This information is for normal human beings like me—middle-pack runners who generally have too many beers with mates after which resolve to aim one thing just a little outdoors their consolation zone. I’m Tom from Runivore, a superb buddy of the Beast Runners, and a volunteer for Formosa Path since its inception. My official title is the MC, I additionally assist out because the man who sends runners out on the course at 4 AM on Saturday after which greet them as they return over the subsequent 28 hours. I’ve seen folks come again from this journey noticeably modified. First come the badasses—working gods, not common people—returning smiling and nonetheless wanting robust. Later, many zombies shuffle to the end, sporting a glance of disbelief about what they’ve simply completed.
Within the class of 2024, the yr I participated within the 104, the official outcomes present 54 runners completed out of the 75 who began. That statistic skews the ending price excessive, although, as a result of many switched to the 75 km class in the event that they have been falling behind cutoff occasions. I used to be the twenty ninth finisher within the group with a time of 24 hours and three minutes – three minutes previous my estimated ending time.
Under is my information to attacking race day. You too can go to the abridged model with Chinese language and Japanese choices on the formosa web site.
What This Information Skips
I’m focusing right here on race day itself. I’m skipping particulars like:
- 5 months of preparation:
- Shedding about 10 kg—principally by quitting ingesting from June to November.
- Signing up for each path race I might discover to construct endurance and confidence; the longest was an 80 km path race on forest roads—nothing in comparison with Formosa Path, however a superb endurance take a look at.
- Getting and studying to make use of mountain climbing poles (extremely advisable).
- Spending time with Coach JP (a four-time FT104 finisher) and absorbing as a lot data as doable.
- My intestine feeling of what was essentially the most useful coaching: doing a 400 m-elevation hill close to my home as many occasions as doable as race day neared. It’s fairly vertical, and proximity to dwelling gave me zero excuses to not do it three or 4 occasions every week. I additionally helped Petr with some path preparation which included the primary large climb of the race.
Pre-Race Day
Friday earlier than the race
My suggestion is to get to Puli as early as doable. Breathe within the air, soak within the climate, and chill. Eat some good grub, keep hydrated, and plan to maximise your sleep earlier than the occasion. The standard rule applies: attempt to get as a lot strong sleep as doable the week earlier than—financial institution up these hours.
I used to be the primary particular person to select up my pack (advantages of figuring out the organizers), performing as their guinea pig whereas they examined the method of checking obligatory tools, becoming me with the GPX tracker, and giving last-minute directions. All went easily. After receiving my bib, I ready my drop bag (you’ll be able to decide it up at CPC, across the 45 km mark). I included further diet, a hotter long-sleeve shirt, socks, Vaseline, and a Crimson Bull.
Race Day
I slept on the venue (a gorgeous campground) and awakened round 2:30 AM. I swallowed some oatmeal, drank water, gathered my belongings, and made it to the beginning space simply after 3 AM, the place runners for the 104 km and 75 km classes have been gathering. This can be a time of well-wishing, a bit of tension, and shared nervousness. Time flies, and earlier than you understand it, 4 AM arrives—and it’s time to rock and roll.
Under, I’ve organized my race ideas part by part, checkpoint to checkpoint, based mostly on what my watch recorded.
You’ll be able to verify the official distances and lower off occasions at https://formosatrail.com/course/, Beast Runner Petr has additionally printed an abbreviated information for normal people right here: https://formosatrail.com/article/how-to-guide-104km-race-formosa-trail/
Begin to CPA: Let the FUN Start
- Distance: 14 km
- Elevation Achieve: 1 413 m
- Highest Peak: 1 669 m (Previous Wujieyue / 舊武界越)
It begins as a pleasant 4 km nighttime jog by the town of Puli as you make your approach towards nature. When you hit the timber, you’ll instantly encounter the primary large climb. Get pleasure from these first 4 km of flatness—you gained’t see a lot of it for some time. The climb lasts and lasts—about 5 km of distance and 1000 m of elevation acquire—earlier than something feels even remotely flat. You’ll summit Previous Wujieyue (舊武界越) at 1,669 m, then hit “Level X” on the official Formosa Path map. My suggestion: discover a clean climbing groove and don’t push too arduous—it’s going to be a protracted day (and night time). I undoubtedly relied on my poles right here to maintain transferring; there are a couple of slippery spots, and poles assist with stability and spreading some work into your higher physique.
After Level X, take a left and head towards CPA. From X to CPA, it’s a little bit of up and down, with some sections fairly runnable. In all, it took me about 3 hr 9 min to finish: roughly 6–7 min/km on the flats and 15–25 min/km on the ascents, with the rolling part round 11 min/km on common.
Tip: CPA is a chief spot for Instagram photographs within the tea fields—Beast Runners often place an official photographer there. Get able to smile and rejoice ending the primary large climb of what is likely to be a really lengthy day 🙂.
CPA 1 to CPA 2: Get into the Groove
- Distance: 9.5 km
- Elevation Achieve: 450 m
- Highest Level: 1 544 m
Refill your bottles and brace your self for a runnable out-and-back part. As I began this stretch, I noticed the eventual winner ending—he was about 9 km forward of me by then. I gave up any hope of podiuming and settled into this 9.5 km of rolling forest roads. There’s an ideal view on the turnaround—take a fast look and head again. It took me about 1 hr 40 min for the spherical journey. Be sure to refill absolutely earlier than heading out once more, as a result of extra technical trails await.
Once you return to CPA 2, you’ll see 40 km runners—most will likely be blissful and smiling. Absorb these smiles; they’ll energize you. I bumped into an outdated buddy right here, and we headed to the subsequent checkpoint collectively, catching up and making the kilometers fly by.
CPA 2 to CPB: Getting Form of Wild
- Distance: 11.5 km
- Elevation Achieve: 1 430 m
- Highest Level: 1 640 m
After refueling, prepare for path selection—Petr (the organizer) calls some upcoming sections “Wild.” Be sure to high off your water, as temperatures may begin warming up. Though this part is underneath 12 km, it took me 2 hr 45 min to finish—the technical terrain makes it difficult. You’ll run alongside a ridge with good views to your proper, however don’t stray from the marked course: the drop in your proper is kind of dramatic. The part finishes if you hit a farm street with extra gorgeous surroundings (there isn’t a lack of good views on this race). My common tempo right here was about 15 min/km—primarily as a result of extremely technical second half.
One other factor to notice: on this part, you’ll all of the sudden end up surrounded by excited 40 km runners. They’ll are available in each instructions at varied speeds, so let quicker folks move and yell a pleasant “jie guo” (借過) if you might want to transfer by.
You’ll additionally move two crucial junctions: Level X—the place you may see some poor souls (they didn’t prepare correctly) from the 40 km race approaching from the proper—and Level Y, the flip towards CPB. If you happen to end the 104 km, you’ll come again to Level Y later within the day/night time as a modified runner.
It was on this part of the race the place I latched onto Coach JP, an skilled FT104 runner, and stayed with him till the end. I’d prefer to say we helped one another conquer obstacles, however in actuality, his expertise and never-give-up angle helped me efficiently end the course.
CPB to CPC: Preserve the Get together Going
- Distance: 10.6 km
- Elevation Achieve: 550 m
- Highest Level: 1 605 m
Refill, eat, and say goodbye to your 40 km runner mates—that is the place the sector thins out. You’ve gotten fewer mates now, however the friendships you might have develop nearer. The following 11 km are totally on nation roads, that includes stunning views. It was the quickest part for me, with a mean tempo of about 11 min/km. I used to be already fantasizing about my drop bag goodies at CPC and a contemporary pair of socks.
Warning: CPC is just a little harmful. It feels cozy: there’s heat meals (they actually cook dinner up a storm), your drop bag, and a final probability to modify to the 75 km. So care for enterprise rapidly and hit the street. The largest problem of the race awaits—be sure to absolutely refill on diet and electrolytes.
CPC 1 to CPC 2: This Will Not Be Simple
- Distance: 27 km
- Elevation Achieve: 1 610 m
- Highest Level: 2 017 m
You’ll bear in mind this 27 km for the remainder of your life. You begin at CPC 1 (45 km mark) and don’t return till 72 km—a 6.5-hour stretch for me. There’s a small Assist Level D that formally presents 1 liter of water per runner (unofficially, some cheerleaders convey further drinks and snacks).
Once you attain CPC, seize your drop bag, change socks, and eat—CPC has actually good meals. You’ll be again to CPC after about 27 km, so plan to make use of that drop bag yet one more time.
Once you go away CPC, you’ll head downhill for five km into just a little city—which is a rarity on this course. After that, you get a flat, completely runnable part for about 5 km to Assist Level D. Take full benefit of each drop of water or snack at D, as a result of the robust half cometh subsequent.
Shortly after Level D, you allow the street and head up a path towards Dajian Mountain (大尖山). ChatGPT tells me this interprets to “Huge Sharp Mountain” or “Nice Pointed Mountain” (and it’s not incorrect). You’ll begin at about 645 m elevation and climb to 2 017 m, all after working over 50 km—so all that hill coaching pays off now.
The climb up Dajian Mountain is de facto like three climbs:
- Part 1: Single-track forest path.
- Part 2: Forest roads with shortcuts (straight up) to the subsequent street part.
- Part 3: Bouldering to the height.
Each a kind of felt just a little too lengthy. The roads provided a small respite from pure climbing. For me, it began getting darkish as we completed the second part and moved onto the boulders. It felt unending: you’d search for at “stars,” notice it was a runner bouldering tons of of meters forward, then look once more and see the “stars” nonetheless there, nonetheless transferring—and nonetheless distant. However there’s just one option to go, so you retain transferring. Finally, you make it, and also you get just a little giddy—you’ve conquered the hardest a part of the course. (Enjoyable truth: the final kilometer of this climb took me 50 minutes in accordance with Strava.)
If you happen to make it to the highest, you’ll discover a way more civilized approach down—a runnable part again towards CPC. Head towards heat meals, a hearth, and your drop bag. You is likely to be sleepy, however the occasion should go on.
CPC 2 to CPB 2: I Need to Go Residence
- Distance: 18 km
- Elevation Achieve: 830 m
- Highest Level: 1 500 m
The toughest half right here is leaving CPC. There’s a comfortable fireplace and heat noodles, however my associate in crime was vigilant in regards to the time. After what felt like 5 minutes, he jogged my memory we’d already rested for 20 minutes. So we took off. The following part is all darkish, on not-so-technical trails that ultimately open onto a large street. We bumped into the city of Wujie, the place locals have been partying outside, cheering for runners and providing native meals and drinks (watch out if you happen to indulge). Wujie additionally has a few small retailers nonetheless open the place you may get a chilly caffeinated beverage.
After you allow the city, stuff will get actual once more. There’s a climb Petr marks as “steep” on the official map—and he’s not kidding. My mountain climbing poles have been tremendous useful as we made our approach up. It feels superb to complete that “final climb” (spoiler: there’s all the time yet one more). Shortly after, you arrive at CPB 2 to be met by smiling volunteers. It was right here I first believed I might truly end.
This 18 km part took me over 4 hours: quick kilometers round 8 min on the working roads, and about 20 min on the steep climbs.
CPB 2 to End: F-YEAH!!!
- Distance: 14.6 km
- Elevation Achieve: 360 m
- Highest Level: 1 580 m
After working 90 km, you hit CPB 2. The hot button is to take in vitality from the volunteers, who will pump you up—then hit the street. Child, you’re coming dwelling. At this level, I might solely soak up liquid energy; I had one small chew of apple, some Coke, refilled my bottles with extra energy, and hit the path.
You’ve already performed the subsequent 2.5 km path part in the course of the climb to CPB 2—that is really the final climb (there’ll solely be little hills afterward). After about 4 km, you’ll hit a gravel street, after which it’s all about surviving the unending, just a little too steep downhill.
If you happen to survive that, you’ll come again to Puli and good flat roads. Simply 4 km later, you cross the end line. In my case, I laughed deliriously, received hugged by my family members and mates, and checked my watch—realizing it took precisely 24 hr 3 min to turn out to be a finisher of Formosa 104 km.
Over the numerous years I’ve volunteered to greet finishers, I’ve seen many faces of satisfaction—however this was the primary time I really felt it myself.
Enormous thanks to JP, my coach and mentor on this journey; Petr and Eva, who made FT what it’s right this moment; all of the volunteers who make the occasion doable; my spouse, for placing up with my working adventures; and my mates, for supporting and difficult me to strive these loopy runs.
Under are some pics from our journey collectively – image credit score to JP.