Bukit Kiara Trail Run

OK. You don't do that in Kiara but the greenery will be enough to indulge you with the gorgeous creation. Perhaps it's a bit disturbing for this entry to be out considering the numerous runners' high still floating around in the atmosphere from the recent KL-Marathon glorious chapter. But, life have to go on and some of us are already twitching and itchy with more leg workouts. We shall take this trail run as a recovery get together and nothing close to serious pounding - take my word.

Bukit Kiara Trail

Perhaps some of us are a bit new to trail running or trekking and the venue itself. Let me take you down those dirt trails they call the holy grail of mountainbiking - brief one, because the rest you'll need to discover yourself. Bukit Kiara is a heaven for mountainbikers. I started riding here perhaps seven years back. It is one of the toughest and most technical mountainbiking trail in South East Asia. I had my fair share of the tumblings, bruises and face plant. Riders from all over SEA race here every year in the KL MTB Carnival.  The trails offer cross country mountainbiking, free-riding and of course the whacky world of downhill riding.

It's a spot for joggers as well where one can hump the long granny tarmac up to a four cross and follow more undulating maze of roads. Only last year, Quickrelease with the title sponsor Salomon organised our first trail run race. Most of the RBU took part. From then on, Kiara trails have been shared between mountainbikers and trailrunners.

The trail itself is basically different from FRIM. Here it's totally a secondary forest plus matured rubber plantation. Yes, you can still find those latex cups at certain areas. Rubbers-forest means mosquitos - be ready if you decided to stand around too long. You'll be slapping all the way down to Mosin. But fear not, the strategy is to keep moving and and flap those wings. There are so many trail network here but for this Saturday, we'll just stick to the fun ones.

Expect climbs. Loads of them. Yes, I really mean climbs. The fastest way up in the wild is vertical or slightly. Take small running steps to tackle it, it works. Don't punish those knees with long strides cause you'll be killing your lowerback as well. What goes up, of course la doesn't mean it will go down. Perhaps some trails we'll be taking goes to infinity and beyond :)

The best part of trail running is the descending. It will be like running in a sea of meadow from the film Little House on the Prairie. If you're crazy enough, you can yell your hearts out. But be caution with your steps cause a face plant would look dusty on your running portfolio. And some descendings will take us through switchbacks, endless ones...so ready for some Poco-poco training as well.

Enough said. The story will go blurring away like the trail if I don't stop here. Hopefully we'll have a nice run and a fun one. The details of our Bukit Kiara trail running as follows:

• Date : 3rd July 2010 (Saturday)
• Meeting time : 7.00 - 7.15 a.m.
• Dirt time start : 7.30 a.m.
• Carpark : Taman Lembah Kiara and it's surrounding
• Checklist :
• Good and trustworthy running shoes. Not necessarily trail running shoes but no hiking boots!
• Nice and comfortable running tee or vest and short, tights or pants.
• Headgears - Buff, cap, bandana.
• Hydrations - don't go more than 2 liters cause we'll be hitting the trails the most in two hours. We don't want to see water tanker hauling up those tricky sections. And perhaps try to hydrate a day prior to the run. Climate can be a bit humid at times, expect sweats and no wind condition. No worries by the way, since we'll only be steps away from 7E and Mosin just in case we ran out of fluid.
• Insect repellents if you need your special one. I'll be sharing the mosquito repellent patch from Guardian. Got 12 patches, I just need two.
• If you need the top brand ones, feel free to try the act in the picture :)

Bang, lepak pekena kopi secawan dulu

Alwin and me will try our best to get us around the trails. He'll be leading and I'll be sweeping. So, I'll be ready with my Nimbus 2000 loan from Harry Potter for some butt spanking if you're too slow :D Have fun!