Running the UTSG50 (2024)
As the sun began to rise on June 29th, the day of the UTSG50, a mix of excitement and trepidation surged through me. The memory of the leg injury from a week ago still lingered, but today was the day I had been training for over the past 2.5 months.
The Ultra Trail Singapore 50km was my first ultra marathon, and I was determined to finish it, even if it meant pushing through pain and exhaustion.
The longest distance I had ever run before was a standard marathon — 42.195km. In fact, I attempted a full marathon in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Anything beyond that was uncharted territory. When I signed up for this ultra-marathon in mid-April, I knew it would be a significant step up. Despite having been consistently training, I was still nervous about joining this race.
Preparation was crucial to completing this race. I had to learn about my own nutrition needs, how to time energy gels for maximum effectiveness, and understand the route (important turns and elevations) and how not get stomach upsets, but also plan for toilet breaks and aid stations.
Using a GPX file to track the route was another new challenge. This was the first time I learned how to use GPX to run a race. In the past, with conventional organised runs, there were tens of thousands of runners, and tons of volunteers and signboards to guide the way. This time, not getting lost in the middle of the trails or some small lanes would actually play a major role in completing the event successfully.
The tools I used included getting the komoot app and a Coros Pace 3 watch. The komoot app was very useful in providing me with turn-by-turn audio instructions via my bluetooth earpiece. Within the app, I also saw many routes that others have done before and these will be very useful in trying out new trails and paths on the weekends.
The Coros Pace 3 watch allowed for GPS tracking and is an affordable alternative to the usual Garmin watches. Prior to the Coros, I was running with the Huawei Fit 2 and Huawei Band 9, and I found the Huawei watches to be just as good in terms of GPS tracking (with phone), heart rate monitoring and the screen is even better than the Coros. The price of Huawei watches were also cheaper. The major setback of Huawei watches was that they didn’t have GPS and cannot upload GPX data onto the watches.
Unlike road marathons, which are typically flat, the UTSG50 included numerous slopes, both uphill and downhill, albeit not as steep as the hills and mountains overseas, this was still something my legs weren’t accustomed to, and I knew it would take a toll on my legs, especially the thighs.
The plan was to maintain an 8-minute per kilometer pace, aiming to finish in about 6 hours and 40 minutes (realistic target was to be within 7 hours). For fuel, I decided to use Tailwind for the first 14km and then switch to Hi5 Energy Gels for the remaining distance, at approximately 6–7km each gel.
The aid stations by the organisers were strategically placed at 10km, 21km, 27km (Mandai U-Turn), and 33km (same spot as 21km). This meant I had to ensure my water bottles could sustain me for stretches of about 10–11km at one go.
After the 33km mark, there were no more aid stations and based on the estimated time when I would be traversing the 33km to 50km, it was likely I would be suffering under the blazing pre-noon sun. I knew I HAD to find a place around the 40–42km point to refill my water bottles, otherwise the last 10km might result in cramps, heat exhaustion and likely, a DNF.
As the race began, the initial excitement carried me through the first 10km smoothly. The runners were sent out in waves and final results would be based on Personal Bib Times. I was with the last wave and the groups were quite bunched up together early on. Even so, as there weren’t “too many” crazy people who would participate in 50km trail race, there was ample space for everyone to run properly (unlike a typical half or full marathon).
All the way until 27km Mandai U-Turn, the weather was relatively cool, a blessing given Singapore’s recent climate, and we were glad to be running along paths with shelters or lots of overhead foliage. The cooling weather kept the temperature bearable but recent showers also made the trails more slippery and treacherous.
At about the 35km mark, the sky opened up and really started pouring. It left the trails very wet and soggy, especially around the Pipeline Trail. It was similar to jumping in puddles of water. My shoes were totally soaked, adding to the discomfort and making every step a struggle.
The slippery conditions made it difficult to maintain balance, and I found myself (and other runners) falling several times. Around the “Fifth Avenue towards D’Leedon section”, one of the drain crossings even had water gushing through, turning it into a mini river crossing. It required extra caution to avoid injury and prevent getting swept away. The UTSG race turned into a “Spartan Run”!
Despite the challenging conditions, the camaraderie among the runners was palpable. Everyone was pushing their limits, striving to complete the race. This race wasn’t about any anyone winning over another. It was about everyone winning over themselves.
The constant up and downslope were punishing, unlike the relatively flat road marathons I was used to. It was inspiring to see others giving their all, shouting out to cheer one another. You could always hear runners shouting to each other to “Push On!” and it spurred me on too, even as my thighs ached and started to cramp up in the last 10km.
As I neared the finish line, a surge of emotion washed over me. The pain, the fatigue, and the doubts all faded away, replaced by a sense of accomplishment. Crossing the finish line was a moment of triumph. I had done it. I completed my first ultra-marathon, the UTSG50.
Reflecting on the race, I realized how much I had learned — not just about running, but about resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit. I saw many others who, like me, simply wanted to challenge themselves. They sought to discover just how far they could push and had the courage to embrace the adventure of truly living.
The experience was grueling and challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I was proud of myself for persevering and achieving a goal I had set years ago.
As I sat down to rest, a thought crossed my mind: this was just the beginning. There were more challenges ahead, more races to run, and more goals to achieve.
The journey had only just begun.
