Mt Kinabalu Climbathon 2011

The world's toughest mountain race - the 25th Mount Kinabalu Climbathon – ended with much heightened spirit, excitement and fond memories. We were glad to be there participating in the same event.

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The race was keenly contested between Kilian Jornet of Italy who is a 3-time champion of the Skyrunner World Series from 2007-2009 and Marco de Gasperi, the champion of Mount Kinabalue Climbathon in 2003 and 2010.

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC). In Picasa Web Photo Album, click Slideshow for bigger displays.

 The message is clear ...

With a group of 40 plus runners from Kuala Lumpur jointly organize by Tony and yours truly (KC), this time; we have six members (inclusive of one lady) who successfully reached the summit (within 3.5 hours) and crossed the finishing line within qualifying time of 6.5 hours.

Even Kilian, during the interview, attest that it is indeed the world's toughest mountain race with the unique one way up and down within a race.

 

Test of endurance and determination - Seen from yours truly (KC’s) eyes on the way up the mountain.

 

Yours truly (KC) posing before Sayat Sayat, the gateway to the peak.

 

A lady runner running down the mountain after returning from Low’s Peak, the summit.

 Not good enough ... with all the training that I put in ... click here, I could only go thus far at 7.5km mark, still fall short of another 1.3 km to the peak within the 3.5 hours of qualifying time for ascent.

Wilson Liew and Patricia Yap at the rope area with many runners returning from peak.

 

The next day (Sunday, 23 October 2011) supporting the Men’s Open category

 

The Champion - Spain's Kilian Jornet won the 25th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon, dethroning last year's winner, Marco De Gasperi of Italy. Kilian clocked 2:37.04s ahead of Marco de Gasperi who came in second who is only 44 seconds slower.

 

Kilian's countryman, Luis Alberto Hernando came in third, who is 5 min 32 seconds slower.

 Dr Shara and Wendy Liu posing with Marco de Gasperi, the 1st Runner Up. Notice that he wear the same green running vest and short as last year... do click here. Though he is only 44 seconds slower than Kilian, Marco de Gasperi was the first to reach the summit in 1:37.49s, earning him a gold medal, but he slipped and fell half way when descending the mountain (according to the news report).

 

The legs of a champion with the rugged veins that power one up and down the tough, uneven and tricky terrain

 

Yours truly (KC) posing with the Champion of 25^th Mt Kinabalu Climbathon  - Kilian Jornet of Spain

 

All smiles for a different reason ... For Men’s Open category, the cut-off time is only 2.5 hours (1 hour shorter compared to Men’s Veteran and Women’s categories).

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For those who have not ventured deeper or higher into the mountain, they would take much earlier time to return and cross the finishing line.

 

Yeah, give me a HI FIVE ... a group of lady climbers from Philippine cheering the runners about 200 meters before crossing the finishing line.

Alex AngMoe of Penang (a 7-time Ironman; in yellow) posing with a group of Philippine climbers; Rashel is second from right.

Yeah, my proud daddy did it !!!

The award presentation and buffet lunch for officially closing the event. While the participants dine, we were treat with the local dances.

This would be the last year where the mission is to run up to the peak.

Starting next year – the 26^th Mt Kinabalu Climbathon 2012 - a runner would ascend to mid-point at Layang Layang (2,702m) and then descend the mountain by returning via Mecilau and end at a Kundasan village.

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Do click here for Part 2 and latest postings of Mount Kinabalu Climbathon 2010.

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Posted by KC Leong