Pong Yaeng Trail 100KM 2018

Pong Yaeng Trail 2018

Taking place in Chiang Mai, Mae Sai region.  The race base is at the famous attraction, Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens.  This is about 30km from the Airport to reach.  I wanted to do a 100KM myself and was thinking about the ThaiUltra Marathon, which I missed doing 2 years ago and ended up doing a walk through because of the Thai King passed away.  This year unfortunately, they were also not able to organise the race due to some authority factors.  In the end I was in a cross road between PYT and the trail in Nan.  Thinking that I am just a newbie, I decided that PYT will be a safer choice because of its good reputation and also the elevation was not as much as Nan.  Also since I had already walked through the 50km of Thai Ultra Marathon, I thought that the landscape should be the same.

Official race site: https://www.pyt.run/?lang=en

Registration

I did not know that this race was so popular that when I thought about joining it in March this year and it was already fully booked to be on the waiting list.  Even if for 100KM, which I thought will not be such a popular category.  The cost for the 100KM was 4080 Baht, roughly about SG$170.  I feel that ultra races are expensive and also it is a real commitment , with all the equipment, training and maintenance ( massages and Physiotherapies), it is not like some simple 10km races where you can run anytime.  If you have plans to join this race, which takes place in Nov usually around the Loy Krathong period, which is the main season for Chiang Mai.  Do like their Face book page and keep a look out for the registration to avoid missing out.

The Preparation

Being an aloof and quiet runner, I only join the Tortoise Running Club for my regular runs with some good folks who graduated from the Team Fat Bird running club.  Starting at different years, we all somehow got to know each other through running the usual road races ranging from 10km to FM.  This group hardly have any trail runners or even ultra trail.  Thus it is more like a one man show going for this race.

Preparing the equipment was not that much a problem, but getting to the race site is.  Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens(QSBG) is about 28Km away from the Chiang Mai city centre.  With limited information about the transportation available, and after checking with the organisers to source for my own transport.  I decided that the best way to go was to drive myself and rent a car.  With most of the resorts and hotels nearby fully booked with this becoming popular race.  I manage to find one resort about 6km away from the QSBG.  The road to the North was winding but it was not difficult to navigate. The traffic was also not that congested, with the help of Google maps, it was rather smooth ride up.

Pre Race Blues

The Smiles Resort is like the only few affordable choices around beside the Four Seasons Hotel.  It is a decent place, the staff were friendly, a night chalet ( which is the only choice)there is about SG$42 which includes breakfast.  The rooms are spacious and also has good hot shower, there is also one large swimming pool right at the back of the resort. Unfortunately due to rainy weather, I did not get to soak in it and also the race hour was too long ( it took me near to 28 hours just to finish the race).

Indeed it was rainy half the time up in the mountains, that got me worried because it would mean that the race will be muddy and slippery, cold was also one thing I was worried about. The rain made me thought that driving here was really the best choice, around the resort there was no taxi or any other form of transport, in fact at night I was left to my own devices there.

At the race pack collection, it was pouring like mad, with limited shelter around. Smack in the centre of the botanical garden, the glass house was where the main set up for the race was.  There were ample parking space all around but you need to walk to get to the collection.  There was a dedicated food tent, already serving the runners some dinner.  There were stalls selling Solomon and Buff stuff. I must say this expo the items are value for money and big discounts.

Participants need to check for their Bib number at the main board and proceed to the collection table for the Mandatory items check, and collection of bib and drop bag plastic bag.  Although this time I did not really want to do a drop bag and just want to do the whole race without having to stop.  I thought 100Km is really too long not to prepare some emergency items. In the goodie bag , there was some pamphlet and also our bib and racing tee.

Runner entitlement

I did not manage to listen to the race brief.  And went back to the resort to start packing.  This time round I realise I did not bring a proper race day top.  Usually I will wear something with sleeves so that there will not be abrasion from the vest.  I just had to made do with the race event tee provided.

Race Course

The starting time was 5 Am, I woke up and had some simple coffee.  Just did not have appetite for anything.  Drove to the start point, already many people start to gather, the drop bag counter opens at 4 am, I guess I was pretty early.  There was already breakfast served at the tent, this morning was Khao Soi and some green curry.  There was no coffee unfortunately, luckily I brought my own and Red Bull to keep awake.  After dropping off the bag , it was time to walk around and take pictures.  At 4 plus am, the surrounding was still dark.  Switching on the head lamp, we set off.

The first part was already slopes and up hill all the way.  The map here shows the full course, at every check point you will need to get a stamp on your passport.  Also scan the barcode on the pass port or the bib for timing.

Credits: www.pyt.run

There are all together eleven check points.  The check points are all well stocked with hydration, food wise it is mostly bananas, oranges and this wafer biscuit and salted biscuit sticks.  At some check points, hot food are prepared for example A7 there was fried egg with rice, A3 there was phad thai.  Most of the stations do not have hot water and coffee,so if you an addict like me, needing the caffeine to keep awake, you will need to bring your own stash.

Basically A9 to A8 is the major down slope and the final A1 to QSBG, the rest are pretty copable, being quite weak in going down hill, I tried to go down hill faster from A9-A8, after which I thought I was okay, but the pain in my quartz and calves came in after that.  It doesn’t really help that after A7 lunch time, the rain poured heavily and the trail start to get muddy and clayey.  More challenges, I kind of regret not investing in a better rain coat and also later on a even stronger head lamp.  The lucky thing was that I brought along the emergency blanket which was actually not a mandatory item to my surprise.

Meeting up with a fellow trail runner

I guess I am generally a loner and prefer to go around myself, most of the time people are not interested to invite me overseas.  So I did not expect to meet anyone this time round too.  But as I was on my way from A5 to A4 I saw a man staggering in front of me.  I was thinking it will be good to run together with him since I am not that fast and his speed seemed to be the same.  At first he did not notice me, then slowly I think he was wondering why is this person always behind him.  He turned around and told me to go ahead, I just told him, I could not go any faster.  We started to chat, turns out he was doing 166KM which was the highest category of 100 miles in this race.  I really admire his courage and it seems like his second time doing this.

We walked and talked , seems like time goes faster like this.  At times I will just pick up speed and he followed but mostly I will stop after that.  I can imagine the amount of pain he is going through it is no joke walking and running for 130 plus km already. I learnt that his name was Aphisit but Thongchai for a movie that he was starring in called Manta Ray.  Really astonished to find an actor in the woods. Finally at A 4 we took a small nap.  Woke up and carry on , the rest of the check points are high up especially towards the cabbage patch.  It was foggy and also visibility starts to be limited.  I began to think my headlamp is really not that strong afterall.  I was also feeling regretful for bringing only one of the poles.

At the cabbage patch we found a small sala, or pavilion and decided to rest there.  The environment was really tranquil and peaceful with small drizzles.

Mon Long

As the night goes on, I got more and more sleepy.  With my feet still soaked with water and mud, the feet began to feel painful due to the soak and abrasion.  Later on I learnt that this was the trench foot, a situation where your feet is soaked in water for too long.  All the skin start to turn white and wrinkled.  In WW2 it had even killed some people because they had trench foot for weeks.

So I know better now that it is important to keep the feet dry.  It will be good to bring along the heat pack to keep yourself warm after hours of walking in the rain.

Mon Long is the most painful part for this race and of course the ending.  Wee hours into the morning, this check point is hard to reach with mud and slippery slopes.  And after reaching there meant  to come down the same way , with more mud and slips as more runners pass through it.  Fighting with the Z monster and having to take care of descending, it was really a test of determination.  The night part really took me a long long time.

Final Destination

The race organisers do not wish to make this simple I feel, the consistently up slopes all the way to Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens was a killer , the good thing is that at least it is not trail and slippery.

Climbing up to the stairs to the finish as the announcer announce your name with folks cheering for you.  It definitely feel good to complete one ultra again.  Finishers are of course treated to a nice hot food meal, green bean soup and also the special cushion finisher medal and the Finisher tee to boast with the loud words FINISHER 100KM.  I don’t think I will wear it out but likely to wear it to sleep.

Next was to limp my way back to Chiang Mai for some real R and R and massage.  It was indeed a trip worth the while!!