After work on Friday, J and I left for Cameron Highlands for a training weekend, so to speak. The objective was for me to do a 40km run back to back, Saturday and Sunday, and see how I fare. I choose Cameron Highlands because, well, I guess that is the closest I'd get to simulate weather in New Zealand.
We reached at about 9.30pm, and checked into Millennium Corpthone Hotel in Kea Farm. I plotted my run routes the day before. Too nervous to sleep, I didn't get enough sleep so when I woke up at 5.45am, I was sleepy and grumpy. Made a bowl of porridge with chia seeds and coffee, and waited for J to wake up. She will be driving alongside me as support car.
I started at 7.15am, and maintained a slow pace until KM3. The weather was amazing, traffic was clear and I maintained my pace until Brinchang. Had to stop for pee break and continued to Tanah Rata.
I was doing an LSD and feeling good. This is my first time trying to push past my usual of 10kms. After the 8.5km mark, I began to feel faint pangs of hunger. I had some lollies and energy bar in my bag, but I didn't want to stop. So I ignored the hunger pangs and continued running.
By now the sun had risen and was directly on my face. I was drinking more water and kept going. The traffic was building up due to a by election happening, so politicians and their supporters were everywhere.
I regretted not bringing my cap, and made a mental note to get the sun hat asap. I continued past Tanah Rata and kept running downhill until I reached Bharat Tea Plantation. I was hungry, in pain and desperate to use to bathroom, only to see a long queue in the toilet. I waited for sometime before I really got angry and irritated.
Frustrated, I told J I will continue running and pee by the roadside if needed. However, lucky break, I stopped at Cameron Valley tea house for a bathroom break and was rewarded with an empty bathroom and an astounding view.
Long story short, I ran a 20kms in less than 3 hours, with weights, no less. I am pleased with the results, and though the plans was to run back to Corp Thorne, the sun was directly above me and I was worried that I'd get a heatstroke. Hence, J drove me back. After a hot shower, I promptly had a fever!
🤔
Couple of things I learnt while doing this :
1. Hydration is key. I didn't use electrolytes during this run thinking that the sodium in the breakfast I had would be enough. Wrong.
2. I started feeling hungry around the 10th or so km. I persisted and ran because I didn't want to lose time (and didn't want to pause my Suunto). Bad idea. The sugar crash brought my energy level down and took a toll on my body. Need to learn how to manage food intake and stop to eat when needed.
3. CH is a beautiful trail to run, but not on weekends. The crowd is unbearable and everyone looks at you which can make you feel a little uncomfortable.
Because of the fever and body ache that followed, I decided not to continue the run the next day. I am planning another weekend of training and going to ensure the body adapts well before the race!
Here's a few pictures of the weekend. Thank you JANARTHANI ARUMUGAM for these wonderful pictures!
We reached at about 9.30pm, and checked into Millennium Corpthone Hotel in Kea Farm. I plotted my run routes the day before. Too nervous to sleep, I didn't get enough sleep so when I woke up at 5.45am, I was sleepy and grumpy. Made a bowl of porridge with chia seeds and coffee, and waited for J to wake up. She will be driving alongside me as support car.
I started at 7.15am, and maintained a slow pace until KM3. The weather was amazing, traffic was clear and I maintained my pace until Brinchang. Had to stop for pee break and continued to Tanah Rata.
I was doing an LSD and feeling good. This is my first time trying to push past my usual of 10kms. After the 8.5km mark, I began to feel faint pangs of hunger. I had some lollies and energy bar in my bag, but I didn't want to stop. So I ignored the hunger pangs and continued running.
By now the sun had risen and was directly on my face. I was drinking more water and kept going. The traffic was building up due to a by election happening, so politicians and their supporters were everywhere.
 |
| Brinchang town, 4.5kms in |
 |
| Sun glaring on my face! |
I regretted not bringing my cap, and made a mental note to get the sun hat asap. I continued past Tanah Rata and kept running downhill until I reached Bharat Tea Plantation. I was hungry, in pain and desperate to use to bathroom, only to see a long queue in the toilet. I waited for sometime before I really got angry and irritated.
Frustrated, I told J I will continue running and pee by the roadside if needed. However, lucky break, I stopped at Cameron Valley tea house for a bathroom break and was rewarded with an empty bathroom and an astounding view.
 |
| View from the Cameron Valley toilet. |
Long story short, I ran a 20kms in less than 3 hours, with weights, no less. I am pleased with the results, and though the plans was to run back to Corp Thorne, the sun was directly above me and I was worried that I'd get a heatstroke. Hence, J drove me back. After a hot shower, I promptly had a fever!
🤔
Couple of things I learnt while doing this :
1. Hydration is key. I didn't use electrolytes during this run thinking that the sodium in the breakfast I had would be enough. Wrong.
2. I started feeling hungry around the 10th or so km. I persisted and ran because I didn't want to lose time (and didn't want to pause my Suunto). Bad idea. The sugar crash brought my energy level down and took a toll on my body. Need to learn how to manage food intake and stop to eat when needed.
3. CH is a beautiful trail to run, but not on weekends. The crowd is unbearable and everyone looks at you which can make you feel a little uncomfortable.
Because of the fever and body ache that followed, I decided not to continue the run the next day. I am planning another weekend of training and going to ensure the body adapts well before the race!
Here's a few pictures of the weekend. Thank you JANARTHANI ARUMUGAM for these wonderful pictures!
