Bisdak Sole: April 2014

So I'm back to writing blah blahs about my running experiences... big deal. C'mon, blogging is free and you only have to worry about grammar nazis here. I'm not into big words, and structured writing, so here's to the future hinawayons... Ay pag buot kay ako ning space!

Let me start with race report - yes, I'm kinda feeling sikat right now so I'll be sharing this like everyone cares about what I write.

March 30, 2014. Cebu 50 - the brain child of Blue Tradio of Sing-Phil. A 50-km trail race set in the mountain Barangays of Cebu City. Three laps of the 17-km course - a mix of single tracks, fire roads, paved roads, and unlimited hills. It did not take a lot convincing for me to sign up for this race, the two major ingredients were present... its a trail race and its long distance. Twenty-something runners signed up but only nine showed up. They have their reasons. That got me stoked big time! I'll surely be in the top ten [if I finish]!

I thought Blue was making a last-minute sales pitch when he posted on facebook that the takers are a "lean" group of ultra-runners... nope, not a joke either. When I arrived at the pick up point at JY Square I saw Neil Nacario, the ultra fit huaracher and Cilu Ouano, the lonerunner - so that's what he meant by lean! These guys are the local ultra predators! Not to mention the Korean Ultraman, Sang Oh, judging by his thunder-calves, he could easily finish the race before sunrise! And the ladies were not Barbies either. Marly and Marilou - they are consistent podium gunners. I did the math in transit while having a beefy convo with the badasses on our way up to Brgy. Taptap, it is clear that no matter how well I perform, I wont make it close to the podium spot. It didn't matter coz my strategy was just to finish in on piece. <<< [take note of that line, you'll see that often!]

After a quick briefing at the Brgy. Hall, we head on to the start line just outside the building. We took off at exactly 4 AM. We all started slowly together, treading that 4-km winding paved [dowhill] road towards Tagba-o, cracked jokes and laughed together, well, except Sang Oh... not a clue of what the jokes are about. From Tagba-o, it was all uphill - a 500-meter steep paved road leading to where the muddy trail starts... still a good 2 clicks of constant ascent to the first peak, what locals call Kampar hill (725m ASL). We were still running as a group until after we crossed a couple of streams... and then, sunrise! The real race started. Neil and Sang Oh started to pick up the pace while I kept a steady pace with that guy from Cagayan de Oro, just behind Doc Willie Estepa and Cilu. The ladies are not far behind us some 10 km into the race right after the aide station. I can still see the leaders on that long uphill towards the second peak heading to the next control point at the City Hall sa Bukid but they quickly vanished on the downhill. I ran alone heading to the river crossing at around 14 km, but felt really comfortable with my pace. Then the inevitable happened... I picked the wrong trail! I missed that huge orange directional arrow painted on a tree! Saw some kids at the end of the trail and ask if I was going the right direction, and they all pointed north... tua ra sila ai! It was Cilu and that guy from CDO attacking the hill. I was reduced to a sigh coz I saw how hard they were working to get to the top and I was still at the bottom of that same hill. On the contrary, it was not a struggle tackling that hill, not a walk in the park either - but my effort was not enough to at least keep them in sight. I stopped trying. I reached the next control point in 3 hours and 11 minutes, and caught up with Cilu, who is obviously taking his time. We left that station and finished the 1st loop together at the Brgy Hall. The Tanods were kind enough to serve us humba for breakfast. Yes, we had full breakfast. You got a problem with that?


Cilu and I, we just finished our humba

A quick refill (and a selfie) and we're off again for another loop. This time we agreed to just stick together because we've already seen how hard this course was, and its very easy to miss those markers because it was still dark when we first passed the first part of the route. The downhill started to feel like hell, so we took a long break at the first station rubbing Omega on our thighs and knees. Thank you, sachet! We ran and walked steadily towards Kampar, and almost every person we met along the way asked us how many more rounds left. The steep downhill from Kampar took its toll on my knees, but I managed to move forward and still pace with Cilu (but not without all that cussing and nagging). The sight of huge black camera wiped away all the wrinkles in my forehead... engaged my core, sucked up the pain and flashed that smile [its almost automatic, really]! It was international ultra-runner/explorer, Wantet behind the lens. She assured us the next station is less than a kilometer away. We reached that station and learned that Neil and the Korean runner took a wrong turn and got lost. That made Doc Willie the lead runner and we're 2nd and 3rd. The plan changed almost immediately when Cilu left the station so quick, with a new target in sight - Doc Willie's lead! I haven't even finished my chocolate bar yet when I saw him on top of the second peak. He gained a 10-minute lead in no time!

Strong pa kuno

While the chase is on for Cilu, I somehow found my strength back after the technical downhill just before the river crossing. Shortly after, I caught up with them on the last ascent of the loop, and the three of us slowly tackled that hill together. 34 km into the race, I found myself in the lead, as I steadily gained distance from Cilu and Doc Willie. I can still see them from on top of the hill heading to the Brgy. Hall. They've slowed down significantly, so I thought I'd take advantage by limiting my time at the aide station. That didn't happen. The first thing I asked from the marshals... naa pay humba? The medics rushed inside with their kit coz they thought I was in some kind of trouble coz the tanods were literally scrambling to get me that humba. Devoured everything on that plate and went on my way for the final loop. While painfully treading the concrete downhill, I was escorted by a race marshal who told me that I had a good 30-min lead. For the first time ever, first place! I was thinking, if I can keep my pace and not hurt myself, I'll be able to hold the lead and win this race. Of course, there were no shooting stars or wishing wells. *wink*

I was ready to drop this race on my way to Kampar and just walk all the way when my knees started to give in. Then I noticed this two kids following me from a distance. I stopped and asked them if they can find me a long piece of wood that I can use as sungkod. They were happy to help and got me a pair of bamboo sticks, a bit longer than a regular trekking pole but they worked. The boys ran with on the flat parts and walked behind me all they way to the foot of Kampar.

Pacers

I took a quick break and looked back - saw two runners at a steady running pace on the open trail just below the hill. It was Neil and the Korean runner! There goes my first place finish. Its amazing how fast you can attack a hill when you know someone's behind you on a chase. I was up and over that peak in a flash! The journey down was a different story... it was hell. Period. I saw Wantet, the photographer waiting for me at the base, but I was in no mood for an action shot, [heck I was even ready to fall asleep at that point!] so I went on my way and slowly ran the ridge. I stopped and applied Omega on my left knee again, and took a selfie with the cow standing behind me. Yes, that's critical information that i need to share with you guys! The cow didn't like it. He cocked and charged! I took off like a ninja! Whew! Then Neil and Sang Oh came, I was saved... or so I thought. The three of us ran behind the cow as quickly as we could, but still the cow turned towards me! That was so close.

Kill-joy cow!

At the 44th km, I lost the lead to Neil and Sang. I simply couldn't keep up. Even my walking pace slowed down. At the control point heading to the last downhill, Race Director, Blue told me I have a decent lead over the next runner, Cilu and that if I didn't take long breaks, I'll still take 3rd place. So I dug deep and tried to negotiate the last 5 kilometers in a very relaxed pace. That was the most painful 5K in my life! And after almost 12 hours, I was finally treading the last dirt road towards the finish line... and in 3rd place. A small crowd was gathered at the finish line as I was making my way... flashed a smile [still felt sikat] and thanked the tanods and marshals, and asked for more humba after finally touching the tape. It was my hardest 50K. Period.

I've done trail races before and this one is by far the most challenging race I've done. The 17-km course was as beautiful as it is treacherous... and you get to run it in three loops! How cool is that?! In terms of support, Blue did a good job of providing aide stations at strategic locations around the course, there was no shortage of food and drinks but it would be a lot better if there were more solids like sweet potato or banana, but it's ok as it is. The marshals! They're all over the place! They even have walkie-talkies! I bet your Lolo's race doesn't have have that! I'm running out of words here (I need get my mojo back so I can write shorter posts again), so let's just see if Blue can duplicate this race next year... of course, I'm still in!

Some pics: