RACE REPORT OF RICHARD AKOL!
This is it, my second international race- the Eco Penang 100km in Malaysia.
The race started at 2pm, where humidity is high and the sun is high up in the sky.
Before I continue here is my plan for this race: Plan A is to try to stay at the lead pack, at least in the top 10, for the first 20km. The idea is to watch how the elites chase each other and to feel the pressure within. Plan B is to finish the race in a sub24-hour window while Plan C is to finish the race just within the cut off time. There’s no plan for DNF’ing!
There goes the gunstart, and the race has begun. I ran and tried to execute plan A and I was able to stay in the top 10 until km20. Upon reaching CP2 (Aidstation2 around km 20), I immediately ate bread with butter and coco jam and watermelon, drank coke and ran again on a slower pace to recover. Immediately after CP2, runners are required to do a loop at a small hill at the back of CP2. The sight here is unbelievably magnificent, with small heart-shaped lake!
Going to CP3, which is around 9.6km from CP2, this is where I slowed down, I felt the heat, humidity and maybe because I pushed myself hard earlier. The route is mostly flat but mostly open rice field where you cannot find any shade to hide. I checked my hydration bottle and to my surprise, I forgot to refill the other one and the other bottle has already dried out and it's just halfway going to the next CP. My throat felt dry and I felt that if I still run I might pass out so I decided to simply walk and sip once in a while the remaining water that I have. Along the way, I saw a lot of runners walking and a lot are running past me. I also saw the elite runner and Asia Trail Master lead scorer, Pablo Diago, and said hi. Tried to jog past him but after a meters I walk and he run past me again. I felt too thirsty and so I walked again. I even thought to go down to the rice field to get water to cooldown my head but I refuse to do it when I saw a man spraying insecticide haha. I continued walking and prayed "just let me reach cp3.” So I walked again until I reached a village. I looked for any hose or faucet to get water and luckily I found one so I stopped and poured water on my head. I proceeded again and after just a few steps I saw a sign that says it’s just 500 meters away from the cp3. I was so happy to see it and when I checked my digital watch (sorry, no gps) to check how long it took me to reach cp3 (around km 30) and it's more than 1 hr and 40 minutes for a flat route. I took my time on cp3 -ate and drink a lot and made sure that I refill all my hydration.
CP4, which is 13.2 km away from CP3, is mostly shaded where you ran along plantations and few hills. It's almost 6pm and I felt like my strength is back so I ran again and reached CP4 around 8pm. It's 42km already; I took a rest for a while, ate and drink a lot.
To CP5 - 7km from CP4 (going to km50 mark)- When I'm about to leave CP4, the marshall said that CP5 is just 7 km and mostly downhill. I became excited and tried to run but since I ate a lot, I can't really go fast. I told myself that if only I realized that it's all downhill, I should have eaten less. So, I took my time and after a few minutes I was able to run and reach CP5 before 9pm. Yey, I'm halfway to the finish line. I was planning to sleep here but since I still felt good, I just ate, changed my clothes, shoes and socks (CP 5 is where the runners' drop bags can be accessed) and went ahead. Food was good here – with rice, chicken and veggies!
To CP6 - 9.8km from CP5. The first few kilometers is rolling with few trails and more road sections. Everything seemed good but after halfway, we went inside a forest and was surprised by technical route –with uphill at first and trails that required jumping over a log and going under it. The last km is a very technical downhill going to CP6. Reached CP 6 so it’s time to eat and hydrate again. I think it's midnight when I reached this aid station.
To CP7 - 10.1km from CP6. Started again hiking inside a forest. More steep ascents. This part is where I stopped and rest for more than 10 times if I recall it right. The first half of the route is mostly uphill and technical because of the trees and roots. I think that was halfway when we reach a shade, I'm not sure if it's a chapel or temple but there are tables and chairs. I took my time here and lay down and rest. There are also some runners who did the same. I thought it's going to be downhill after this and all the way to CP7. However, we encountered another steep ascent again. This is where I dried out of my hydration before few kilometers to CP7 where I walk really slow even on downhills. It took me around 4 hrs to reach the aidstation (CP7). This is where I vomited- throwing out and cramping every part of my body; my throat even locked for a while. I was nervous but I tried to massage it. I fought it, tried to relax and just so I have something on my stomach but I threw up again! I also saw or heard someone throwing out as well. After a while I sit and my legs are shaking that's where I thought of giving up. So I stayed there I lay down. And decided to wait for Tin and inform her that I will dnf. I tried to sleep and once in a awhile I check the runners if Tin is already around but haven't seen here. I continued lying down. Hours had past and I had not seen her. It was already 7am when I noticed that it's no longer dark and I saw Doi Calbes, one of the Filipino runner who joined the 100miles category, sitting next to me. We chatted a little and told him what happened. I said I'm planning to dnf and was just waiting for Tin to arrive. Then he answered that Tin already passed maybe 2 hrs ago. I'm not sure what happened but I felt that I recovered from what happened. Maybe it's ego or I just want to finish the race or see Tin but I decided to move on. I ate and hydrated. I just wished there are hot meals on this AS maybe noodles or hot milo. There are foods but it's just similar to the foods in the other AS
To CP8 - 8.6 km from CP7. The route is flat again. I walk and saw a lot of runners walking but there was one runner who was jogging. I was inspired by him so I tried to jog and felt like I can run again so I ran all the way to CP8, clocking in 1 hour and 10 minutes from CP7
To CP9 - 5.5 km from CP8. Though it’s relatively short in distance, the route features forested trails with steep and technical ascents again. The second half of the route is very technical downhill. The nice thing is you’re going to pass by the Tokun Dam that gives a refreshing view before you reach CP9. Passing by Tokun Dam, I saw Tin! She was surprised that she was ahead of me, so I told her what happened. She told me that I can go ahead because she is now slow. She have a wound on her knees which made it difficult for her to walk or run. I refused and decided that we will just finish together. I told her that we still have sufficient time and we can finish it before cut off.
Fast forward to finish line-
We go ahead, took it slow going up and we try to jog going down. We went through many uphills and technical downhills. We went over and under the logs, technical downhills and full of roots. And eventually we reached a road part where marshalls told us that it's the last 2km to finish line. I told her we are almost there and we are excited to finish together. We thought that it's going to be easy for the last 2km but we were wrong. She even thought that the last 2km maybe at the road part where we saw the marshalls but we took a left turn to the trail head and welcomed what was the longest 2km of our lives. We went uphill again and Tin was already making tantrums. I just told her it's ok we are almost there but deep inside I felt sad for her because she said that her legs are really heavy and the wound was really hurting her but I can't show her any negativity at this moment. So, I encouraged her, told her that we are almost there and we shouldn't let other runners past us by especially now that we’re almost done. The last section was downhill and we were able to jog again and saw the highway. After a few meters I saw the banner and we jogged together to the finish line. We held each other’s hand and reached the finish line with joy, pride, and satisfaction!
Finish Time - around 27 hrs
Cut off time - 30 hrs
Gears used :
BTR cycling cap ( It's a Trap )
Energizer headlamp
Spyder sunglasses
Hoka one one buff
BTR sando white and gray
Camelbak hydration vest
Compressport free belt pro
Soleus digital watch
Kalenji socks and Runnr socks
TNF litewave shoes and Salomon sense pro 2
Nutrition :
Tailwind
Gu gels
Salt sticks
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