Alarm went on at midnight. With just a few hours of sleep, I got no choice but to get up and prepare for my first trail run. For most runners, this is just one of their regular weekend run. But for an Average Joe like me, I might face hell this morning.
I used to run an average of 21 kilometers a week, but still a bit low compared to some of my running buddies. But due to busy schedules and stuff, I'm lucky enough to have an average of 10 kilometer for the whole week. I recently tried a 3 kilometer road run and ended up huffing and puffing. That's how pathetic I am today, compared to old me.
All set and off to Manila. It's almost 2:00 AM and roads are empty while cold wind warns a rainy day ahead. Free transportation awaits for us at R.O.X. from Bonifacio Global City to San Mateo, Rizal. My initial plan is to just tag along and follow the bus so ride back home will be more comfortable.
Teva Trail Challenge. That's the event we're committed today. A friend offered me the race kit he'd won online because he can't back out with scheduled marathon on the same day. He said I can choose between a 10k and a 5k trail run, I just picked out the 5k trail run, after all, this is just a brand new experience for me. I asked a friend to tag along with me. She's a bit unsure, but after a long negotiation (couple of minutes later), she then agreed to try it. And a deal was set.
During Kath's first MMA event, she asked me what she would expect and I told her things that you can't catch up if you watched it on TV. But with this trail run, I really have no idea. We're both beginner for this experience.
Upon arrival at rendezvous, I immediately look for the contact person to claim the race kits, and then made a last minute decision to just park the car and go on with the free ride. After all, driving is a bit tiring. But I'm glad to make that decision couple of minutes later. In a country that mostly populated by Catholics, most of us were raised to believe that heaven is above and hell down below. Things are not different when your destiny is at Earthheaven. All you can see outside is black, but you can hear the engine roar with difficulty. If our travel itinerary is this difficult, what more will we expect at gun start?
We arrived at dawn, but Earthheaven is still pitch black. You can hear nature's sound and feel the cold wind atop the mountain. My first thought would be... did we arrived at the right place? We can only see empty buses. But no runners. Flashlights tears down surrounding's darkness. Our guide instructed us to follow him, and we obliged to. We crossed a bridge towards the forest. I thought we joined a trail run, but we felt like contestants for Survivor San Mateo, which we will be left behind atop the mountain for couple of days.
Most runs I've joined had several booths from sponsors, loud music to live up the place, and bright lights for runners to make the road ahead visible. Events like this always starts very early morning here in Manila to avoid making heavy traffics to already congested road of nation's main cities. Not today. We can hear water stream breaking the dead silence of an isolated heaven. No signals from any mobile network. We're like characters from a Wrong Turn movie. Will there be screaming and dead bodies later today? Fortunately none came out from the mountain with chainsaw or any deadly weapons at hand. We're safe.
Runners gathered in a multi-purpose hall of Earthheaven. After registering and depositing our baggage, we sat down and relax for a bit before the race starts. Runners here are different. You can't see those typical new runners, which would carry smartphones or mp3 players to motivate them. No group fun-runners that stops and having their photos taken at a marker telling to netizens how far they've reached. These are serious runners. All fit and rugged. I am the newbie here. When it was announced to all runners to make sure all hydration bottles are filled up because there are no drinking stations built for the whole course, I admit I am screwed this time.
It doesn't matter if I ran 5, 10, or 21 kilometers from the past. I can't use it here. This is a trail run, with obstacles. My first trail run. We're not our usual selves. We are Billy and Eden. A pair of clueless, challenge seeker, but unfit runners. So I must warn you, Billy, please don't look at the time you finished this run.
We're now positioned at the middle to start the race. No mobile phones or cameras to take some pictures. Bottles are now stocked left and right of my shorts' pockets; those ordinary bottled water you can buy at 20 Php and below. Newbie. At gun start, serious runners dash forward uphill, with minimum visibility. First part is a kilometer uphill run. Eden's (not her real name) excitement unconsciously affects to pace a little faster, which I need to remind her to slow down and relax, and just enjoy the race.
At midpoint, most of us are just walking. Fun part is, people can still do a conversation, with grasping of air at midpoint. We're now on a trail walk. After we turn left, we're now running (walking) off-road. Due to rain yesterday, it will all be muddy and dirty throughout the course. Wish us luck... Lots of luck...
Upon arrival at rendezvous, I immediately look for the contact person to claim the race kits, and then made a last minute decision to just park the car and go on with the free ride. After all, driving is a bit tiring. But I'm glad to make that decision couple of minutes later. In a country that mostly populated by Catholics, most of us were raised to believe that heaven is above and hell down below. Things are not different when your destiny is at Earthheaven. All you can see outside is black, but you can hear the engine roar with difficulty. If our travel itinerary is this difficult, what more will we expect at gun start?
We arrived at dawn, but Earthheaven is still pitch black. You can hear nature's sound and feel the cold wind atop the mountain. My first thought would be... did we arrived at the right place? We can only see empty buses. But no runners. Flashlights tears down surrounding's darkness. Our guide instructed us to follow him, and we obliged to. We crossed a bridge towards the forest. I thought we joined a trail run, but we felt like contestants for Survivor San Mateo, which we will be left behind atop the mountain for couple of days.
Most runs I've joined had several booths from sponsors, loud music to live up the place, and bright lights for runners to make the road ahead visible. Events like this always starts very early morning here in Manila to avoid making heavy traffics to already congested road of nation's main cities. Not today. We can hear water stream breaking the dead silence of an isolated heaven. No signals from any mobile network. We're like characters from a Wrong Turn movie. Will there be screaming and dead bodies later today? Fortunately none came out from the mountain with chainsaw or any deadly weapons at hand. We're safe.
Runners gathered in a multi-purpose hall of Earthheaven. After registering and depositing our baggage, we sat down and relax for a bit before the race starts. Runners here are different. You can't see those typical new runners, which would carry smartphones or mp3 players to motivate them. No group fun-runners that stops and having their photos taken at a marker telling to netizens how far they've reached. These are serious runners. All fit and rugged. I am the newbie here. When it was announced to all runners to make sure all hydration bottles are filled up because there are no drinking stations built for the whole course, I admit I am screwed this time.
It doesn't matter if I ran 5, 10, or 21 kilometers from the past. I can't use it here. This is a trail run, with obstacles. My first trail run. We're not our usual selves. We are Billy and Eden. A pair of clueless, challenge seeker, but unfit runners. So I must warn you, Billy, please don't look at the time you finished this run.
We're now positioned at the middle to start the race. No mobile phones or cameras to take some pictures. Bottles are now stocked left and right of my shorts' pockets; those ordinary bottled water you can buy at 20 Php and below. Newbie. At gun start, serious runners dash forward uphill, with minimum visibility. First part is a kilometer uphill run. Eden's (not her real name) excitement unconsciously affects to pace a little faster, which I need to remind her to slow down and relax, and just enjoy the race.
At midpoint, most of us are just walking. Fun part is, people can still do a conversation, with grasping of air at midpoint. We're now on a trail walk. After we turn left, we're now running (walking) off-road. Due to rain yesterday, it will all be muddy and dirty throughout the course. Wish us luck... Lots of luck...
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