North Face 100 is one of the most challenging event compared to others. runners will get to run inside the trail with their hydration bags on. I have been participating the North Face 100 event for the past 2 years. I started off doing 50km duo (25km each), followed by 100km duo (50km) with my running buddy. Unfortunately, this year my running buddy was injured and couldn’t join any long distance race. Therefore, i decided to try the Solo 100km. I often thinks that those runners whom signed up 100km solo is trail are crazy, 1st they have to run 2 loops and 2nd they will start running the trail early in the morning where the trail is pitch black. Total darkness.
This year race for 100km solo starts at 1am. I reached Macritchie at 11.30pm and met up with kelly and some other runners. TNF staff was there too, so we chatted abit before flagging off. I was armed with headlight and a mini torchlight so that i could see the trail. The race was flagged off by the race director. At the start of the trail in MR, it was a total darkness, all i could hear was the runner’s footstep and insect cricket. I managed to stay on pace with 2 other runners and i left kelly behind because she was recovering from an injury, therefore she decided to take it slow and easy. I have no problem with the route at the start to bukit timah because i have been training with my friends. but somehow i feel abit lost around the mountain bike trail; but luckily there’s some indication along the way to guide us to the correct route. Despite of carrying headlamp and torchlight with me, i still fell down twice in bukit timah mountain bike trail. There was a slight change of route, instead of running the usual route which i trained for, we need to turn left towards dairy farm main route. There’s a water point 2 at dairy farm carpark. After that, i am very comfortable with the route as The North Face Progressive run once held there. I ran towards the entrance of mandai where the water point 3 is. The volunteers were very kind to help me refill my hydration bag while i’m grabbing some GU chomps to eat. Initially, i thought i was suppose to turn left to Lor Asrama; but luckily the volunteer shouted ; turn right. I was like omg, i never train the route before, so i tried to slow down to look at the direction and making sure i will not get lost. I ran pass Ulu Sembawang Park Connector and hit a junction where i was confused whether to cross the traffic light or otherwise. For me, it seems like there’s no other route, therefore i decided to cross the traffic light and continue running. I could not see any signage and i called the race director for help. there were 2 ultra runner followed me too and were waiting for me for directions. End up, my friend Sim called me said i was heading towards the wrong direction and I have to detour. I was kinda pissed off because there were no indication of where to go at the junction of the road. The exact route should be turn left into a slip route towards Lor Asrama. I wasted my energy on approx 2km of distance. Anyways ,Lor Asrama was pitch black too, but luckily there were few lightsticks laying around. I must say, i’m not only looking on the ground so that i will not fall but also keeping my eyes wide open for directions. I would say climbing hill 265 was a big challenge during the night, i could not see anything and was trying to grab something to push myself up. Eventually i was up and i continue running. There was 1 point where there was no indication again; and i’m not sure what to do…so eventually i turned left and luckily i was in the correct way. I do not wish to lost in Lor Asrama as that place wasn’t small. There was one part I need to highlight, i was running alone and there were 3 motor bikers, i’m not too sure whether they are from the orgazier, they highbeamed me and revving their motorbike engine and i got shocked. I kept right and let them bypass me. I was shocked and wondering what the hell are they doing at such wee hours? I truly enjoyed running Lor Asrama at night and the weather was somewhat cooling as compared to last year running under the hot sun. I knew this gonna happen to me if i’m able to do the 2nd loop of 50km to complete my 100km solo.
There were not much issues running back and i targeted myself to reach MR by 7hr30mins but i was slightly earlier and reached back at 7hr15mins. When i was on my way back, The 100km Duo category just flagged off not long ago. everyone was clapping and cheering for me and i replied back and wishing them the best for their 50km. Initially, i wanted to leave the pit stop by 9am but was warned by some ultra runners that i needed to reach Water Point 5 which is the top of Hill 265 by 1pm. So i decided to rest for 15mins, get myself changed with a new set of running attire, ate 2 apples and re-fuel my hydration bag. By 8:30am i set off for my 2nd loop. 2nd loop was a torture to me. firstly, i did not run such a long distance in trail before, the max was 52.5km for MR25; thou i completed many ultra on road, in trail will be a different story. I literally walked all the way and wanting to give up because of my blisters hurting too much. I called Tekko to check his location and asked him not to wait for me because i’m not too sure what time i will be reaching dairy farm carpark. I left 2 coffee with him and hope he could pass me along the way. I knew that i could not make it in time for Checkpoint 5 by 1pm but that does not fail me to carry on running/walking. I fell down once again at durian loop perhaps because i’m too shagged and lost focus. I continue to fast walk and kelly called me to constantly check if i’m ok and asked me to push on. Finally i get to meet her at mandai and she passed me my coffee; She asked me to push on and said “alvin, do it once do it good, u dont wanna come back again next year to do it right”. As soon as i left towards Lor Asrama for the 2nd time, i was all by myself. ; no one was infront nor behind. Luckily along the way, i saw a group of runners, 2 ladies whom was pacing 2 ultra runners. The 2 ladies was kind enough to accompany me and constantly check if i’m ok. Once we reached hill 265, the staff was saying that we were late and we have 2 choices. 1 is to follow their van back to mandai entrance and wait for bus to pick us up or continue at our own risk. All of us sat down at the training shed for a while to discuss and I suggested we should continue since we make it this far. I called my friend, Jane, that i’m gonna DNF because i missed the checkpoint and she couldnt believe it. Luckily, once we climbed the hill 265, we saw the checkpoint staff; there were kind enough to write down our bib number as a proof that we crossed this checkpoint even thou the timing system was shut down. I personally finds that it was a bit way off by putting a cut off time at 77.1km by 1pm and the next cut off timing will be 5pm at 88.9km; and the distance is 4hrs to complete 10km? i find it way too off. Kelly called me to constantly check if i’m ok to continue and also to encourage me over the phone. She said as long as i can reach Water Point 4 (mandai entrance) by 3.30pm, i still have hope to reach the end point by 7pm. With her wordings, i felt a sense of hope. But this hope does not last long as we lost our way in Lor Asrama again! no indication of direction. I saw OneArm and Bladerunner along the way together with a couple whom got lost inside Lor Asrama too. we called for help and luckily was back on track soonest possible. One of the ultra runner decided not to push on and left me and a guy from aussie came here specially to run; As we lost our way so many times, he decided to give up too. OneArm and others were way infront and i’m the only person left walking alone in Lor Asrama. I managed to come out from Lor Asrama by 3:26pm and rested for almost 10mins. Kelly asked me if i’m able to continue? I was still deciding, and it will be a waste since i left 18km to end point. The medic biker whom followed me thru asked me the same thing whether i wish to give up or continue.
Finally, i stood up and say i will continue. He warned me that i need to reach Chestnut drive by 5pm and end point by 7pm. I replied and kelly asked me if I would need a pacer. I responsed if she’s able to pace me it would be good. She grabbed 2 water bottle and paced me. She was walking very fast and i’m trying to catch her up but failed many times. But at least there’s a person infront whom i can set as target. Eventually we reached Water Point 3 at 4.30pm and i called jane along the way to update her the status too. Along the way, brokie also msged me to encourage me to press on. Kelly asked me to set off quick after water point 3 because there’s still 12km in 2hr30mins. We continue to fast walked and eventually saw the pipeline and rifle range road. I was so happy knowing that i will complete but at the same time afraid i might missed the cut off time by a few minutes. After the rifle range, kelly asked me to go on myself as she was unable to fast walk anymore. And i decided to fast walk and run at the same time. I reached the ranger station and went to the toliet and continued. When i reached the Northern Trail, Brokie and Tekko msg-ed me on my status and brokie said she’s waiting for me at the end point. Jane msg-ed me too that she coming down to see me finish as I’m the last runner. The last 2km was a torture for me, I’m trying to pick up my pace to run but blister was too painful to even continue. At the last 1km, i saw a North Face biker and he told me that i’m the last runner and he will pace me to finish off the race. I was so delighted and i followed him all the way.
As i’m close to the finishing point, i wanting to knee down as promised but i never do so. And the emcee announced “There comes the last runner, Alvin Low from The North Face”; and i was so happy that i completed it. Jane and her bf was waiting for me , and there’s a camera man whom took picture of me. Not long, brokie joined in and was so happy to see that i completed this 100km challenge. I joined them and chit chat with them near the beverage tentage. Surprised to see Taz was there. We were so happy that all of us completed this race. And they joked la, says after i came back, everything shut down liao, even the photographer also pack back go home. LOL! I was glad to hear that all Ocean’s 9 (TNF run leads) completed their categories and at least our hardwork pays off.
Well here comes my reflection: Overall, this race was well organized despite abit of hiccups here and there, especially the signages. But i’m not blaming them because its was our runners’ responsibility to view the map before the race day itself. Improvement can be made such as re-consider the cut off timing for 100km soloist as it was kinda unreasonable to clock 37km in 3hrs or 4hr after completing 50km already? Water point was sufficient and this year they include GU chomps which was superb. 100plus was given at Water Point 1 and 4 despite no sponsers from them. Milo which i didnt drink was sufficient too. Volunteers were very helpful and i really wanna thank them for their hard work; especially those left alone marshal at rifle range road and lor asrama. There was one lady whom stand under the hot sun too. Thank you.
Now comes to my thank you speech: I would take this time to thank several people. First is Kelly Lim whom pushed me the final stretch of 18km to make me a finisher, thou she injured herself but she still believe that i could finish on time. 2nd is Brokie and Jane, whom waited for me to complete my 100km race and constantly send wishes to me to press on. without those motivation, i could simply give up. Tekko for keeping my coffee chill and sorry to keep you waiting for me but i does not appear; was way too slow. TNF staff, Carey whom jokingly said i wont complete this race but i did. Eventually she left a last word for me, Alvin, i’m proud of you. haha! and thanks to all participants whom encouraged me along the way. I never felt so much better with friends specially waited for me till i complete my 100km. I’m really happy and felt much appreciated. Thank you guys!
Last but not least, congrats to all finishers and continue running! 
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Singapore
30°
Happy New Year to all runners out there.
