Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon 28th summit race (33 km, 5:29:16, ↑3000 m, ↓3200 m)
Story by Sasha
Taiwan Beast Runners team : Ruth, Petr, Sasha, Eva - and their stories
We arrived Kota Kinabalu right on time so were just on time for race shuttle. First sights of curvy hills mountain start appearing from one then other side, I didn't though it is the Kinabalu Mt. until half of fellow runners start jumping to windows to capture the moment between bushes, cable lines and clouds.
At race briefing, organizer told that Climbathon was initiated in 1990s by group of climbers who didnt wish to carry lot of gear every time for all cases of weather, and started one day power hikes going light. Idea, quite similar to philosophy of Taiwan Beast Runners - why to carry backpack, if in most of cases it is faster and easier to run down to village or nearest shelter in case of weather change of night approaching.
Race grew bigger, bringing world attention, and becoming the key of world Skyrunning circuit. Maybe it will be again, if it will be again fully on trail.
At night dinner we were accompanied by fellow runners around the world and local beasts
As usual, tedious morning preparations made me run to the start, so warm up part - checked.
Taiwan Beast Runners team in full readiness, orange team for Summit Race, and Eva for Adventure Race next day.
Luckily Garmin GPS found signal right on time for the start. Course will be certified.
We took start too easy to be slow and on low incline push for frontlines.. It was mistake, after ~ 2k steeper tar road ate momentum and next 2km tar road to Timpodon gate jog slow at any incline, yielding pass to many runners.
Carson falls - finally on trail, refreshed, and surprisingly can run again, after tar road crawl failure. Could run/jump for few hundred meters, then steps/rocks grow higher and larger, forced to switch to fast walk.
At first water stop I literally stopped, opened bottle, some nuts and soyjoy, to watch local (Asian) runner grab bottle and pass by - we were actually allowed to take bottles and drop within 100m. Fine, keep going. Beast highlander flowers, were watching us, as I knew from volunteers later.
After a while, tall foreign man No. 8 appeared approaching from behind, as well as strong girl from Malaysia No. 101. I kept lead few tens of mins, but conceded at next water stop near Layang-Layang, to chew next soyjoy bar, cause better do it sooner than later.
It was pleasure to know my endurance is as strong as one of best local runners, who possibly trained on this route multiple times. We kept exercising quiet, self-concentrated power walk with alternate leading till above the last hut, Sayat-Sayat 3668 masl, where solid rockside starts, and ropeline.
There I swithched to 4-limbs gear, and ушел в отрыв into clouds. Visibility dropped to 10m that I could only see concave shape of rock slope, tilting into abyss unknown. There was no fear, as it was not too steep, and ropeline was just nearby. Few parts indeed require rope-walk as well, where I met first monster runners flying down.
Couple hundreds of rather steep climb brings at rather low-incline plateau, visibly seen of a frozen lava, and good rough porous surface so can safely walk on foot without rope. Walk, not run, just keep the steady, robotic walk
Fog cleared..
Flying champion of last year Climbathon, Beast from Taiwan and New Zealand, Ruth appeared on the ridge horizon, and wished me luck - push the same way and you can get within cutoff time..
Seen horizon hundred meters above and two hills on both sides of about same height, I feel 15 min shall be enough before extended cutoff of 3h. Volunteers were kind to reply on time to me to go left - or right hill.
I didn't expect that that tiny hill will grow large, and rest 7 min will be hardly enough. Here I met Petr, tired but happy jumping down. (picture from little above) More in his story
Last 5 mins, and, here it is, the Low's Peak, last 50 or 100m, loose huge rocks piled one on each other, here I fell again on 4 hands. Somewhere was rope, I lost sight of it, but the goal can be seen. Some rocks were really huge need to arch between two, and pull up to climb them, somewhere cling by hand and climb. Got one injury, one finger's skin rub off, first blood (and last, fortunate), one more injury, part of rubber sole from a shoe peeld off, brought it as most memorable sovenier or conquire back to Taiwan.
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| Malaysian runner at Low's peak. I was there a bit later. |
Leak of strive in muscles, but finally free, free to run, jump and fly. Clouds dispersed. Sun shining.
Kept hovering above the plateau till steeper descend started. There was a thick fog 20 min ago, now rocks are wet, sky clear, sun shines. Rope is too low at ground, so it is faster to walk than grab rope for safety, though at two steeps put into use.
Water stop, Sayat-Sayat, also turn out be last for me until the end of trail, 10km down and 2km beneath. No stops this time, grab a bottle, drink on the way and refuel.
Start passing other runners, everyone with same question - reached top? If not asking, probably they did. Pity that Summit Race target is too high, for men category only 14 out of about 60 reached peak within extended cut off, 43 total crossed finish line, women - 9 reached top, 13 finishers.
Run down was most enjoyable part, first, because easier, second - because of great view in front can glance around between jumps.
At Layang Layang we turn from route we ascent to another path toward Mesilau and Kundasang. 16.5km - half race by distance, should be much easier with great hill behind, now relax and enjoy jumping down, some small ascends with deep drop downs.
Vegetation slowly start changing, from bright dwarf highland bushes, into shadowy pine forests, then broadleaf giant trees.
Each and other galley has own stream with own spirit.
Waterfalls
After descending down deep into jungles, turned out that we had to climb up another "small" hill, about 300 or 500 meters, which was pretty enjoyable while swithching to hiking. At times met rare hikers cheering up, and couple Kenyan runners, holding breath for final road push.
Two more kms, and finish of the trail part..
Now Just 9k of road, HOT, HARD tar ROAD left, MELTING under SUN.. with back mind of two Kenyan runners behind..
Mostly downhills, but also several uphills that gave a lot of reason enjoy appearing horizon each time..
At Mesilau golf course faint orange beast shirt appeared far away and disappered at turn. Wished I approach closer, to say I'm here, and Kenyan runners nearby, but only way to do is to keep it steady, slow, to be sure that can put one step after another.
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Guanyinshan marathon last flat 7k on a previous week "preparation run" that if it possible, it can be only this way.
Road seems endless, and even it descend down, I didn't appreciate it either. After Mesilau village on a "small climb" I was pushing hard, seen the other orange beast walking the slope, hoping to catch. Finally he noticed me. I hoped to catch, but shoot AWAS, two Kenians behind, keep going. After a hill, slope down and he gained distance again.
We are now in a last valley, can see a town on a horizon in foggy smoke, in some action. That should be a finish on that side, somewhat 4k in distance. Should a path follow a hill side, it would be a joyful sprint. But road brought us down, deeper and deeper into valley, and getting steeper so I could not afford not to add to the pace, the horizon meanwhile raised as a mountain ahead. The finish part, I was most was afraid of, was the last road climb before finish. A day before a run, on introduction ceremony the Race director told that should be easy, not even 100 vertical yards (~ 200m?). Well, it was "small", but turned out to be a hardest thing in the run (for me), for these easy expectations. Orange beast walked ascend in visibility ahead, inviting to move faster, slope was not steep - less than 5%, but muscles were not mine, was happy I could keep walking.
One final turn, it's almost flat,
Yet bit incline still remain.
Let not me run, but shamble.
Children were jumping on a roadside,
Cars passing gave be-beep,
Meters were passing, slowly.
Again a turn, already flat.
Seen crowds hanging on siderail,
And FINISH sign ahead.
I broke loose and burst in gate,
been caught by cautious doctors.
Was treated well, was laid on cot.
Was asked
- Where are you?
"Taiwan."
- Where are you from?
From Russia answered I?
Где мы сейчас? - one doctor voiced.
"Taiwan."
- You need blood test. "I do."
Even Petr lying next raised up and raised his brows.
"Oh, да, now, сейчас.. Малайзия!! Борнео!"
Recovery was coming slowly, with lots of salt water to prevent cramps, chatting in Russian with a doctor, he got his degree in Russia, I realized not immediately, all languages mixed up. In half an hour winners ceremony was announced, time to vacate recovery cot for upcomers, slowly crawled up to see the glory of the beasts. Top three men:
Top three women : Ruth conquired the podium.
Later we visited local market, where we drink coconut juices for equv of 10nt, and tried some local dishes, favourite been durian chili pepper paste, can put on bread, or direct. Durian is called King of fruits in Malaysia, and 5 times cheaper.
In the evening we had mini fest with raw carrots and cucumbers we got from local market, enjoying communication with runners preparing to run Adventure Race next day, and feast with local beasts.
ADVENTURE Race.
Me and Petr started few min before start, to explore if there is trail to the gate. It was maybe shorter, but it came out and mid slope part of tar road, and we jumped out at mids of crowd. Me and Petr run as a picturemen, found long cut on trail from a start almost to trailhead and we made a competition on photoshoots Petr taking lead on uphill and me winning the down hill walking part, on a second day knees asked to have a rest without jumps, so every step down of the second day was carefully measured. Eva and Petr fly down 1k of trails with a beast speed, and Eva took a prize position in Adventure Race, despite having troubles on hot asphalt, and dropping down few positions there. Hips noticed this on the next day, it was my first "after-race walk" with "iron hips" (鐵腿) on a next day, fortunately it was noticed already on island beach off the coast of Kinabalu city.
Check up for more run stories on Taiwan Beast Runners.
Fighting the Summit Race Petr The Beast story, sounds very different experience, taking climb ten minute easier, makes a big difference. But I couldn't push harder anyway :)
Acknowledgement:
Photos of the beasts in race action acquired webwide, and mostly from SABAH, Malaysian Borneo Bureau of Tourism, and trail photos are out come of second day Adventure walking photoshooting.
Саша
