1st Waldorf Trail Run: A Race Recap

My appreciation to trail running started when i joined my first trail race at Timberland Heights, the All Terra King of the Mountain Trail Run way back 2009. Trail running wasn’t that much popular then as now although The North Face Race series was already staging trail races much earlier.

I was so fascinated by the experience of running through wooded forests, river crossings, communing with nature and much more that i made it a point to run as much trails as i can, if time and opportunity permits. Succeeding races and training runs at Timberland ensued.

So last Sunday, i was back here to run the inaugural Waldorf  10k Trail Run. The Manila Waldorf is a school located inside the Timberland Heights, Filinvest Estate, just a stone’s throw away from the trail head. I wasn’t even aware that there was a school located inside this estate as we didn’t give much notice to the ongoing development in the area. After all, we came here for the trails!

Woke up early and arrive at the Centris Mall near Quezon Blvd at about 4:30 am so i could avail of the service vans which will take some of the runners to the race venue. I met with Mike Antigua, one of the race organizers who was overseeing the transportation of the runners and long-time running friend Dennis (the RunningPinoy) who was also running the 10k.

The race started a few minutes late as it was still dark in the area but we were off as soon as brightness lit up around us at about 6:15am. It was nice to be running on familiar terrain, the cool breeze was invigorating as we tackled the single track trails around the hill-tops at the beginning with the views of the Sierra Madre Mountains visible on either your left or right side.

As always, i brought in my camera and record some of the new trails that were part of the course.

There were adequate hydration stations every 2 kms of the route but i didn’t expect that this was going to be a no-cup race so you had to bring your own hydration bottle or container. I just had with me a bottle-full of Gatorade so when i wanted to have water, i used the cap of the blue plastic container that were on the tables, poured water on it and scooped right from it!

Approaching kilometer 8, we were diverted into a unused trail that cuts-off from the main road leading to the finish and the views here were wonderful and serene. I was on a roll during that time but stopped every time i saw a good view and took shots from my camera.

Race marshals were adequate although i wished they had deployed some during the last kilometer when runners were distracted at a road construction site where barricades were blocking the road so we had to stop and ask the workers on which direction to go.

Other than that, the over-all organization, water stations, trail route and volunteers were laudable! There were adequate food stalls selling breakfast meals at the school grounds although you could line-up and get free hot dogs on a stick or in sandwich buns as many times as you like.

However, one concern of mine was on the ruling with regards to the winners. They did not have separate categories for the over-all male and female winners. They just awarded the top 3 placers regardless of sex which i think was unfair to the female 1st placer. I brought this concern to Mike and he said that he would rectify this issue immediately.

Over-all, i think Waldorf did a commendable job in staging its first race and learning from some of the bumps on this fun run, they should be able to stage a better race hopefully next year!

Here are some pictures of the event:

With friends before the start

With Dennis Ravanzo (Running Pinoy)

The start was delayed for a few minutes because it was still dark

Busy taking some pics above these hills

Lucky to have good cool weather this morning

Downhill part slows down the runners

The route was gently rolling, no major shifts on elevations

Yours truly (in blue) keeping up with the pace (Photo credits, Carlo Unson)

Inside the forested area of the Timberland Heights

Many scenes like this inside the forest trails

Trail in one open area frequented by bikers. Luckily, no bikes were allowed inside the trails during race day.

A rotonda, of sorts

Part of the scenery, overlooking the wide Sierra Madre mountains

The last 3kms offered some very nice trails

Last 2.5 kms.

This is a new trail that wasn’t open to races before and i’m glad they let us pass through here for the first time

At approximately the last 1.2 kms.

There’s more of this hillside trails

A downhill dash

Then another short uphill…

The one final push before hitting the dirt road and to the finish

Long lines at the finish to get some free hot dogs

Families and friends were gathered to greet the runners

The Waldorf School “picnic grounds”

Dancing On The Trails Of Daranak

“Trail running is like dancing on the trails. If you stumble, make it part of the dance.” –rv

The Daranak 21k Trail Run has billed itself as the most challenging in the 3 legs of the Nature’s Trail Discovery Runs in Tanay and that proved to be an understatement! The race was grueling, one of the toughest trail race i have ever encountered and i am still limping from my aching quads and hamstrings in run-walking those uphill climbs.

I had expected this to be a difficult course but it was far more torturous than i anticipated, specially on those ridiculous technical climbs and descents. Well that was just the hardest part but for most of the other runners who did the shorter distances, it was a run full of thrills and adventure:

Here is a short synopsis of the race:

THE START:

4:50 am : June and i arrived at Daranak Resort and there were already full of cars lined-up on the streets leading to the entrance. We were asked to park on the right-most edge of the road as vehicles were arriving in droves.

5:10 am: We were greeted at the entrance by Norphy’s Ceasar Valderamma and told to proceed to the convention area where runners collected their race packets. June got his race packet and also took hold of Chito’s who we expected to arrive soon. Chito didn’t make it to the venue.

5:45: It was no less than Mr. Manny Santos, PIMCO Prexy and race organizer who started the countdown while Ceasar Valderamma fired the starting pistol.
During the test run we did weeks earlier, i had expected that we were to proceed to the river directly after the gun start but the organizers seem to have changed the plan.

Instead, we headed directly to the entrance bridge then out to the main street where we parked our cars and to some rough roads leading to a wide bridge. Runners stopped to take pictures. It was so wide a bridge for a river that looked like a single-track trail!

The view from the bridge (Photo by Jeffrey Ubalde)

Approaching the bridge while runners took some pictures

Past the bridge and going uphill

TO THE BATCAVE!

Runners were in for a treat when we approached the Calinawan Cave. I was a little concerned when my headlamp was going kaput when i tested it at home so had to change the batteries. I kept it in a small case attached to my hydration belt and as soon as we entered the cave, i wore it right back and it lit brightly as i turned it on.

I can hear the giggles of some runners when they maneuvered along the dark pathways and some even had to stop to observe the stalactites above them. This became like a school field trip instead of a race! No one could overtake so one has to toe the line and wait to move in tandem with the others.

To the cave entrance

Surprisingly, the walk to the cave was very orderly, no pushing nor shoving. There were marshals who guided the runners inside. Nice job!

The ground was mostly dry this time unlike our test run a month ago which was muddy and slippery inside

There were narrow passages that each runner has to wait to get through

The view inside

THE RIVER CROSSING:

This has got to be my least-liked part of the race when aside from crossing those rivers, you have to climb very wet boulders, secure your footing and cling to whatever your hands can grip on to avoid falling. This was the most dangerous part of the route and saw some runners slip on the rocks and fall down the river.

One scary part was one female runner stepped into a very deep part of the river and was swept by the strong currents and couldn’t hold on to anything. She was dragged a few meters and into a marshal who was standing on top of a boulder watching the proceedings. The marshal held on to an arm of the lady but couldn’t get her to stand up as if her foot was stucked underneath!

The lady was already screaming. She was gasping for air! Other runners scrambled to help and it took another minute before they could pull her up. This was one close call (pictures below).

The river trekking took forever and glad that it ended when it did!

Steep ravine at the edges of the trail that lead to the river

A long winding trail where you could already hear the gushing river at the other side

The first view of the river that greeted the runners

We had to criss-cross the river to avoid the strong currents

Climbing over slippery rocks was not an easy task

Clinging on rocks and getting the correct footing was the order of the day

A runner and a marshal rescues this female runner from being swept by the strong currents

Another runner to the rescue until she was finally pulled-out. The dangers of river crossing.

The river trek was slow. Getting up and down those rocks was a journey in itself

Glad to have avoided that downhill stream

River crossing na, may rock climbing pa!

Rock formations were a plenty during the river crossing. Must be centuries old

Part where a lot of runners slipped and tumbled

These bamboo poles were deemed useless because they were slippery when you tried to step over them

Stairs To OUR LADY OF RAWANG:

The only technique needed to conquer these flight of stairs is to put one foot forward in front of the other, one step after another until you reach the top. Easier said than done as i was going into zombie-mode just half-way this 346 flight of steps.

June poses while scaling the 340 step Grotto stairs

UPHILL CLIMB TO THE TOP:

Climbing up those mountain ranges was one tough battle all 21k runners had to endure and it had to be the most challenging of all legs of the Nature Trail Discover Tanay series. Your quads are going to hate you because they will keep on pounding while climbing on those continuous rocky trails! Many of the rocks had jagged edges and one false move can cut you up real bad.

I had slight cuts and scratches on my legs when moving about on the uphill trails and most of the runners who i encountered during the climb had their share of bruises and cuts too. I saw a runner who was lying down on the ground in pain, apparently of severe leg cramps and was being helped by two other runners.

None of the hard training could have prepared me for the torturous run up Masungi mountain and it was a long 5 kilometer trek to reach the peak! The trails up were priceless though and it had some of the most picturesque views in trail running.

Three hours had gone by when i finally reached the peak at about 1,600 masl. Not much excitement up there where i saw runners who were either eating, resting and taking pictures of the vast Laguna de Bay below. Here we were given a green ribbon signifying that we had reached the turn-around point and had to get back on the same route.

The downhill journey was harsher on our thighs as the pounding doubled, causing me to cramp on both thighs at the 16th km mark. The heat was enormous and I had to stop several times to massage my thighs and the ambulance waiting on the 18th km mark was no big help as they had no liniments nor knowledgeable personnel to give your leg a brief massage.

I noticed at this mark that runners should turn right and make a 2.5 km. circular loop before heading back to where the ambulance stood in the other direction. However i saw many runners skip this loop and immediately turned left without completing the loop. Marshals should have been stationed to man this checkpoint but it was only the ambulance truck that was there.

I finished the 22.1k race in 5:46, a PW (personal worst) but still below the given cut-off time of 6 hours.

Over-all, it was a great race, very challenging and one beautiful race route!

I’ll leave you with some pictures June and i took at the trails:

The start of our mountain trek

The single track trails were nice and easy during the early part but became very technical during those climbs up those mountains in background

Views of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges

Another view at close range

The 5-km uphill trek was both torture to the quads and feet.

Rocky single track uphill trek

On one of the mellower trails

One of the many picturesque trails

Blue skies and hot weather. Got hotter during the latter part

June signals that he is still alive!

Love this part of the trail…

…while June zooms along

Another rocky part

A wide trail

At the peak

Background is Laguna De Bay

Tough race! Congrats to all!

With Goldy, the “Precious” one

With Aquiz, the running photographer

With popular runner Marie Joyce Negapatan

With Manghusi (JR)

Guess what? PIMCO Sports, organizers of this event is going to hold another trail run, the Love A Tree International 50k-trail ultra-marathon on February 10, 2013 which will be held on a new route, also along these great trails of Tanay. An accompanying 6k, 12k and 24k race will be held here simultaneously.

Details will be posted on their Facebook account and website. Yikes, another trail run to look forward to!

My Run United Philippine Marathon Experience

Finally, it was great to complete the UNILAB Run United series with an emphatic exclamation point added to its final running event of the year, the 1st Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM) which i finished last Sunday and what a race!.  This was only my second longest race of the year, the first being the Tagaytay To Nasugbu (T2N) 50k ultra-marathon done last May and lots of shorter races in between.

Run United’s inaugural marathon was supposed to come out with a bang; red carpet finish line, marching bands, Philippine miniature flags which were handed out a few meters from the finish, cowbells ringing to greet you at the home stretch and they sure delivered!

Just before the race

Before last Sunday’s marathon, never was i so pessimistic about this race knowing that i was going to do it “under-trained” which you might think is better than over-trained but the sloppy training schedule was really pathetic: 2-3 days a week, comprising two short runs of 8-12kms and my farthest week-end run of only 25kms with no cross-training in between. So, how would you survive a marathon with such inconsistent training? I was just lucky to have survived it, i guess.

With friend Jackie

Still, i was satisfied of my results despite the much slower finish time compared to my last marathon this past December at the Quezon City International Marathon.

Here are some highlights of the race:

ARRIVING AT THE MALL OF ASIA

The early morning began when good friend Jun Santiago and i arrived at the MOA at about 1:45am and immediately boarded one of the many shuttle buses that would take us for the 20 minute ride to Bonifacio Global City start line. This was our usual itinerary during the Run United run series when races start at the BGC and ends up at MOA.

JUN’S FIRST MARATHON

What’s significant about this race is this is Jun’s debut marathon and he’ll be finally doing it after years of prodding him to run one. I know he was shit scared but wouldn’t admit it and his aim was just to finish, regardless of time. I was confident that he could do it, though.

C-5 ROAD

Part of the RUPM route was C-5 Road, the main thoroughfare in Taguig and this was going to be the first time that runners will be running on this highway in a race. We exited at the back of Market-Market and traffic was building up that early as we merged with vehicles occupying just a lane to 3 lanes for the runners. True to what race director Coach Rio has told us prior to the race, police and marshals were seen deployed along the route and the highway was mostly well-lit.

I was somewhat distracted by the blaring of sound systems, videoke bars and the shouts of youths that were either cheering or jeering us until we reached the somewhat solemn area of the Heritage Park, another route which we hadn’t use in a race for a while.

BUENDIA AVE.

It was very unusual of a Run Rio organized race to run out of water on their hydration stations and more unusual to see nothing being replenished when i ran passed the whole stretch of Buendia Avenue. The tables were empty on the 5 hydration stations starting from the station fronting Jolibee, just before climbing up Kalayaan Overpass and it was like a desert afterwards. Good thing that i brought my hydration belt with a bottle of Gatorade that sustained me all along Buendia Ave.

Mini-Stop and 7-Eleven convenience stores must have had a field day as dozens of runners rushed to their doors and buy bottled water and brought them along for the rest of the run. I think the stations ran out of supplies because of the deluge of the 21k runners who were first to reach Buendia Avenue.

ROXAS BOULEVARD

The last 15k running this stretch was a bit of chaos as thousands of runners, bikers, rowers, walkers and Sunday strollers converged and made this stretch really crowded. And it was on this stretch that i did my run-walk routine just to have something in reserve at the end of the race. I saw my team mates Chito, Tonet and Sylvia, all encouraging each other while also noticing the strain on their faces. We were all hurting but we were moving forward.

The heat was beginning to set on us specially during the last 5 kilometers. I had to pour a lot of water on my head at all water stops thereafter and it did greatly to dissipate the heat.

Pouring myself some water along Roxas Blvd

Walking towards the last kilometer, i saw Tin Ferrera who took the time to pace me and pour some of her water on my head. This gave me some sort of a second-wind to sustain a run-jog pace where we were able to over-take a lot of runners. As soon as we reached the last 150 meters, Tin left as i continued to make that one final push.

With Ultra-runner Tin Ferrera

Thanks to Tin for the company!

The mood towards the finish was not only festive, it was also very heart-warming as i had goosebumps when running host-emcee Boy Ramos, his baritone voice booming, acknowledged my arrival and that really psyched me up to sprint the last 150 meters past the large cheering crowd as i crossed the finish line!

42k done in 5:51, a not too proud achievement but satisfied enough to be able to make it despite the sloppy training.

I was waiting for Jun and was a bit worried when i never saw him during the race. Elated when he called me up that he was done and finished in 7:09, his first marathon! Congrats, pre! Fotah…

Jun and i with the extra large 42k medal and finisher’s shirt!

RUPM was a great experience and i would definitely run this one again next year!

Thanks to the Running Photographers for some of the pictures used.

You can check out the race results here: http://unilabactivehealth.com/rununited/results.html

POGS Run: A Race Recap

I finally ran a road race yesterday after several week-end races on trails. Not that i miss running on roads which i do most weekdays anyway, but for the chance to give my trail shoes some respite after being battered, its outsole partly sliced-off from the midsole.

I took the shoe to my suking shoe repairman a few days ago and he said it would only need a strong adhesive to connect the outsole to the base of the shoe and it would be as good as new. He explained that if the midsole was the part that was detached from the upper, then no amount of strong adhesive would sustain it as long as it would endure the same battering on the trails and rivers.

Makes sense as i’ve had some shoes that got detached again and again after the midsoles have been glued to death!

Anyways, back to my road race this morning. I was able to join the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (POGS) 16k run. Put together by the team behind the Run Doctor Run 10k and the Run For Hope (that’s Eric Pasion and his Run For Change team), the race at the tree-lined Camp Aguinaldo grounds was well-attended, enthusiastically supported by people of the medical profession, had more than enough hydration stations and an atmosphere even pregnant women would be relaxed to watch!

I arrived at Camp Aguinaldo early just in time to catch up with Blas (Titanium Runner) who was getting my race packet from the race officials for me. The weather was just right, cloudy skies and not too hot, just perfect for an easy, relaxed pace. This was a small race, one of many bigger races being held simultaneously in Metro Manila. I got in with the other 16k runners, less than a hundred in total and was running in pace with Blas and Doc Topher who was running his first race after several months of hiatus.

At the starting line, just before gun start

Camp Aguinaldo is mostly flat, except for the slightly rolling hills at the rear of the camp which by no means affected our pace. There were nice hydration booths set-up by medical groups, some even wearing Hawaiian Hula skirts with the Gangnam Style music blaring from their mini radio. Water and even bananas were adequately provided.

I was running in tandem with Blas for most of the way, at times stopping at water stations and walking a full minute before resuming to run. While Doc Topher had to slow down a bit, Blas and I caught up with Au Cruz who was doing the Galloway running method so the three of us were weaving in and out, sometimes ahead and behind each other.

The Titanium Runner

It was two loops for the 16k and although there wasn’t any kilometer marker on site, it was easy to determine what km you were in, forgoing that i had my Soleus GPS watch with me. The only hitch that this race had was the absence of marshals at the last 300 meters when runners didn’t know which road to turn on the way to the grandstand finish line. Some went straight but when i saw a glimpse of Blas turning left to the field, i just followed suit.

Taking time-out with Au Cruz who i ran along with for most part of the race

Finished the 16k race relaxed in 1:46 which would probably be my last long run before this Sunday’s Run United Philippine Marathon. Got a loot bag which contained probably six month’s supply of shampoo.

Congratulations to all who finished the race, the sponsors and organizers for a job well done. Hope to run this race again next year!

Sultry host, Giselle Sanchez who “stole” the emceeing chores

Having some espresso with Dave and B

With Dave, Beep and B

My KOTR Blues

If you think you can get away with late night drinking sprees with colleagues, staying up until the wee hours of the morning watching videos, not running a step for 7 straight days then expecting at least to run a decent 16.8k race knowing that your 21k race the Sunday before can carry you over this race… man, you got it all screwed up!

This is what i experienced yesterday during the Adidas King of the Road (KOTR) 16.8 race at BGC and the feeling was like someone had just hammered the barrel of a baseball bat with one swift swing into my head! Hahah…I had a head-ache and my plantar was throbbing in pain for most part of the run.

When the gun start was fired, i tried to keep up with team-mate Betty who has been a pace-mate for many past races and told her to keep it easy as i hadn’t had any training for the last 7 days. She flew past anyway so i just had to hang on and i knew that i was not up to speed as i was already huffing and puffing for the first 3 kms which was unusual  for many of my past races.

Approaching the 4th km., i knew i couldn’t keep up with the pace which was not exactly a fast one, but i told her to go ahead so i could run a slower pace. She wouldn’t leave me and instead, tried still to encourage me to go on with her. Never thought that a week of sinful pleasures would make its toll and after a few more hundred meters, i insisted that she would have to go on without me so sensing that i was really struggling, she relented and took off  in a wink, like a thief in the night!

I heave a sigh of relief, ably just hanging on to a slow 7:30/km pace and for once, i was able to smile and acknowledge the other runners who were waiving from the other side. The pain on my heel had subsided a little bit while maintaining this pace.

Those runners who i was beating in past races were now slowly over-taking me but that was to be expected. The 100Plus energy drinks weren’t much help but the ample supply of bananas at the hydration stations were a boon to my sagging energy and kept me through the run. Nice to see cheering groups  stationed along the route and the presence of some fastfood mascots high-fiving runners provided some extra entertainment.

Photo by Mit Mercurio

Even Blas (the Titanium Runner) who could very well pass as a human mascot (because of his boundless energy) was cheering us runners!:-) Meanwhile, while i was limping back to the finish line, i saw Sylvia, another team-mate of mine doing her cool-down run along 5th Street, the 16.8 race barely a warm-up for her usual longer and fast training runs . I crossed the finished line in 2:02 and i wanted to drop dead at that very moment as it was one of the worst finish i’ve ever had.

Well those are lessons learned. I’ve learned that if i ever feel even slightly under-trained, my body is telling me that you’ll suffer the consequences of being idle (and a bum) and those long nights surely had an effect on my muscles. Another important lesson is not to rely on your past performances as gauge to what you assume you can do as this can change abruptly once you do something drastic with your lifestyle. Consistency is the name of the game here.  Your body does not always adopt well to what it is not trained to do.

After the race, i got to hang-out with some of the regulars in my group, saw Jeff Paulino of L-Time Studio; Judith Staples of Soleus; Blas, the Titanium Runner, who brought some  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and with the company of my Adidas Adination of Runners, UP Heartbreakers Team.

To sum it up…great organized race, bad performance! Hope to make it up at next year’s edition!

RACE RESULTS are now out! Check it here: http://race.proactive.ph/adidas-kotr-2012/

Here are some pictures of the race:

Derek, Mar and June

With Nic2 and Aileen

With the aNR Heartbreakers Team

Team Heartbreakers

Post-KOTR breakfast

Rain United-3: A Race Recap

It’s been almost a week since this race last Sunday (too busy and constant traveling-around-couple-of-days) and i didn’t want you to think that i forgot all my experiences running in this superb 32k race.

With this final leg of  the Run United event, the race was awesome, soaking wet, rainy, well organized and as with most Runrio organized race, an all-around winner! Kudos to Runrio, you did it again! I was pleased over-all to have completed the TRilogy and connected all the 3 medals that came with finishing the 21k-21k-32k races. Finally, a looming march up the stage of the Runrio Awarding nights and get a recognition…hopefully, there will be an awarding nights this year!

The medal triad

Another good turn-out of about 6,000 plus 21k and 32 runners and it’s quite a good feeling knowing where you are on the pack, me…always in the middle, great seeing those faster runners in front of me, cheering them on but knowing you’re still in front of many other runners.

Some quick impressions:

• Raining all through-out the 32k run, clothes all soaked-out, shoes came wet and floppy inside
• Nice course, completing the first 10k inside BGC so that you won’t cover too much ground along Roxas Blvd which can be boring.
• Paced with training partner Tita Betty from start up to the 27th km. Waited for her take a pee near Mercato which took some minutes off our time. Couldn’t keep up with her after the 27th km as she ran her own fast pace.
• Undisciplined runners who threw their cups and banana peels on the road despite long trash chutes located near the water stations.
• Suggest that large signs be placed ON TOP of these water chutes facing the runners (not just along the front and sides of the steel railings) where the runners can see them more.
• Substantial hydration stations, plenty of water… plus rain-soaked POWERADE which gave it a diluted taste. Bananas galore!  Love these long races that offer bananas!
• Great effort by organizers to light up Kalayaan bridge, the darkest part of many a races. They already did this during leg 2 and hope they continuously sustain this for the welfare of the runners.
• Race distance seems to be longer than 32k. Some runners had 33k registered on their Garmin GPS while my Soleus’ reading stood at 32.76kms.
• Very nice finishers shirt although this final edition T-s seems to be coarser than those of the first 2 legs. Never had a problem claiming my shirt which came with the right size although i heard of complaints from other runners not getting the size they were supposed to receive.
• Great Pinoy bands (Imago, Sandwich) for the after-race programs!
• Sumptuous breakfast at the Run United tent as guests of the RU Communications Team! Thanks, Run United!

So you may be wondering if i’m going to run the RUN United Philippine Marathon in 5 weeks time? Well, if my training turns out to still be consistent during the next few weeks and get another 32k long run sandwiched-in, i’ll be there at the starting line!

I’m sure this marathon event (October 28) will really give you something to rave about!

You can check the race results here:

http://www.unilabactivehealth.com/rununited/results.html

Here are some of my RU3 pics. See you soon!

Pacing with Betty up to the 27th km.

A kilometer to go

Home at last!

We were guests of Raymund Santiago from Unilab’s Corporate Communication and husband to Tonette (left) at the Unilab tent after the run.

At the awarding ceremonies

Runners enjoying the activities

The Trails Of The La Mesa Nature Reserve: The Immuvit Challenge

One of the best things about running (or racing) on a trail for the first time is that you get to explore something different from other trails that you have previously ran on. There will be surprises that await you which could either be a gorgeous scenery, a breath-taking mountainscape, an on-rushing river crossing or a steep muddy hill which you have to scale up.

The Immuvit Fearless Challenge 10k and 5k Trail Run last Sunday at the La Mesa Nature Reserve offered both great scenery and challenges. A first timer at the La Mesa Nature Reserve, i was blown-away by the course and the serene panorama of the place.

Never mind if i wasn’t able to complete most of the obstacles that were set up at last Sunday’s 10k  trail course cum obstacle challenge,  as i was there simply to RUN and enjoy the trails with my ever dependable digital camera in tow.

Sequestered on a quiet corner of Quezon City bordering Bulacan province, this moderately challenging course passes some woodlands, meadows, wooden bridges which feasted our eyes to one of the most beautiful trail courses here in Metro Manila and the challenge it presented not only on the tough muddy terrain but also to the man-made obstacles that were laid-up for runners to conquer.

This was my first venture here at the La Mesa Reserve and i was virtually in awe of its vastness which dwarfs that of the much smaller La Mesa Eco-Park.

Here are some of the highlights as i give a short description of the race and the trails:

At the start

The start area was a precursor of what runners would expect running this course. Set amidst a backdrop of 20 to 30-foot tall trees and luscious greenery, the scene was like a mecca-like gathering of trail runners… wooden shade structures for runners to change into their gears, a temporary stage where a band was playing and another stage where awards and other programs would be presented.

There were about 7 to 8 waves of about 30 to 40 runners each that were flagged-off at about 15 minute intervals so as not to crowd-out the obstacles.

Still feeling fresh (and clean) before the start. L-R: Sam, Vicky, Blas and me

The view from the start as race marshals huddle to prepare the first obstacle

True enough, logs were set on fire for the first obstacle

We’re off! Jumping off the first hurdle!

A huge part of the route were on double-track trails and they were very well-maintained. Due to the constant rains that occurred a few days before the race, most of the tracks were wet and muddied. Runners threaded on the side or at the middle grassy portion although the faster runners didn’t care where to step on. They just flew by!

The first part of the route were mostly double-track trails

Runners had the exclusive use of the trails that Sunday

The first water station

The race course was fully served by well-stocked water stations at about 1 km intervals that i didn’t find any use of the hydration belt i was wearing. I was able to talk with some of the volunteers manning these stations and they told me that they had already set up the stations a little past midnight, 5 hours before race time.

The course was well-marked and manned by aides. There would be a tarpaulin sign that would indicate an incoming obstacle and these were posted a hundred meters before the actual obstacle.

The next obstacle…

Instead of crawling under that rug, we were just made to crawl on top of it! Nice one, Coach!

No chance of getting lost. Course was well-marked!

The muddy trail but that would get nastier when we reached km 7.5

Log hurdles ahead!

You get on top of these waist high to chest-high logs!

Runners preferred to run on the middle, grassy part of the trail

This was for most part, the condition of the trails…wet and muddy!

Runners from the second wave were now on our back

I trained for this at the Fit-Fil camp. Jim Saret would have been proud of me!:-)

One of the most picturesque portion of the trail

My favorite part of the trail

More log hurdles! There was a 2nd set of these

The husband eggs on the wifey..

A runner stops and pauses..

Trail shoes are more adaptable to these kind of surface

A small river overflowing its banks

Military wall ahead…

Looks like a roof-top with a bird beam on the top edge

Probably the most difficult obstacle of the course

You have to cross this waist-deep river to get to the wall for the climb

A view of the mud climb

After the mud climb

More trails, more mud!

The deeper we got into the woods, the muddier it was and it became very slippery.

Soaking in mud

All-wood bridges adds an authentic rural feel to the trails

One of the many wooden bridges

..and another with 3 kms more.

Yes, we had lunges too! Hope they put “lunches” next time.

There were still “waves of runners” waiting for their turn to begin when we reached the finish line!

Runners waiting in line to wash off their feet and shoes

Improvised shower

With friends after the finish

Friend Vicky Ras in her mud-soaked Reeboks

With Co-Race Director Jay Em, Coach Joseph Pagulayan and Coaches Jim and Tonette

Though these trails are not as challenging as those of nearby trail races like the Tanay Discovery Trails nor the Timberland Heights, this will still challenge hardened trail runners–and reward them with some of the most picturesque views!

More pictures on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/renevillarta

Many thanks to Sherleen Ricafort of Outbound Communications for providing us the ride and food at the venue. Also to Team Reebok led by Blas and to Without Limits for a well-organized run!

Race Recap: World Vision Run

I was thrilled to be back at the BGC running another 21k, coming off just a week after finishing the Run United2 Half-marathon under overcast-skies and slight drizzle.

Well, there wasn’t any rain last Sunday at the World Vision 21k Run and while weather predictions would be sunny, the late start caused some worries among us runners as the early heat would surely beat down on us.

I arrived with June at around 4:15am and the start was at the exact same spot as that of the RU2 race last week. The start was low-key, none of the mega crowds of runners from RU2 (yess, we can breathe now) but the air was nevertheless filled with excitement. I bumped into Elaine and Alex, my team mates from Team 90% and they were going for an all-out effort and better their times from last week’s.

The start of the 21k race was already delayed and you could just hear the moans of runners annoyed by the rantings of the lady DJ. Emcees should be aware that runners hate late starts! Good thing that Miriam Quiambao, one of the events hosts was discernful of the brewing displeasure of the runners when she stepped up the stage and immediately counted down from 5 to 1 before she fired the starter gun! Good job, Miriam!

But then, a Mitsubishi Asian Utility Van (part of the race crew) was left just in the middle front of the starting line and runners unaware of it had to make a sudden stop then swerve around to avoid bumping to it head-on! Man, how stupid of that driver to leave his vehicle in front of the starting line! Hahah..

At the start. The race started late for the 21k runners. Notice the white AUV just after the starting line

With Team mates, Alex and Elaine Araneta

June with his new found running friends

I’m glad that the route took us first to Kalayaan Bridge towards Buendia Avenue rather than the usual route that we take first, the vicinity of the British School and the new Toyota showroom which we still did, although that was for the last 6 kms. I always love the part of crossing the Kalayaan Bridge and the subsequent downhill rush towards Buendia Avenue as it’s the only part where there’s an uphill and a downhill.

We were shown a new detour from Buendia when we took a right turn to Malugay Street (just after Mapua Institute) and made a u-turn just before Osmena Hi-way then back again to Buendia. At this point, my legs were still stiff as hell as i couldn’t get the proper rhythm and the cramping on my left hamstrings continued (felt it since T2N) although it was much bearable this time. It was useless to push it so i just coasted along, ran at a 7-7:30 pace for my own good.

We eventually got back at the BGC area and it was only at the 14 km mark that bananas and Pocari drinks were made available. That banana was refreshing and it got me feeling good up to the finish. I ended doing a 2:38, even 5 minutes slower than my RU2 the previous week. I’m just glad to be able to do a long run and this is what matters most now.

After crossing the finish line, i saw the omnipresent Ms. Mars in her usual jovial mood, taking pictures, having the time of her life after finishing her own 5k race. No sooner after i got my loot bag at the 21k tent that i saw her again at the media tent chomping on some pizza and offering some to me! She’s a runner, photographer, blogger, media rep, angry birds fanatic rolled into one!

With Ms. Mars

I later joined my team mates, Team 90% and Runnex for a hearty breakfast at Something Fishy, Eastwood complex.

Despite of the faux pas at the starting line, the race was admirably well-organized, the marshals were generally supportive and courteous, the water stations were well-stocked and the Malugay route was a welcome break from all the running along Buendia.

Pep Squad events, one of the organizers of this race have maintained their very good reputation in putting up one good show after the other and their races are worth looking up to.

Our support too goes to World Vision (WV), holding its 1st Run For A cause which will benefit thousands of poor children through World Vision’s Sponsorship Program. Part of their 55th anniversary, WV provides education, healthcare assistance, child protection, values formation and community livelihood programs to poor children and their families in need.

It’s a great start and i hope WV continues to stage awareness events like this run thus continuously helping children in need!

Congratulations!

A look at the awarding stage

The guy on the left made use of the stage to propose to his girlfriend (left most) to the delight of emcees, Marc Nelson, DJ Helicopter and Miriam Quiambao

Barefoot runner friends

Breakfast-meeting with Team-mates

Race Review: Run United2 (One More Slice To Have)

One missing slice to fit in

If anyone wanted to have an idea how big 5,000 runners racing the Run United2 21k category alone was going to look like (out of the 14,000 total runners), the assembly at the starting line yesterday would have been your first indication. It was about 3:55am when we arrived at the Bonifacio Global City by bus provided by the organizers after June and i parked his vehicle at the Mall of Asia grounds. And what did we expect to see?

A humongous crowd of runners occupying every shaded part of buildings available around the starting area! It was still drizzling a bit when we were called for the first wave of runners to enter the starting line. Because of the slight rain, some runners were hesitant to be on the first wave in the hope that the rain would subside by the time they join the 2nd or 3rd waves. However we wanted to get this over with, rain or no rain because if this continues during the race itself, we’ll all get wet just the same.

Bus service from MOA to BGC

I had taped my right ankle heavily as it was in pain 3 days prior to the race. I could not flex it side wards as i would really feel a sharp throbbing pain although i would not feel it if i step flat on my heel. Why do these things happen before an important race? I knew i could not give my 100 per cent so the run strategy was just to take it a kilometer at a time and see how it feels. I already told June that i was to abandon the race if the pain acts up during the run.

The customary warm-ups led by the 360 fitness instructors took place but we had no space to move and even jumping up and down was a bit of a stretch. After some low-key remarks from Alex Panlilio, one of Unilab’s big boss, the race commenced. June and i were pacing each other during the first part but it was Jet Paiso, a friend from Team Boring who took over June’s place at the start of the 3rd km and we shared pacing chores for the most part of the race.

As mother luck would  have it, it didn’t rain at all during the run, except for needle-like drops of water for few intermittent seconds. The sky was cloudy-gray indicating that we won’t have the sun that baked us during the first Run United race the last time.

One thing very distinct that i noticed during the run along Kalayaan bridge was that this stretch has now been lit with lamps installed on electric posts. I was sure glad that Coach Rio did something to alleviate the darkness that marked this stretch. Headlamps weren’t needed this time . Well, i didn’t bring one anyway. I was feeling good at this point, no pain on the ankle so far.

One of the water stations along Buendia Avenue Ext.

The pass through Buendia Avenue extension came without a hitch as this was one of the choke points during RU1 when runners had to run side by side with vehicles which were just inches beside you. This time, there were cones lined-up away from where the runners were and traffic moved like precision. I would say that the marshals did a splendid job in controlling traffic as there were considerably less honking and shouting from irate drivers.

Jet and i entered Roxas Boulevard and when we made the first U-turn, it was only then that we realized the long line of runners trailing behind us and when we were atop Buendia Bridge, we could still see the vast sea of runners down, approaching Roxas Blvd and there were still thousands of them. At this point, some of the fast runners from the 3rd wave have started to overtake us but we were still coasting along just fine.

The hydration stations were abundant, lots of ice-cold water, Powerade and eat-all-you-can bananas which really helped sustain and complement the high-energy sports beans that i was popping up. I walked through the stations, bidding my time until i feel giving it a go again.

At around the 14 km mark, Jet decided to slow down and do his Galloway thing so i was left on my own. Incredible how i saw Coach Rio all-over the route, running along side us, monitoring the proceedings with just an APV phone on hand. He was moving plastic drums, picking up scattered cups, banana peelings, sponges and other litter sprawled on the race course. Amazing for a race organizer to do what he did!

At the 20th kilometer, i saw Dyep and Jixee suddenly pacing beside me (they were from the 3rd wave) giving some encouragement as i was nearing exhaustion although the pain that i was expecting from my right ankle never appeared. That last 200 meter stretch on Ocean Drive is like heaven. Every time i see that finish, i try to make a good last drive at it with all my remaining energy which i did again until i reach the orange line! 21k done!

The timer above the finish line posted a 2:21:50 finish and i was at first very surprised and pleased at the same time. However, relying on my Soleus GPS which i had set from the start (and always been accurate, for the record), it read 2:31:50 for the distance 21.11k. It could be that the timer on the finish line was intended for the 3rd wave as there was a 5 minute interval for each wave at the the starting line. We’ll see the official results soon.

Claiming of our finishers kit was a breeze! It was very orderly and you automatically go to the tent where your shirt size is indicated. Just took me less than a minute to get mine.

The big guys got their finishers’ shirts here, including myself

Talking to other runners about the race, all had positive views about the over-all conduct, that it was a great improvement from the previous one (Run United1) specially the distribution of race freebies after the finish. The generous hydration, bananas, great marshals, traffic plus good weather all contributed to the success of the race.

One minor suggestion to the organizers is to place the exhibitors booth in a more visible area of the Health expo as they were mostly located at the back side of the stage. Many runners were not aware that there were booths with products on display because they were not seen easily.

I am thankful for having ran this race injury free. I’ll be pinning for the third and last race of the trilogy series, the 32k race on September 16 and hopefully complete the medal puzzle above.

Race results will soon be posted in the following links:

http://www.unilabactivehealth.com
http://www.runrio.com

Here are some more pictures of the race event:

After i crossed the finish line

Entrance to the Active Health Expo

At the wellness tent where PTs gave runners free massage

Actors Zoren and Carmina with their kids. All of them ran the shorter race.

There’s even a Wi-fi hub here courtesy of Globe Comm.

With the officers of Unilab, Coach Rio and representative of The Children’s Hour, a race beneficiary

Little ROX booth with Mariel Flores of Primer Group

With bloggers at the media tent

After finishing Run United’s 2nd 21k run yesterday, i’ll be pinning for the third and last race of the trilogy series, the 32k race on September 16 and hopefully complete the medal puzzle above.

Race Review: The OROFOLS Run 2012

Animo La Salle! This was the main chorus that echoed several times during the pre and post-race activities at last Sunday’s One Run. One Family. One La Salle Run (Orofols) at the Mall of Asia grounds. My daughter would have smirked at the constant harping of the emcees who kept gloating about a basketball game the night before wherein La Salle beat my daughter’s beloved Ateneo team.

But the run last Sunday was not entirely a La-Sallian affair although based on the number of students who ran the shorter races, i would think that majority of them were from this school but then, one wouldn’t know as the greater part were all wearing the Orofols singlet.

I didn’t expect this to be a well-attended race but when i arrived at the venue in MOA, a sea of runners in green and white jerseys were already scattered at the starting grounds and it was announced that a total of 8,000 runners had registered for this event.

There was no way i was going to run my 16k event here with all seriousness as my last run (or more of a walk) was the 10k Tanay Discovery Trail Run last May 27 which i did as a recovery run to that previous week’s T2N 50k Ultra marathon. So that’s 2 weeks of almost no running.

I was with Anna Bautista (The Meekrunner) at the starting line who was also coming off from a vacation abroad and was running this race as unprepared as i was and she was also doing the 16k! Good luck to us, i thought. We ran together for the first 4k talking about some juicy issues about ultra runs where she intends to do one in the near future. She had to slow down after the 4k mark so it was all myself pacing slowly in an all familiar route that i have run many times.

The race itself was basically orderly, there were enough marshals to guide you along the route which was mostly inside the MOA grounds. From there, it routed to Macapagal Avenue that leads to the old Film Center and Sofitel-Philippine Plaza and exits at the side of the CCP Theater for Roxas Blvd then to Buendia and back to MOA.

What’s nice about this run was the abundance of water stations which they had every 1.2kms and even if the heat was really swelling specially during the latter part of the race, you won’t worry getting dehydrated knowing there will be enough water at the next water stop. This was a well-planned, well-organized race!

I finished the run in a little more than 2 hrs, my slowest 16k so far (what should i expect with practically no runs prior to this) but i was satisfied logging the distance on a fairly easy effort.

Runners watching the awarding ceremonies

The 16k finishers’ shirt is of generous quality. I can’t get to fix my usb right now so i can’t post a picture of the shirt but it’s one the 16k runners will sure like.

The Race Results can be found here: http://strider.ph/

Congrats to the OROFOLS organizing team!

See you at the Run United 2 Race next Sunday