Our TNF100 Trail Run Tales

JC and I joined the TNF100 Trail Run just for the sake of joining. Okay, I'll admit I did it for the TNF stickers! Ganun kababaw ang kaligayahan ko, sa sobrang babaw laki ng nagastos ko haha.

I know I swore off joining events that literally rob your money outta your pocket just because of the hype. I caved in because 1) I wanted to try running on a trail, 2) it's the frakken TNF and 3) it was a great excuse to escape the hellish Manila heat and see friends in Baguio.

Also, we were to be the support team of our friends, Mac and Marie. They did 50 km which was, based from all 50k runner stories, no easy feat. It was beyond difficult. A Herculean task that every runner must commit to not only physically, but mentally too. It was a pure test of endurance and strength, you have be there to believe it.

We arrived in Baguio at past 11 pm, got lost a bit while looking for our transient house in Scout Barrio, ginising pa namin yung may race ng 4am para lang magkahanapan kami haha. Konting chika, then a little before 1am we all took a nap before waking up around 3am. What is bangag. Took a quick shower before we made our way to John Hay which is, thankfully, on a walking distance from our house.

Hinatid namin sila sa starting line then waited for the gunshot til the last runner has been sent off the grounds. Sobrang exciting lang you could see it in every runner's face and feel it in the air.

After sending off all the 50k runners we walked a bit on the grounds looking at interesting stuff.

We went back to our transient house, set our alarm for 9am and slept again. After 3 hours we showered again, dressed up and were on our way to Green Valley where we'll meet Kimi. The cab driver dropped us off at the last point where PUVs are still allowed, there we waited for Kimi to arrive.

We were dead set on hiking our way up to Mt. Sto. Tomas if we didn't find any vehicle that would be willing enough to take us all the way up. Hitching a ride na naman ang peg just like what we did when we first made our way here in 2010. Wala pang 20 metres na nakakalakad kami may dumaang pick-up truck! We thought it wouldn't stop for us after raising our thumbs but lo and behold huminto sya. So that's the story how we arrived in the radar/AS 8 in less than 30 minutes without any sweat . Ha!

These were the scenes that greeted us when we got there. AS 8, to sum it up, is the mid station for 50k runners. This is where runners took their brunch or lunch depending on what time they arrived. The place was buzzing and you could feel that every marshals and officials were frantically going gaga. Or si Daddy lang yun (an official there, Kimi's friend from UPM).

We were so worried that our friends already made it there without us at 10:30 when we felt it was still early for them to make it there at that time. Malay mo bigla pala silang naging halimaw, ran so fast and made it to AS 8 super early. But we waited patiently, talked to some of the officials, watch every runner that arrived, talked to Kimi's friends, walked to the viewing deck to wait some more until finally at 11.30, Mac arrived!

A series of kwentuhan and kainan naturally ensued. Marie finally arrived a little after 1 pm, a few minutes after, Mac decided to run the 3 km from AS8 to AS9. The 3 km that you do not belittle as it was harder than it seemed! Mac decided to wait for Marie despite the ticking clock (he made it back to AS8 at around 2.30pm). He decided though that if Marie still hasn't arrived at 4pm, he'll continue the run on his own. Good thing Marie came in at 3:30! After a short rest (for Marie) and quick bite, off they went again and us three hitched a jeepney ride alongside some of the DNF's (runners that did not finish) back to Camp John Hay. It was so awkward. Most of them didn't make it to the finish line for various reasons. I can feel their disappointments but they compensated by cracking jokes. At least there's always next year to try again :)

Before the 2 resumed running, we saw this man came in. He was currently the first place holder in the 100k division. Everyone gave him a round of applause when he continued his run after a quick egg and coca cola break haha.

During the awarding ceremony, we found out that he was the first placer indeed. Good lord watta trail monster. Mabuhay ka kuya!

We arrived at John Hay at 5pm so you can just imagine how starved we were! We had baon but a lunch is a lunch. We headed to the first resto we saw (that we liked haha): Army Navy.

Then we went home again at around 6pm where I slept once again (JC didn't, he watched TV), woke up at 7.30 and was out of the door for the third time at 8pm. We waited in the finish line section with the chilly Baguio weather enveloping us.

Every time a 50k and 100k runner arrive, we clap our hands.

Then this girl. Apparently she was the first woman from 100k to arrived. Way to go girl!!! Okay sorry walang fez na makita, madilim eh!

9pm came then 10pm but still no Mac and Marie. 10pm is the cut-off time for 50k runners. If you don't arrive by that time you're not included in the official list of finishers. After multiple phone calls and waiting-in-the-super-cold-dark-forest, these two finally arrived.

There were so many stories to tell but I don't know how to relay them here so I'll just skip the part and past forward to when they finally reached the finished line. They made it a few minutes before midnight and though there weren't any other people to cheer them on nor an emcee to announce their arrival, we cheerfully met them at the finish line. At least no one's knee got broken or anything. They were all in one piece. Ang loser namin wala kaming matinong camera. All photos were taken from my phone.

Congrats Mac and Marie!! Bawi tayo next year! Este kayo pala :)

We had a super late dinner at Yellow Cab at around 1 in the morning, went home at 2am. JC and I still have our run later at 5 in the morning. I was so exhausted and sleepy I fell asleep in no time.

April 21, 2013, Sunday. It was our turn, 11k trail runners, this time. In fairness nagising naman kami at fresh pa rin no matter how puyat. This was a few minutes before gun time (5.30am).

There was a slight traffic on the first 3(?!) km kasi nagkakasalubungan pa ang mga 22k and 11k runners especially on uphill areas.

Ang trick lang naman dyan is not to run like crazy on uphills kasi pinapagod mo lang ang sarili mo hehe. We ran when the trail's flat or downhill (sarap! but remember to be careful always).

Yes, may wild horses talaga.

Water station stop. I like the fact that the organizers required runners to provide their own water bottles because really, those paper cups add up to this world's litters.

This was my, ahem, TNF shining moment shot. Okay end of gloating.

That's us in the finish line!

With kids who also joined the 11k run. Mind you, these kids were placers ha! They were on top 5!!

I don't know the name of this guy but he was the 3rd placer lang naman in 100k! Ang cute ni kuya, nakapikit!

After watching the awarding ceremony and hanging out with Mitch for a bit, we headed for lunch because we were really starving by then. We headed to Ketchup Community Place and sat at Canto. Kimi, JC and I ordered at Canto (ribs that could really use more dressing/sauce/whatever) while Mac and Marie ordered at Happy Tummy. Sadly there wasn't anything happy about their service. The food took a really long time to get into our table and that's with 2 follow ups pa!

Siningit ko lang yung free pic namin from ROX hahaha

Sunday night, Mac and Marie went back to Manila while JC and I stayed for another day. We decided to stay in the transient house instead of spending the night at Kimi's since bayad na rin naman ang place. The next morning, we woke up early and headed to public market to buy stuff. We bought the usual veggies and for a change, I bought organic and red rice. Wala lang.

And of course, my Baguio stay won't be complete without seeing my cutie patootie godchild who's turning into quite the posh toddler. Props to her Mamay for picking her everyday get-up hehe.

The end. Next year we'll try our luck with 22k. Huzzah!

My TNF Shining Moment!

Excuse this post but I just had to put it here. A few days ago, The North Face instagram account called for a sort of submit-a-great-shot-from-a-race. All you had to do was include the hashtag #gearupgetout. 

The timing couldn't be more perfect because my friends and I just recently joined TNF 100 trail run (Philippine series) in Baguio City. I didn't even run that long a distance but I still submitted a photo, this one below, taken by my fiancé. 

Lo and behold! 3 days after posting that photo in my account (with the hashtag, of course), TNF posted my photo in their instagram!!! Ang haba ng hair ko, yun lang! :))

PS: Photo was taken last April 23 with iPhone 4s. No filter. It pays that that particular area was picture perfect itself.

PPS:

Okaythankyoubye.

Adobo Run After Dark

This run was a last minute decision which we paid dearly for when we got stuck in the weekend traffic. We inched our way through the traffic, skipped u-turns and kept a pretty good record as we passed by annoying MMDA abangers before making it to SM MOA parking lot just in time for the gun start of  5k run. Our kit was for 15k. Haha.

This happened while I was busily lacing my shoes.

[Sweaty] Finishers! :)

Finishers: Jam and JC

Rovilson is one genuinely nice guy!

Thanks to our sponsor, Mitch!!

I have to have this shot in the finish line. PS: JC de Veyra was behind me mwahaha.

After the run, there was a mini concert in the parking grounds. We were able to catch 3 bands - Ernville, Pedicab and 6 Cycle Mind. Photo below is of Pedicab. Spotted: Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona 

After Pedicab's set I ran after RA Rivera and had this taken. Superb!

Free-flowing Manila Beer all night!

We left a little after 9 and was starving by the time we hit QC. We had a post-run feast at Behrouz to regain all the calories we lost. LOL. It was très bien!

NatGeo Run and Mercato Centrale Sunday

After N months, I was able to run again. After months of evading exorbitant registration fees currently trending in running events, I gave in. Only because it was NatGeo Run, the one I missed last year because it happened to coincide with Tour of the Fireflies.

However, due to the expensive fee I have to pay in order to participate in their Earth Day Run, I opted to run under the 3k category since it was the cheapest among all the category haha. When we first registered at Greenbelt 3, we were quite disappointed because we had to come back for the singlets for they were already out of stock. For regular commuters, going to Greenbelt is no easy task. 

When the Cheese and I arrived at the Fort, the 21k category was about to start. Along with the Cheese's officemates (Ecai, Wilson, Za and Mai), we waited for our category to be called behind the stage. Each time a new category begins, fireworks ensue.

Fireworks

And so our category was called and our race begins... on a walk haha. That's what you get when you're smacked in the middle of runners, waiting for everyone to move while the clock runs. So please don't judge me if you see my race result below haha.

Proud finishers!

After the crossing the finish line we went straight to hydration station to hydrate ourselves. In fairness, I think bumawi ang organizers sa freebies. They gave away 100 Plus, Fit 'N Right, a slice of Greenwich pizza (at least for the first 1000 finishers), Cushe stickers and laces, San Mig coffee, etc. After taking photos and hanging out at the Finish area, watching runners as they arrive, we went to Mercato Centrale for our much awaited food trip. It was my first time to visit them in their new home near MC Depot. Even though it was still so early in the morning, the place was already teeming with tons of people! The long tables and chairs were all occupied mostly by hungry runners who also came straight from NatGeo Run.

This time I ordered chicken wings with blue cheese sauce from Kobe's All Fried Up, chips from Chuck's Grubberie and Lemonade drink from where Wilson and Mai bought their German sausage sandwich (I think!). The Cheese had a grilled chicken barbecue meal and his usual Tea.ology (Amaretto this time). Za and Mai bought mochi icecream at Mochiko, while I had a free taste of Earl Grey Tea icecream at Merry Moo. Next time, I will buy a proper icecream in cup!

Busily stuffing food into mouth. The result: almost empty photos of grub!

After a satisfying Mercato Centrale brunch we decided to walk around High Street. Unfortunately most of the stores were still closed (ROX opens at 12 na pala!) so we went straight to the first open store that we saw, RUNNR where we all had our Gait Analysis. It was some sort of feet assessment of how we walk or run in order to help us improve our performance or reduce injuries. By running on a treadmill with a video recorder, the guy in charge was able to determine our feet type. Luckily, I have a neutral feet. But for those who have biomechanical abnormality, they are advised to wear the right running shoes to correct feet alignment. You should try it too, it's quite helpful.

By the way, here's my dapat-pang-5k result haha.

Rogin-E Last Man Running

Absolutely in awe of these guys who survived and finished 7 hours of running under the Manila heat and McKinley Hill pavement. That is no easy feat earthlings, but they did it.

For me, the big winners were the oldest and two women participants, my god I don't know what kind of super powers they possess but that day, they totally earned everybody's - or at least those in Hydration Station 1 with me - respect and support.

Mahirap maging volunteer sa hydration station, pero mas mahirap tumakbo! Those runners are not bad too cos they're all appreciative :)

Sabog Sunday Post

This post is brought to you by a restless me on a Sunday.

Coming from a birthday party, then crossing over to another last-minute humabol sa isa pang party left me with only an hour worth of sleep yesterday. It's not so bad really but if you have a running event to attend with only an hour worth of sleep then it's bad, bad, baaad.

It didn't help that the supposed running event turned out to be more of a parade, with banners, balloons, tarps, kids in NSTP uniform and all. So the 3k (at 3k na nga lang) run did not happen. More like 5k of walking. There were so many people it felt like the Millennium celebration all over again only it happened with people in their best running outfits (I am not counting the make-ups, na-ah) and I was part of it.

What free bus rides? What organized event?

I love you Pasig River but I am never going to attend another "world-breaking-record-event". Not anymore. I hate that MOA is so far and I hate that it didn't turn out the way a lot of people expected it to. It was so friggin' chaotic.

No wonder Manila isn't included in Nike Human Race key cities. Although it would be really, really cool if they include us in their list someday.

Thank God for Manny Pacquiao. That boyish grin. I don't regret screaming like an obsessed fan girl at all. He's PACMAN for cripe's sake!

PS:

101010 yo!