Pacer Pong Yang Trail
It’s been a week since the trail race, and I can confidently say it was one of the best events in the country. The quality of the race, the course, the meticulous organization, and the attention to detail were remarkable. Anyone who missed this event would undoubtedly feel a deep sense of regret, and I count myself among them.
Pong Yang Trail
Pong Yang Trail is a major event with a maximum distance of 100km and a total elevation gain of over 4,800 meters. It’s not easy to finish this race in style. I learned about it from the first day of registration. At that time, I was still a beginner in running and had no idea how trail running worked. I was hesitant about whether to sign up, and in the end, I didn’t register for any distance, leaving me with a lingering sense of regret in the mon ths leading up to the race.
However, I still had the opportunity to participate as a Pacer for our strong runner, Nemo. My goal wasn’t to train for the Panoramic 100km or to test my endurance but to help Nemo reach the finish line without getting cut off or disqualified, knowing full well we’d be running through the forest at night.
Preparation
I had sneakily checked the course’s elevation profile before becoming a Pacer. Seeing the steep climbs at the end made me worry about how Nemo would fare after running nearly 100km. I advised him to pack his bag full of gels and leave some at the A9 aid station since he’d likely run out of energy after descending from Doi Pui.
I wasn’t too concerned because Nemo is a strong runner, but I couldn’t help calculating the timing based on my own pace (even though I shouldn’t). I had coached Nemo for a while, but after moving to Chiang Mai for work, we had less time to train together. I didn’t prepare much—just some snacks in case Nemo forgot or needed anything extra.
Pacer Ready!
The 100km runners had already started, probably around 6:00 AM, while Pacers woke up around 7:30 AM. I estimated that Nemo would arrive at the botanical garden around 2:00-2:30 PM, so I made my way there by 11:30 AM to catch the shuttle to the A7 station. I kept an eye on the live updates, but the timing wasn’t very accurate, so I had to guess when Nemo would arrive.
When I reached the botanical garden, I chatted with other Pacers and saw many runners from various places. Finally, the shuttle took us to A7. Some Pacers watching the live feed mentioned that most runners had already passed through A4-A5, so I was relieved that Nemo would be arriving soon.
A7 Pacer’s Station
A7 is where Pacers can join their runners, around the 57km mark. When runners reach this point, they often feel a surge of motivation because they’re no longer running alone. With a friend to push them, they’re less likely to feel isolated on a night of the Supermoon. This station even offered chicken basil rice, which was sure to wake up anyone who ate it.
As I mentioned earlier, Pong Yang’s attention to detail was evident. At this station, local women in traditional tribal attire served drinks to the runners with warm smiles, and the village head was present to ensure everything ran smoothly. Many runners enjoyed the freshly brewed hot tea, which was neither too bitter nor too astringent—a perfect pick-me-up.
The first runner, P’Ratch (Ratchie), arrived at around noon, followed by P’Sanya 20 minutes later, and then Harry after another 10 minutes. Top runners began trickling into A7, but no Pacers had yet to leave.
As time passed, Nemo hadn’t arrived, so I strolled around the area with other Pacers, visiting the King’s school and admiring the trees planted by the late King over 50 years ago. We occasionally crossed paths with other runners, but Nemo still hadn’t shown up. By 3:00 PM, I started to worry that Nemo might have overexerted herself in the early stages, as she had been leading between A1 and A3. Perhaps she had run out of energy or encountered a particularly steep section.
Supermoon Begins!
Nemo finally arrived at A7 at around 5:15 PM. After resting and refueling, we set off again, with the atmosphere cooling as the sky darkened. Nemo was still in high spirits after the break, perhaps happy to have a Pacer by her side. “Let’s run this flat section,” she suggested, still full of fight.
However, it wasn’t long before fatigue set in, and she asked, “Can we just walk? My legs are so stiff.” Her eyes showed signs of discouragement as the sky grew darker. A group of runners, including Toons, Pao, and others I didn’t recognize, began to catch up, offering encouragement before disappearing into the night.
Into the Dense Forest at Night
One reason to have a Pacer is for navigating the forest at night when your body is no longer responding as it should. The trail was narrow, rocky, and increasingly difficult to navigate. Nemo, now exhausted and feeling nauseous, showed signs of electrolyte imbalance. I gave him a Salt Stick and some dates to boost his energy.
The darkness enveloped us, with only the Supermoon and our headlamps providing light. Nemo, despite his fatigue, refused to stop and kept moving forward. I decided to walk ahead and let him follow, hoping the fear of being alone in the forest would keep him going. It worked—he kept pace, driven by the desire to stay close.
The Final Stretch to Doi Pui
We began the steep climb up Doi Pui, with the lights of Chiang Mai visible on one side and Mae Rim and Mae Taeng on the other. The wind picked up, and the temperature dropped, making me grateful for my team’s buff to cover my face. Nemo, though tired, was still pushing forward, but our fellow runners, Liang and P’Mod, were struggling.
Liang asked, “How much farther?” I told him we were halfway there, but he probably regretted asking as we continued the relentless climb. Eventually, P’Mod declared he couldn’t go on and decided to turn back, leaving us stunned. I joked with Nemo that I was tempted to follow P’Mod and call it a night, but she wasn’t having it.
We reached the summit of Doi Pui, but the descent was treacherous. The wind was fierce, and the mist made visibility poor. Nemo was struggling with her light, and the path was slippery, making her nervous. I tried to keep her motivated by encouraging her to run down gently, and it worked—she regained some energy and we continued.
The atmosphere was eerie, like a scene from Silent Hill or Resident Evil, with fog all around us. We finally reached A9, where we were greeted by the support team. They had prepared everything we needed, including a small pot of porridge that felt like a feast after our ordeal.
The Final Challenge
After resting at A9, we set off for the final stretch to A10, a 9.20km downhill section. I was relieved it was mostly downhill, but my only concern was Nemo’s fatigue. After only 1km, she was already back in autopilot mode, and I had to keep her awake.
The descent was eerie, with strange noises around us, but we focused on reaching A10. When we finally arrived, we were welcomed with hot coffee, and Nemo took a quick nap. After a brief rest, we headed out for the last leg of the journey.
The Hilarious Climb and the Finish
The final section was tough, with steep climbs and a rocky path. I tried to keep Nemo’s spirits up by complaining to ease the tension, but she was clearly exhausted. We counted our steps, took short breaks, and kept pushing forward, motivated by the thought of reaching the finish line.
As we approached the finish line, the sun began to rise, marking the end of our long, exhausting journey. Nemo, now just a few kilometers from becoming a 100km finisher, found the strength to keep going, powered by a final gel.
Finally, we reached the finish line, greeted by cheers and applause. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Our mission as Pacers was complete.