Bisdak Trail Season-ender Sessions 2015

Dirty sessions from October to December 2015.

I managed to keep myself busy after my last race slash marshal duty in July. Mostly lead-up training runs for one item in my bucket list, the Clark-Miyamit Falls 50 Miles Ultra or CM50, in Clark, Pampanga. This time, I abandoned my previous training program and just made sure I have accumulated enough mileage leading up to November. I was lucky many of the CTR folks are also joining CM50 so I just joined them in their weekend runs. My usual solo long runs were upgraded to group runs and really long hikes! Focusing on the verticals and time on our feet, which proved to be very effective. 

Malones-Bayug ridge

Liloan, Cebu with TTB-HW

CTR long hike

Talamban HW trails with TTB

CTR Weekday sesh.

Tagbao-Cantipla ridge

Liloan xterra route

CTR also organized the 2015 edition of the Cebu Fat Ass Trail Run. Which is actually also part of our training for CM50. That was one of the toughest 50K I've done, if not the toughest! I did some recon runs but I was still not confident to tackle it on my own so I ended up running with the ladies. They know the route by heart so that was a wise decision. It took us more than 17 hours to finish that race, so just imagine how tough it was... for a 50K! (Video below)

Fat Ass Participants

The newly constructed foot bridge in Buot

Fat Ass Finishers Token

With the help of CTR, Team Lingam Events assisted in plotting the route for the first ever trail race in Malones, Dalaguete. The Osmena Peak Challenge 32K. I was tasked to do the final plotting of the route so I made a few trips there. I just can't get enough of this trail system! It is so damn pretty! Plus, these runs were bonus mileage for me given that CM50 was just around the corner.

The other side of Osmana Peak

Team Ligam, trail marking

Then D-day came mid November. CM50. I arrived in Pampanga full of confidence. I wont lie, I did count myself as a finisher even before race week. Yes. But that was me, and that's one way of keeping my mojo up. I totally relied on my short but fruitful training, and the drive to NOT fail again. This helped me toe in with a clear mind, happy and light. Plus, you get be called "Badass Ultra Runner" if you finish the race! CM50 has a reputation: It's tough. It's painful. It will eat your soul. Ok, that was a bit exaggerated. But yeah, tough and painful. Period. I mean, you literally run up 40 kilometers to the peak of Mt. Pinatubo from Clark, then run back down! That's 80 kilometers of %^#$@*&&^%$!!! If that ain't hard enough, add Lahar into the mix! Oh and Miyamit Falls... what a beauty!

 But I had so much fun! Everything went well for me, well, except for the watermelon binge which eventually led to shooting pulp projectiles through my mouth. That was a first but it was nothing. I still managed to reach the finish line in one piece after a little over 16 hours out there. It was one of the most awesome race experience I had and I can't be disappointed with the result too. That was the best I could do under the circumstances. I left Luzon with some UTMB points, a spot in the Asian Trail Masters Series, the Badass title and more importantly a big smile on my face.

Badass moment at CM50 2015

Then there's the annual Ultra Hamster Run. Also a CTR event. This was more like a Christmas party than a trail race. No pressure. Runners were only required to complete at least 5 loops of the 3K route. Plus, the lechon at the finish line! Wow!

Run-fie??

 

It looked more like a fiesta than a trail run! Ultra Hamster 2015

I capped off my 2015 trail season with another Ultra. Well, I ran it but did not register! Lol. I wasn't able to register! That's why! Any more questions?? Well this was the annual MR25 Ultra-marathon in Singapore. I did this race back in 2013, and I was happy to do it again... only this time as my wife's pacer. That was a date-race. Taking our time, spending one whole day running around Mc Ritchie's manicured trails. 

Make way for the bandit! (MR Trails, Singapore)

I'm looking forward to a very fruitful 2016 trail season!