Tin S.
An opportunity to run for free at the Beach Bunch Trail Challenge in Brunei came to my buddy, Richard. After giving it a several thoughts, I decided to go with him. Other Filipino runners were running that race as well. Beach Bunch Trail Challenge was scheduled on March 24 in Jerudong, Brunei. For more information about the race and its organizers, visit this: https://www.thebeachbunch.com/bbtc-2018
While I have decided joining the race, I could not make up my mind on the distance that I should join. 50K would be a safe choice but I also considered 100K to maximize my overseas trip. Of course, I had apprehensions with 100k or my ability to finish it; while it would maximize my travel, it would also put all my efforts into nothing if I DNF’d the race. It’s been almost a year since I trained for and finished a 100km trail race, Four Lake 100 last April 2017. After that, I settled for shorter races that can improve my speed. Another reason for having second thoughts in doing the 100k category of Beach Bunch was its cut off time of 24 hours, making the race a fast one indeed. Nonetheless, after several trail sessions with my team, Be Trail Ready, I realized I have to give 100K a shot! Given it’s elevation profile, it’s easier compared to the 100km trail races in the Philippines. I just have to work on my running economy to be able to hit the 24 hour cut off.
So I just continued with my training and put on a lot of mileage into my training. We also proceeded with logistical preparations- buying plane tickets and reserving accommodations. What I forgot was doing the actual race registration. When I checked the website, regular registration had already passed but they offered late registration. Unlike the regular reg, the package for late registration did not include event and finisher shirts (huhu) but it also came with a lower registration fee (I think late reg fee was lower by almost 1000pesos compared to regular registration). I think that package was a steal because I was not after the shirts but the guaranteed entry to the race to experience again what 100k trail race feels like. I’d be rewarded with other proof that I finished anyway (medal, published race results, official photo at the finish line). This kind of late registration option may be considered by race directors here in the Philippines (saves them a lot of effort in additional logistical preps because of late registrants, right?).
Here's the elevation profile of Beach Bunch Trail Challenge 2018 (Grabbed from BBTC website)
So what was our training like? Looking at the race information, the race has rather low elevation (almost 3000m) and there are lot of runnable sections. Hence, our weekly trainings featured short runs or drills on Tuesdays or Wednesdays then long road run on Fridays and Saturdays followed by a trail session on Sundays. So for this race, we banked on back to back to back long runs from Fridays to Sundays, with 2 days allotted to running on flats.
Logistics: Transportation and Hotels
When Asia Trail Master confirmed Richard's slot for this race, we immediately booked our plane tickets through Cebu Pacific. We also checked Air Asia but their travel time was longer because most, if not all, of the flights will stop over Kuala Lumpur, which is weird because Philippines is geographically nearer Borneo island. Passing by Kuala Lumpur will definitely increase the travel time. Round trip fare for Manila to Brunei and vv via Cebu Pacific was cheap. IT’s only 4,100 pesos per person. We booked tickets that was scheduled to arrive in late night of march 22, enough date to travel to Jerudong for the March 24 race. Since it’s holy week in the Philippines after the race, we planned to extend our trip to Borneo island for another week and so we scheduled our return trip on March 31.
For the accommodations, we booked our first night in Qing Yun, which is less than 2km away from Brunei airport. We’re scheduled to arrive late night of March 22 so we chose a hotel that’s near the airport. We booked via booking.com, which allowed us to just reserve the room and pay when we arrive at the hotel. Qing Yun is a nice hotel, it has the basic amenities that will satisfy backpackers. Among the important considerations for me are comfortable bed, private restroom, kettle for hot water, and most important is good and fast wifi connection. Qing yun satisfied all of these. However, the hotel does not have its own restaurant but it’s strategically located with many restaurants within its vicinity. It’s also walking distance from two malls. However, restaurants in Brunei close early so prepare in advance if you have late or midnight cravings. A night in Qing Yun is around 1000 pesos.
On March 23, we travelled to Jerudong which is the location of the race. From Qing Yun, we just took a bus (which costs 1 BND) going to Bandar. From Bandar bus terminal, we're supposed to take purple bus going to Jerudong but it was holiday that time so it took a while for buses to come. Because I could not wait, we just took a cab, which costed us 15BND huhu. We booked at Jeruton Hotel from March 23 to March 26. Compared to Qing Yun, Jeruton Hotel is a big hotel with a spacious reception area and has its own restaurant. I also like the classy vibe of the rooms because of the wooden furniture. A hotel with its own restaurant is still the best especially after a long race, your best bet for accessing recovery food is through room service haha. It’s very unlikely to roam around Jeruton with aching legs; restaurants in this town are far from each other. Anyway, this is more costly compared to Qing Yun at 1,500 pesos per night.
Here are photos of our room in Jeruton Hotel:
For those who are interested to join next year’s edition of Beach Bunch, note that Jeruton Hotel is not the best hotel in terms of proximity to the race venue. Of the three known hotels in Jerudong, Jeruton is farthest which is 2km walk to the starting line. The starting line is at the school in front of the Masjid Al-Ameera Al-Hajjah Maryam.
Race pack collection, race briefing and starting line is at the Jerudong Primary School, which is in front of this beautiful mosque
Star lodge is 400 meters away while Park view is 700 meters away. When we’re looking for accommodation, these two hotels were already fully occupied that’s why we’re left with Jeruton. Star lodge is also bigger and more posh compared to Jeruton. I’m not sure what Park View looks like but I saw its facade because we passed by the hotel during the final kilometer of the race. It looked like a mid-rise condo. I’m not sure though. Maybe I'm just hallucinating during the final kilometer of the race. If I’ll join this race again, I’ll try Star Lodge- aside from its proximity to the race venue, it’s also near Jerudong Park, an amusement park with a food court offering lots of food choices.
A more lively part of the town is Jerudong Park:
There's a Mc Donalds in Jerudong Park. Prior to race, we don't dare to be adventurous when it comes to food so we settled for McDo!
Race day
Before going to the race, we took our dinner and had coffee at Jeruton Hotel’s restaurant. They serve the best-tasting coffee. We booked for hotel’s shuttle service but unfortunately it’s only until 10pm but we planned leaving at 11pm. The gunstart is at 12mn. Good thing the hotel staff (or is he a manager?) was kind enough to service us using his car. Two other runners also availed this runner. Both runnes are foreigners as well -Dendi from Indonesia and the other from Malaysia.
This coffee from the hotel is so good!
We ran together to the finish line at the 2017 Four Lakes 100
As 1 to Bukit silat
After an hour, I reached the aid station at km 9. I just stopped to have my time scanned. From km 9, we entered the trails of Bukit Silat - one loop of this is 9 km and we should complete two loops. So after two loops, we have completed 27 km of the race. Just about 300 m into the trail head of Bukit Silat, few runners in my front realized that we’re lost and missed a marker and so we have to go back to figure out where the missing marker or junction is. Fortunately, we saw it immediately, and so we proceeded. The first sections of the trail featured a rolling terrain of wide trails and then we entered into a single track and forested trails. It was difficult to run in this section because of the roots and the downhills were a bit technical. It also pays to have a good headlamp here. After completing one loop, we went to the same aid station to have our time checked. I also refilled my hydration. They have water, softdrinks, banana and watermelon here. Then I proceeded to complete my second loop, which was faster compared to my first because I was more familiar with the route.
Agro Farm to Jerudong Substation
After completing the 2nd loop and running a total distance of 27 kilometer, the next section is the road going to Agro farm. I think the road from Bukit Silat to Agro Farm is about 5 kilometers. There’s an aid station once you reach the Agro Farm where you can refill your hydration but it’s not yet the official check point station so I decided not to pass through it anymore and proceeded to the trails going to Jerudong substation. The trails from Agro Farm to Jerudong is about 9-10 kilometers of rolling hills. I reached Jerudong in 1.5 hours. After this, had to go back to Agro Farm again and pass the same trails. Likewise, I reached Agro Farm, which marked km 51, in 1.5 hours or 9.30am. I took a major rest here – I ate and changed my socks. I wasted about 30 mins here and left Agro Farm at 10am. We’re headed back to Jerudong again. Hence, we passed the same trail thrice. Since I felt full, I decided to walk slowly thus I reached Jerudong in almost 2 hours.
Bukit Shahbandar
When I reached Jerudong it’s almost noon and the heat is already scorching. The next aid station after Jerudong is the station at the foot of Bukit Shahbandar. It’s just around 1 kilometer from Jerudong substation to Bukit Shahbandar substation. When I was in Agro Farm, a Filipino marshall warned me that Bukit Shahbandar is the most difficult section. The elevation map confirms it. Likewise, RD Rizan also told us of the high attrition rate in Shahbandar perhaps because it’s the most difficult section of the race- featuring steep assaults to reach more than 14 peaks under the scorching heat after you’ve already ran more than 60 kilometers. And you have to do it twice. According to the RD, a lot of runners DNF in this section and failed to complete the second loop. This is where your mental toughness is tested.
I started my first Shahbandar loop at almost 1pm. The first section features long stairs followed by 14 or more steep uphill and downhills. As to the exact number of assaults, I’ve lost count. Haha. One loop is just around 7km but it took me 2 hours and 20 minutes to finish one loop! In contrast, it only took me 1.5hours to complete the 9km trail between Jerudong and Agro farm. I bonked while traversing this loop so I suggest you load up at the aid station before doing Shabandar loop. Anyway, the course is not runnable and you’ll surely burn what you ate with the steep assaults. I arrived at the aid station at 3:20pm but I decided to take a rest and eat first in preparation for the second loop. I started with my second loop at 4pm and because I felt better and more familiar with the trail (expectations were managed), I cut my 2nd loop by 20 mins. Arrived at the aid station at 6pm.
From here, I decided to take a rest again. I really felt sleepy as I’ve been awake for almost 24 hours already. Took a nap for a few minutes and decided to eat before I proceed to the next part of the race. By this time, I already completed 75km. I’m already happy that I’m done with the most difficult section of the race. Aside from hot noodles, I rewarded myself with two servings of Popsicle ice cream.
Berakas and Tungku Beach
Time to go to the beach. I left the aid station in Shahbandar at 6:30 pm. Because sun is still up (it felt like 4pm yet), I was not pressured to move. But I started walking because I needed to tackle some 3kilometers of concrete road before I arrive at the beach section. I was just running and walking at this time, mostly walking. I can feel some blisters on my foot because of some creeks that we had to pass through in Shahbandar. Initially, I thought the blisters were manageable. However, after the road section, it became really dark and my headlamp was of little help. Unfortunately, as we’re approaching the beach, I got stuck in a sandy catchment area. Since water and sand filled in my shoes, my blister worsened. I can’t run anymore because the sand is rubbing onto my skin. So I just walked another 8 kilometer of pure beach/sandy terrain to reach the next aid station, which is the Berakas Forest Reserve Beach. After the 3km-road, we reached Tungku beach first, which is also the final aid station but we had to go to Berakas and u-turn from there first before we can have time scanned at Tungku beach. I arrived at Berakas at 8:20 pm. I tried to clean my socks to remove the sand to no avail because the socks were already wet and the sand was stuck on the socks. I was envious of other runners who reached Berakas with their pacers and crews. Their crews motivated them and assisted them upon reaching the aid station. They can take a complete rest because they have their crews to attend to their needs. After refilling my hydration, I started moving to reach the next and final aid station, the Tungku beach, which was another 8 kilometer of walking along the beach. Tungku beach aid station marked 94 kilometer of the race. Knowing that the course is just 96 km, I thought that the finish line is just 2kilometers away! Unfortunately, it’s still 4 or 5 kilometers away! I had no choice but to walk fast. Tried to run but the sand kept on rubbing on my feet. I could feel the monster blisters already. Anyway, I reached the finish line at 11:20 pm. Woohoo!
After reaching the finish line, I realized I can't walk further because of my blisters! Further, I realized that it's already almost 12 mn and there are no transportation going back to the hotel, which is 2km away. Fortunately, some Brunei runners offered us a ride back to our hotel! Brunei people are really nice!
Takeaways
Will I do this race again? Definitely! If I'll be ready for another 100km race, I'll definitely sign up for the 2019 edition of this race. Why?
1. Transportation from Manila to Brunei is reasonable for just 4K/pax
2. Registration fee is also reasonable based on usual rates of 100km race, it's just 5,000PhP. I was even lucky to avail late registration fee (albeit without shirts) for 3,900 PhP. For a 100km race, the price is really a steal!
3. Elevation profile is manageable. You just have to incorporate long continuous run (road run preferably) to be able to run the runnable sections and fast hikes in technical terrain to be able to manage the assaults.
4. BBTC organizer is among the best organizers in terms of presenting organized information about the race. Their website is complete. And you can download all the relevant information there, which can help you better prepare for the race. They have a race guide, which provide comprehensive information including weather and terrain information; location of and food in aid stations; and rules and regulations. All race organizers should come up with a race guide like this.
5. Food at the aid stations are also OK. Note that they have unli ice creams in Shahbandar and Berakas beach aid stations. Haha!
What I did not like about the race:
1. There are no free official photos. You have to pay for it. Huhu.
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