GO ASIA TRAIL

This is my third TransLantau after 50km in 2016 and 100km in 2017.I entered the 100km again this year and came to Hong Kong Lantau Island. Unfortunately, I ended up abandoning the race at CP2 at the 19km mark. Now, what happened to me...

This year's race was very different from the past two. Of course, there was the fact that the course was partially changed, but it was hot this year. Even at night it was over 20 degrees Celsius, and during the day the forecast was for a high of 25 degrees Celsius. According to the official announcement by the organizer, the completion rate of this year's 100km was 56%. The temperature was hotter and more humid than usual, and many participants abandoned during the race.

In particular, many participants from Europe, the U.S., and Japan seemed to have retired from the race. In Osaka, where I live, it was much cooler than usual, and unusually the temperature had been in the negative for a long time. The fact that they had to run from that environment to Hong Kong, where the temperature was suddenly over 20 degrees Celsius, surprised their bodies, and it seems that they were not acclimatized to the heat. When I talked to a German who retired at the same place, he said, "Where I live, there is still snow on the ground. 20 degrees Celsius is too hot, haha.

In my case, I was able to run until the first CP1 (6.7km), but in the next section to CP2, I could not pick up the pace at all, and even though I was walking, my heart rate did not slow down, and to top it off, I started getting a headache, I took some oral rehydration solution at the aid station and rested for a while, but was unable to recover, so I DNF'd. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to DNF or not.

I honestly had my doubts about DNFing. I was tempted by many things, such as the possibility that I might recover. 。。。。 But it just so happened that there were two other Japanese in CP2, besides myself, who were suffering from the same symptoms as me. We started to get along well when talking with them, and I felt that it would be bad if I overreacted and collapsed on the course, so I opted for DNF.

And this is the hard part of overseas races. Unlike races in Japan, in many foreign trail races, if you DNF, you have to return to the finish line on your own. In the case of Hong Kong, the only way to return is to arrange a cab by yourself.

However, it was 4:00 in the morning when I DNF'd. I asked an aid volunteer to call a cab for me, but he said, "We don't do cabs now, you have to walk home!" Fortunately, there was a Japanese runner with me, so we decided to walk back to the finish line together.

So we decided to walk home, wandering around Lantau Island in the middle of the night. I don't know if it was a stray dog or an unleashed guard dog, but I was barked at many times on the way back. If I had been alone, I would have cried. I was really glad to be back with Japanese people.

Cabs passed by often, but they didn't stop at all. And then, as we were walking, we suddenly entered a mountain pass and had to climb all the way up. It was very hard on my body, which was suffering from heat stroke, and I was also sleepy. While we were walking on the pass, probably about 2 km from CP2, a cab driven by a Hong Kong madam stopped for us. God, this Hong Kong madam. After that, we quickly took a cab for the remaining 3km of the pass to Mui Wo, where the finish line is located.

After that, I returned the GPS I had borrowed and took a nap at the venue until the buses started moving, waking up around 7:00 a.m. and taking the bus straight back to my lodgings.

The race made me realize how difficult it is to race overseas. I felt that the different climate has a great impact on my body. If I really wanted to get a record, I would have to enter the country earlier and let my body get used to it.

It is hard to return home on your own when you DNF on the way. Conversely, I realized that Japanese races are very blessed.

In addition, 56% of the runners finished the race under these unfavorable conditions, which I honestly felt was amazing. Of course, many Japanese runners also finished the race. Both male and female Japanese runners finished in second place. My friend who was going to run the Hong Kong race with me this time also finished the race successfully. I felt that I would like to train more and build a body that can adapt regardless of heat or cold. I felt this was an important ability since I am racing mainly in Asia.

To be honest, I am very disappointed! I want to run again next year! At the finish line, along with runners from other countries, "See you next year!" and vowed to come back here again. See you next year!