May 2016 was a pretty busy month for me when it comes to weekend events. It all started with 120km Shah Alam Enduride followed by the Watermelon Relay Run and 166km Perak Century Ride all within the span of 3 weeks. I signed up for this event to have one main goal to achieve, that is to find out if I can still run after cycling for 160km. Wondering why? the biggest race for this year has yet to come and I'm doing this to find out if I could possibly do it before deciding whether if I will be racing it.
Prior to this, I have only cycled 3 events 108km, 78km and 120km respectively building up to this 166km and nope I hardly trained on the bike and that makes me a little bit too Gang-Ho leaping to the century ride. Riding 120km (race report here) for the first time ever) 2 weeks before the century ride gave me a pretty good idea the challenges that I'll have deal with especially on the fueling and cramp management. So the going into the race apart from the main goal, is also to work on the fueling strategy to avoid late race cramp
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| Photo by Cyclng Plus Malaysia |
Race required me to travel up north and my ever supporting wife agreed to drive up with me also to be the driver going home after the race ( I would have been too beaten up to drive back). We drove in the afternoon together with a few friends reaching Ipoh in the late afternoon, checked in the bike and hotel room quickly we all head out for a nice dinner before calling it a day preparing for the long race the next morning.
With the sky still dark, my phone alarm rang and is race day. Putting up race gear and I quickly head down for a breakfast after all, it is going to be a long hard race for a newbie like me going into a territory of distance that I'm not familiar of and not prepare nor trained for. After a quick bite with a few Nick & Sons and Fan, we all head to the bike checked-in area and realized it was raining. It wasn't a storm but heavy enough to put a thought of DNS for safety reason. Nevertheless, I decided to do a final check on the bike and waited out to see if the rain will stop before deciding. Not long after, the marshal came and signaled the race will go ahead and thank god the rain is slightly lighter now but still a receipt for disaster if one does not respect the nature.
All of us line up at the starting line together, after a few picture taken by Fan, off we go. As this was the first time I ride in wet and rainy condition, I wasn't going to take anything for granted so I started really slow just to get myself comfortable with the ride condition avoiding any early incident. My utmost respect goes to those who sped off and the group of riders I was riding along not giving each other troubles and allow me apologize if I have committed any rookie mistakes.
The first 10km of the ride was on really wet road, I didn't know what to expect and certainly not sure how to handle the situation. Water was splashing all over from the wheels from fellow participants and the same goes to my own. Visibility was not ideal to say the least but every one ride on with a lower speed with safety in mind. Speed was between 23-25km/hr on my bike computer far from the ideal speed I was hoping for.
20-30km into the race, rain got slightly heavier and riding on slick tires are like skating on ice. However, it did not dampen my spirit and as the distance goes I got more comfortable with the riding condition and started picking up some speed hoping to catch up the lost time from the early stage of the race. Had my first energy gel at about 30km mark and there was no problem.
Up to this stage the route are mostly flat and I was able to climb up to 30km/hr with the leg still fresh. Race condition starts get better as the rain cloud was moving away from us and only light drizzles were accompanying us going into the next stage. I was able to keep and and ride along with a peloton or two closely pulling me though the winding roads. Albeit, the road is still damp, but the riding condition at this stage between 40-60km mark has improved tremendously. The peloton was riding at about 35km/hr and I happily tagged along.
The route was still fairly flat with a few minor ups, but nothing that was jaw dropping. Took my second energy gel and a water station later, we are into the half way mark. The nightmare has come... With a pair of used legs, the race route brought us to places that I started to see "walls" yes for the lack of better words. walls.. It was hilly as hell and big climbs were there to greet the riders one after another. Some riders came down to push their bike up and some struggled to keep the bike moving upwards and I was huffing and puffing squeezing ounces of energy determined not to push the bike up, peddling hard up those blardy "walls". After at least 5 or 6 of those "walls", a volunteer on bike at the road side was shouting "enam lagi" (six more) and I was like WHAT?? Six more "Walls"??? this is sick.. really sick.
Really there was no point crying but to peddle on, pull out my third gel but due to my silly way of tearing of the gel, at least half of it splashed out on the bike and jersey leaving maybe a quarter of the pack. I consume what's left and wanted to whip out my fourth pack, then I realized one pack of gel was missing, I must have dropped it while pulling one of the gel out... drama!! Left with one pack of gel and 70km more to go, I have decided to keep it for later stage and will have to survived with only 3 1/4 pack of gel for the whole distance... drama!!!
I started counting down the six "walls" as the legs get more tired with the distance and climb. At this stage there were no peloton to be seen and you are pretty much on your own doing all the climb. Rain stopped and the sun coming out to play. The condition turned from wet and cold to hot and humid. In this part of the world, this is not uncommon and I can only hoped that it doesn't wear me down too fast on this old and used body. Yayyy I have conquered the remaining 6 "walls", now I'm looking forward for some downhill to rest up the legs, but where are those down hills? There wasn't any, but instead I was greeted with some flat route, well everything is FLAT after those 10 or 11 walls (lost count), oh well, I have no complains there as long as no more climb.
110-120km... things were still pretty cool, avg speed was within the acceptable range that I have put a targeted on but still a snail pace compare to many of you elite out there. I was telling myself, looks like I will make it to the century mark if I keep at the pace and riding consistently for the remaining distance. Things doesn't always turned out the way you want it to be... 118km King of Mountain (KOM) speechless!!! after those blardy "walls" now KOM??? I know I'm going to struggle up like a snail for the next 500m, organizer put up sign-board counting down the distance before reaching the top of the hill... 500m butt glued on the saddle paddle, 400m butt still glued on the saddle, 300m shit the bike is not moving and almost coming to a stand still... time for some hill dancing. Butt off the saddle, throwing the bike left and right, left and right, 200m can't dance anymore butt back the the saddle put my head down and full focus only on the paddle stroke. 100m huff huff huff huff huff huff huff huff.. this is the longest 100m I have traveled. Reaching the top drained!!!
50km or so to go. Legs are busted and only thing I look forward to is the water station up ahead for some cold liquid. Reaching the water station I quickly grab a bottle of water expecting it to be cold but it was warm and the sun was the culprit. There was no ice box to chill the water, boxes of water was left under the sun and the sun duly warmed it all up for us. It really doesn't help, pouring down from the head to toe doesn't help much, so I quickly fill up my bottles , consumed my last pack of gel and move out. Oh yes no power drinks for all the water station too!! Arghhh
The wasn't any more hill on the remaining route, but instead it was full of rolling hills. Along the way I had to come down from the bike to manage the cramp and stretch a little bit before moving on. As the rain has completely stopped, kids started coming out and play cheering all the riders that zooming past their house. Some even carry the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysia Flag) waving showing their support for the struggling me. It 12pm noon by now and the weather became very hot, with 20km or so to the finishing line, I tried to pick up some speed but really I was too wasted to do anything apart from just staying on the bike without falling lol. Then I decided to stopped at the patrol station along the way, quickly pay for bottle of energy drinks and gulp in down within a blink of an eye. Gatorade has never taste this good before hahaha., I can feel the chill flow from my thirsty throat all the way down to my stomach. It was super refreshing, did some more stretching and get back on the bike and ride away.
A few minor cramps snucked up on me with a few more quick stops, finally I'm back into places where I starts to see building from a far where the start/finishing line was. Can't describe the feelings for my virgin century ride, whole body was aching, legs were tired and at the verge of more cramps. I slowed down and reflect why I started all this... it was a promised to a #nonamesmentioned, a dear friend, a promise to complete an Ironman race for him and I had to ride the distance as part of the journey delivering the promise, delivering a dream.. it was really emotional for me as I crossed the finishing line.
Crossing the finishing line over 6hrs to me was a big mile stone. Need to rework on the fueling strategy again but glad to find out albeit tired the legs were able to start a run. Doesn't matter how far I can go, but if I started it, I will complete it even if I have to crawl. Race organizer did a good job, overall, 2nd half of the route was extreme challenging and my only complain would be the lack of any energy drinks and cold drinks at all the water stations. With the Malaysia weather, cold drinks is very important for participants and organizer should reflect on this short coming to improve on their future events.
The first 10km of the ride was on really wet road, I didn't know what to expect and certainly not sure how to handle the situation. Water was splashing all over from the wheels from fellow participants and the same goes to my own. Visibility was not ideal to say the least but every one ride on with a lower speed with safety in mind. Speed was between 23-25km/hr on my bike computer far from the ideal speed I was hoping for.
20-30km into the race, rain got slightly heavier and riding on slick tires are like skating on ice. However, it did not dampen my spirit and as the distance goes I got more comfortable with the riding condition and started picking up some speed hoping to catch up the lost time from the early stage of the race. Had my first energy gel at about 30km mark and there was no problem.
Up to this stage the route are mostly flat and I was able to climb up to 30km/hr with the leg still fresh. Race condition starts get better as the rain cloud was moving away from us and only light drizzles were accompanying us going into the next stage. I was able to keep and and ride along with a peloton or two closely pulling me though the winding roads. Albeit, the road is still damp, but the riding condition at this stage between 40-60km mark has improved tremendously. The peloton was riding at about 35km/hr and I happily tagged along.
The route was still fairly flat with a few minor ups, but nothing that was jaw dropping. Took my second energy gel and a water station later, we are into the half way mark. The nightmare has come... With a pair of used legs, the race route brought us to places that I started to see "walls" yes for the lack of better words. walls.. It was hilly as hell and big climbs were there to greet the riders one after another. Some riders came down to push their bike up and some struggled to keep the bike moving upwards and I was huffing and puffing squeezing ounces of energy determined not to push the bike up, peddling hard up those blardy "walls". After at least 5 or 6 of those "walls", a volunteer on bike at the road side was shouting "enam lagi" (six more) and I was like WHAT?? Six more "Walls"??? this is sick.. really sick.
Really there was no point crying but to peddle on, pull out my third gel but due to my silly way of tearing of the gel, at least half of it splashed out on the bike and jersey leaving maybe a quarter of the pack. I consume what's left and wanted to whip out my fourth pack, then I realized one pack of gel was missing, I must have dropped it while pulling one of the gel out... drama!! Left with one pack of gel and 70km more to go, I have decided to keep it for later stage and will have to survived with only 3 1/4 pack of gel for the whole distance... drama!!!
I started counting down the six "walls" as the legs get more tired with the distance and climb. At this stage there were no peloton to be seen and you are pretty much on your own doing all the climb. Rain stopped and the sun coming out to play. The condition turned from wet and cold to hot and humid. In this part of the world, this is not uncommon and I can only hoped that it doesn't wear me down too fast on this old and used body. Yayyy I have conquered the remaining 6 "walls", now I'm looking forward for some downhill to rest up the legs, but where are those down hills? There wasn't any, but instead I was greeted with some flat route, well everything is FLAT after those 10 or 11 walls (lost count), oh well, I have no complains there as long as no more climb.
110-120km... things were still pretty cool, avg speed was within the acceptable range that I have put a targeted on but still a snail pace compare to many of you elite out there. I was telling myself, looks like I will make it to the century mark if I keep at the pace and riding consistently for the remaining distance. Things doesn't always turned out the way you want it to be... 118km King of Mountain (KOM) speechless!!! after those blardy "walls" now KOM??? I know I'm going to struggle up like a snail for the next 500m, organizer put up sign-board counting down the distance before reaching the top of the hill... 500m butt glued on the saddle paddle, 400m butt still glued on the saddle, 300m shit the bike is not moving and almost coming to a stand still... time for some hill dancing. Butt off the saddle, throwing the bike left and right, left and right, 200m can't dance anymore butt back the the saddle put my head down and full focus only on the paddle stroke. 100m huff huff huff huff huff huff huff huff.. this is the longest 100m I have traveled. Reaching the top drained!!!
50km or so to go. Legs are busted and only thing I look forward to is the water station up ahead for some cold liquid. Reaching the water station I quickly grab a bottle of water expecting it to be cold but it was warm and the sun was the culprit. There was no ice box to chill the water, boxes of water was left under the sun and the sun duly warmed it all up for us. It really doesn't help, pouring down from the head to toe doesn't help much, so I quickly fill up my bottles , consumed my last pack of gel and move out. Oh yes no power drinks for all the water station too!! Arghhh
The wasn't any more hill on the remaining route, but instead it was full of rolling hills. Along the way I had to come down from the bike to manage the cramp and stretch a little bit before moving on. As the rain has completely stopped, kids started coming out and play cheering all the riders that zooming past their house. Some even carry the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysia Flag) waving showing their support for the struggling me. It 12pm noon by now and the weather became very hot, with 20km or so to the finishing line, I tried to pick up some speed but really I was too wasted to do anything apart from just staying on the bike without falling lol. Then I decided to stopped at the patrol station along the way, quickly pay for bottle of energy drinks and gulp in down within a blink of an eye. Gatorade has never taste this good before hahaha., I can feel the chill flow from my thirsty throat all the way down to my stomach. It was super refreshing, did some more stretching and get back on the bike and ride away.
A few minor cramps snucked up on me with a few more quick stops, finally I'm back into places where I starts to see building from a far where the start/finishing line was. Can't describe the feelings for my virgin century ride, whole body was aching, legs were tired and at the verge of more cramps. I slowed down and reflect why I started all this... it was a promised to a #nonamesmentioned, a dear friend, a promise to complete an Ironman race for him and I had to ride the distance as part of the journey delivering the promise, delivering a dream.. it was really emotional for me as I crossed the finishing line.
Crossing the finishing line over 6hrs to me was a big mile stone. Need to rework on the fueling strategy again but glad to find out albeit tired the legs were able to start a run. Doesn't matter how far I can go, but if I started it, I will complete it even if I have to crawl. Race organizer did a good job, overall, 2nd half of the route was extreme challenging and my only complain would be the lack of any energy drinks and cold drinks at all the water stations. With the Malaysia weather, cold drinks is very important for participants and organizer should reflect on this short coming to improve on their future events.
You're just crazy, man! But you have my utmost respect. Great job and congrats!
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