Photos are here.

Staring out the window at 0730 in the morning at the overly sunny and bright weather outside was more than enough to convince me to wear my new and special middle Eastern type hat to the Maclehose 3,4,5 hike today. The hat has a soft extension that covers the ear and the neck – much needed protection from the stinging rays of the sun.

At about 0900, we assembled at the start of Mac 3 in Sai Kung to begin the hike. Master Speeto (veteran hiker, runner and Tai Chi-guru) gave us a mini Tai Chi class before beginning the hike. We were supposed to feel “a tingling sensation” if we did it right. Hmm.. I wasn’t obviously doing it right so didn’t feel any kind of sensation, but did manage to take a photo of the group as they were attempting to feel something.

Tai Chi-ing for a tingling sensation

Lost in Tai Chi

Master Speeto showing us the Tai Chi way

I was supposed to be walking at the back resting a knee injury (from yesterday actually) but the mountains have this effect on me where I am suddenly flushed with more energy. So, I decided to go at a comfortable pace – which actually put me in the front with the elite runners.

Stage 3 was completed in 1 hr 27 minutes.

Did some refueling at the vending machine after Stage 3. That machine took 6 bucks from me and delivered no drink! Then I did what any poised and cool headed person would do. I punched all the buttons, turned the refund coin lever forcefully several times and gave the machine a kick in its butt (actually, wasn’t sure where its butt was, so just kicked it wherever). The machine still didn’t budge (damn it) and I wrote off the 6 bucks.

Anyway, the hike continued under the hot weather and the sun showed zero mercy. Kept beating down on us in an attempt to knock us down. But, we persevered. We reached Ma On Shaan and stopped for a minute to appreciate the beauty of nature and the absence of smog. It was fabulous.

Sai Kung seen from the top of Ma On Shaan

This is Pyramid hill. Some dudes do paragliding from here

The surviving four

Dominic and Viven – photo taken from the top of Ma On Shaan

So, after 3 hours and 2 minutes, we finished the hike at Sha Tin pass, tired and hungry.

The thought of beer kept Dominic going despite the heat

Celebrating the finish – Tsingtao style

Great hike! Now for the stats.

Total: 25.895 km in 5h 49m 52s at an average of 4.44 km/h

GPX

• Hiking, Stages 3,4,5 Maclehose (0)
• Hiking, Maclehose 3,4,5 (0)
• Trail running, Mac 5,6,7,8 (0)
• Hiking, Maclehose 6,7,8,9 (0)
• Goin’ MacLehosing 1,2,3 (0)

Tags: Maclehose 3, Maclehose 4, Maclehose 5

Only 1 picture today and that’s at the hiking page.

Started out with abundant energy under 33 degrees of temperature. Felt great after Stage 3 and even after Ma On Shaan. No problems there. After Ma On Shaan, I did get hit by the heat but kept the momentum going. After 4 and Sha Tin Pass, had a stomach cramp. I started to imagine my bed and the A/C. Pain got worse. So, decided to take it easy. Conveyed my thoughts to Steve. Take-it-easy quickly transformed itself to let’s-get-out-here. I was getting VERY exhausted, had zero motivation to continue despite the stomach cramp going away. The usually enticing trees and greenery now looked boring. Hiking and trail-running now felt like a chore. Last straw was the thought of Needle Hill and Tai Mo Shan! That quickly reinforced my idea of dropping out. Left after Stage 5 or rather somewhere in between Stage 5 before Beacon. Reached home at 4 and was SO TIRED that I actually dozed off while taking a shower! Slept at 5 and woke up at 10 and now it’s time to go back to bed!

Stats are: 30 something Km at a super duper pace.

• The great Mac 3,4 and 5 (0)
• Hiking, Stages 3,4,5 Maclehose (0)
• Trail running, Mac 5,6,7,8 (0)
• Hiking, Maclehose 6,7,8,9 (0)
• Goin’ MacLehosing 1,2,3 (0)

Tags: Maclehose 3, Maclehose 4, Maclehose 5

Pictures are here.

Tried my best to return home early on Friday night to catch some good sleep for what was supposed to be a highly strenuous hike on Saturday (54KM Stages 3,4,5,6,7,8 of the Maclehose). A little too confident in my fitness level, I decided to pooh-pooh going home early and went to Lan Kwai Fong instead. I left LKF at about 11PM. As I was walking home from the TST MTR station, I heard Michael Jackson yet again. “Cheapy” DVD store near the TST station has managed to keep Michael Jackson’s spirit alive ever since his demise, albeit the motive being increased revenue. “Dangerous” was playing loudly on the one big LCD TV outside the store and Michael Jackson had managed to take the place of prominent Chinese singers who were constantly being featured on the same LCD TV prior to his death. About 20 people outside the store were captivated by MJ’s moonwalking. I left the store amazed by the entrepreneurial skill of these small shop owners. Slept at about 1AM.

Got ready for the hike and left at 7AM with superior confidence in my hiking abilities. We started the hike at 8.45AM from Pak Tam Au. The sun was shining threateningly but that didn’t stop me from accelerating and I was a little too quick despite reminders to go slowly to maximize endurance. We finished Stage 3 in 2 hrs 10 mins. My teammates were as fit as trained soldiers. I had not anticipated such strong fitness levels among my teammates and this was the best team I have ever been with!

Kai Kung Saan – the first killer of the day

We did Stage 4 around noon time. The heat was destroying my confidence levels. I had to pour water over myself and the lack of sleep from the previous night came back to haunt me. I was falling asleep as I was walking. But, bailing out was not an option. I somehow managed to finish Stage 4 and reach Sha Tin pass in good time. 2 people bailed out then. I wasn’t going to.

Incredibly fit team. 21hrs will be a breeze at this level of fitness

My biggest mistake for the day began then. I drank way too much water and Tau Cheung (Soya bean milk). Felt sick as I was going up Stage 5. I was also sleeping every now and then. Had no choice but to seek the bailout option. One of my teammates had similar problems. The other 2 were fine.

At the end of Stage 5, we all decided to quit. 2 of us including me had to quit but the rest could have continued.

Lessons learnt: (a) no LKF the previous night (b) plenty of sleep necessary (c) got to go slow initially when endurance is important (d) got to do something about the heat -not sure what-

• The great Mac 3,4 and 5 (0)
• Hiking, Maclehose 3,4,5 (0)
• Trail running, Mac 5,6,7,8 (0)
• Hiking, Maclehose 6,7,8,9 (0)
• Goin’ MacLehosing 1,2,3 (0)

Tags: Kai Kung Saan, Maclehose 3, Maclehose 4, Maclehose 5, Sha Tin Pass