TNF100 20K - First Trail Run

Photo: Our Shoes After
This was what are shoes were like after the run.
(Left to Right): RJ, Ed, Shin, Me.

Yesterday, July 27, 2008, I had my first taste of a trail run. The main event was the ultramarathon - 100km organized by The North Face. Thus the name The North Face 100. I, ofcourse, didn't join this 100km race but the 20km I did.

Waking up at around 2 in the morning, by a repeated phone rings from a friend and my alarm, I got up and prepared myself. We got to Evercrest at 4am where the organizers where still setting up the starting line. There where lights and music playing totally waking me from my sleepiness. at around 0430, we lined up to claim our race kits. At 0500, there was no sign of starting. The day was already moving on. Good thing the sky was clouded and since we were in quite an altitude it was quite cool and windy -- a great condition for running.

Photos: Before the race

(Top Left): The starting line.
(Top Right): Shin's shoes and my Arnuva 100 TR GTX before the run
(Bottom): With the Sixth Man, Sir Danny. Finishing the 100km in 16 hours.


At 0630, the 20km runners got ready at the starting line. Sychronizing my time with the organizers, the gun was shot at 0636 after a 100km runner made it to the finish.

The race started on road running for about half a kilometer towards the Mt. Batulao jump off. This road was familiar to me since I've been here a couple of times before. The course then went offroad still pretty wide with pot holes here and there. Still no mud here. The real deal started when we went further into the course (around 1 kilometer from start). At the first loop, the trail was quite manageable and I was choosing my path, weaving my way to more suitable places. The course then cut down towards corn fields, going down quite steeply after down to a river. Luckily there was a bridge for us to cross. Then the trail went up and started heading north with a cliff on the right hand side where the river was. The trail then run quite straight and out, back to the road by the Caleruega Church. The road then goes around 2 km back to the junction of Marshall Station near the starting point which ends the first 10km-loop. The 20km runners have to go at it again for the second time.

The second time around was quite more challenging. The mud was thicker. I didn't care anymore about choosing my path since it was all mud and my shoes where covered in it anyways. So I just tanked my way through the course. That's right. "Tanked." My shoes felt like lead with the caking mud underneath.

Also contributing to the difficulty were the many "10km hikers" who were trekking along, clogging the already narrow trail, making it difficult for runners wanting to pass to pass. It was constant "Excuse me po" for me. There were spots where it couldn't be avoided though. The trail was narrow and there was no where else to go. I had to wait for a wider part in the trail.

I finally made it to the finish line after running for around 2 hours and 4minutes (according to my time). Met some other runners, exchanged stories, training plans, techniques, etc. We waited for the Awarding ceremony -- which happened at around 1100, before heading home.

Without breakfast and lunch, I was really hungry! Getting home to a plate of Spaghetti, I ate all to my hunger's content before taking a bath and went straight to bed 13hours later, since I woke up in the morning. I expected to wake up an hour later but that didn't happen.

Photos: After the race
(Left): Left to Right - RJ Almocera, Edmund Solaiman, Shin Siapco, me
(Right): Photo with the "TNF Runner" Mr. HighAltitude: Jerry

Photo: Photo with Ms. Ivy and "The Super Sherpa" Sir Leo.
My role models. Sir Leo Oracion has inspired me in his many feats in Adventure racing and Ma'am Ivy Macainan as an inspiration for me, as a new runner, with her stories.

Photo: with Sir Leo and Sir Jerry

Photo: Team Baldrunner
Team Baldrunner's Reynaldo De Los Reyes and Cresenciano Sabal won overall 2nd place for the Team Relay 100K. Congratulations!

-= More pictures will follow =-

Koko's Quest: Help Batman Save Gotham City!

Photos with the Dark Knight:
Both Photos taken by Alvin Teng
(Top: left to right) Shin, Ed, Jimmy, me.
(Bottom: left to right) Ed, Jimmy, me, Shin.

Last Sunday, the Cab Crew, as our group is more commonly known, took part in the Koko's Quest: Help Batman Save Gotham City! event. It was an event sponsored by Koko Crunch to promote the new Batman Movie -- The Dark Knight in the Mall of Asia.

Originally, four of us where going to perform. Edmund Solaiman, Shin Siapco, Francis dela Cruz and RJ Almocera. But since Francis and RJ had an exam Sunday, 2pm (2 hours before the performance) in AUP, we switched plans. Carlo Enriquez from Parkour Philippines (PKPH) and I joined in.

We were in Mall of Asia from 0830, met boss Alvin Teng of PKPH who was coordinating our part of the event, had a little briefing and dry runs, and played some Nintendo Wii. "Fly Time" was 4pm. Counting down the hours before then, we went around the mall, visited the Arcade, registered for the TNF100, and went around some more. At lunch, we ate lunch, and went around some more. At 3pm, we went back to the stage area and got ourselves ready for the jump.

Video: Below is a vid of the event. It shows me at the first part (right), followed by Ed on the track (left).

Well, it didn't turn out the way it should have. In short we messed up. The day before, PKPH did the same run successfully. Actually the video above was a false start. We entered when we shouldn't have. We had to exit again since the host, Iya Villania, was up on stage! you could see me exit in the vid. hehe. Was I embarrassed? Well, not as much as I should have been thanks to the organizers who let us wear balaclavas so my face was hidden!! Hey! I had to do the drop twice!!

It was quite an experience. A lot better than the event we did for IMAX for Spiderman 3 although it just took a few minutes. I would like to take this chance to thank Boss Alvin Teng for giving us a shot on this at the same time I would like to express my apologies to PKPH and to Alvin. I know we could have caused some damage to your name and the community in a way, but we would be willing to redeem for it someday.

Photos: Fun in the Mall of Asia

(left) Shin, boxing on the Wii
(right) Ed, watching Shin on a bike in the arcade

Alot of friends were actually in the vicinity at that time. RJ and Franz finished their exams in 15 minutes and tried to catch up but arrived minutes after the event. Red also came with his cam. Grace and John Ragui were also there. And Ayn was somewhere. They were all in the vicinity but weren't able to watch the event but still we were able to meet them after the event.

Oh.. Boss, thanks also for the shoes. I've written in a previous post that my shoes where getting wrecked. Boss Alvin donated me shoes. Thanks alot! :)

"August Rush"

On the right side of this blog is a quote from the movie "The Ultimate Gift", a movie that has really inspired and in a way changed me. Last night, a bunch of friends and I, watched "August Rush" as movie of how the power of music works to call and bring together a family who have been apart for years. I'm not going to spoil it for you. Kaycee left for awhile and regretted it so don't do the same. Haha..

Well, I believe that there is harmony in the Universe. The Universe moves to a single pulse. Ecosystems, the Circle of Life, the Food Chain - everything works in perfect harmony with each other.

This is movie that I would recommend watching. It has moved me to pick up my violin. It even made Ed cry!! haha.. I already download the soundtrack.. But yah.. this is a must-see movie. Try also watching "The Perfect Gift" if you got a chance.

"Warning: Women Out of Order"

DISCLAIMER: Ok. Please, there is no harm intended in this blog (specially to women).

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If this is true, I advise everyone to stay away! This is no joke! On the other hand, it could mean the end for all of us (I'm talking bout men). In what situations can this sign be applied? Can it be fixed? What came to your mind when you saw the pic? I would like to get some feedback. :)

To me, truthfully speaking, I was totally amused when I saw this INTERESTING sign. I'm not going to say where I saw this but it's a sign on the door of a bathroom, washroom, toilet, C.R., throne room, however you fancy calling it..

Being of the opposite sex, and knowing and hearing quotes about women - "Women = Evil" - as an example, I was excited and ran for my camera. It was worth taking a shot of. Hey, I'm just a guy who is naturally entertained by these things.

Feedback
Whoever put the "Out of Order" sign probably didn't know how it would look.. or maybe did. I'm also excited to get feedback as to what you think, specially if you're female.

Mt Batulao Trail Run

I used to think that mountains were for climbing with Mountaineering gear - tent, pack, stove. Not today. Sir Jerry (HighAltitude) took me to Mt. Batulao for a taste of "Mountain running". On the narrow mountain trails, we ran. Going up and down, over rocks and under trees. I was constantly getting slashed on by the lots of talahib on both sides of the trail. Of course I wasn't wearing my usual mountaineering gear since this was a run.

Waking up a 4am, I took a bath and made myself ready for this first taste. We got to the front of Evercrest at around 0600 (which isn't accurate since I wasn't keeping time). On a usual hiking trip, getting to the top of Batulao from the front of Evercrest would take about 2 hours. At least that's how long it took us to get up there the last time I went. But running the trail, it took us exactly 50minutes to get to the top (according to Sir Jerry's Vector).

This is probably the hardest run I've had so far. I couldn't keep up with Jerry and needed to walk alot of times. On the way back to the highway from the peak, my feet felt like lead. My quads were starting to cramp due to dehydration which is solely my fault since I wasn't drinking as much. I feel fortunate that I'm still able to walk properly after that run..

Some time, I will need to buy myself a nice pair of trail shoes. I'll be going back there again next week and hope I do better. My poor reeboks are breaking and they're my only pair of shoes for everything (I have leather shoes, though). This is going to be my training for the TNF event on the 27th. Train hard!!

Below are photos Sir Jerry & I took on this trip. Enjoy.

Note: Photos of me were taken by Jerry.

Note: Photos of Sir Jerry were taken by me.