Running Beyond the Clouds

At the landslide area

The 3rd of the series of  trail run trainings organized by the Philippine Skyrunning Association, is a  skyrunning to Mt. Sto. Tomas and Cabuyao, 7,400Ftasl. This is in  preparation to the coming Kinabalu Climbathon and for myself,  also a preparation to my Aconcagua Expedition.

Contrary to what I thought that this would be an easier run  having been able to use the same trail early this year on a race organized by the same organization, it feels like this is more challenging than before. After several meters of uphill run from where we started, we were already lost, the group has to back track hoping to get some lead on where the trail will be. Bushes are much more taller and closed the single trail, there are more landslides on some areas as well. And at this time, we started late in the morning already, the sunny day greeted us on the first 10 kilometer uphill trail making the first few kilometers really a challenging one.

Rest stop before pushing to the summit

The group had lots of longer rest stops after every hour of run which is much more relax than the actual race that we had on the same trail. Reaching to the summit was a bit of a struggle, it will still be along way down to the village and first community. After several meters before reaching the summit, I already got confused which trail to go, I and Carlo decided to wait for the tail end group, afterwhich we decided to join them on the short cut trail. This is much  easier terrain, just an easy flat and some portion uphill. I still decided to run, going ahead of the rest of the tail end group. I was alone now on the train until I reach a familiar road already, I have been here the first run and during my Nomads competition. But even then I was just alone in the road. At some point the fog of the place engulf the entire terrain not even making the Cabuyao Tower visible.

PSA Family

This may not be a fun trail run for some it becomes a trek, it was nonetheless a fun one. After a stressful week in the city, it has always been great being surrounded with pine tress, fresh air, green environment and most of all being with great running friends. I also got a chance to meet my friend Des Lee before heading down to the city.

Thanks to my PSA family for the great weekend. til the next adventure.

 

A Close Encounter

I can't get this out of my mind, so I thought of just posting it here.

On August 13, on our LSD in Antipolo, aside from  happy times running, road trip and chitchatting with Gabby and his family, I had one memorable experience which scared me the most, an almost attack by a dog.

On more than 30 minutes from the start of our run, it was still dark, the sun was not up yet as I  struggle the slowly uphill slope of the road, concentrate on my breathing while maintain my uphill stride, all of a sudden I encounter a big dog lying at an entrance of a compound. Jepoy and Aaron were obviously way ahead of me, while Ed was behind me by several meters, and Arvin was with Jing and Beng on the tail end.

At first I thought the dog was tied to where he is, but I noticed as he starts barking at me, stood up and started running approaching where I was, bringing his lace. Only then I realized, Oh no, this dog is not tied up. I noticed probably the care taker trying to stop the dog but too late he was too far to his pet already. Honestly my instinct was to run backwards instead of striding forward without even  mining the vehicle approaching from above.

As I run backwards I can see the dog really running approaching where I stand up, I stopped, I see him really close, his mouth wide open with his teeth and tongue visible and his eyes staring at me. I just surrender and thought, probably this could be it, an attack by a dog. Call it a miracle, Ed arrived to the rescue, he drive away the dog and I just followed him.

I thank God nothing happened to me, that really scared me leaving me shivering up to my bones.

Antipolo LSD (Long Slow Run)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

At Antipolo Church

As part of my training for my upcoming climbathon race and Aconcagua climb, I do long distance slow run, at this time on the uphill road from Sumulong Highway to the church of Antipolo. This is my second LSD on this route, at least I already know what approach to do on this road. It's the usual unending uphill on the first 45 minutes of the run with little flats in between, until it goes downhill on some parts before   reaching the junction to the church. It took us more than an hour to reach the church, take a 15 minute rest and resume our run.  

Few minutes of just walking on our way back, we saw the remaining two members of our team, Jing and Beng approaching. Arvin and Ed decided to join them while myself, Jepoy and Aaron decided to proceed with a run going back to the gasoline station. It's 75% downhill anyway, so that wouldn't be that challenging anymore compared to the way going up. On our way down, we past by Al Padi, we decided to take a picture, and thought of dropping by, only to realize it took us longer chatting with Gabby. 

At Al Padi 

We rushed down, but this will still be another around 4 kilometer run on a downhill slope. And it's getting late i the morning, I can now feel the heat of the sun and the smoke of the vehicle passing us. True enough when we arrive at Petron, the rest of our team are already waiting for us. It was a good workout though, I can feel the muscles on my legs being stretched by that run.

Back on the Road

After several months now of no run, I finally got the courage to do it again. This is by joining the Nikon Club Run for the Trees, 11K run. Not my usual distance but promise, it's an effort again to go back to the road. I always wanted to join organized run aside from my usual weekday short run routines, this is to gauge how I do when it comes to distance. After this one, I intend to do this regularly again....

My First Bite

When it comes to anything that crawls and that bites especially in the mountain, I am really scared, most especially to snakes and leeches. For more than 11 years of climbing in tropical country now, I really haven't been bitten by leeches, even in the limatik country of Halcon, not until last weekend's trek.

I am so freak out with leeches that I really prepare for it, my remedy, I will normally tack in my socks and trekking shirt to my trekking pants, I soak myself with vicks and always ready with a spray of alcohol.  I can say I am good at it, I can sense if they are starting crawling up in my shoes or in my pants. I just can't stand the thought that a small creature as that will suck my blood and what made it worst, due to its saliva that has anticoagulant, the blood wont stop bleeding. I can't imagine what to do if this tiny creature will get inside my eyes, nose or ears....

As mentioned, I got my first share of limatik(leech)  bite last weekend, in Mt. Osokan. This is my third time trekking on this place, the past two it was sunny and a bit dry compared to this one. At this time, since it was raining the past days until the day that we trek, it was really wet, super wet and cold. I never thought of the leeches, until true enough when we reach the three tunnels, there were already some leeches clinging to other climbers shoes and socks. I do my routine of limatik check, there isn't any, went on on our trek without checking anymore for we were already on the road trekking.

It was only when we reach the last house before our final destination that I noticed a blood just below my neck above my breast. I knew it, it's limatik bite, no doubt at all. And true enough when we put down our packs the limatik is still there, already full of blood. Damn....I can't do anything about it anymore. Decided to change my trekking shirt for the front part already has patches of blood. I tried to remedy by putting folded clean tissue with plaster on the bitten part without noticing I put it in a wrong spot, without mirror and changing just in the open shed on a rainy time, it was really difficult to determine the right spot of the bite. I was conditioned the blood will stop now.

And just on my way to the chapel which serves as our headquarter for this trek (we decided not to open our tents) I noticed another one just above my pinky finger, and it started sucking as well. I asked Des to take it off, me already freaking out. Now, it's not just one but two bites. I put plaster and folded tissue on the second bite as well for blood keeps on dripping too.

But I realized, it was not that bad after all. It's just very itchy the following day which I remedy of putting vicks alternating it with caladryl. Hopefully this will work.

A Weekend Trek to Benguet

As a result of the adventure that I joined, I gain friends that loves to go outdoor just like me. This trip is one of it, sort of reunion to our race escapades and with additional adventure, rappelling with AMS (Angelinos Mountaineering Society). 

We visited one of the mountain that we gain points in Benguet,during the race, Mt. Osokan. This is the third time that I will be in this mountain range, the only difference now is that we are going to do it overnight on the beautiful mountain top in Englandad, and on third visit it is just really raining. Since we arrived Baguio that morning it already started raining and never stopped. We proceed with the climb anyway despite the rain, it was cold, wet, muddy and most of all the leeches are alive. 

This climb also served as my training climb in preparation to my Aconcagua expedition. On purpose, I load 18kgs, surprisingly just my regular weight on my usual multi day climb. This climb though is just a short trek both on day one and day two. 

We are blessed, the community allowed us to us the chapel as our headquarter, with very limited flat space on the mountain top, there would not be enough space to pitch tent for everybody. There were only 2tents pitched, the rest rested on the chapel and the bunker. The nearby house generously offered us hot coffee and breakfast on the morning of second day. 

And we were blessed with little window of sunshine, just enough for all of us to jump for the rappel and for the first timers to witness the beautiful landscape around, afterwhich the fog engulf the scenery again. 

Our exit was to Sayangan, Atok, Benguet still raining We reached Baguio past 9 in the evening, had dinner and socials, ride Victory bus 1:30am and arrive home 9:00am Monday.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150281160014560.345902.648974559 

Back to the Wall

I've been wanting to go back to the wall, haven't been doing it regularly after so many other physical activities to do for several months now, which I hope to do it again beginning last night.

Sadungo Wall, from Ai's album

As usual, I was in my playground, Sandugo Wall, the nearest from where I work. I just really feel at home on that wall having the gym staff just like brothers to me. They are also kind especially to me, they belay me in case I am just alone. Last night, I did just few endurance climb of climb up and climb down with some route climbs on easy walls for three hours. But I still did not regain my confidence with heights, I still have that feeling in my mind again of what if my biner is not properly locked, what if my harness is not properly set up while I am up on the air on belay down. And most of all I still did not regain my confidence of doing the overhang again. I've been doing that way back but when I stop I did not have the confidence to do it again.

On the next few sessions, I hope to do the overhang again. After last night's climb, I went home with pumped arms, sore palm and legs......great climbing session.

Preparation - Aconcagua Climb Expedition

Since I decided to finally join the Aconcagua expedition last week of July, I now have to prepare all aspect of it. I will only have four months left to prepare.

Physical Preparation 

The post of Aconcagua Trek on how to prepare physically prompt me to start a regular daily routine in preparation to this expedition.

I tried to follow this routine:

PRIOR TO EXPEDITION	WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Six Months a. Aerobic : 4 days/week b. Strength: 3 days/week c. Recreation: 1 day/week d. Rest: 1-2 days/week	WORKOUT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Aerobic X X X X Strength X X X Recreation X Rest X

I said to myself, I will begin strictly doing it August. So here it is:

August 1 - a.m. -  20 minutes of strength exercise (sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups)
                 p.m. -  1 round of 26 floors stairs

August 2 - a.m. -  20 minutes of strength exercise (sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups)
                 p.m. - 5 rounds of 26floors stairs with 5kilos backpack load
August 3 -  a.m. -  20 minutes of strength exercise (sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups)
                  p.m. - 156 stairs of climbing up and down with 6 kilos of backpack load
                  (it's still a rainy after office, so I decided to just do an indoor activity)
August 4 - my wall climb day - 3 hours of combination of endurance and easy route climb up and down until my arms and legs become pump and sore. 
August 5 - a.m. 20 minutes of strength exercise with weights for arm strength
                 p.m. just a 2 rounds of stairs without load, a relax day for me for I am   leaving for a weekend climb later

August 6-7 - an overnight trek with 18kgs backpack load, rappelling on the side
August 8 - a rest day for me, got so wasted from the weekend trip with less sleep

August 9 - a.m. 20 minutes of strength exercise with weights for arm strength
                 p.m. 2 sets of 26floor stairs 
August 10 - a.m. 20 minutes of strength exercise with weights for arm strength
                  p.m. 5 sets of 26floor stairs with 6kilos of pack load

August 11 -  a.m. 20 minutes of strength exercise with weights for arm strength
                    p.m. just a 1 round of stairs with no load
August 12 - a.m. 20 minutes of strength exercise with weights for arm strength
August 13 - 11K run
August 14 - 24K Antipolo LSD
August 15 - a lazy Monday for me but I did a long distance walking
August 16 - just a walk

August 17 - a 30 minute run along Legaspi Park before my pre-climb meeting for Mt Talinis
August 18 - my Wall Climb day, 30 minutes of traverse and 30 minutes of endurance climb up and down
August 19 - just a walk
August 20 - 20 kilometer trail run to Mt. Sto. Tomas and Cabuyao Benguet
August 21 - my rest day
 August 22 - my day in the wall - 3 hours of endurance, route, traverse and bouldering
August 23 - 1 round of stairs and 45 minute of fast running
August 24 to 27 - Mt. Talinis Climb - minor but a simulation of cold trekking, doing nothing in the campsite and heavy load packing
August 28 - cardio session, snorkling along the water of  Apo Island
August 30 - a long run to the hills of Cabulihan
August 31 - travel time but heavy load pack
Sept 3 - Short run in MOA
Sept 4 and 5 - Tarak Ridge Climb, another wet climb
Sept 8 - Stairs climbing, 2 rounds of 34 floors
Sept 9 - my long walk day
Sept 10 - Wall at Sandugo
Sept 11 - LSD Run in Antipolo
Sept 12 - Running Clinic with 5K run
Sept 14 - 4 rounds of 27 floors with 10 kilos of load
Sept 18 - 16Kilometer Skyrun at Mt. Pulag via Akiki Ambangeg Trail
Sept 20 - Recovery run of 5kilometers and stair climbing 
Sept 23 to 25 - Mt. Kanlaon Climb via Wasy Guintubdan, a 3 day climb with more than 15 kilos load
Sept 29 - 7km run along Valero Loop
Oct. 2 - Mt. Apo, 25 kilometer trail on 12 hours at 1,758MASL elevation gain
Oct. 5 - long walk
Oct. 6 - long walk
Oct. 7 - 32kilometer trail run to Mt. Ugo
Oct. 15 - 50kilometer trail run at TNF Singapore
Oct. 18 - a long walk at the streets of Kinabalu City
Oct. 19 - 21K Trail run with more 2,000 meter elevation gain at Mt. Kinabalu
Oct. 20 - 5 kilometer walk to Kundasang town
Oct 22 - 21K trail run with more than 2,000 meter elevation gain at Mt. Kinabalu
Oct 24 - Run on the streets of Kinabalu City
Oct 29 - 15 kilometer Adobo Night Run
Oct 31 - 30 kilometer trail run to Mt. Ugo
Nov 1 - 6 kilometer recovery trail run at CJH Yellow Trail
Nov 5 - 10K Energizer Night Race
Nov 6 - 25 kilometer Power Run
Nov 7 - 16 kilometer recovery run at Cogeo Antipolo route
Nov 13 - 32 kilometer Run United Race
Nov 15 - 4 rounds of 25 story stairs

Aside from the physical activity, I also try to follow the advise from the other blogs that I read, to practice drinking as much as 4 liters of water daily. For during the actual expedition, we need to consume 4 to 5 liters of water daily in order to adjust to the high altitude. I also start doing that August, I consciously keep record of how many liters of water had I drink for the day. 

Vaccine
September 7 - I had 2  (Hepa B and Typhoid)  of the 8 vaccines that I need to be updated of
September 15 - another 2 shots today, influenza and pneumonia. one more remaining of the shots and two prophylaxis and I will be done with it.
November 16 - got my Hepa B shot today, one last shot next week

Money
September 9 - purchase a big amount of dollar from my cousin.
September 12 - purchase another dollar bill from my sister
November 14 - I finally asked financial assistance from my dear sister and she agreed 

I really maintain my physical activity until we leave for Argentina. I manage to pull all resources that I can think of just to have this event push through. A great success.

My Daily Post for Aconcagua Trip

THIS IS IT.....

Aconcagua Climb Expedition

December 1 - 19, 2011

Outfitter - Aconcagua Trek

Route - False Polish Glacier Traverse

 Expeditin Cost - $3,300.00USD

Team

Zean Villongco

Mon Dysangco

Cheryl J. Bihag

July 23, 2011 - After million times of thinking, will I really join the trip, after an offer received from a friend of doing the expedition some other time and considering my financial status at this very moment, I really had reservations of joining the trip. But I decided to just proceed, and I signed the Aconcagua Trek reservation form.

TNF Women's Mountain Light Jacket

July 25, 2011 - Gave my down payment of USD 500.00 and sent through Western Union money transfer.

Time to do my physical and gear preparation.

August 10, 2011  - today I asked my dear sister to buy me an outer shell for this trip, this is at least another off on my list. Few more gears to do on my list.

For several days now, I've been thinking how on earth will I be able to buy all the gears that I need to bring on this expedition. I am looking for options on whatever way I can save when it comes to gears, it dawned in my mind if I can borrow even to somebody whom not close so close to me, I'll do it just to be able to able to save a little amount.

TNF Rideachy Pants 

August 11, 2011 - After my daily search on my favorite outdoor online site Altrec, I realized I needed another pants that will serve as my trekking pants on the higher camps of Aconcagua, not may be the one that I really like to have but most I do not have a size that will fit me anymore, I decided to purchase additional one. I was thinking, this will serve as my higher camp trekking pants, and my old one will serve as my camp outer layer pants to add up the insulation. I just really wish this thought will work out fine. I decided to get the TNF Ridearchy Pants, original price 248.59 now on sale and being the last piece only costs 80.59. Not bad.

MRE from Sir Bombox

August 15, 2011 - After I saw the MREs that Gabby showed to us, I realized, I guess it would be a great idea to bring at least a 'stay alert' chewing gum and the other stay alert supplies on the MRE pouch to the summit of Aconcagua, I really do not know if this strategy will work but I said I will give it a try. With Sir Bombox offering to give me one pack, I did not hesitate to accept his offer, and I get it his office.

Scrapa Inverno Mountaineering Boots

After thorough thinking on how I can save on gear especially on a boots that costs USD319.00, do I have to rent, buy a lower kind of boots or borrow from a friend, I decided to just buy on exactly the same kind that is highly recommended, the Scrapa Inverno Mountaineering boots, when will i be able to get one, I still do not know.  

August 23 - team's second pre climb meeting. Lots of things being discussed, I found out I can get a cheaper ticket by passing through Guam via Continental Airlines, this means two things to me, saving on the cost and seeing the kids even for just a while.

An overview of the trail that the expedition team will join. This looks easy on the picture but I know this is challenging not just physically but also mentally on the actual expedition. This is to the hope that this illustration will help us prepare mentally and will give us a picture on how it will be on the actual climb. The team is still on the process of  preparing every single detail of this exedition, three more months left and we really haven't finalize everything yet. We still have to prepare for our visa but before doing that we have to purchase our tickets first, this is one of the  document needed for the visa requirement.

I already have one of my bank certificate which I got in the province, I still have to apply for two more bank certificates. Another document that I need to prepare is plane ticket which will really cost that much, we just hope the embassy will grant is the visa for even before our trip will be certain due to the visa approval we will already spend that much on the cost of the documents needed to present. Another one is medical certificate, this is something that I still have to produce, I already talk to my friend doctor and she already agreed with it. As the time of the expedition really is approaching fast, I had to prepare for a big amount of USDollar bill as well. Good thing my cousin who just arrive from his long post abroad happens to have some dollar bill, that saves me a bit in the excahnge rate.

My friend signify his interest of joining this expedition with his daughter which I hope they will push with it. I am always excited to be climbing on a bigger number than doing it on a small group. And besides that will make us two female climber now rather than just being the only girl on the team.

September 6 - by sending my filled up application form of the 25th Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon Race makes me an official delegate of the Philippine Skyrunning Team who will be competing the race this coming October 23, 2011 on the mountain ranges of Kinabalu. Despite my tight budget, I thought of doing this for the very reason that this will give me a chnace to do some acclimatization climb prior to my actual expedition. The mountain is not that high compared to Aconcagua, not that cold and we will not even be carrying a heavy load on the several times that we will be doing the climb and on the actual race but my thought is at least I will be exposed to the high altitude. This is my second time in Kinabalu, what makes it different at this time will be the race proper, we are going to run on the slopes of the mountain.Another goodluck to me again.

After several days of planning of visiting my doctor friend to start updating my vaccine shots finally last September 7, I did my first two shots, for Typhoid and Hepa B. Where she does her clinic is really far from the city, it's several hours of jeepney ride but I need to start doing it otherwise I won't be able to finish it. There are 5 more shots that I will take from her, and one from the Quarantine Section of the Department of Health, my cholera prophylaxis. Actually Argentina just require yellow fever certificate but I always wanted to do some precaution especially to countries that I am not so familiar. It's best to prepare for it even if it's not part of the visa requirement.

September 10, 2011 - some of my major gear arrive today, upper and lower outer shell. I just hope this will be enough to make me warm while on the expedition

September 11, 2011 - finally purchase the scarpa inverno mountaineering boots but has to ship through chelo's address. As to how I will be able to send it here, I still do not know. Will look for options on it yet.

September 13, 2011 - Blue Cross Insurance, Inc through their Travelsafe Insurance plan officially agreed  to cover the expedition's insurance plan.

September 15, 2011 -  and I have my second batch of vaccine shots today

 Jules send us today the map of what we are going to do this coming Oct 2, in the mountain slopes of the highest peak of the country. This will be my first time, in as much as I wanted to do this on a trek but I feel like I needed to do this preparation to my Kinabalu Climbathon which is part of my preparation to this major expedition. I just hope that of the many physical activities that I am crazily doing now, I will be prepared and fit come the actual day. I also pray to God that aside from my physical preparedness, I will also be financially ready and and physically healthy. Truly, this expedition is really making me crazy, the preparation is so tedious and toxic, it in itself is also an expedition. I just hope that despite it's being a long run, we will also be greeted with a good weather on this day. I am excited at the same anxious for I haven't been into this mountain, something that I cannot even imagine what terrain I will go into aside from the fact that I will be doing this run on the highest peak in the country.

My PSA Team at the summit of Mt. Pulag

September  18 - I decided to join the PSA team to do a skyrun in the highest point in Luzon, Mt. Pulag via Akiki-Ambangeg trail. This is my highest trail running being done ever, despite the fact that I've climbed this route several times with load, doing it in a so minimal load but a so fast pace does not make any difference at all. It just really simply made my heart burst into faster beat gasping some air on a thinning air as we go up the steep trail. To add into it is is the cold weather that each of us experience that time.

Thanks for SMC for Mt. Kanlaon Climb

September 23 to 25, after doing my sky run on the highest peak in Luzon, the third highest peak in the country, Mt. Pulag, on this weekend I did a climb on the highest peak in the Visayas, Mt. Kanlaon via Wasay Guintubdan trail, one of the most challenging and longest trail on this mountain.  But what made this trek more challenging at this time is that the weather just did not cooperate with our wishes. We were hoping for the best weather that a climber at that time could hope for, but it was the other way for us, it was a rainy windy cold trek for all of us, not a favorable weather, no clear view on the trail, and all the more no clear view on the summit crater.

Thanks to Bugsy for my outer sleeping pad

But it was also a good practice for me, a simulation of the weather and temperature that I might experience in an expedition that I 've been preparing for. I am again carrying a super heavy load, on a cold wet trek and  campsites. I can say it was a fruitful climb for us and most especially for me, adding again a saving on my bank account of endurance. I thank the Smart Mountaineering Group for inviting me in this climb. It was a good rock in roll climb.

Thanks to Bugsy for my pee bottle

September 26, I learned that Bugsy got my another set of gear for this expedition, my therma rest Z Lite pad and hopefully the nalgene cantene a.k.a. pee bottle as well. This is another set of gear that which I hope that it will keep me warm and comfortable in the high camps of Aconcagua. Thanks to Bugsy and the rest of her company for taking the time to look for my items and at the same time bringing it depiste the fact that it's really bulky and expensive. I also borrowed from Jing Talesio her thermos bottle, I hope to experiment this as my bottle that which it can carry hot water on the summit assault of Aconcagua.

September 29, I got both my thermarest Z lite pad and nalgene cantene from Bugsy. This will be my additional gear for Aconcagua trip.

Thanks to Jules for organizing this run

October 2, from the highest peak of Luzon, Mt. Pulag two weeks earlier on a skyrun to Mt. Kanlaon, the highest peak of the Visayas on a climb a week earlier, on this weekend it was on the highest mountain of the country,  a skyrun to Mt. Apo via Kidapawan side, Ko-ong traditional trail.  A 16 kilometer run with 1,758 meters above sea level elevation gain. We did it in 12 hours. Given the kind of terrain on this trail and the 12 river crossing that we did on Marbol River, the team did it in a fast pace. The cloudy weather and wet shoes adds up to our training. It was a test on endurance and perseverance for all of us. We arrive the tail end all safe and on high spirits despite being so tired we finish it.

thanks PSA for Mt. Ugo run

October 8, another trail run on the slopes of Mt. Ugo. A rainy Saturday for 20 runners but the rain did not stop us from trudging the slopes of Benguet. In a way, the rain helped, a trail on the first hour is open and exposed making the run uphill more easier than the last time I was here. But as we move further it's getting colder for the rain did not stop. Most of us did not make it to the summit, some of us got lost along the way but overall it was a great training run. The view was just spectacular and the company was just great. Another skyrun full of fun and so much adventure.

October 15, I set off to Singapore for a 100K Duo trail run organized by TNF SG. I run this race last year but it was for a shorter distance. This year I decided to make it longer. Thanks to my friend Juliet who accepted my invitation to be my partner. I am confident I can do it, I am already familiar with the first part trail, it's the same as what we did last year, bu the next part is  the unfamiliar one. It's pretty easy still, it's just that it was an open trail. On a bright sunny day, the trail is not friendly to any runner most especially to me. I just really find the humid temperature exhausting and energy draining. I thank God despite the agony on the second part of the trail I still made it to the cut off time, and my partner Juliet made it too. Another mileage on the trail before my most awaited Kinabalu Climbathon.

October 22, 2011, 25th Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon. Three days after my TNF100 SG 50kilometer run is our summit training climb to Mt. Kinabalu. This is a 21 kilometer all uphill trail. Our purpose is for our body to acclimatize with abrupt elevation. And three days after is the race proper. With not much time for our legs to recover from the previous practice run, it's now time to do the actual race. I did not reach the summit cut off time but I need to race down and cross the finish line despite being on dnf status. What made this race so memorable, it's not just the physical gain that I  get being exposed to the high altitude which is the primary purpose of joining but also good and fun memories among friends and new found friends. I did not regret joining this event.