Fraser's Hill Tristate Ultra Trail 2018

I woke up when I heard the Azan from the nearby Masjid.  Laling went to the Masjid for his solat.  After I had my bath, I did my solat Fajr and also read the Noble Quran.  Whilst reading, Laling returned from the Masjid. It was already 6.40am.  I then did my warm ups in our room.  I was surprised when Laling said he will accompany me to the Starting Line. Alhamdulillah.

When we arrived at the venue, I noticed there were not many runners for the 15Km category.  In fact, the organiser said they will not check our backpack for the mandatory items.  What lah..... I brought along all the things they said mandatory.

Then whilst waiting for the Start gun, I wanted to drink from my water bladder. Imagine my shock and panic when not a drop pass through. I tried several times but failed.

So I approached this bro and told him my problem. He did try to assist, but alas I still could not drink from my water bladder. Feeling frustrated I approached this group of runners and they too helped to ensure I could drink from my water bladder. They even helped to remove the water bladder and tried to find out what went wrong. At first water did flow out, I was thankful to them. But then when they put the water bladder back into the pocket, and when I tried to drink, again no water flowed. Since it was almost time to Start the run, I thanked them profusely. They said maybe once I began running the water bladder will function then.

Well, unfortunately it did not. So, at the first CP KM5 where the water station was also located, I managed to drink and also ate a banana. Alhamdulillah.

I was feeling extremely thirsty when ascending the hill after making a U-turn from the CP and tried my water bladder. It still did not function. Frustrated I almost gave up but, thankfully, when I arrived at this camp site where I saw a group of hikers. I asked for water and they willingly poured a cup for me (cup bring own self...mandatory item!)

One of them asked me whether I have finished my drinking water since he saw me wearing my Salomon. I informed him I was unable to drink from the water bladder since it malfunctioned. Again they willingly helped to check and rectify the problem. Alhamdulillah they managed to make my water bladder function again. I thanked them and continued my run.

When I arrived at the entrance of Hemmant Trail where the second WS was located, I did not stop to drink. Then halfway into Hemmant Trail, guess who I bumped into? My laling! He did not continue his sleep after all but was worried about me and came looking for me when he noticed most 15KM runners have Finished their run. So laling followed me until we reached the end of Hemmant Trail.

There were no signage to indicate where 15KM runners should continue their run. Just bold black arrows pointing at the entrance of Bishops Trail. I then asked two runners infront of me whether 15KM runners follow this trail. They replied affirmative. So I followed with Laling close behind me.

Then along Bishops Trail I saw this lady runner infront of me walking so slowly. I caught up with her and she told me her ankle was hurting very badly. So I told her my laling and I will accompany her until we reached the end of Bishops Trail.

The trail was very slippery and there were plenty of decayed tree trunks across our paths. Huge tree trunks. We just could not leave the lady runner on her own so we helped her the best we could. She is one strong and very determined lady runner. Of course she could not run anymore. So we too walked with her.

Alhamdulillah I still have plenty of water so I shared it with her whenever she felt thirsty. We could not call for help since there was no mobile signal in this jungle. So slowly we made our way to the end of Bishops Trail.

Then at the entrance of Maxwell Trail, she managed to call her running buddy. When we reached the main road, laling told her to wait at the hut by the roadside. Since it was a busy road, she said it was okay to leave her there and wait for her friend. She then gave me a big hug and thanked me. Then she shook Laling's hand and thanked him too.

Laling then asked me whether I wanted to quit the run. I told him I may be the last runner, but I will not quit. I want to Finish my run regardless of the time. I knew I have exceeded COT which was at four hours flat.

Laling and I then began ascending the hill and infront of The Pines we saw the BOMBA orange pickup truck driving downhill. We guessed BOMBA was picking up the injured runner. True indeed because when the BOMBA passed by us again, there was the lady runner and her friend. She waved at us and shouted her thanks again and again. We were with her the last two hours and did not get her name.

Laling needed to go to the toilet when we passed the horse riding ranch and archery. So he told me to go ahead and Finish the run.

I was so disappointed when I arrived at Finished and they (the crew at the Finish line) told me I DNF. I should have explained to them not to DNF me since I was helping an injured runner. Frustrated I returned to the hotel.

When laling returned to our room he asked whether I received a medal. I told him   its ok if I did not get a medal, but it hurts lots when they said I DNF.

Laling then comforted me and told me he would speak to the organiser and explained what I went through.

When we checked out of our hotel, laling drove to the event venue and met with Mr Toto. Mr Toto promised to look into this matter tomorrow. According to him there were 36 DNF runners, me included. 😢😢😢

(Photo Credit above: Fraser's Hill Tristate Ultra Trail 2018)

 (along Bishops Trail, so close to the ravine)

(My Hero selfie)

SCKLM 2018 HM Finisher Medal

(Finally SCKLM 2018 HM Finisher Medal arrived via Poslaju this morning. Alhamdullillah)

(SCKLM 2018 said I deserve the medal even I Finished after COT.  Thank you very much SCKLM 2018)

Hulu Langat Trail Run 2018

My first trail running was yesterday morning (Sunday 18 March 2018) the Hulu Langat Trail Run 2018.  Alhamdulillah I Finished the run, Veteran 15km in three hours plus 😁.  Thank you Are Charp for encouraging aunty to run trail. It was tough all the way but aunty Finished and look forward to running trail in the future, In shaa Allah. 

Sofiyah drove me to IKBN Dusun Tua, where the venue for the trail run begins and ends, at 5.30am.  We had our solat Fajr at the Masjid within the campus.

Then I did warm up https://youtu.be/FJdU4GhdQf0  and joined the other runners for the Aerobic session before the race starts at 7.30am.

I stood way behind the other runners because, being a slow runner, I did not want to be in the way when the race begins.  Let the elite runners be at the front. 😊

We had to run about one and a half kilometre via the village road before we entered the actual trail, running through mini jungle, rubber plantation, fish farm, vegetable farm, fruit orchards, villages and finally a river crossing.

I was full of excitement when running along the winding trail, sometimes muddy sometimes covered with dried leaves, and it was fun stepping on the mud using my brand new Salomon Speedcross4.  My Salomon got dirty allright! 😅

But then....O Emmm Geee...I came across the first hill, it was steep and I could not see the top. If this was tough, wait till the next hill and the next and the next. So many hills to ascend.  Each different from the other. But then, I was prepared to tackle the ascend, after learning from another Youtube video about ascending hills.
https://youtu.be/FcBlGb0qgS8. I did not run uphill (sure pancit) instead I Power Hike (like in the video) and it really helps with my ascending.  When I did that, there was this lady runner who asked me whether I had knee pain. 😎 So I told her, no lah, I learnt this method via Youtube. 😁

It was pretty lonely when I was way behind the other runners, but I got to enjoy the peace and quiet, the fresh air all to myself. Alhamdullillah. The marshalls along the route were very encouraging.  They kept motivating me, not to give up, and their favourite verse..."sikit lagi kak...dah nak sampai dah...." If only they knew I am no 'kakak', but a Nenek with four grandkids...hahahaa.....

It was at 9Km when we cross path with the 10 km runners. And I was no longer alone...hahahaa.... Still there was another six kilometres for me to Finish, In shaa Allah.

We had to cross the river before finishing the last one kilometre.  I had to join the 10km runners at this point because the Marshall directed me to do so.  They did not allow me to follow the route for the 15km runners.  I guess I was one of the few remaining 15km runners who had to follow this route too. Pehaps the abam Bomba manning the river crossing for the 15km route had already left the site. Hehehe.... And for safety reasons, we the slow runners have to cross the river with the 10km runners.

It was cold when I stepped into the river.  It was also reaching my thighs. If the water goes higher than that I need to remove my handphone and tuck it in my sports bra. Hahahaa......

It was also difficult to keep my balance, since I have to walk on uneven rocks at the river bottom. But, Alhamdulillah, there were willing hands for me to hang on to while crossing the river.  Thank you to the girl runner who helped me cross the river. Also to the abam bomba and other volunteers when I reached the other side.

Alhamdulillah I Finished the run in three hours, as recorded by my Garmin Forerunner 35.  At Sixty and I did my first Trail Run. I also look forward for more trail run.  Fraser Hill run perhaps? Got to ask laling permission first.  🤔😎https://youtu.be/LXlbRhyOGq4
#runnorlirun

HLTR 2018 - Bib & Goody Bag

I drove to The Gardens Mall after classes at UIA Gombak to collect my HLTR 2018 bib at World of Sports boutique.

If not for Google Maps I would have taken a longer time to reach the Gardens Mall from Gombak. 😁

SCKLM 2018 Running Clinic

I woke up when the alarm rang at 5.30 this morning.  After my bath and solat Fajr I drove to Bukit Jalil Park which took me about ten minutes to reach the car park C opposite the AFC. But I did not park my car at the parking lot, instead I parked by the roadside at the entrance.  I was not the only one who parked there. 😁

I then walked to the venue where the Scklm 2018 Running Clinic near the parking lot.  I then registered at the runners counter and was given a running bib with a timer chip.  I was told there were about three hundred fifty registered runners for this first RC for Scklm 2018 runners.

In shaa Allah I will be running my first HM this year in April. Thus one of the reasons I joined this RC. Hubby and Sofiyah will also be running the 5K this year.

I then joined the other runners who were listening to coach Mr Mark Williams who gave advice on running tips and then the warm up session and we were ready to begin our run.

Since I will be running the HM I have to complete five loops in ninety minutes. One loop is about 2.7km. Therefore I have to run 13.5km within ninety minutes!  I took longer than that...much much much longer....sigh....

Anyway, perhaps my bad timing was because I hardly trained.  My last run was January 6 where I ran 12km  (Garmin recorded 13km) in the MAKNA Engineers Run at Uniten where I Finished last! That also without any training.  Boo!!!

By the time I reached Finish they were removing the timing block, so no record of me finishing the run. 😔

I also missed the cooling down session (so I did cooling down my way...) BUT I got the chance to speak to coach Mr Mark Williams himself and seek his expertise the proper way to run. Thank you coach.

After returning my running bib I approached a runner to take my pictures at the photo booth who willingly obliged. Thank you bro.

Bukit Jalil Park

Since I have already registered the SCKLM 2018 running clinic  I decided to drive to Bukit Jalil Park after meeting CPB at Bangi Toll Plaza to collect the acar buah I bought from her.  CPB's acar buah is so delicious. 

I followed PLUS highway and after the Sungei Besi Toll Plaza I missed the turn into Kesas Highway and found myself driving into KL. Thus I had to Uturn just after the Sungei Besi Military Airport and drove into PLUS again.  Traffic was  heavy and via Google map, my journey would take twenty minutes to reach BJP.

I felt relieved when I saw the stadium and everything looks familiar, until I arrived at the traffic light.  When the light turned green I took right and drove downhill and kept to the right lane so that I could turn right again which will lead me to BJP. But...too late, there was no right turn at the junction, instead I have to keep left and then turn right beneath the flyover.  O em geee.....thus I missed the turn to BJP.

So I had to continue driving, looking for a Uturn.  I missed another Uturn at Bandar Kinrara.  I was unfamiliar with this highway and kept on driving until I reached the Puchong roundabout and made the Uturn there. Thus took me another fifteen minutes to reach BJP.

I finally found my way to the park and drove right up to the car park C and found a parking lot.  Alhamdulillah. 

The venue for the RC could be seen from where I parked my car.  I took a few pictures after having a chat with a family of three who were regulars at BJP.  It began to drizzle and I returned to my car for my drive home.

Since I missed my grand-daughter, I visited her at her abode.  I also had my solat Asr there.  After giving her big hugs and kisses I drove home just before maghrib.

Got to sleep early tonight. 😴😴😴

MAKNA Founder's Night Run 2017

Eventhough I decided not to run the 12km route, I brought along my knee guards and my running bib too.  I thought I would just shoot photos of the event since I brought along my Canon IOS. 

But then, when I saw the other runners waiting at the Start line, I decided there and then to run too.  I quickly wore my knee guards, pinned my running bib and rushed to the 12km runners paddock.  I did my warm ups and I was ready to run. 

But of course, I could not run with my heavy backpack (camera inside), so I ran towards my Mercs and quickly shoved the backpack into my car booth. I then continued my run.  It was funny when the Marshall on the motorbike asked me whether I was continuing my run or quitting. Ha Ha Ha!!

It was tough for me this time, the main reason was I did not do any training.  By the time I reached 10km I was so exhausted that I felt like giving up.  I thought I was the last runner.  But glancing around, I saw about a dozen runners behind me.  The final 2km was so torturing that I just brisked walk.  But then, when the volunteers cheered me on and encouraged me not to give up, I pushed myself to Finish. Alhamdulillah I Finished the run.

Nurul Ain was waiting for me at the Finish line.  She was worried about me.   Being a physiotherapist (lucky me) she helped massaged my legs and helped me cool down.  Alhamdulillah.

Ain took photos of me with Mr Vem of MAKNA and also Traxx deejay Mr Kong Eu at the tent where the price giving ceremony was held.

Well, this is my last run for this year.  In shaa Allah will do other runs next year.