Pong Yaeng Trail 2017 - 66km

Posted on November 5, 2017  •  5 minutes  • 1029 words

This is the very first time I travel to foreign country alone. Also my first race in outside of Malaysia.

The why

After my first ultra 50km in Sungai Lembing back in 2016, I was thought of increase the distance. But then I know, I’ve no enough time to do much training, so I don’t plan to go for 100KM.

I found this race in Facebook, and it has 66KM category, which fulfill my requirement. Then I decided to go alone (travel alone was one of my reason too)

What I have done before the race

In September 2017, my last trail running (about 8KM) before the race. Until 15 October, I joined road race 30KM, I think this consider my LSD before the race, the result was bad, but a good LSD for my leg to get used to long distance. In between, I totally no run/jogging at all.

Pre-race

I arrived Chiang Mai Internation Airport on 2nd Nov morning.

I took Grab car to the hostel, rest for 1 day before going to race.

Then travel around the nearby area by bicycle for the whole afternoon.

Of course, foot massage is a must!!

The event period

Race pack collection

I waited the shuttle van in Arcade bus terminal.

Because the hotel nearby the race venue already full, thus I only book the camp site

With the help of the other 2 runners…

Just walking distance

Yeah!! My lucky number

Not finish yet :)

One of my favourite brand

This is what they provide for dinner

The race day

My category started from 8am, I wake up at 5am++

Actually, this suppose to be my breakfast, but I wake up too early. Thus this won’t last so long for my stomach.

From the QSBG to the starting point, actually have about 1-2KM distance, thus I waited at the gate there, and follow someone (stranger) car go up.

I felt hungry before the race, thus I order the fried instant noodle. They wanted to treat me (because I only have THB1000 and they don’t have small change), ended up I manage to change with another runner, and paid for the meal. Is very hard to find such a good heart guy.

I guess you know who’s this right? It’s Super sayan Goku :)

I think is not easy to wear such a costume and run for 66KM…

At the beginning, we start from road

I used 46 minutes to complete 4.95KM. Quite slow though

Quite a short CP, the next station around 3KM only

No rush, just enjoy the race. Be present…

Can see from here, the trail is not tough at all, it’s kind like a road run.

One thing I like about trail ultra is, there will be many villeges to cross through, and see their living

Reached CP2

Scanning the bib

The food give really nice, here’s the pineapple, and already cutted into piece. I never seen this in Malaysia race so far.

Begin the journey again, it’s very hot, steep. But again, the trail (or road, I don’t know) is pretty easy

Aiming for podium is always not my style 😆

Yeah, still early

The food given, it’s pork rice, non-halal food. This won’t happen in Malaysia race

Finally, here look like trail already.

Come back to road again

About 5 hours passed, 42KM left

Very nice service

I have my own, Nutrilite. To fill up the protein, mineral & vitamin

I think for normal travellers, won’t come to this villege if they visit Chiang Mai. This is why I like about trail ultra.

Reached A4

I’ve never seen this in Malaysia race too.

Finally, reached the drop bag station.

Hmm… I’m about the same pace with Goku. Am I fast?

See the runner in front? She’s another Malaysian who join the 66KM category. 66KM only she & me, 2 Malaysian.

From A3 to A2, I follow other runners, and turned into wrong way, I think wasted about 20~30 minutes there.

That time I still don’t know how to use Suunto for navigation, although I loaded the route into it.

Somewhere in the middle, the wind very strong, and it sound like ghost crying, and the grass very tall, a bit scary feeling 😱

But it’s really awesome experience to me ✌️

Here is very cold, eat some hot food really fantastic, they provide Laksa here too.

Reached the last CP already, 11KM left. I stay for quite short time here, and then continue moving to finishing line.

Reached the gate of the garden already. Tired and excited 🤩

Although reaching soon, but again, I gone into wrong route again. The funny thing is, there’s another runner follow me 😆 So both of us running in the dark, and no other runners, no car, just a complete dark road (not trail).

After some point, I felt something not right, how come no other runners here? Then I decided to make a U-turn, and that time I was far in front of the unlucky runner. Until I saw him, I told him “mai cai thini…” with my broken Thai language 😅

I think also wasted about 20~30 minutes here.

Then finally, I was 30 minutes before the DNF. I think that time was around 12:30am GMT+7.

The medal is handmade by their local people there, so special.

After race

The story not end yet…

I was stay in the tent previously, suppose after the race, I have to go back to the tent, and bath for cold water (night time really super cold).

But, remember the Malaysian runner same category to me? They rented a resort, and I just follow her to the resort 😁 Super friendly, and very comfortable, especially after a long race.

Have nice bed, nice shower

I took the photo in the morning.

Summary

For those newbie who want to try out ultra, can try this, because so far I think this is the easiest trail ultra I’ve ever join.

The organiser, the food given, is quite good. If you have more budget, better to rent a hotel or resort. Because it’s really awesome to rest nicely after a long race 😉