needed never knowing that I have to invest in running gears too. I only realized that after being informed by the organizer of the compulsory items required. So I spent RM 260 on a backpacker with a water capsule, running flash lights ( RM 35 ), emergency blanket which I did not know where to get but finally got it from the organizer while collecting my running bib one week before the race for RM 7 a packet.  I did not buy a new head lamp since the old head lamp I have is still functioning well. We are also required to bring along a whistle, plasters and alcohol pads and spare batteries. Those were the items which increased my burden but not put to use at all. In fact there is no necessity for us 50 km runners to carry spare batteries because we only run the most 4 hours in the dark and new battery can definitely lasts longer than that. 

I booked to stay at Georgetown city hotel for two nights, my time sharing hotel. It is only a few kilometers from the city hall at the Esplanade where we 50 km participants have to gather and register. The 84 km round island and 100 km challenge categories will start their runs at the registration site at 9.00 pm but we 50 km category will have to take a shuttle bus provided to Balik Pulau 45 km away where we will start our run at 3.00 am. Our starting point is the fourth checkpoint of the 100 km and 84 km categories. From then on the three categories will run on the same route until the end except the 100 km where there is an additional 16 km up and down Penang Hill. My initial understanding  of the 8.5-hour  cut-off time for 50 km category is totally different from what the cut-off time of the organizer. In actual fact, the 50 km distance is divided into five checkpoints and every checkpoint has its unfriendly cut-off time. This is the second time Penang Ultra Marathon is being organised and last year only 58% of the 50 km participants managed to finish the race and earned their medals and finisher tees. I was not so optimistic that I  would finish the race in time after knowing the true nature of the run.

MY first checkpoint is CP4

I left my hotel for the Esplande at 11.00 pm sharp as the duration for the registration is from 11.00 pm to 1.00 am the next morning. I was surprised there were not many participants and we were kept waiting until the registration was closed. I could see about hundred odd participants and I was right as there were only three shuttle buses to take us to the starting point. I think the organizer must be very disappointed with the poor response of the 50 km category as the target is 400 participants. Well, that is not my concern as my main worry is whether I can complete the 50 km race.

50 km runners arriving at the starting point

While we were on our way to our starting point, I could see the slower runners struggling on their way to their next checkpoint. Our starting point was at Genting Primary School in Balik Pulau. When we reached there, some 84 km or 100 km runners were seen running into the checkpoint compound to be registered. Those were the faster runners who definitely qualified to continue with their run. I was anticipating some light refreshment at the starting point to fill my almost empty stomach before the race but there were nothing. Only water and three-in-one coffee but there is no cup. I did not bring any bread and had to quieten my stomach with a packet of energy gel I brought. We were flagged off at 3: 00 am and I was a bit uncomfortable carrying the backpacker with 1 liter of salted water and wearing a cap with headlight. I only did not feel the existence of the extra burden on my back and head after running for a while. My time is in fact faster because I did not stop to drink at water station as in other marathon races. I was quite strong from the beginning until my first checkpoint or CP5. That is 14.3 km in 1 hour 45 minutes or 7.34 minutes per km. In fact I was 25 minutes ahead of the cut-off time at CP5. After taking my drink and replenished my water capsule with 100 plus, I continue my run towards my second checkpoint or CP6 hastily.

I thought the slope is manageable and try to run slowly uphill at first but the hilly winding road all the way up for 6 km is really out of my imagination even though I had used that stretch just recently while going to Penang National Park. From slow run to brisk walk and finally I found myself struggling to continue forward. I sighed and sighed and hoped that the uphill task would come to its end but the peak was like unreachable. I was overtaken by runners after runners. Most of them just ran past me quietly perhaps struggling too except one sweet runner with her European boyfriend who encouraged me to keep going. Thanks for the encouragement but I had hit the wall and the only solution is to stop my race at the next checkpoint. I was totally relieved when I reached the peak. My tiredness just vanished and I could run again but only slowly. More runners overtook me making me almost a lone ranger in the darkness of Teluk Bahang durian orchards and fruit farms. I ran slowly downhill and finally reached the scenic Teluk Bahang reservoir with its great expand of water and the soothing cool breeze. That really killed some of my tiredness and that really enhanced my desire to continue with my race till the finishing line. So I continue to run but a bit faster this time hoping to reach my second checkpoint in time but I was too slow during uphill and I reached CP6  eight minutes late. A volunteer at CP6 informed me without any sign of empathy that my participation was cancelled. So my ultra marathon was ended prematurely. I had run a total of 27.6 km with a time of 4 hours 8 minutes or 8.99 minutes per km. There were instant noodles and 100 plus at the checkpoint but I was too late for the last cup of the instant noodle and had to drink as much 100 plus as possible to ease my thirst and hunger.  A bus was already parked outside the checkpoint waiting for few more disqualified runners to arrive. When I boarded the bus it was almost full with passengers who looked so sombre and tired maybe for failing to achieve their dreams. So am I but who dare say he has never encountered failure. A failure is definitely a stepping stone to success.

Even though I did not complete the race but this run is totally a new experience and a good training for me for greater challenge ahead. The only regret is firstly,  I struggled to finish 27.6 km but my effort was not recognized. Perhaps the organizer should allocate timing chip to the runners and the chip is scanned at every checkpoint. In this way our distance and time can be traced and e-certificate can be issued to us based on the distance we covered as recognition of our achievement even though we did not complete the whole race. 

Secondly I think the cut-off time for the Teluk Bahang hilly route should be extended maybe by 20 minutes. This will definitely allow the runners to run slower downhill to avoid hurting their knees. From what I observed many runners were running too fast downhill because they were too slow while going uphill. 

Thirdly, the organizer should start the 50 km category earlier maybe at 1.00 am to avoid the heavy traffic at Batu Feringghi narrow and winding road. 

Finally I would suggest the organizer  not to knock out the participants too early and this can be done by increasing the total cut off time to 9 hours since the route is hilly. The last cut off time of 1.5 hour just for distance of 5.6 km is too long and the total distance is not 50 km but 51 km. Maybe that is reason few participants registered for the race in contrary to what the organizer's intention in promoting Penang's scenic countryside.     

The run is fun and muscles cracking and I will give myself another try next year  but I will surely train harder this time especially on hilly route. See you next year Penang Ultra Marathon.     

My new running look

Water station at our staritng point