No Limits

 “When we look up, it widens our horizons. 

We see what a little speck we are in the universe, 

so insignificant, and we all take ourselves 
so seriously... But in the sky, 
there are no boundaries." 

- East of the Sun by J. Gregson

A Weekend before the Hundred Mile

Summit of Pico De Loro picture courtesy of Mia Constantino

Saturday on the weekend before my Hardcore 100 mile race, have been blessed with friends who are also into trail running, the group decided to head to Pico de Loro, an answer to my much needed run up on the mountain. It may not be that high but at least it will give additional stretch to my muscles that has not been fully  awakened from the short road runs that I had been doing the past weeks. 

Along the trail to Pico de Loro. Picture courtesy of Mia Constantino

The distance is not that long either. It was hot and humid, the trail is dry, dusty and compact that obviously become muddy if it rains. The cloudless day gives a clear blues skies to the runners and hikers alike. The trail that pass through the trees has been shaded, a refuge to the runners.

Pico de Loro. Picture courtesy of Mia Constantino.

Clear blue skies on a cloudless day at Pico de Loro.The run lasted only over three hours of out and back but it was a sweet one.

The following day, Sunday, I am back to my original playground, the busy streets of the Metro. Started my run by joining a 5km fun run which I ranked 5th among the female contenders, after a short break I resume my running tracing the original 5km route earlier and go beyond. It is already hot, I share the road with few runners and vehicles alike.

What I originally plan to be just a short one as I move further down the road I did not realize I went much longer distance. I was just enjoying the feeling of running all by myself which was a good simulation of my most possible situation come race day. I thought there will be more hours of being alone running a hundred mile, so I might as well enjoy every moment of it as early as now. I end the day running almost 30km, that serves as my LSD for my coming race. 

I arrive home recharged and full of energy. I never felt so much energized and stronger than now, and more confident and ready to face the challenge on the race day. So much excited now.
  
Time to taper, get enough rest and sleep, eat more, drink and hydrate and prepare the gear for the big day.

Lift Up 15

Dig deep, over come things and find the inspiration to  shine and search meaning in everything that is happening. Look at the bright side of it, always think that this is only temporary and is part of the journey. In the end something good and bright will happen. Keep fighting, keep hoping, keep moving. Hold on and believe.

"Life is a combination of triumphs and tragedies. 

To remain constant is the key. 

To be humble in triumphs and to stay hopeful 

in tragedies. These qualities mark 

the true success of a person." 

(As posted by Belle Lim) 

Lift Up 14

I was not born a trail runner. 

I become one.

I Run to Save Lives 2013

 Second edition of Philippine Red Cross' Million Volunteer Run, my weekend has just been within the Metro so I decided to join my cousins doing this fun run. Distance is an option of 5km and 3km. Will do the 5km and continue on with my Sunday run after crossing the finish line for more mileage to cover. 

Almost a kilometer distance before reaching the starting line an hour before the start of the race, I started my warm up run. Cars cannot come nearer anymore due to big number of runners flooding into the starting line. It's still dark, I have to negotiate my warm up run with other runners and the bumper to bumper vehicles. As I follow the influx of runners I lost track of my cousins, attempted to find them on the swarm of people majority in red colored shirt but to no avail. I decided to stay near the starting line.  

No marshals, no volunteers, runners are just moving here there and everywhere. Thousands of mix age group of runners around, students, middle aged and some seniors. The sound of the band and the sound system from the stage situated few meters away from the starting line added to the  chaotic yet festive atmosphere of the area. With no idea what time will this 5km fun run will really start, I decided to entertain myself by taking pictures of what is written on the shirts of some runners on a very discreet way. I was successful with some but not to most of it.

As we were released way beyond the day break, I just run my own pace with an extra care, I don't want to get injured on this overly crowded two lane road closed to the public vehicles and just dedicated to the runners. I am happy with my pace, at times I push little faster if an opportunity comes, until I reach the finish line. All the more the Grand Stand is swarmed with thousand and thousand of runners, including myself. After I grab a copy of the finisher certificate I attempted to look around for any luck seeing my cousins but still to no avail, I decided to run back to where I started and even further.

Covered 15 kilometers today, my much needed mileage. Lesson learned on this race, it is always best to take time to see the best in the situation no matter how chaotic or disorganized things may be.

Lift Up 13

 

"No matter how well you know the course, 

no matter how well you may have done in a given race in the past, 

you never know for certain what lies ahead 

on the day you stand at the starting line waiting to 

test yourself once again. 

If you did know, 

it would not be a test; 

and there would be 

no reason for being there."

- Dan Baglione

Condura Skyway Marathon 2013

Picture by Jun Mendoza

It's my 3rd Condura Skyway Marathon!! my second full marathon running the same full stretch of the skyway. As Arvin said, "this is all because of the nice Finisher shirt & fortunately we got our preferred sizes. It was all worth it :-) "

I never thought of joining this race this year anymore. I run this event since the very first year it was organized (2009 I guess), had my very first debut of full marathon two years ago and did it again last year with the thought that it would be nice to think that  I was able to run the entire stretch of the skyway. But when I saw the finisher shirt for this year's race, I wanted to add one to my collection of  souvenir shirts again. I had the saucer sized medal last year but there was no finisher shirt. Fueled by Arvin's interest of joining this race, we rush to the last day of registration, took us an hour to decide if we will really register given that our preferred shirt size is not already available. We will have it repaired then if the organizer will not grant us the shirt size come race day.

Picture by Jun Mendoza

Truth to be told, every race is always a different experience. I may have run this event for the fifth time and on the same exact route the second time but as always I have another story to tell this time around. A thought of doing this at sub 5 hours runs through my mind, having to beat my PR on this distance will be too ambitious, I just come from an ultra trail race and haven't been back to work on my speed again two weeks after that. So I thought I'll just go with whatever pace I can do on this race.

Lots of familiar faces, festive atmosphere, heard lots of greetings not just before the start of the race but also along the race route and even after the race,  most of them I did not recognize or I was just too focused on my pace. I was with Arvin the first 20 kilometer stretch of the route. It was windier this time than last year. As we hit 10 km mark I know too well I will not be able to beat my PR. A push at the first half of the race has been my strategy before, upon reaching the 21km mark I was even slower than the speed I expected. Oh well, I 'll just push a little harder on the second half. 

On the distance beyond 15km I know I got to have something to fuel my stomach. Hesitant of using my shotz gel, I decided to have mini bite chocolates and candies. I know there will be supply of bananas in the next stations ahead. True enough few water stations more banana is already available. I started grabbing one, taking small bites while running and grabbing another piece once I run out of one. Until I already eat 3 pcs. But I noticed my stomach is starting to feel uncomfortable. Oh no, another stomach problem on just a full marathon. A not very good one. 

Before reaching 35km mark, I only have less than an hour to finish the last stretch, been wanting to push for a sub 5. But towards the 40km mark I just cannot take it anymore, nature calls, I need to line up in one of the portalets. I really can feel an upset stomach now. As much as I really want to push and not mind the trouble on my tummy, at some point I cannot ignore it anymore, I decided to stop, I do not want to cross the finish line smelling bad.

I lost more than 3 minutes on that stop but I hope that I can push a little harder and faster after that stop. Thanks to the presence of Alen, he was the one who inspired me to hang on and push a little farther. I do not want to eat another banana anymore. It was still dark, the route towards the finish line is an uphill part until it goes to a short 200 meter flat part towards the finish line, seeing the time I just want to get over this, it was 5:01:47. I cross the finish line with an upset stomach, hungry and thirsty. 

The race organizer did a great job, there were enough water and electrolyte drink despite the big number of runners, the atmosphere is festive, medics are available at every few kilometers, a roving ambulance is visible from time to time. A well organized race and not a crowded one, the release by wave helped not to crowed too much the skyway. This marathon never fails to be one of a memorable street party as ever.

Having been able to run the same route last year, the excitement may be lesser this time as compared before but nonetheless I am glad I cross the finish line still dark. I may be short by 1 minute and 46 seconds on my target time but I am still happy I did it. I ranked 565 of 2, 433 starters, I grab the shirt size that I wanted and most of all I indulged myself with  2 cones of cornetto ice cream and 3 ice cream sticks. That made my day. Happiness.

As always I thank God for giving me the physical strength and  the mental grit to endure every kilometer that I cover.

And yes I am running for LOVE, it's a Love month anyway.

Lift Up 12

Every sunset is
1 day less to live.

But every sunrise is
1 day more to hope.

Mornings don't mean just getting up again.

It means GOD is giving us another chance to live life better than before,

a chance to mend broken relationships,

a chance to correct the wrong choices we made,

a chance to love, to choose & follow GOD'S will,

And a chance to savour HIS infinite love & grace.

As posted by Juvy Pagtalunan 

Lift Up 11

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

As posted by Kikai Jenet Legaspi. 

HK100 2013 - Race Round Up

Congratulations to Janet and Steve for the success of this year's HK100 event. I would like to have a copy of the summary of the event as it is a nice feeling being one of those who participated the event. 

Vibram ® Hong Kong 100 (2013)
 

Dear HK100 Participants and Volunteers,

Thank you for your involvement in the 3rd edition of the Vibram Hong Kong 100.  We hope that you enjoyed being part of the event. 

Event statistics

Here are some statistics from the race:

Signed up: 1227
Started: 1080
Finished: 854 (79%)
DNF: 226 (21%)
Gold Awards: 158 (14.6%)
Silver Awards: 279 (25.8%)
Bronze Awards: 255 (23.6%)

Result highlights

Some highlights of the race include the white-hot pace set by Aite Tamang, Yun YanQiao  and Ram Kumar Khatri, who were well ahead of course-record splits during the early stages.  Stone Tsang Siu Keung, Andrew Tuckey, Jeremy Ritcey, Jonathan Garnett, Marcelo Bautista and Gerald Sabal were also in the mix before a brutal dog-fight left Yun YanQiao (10:16), Stone (10:19:43) and Ram Kumar (10:19:59) in first, second and third, separated by just 3 minutes.  Meanwhile, Claire Price was cruising to victory in the women's race in 11 hours and 58 minutes, taking 20 minutes off Lizzy Hawker's course record.  Chiaki Fjelddahl (making her debut as a participant this year having been a volunteer in the last two editions) took second in 13 hours and 4 minutes, edging out Olya Korzh, who took third in 13 hours and 10 minutes. No report of the race would be complete without mention of Mani Kala Rai, on her first trip outside Nepal and in her first ever 100km event, coming 4th in 13 hours 31 minutes.  We hope to see her beaming smile at the 4th edition of the Hong Kong 100.

Old Friends and New

But the Hong Kong 100 is not just about the leaders' amazing feats of athleticism.  It is also about the friendship, camaraderie and goodwill between the runners and the volunteers, and the sheer fun of spending time together in Hong Kong's beautiful outdoors.  It's about meeting old friends and new.  We were delighted to meet up again with Ramesh's Team Nepal, and are looking forward to seeing them again at the Annapurna 100 on 9th March.  (There are still spaces available in the Annapurna 100 for anyone who would like to join us).  Likewise, it was great to meet Team Bald Runner from the Philippines and the runners and delegates from the Korean Ultra Marathon Federation as well as Reiko Miyoshi, one of the organisers of the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji, and Yu Lei who is organising a Dalian 100km.  With almost 300 runners from China, over a hundred from Singapore, over 80 from Malaysia, over 20 from the Philippines and 50 or so from Japan, the event felt like a celebration of Asian Trail running.  Add in participants who had come from as far afield as Australia, the UK, the USA, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Italy and the UAE, and it was a privilege for Hong Kong to be hosting a global trail runners' festival!

Volunteer highlights

Among the volunteers this year were some real highlights.  The first was Nora Senn, the winner of the 2nd edition of the Vibram Hong Kong 100, offering to be the course sweep for the first half, accompanied by her dog, Wotan.  Wotan and Nora made a lot of friends along the way, and Nora seems to have enjoyed herself even more sweeping the race than she did winning it.  The second was the involvement of volunteers from Blind Sports Hong Kong as cheering squads at Checkpoint 3 and Tai Mo Shan Road.  These cheering squads included a number of the runners who took part with great success in the Taipei Fubon Marathon in December 2012, made possible by the generosity of participants in Hong Kong 100.   The third was the Scouts, Boys Brigade and other volunteers who provided incredible, infectious enthusiasm and energy all along the route to make every runner feel like an Olympian.  It's the volunteers who make Hong Kong 100 and we're very grateful for your unceasing support.

Thanks also to everyone who has put pen to paper about the event.  Special thanks to Andre Blumberg and Lloyd Belcher for their tireless efforts to help us all get to know the elite runners a little better and to keep us informed and entertained.  And a big shout out to the St Johns Ambulance Brigade, Nicole, Chester, May, Kin Hang Hiking Club, Mandy, Michael and Mum.

Donations

Over HK$200,000 has been raised for various charities this year.  We thank you for your generosity and support.  We hope that we could continue to make use of Hong Kong 100 to generate attention and give help to different causes that we deeply care about.

Vibram sharing

Vibram our title sponsor is inviting you all to share your HK100 experience at 4pm on Sunday, 3rd February 2013 at Dance Studio, 6th Floor, Youth Square, Chai Wan.  Please mail HK100@VIBRAM.CN directly to register.

See you on the trails and, to those from overseas, see you in 2014!

Best wishes – Janet and Steve