Ultra Trail Malaysia by UTMB (50KM)

Joining this race with Joey again.  Actually, she went to this race in 2023 and came in top ten, which is quite a feat as this race is famous for the muddy and super slippery terrain and also leeches.  Before its UTMB name, it  was known as Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival.   It was really a big mud festival because every year when I see the FB posts from people who participated, it was always very muddy, people sliding and getting injured.  That is the reason why everywhere I am not tempted to go for this race, as I am not very good with trail and not sure if I can grapple with the terrain.

Race Sign Up Collection

The sign up is at the UTMB page now that the race has come under the UTMB organization.  When Joey first invited me, I was still very reluctant, but Joey assured me that the race is really not so slippery and muddy.  I thought maybe why not and some more, she has a big group following along together.  Its been a while since I have been in a race with a group.  Although I may not know the people but it will be nice and cosy to meet some new friends.  The race takes place in Taiping, Western side of the Peninsula Malaysia.

Getting to Taiping for the first time for me although I had drove or went beyond the town before.  Taiping is a nice quaint town and pretty quiet.  The race pack collection is at the Dataran Warisan, it is right in the centre of the town and there are a lot of accommodation and eateries around the place.

The race pack collection was very bustling and full of excitement.  Longest distance for this race is 100k, and the start time is 3 am while for us the 50 K is 10am.  The race pack is simple with a nice green heritage event tee, kept inside the drop bag which is pretty large.

The cost of the 50K is about 153 SGD.  It included 2 shirts and 1 medal.  Of course, the supplements along the way also.  The confirmation is sent via email with a QR code where you can download to your phone or print it out.

I took a night bus from Singapore to Ipoh to meet up with Joey, then after that we took a train shuttle up to Taiping, from there we met up with Cap ( Captain) who picked us up from the station to collect race bib and also finally settle down in the Air B and B

Logistics

Good thing about having friends to drive around is that I need not have to navigate the race by myself and was able to get all the logistics done fast.  The good part is also can share accommodation so I saved on it sharing the large Air bnb with almost ten other people.  The amazing part is that the Airbnb has like 8 rooms so actually all of us get our own bathrooms and space and I only paid RM 102 for the 2 nights.  Its really a steal, if by myself I probably have to spend a lot more than that.  The bus to Ipoh was about $40 and the Air Ticket coming back is about $52.

Being a 50K race there are some usual mandatory items to take note but the strange thing was that the check was not done at the race pack collection but apparently at random points of the check points.

Race Proper

Start point was the padang area behind the Dataran, it was where we dropped our drop bag.  Since the race starts 10am, we had ample time to sashay to a local hawker for breakfast then go back and prepare for the race.  There were a lot of people a the start line already.

The check points were all well maintained and has all the ample food.  What I liked most is the potato, hardboiled eggs.  CP3 onwards had some real food like rice, porridge and bee hoon.  I did not get picked for the mandatory gear check, but saw a couple of people getting checked for their gears.  The beginning part was mostly roads and runnable, it was not long when we hit the first climb and then, Joey has went way before me.  I was mostly alone and most of the roads were really not that back except the last part.

We also went passed the Spritzer Eco park, that was when I met Hon and Gary who were all feeling very hot under the sun.  We walked together for a while and I was a bit further to CP3 where I was shocked to see Joey there.  She said she had waited for an hour as the race is suspended doe to lightning strike.  The check point was near to a rapid so it was quite relaxing just waiting there and watching the water go by.  But more and more people are coming into the CP and runners were not sure whether the race will continue.  Actually before the CP 3 there was a stretch of the trail where it was muddy and very very slippery.  Many points it was almost unable to continue, therefore when I thought if at CP3 they are going to discontinue the race, I would gladly do.

Last stretch

Finally they gave the green light after 30min later.  I was  starting to feel cold because of the sweaty outfit and it was raining non stop.  Only at some points it was drizzling, but rest the rain got heavy, we were going up the last summit, which was really never ending.  It was the most slippery and muddy stretch I had ever done in my life, only 11 K but half the time I was slipping or falling back.  The best part is all the mud were stuck on you making climbing even more difficult.  At this point many were very demoralised because even if you want to bail out, there is no way! Going up was getting tougher and tougher.  I kept hearing the swishing of the mud sound and also people screaming when they fall or slipped.  It is not very easy when dark also, and it doesn’t help that the branches around were mostly thorny plants.

When I finally reach the summit, which is a power house, I was so relieved because Joey told me that the rest were just real roads.  And it was true, after a short stop at CP 4, I started to pick up speed to run down and finish this race.  Although the road was winding and dark but at least no more mud.  The mud swishing sound keep rolling in my head, as I headed down, not many people overtook.  I guess many were still stuck at the mud fest.

There was a final Sunnto CP which was already at the ground level.  There were not many people around, some were just resting.  I had a quick few drinks and tried to finish it all, however, I realised that the organiser want us to circle round more before finally ending.  When I saw the Macdonald’s which is near to the end point, I was so relieved, and started to drag my feet to run back.  Finally I ended at 16 hours 55 min.  If not for the mud fest, things would have been much better.

Finish Point

The end point was quite glitzy, maybe not many people coming back already, the food left was Nasi Lemak in a pandan leaf.  We were also presented with the finisher tee with the medal.  I was exhausted, after taking my drop bag, I checked my phone and heard Lawrence Hoo’s name being called.  I went to have a cameo with him and also chilled at the nearby kopitiam before checking out what to do.  Joey was already back and washed up, I waited for Hon and Gary, whom came back maybe half and hour later.  We were all exhausted, after a quick simple wash up at the police station toilet nearby, Gary kindly drove us back to the B and B.  I was tired and after bathing it was 5 am already.  Took a quick rest and 8 am we went for breakfast with the rest.  All of us were tired but we also kept talking about the race.

After returning to Ipoh with a freebie car ride by Gary again, I had a massage before heading to the airport to come back to Singapore.  It was really quite an experience and now I am not sure if I am good enough for the Chiang Mai one in January with a really tight time line and high elevation.  Oh well, till then!