3rd Mt. Pinatubo Ultra Trail Challenge-Post Bday & Recovery Race

Since I become active in running for several years now, I always see to it that I will dedicate a run for my birthday, sometimes a week ahead or a week after the actual date.

This year, it was the TNF SG race that has become my birthday race, one of the many reasons why I pushed to finish the race despite my physical condition.

Since Pinatubo race has been post pone due to military exercises that falls on the first scheduled date, a week after my TNF100km race I thought it would be a good race for my recovery and post birthday run. I have been to this mountain twice and trekked exactly on the route of the race. I thought it would be a great experience if I will be able to run on this 'mars like place' on earth.    

o any further anymore. At this time, my wish of running the place has been granted. The route from Sta. Juliana, Tarlac is basically a few kilometer wide of river bed that has become one of the basin of tons of lahar/volcanic ashes from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo year 1991. The shape and terrain of the river bed varies depending on the amount of water that will flow from the days rain fall. Most of time tourists and trekkers used a 4x4 vehicle from the resort in Sta. Juliana up to around 20km distance after where vehicles cannot g

The weather is perfect, cloudy most of the  day and no rain. But because it has not been raining the past days, the powdery lahar is just very soft, a real challenge on running. Adding to that are the pebbles, rocks and gravels that most of the time cannot be avoided of getting into my shoes. The endless river crossing is just manageable, the current of the knee high deep water is not so strong that I can cross it without any assistance from others. As I go further  I have to be very careful traversing  the boulders so as not to injure myself.

On my way to the first half of the course, I pass by two aid stations, I stop on the 2nd one, after running for more than 3 hours now I feel need to eat something solid, 2 boiled bananas, 1 sweet potato and soda, then move further. As I started traversing the boulder part at the river, I can feel my stomach starting to get upset. This is not a good sign. I know there is a toilet up on the summit but I feel  that is too far already but there is just no other place to do it. I managed to hold it, thank God. I was more happy to see the toilet than the turn around point itself.

Coming back was more challenging, as I move faster I can feel my stomach looking for another stop. Not on this terrain, it’s too exposed. After the downward slope is the flat with no covered areas at all, the bushes is just too far yet for this call of nature, without hesitation I just do it on the side of the river when I noticed no runners near either ahead or behind me. That was a big relief.

Traversing the dry river bed going back to the finish line seems like forever and with a hope that my stomach will not bother me any longer. More than the heat of the sun I noticed more the changes  on terrain on the same trail that I traversed early part of the day. There are more water now and I have to cross  several  rivers on my way back. The trail seems gone. At some instance I had to think where exactly is the trail.

More runners pass by me already, I know Majo has long been gone ahead of me, and I know there will be other female runners who will still pass by me, I am on my snail pace now. I just want this race to be done and checked on my list.

Mt. Pinatubo has always been one of my great climbs, how the terrain got formed out of the tons of lahar that affected so many communities is just amazing. Running this area is a dream come true and I thank BR’s group for a well organized race. The aid stations are of great help. I congratulate all the brave souls who conquered the trail, I salute all the winners for an awesome race.

RUFM will be the next adventure.

TNF100 SG 2012 - 100KM - Hoping for a Good Speed

TNF100 SG Races:
YR2010 - 25km distance         
YR2011 - 50km distance - 8hours 45minutes
YR2012 - 100km distance - 17 hours 29 minutes

I run this race in the past two years, YR2010 was 50km Duo with Joy Carreon as my partner (Team Pinay) and  last year was 100km Duo with Juliet Cayabyab (as Team Pinay still- if I remember it right). I was able convince them both to do this crazy thing with me,  they agreed and both  of them did well on both distances despite the fact that it was their very first time to run such distance on a trail.

This year, as the 100km category becomes open to anybody who are interested without any qualifying time, I  take the challenge and hope to be able to finish the race within cut off time. Speed is always my challenge and as I have been doing some training runs on the past few months, I registered for this race hoping that my training will be sufficient enough for me to tackle the trail  on a faster pace, faster speed.

My experience of running this route last year will be a big help, that's what my friend Kelly told me after she oriented me of how the route will go this year. Carrying the Philippine flag at my left sleeve of my jersey, I  come to the starting line really excited, no jitters, not scared. I know this is going to be fun. I just have to keep in mind my goal of reaching  the 4 check points at my target time and I will be able to cross  the finish line within cut off time.

At exactly 11pm of October 12, as the only Filipino running for this race, all the 100km runners were released. I just take my own running pace in the dark. True enough of my 2 years running this trail, I still remember how it goes,  the uphills, downhills and the flats. Though it has three minor changes, basically it's still the same. It was humid but I just take my own time, hydrating, taking something solid, I was running most of the time, other runners catch after me, sometimes I pass by other runners.

The trail is just perfect especially at night, but it was my body that was not. Though I did not notice it at first. It was on my return to the first loop that I noticed I did not feel any need to have a pee break, which I thought probably it was just because I was just sweating due to the humidity. I was far ahead with my schedule time. On my way back, as I was alone, I decided to pee at the side of the trail and still  I did not notice anything.

Less than 7 hours, I was almost done with the first loop, I was running with Amos, an SG runner in the dark looking for the trail as there was no signage visible at this time. As the day breaks, we figure out we are not lost and on the right track. Upon reaching the Golf Course I just let him run ahead, I slow down, need to replenish food and I am thinking I should use the toilet upon reaching the first loop. I reached the first loop in 7hours and 45 minutes, but everybody was just in hurry, to my surprise I did things in a speed too to the point of not bringing my sunglasses and putting on my sunblock lotion and most especially forgetting to drop by the portalet.

Even before reaching the first aid station on the second loop, I have been wanting to use a toilet, which I did beside the trail that which is covered by trees away from the other runners. I know something is wrong, there is blood on my pee, I know I have my monthly period but this is different. Now my thoughts wandered, what happened, I have been drinking lots of fluids, what could be the cause. I started to drink more water, but all the more I feel I needed to go to the toilet and when I did I only pee very little and with blood.

Since then I really become so scared, I have to watch my body, I've been thinking of pulling out from the race but the thought that I need to finish it keeps running on my mind. I become scared, this is the very first time that I experience such and I do not know how to react. Until I decided to just slow down and really listen to my body. Other female runners pass by me, it's all ok.

My thoughts, for as long as I can still stand, and I can still move my foot forward I will finish this race on my own slow pace. The finish line,  the medal and being the only Filipino doing this race really inspired me to keep going,   to push further despite my condition. The cheer of other runners from other distance helped a lot and the help of the support stations really matters a lot.

As I haven't been eating and hydrating well in the last 20km, my only prayer was that I will not collapse few meters before the finish line. And I am glad I did it, crossed the finish line with two arms up on the air two feet on the ground. As I said it was not my toughest 100km trail but it was my scariest of all my runs. I am happy I push for it (but I know I have to see a doctor as well). I finish faster than my target time, I did it in 17 hours and 29 minutes.

Seeing Things Across

Don’t try to understand everything. Sometimes it is not meant to be understood, 
just accepted.

Lift Up 10

“Courage is not the absence of fear... it is standing firm in front of your greatest fear...

Courage is the discovery of the reality that you may not win,

and trying when you know you can lose."

 - by Jay Z Jorge

 

KOTR Philippines 2012

Awesome Sunday.

Got a free race bib for KOTR Philippines 2012. My almost every Tuesday attendance at adiNation: Ayala Triads  qualify me to be one of  the almost a hundred qualified runners from this group who are entitled for a free race bib. Had it not of the free bib, I might give this race a pass for the registration fee is just to expensive compared to how it costs few years back.

 

Aside from my running group, seeing familiar faces and friends also makes this event so much fun. I saw Anna Blanco at the starting line while waiting for the gun start. On the very short time that we waited, we were able to update things on the midst of the noise from the sound system. I tried to catch up with her at the finish line but I miss her finish. On the other hand I meet Nina Dacanay at the activity area after the race. I am just glad to see her, I haven't been able to see her after my India trip. Both encounter was just short but sweet and precious.

My few first times on this race.

1. My first time to run a 16.8km distance. I crossed the finish line 1 hour 50 minutes 46 seconds. Not a very good record, I myself feel I can push a little faster but I opted to be a little relax, I just have to be safe and injured free especialy on the slippery road due to the drizzle along the race and the rain few hours before the start.

 

2. My first time on the many races that I joined that I did not bring any hydration belt for my need of  fluid and food. I brought with me my newly bought Nathan hydration belt but when I see most of the runners did not bring any hydration bottle with them, I opted to leave it at the baggage counter. I stripe myself the security blanket that I bring with me in almost all my races. It turn out good, I was able to manage to survive on aid stations every time I feel I need to hydrate and was able to grad few bananas and candies though I have to negotiate through the crowd at the station.
 

3. My very first time to wear a running skirt that is that short. Not my usual running attire especially on a city road race. I think about it several times and even had a dress rehersal several times prior to the race,   I really feel un-easy but I thought I should try on this one for I have this with me for several years now and I still haven't used it. Not so bad after all, I was just too conscious on the first few kilometers but after that I got the hang out of it already. Oh well, I guess others will think of this as so nonesense writing it here but funny this is a big thing for me.   I may look so confident running and walking with it, but deep inside me I was too concious exposing so much part of my thunder thighs.

4. Not very me, asking a TV personality for a picture taken. Whahhhh....I have been to so many races that has actors and actresses as participants, but it was only today  that I got the guts and the playful mind to ask from a male TV teenager personality as we are  lining up behind  at the finisher's booth to get a loot bag. It was Robi from PBB Teen Edition. He was kind enough to grant my request as well. So nice of him.

Kudos to the organizer, it was a successful race full of fun. The aid stations had enough fluid for all the runners, the bananas and candies are very helpful for a runner like me who did not  bring any food provision for the race. The energetic cheerers with costume brightens the gloomy rainy running day. And most of all to my running family AyalaTriads. You all rock. I had so much fun running with you guys.

 

My day did not end after the race. We proceed to Tripalooza, the last day of the triathlon bazzar. Hoping that I will be able to finally buy a pair of shoes that is on 50% off only if I will be able to get another buyer as my partner. Indeed, I got Tina convinced to share it with me. Happy, I got the shoes that I hope will introduce me to minimalist and hopefully do a little of the barefoot technology. But I know this will be a long way to go for me. So I got a shoes, a hydration belt and a shirt for the weekend bazaar. But aside from that I come across some Filipino who is looking for athletes that will test their brand. And a perfect timing, they are based in Singapore which I will be coming next month for my next race. Excited to have  their product tested for my local and international races.

 

What a good way to end my month of September. October here I come, my birthday month and birthday of my few loved ones and several friends.  Looking forward to my TNF100 SG race. I welcome you October with so much excitement despite the challenges that I know I will encounter ahead. Be sweet and kind to me please.