Macritchie Runners 25 Ultramarathon

Joining the MR 25 Ultramarathon was not something on my mind, although I am a member of the group.  To speak the truth, I think I will be able to improve greatly with the group if I am very conscientious in taking part in all their activities, however, one deterring factor to go for club activities is because the runners are seriously fast, even the women ! There is very high level of stress factor involved.

I have been with the club since 2022, by far I joined 2 progressive runs before and both I am like pushing to my very limits.  This is also the first time I joined the Ultra marathon in the physical format.  There was once a virtual format for clocking as many rounds as you can within a month.  For this year, participants will first pass through a selection, where they will do a 12 hour format virtually on anytime in November.

The top 5 from each category will then be chosen to join the “grand slam” on 31 Dec physically at the Macritchie Reservoir.

Virtual Pre Race

I did the virtual one on 29th November with Wissam, whom I “affectionately” call as Sam Gor, but not sure if he know Gor means big brother in Cantonese. Originally, Rand was supposed to join us, but he was too tired from all the umpiring of the track and field activities the day before.

I was still very ambitious and told Sam that I will do 7-8 rounds but in the end we only did 5.  To speak the truth, we could have continued but that would mean the whole day gone and we have some personal matters to attend to.  Another reason is I was really quite tired from all that running.  The day we chose to run happen to be rather hot for a November day.

For this virtual race, I was quite lucky to have Sam again because his logistics are very good and he made a lot of onigiri rice ball thinking that Rand might be joining, he made extras.  In the end, I managed to take home a few !  We had a little short break by the carpark and Sam had Coke also.  Although I tried to avoid Coke as far as possible.  I must say the cold drink was really refreshing.

The loops is nothing much to say, being quite a hot and scorching weather, we just want to complete it as fast as possible.  Me and Sam managed to do the 42K below 6 hours, which I felt was rather decent.  We finished everything around 2:30pm to 3:00pm.

I took a public transport to the park and actually it was good as there were lockers at the canoe side too.

Grand Slam

Fast forwarding to the Grand Slam.  When I was informed that I could join the Grand Slam, I felt a bit reluctant as my next 100Km race is nearing.   As there were only 5 women joining for the closed category, I was kinda “automatically” chosen to go.  This time the race with real registration and recording stand was on the last day of the year 31 Dec.  I think there were not more than 30 people all together is this cosy affair, the same format and 12 hours run till drop.  I thought I will just do 5 rounds to prevent anymore injuries for the longer race to come.

There was bag drop but I was not aware of it and therefore I kept everything in the locker again, as Sam will not go all out this time I thought the lockers might be good as it is along the route.

Weather was good as it was drizzling, saw the usual powerhouses both from and out of the club.  One of the legends Chris Timms had just joined the club not too long.  Was happy to be able to run along with him.

Along the way

Same old route but this time more people with me, as we spread out, I did not get to see the rest of the runners again especially the ladies.  I bumped into Chris Timms 2 times one was the earlier loops and at my last loop.  He said he was getting tired already.  I guess it was all the mental going round the reservoir.  My friends also came, beside Sam who did two rounds with me.  In the second round while trying to chase him at the PUB pump room, I slipped and hurt my right knee.  It was some abrasion, I guess I lost my guard.   The bleeding caught many of the MR25 volunteers attention and they attended to me with some first aid after my second round at the amneties centre.

So I was ready to go again for the third.  It was acutally raining earlier on the second loop.  But it waned off and throughout the 5 loops its was just cloudy occassional drizzle weather.  Making it really conducive for ultra loops.

Friends who came by to support are Fowler Tey, Richard and Larry, Chiat Wei and Sally whom I bumped into 3 times as they did the clockwise direction to find me.  I took at short break about 11am plus after the fourth loop to refresh at the canoe locker where I met Richard and Larry as they ran a bit on the road to finish the fourth loop.  Also had a cameo moment with Yong Long who is doing his own running.

Overall

I would say that this day was much better to run in.  Also with the support and many other trail runners running together, the motivation was strong.  If not for preparation of the 100, I would have gone all out.  Happy to come in 5th in the closed category.  I got a trophy and also $50 in cash.  Nothing beats cold hard cash.  The prize giving ceremony was rather “chop chop” and 7pm where the racetime was cut off, the prize giving and also photo session took place immediately.

I will join again this year and hopefully to do a 7 which I think is in my treshold.