I managed to do two loops from car park to Kem Pacat of Gunung Nuang today, 30 August 2014, Saturday. Each loop is about 4 hours. First loop started at 7:15 a.m.; second loop started at 11:30 a.m., and ended at at 3:30 p.m. in time to avoid the heavy downpour. One loop is about 19km. The purpose of this long run is to prepare for the coming Vietnam Mountain Marathon on 20 September 2014.
At one time, it was very dark in the trail with dark clouds looming for an impending downpour. I was really motivated to engage full throttle in running down from Kem Pacat to Kem Lolo partly fueled by uneasiness of the sudden change in weather. Then I met ASheEk, who was going up to the peak alone. He was performing the sweeper duty for the G5N trail running event.
On that same day, there was the G5N event; this event requires a participant to run from car park to the peak of Gunung Nuang FIVE times for a duration of 24 hours. When I ran pass the trekkers, many of them clapped hands and gave me motivational cheers thinking that I am one of the participants ... :-)
G5N - It is the abbreviation for Gunung Nuang Peak 5 Times. Yes, this is extremely challenging and yet crazy stuff. With only about 10 participants, a runner would be alone most of the time. Imaging going up to the peak of Gunung Nuang at mid-night. That would require the nerve of steel not disturbed by the dark and eerie surrounding, and the spirit of the mountain. Bravo to the brave trail runners!
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Tham.
Posted by KC Leong.
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