TMBT 2013 - 55KM

So this year TMBT i decided to upgrade to 55KM. Experience from last year event its quite an easy course, not so much running on trail.  The race pack collection was held at Hyatt Regency Hotel and the runner for this year almost double from last year.

September,14 2013 - Race Day

We depart from Kota Kinabalu at 5.00am and arrived at the starting point at 7.00am.

Starting point at Kg. Lingkubang, Kota Belud. Flag off time is 8.00am. At KM 2 we stucked for almost 1hr due to the suspended bridge only allow 4 people crossing at a time. After the bridge we running on the paddy field before crossing a waist deep river and into a jungle trail. We make a stop at the 2nd check point to refuel and fill our hydration back.

5hrs into the race we still not reach the half way point which is totally unexpected. Its was very hot as we make our way to the top of the hill and make a pit stop at the peak for our so called lunch. The weather changed so fast, as we make our way to Miki camp it started to rain heavily. I decided to make a run to Miki camp and will waited for Caloq & Ajip at the check point. i was running down to miki camp the rain continue. When i arrived at the river before crossing to miki camp, the river was flooded and we were asked to head back uphill. 

I bump into Caloq and make our way back together to the next checkpoint where we meet up with Ajip. It took us 9hrs to make it to the 3rd CP. After refuel and gear up we continue our journey for the last 20KM. It was a cold and wet night. We make our way along the village road before going back into the jungle and slowly follow the path to the main road. We didn't have a clue how far are we in the race since our watch have died. Its a relief when we get back to the main road knowing that its not far before we reach the finish line at Perkasa Hotel but it was temporary as we were told to follow the Bundu Tuhan road to the finish line instead of the main road. We were cold, wet and hungry and kind of lost slowly we push ourself to the finish line. Finally after struggling for 16hrs, we made it to the finish line. 

It was a "Brutally Beautiful" race, we will back next year for sure.

TMBT 2013 - "Brutally Beautiful"

Borneo International Marathon 2013 - 42KM

Since 2011 i've always wanted to join this event but it always falls on my work schedule. Finally in 2013 i decided to take a leave and join this event. Its my 1st time running in BIM and it is my 1st full marathon. So far i've only ran 2 10K and 1 25K ultra and running FM for BIM i'm quite nervous. The race is scheduled May,13th but somehow it is clashed with the election. At 1st the organizer decided to start the race a bit early, 12am instead of the 3am for the FM category on the same date. A week before BIM the event was reschedule to a new date which is August,25. I was a bit disappointed and demotivated because i trained hard for the event and i'm so ready for the race. The new date for the BIM is right after Ramadan and Syawal, so training is a problem and by that time fitness level will be a concern. Anyway on the May,13 we decided to go for a run to support the event and for those who came from outside of Malaysia. Despite we don;t have support from the local authority, the race director still manage to organize the fun run and many thanks to all the volunteer some of them also set up a food and water station.

August,25 race day finally. I don't know what to expect as my fitness level probably about 60-70%. Only a few runners for the FM since the race has been postponed. I was running at average pace 7'25". Halfway mark 21km I'm still feeling fine until i reach the turning point only that i feel a bit tired. At KM30 i feel a bit pain on my right knee but i kept going and by KM35 its getting worst so i stop running and continue walking. I walk for about 1.5KM before i continue running but i still can feel the pain on my knee. So i run and walk for the last 5km. I cross the finish line at 5hr 12min what a relief, not bad for my 1st FM.

My 5th Climb Mount Kinabalu - New Year Climb

Because celebrating new year party all night long is so mainstream so we decided to celebrate it at the highest peak of South East Asia, the majestic Mount Kinabalu. So this is my 5th climb, together with 4 of my friend.

So we started the climb around 9.40am. I started slow at the back of the group and slowly i pick up the pace to catch up with Lity and Jane. So the 3 of us hike together until the Layang -layang hut and stop for a while to eat our 'tapau'. After finish eating we continue for the last 2KM to Laban Rata . Finally we reach laban rata around 12:30.

I couldn't sleep that night, i don't know either the cold or the excitement to climb to the summit that keep me awake. The clock shows 12AM and its officially 2013. We go outside to see the colorful cloud from the fireworks down below. I was so mesmerize by it until i forget to record the moment like i suppose to. After the fireworks display i do some low light photography to create a time lapse. The moon so perfect, the sky was very clear its a good time to take some pictures.

So we started the climb to the summit around 3AM. I need to be in front of the other climber since I'm planning to take pictures and light trails of the other climber. So i reach Sayat-sayat around 4.20am after that i stop in between Sayat-sayat and the Low's peak to start my time lapse picture. It was cold and windy night. Its not that cold if you're walking but if u stop then u can really cold maybe the temperature is about 0 degC. So i took pictures about an hour and I'm only wearing long sleeve under skin layer and a wind breaker, its very cold. I took about 300 pictures and the i proceed to the low's peak.

Happy New Year 2013

Its a perfect climb, very good weather. We make our way down to Laban Rata, packing and check out. We ran all the way from Laban Rata to Timpohon gate in 1:27 mins the fastest time for me.

Mount Kinabalu Time Lapse