Days before the registration ends, I was still having second thoughts. After almost three months of hiatus from running, I lost the confidence. My adventurous heart won however, and I signed up. This is my first time to join the event now on its 6th edition.
My decision of course is with consideration of the distance and the terrain. I've have taken the trail a couple of times and I know it's going to be tough. Good thing, I still have a month to condition my mind and body. I worked on bringing back my confidence. On three consecutive weekends, I was out on training grounds trying to awaken my running muscles. On some (when I was in the mood) nights after work, I also hit the road for mileage.
Race Day
Two vans loaded with runners including myself, left Manila 9 pm of Saturday arriving at the venue before midnight. The run will start at 5 am the next day so we took the waiting time to rest. The organizers and crew arrived to the venue around 3 am. Other runners started to arrive as well. Race kits distribution and checking of mandatory gears followed. Afterwards, Atty. Jon - the RD, gave the final briefing. Runners, many are familiar faces in trail running, gathered at the starting line to listen. The briefing concluded with a photo op with everyone hyped up.
We were released from Alviera in Porac, Pampanga at exactly 5 am. It was already bright while we made our way starting on a dirt road after emerging from a tunnel. As always, I had a slow start and was feeling a little uneasy. Experienced runners would often advice not to wear a new pair of shoes on race day. I was brave (or should I say stupid) not to hid this advice. I made a last minute decision to buy a new pair of Sketchers Go Trail as a replacement to my worn out Brooks trail shoes. I wasn't able to break in the new pair before using it. It did not go well with my feet, giving me muscle stiffness that took long before fading.
Few days before the run, it has been raining in Porac. The rain somehow made some parts of the trail muddy and slippery. With this, the RD made some changes on the mandatory gears to include rain jacket and also extended the cut-off time by 30 minutes. Apparently come race day, we started with a clear blue sky. No sign of rain coming.
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| the medal |
It was after AS 2 (KM 10) when the muddy trail greeted us. I had no choice but dealt with it without hesitation. Fortunately, leg stiffness has gone. Slowly I picked up my pace making up for the slow pacing I had in the first 10 kilometers. My target was to reach the turn around point (the peak) by 10 am, an hour and a half earlier than cut-off. However, aside from the muddy trail, the heat was becoming a factor, too.
I reached AS 3 at the junction past 7 am but did not continue without refueling. I knew that the next section of the route was the most challenging. From the junction to the peak or the turn around point was a good 10 kilometers, one a way. This section was a long ascent single track trail but very picturesque specially near the peak. I was struggling to reach the turn around point with the sun's heat a big factor. One by one I encountered the stronger runners already on their way back. I made it to the peak within my target time of 10 am.
After a few minutes of rest, I started my descent. My confidence was high again after I met my target time. At that point I was determined more than ever to finish the run. There was a cut - off time at the falls. I needed to be there on or before 12:30 pm. While I was back into the single track trail, it rained! It was hot no more. It was a big relief however, the rain made the trail even more muddy and slippery.
It took me almost two hours to the junction, and I was starting to panic. I was running out of time. While it was raining heavily, I negotiated the trail to the falls in a hurry. I thought and I was confident to have saved time more than enough. I never thought that it would be that tight. Thankfully, I made it to the falls seven minutes before cut-off. I was relieved! Before going back to the junction, I had myself taken a picture with the Miyamit falls as the background. In all my visit to Miyamit, I always missed the falls.
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| me at the falls. all smile co'z i was within the cut-off time |
Back at the junction, I realized I'm almost close to it. All I had to do is to finish the last 12 plus or so kilometers. Sadly, many runners did not make it within the cut-off time at the falls. After re-hydrating at the junction, I continued the run. As I inched closer to the finish line, I can't hide my excitement and happiness. When finally I saw the finish line, there was a flashback of all the struggles I had from the new shoes, to the intense heat, to the slippery and muddy trail, to almost being cut-off.
Glad I did not give up and it never even entered my mind despite the struggles. It was a come back run and I was more than determined to finish it not minding even if I'm gonna be the last runner. As I crossed the finish line, my friends and other runners where there cheering. It was a nice feeling as always. Officially I clocked 9:49 and ranked 41st out of 49 finishers.
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| my timing summary |
Thanks to the heavens above for the strength and guidance!
