A Look At Timberland’s Trail System: The Merrell Adventure Route

During our test run of the Merrell Adventure Race route at the Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal last Friday, i was amazed and surprised to venture into trails that were new to me, routes that were not used in trail races that i had joined in the past. I was bewildered about the vastness of this area that probably only a few runners and bikers have ventured to and the experience of running in uncharted territory was awesome!

I would later learn from the developers of the Timberland Resorts nearby that the trail system itself consisted of about 42 kilometers of trails stretched inside Timberland Heights, long enough to stage a marathon on forest woods. Among these trails are bike trails dubbed as the Eco-trail which had been long popular to mountain bike enthusiasts.

Thumbie Remigio, Race Director of the Merrell Adventure Run which will be held on June 2, 2012 took us along the 10k route and he said that 60% of the trails have not been used in past races. The terrain at Timberland offers everything from flat, grassy meadows to long climbs and technical single-track and switch-backs.

In all, there will be 10 kilometers of running to explore, with several sections of single-track, double-track, dirt roads, river traverse and waterfalls. Runners of all abilities will enjoy the variety of terrain. And did i already say that there will be mud crawls on parts of the route?

The scenery alone would make this a very spectacular run. Our test-run was fun and challenging with others even taking a dive at a deep river pond. You can run the route slow and cautiously, or hard and fast if you are an expert trail runner. Whichever way you run, you are bound to have a blast!

Here are the pictures of the 10k and 21k trail route. Enjoy and see you on June 2!

Runners will have the option to cross the river through this bamboo bridge or…(see pictures below)

…dive into the river itself!

…and here! (that’s Thumbie’s wife who is also a runner)

Merrell Adventure Race Organizer, Thumbie Remigio

One long uphill climb

Where we came from

This part of the trail was covered with bamboo trees

A white lady appears with a bolo!

We stop at a crossroad. Even Thumbie forgot our way out!;-)

The Jazzrunner, 1.5 kms before the end of the run

The trail runners with the Merrell group and the race organizing team

With Jojo, Ed, Allan and Baves

The Trails of San Andres, Tanay: The Nature’s Trail Discovery Route

Every trail has its own unique characteristics… it has its magnet of charms, its allure speaking at you to discover it. It is sometimes gentle, letting you savor its calm terrain and green scenery. But it can also be harsh, forcing you to climb its steepest hills and stumble when you cross its gushing rivers.

Its sternness however reminds us that for every route that we take, there will be gale winds to blow our faces, higher mountains to trek until we are out of breath,  more rivers to slip into its cold waters until we reach the other end and only then would we be rewarded and discover who we truly are.

Yesterday, i was one of those fortunate to be invited to test-run the newly discovered trails inside the inner sanctum of Tanay, Rizal.

It’s in a remote village called San Andres where two Sundays from now on May 27, hundreds or may be a thousand trail runners will be running the Discover Tanay Trail Run to test their mettle in this scenic but harsh route laid out by the organizers of last February’s Love A Tree Trail Run, also in Tanay.

We arrived at the site at about 6:00am with surprisingly cool weather and some morning fog enveloping the area. I was with about 16 other runners and we were greeted by the race organizers themselves led by Sir Manny of PIMCO Sports and the race’s shoe sponsor, Norphyl-Connect, sole Asian distributor of the Viking Trail Shoe represented by its CEO, Mr.  Ceasar Valmadrid.

We did a short 10k run but felt that we finished a 21k because of the arduous mountain climb on its earlier stages.

Highlights of this run will be the 2.3 km long single-track mountain climb (from KM 2.7 to Km 5.0) where i experienced some kind of oxygen debt just trying to put one feet over the other in bagging its peak. Another highlight others would either love or hate are the various river crossings that for sure will get your shoes submerged as you wade in its cold waters. Well, that’s part of trail running.

A surprise was waiting for us in the middle of the run when a small waterfall suddenly appeared  near the trails which provided a cool respite from the sun.

This will be the 1st Leg of several trail runs being hatched by the organizers to culminate in a 50k Ultramarathon Trail run by 2013. The Natures Trail Discovery Run will have a 10k, and 21k distances and promises to be a very exciting trail run as it has everything nature has to offer…cool winds, farm lands, mountain ranges, rivers, wooded forests, waterfalls, a friendly neighborhood and a lot more.

Here are some pictures of the route and trails. Enjoy!

A group picture

Preparing to start for the trail and mountain run

Mountain mists greeted the runners at the start

The front runners that will lead the group on the trails and mountains

It was muddy on most parts of the trails yet tolerable for all to run through

Parts in the open area

One of the views during the run

An outdoor panorama

Entering a small cave resort. The owner was one of the local runners

The small underground cave

One of the many rivers that we had to cross

and another one…

They didn’t want to wet their shoes this early

From single trail tracks…

…to rice paddies

We are the first runners to run these trails

Runner in red is the Running Mhalot

Into a more wooded area

It was still foggy and misty during the late morning

A thin slab of stone was the only way to get thru the ravine. One slip and down you go.

It was all uphill from here

It was a zigzag maze to the top

The view emerges from the top

We were like above the clouds

A few more steps…

Now over the top

The high and mighty!

Our descent…

It took us about 40 minutes to scale up the mountain and just a fraction of that to reach level ground

Back on the rough roads

Another river to cross

Nice place to rest and take a picture

Ed Escueta continues…

Reaching one of several waterfalls

Doing a duathlon?

Breakfast at the end of the run

Great way to end the run!

Thanks to Ed Escueta and Jojo Paulino for some of the pictures used.

Our Trail Run To Mt. Manalmon

Running buddy June Santiago didn’t mind making the two-hour drive from Quezon City to San Miguel, Bulacan and i didn’t mind tagging along with him as all i was thinking was getting my hands on some of the town’s famous pastillas and their crispy chicharon-laman (pork rinds) when we get there.

Super special “suntok-batok” chicharon

No, we didn’t travel this far just to buy these delicacies. June had this idea of scaling a mountain peak and running the trails that led to it. Mt. Manalmon in Sitio Madlum, San Miguel, Bulacan offered some great sights and the trails along the way offered a little bit of everything. Gorgeous river ponds, boulders, rock formations, mostly single-track technical trails, river crossings, rocky ascent climbs and a hosts of many other delights nature has to offer.

A young boy, named Jerome acted as our guide and he kept insisting to run and climb with us even if we repeatedly told him that we could manage the climb ourselves.  Before we arrived, June and i took breakfast of congee, eggs, bread, tofu and coffee at a small restaurant near the entrance of the Biak-na-Bato shrine and this fueled us up  for our run and climb up Mt. Manalmon.

The run-climb up this mountain just took about 5kms one way but it had one of the most treacherous trails i had ever done. Good thing, i was wearing a new trail shoe for review, the Viking Anaconda-Boa II which really held on very well to slabs of rocks on descents and ascents, protruding tree roots, uneven soft surfaces covered by fallen leaves and river crossings.

The mountain hike is so called beginner-friendly and although the ascent was quite manageable, i took some rests in between those climbs as the trail was undulating, non-stop zigzagging where you hold on to vines and barks of trees to protect you from falling. Alas, i was always trying to catch my breath.

The view up the mountain was breath-taking with the Madlum River criss-crossing within the foothills of the Sierra Mountain range.

The trails here are awesome as you can see on the pictures below. This is a must run for trail runners who also wants to scale up a mountain for good measure.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of our trail run, below:

Vehicles are charged when entering the site. Car fees will cost P20.00

The first river basin you see upon entering

Nice rock formations

June finds his way along the rocky trails

Rocks, uneven surfaces and a misplaced rock on the middle of the trail. A trail shoe here is a must.

One of the small caves along the route

Trying to balance myself on a slant trail

More of the rock formation 2 kms east

Good idea to wear trail shoes here

Wooded area provided our cover from the heat

Boulders of rocks where walking is a must

We could almost hear the slightly gushing river nearby

This scene is what greeted us upon reaching the banks!

Taking a step at a time

A balancing act!

Crystal clear water

Great views along the trails

Approaching the northern side of the river

Postcard scenery

Time-out for a pic

June’s river-crossing

It would have been nice to take a dip if not for time constraints

June at the other side of the boulder

A view up Mt. Manalmon. Boy in picture is Jerome, our guide in waiting

Various trails on our way up Mt. Manalmon

At the top of one of the peaks

At the second highest peak!

At the hump-back rock, the highest peak!

Made it on top!

Highest peak of Mt. Manalmon

The Sierra Mountain range on the background

Praying to the mountains

The view from the top

We tool another route going down and the trails were less technical

A lone pineapple along the trail

On level ground, at last..

June inspecting one of the caves

(Photo credits: Chicharon pic fr tapsilogatbp dot tumblr dot com)

Trail Running 101

There is a certain romanticism attached when i try to describe or read the pleasures of trail running. I always get to absorb the high and tranquility of the trails for fresh air leaving behind the chaos and pollution of urban running behind.

To quietly reflect on the beauty of the natural world is a given to those who take their time exploring the trails but for others, it serves as another challenge as we keep our hearts pumping when we join a trail race, no different from the usual grind of a road race.

I’ve been running trails for the past 3 years and the joys of experiencing the change of scenery and the excitement of racing on these parts add to the over-all enjoyment of running. If you’re new to the sport and would like to experience the exhilaration of running in this new environs, there are certainly many ways to enjoy it and it’s best to be prepared to know the ins and outs of trail running.

Last Wednesday, i attended Salomon’s Trail Running 101 lecture at ROX at Bonifacio High Street, conducted by Coach and multi-sport athlete, Miguel “Ige” Lopez and the Philippine Sky Runners. This was a great refresher course for me and whatever romanticism trail running stamped on my consciousness was replaced by wit and humor as Ige Lopez  discussed his travails, victorious conquests and funny anecdotes from his trail running experiences.

This refresher is in conjunction with the upcoming Salomon Trail race happening on the 31st which he endorses as he gave pointers on the basics: what gears to wear, running form, hydration, techniques, trail etiquette and stories of his racing experiences, locally and abroad.

Ms. Janice Tanada, Salomon Brand Manager and Ige Lopez at the lecture

Ige Lopez talks on uphill running

Trails come in different shapes and sizes, that’s the beauty of trail running — every trail is different so its important to learn some basics like trail running form and how to work trails into your normal running regiment.

Here are some tips on the basics of trail running:

What to ExpectWhen You Hit the Trail for an Off-Road Race

By: Martin Dugard

As you might think, a trail race can be quite different from a road race, both tactically and physically. Some words of wisdom regarding race day:

First of all, wear those trail shoes. They’re light enough for racing, but offer the lateral support you need to keep your feet and ankles more stable. Also, a trail shoe has a heavier tread pattern than a road shoe, and offers a toe “bumper” to protect you from bruising.

Start slowly. In essence, a trail race is a whole bunch of people trying to squeeze onto a skinny trail. Which may make you want to start out fast to beat the crowds. Don’t. This will only send you into oxygen debt and sap the energy you’ll need later in the race when everyone else is tiring.

Stay loose. As the race progresses, you’ll find a rhythm. Imagine yourself as nimble and light-footed as Fred Astaire. In this relaxed state, you’ll be less likely to fall and more apt to maintain speed.

Above all, have fun. Trail racing is the most natural form of racing. Indeed, we feel like children as we run through the forest. It’s playtime, and we’re called to it.

Trail Techniques and Tactics

Whether you are training or racing on trails, think about staying light on your feet. Run as if on eggshells. Also, resist the tendency to favor one leg over the other. A lot of runners start using one leg as the “plant” leg to land heavily on and the other as the “drive” or “push-off” leg. Each leg should do these actions interchangeably. Some other tactics to remember:

Downhills: Run on the balls of your feet, not on your heels. This means less pounding, more speed and greater control.

Uphills: Shorten your stride, and keep your head up and chest forward. Run relaxed and try to find a rhythm that will take you up and over each hill with relative ease.

Corners: To a greater extent than on the roads, trails offer the chance to round a corner and “hide.” Practice bursts of speed when turning corners. Competitors won’t see you accelerate, and will experience a mental letdown when they see you’ve “gapped” them. Include this maneuver as a regular part of your fartlek workout.

Streams: It’s possible to cross a stream while barely wetting your feet. All you have to do is high-step across as quickly as possible, allowing your feet to touch down only for a fraction of a second. Try it. And don’t be afraid to run right through a stream. Too many competitors lose time by halting at the edge of a stream midrace.

7 Steps to Your First Trail Run

By: Matthew Frazier

1. Find a trail. By far the best way to start trail running is to find a local group of trail junkies and run with them. They’ll know the best trails in your area and help you get started.  Be sure to distinguish between non-technical and technical trails. Non-technical trails are paved, gravel, or dirt roads that are generally easy to negotiate. Technical trails are narrow, dirt or rocky paths offering every variety of challenge that most people associate with trail running.

2. Slow down and take short, quick strides. You can expect to run about 20 percent slower on trails for a given level of exertion than you would on roads. You’ll find steeper hills, more side-to-side movement, and lots of obstacles to deal with. Trail running is most fun when you forget about pace and do what feels good. Shorten your stride so that your weight is over your feet most of the time; this allows you to react quickly and maintain balance. You’ll find that trail running works your core and stabilizer muscles more than road running, so it may help to focus on keeping your core engaged.

3. Don’t be afraid to walk the hills. The surest way to identify a road runner on the trails is to look for the guy who runs past everybody on the uphills, only to be passed again on the downhills. Trail runners know that it’s usually more efficient to walk up the steep hills and conserve energy to make up time on the way down.

4. Scan the ground five to ten feet in front of you as you run. When you’re running trails, you need to pay extra attention to where you step. But you certainly don’t want to be staring straight down at your feet the whole time. Continuously scan the ground a few yards ahead of you while you’re running. As you notice an approaching obstacle, shift your attention to your feet to do whatever is necessary to clear the obstacle. And don’t be lazy—pick up your feet just a little higher than you think is necessary to avoid a root or rock. Too many falls happen due to simple complacency.

5. Keep a distance of ten feet from other runners. If you’re going to pay attention the ground in front of you, it helps if you can actually see it. If that’s not enough reason to keep your distance, trail runners are required to change speeds all the time, rarely with warning. Nobody likes getting rear-ended.

6. Watch out for slippery roots and rocks. If you can step over a fallen tree, root, or large rock, rather than on it, do it. Lots of them are more slippery than they look. And when crossing streams, it’s often safer to walk directly through the water than to try to tiptoe across wet rocks. (You’ll avoid being called names, too.) It’s trail running; you’re supposed to get muddy and wet!

7. Be safe. It’s not called “the wild” for nothing. You know, the common-sense stuff. Whenever possible, run with a friend. Bring a map if you’re running a new trail for the first time. Have a first aid kit in the car, and carry extra food with you for emergencies. Bring along a cell phone if you’re running alone. And know the area you’re running—how to deal with the wildlife, when and where hunting takes place, when the sun goes down, and anything else that might pose a danger.

A Sneak Peek: The Trails Of The Salomon Run 2012

Tagaytay Highlands Resort in Tagaytay City seems like the sort of runners’ paradise that you just put-on a running shoe, venture outside and run anywhere your eyes (and feet) will take you. I most specially love its peaceful ambiance with its slightly cool weather and soft breeze. The roads are wide and open and its hard to get lost even when you venture on long distances.

My experience running on these roads are still vivid, if not spectacular and last November’s Nathan Ridge Run was one of the best road races of 2011! Read my experiences here–>  part-1, part-2 and race.

Yesterday was my first time to set on their trails and they offer a different story as they’re mostly un-tapped, isolated and far removed from any activity, except perhaps as an exit route for the isolated dwellers who venture out for their needs in the city.

I was fortunate enough to be invited by the Primer Group led by Janice Tanada (Brand Manager), Mariel Flores and Laira Legazpi, the same group that staged the Nathan Ridge Run last November to test run the new trails they have mapped for the forthcoming Salomon Trail Run this coming March 31, 2012. The test run was done yesterday, March 17.

I was with about 12 other running bloggers together with some members of the Philippine Skyrunning Association and we were led into some of the roughest terrain, mainly dirt and gravel trails with 
some overgrown bushes and grassy sections. The route was mostly technical, with a lot of challenging rocky, single-track trails, and 
rolling asphalt paths for a change of pace.

The conditions on the trails can be a little more harsh if it would rain and get muddy as some of the sections were at the time but otherwise, the trails are just lovely. We were only made to run the first 6kms of the route which were mostly on trails but if you’re running the 24k race, trails will comprise about 80% of the route.

The actual race is will start and end at the amphitheater of Tagaytay Highlands and according to Janice, the 24 km race course is the toughest race course ever set up in Tagaytay Highlands.

The magnet for this particular trail run on March 31 must have been so overwhelming that all 1,000 slots for the 6k, 12k and 24k have been sold out, as revealed to us by Janice! So if you’re one of those fortunate runners to register early and are running on these trails on the 31st, here’s a sneak peak for what’s in store for you. I’ll see you there!

On the way to the trails

Passing by one of the last rest houses before our descent began

The trail starts here

Voyage unto the wilderness

Run! That's what we did in the beginning and CJ shows how

The Running Atom (Pedz) moving in his short-shorts

Bob and Banjo watching their steps on a series of downhills

Nice to have those shades when runners most need it. It was blazing hot outside

Most of the trails were single-tracks, from soft ground to the very technical surfaces

On one of the open spaces somewhere along the mountain ridges

Nice way to commune with nature

Janice (r) of Salomon Philippines with teammate enjoying a break

Philippine Skyrunners Assoc.

A narrow path just covered with leaves. Don't run if you're not sure where your threading

Taking some pics just before tackling those uphills

Taking a break with a view of the village below

Another view over-looking another residential village

Past coconut husks

The Salomon recon team

No end to those rolling trails

Banjo leading the charge

Another rough road to pass

Among the mostly single-track trails

You won't miss this view at KM3.5

A break before heading home

The Running Atom wears his Salomon shirt proudly. Team Diadora, take note!:-)

Lunch waiting for us at the Club House

With our charming tour guide at Tagaytay Midlands

24k Race Route

Merrell Adventure Trail Run 2011

I’ve ran the trails of Timberland Heights a couple of times and there’s always something exciting to discover in this unwashed paradise in San Mateo, Rizal. The trails offer tree-covered hills on mostly single-tracks, wildflowers, spring crossings and some open fields. The terrain ranges from easy to difficult and there are parts that you really have to walk those uphills with little to hold on, except some thin branches of trees which breaks easily so there’s always those challenges.

For the past two years, there were races organized by Elite Multi-Sports Resources headed by Raul Ylanan, the All-Terra King of The Mountain Run and Bike Race which was very well-attended by both biking enthusiasts and runners. I’m not so sure if  there will be a race this year and the last race last year had one great post-run barbecue party sponsored by Mang Inasal.

Merrell is coming up with their own trail run and this will also be held at Timberland Heights on June 18. I’m sure Merrell’s will have their own route different from that of the King of the Mountain race and they will be having a 21k distance, aside from the 5k and 10k. Here are the details:

MERRELL ADVENTURE RUN

June 18, 2011

DESCRIPTION

On its second year, the Merrell Adventure Run again leads you through dirt roads, flowing streams, river crossing, rock scrambling, and uphill & downhill trails in a new but equally challenging & breathtaking race course at Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal. Brave up to this outdoor challenge and run on the rugged side this June 18, 2011.

RACE INFORMATION

Date: June 18, 2011 (Saturday)

Time: Assembly is at 5:00am for all categories. Race starts at 5:40 am (21K), 5:50 am (10K), and 6:00am (5K).

Race Distances: 5K, 10K, 21K

RACE FEATURES

New Venue: Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal

New Category: 21K

Exciting prizes and freebies await participants!

AWARDS & RACE RESULTS

	5K	10K	21K
1st (Male and  Female)	3,000.00	8,000.00	15,000.00	Cash prize and Gift bag
2nd (Male and Female)	2,000.00	6,000.00	11,000.00	Cash prize and Gift bag
3rd (Male and Female)	1,000.00	4,000.00	9,000.00	Cash prize and Gift bag

• Prizes will also be raffled-off during the program. The Race Bib number automatically qualifies each runner for the RAFFLE DRAW.

• FINISHER’S MEDALS will be given after the race to the Top 20 finishers of 5K, Top 20 finishers of 10K, and all runners of 21K who finish the course before the 9:00am final cut-off time for all categories.

• CERTIFICATES will be sent through email within two weeks after the race date to those who finish the course in their specific categories.

• RACE RESULTS will be posted on Takbo.ph and the Merrell Philippines fan page.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT:

Trail running shoes, Hydration pack/Bottle belt, Cap, Gloves, Running gaiters and Energy bar or gel, especially for the 21K runners.

REGISTRATION:

Download the MAR registration form from http://www.flickr.com/photos/62719183@N07/5709093152/ or get it at selected Merrell concept shops. Submit filled-out registration form with your fee from May 14 to June 14, 2011 at the MERRELL CONCEPT SHOPS listed below. Race Kits can be claimed June 1, 2011 onwards.

MARKET MARKET

• G/F Space 23-24 Phase 8
• Gaisano Market Market
• Taguig City
• Tel. no. (02) 836-1560

TRINOMA

• Space 2128 M2
• Quezon City
• Tel. No. (02) 915-0197

FESTIVAL MALL

• 2/F Festival Mall
• Alabang, Muntinlupa City
• Tel. No. (02) 659-3284

MARQUEE MALL

• Nepo Ave. Angeles City, Pampanga
• Tel. no (045) 304-0654

Registration Fees: (Inclusive of Race Kit and Race Singlet)

• P500 – 5K
• P650 – 10K
• P800 – 21K

A Glimpse of the Men’s Health All-Terrain Trail at Nuvali

There is nothing more exciting than discovering a new trail route that gets you exploring its intricacies and serene surroundings that you always find along the route. It was again time to lace up those trail shoes (in my case the old, trusty all-terrain New Balance 609). Saturday, we ran the 5k route of the Men’s Health All Terrain Race at Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna to be held this coming June 5, 2011.

I was one of those invited by Summit Media Publishing Co. which publishes the Men’s Health and the Runner’s World-Philippines magazines to test-run one of the routes of their upcoming all-terrain race. Me and about 7 other invited runners and bloggers were driven to the Nuvali Center at Sta. Rosa, Laguna where the starting line was just situated about 100 meters away on the main subdivision road.

It was getting hot that early morning just as the sun rose above the bare horizon. It was just 6:30am and i was already sweating. The trail is a new dirt road, very accessible and something that does not require you to train with weeks of long-off road runs. So this is great, easy perhaps for the first-time trail runner. It was a chance for me again to re-kindle my love for the trails..to ramble on dirt paths, and give my eyes and ears a break from the sights and sounds of traffic.

But don’t be fooled thinking that this would be like a walk in the park. Firstly, the heat was just scorching. As the temperature was humid, it warmed up really fast out in the trail which was open and exposed to the morning sun. I was wearing a Climacool Adidas shirt and a Supernova shorts and by the time we reached the 2.5 km. mark, i was all drenched in sweat.

The course had short but very steep hills and this was only during the first 3 kms of the run. I was told that there would be more of these hilly terrain for those running the 10k and 16k routes but nothing too technical to haul over.

I’d like to share some pictures with you i took during our trail run. I’ll be posting the details of this race in my next blog.

Before the run, Donna, Ian, Mar, Bards, me, Earl and Art

Start of the trail

Bards and Art checking out the route ahead

Just wide open spaces

One obstacle to cross over

Bards looking back how i fared

Somewhere at the 2 km mark

With Bards, Mt. Makiling in the foreground (photo by Donna Fuentes)

Preparing for the hill ahead

One of the uphill parts

Mar and the rest of the runners on their way back

Art leading the way

At the breakfast presscon after the run

Runners photo op

With Nikka Peralta of Summit Media

Trail Running and River Crossing at Puray, Rodriguez (with Pics)

I’m not really fond of crossing rivers as part of a long trail run because firstly, i don’t want to get my shoes and my toes wet specially in the early stages when i still have to complete an hour or two of running and second, i easily develop blisters when i run on wet feet.

But this is what happened to June and i when we ventured to PURAY, a small village nestled in the midst of the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal. What we didn’t know was that we had to cross at least eight (8) rivers interlocking a couple of other small villages before we reach the final village of Puray.

The fire-roads and trails to Puray is actually a favorite route of mountain bikers that offers them plenty of challenges in trekking the gentle to rough terrain and cross the rivers continuously without getting down from their bikes.

Getting there is just less than an hour’s drive from the Quezon Memorial Circle via Commonwealth Ave., Batasan Road and San Mateo Road. Before reaching Barrio Wawa is the small district of San Isidro. Turn left on its main highway going to Avilon Zoo. This zoo, the largest zoological park in the country is the jump-off point and we started our run from there heading first to the village of Muscap then to Puray.

Muscap is about 10-12 kms of paved to rough roads while Puray is 5-7kms further west. The trails along Muscap going to Puray is one of the most extensive i ‘ve ever seen. It has mostly well-maintained double tracks and you have two choices of routes going to Puray, one on the elevated tracks with views of the mountain ranges and the other on the lower portion where the river crossing occur.

We experienced soft to rugged desert trails that roller coaster between boulders, ridges with eye popping views of the Sierra Madres. The rivers are a blissful place of slow rushing water that is disturbed intermittently by motorized tricycles transporting town-folks, cyclists and pedestrians who just enjoy walking barefoot on these rivers.

The trails are an experience to itself, the trees that line its banks reach up as high as a 3-storey building and some flowers are in full bloom. There’s more than enough trails here to keep our legs lively and our senses well-fed both atop the mountains and all over the foothills that surround the small villages.

June and i covered about 19kms in about 3 hours and the trails command a repeat performance run. If the active outdoor life is this beautiful and challenging, what more could you ask from a place?

Here are some of our pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

First crossing after only 6 minutes of running

Didn't want to get my shoes wet yet just after starting

First hurdle done.

June leads towards the mountains

Towards Muscap in Rodriguez

Start of the trails

First break after 5 kms

A stretch of paved highway

June glides by some rock formation

Charging an uphill

Soft sand was good for the feet

All uphill from here

"Go ahead, i'm just behind you!"

Nature at its best!

More scenes like this later...

Great scenery!

Approaching the Sierra Madre Mountains

Great view!

Full view

The trails from behind

Running at the edge of a ravine

Getting closer to a waiting shade

Taking another break

June at the waiting shade

Sprinting ahead

Approaching Puray

All downhill from here

Another river crossing. June talks to a native

Clear and pristine

At the other end

Clear skies and it was going to be a hot day!

We forge ahead and after a few hundred meters, another river to cross

And yet another one

Stopping to pose

This kid just appeared in the picture. Where did he come from?

A balancing act

Nice easy walk

It was great running on trails along the banks of a river

And another river crossing

Back to the trails

About 16k during this time

Some more views of the rivers

Trails and river run side by side

More rivers to cross

The last river

Gallowalking The Trails With Team Boring

Well, i suppose you could call this run a “fun run” or a “trail fun run” that had us laughing for most of the 15k route. It was planned to be a send-off run for our dear Julie (hotlegsrunner) who is migrating to the land of milk and honey in a few days time. It was also to be her first trail run and we were celebrating this occasion.

Doc T, Rod (rod-runner), Jet (jetpaiso) , Mar (forefoot) and Vic who call themselves “Team Boring” (they all got bored during their trip to Bataan to run the BDM Ultra 102k, thus the monicker) were also on hand, as well as Tere (elcapitana) and Aaron of  Takbo.ph.  Last Saturday, we made the short drive from Jolibee Philcoa to the Green Hills Estate and from there walked and jogged towards the trail’s entrance which was 2 kilometers from the outpost.

The estate, once sequestered by the former Marcos regime and now back with the Araneta’s was an undiscovered gem until me and running friend, June Santiago decided to explore the trails a year ago. I had to recommend this trail to Julie and the group because of its proximity to Metro Manila and it’s an easy-moderate trail. I made sure that the group would enjoy the route at a leisurely pace so they could take in its beauty without much huffing and puffing associated with a trail race. So all of us “Gallowalked” (run and walk) the trails.

We ran the route passing several rows of Ipil-Ipil and Mango trees and the aromatic Cadena De Amor plant. The trail also boasts a large naturally occurring strand of wild orchids and other exotic plants. Other than the fauna, we also encountered the usual grazing cows that seemed to like the presence of Julie who was feeding them with grass.

It was a perfect time to run on these trails–just before the onset of La Nina. Although it rained slightly the night before, the trails were in perfect shape except for a couple of short muddy stretches.

It was an enjoyable adventure, Gallowalking and all, capped off with a sumptuous lunch of grilled chicken and roasted pork spare ribs at Kenny Rogers.

Bon Voyage, Julie!:-)

Breakfast at Jolibee, Philcoa before our run

At the entrance gate of the trail while waiting for the others

L-R, Doc T, Mar, me, Aaron, Vic

With the whole group: Mar, Jet, Vic, Me, Rod, Tere, Aaron, Julie, Doc T

Mar gearing up as he leads the start of the trail run

Julie, taking her first running steps on a trail

No swerving, please:-)

Bored of running!

Taking it easy

Ultra T!

Julie completing her first 2k! 13k to go, Jules!

How could he extend his arms so straight?

Vic in one of his sexy post!

Showering him with love!

Stretching on one another!

Taking aim of the uphill ahead

Almost there, Julie!

Julie feeding her pets!

One of my favorite pics

One more obstacle lie ahead

El Capitana pushing the pace

Journey to the meadows

Nice place to take it easy

Rod on a hunt for pests and snakes?

Mar and Aaron atop the boulders

Another river crossing

Tere enjoying the scenery

Nice pose, Hotlegs Runner!

We'll try to run the trail at the right side which we haven't done yet and see where it'll take us.

Post run brunch at Kenny Rogers

Running The Trails Of Nuvali

The notion of trails conjures up jaunts in old-growth, secluded forests that goes through wild sceneries of rolling terrain alongside gently flowing rivers and cascading waterfalls. Except…i was running right smack on the waters of a flowing river, this time! 

Last Sunday, having been invited by Ann Tajonera, Assistant Brand Manager of New Balance, Planet Sports, Inc., i had the pleasure of joining 22 other trail runners try-out a 15km trail in the Nuvali Headlands in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, parts of which will be used during the New Balance- Trail Adventure Run this coming June 20th. It was also an opportunity to practice in its truest form the art of Chi Running (CR) and no less than certified instructor Lit Onrubia was on hand to lead the charges, giving tips during the run and between rest breaks. 

This particular trail was mapped-out by Neville Manaois of Second Wind. The first half of the route featured mostly single track paths and weaves through rolling, open view sceneries. The trails offer excellent footing, a pleasant scenery although it could be hot in the open except that we had perfect weather during the early morning run. 

The second-half of the trail was more scenic, running through light forest, wider tracks but not too technical. However, all that changed when we were led into a deep, sharp descent towards a ridge and a river channel of lush wilderness. The river run was going to be the highlight of this trail. We were only able to run some shallow stretches of water as we were reduced to threading the waters which at some sections were knee deep high. It was slippery on the rocks and one false move, we were down on our knees on the water! For starters, these were some of the pictures taken:

Lit Onrubia giving instructions before the run

Neville Manaois giving a short briefing of the trail

Start of the run at about 5:00am

On one of the course's uphills

Sprinting runners behind me

Lit giving instructions on how to attack the downhills...

...and the uphills

More tips on running form

Our first water break after 3 kms

Off we go again

Running on a single track

Time out for a picture!

The wide, open plains of Nuvali

Past grazing cows on the left

One more briefing before we head for the river

At the 10k mark

Another hole to get through

Ann's all too excited to reach the river

Final assault of the river

Finally reaching the river's embankment

Lit giving tips on river running

Getting our feet wet!

Threading on the slippery rocks. Neville (in red) doing a balancing act

Deep inside the levee. I'm way back still taking shots

A stop at a cascading waterfalls

We were all wet at this point

We all sank ankle high, sometimes knee deep

Poor trail shoe!

A deep ravine on the right side

The group on our way back to Manila

I was just content in threading the river trail very slowly as i ran/walked most of the route shooting away pictures. Runners were passing me but i didn’t mind. I was able to reach a female runner ahead of me and we decided to run the last kilometer together. 

Finally, we saw the finish area as we gently jogged the end of our run. Hallelujah! I learned a tremendous deal on this particular trail run and i thank Lit for the invaluable tips. Foremost among the various techniques Lit imparted are: 

–  Be loose on the “downhills.” Posture your body on a sitting-like position and focus on a faster cadence, keeping your feet soft, light and nimble while keeping shoulders relaxed. Drive down hard if you want. 

–  Focus on maintaining “effort” level and not pace. 

–  Take it easy on single tracks, but go fast on wider lanes. 

–  Let your arms do the work on uphills and lift-up your head. 

–  When running through rivers, attack the shallow parts without minding if your shoes get wet. If tiny stones and sand get the insides of your shoe, don’t hesitate to stop and remove them to avoid blisters. 

–  If racing on trails, shoot corners/bends. It means sprint past the corners when runners behind you can’t see you and you should be able to increase the distance between you and the runners following you. 

Over-all, it was another fun trail run that should be experienced by all trail enthusiasts!