Messastilla HM 2016 race recap

Long pending post.

As I wrote here, I was in Magelang for Messastila Peak Challange, taking the 21K category.

I always wanted to do this race since 2013, but always postponing it. For years, It offered a scenery route in the side of the famous Ambarawa’s rail…

But this year….not anymore!

BIG Tetooot!!!?

ZONK!

After I picked up the race pack, there was a race briefing. The organizer said they created new route, which will be challenging!

BTR on MPC

That very moment, I knew, this would be another DNF race.

To make story short. Race for FM, HM and 11K was  held on October 9th.  While the 100Km and 65 Km has started the night before.  There was an accident happened to one of 100K participant, mbar Eni.  She was showered  by Chemical Liquid. I knew this horrible news from the group when Pak Hasbi called three of us. Not sure what was the motives. But seems every body mind their own business, no explanation from the RO as well before the race.

Anyway, I woke up in dawn, took a bath then heading to breakfast area. With mountain view. I wish I stay longer to enjoy my breakfast 😉

I ate enough breakfast, toast, banana and coffee.

The race started at 6 am.

pic of me wont hurt

starting pen! yes, it was nanjak!

First 1.5 km still in hotel area, then we met paddy field. since it was raining from yesterday, a muddy slippery track was expected. That very moment I cursed I didn’t prepare walking stick with me! I should buy one for my next trail race!

single track

Owh, Thanks God I skipped the idea of wearing a road race shoes. Friends said MPC is quite easy, no need trail shoes. Meh! I was glad I trusted my feeling 😉

Between Km 2 – Km 5 was village area. I was greeted my local villagers. I took selfie with local villagers kids ! I love doing this!

selfie with local kids

For me, they are the most sincere people in the race course 😉 in Bali during my FM, or in Tosari on my 10K Bromar, etc.

I think it was in Km 5/6 or something, the route was in Coffee plantation. I stopped by to take pics of Coffee bean picker!

coffee bean picker

Finally I met few women. Aulia, Novi and Dwi. we walked few km together.

The track was hilly (for sure), slippery and there was a spot that we really had to climb! I used whatever stick I can found to assist me. Many of them were broken along the way 😉

I was with the girls, so yeah…we helped each other. They pull me. anyway, the markers were oke. I easily found the marker either papers, red ribbon or flag.

dwi and her friend

The brutal hilly track paused a bit in Km 8.

I took fitbar for refueling. There was first water station in Km 4.5 on where I took banana and dates provided by the RO (Race organizer)

shoe-fie

if I could remember, there only me, Novi, dwi and her friend left. I always made a joke

“kalo ngga kuat turunan, kita gelinding aja”

I am sorry, that was I did on that track. sliding my body down the hill. To save my energy as it was hard for me to stand up and keep my body balance.

We were so  craving for next Water station in Km 10. And this was the easiest and prettiest track on the way to Km 10. Where the second water station is.

Taken by Novi

The pine woods! Yes the pathway is man-made, we saw some workers, old men, who were working for  the pathway. First we thought it was Water Station as they offered us banana and bread!

Huhuhu I cried!

Nih bapak bapak tua aja udah dalam keadaan pas-pasan masih mau berbagi!!! Gw ngga tegaaaa! :(( 

I decided to refuse their offer, they need their food, I can eat later.
I lost Dwi and her friend in Pine Woods, they were faster. So only Me and Novi left. it was still uphill track up to Km 14.

In Km 12, was Rawa Pening over looked! Honestly speaking, I never know this area is exist! 😀

Rawa Pening from the distance

I met a marshal and told me, the view would be more beautiful if the sun shines.

Yes, it was cloudy when I was there and fog all over.

before the rain poured hard

after Km 12, I lost Novi.

So i was completely alone, do the talking with the nature. Taking trail run, is really a me time for me. When I think, God answered my questions.

Shortly after Rawa Pening over looked, rain poured very hard. To sum it up, downhill track afterward and DAMN it was hard!!!

I hate stepping-stone track, my feet were hurt.

Many FM, 65K and 100K runners passed me. Oh em geeeee! I wonder how they practice.

In Km 15, was another water station. I ate banana and drink isotonic. It was almost 12 pm which is the COT time. I want to give up, but it was still in the forest. no use! The marshal said the COT was 7 hours (1 pm).

It was still raining, the track now around another coffee plantation area. I don’t know where to stop, not to get wet, bingung juga mau berteduh dimana,  so I just walk downhill.

One farmer drove his motorcycle and fell right in front of my eyes. Oh em geee.

Me, myself had fall many many times. Many times I had to slide down because I was tired and lost my body balance.

In Km 15 I think, I saw one participant with a broken leg and arm. He was a Japanese. It took him 2 hours to get help.
There was this guy, an Indonesian who looked after him. Ich finde ihn nett! That was so sweet. When I was there, the evacuate team already in the area. So the Indonesia man could continue his race.

He told me:

“hayuklah mbak. COT jam 1 kok. Kita masih ada waktu”

“ha? jam 12 mas”

“ngga kok jam 1”

So, I guess the marshal was right. COT was 7 hours after flag off.
We were back to village area again when finally I saw a civilization. I wanted to give up and took the ambulance who would took that Japanese with broken bone but that Indonesian man had motivated me. So, I did what he say. Continue my race.

After village area, there came forest area again which is very very very slippery. I fell hundreds time, twice as many as I did when I was in coffee plantation area.

I cant stand up.

I realized I lost my glasses.

I met two marshals, they held my feet, so I can get up.

I couldn’t move my body.

I had  lost my motivation.

I had lost my body balance.

And that is not good.

It could caused  injury.

For safety reason, I decided to quit.

On the way to Km 18.

They evacuated me by motor bike to hotel.

It was 2 pm already.
my shoes looked horrible, sol sepatu gw lepas!

So i decided to left my shoes in hotel 😀

Too dirty and it’s broken anyway.

Oh well, I obtained another DID NOT FINISH status in my trail race again.

In fact, not a single trail race that I finished under Cut Off Time.

Do i regret it?

you bet I DON’t!!!!
Honestly speaking, the track is doable.

I met the similar track in Sentul, Pancawati (for  the forest and plantation), Halimun (for  the stepping stone track). Bromo 30K is stillll the hardest one, yet, due to weather condition, it got verrrry hard.

well, not to mention I was lack of practice too. I was not fully recovered from my illness.

Still, it is a recommended race for you!
Owh, btw. Netty finished in in 4 hours something and Vitri in 6 hours.

Until my next trail race!

In which of Lord’s favor would you deny?