Training for TMBT 2016 30K Race

I occasionally jungle trekking and hiking since I was kid. So I think I'm pretty good with forest and nature and I LOVE hanging bridge. I don't run a fast marathon but I know my body can take the beating for 6 hours and more =) Thus, I figured for the TMBT 30K with 10 hour cut off time should be doable. 

People keep telling us TMBT (The Most Beautiful Thing) is very extreme and hard. Harder than BUTM (Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon). But then I've got nothing to compare to am I 😁 ?

So, this is what I did. After finished SCKLM (7th August - Standard Chartered KL Marathon) in August, rested for 2 weeks, easy jog for another 2 weeks (completing 100 km/month challenge), then ran KKCIM half marathon (4th Sept - Kota Kinabalu City International Marathon). I don't think introducing a new routine to my training is a good idea when I still have few road running races line up. 

We used 1 month and a half for hiking and trail running. I wish I could have more training but my schedule not permitted. We tried out several hills for trail running but most hills are too steep like Bukit Perahu. Bukit Padang is a good choice too but not too fond of that area.

What I think about the hills?

Kokol (x1) @ Menggatal

The first hill we tried. Somehow the record is deleted from  my Garmin. I have no idea what I put myself into that morning. We parked right outside Klinik Kesihatan Menggatal and start there. It was a long uphill paved road. Basically 10k up and another 10k down. We didn't do anything too intense that morning coz this is our first hill. We just walked up and down but this marked as my worst training day. It was a boring winding tarmac with cars occasionally coming from front and back. We had to cross the road at every corner, to spot any cars coming toward us. Never ever wear headphones if you are training here. You need all your senses. To make thing worst, the scorching sun started as early as 10 am, with no shade along the way. I got serious sun burned. I was well hydrated (1.5L hydration bladder and a can of 100 plus) and had some GU, but I was so dizzy up to a point I can't see anything but red. I think I just had vision loss for the first time. I didn't realise this is the symptom of low blood pressure (or sugar level?) until I sat down and regain vision in no time. 

Lesson learned: Bring glucose, cap with neck flap and anti-UV arm sleeves

Kokol winding road

Hiking at Kokol

Dizzy and seeing red spot at 20 km

Bukit Perahu (x2) @ Tamparuli

This is a nice hill for hiking but not really for trail running. It is a steep hill and very dusty. Have to be really careful in dry season, I saw people flipped on their way down.

Took another way down from Bukit Perahu

Hike the hill and slow jog down from the back of Bukit Perahu

Bukit Tirig (x3) behind KKIP

I think this is the best place for trail running. It has wide trail and good for practising downhill running. We just walked up (~25 minutes) and ran down (~15 mins). We came here 3 times and increased the trip each time . 

We made four trips in our last trail training 

Bukit Kapur (x1) Kg. Ronggolis

This hill also good for trail running. Few areas are flat for running and the peak is pretty steep. But too bad this place is too far. To get there: search for True Jesus Church Rongolis. This hill got the best view.

Panorama view of bukit Kapur

Nuluh Lapai (x1) near Gayang Restaurant
There are two ways to go up; paved road and trail. The trail entry point is just across the Gayang Restaurant. I love to train at this place too, but some areas are quite narrow.

The trail just opposite Gayang Restaurant

UMS Canselori Hill (weekdays jog)

I usually jog uphill the paved road, good for strength. Increase the trip each week.

That's all about my TMBT 30K training. I did hill training every weekend and 2 road running on weekdays (fartlek and 10-15km). Like others rain or shine events, we just carried on even if it was raining. Good to test out all the gears.

I know there are other places well known for TMBT training such as the sub-station Inobong in Penampang. We didn't get to go there but I'll try for my BUTM training =)