The Long and Winding Trail

Men’s Health All-Terrain Race

Sta. Elena, Sta. Rosa Laguna

June 21, 2009

So much for a beginner’s trail run! Had it been raining the previous day or on race day, the level of difficulty would be greater.

The trail was about 2-3 meters wide lined with grass growing twice the size of a man. It was a bike trail situated in the woods beside the Sta. Elena Golf Course. Most parts were dry but I had to cross some mud patches from time to time.  I initially planned on doing an easy pace but somehow I ended up running like I was on the road. This turned out to be a bad idea. By the 2nd kilometer I discovered that the terrain was actually rolling. There were some slight incline climbs and downhills.  I had to skip, hop and jump to move forward. Also, the route was filled with twists and sharp turns. Just when I gained momentum, I had to turn sharply around a corner. Thus, it was very hard to maintain a steady pace. From then on I decided to take it easy to conserve energy. I cut corners so I wouldn’t have to shift too much and risk injuring my knee because of sudden lateral moves. I like the fact that there were distance markers for every kilometer because that helped me strategize. I’m now looking forward to the next trail run.

A not so strong finish. But still not so bad for a first. Lesson learned: train for trail

Rank         Bib      Time         Pace (min/km)

65/162    5390    1:44:45     0:6:59

Official results posted on http://runrio.com

The Salomon XT Wings

The traction, fit and design was excellent. I like most the comfortable, snug fit. Heel support was the best most specially during downhills where I use a heel strike for anchor and stability. The shoes have a secure grip on wet surfaces, mud, grass or concrete. It’s lightweight and flexible but offers enough protection from twigs, tree branches, rocks and even broken glass (there were a few broken bottles on the trail).

What the Wings could use more of is some forefoot cushioning. My left forefoot ached by the 12th km. I’m thinking of getting silicone gel insoles for it.  Overall, on a scale of 1-10, I rate the Salomon XT Wings a 9.

Congratulations and  thanks to the people behind Men’s Health, Summit Media, Vince (finishline.ph) and Coach Rio.

Trailblazing

Multiple Choice.

After a year of training, what do you do when you think you can’t run your first 42k marathon?

1. Accept the fact that not all runners are built for the 42k.
2. Stop running, get into new sport!
3. Eat, drink and be merry!
4. Join a trail run race.

Suggested answer: d. Join a trail run race.

I thought I would be ready for the full marathon come the Manila leg of the Milo Marathon in July. Unfortunately, that is not the case. With an average of 30-35 km per week I don’t think I’m physically prepared to endure the full marathon yet.

In the mean time, I gave in to the invitations (and a little bit of peer pressure) of  runners/bloggers to join a trail run. I’ve seen the entries of my friends on the recent TNF in Clark and I envy them. Running along the rough, lahar-covered Clark, Pampanga terrain is definitely something out of the ordinary.

I found out that the next trail race would be on June 21. It’s the Men’s Health All-Terrain Race to be held down south at Sta. Elena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The MH All-Terrain Race is a trail and bike race plotted on a 15k course. According to the organizers the trail has never been opened to the public and is specifically designed for the event by the Gran Trail Cycles and Sta. Elena. Trail runners can choose to run the 5k, 10k or 15k. Participants in the bike race must finish a maximum of three laps. This race is organized by finishline.ph, the same group who did the Greenfield City Run. I enjoyed the scenic 21k Sta. Rosa landscape in that race. This time, I’m looking forward to running on and off the road in a course never been traversed before.

But what shoes do I wear for this race? I have the Salomon Ascend and the Tech Amphibian but both are not designed for running on trails. The Ascend is my climbing shoes and the Tech Amphibian is my light trekking pair. Some runners would use regular road running shoes for the trails but my experience in climbing and trekking suggests otherwise. One slip on the moist grass might cause a sprain, fracture or worse! So I guess I’m off  to the shoe store again to get a new pair.