Was it too easy?

Penang Eco 100k, 104km total distance, 3900m total cumulative altitude gain. I finished the run just within 24 hours, placing 34th overall over 130 finishers, while more than 200 started. This is not the first time I take part in Penang Eco: 160k 2017 and 160k 2018 but I DNF both. That's why I had decided to step down the challenge and took on the 100k this year. 

"Was it too easy?"

Am I too cocky to think this? Although it sounds like I'm bragging myself, for a long time after I finished the run I am genuinely feeling disturbed by this thought. Unlike all my ultra attempts prior to this, finished or not (Ut4M 2015, Ut4M 2016 : Second Chance), where I was always half dead at the end, I was still feeling fresh and strong after completing the 100km surprisingly. This feeling was totally new to me.

The course can be divided into 2 distinct stages: first 50k is almost all flat, while second 50k is all the ups and downs. I remember I went through the first 50k with relative ease. I can't say that I flied through it, I had some run and some fast walking, keeping the myself away from hitting the red zone as usual. I reached back at Sungai Lembu the 50k point at around 20h30, with 3 hours and a half margin gained from the COT. The major challenge of the first 50k was the heat because it took place during the intense heat of the afternoon. I saw some were having troubles with the heat, but I was not. I guess my intentional training run under the hot afternoon sun had paid off.

Although the second half with all the ups and downs was where people said the harder half, I was surprised that I was able to keep the same pace throughout. No matter how steep the up or how gnarly the down, I was always on the same pace and without stopping. My mom and my sister who visited me at CP6 were also amazed and said that I was looking really fresh when they saw me. When I reached CP7 Berapit at 3am, I was already pretty sure that I could finish the race already, which again this feeling shouldn't happen this soon according to my previous experience. I was feeling good and at the same time very scared because the feeling was something unfamiliar, just as a huge thunder cloud was approaching.

A storm started as soon as I left CP7. On the super exposed paddy fields, the angry thunder lighting got me worry. It took no time before I got soaking wet and cold. I was planning to walk fast only until the end, but the cold forced me back to running pace just to keep myself warm. At CP8 I didn't stay too long either, because it was just so cold and I had to keep moving. With the heavy rain, the route between CP8 and CP9 became very muddy and sometimes dangerous. I was in a group, all with the same pace, went through this route together. I did slip and fall a few times, got a few scratches here and there but luckily nothing serious.

At CP9, the sky cleared up. It was 7am. I could almost feel the finish line. At this point, I figured that I must have some blisters under my feet because I could feel the pain already. The blisters may be due to the wet shoes and socks. And also, I just wished that I had gaiters because little rocks and sand kept going into my shoes and socks, and rubbing my feet, worsen the blisters even more. "Let's just forget about it and keep going", I thought.

Soon enough CP10 was behind me. Reaching CP11 at around 11am, the last CP before finish line, I just decided to make the finish line before 1pm. So I did, reaching at exactly 12.43pm, 23 hours and 43 mins. Done! 

Beside a few blisters and scratches, upon finishing the run, my legs were strong, my spirit was still high, and I felt like I could still going further on. So was the run too easy for me? Or I had trained myself very well this round? I'm not sure. What I am sure is my limits were not reached. 

Will I come back to challenge the 160k? I reckon not because the most interesting parts of Penang Eco are all explored in the 100k category. The extra 60k from the 160k category is very flat, mainly on tar road and too often running side by side with other vehicles on the road. Time to aim for the other ultra.