Salomon X-Trail Run 2009

(The race poster/ at the starting point for the Woman's Open Category)

Today, KT and I took part in the Salomon X-Trail Run again for the 2nd year held at Tampines Mountain Biking Trail. This run consists of running 10km of sand, gravel and grass.

We heard from the organizer that they have slightly changed the running route because I think too many runners complained about the muddy route for last year’s run.

As we were late, we started off with the Woman’s Open Category at 7.50am. Just before the race started, I saw my army friend, ML. haha He took part in the run with his friend. Actually I also have another army friend, IT whom also participated in the run, but he started the race earlier at 7.30am.

In this year’s race, I hold on to my camera during the run, so I manage to take quite a few photos of the sceneries and the runners running the trail. In a way, it also helps me to reduce the frustration of running in the unusual terrain.

The head start was running pass some gravel/sand ground, followed by some grass area on the flat ground. After running some distance, we have to go uphill with some rocky trail. As the route was quite narrow, the runners have to queue and move in a single file.

(Starting of the rocky terrain)

(UpHill & Downhill + turning round the corners)

Next the runners started the uphill climb and downhill run along the first 3km or so. At a point of the route, there was this muddy pool, where the marshallers told us to jump into the pool and it was part of the route. We saw many runners just jumped into the muddy pool and continue their run… Really dangerous man... View the photos below. What the FISH !!……. :(

(The stupid muddy pool)

(Article on the race from "MyPaper" & Photo of the brave ladies conquering the muddy pool)

There was actually a wooden bridge by the side but the marshallers don’t allow the runners to run on the bridge. The reason been the loads from so many runners running on the old wooden bridge may caused cracks and damage to the bridge and eventually injuries. My friend, KT just don’t care and told the marshallers he just want to walk pass the bridge and he was allowed to move off. For me, as I was slightly behind and was blocked by the marshallers, I also forced to enter into the muddy pool...

From my past experience in last year’s run, where we ran in muddy area, the shoes get really wet and too heavy for running, so I taught of removing my socks and shoes on the spot before entering the muddy pool and clearing the obstacle, although it is not allowed in running events to run bare-footed. But no choice. There was another guy (monkey see monkey do) followed my method of clearing the obstacle. Haha :)

Somehow after we cleared that muddy pool and running a distance, the marshallers allowed the runners at the back to walk pass the woodend bridge slowly without entering the muddy pool after it was causing a huge jam behind… What the FISH again !!… :(

Clearing off the muddy pool, we ran pass some forest terrain trail and exit from a point where we need to climb uphill again and run downhill again. Along the way, there were also some very high hump for the runners to clear. The other stupid route which was not changed from last year’s race was the several crazy S-curve route, causing the runners to run and turn like mad…

(Running pass grass terrain & Uphill again...)

(Some nice flowers in the open wild that I noticed during the race)

(Running uphill once again.... + some crazy high humps)

(Last 2nd water point & the 9.5km mark... 500m more to go... Seems like going to rain soon.... Hurry up....)

Finally, we got to the finishing line after clearing all the obstacles and it started to rain. Lucky we finished the race just in time to escape from the heavy rain. We were feeling sorry for the other runners who were still running at the back and they had to run the race in the heavy rain…

(Photos taken before the race & halfway during the race)


Anyway, the race this year was slightly improved compare to the debut last year, except for that stupid muddy pool that I was not pleased with…. :( Please do something… The Organizer !!

(Race route/Flyer + Finisher medal for runners who complete the race)

(1 nice and interesting PA van found at the starting point just before we left the venue)