It’s been a few days since I completed the Dalat Ultra Trail 2018, an unforgettable milestone in my trail running journey. After days of “training” eating and sleeping in Quy Nhon with my family, I finally have time to sit down and share the memorable experiences on the beautiful trails of Dalat. To prepare for this article, I spent time “rummaging” through the DUT 2018 Fan Page, collecting photos of myself and impressive moments on the race track. I must say, the organizers were very professional, having a team of photographers “stationed” everywhere, capturing the breathtaking moments of the athletes.
Before diving into the journey of exploring Dalat’s pine forests, I want to share a bit about preparing my gear for this race, especially my indispensable companion: the Pioneer Corba 10 trekking poles.
“Combat” Gear and My Pioneer Companion
Coming to Dalat Ultra Trail 2018 with a relaxed “nothing to lose” attitude, I was somewhat subjective and forgot a few important items in my gear. Those were a headlamp, a raincoat, and a windbreaker. Although these are not mandatory accessories in the trail running gear list, they play an extremely important role when the weather turns unfavorable, especially in Dalat, where the climate can change erratically.
Fortunately, I managed to “patch things up” by buying a windbreaker at Dalat market on Friday evening to combat the cold of the highlands. As for the headlamp and raincoat, thanks to the enthusiastic support of the PTR (Phu Tho Runner) brothers, I was able to confidently enter the race. In fact, throughout the race, I didn’t need to use any of these three items. However, carrying them as a precaution is still necessary, because “better safe than sorry” in challenging terrain conquests.
The rest of my gear was almost “copied and pasted” from the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2017: Nike Terra Kiger 3 shoes, Injinji TRAIL Midweight Crew socks, Aonijie Windrunner backpack, Aonijie 1.5L water bladder, Aonijie 600ml soft flasks, Aonijie neck cover hat, YCB apparel, YCB arm/leg sleeves, GU Roctane energy gels, GU Chews, GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix, and Hammer Endurolytes Extreme electrolyte capsules.
And finally, I must mention the Pioneer Corba 10 trekking poles, my “companion” who stood by me throughout the DUT 2018 journey. Choosing Pioneer trekking poles was not just a decision about equipment, but also a trust in a powerful support tool, helping me overcome the slopes and treacherous terrains of Dalat. With a convenient foldable design, super lightweight, and high-quality carbon material, the Pioneer Corba 10 poles proved their indispensable role throughout the race.
Starting in Dalat’s Cold and the First Steps
The Dalat Ultra Trail 2018 journey officially began at 4:00 AM. Our group of athletes gathered at the square, preparing the final steps before boarding the bus to the starting area. Early morning Dalat wore a freezing cold coat, everyone had to equip themselves with windbreakers to keep warm. Each person had their own style, cluttered with belongings: water backpacks on shoulders, drop bags in hand, some with trekking poles, some with bread for a snack…
The bus took us to the starting point at around 5:30 AM, an hour earlier than the start time. At this time, it was still dimly lit, cold winds blew in gusts, making everyone find ways to keep their bodies warm. Some huddled around the red fire, some jogged lightly to warm up, some “chatted” lively to warm up their mouths.
At exactly 6:30 AM, more than 500 athletes of the DUT 2018 42K distance officially started, beginning their journey to conquer Dalat’s pine forests. All worries about rainy weather seemed to vanish, replaced by the determination to fight to the fullest. With the spirit of “if we fall, the organizers will take care of it,” we rushed forward, heading towards the finish line.
The first slope
Right after overcoming the first slope, the windbreaker became “redundant” as sweat began to pour out, soaking my shirt. I had to stop to take off my windbreaker and wrap it around my waist, and at the same time, take out my Pioneer Corba 10 trekking poles. Immediately, my legs felt much lighter, the force was distributed more evenly, helping me climb slopes easily and save energy. It felt like having a third and fourth leg for support, the Pioneer poles became an indispensable companion right from the first kilometers.
First 21K: Calm Conquest, Pioneer Poles Assisting
With a cautious mindset, not yet familiar with the terrain and worried about bad weather that could strike at any time, I decided to move slowly in the first half of the journey. The experience from VMM 2017 was still there, being eager to speed up in the early stages had cost me heavy, dragging steps in the final section on Da Bac Mountain. “No rush, slow and steady” was my motto for this first 21K.
Calmly climbing slopes with Pioneer poles
I didn’t prioritize achievement in this race, the main goal was to finish the race before dark. However, I still tried to maintain running speed whenever possible, because finishing earlier meant a lower chance of facing rain and wind. No one wants to experience the feeling of wading through rain and mud on a trail running course, especially in Dalat with its bone-chilling cold.
Greeting the Dalat race track!
Thanks to the support of the Pioneer Corba 10 trekking poles, overcoming slopes became much easier. Compared to the rocky, treacherous terrain in Sapa (VMM) or Pu Luong (VJM), the slopes in Dalat were somewhat “easier to breathe.” The number of times I had to stop to catch my breath, complaining “what a steep slope, when will it end!” also decreased significantly. Pioneer poles not only helped me save energy but also enhanced stability, especially on bumpy, rocky roads.
I completed the first 21K in exactly 4 hours, a surprisingly good result compared to my initial expectation. If I could maintain a similar speed in the second half of the journey, finishing within 8 hours was entirely possible. Confidence boosted, I started thinking about conquering the sub-8 hour goal.
Second 21K: Speeding Up and Chasing, Pioneer Poles Still Accompanying
The goal for the second half of the journey was clearly defined: finish within 8 hours (sub 8). To achieve this goal, I decided to change my racing strategy from “calm march” to “speeding up and chasing.”
The “chasing” strategy I applied was quite simple but effective. I always tried to stick with an athlete just ahead of me. If I felt exhausted, I would switch to walking for about 1-2 minutes to recover, then speed up again to catch up with the target. When the person in front slowed down to rest, I would overtake and continue to look for the next target to chase.
Chasing strategy on the race track
This strategy not only helped me maintain racing motivation but also ensured that I didn’t fall into the situation of running alone in the middle of the pine forest, especially when physical strength had declined and morale could slump. Pioneer poles continued to be effective, helping me maintain a stable pace and overcome steep sections efficiently.
Another stroke of luck was that the weather that day was not as harsh as predicted. It was sunny, somewhat sultry, but still much more pleasant than having to run in torrential rain like the day before. The sunlight also made the pine forest scenery more shimmering and magical, creating more motivation for the athletes.
Finishing: The Final Challenge and Overwhelming Joy
From the last aid station before the finish line, the number of 21K athletes remaining on the track had decreased significantly, the feeling of loneliness gradually disappeared. I knew that if any incident occurred, such as cramps or injuries, there would definitely be people to help in time.
The last kilometers of the race, although physically exhausted, my spirit was extremely high. The sub-8 hour goal was very close, just need to try my best, and I would definitely achieve it. Pioneer poles were still by my side, supporting me to overcome the last heavy steps.
Sub-8 goal within reach
Racing to the finish!
When I reached the gate of Suoi Vang tourist area, I thought the finish line was only a few hundred meters away. So, I sped up to Pace 6:00, putting all my remaining strength into the final sprint. But unexpectedly, I kept running and running and still didn’t see the finish line, a winding dirt road appeared in front of me, and right after that, the final slope of the journey.
All my strength seemed to have been “squeezed out” on the previous asphalt road. This final challenge was truly beyond imagination! Steep slope, slippery dirt road, tired legs… but there was no turning back. I told myself to try my best, not to give up. Pioneer poles at this time became a solid support, helping me hold on to the arduous slope.
“Go on, smile, run faster!” – The cheers of the audience echoed in my ears, adding strength to me. The finish line always has a strange attraction, it can “revive” energy for anyone, no matter how tired they are.
Eyes straight ahead, a bright smile on my face, I rushed towards the finish line amidst the applause and cheers of everyone. Hoping to get some beautiful photos capturing this memorable moment from the photographers waiting everywhere.
Smiling brightly at the finish line
Final result: 7:54:10. A result far beyond my expectations before the race started. I don’t know if it’s because the course this year was easier, or because I had “leveled up” without realizing it (definitely not the second reason!). Anyway, I felt extremely satisfied with this result.
After completing the medal receiving procedures, taking commemorative photos, syncing Strava, and showing off my achievement on Instagram, the first thing I did was call my wife: “Honey, your husband has finished safely!”
After replenishing energy with a bowl of chewy beef noodle soup (chewing almost dislocated my jaw), I returned to the slope area before the finish line to cheer on other athletes who were striving to complete the final steps of DUT 2018. At around 4:00 PM, it started to rain heavily, everyone had to quickly find shelter.
At this point, I felt very lucky to have finished early. If I had been a little slower, I would definitely have faced this terrible forest rain. I felt both sorry and admired those friends who were still persistently fighting against the rain, wind, and mud out there.
After “gathering enough” Phu Tho Runner members, we returned to the center of Dalat at around 7:00 PM. Quickly showered and then went to refuel immediately. The reward for 8 hours of “hard work” on the race track was a hot bowl of Quang noodles, a delicious portion of shumai bread, and two creamy avocado ice cream cups. All fatigue seemed to vanish.
Journey Summary and Thank You
Besides the unexpected early finish achievement, another big surprise at DUT 2018 this year was that my legs were completely “safe and sound” after the race. No more painful “zombie” steps like after VMM 2017 last year. I recovered very quickly, after only 2 days of rest. This shows that the Dalat terrain is actually much “gentler” than the northern mountains, where VMM and VJM are organized. Perhaps, partly thanks to the support of the Pioneer Corba 10 trekking poles, helping to reduce the pressure on my legs throughout the race.
The organization of DUT 2018 this year by 123Go and Viet Nam MTB Series was truly very professional. From pre-race communication, registration, information provision, on-course support to post-race photo sharing, everything was prepared and implemented thoughtfully and meticulously. Any questions from athletes were answered quickly via email or phone.
However, there are still a few points that the organizers can improve for future seasons:
- The baggage drop-off and pick-up process was not scientific, causing time loss for athletes.
- The attitude of the staff in the baggage claim area was not friendly, even grumpy.
- The beef soup was too chewy, chewing the meat was even more tiring than running uphill.
In addition to the commemorative medal, the organizers also gave each athlete an electronic certificate of achievement (E-Certificate) to “show off” to friends and family.
Dalat Ultra Trail 2018 Finisher Certificate
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the 123Go organizers for creating the opportunity for me to experience a wonderful race and have this article. Thank you to the PTR brothers who have always accompanied and helped me during my days in Dalat. Thank you to the friends who conquered the race track with me and cheered enthusiastically along the way.
See you all in Pu Luong!