@ The Peak Of Mt Arayat/May 13, 2012 

Since I’ve been going to the mountains for the past months, I was trying to find out a simple workout that mimics how I would scale on those mountains. Aside from the fact that I’ve been trying to strengthen my quads and calf muscles through squats and lunges and/or stationary cycling, I wanted a short workout that could be easily accessible to where I am staying.

Lo and behold! I thought of doing the stairs where I am staying. I am presently residing in a 8-storey condo with 32 steps of stair per floor/storey and starting from the ground floor up to the 8th floor, I would be able to step on 256 steps. If I do 10 sets or reps, I would be able to make 2,560 steps upward and another 2,560 steps downward! On my average easy pace, I could complete the 10 sets of stair climbing in 1:20 to 1:30 hours!

To make the workout more challenging, I would put on my backpack filled with water bottles and other items inside it that would make it weight to 10-15 pounds or more. I still do a minimum of 10 sets up to a maximum of 20 sets with the backpack. I do this workout twice a week!

This workout makes my quads and calves cry in pain most especially when I incorporate some speed in my steps towards the top floor using my weighted backpack and going down to the ground floor. But I know, this workout will make me a stronger runner and hiker in my “peak bagging” activities.

If you are staying in a condo, you can do this workout once you wake up in the morning or before/after having your dinner! If you are working in a high-rise building, you can do this workout during your coffee break time or during your Facebook time or lunch time.

For more details on this kind of workout, you can check on http://bodybuilding.com/fun/givstrength1.htm

Good luck and see you at the starting line!

A day after the 1st KOTM Trail Marathon in Mt Ugo, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, I was on my way to Mt Timbac, the 3rd highest mountain peak in Luzon with a registered elevation of 2,717+ meters above sea level coming from Baguio City. Mt Timbac is ranked as the #9 highest peak in the entire country.

Since the mountain is located along the Halsema Highway which is the only paved access road to Bontoc, Mountain Province, I was confident that I could reach the place in a few hours and be back to Baguio City before dinner time. If there such thing as “day hike” for a mountain peak, there is also a “day trip” where you can visit a certain place and be back to where you came from before evening.

As per my research, the intersection that goes to the trailhead towards the peak of Mt Timbac is located near the vicinity of DPWH Kilometer Post #55, which means that one has to travel 55 kilometers north of Baguio City in order to reach the place. I estimated to reach the place in 1 1/2 hours.

I was surprised to notice that there are lots of changes along the road to La Trinidad as compared during those times when I have to attend my ROTC training at the Benguet Agricultural College in La Trinidad, Benguet during the late 60′s (1968-69).

During my early years in the active military service, I had two occassions of travelling along the Halsema Highway aboard a Volkswagen “Sakbayan” with Bontoc, Mountain Province as the place of destination. I could still recall the highway to be very narrow that only single lane for vehicles were used most of the portions of the road. The road was full of sharp rocks and it was too dusty. The trip was very slow and long and our body was being “massaged” throughout the trip.

I am glad that the Halsema Highway is already paved/cemented and with two lanes. Although there are still patches of construction for repairs along the road, the trip was easy and relaxing. However, one has to prepare to see that the road you are looking ahead is getting progressively higher and higher up to the peak of the next mountain! This is where you will appreciate what the DPWH had done to this part of the country.

Two kilometers from Mt Timbac’s foot or road access is the View Deck which is marked as the Highest Point of the Highway System of the Country in an elevation of 7,400 feet above sea level (2,242 meters above sea level). From this view deck, you can see Mt Pulag, Mt Tabayoc, and Mt Ugo.

After almost 1 1/2 hours of easy driving, we reached Km Post #55 and after asking some of the locals along the road, we were able to turn right to a road that leads to the mountain’s peak. The single lane road is concrete and it leads to an elementary school where I parked my vehicle. I was able to meet Alexis Estenor hiking down along the way as he and his friends just came from the peak of the said mountain.

From the school, the walk to the peak was very easy as most of the 1st kilometer is paved and the other half is an uphill trail with rocks used as steps. The hike has a distance of 2.1 kilometers which took me 30 minutes to reach the peak. I was guided by two kids who belong to the families cultivating some of the vegetable gardens along the slopes of the mountain.

After taking some pictures and short conversation with the kids, I was on my way back to my parked vehicle. My GF 305 watch registered 2,737 meters above sea level as its peak elevation.

While driving down to reach the Halsema Highway, I saw a group of farmers harvesting their potato garden and I asked the owner if I can buy some. For a P 50-bill, she gave me an estimated 4-5 kilos of her potato harvest!

My trip would not be complete if I did not stop at the Halsema Highway View Deck where the Highest Point of the Country’s Highway System is located. I took some pictures of the mountain ridges all-around this place and thought of possibilities that the place could offer in terms of tourism, economy and development.

Driving back to Baguio City was an easy one. My “recovery hike” after the 1st Mt Ugo Trail Marathon and 4th “peak bagging” experience were done!

(Note: The 2nd to the last picture is the peak of Mt Timbac as seen from the Halsema Highway View Deck. Tha last picture is the peak of Mt Pulag as seen from the Halsema Highway View Deck)

So, this is the first Picture of the Week in this blog:

(Note: Picture was taken in Sitio Happy, Barangay Kabayo, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya)

1. Have a Plan. If you have a steady job or work where you earn a living, planning for a “peak bagging” experience takes a lot of consideration. You need ample time, scheduling, financial support and lots of positive motivation to push through with your plan. Once a quarter (every 3 months) would be a nice schedule or every time there is a long weekend (3-day vacation). The location of target mountain should also be considered in terms of its accessability from your place of origin. Of course, it will be more expensive if the location is farther from your place.

If you have a family, bring your family with you and share your passion to your wife and to your kids. If they are not interested with your outdoor activity, you can bring them with you to your destination and have them stay in a resort or place where there are other alternative outdoor activities to be experienced.

If you are a retiree, like me, enjoying your time and have a love for sports and outdoor adventures, then going out of the city and looking for different places, “peak bagging” is better than reading the news dailies, watching the TV or letting the days passed by in shopping malls/coffee shops or spending a lot of time in your car due to traffic in the metropolis.

2. Make your own research. There are lots of mountaineering resources in the Internet for your mountain destination. There are also mountaineering groups on Facebook where one can get information direct from the person you want to contact. At least, you must have a FB account to have access on these groups.

My favorite mountaineering resource in the Internet is our very own Gideon Lasco at http://pinoymountaineer.comas he categorized each mountain peak by regions and he recommends an ITINERARY for each mountain visit. However, other important data for a runner to know are not stated in his description of each mountain. Mountaineers don’t usually measure their trek to the mountain peak in terms of distance (number of kilometers/miles) but in the number of hours it would take the hikers to reach the summit. So, if they say that a hiker/camper could reach a certain peak in 5-6 hours, an average trail runner could run to the peak in 2.5-3 hours, one-half less the time for a camper/hiker to reach his destination. Faster runners could do it 1/3 of the time a hiker can do to reach the summit. However, other detailed data and information can be gathered from the comments of the his readers in every post in his website.

3. Train for Hill Running. In “peak bagging”, you need to run when the trail is flat or when you are descending along the trail and brisk walk when the trail is uphill or steep incline. For you to be consistent and faster in reaching the summit, your legs must be strong. Strong legs are developed by hill repeats as it mimics your leg turn-over during trail running. As an alternative to hill repeats, one can do strengthening exercises in the gym or at home. One can do some leg squats, lunges, stair walking and core exercises anytime of the day!

4. Prepare your apparel & equipment. Your normal running kit would suffice but as you go higher in elevation, the temperature would become colder. It is a must that you bring a light jacket stowed on your backpack/camelbak which you can use when you are freezing cold. Hand gloves are also advisable as the temperature would be freezing on top of the mountain. If your hands are starting to be numb and cold, it is a signal that you must start your descent from the mountain. Water-proof jacket is also helpful as most of the higher mountains would receive some rains usually when they are covered with clouds. Runners cap is also mandatory as it keeps the escape of heat from your body and at the same time protect your head from accidental “head-butts” from fallen trees and some branches as you pass underneath them. Hydration pack is a must! If you want to stay longer in higher summits, prepare to bring a bonnet that would cover your head and ears.

5. Prepare For Your Hydration/Nutrition. I usually bring water only in my hydration system. I was surprised that my Nathan bottle filled with water was the only water supply that I brought when I “peak bagged” Mt Pulag for a distance of 15 kilometers. Maybe its the cold weather on the higher altitude and the raining prevented my body from losing more perspiration. I usually bring “power bars” and gels in my “peak bagging” activities. They are lighter and my stomach is already used to them. At the Mt Ugo Trail Marathon, I brought my Nathan “Sprint” Handheld Bottle for my Gatorade Mix even if I was holding trekking poles. Gatorade was my extra source of electrolyte if my “peak bagging” activity is a race/competition.

6. Travel Light. I use racing flats/minimalist shoes (NB MT 101) and compression shorts & shirts on my mountain running. If I use Camelbak Hydration Pack, I only fill 1/2 up to 3/4 full of water in its bladder. I only carry minimal number of gels, power bars and Gatorade mix in my pack. Sometimes, I would pack the lightest windbreaker to my pack instead of those heavier outdoor technical jackets. My ASICS Windbreaker which I bought in Jeju, South Korea could be the lightest windbreaker that I have among my running kit. Hopefully, I would be able to buy the Patagonia Nano Jacket, my “dream jacket” for higher altitude “peak bagging”, in the near future. It can be folded and stowed in your packet.

The cheapest version of a jacket/windbreaker/poncho which you can bring is the black commercial trash bags that are available in the supermarket. Get the largest size of trash bags in the market. Simply make a hole on the closed end of the bag where you can insert you head, thus, you have a raincoat for your body and backpack. It is a must to carry at least 2-3 pieces of these black trash bags in your daypack as they serve also as trash bags for the litter you could see along the trail, camping areas or at the peak of the mountain.

7. Trekking Poles. A pair of trekking pole is an invaluable equipment for an old trekker/hiker like me. They are useful in crossing streams and rivers; keep you balanced on uneven and slippery grounds; provide anchor and support for stronger lifting of the body on steep ascending parts of the mountain; and lessen the impact of ones feet on the ground. It takes a simple time to practice to use these trekking poles. It is advisable to use those “bike gloves” (half of the fingers are exposed) when using trekking poles to avoid blisters on your hands. On descending and flat parts of the trail route, I would carry them as if they are my batons in a running relay.

8. Prepare For Contingencies. In trekking/peak bagging, you should always “respect the weather”. If the weather would not allow you to reach the peak, it is best to retreat and make another attempt on a day with good weather. The mountain will always be there, it will never leave from his location. In a good weather, if you start your “peak bagging” in the morning, expect to reach the peak when the sun is already on top of you which means that it is already noon time. The heat of the sun would make you perspire some more and you must be able to hydrate yourself regularly. In case of any encounter with the wildlife, like snakes, deer, wild pigs, cows, or bats, just ignore them and don’t disturb them. Your main mission is to reach the peak of the mountain and not as a hunter.

9. Invest On A Light & Reliable DayPack. A DayPack can store your hydration needs (water bottles + 1.5-liter bladder), additional clothing apparel, first aid kit, food, electrolyte tabs/mix, lighting equipment, and trekking poles.

10. Know Some Protocols/Etiquette/Culture of the People

a. In popular mountains which are being visited by most campers/mountaineers, you need to pay a permit fee and attend an orientation lecture from the personnel of DENR. It is best to register yourself to the barangay hall/barangay officials where the mountain/trailhead is located or to the nearest police or military unit/detatchment in the area before pursuing your activity. On the same manner, inform them on your departure from the place. There are some barangays that would ask P 20.00-P 40.00 as permit fee per person in lower elevation mountains.

b. Be prepared to get a “guide” for a fee. The guide must be requested from the Barangay Officials so that there is accountability in case of any complaints from the hikers. In Mt Apo, I paid P 350.00 for my guide but I paid him an extra tip of P 150.00. In the Ambangeg-Pulag Trail, I paid P 500.00 for my guide which is good up to 5 persons. But for the longer and harder Akiki-Pulag Trail, a guide will cost you P 1,800.00. Even if I don’t need the services of a porter, it is worthy to note that each porter is being paid a minimum of P 500.00 for every 15 kilos of weight. I always see to it that I have a guide in all my “peak bagging” feats.

c. LNT or Leave No Trace. This is the number ONE Rule in any outdoor activity which is “common sense”. Except for Mt Pulag, all the other mountain trails and peaks that I bagged have trashes. I really don’t know if the locals are the one’s littering their trash along the trails and on the peaks or the visitors.

d. Silence Means Good Weather. There is no point why hikers/trekkers would shout on the top of their voice if they see nice scenery and vistas along the mountain trail or while they are at the peak of the mountain. There are also groups of campers that would bring intoxicating liqour on the peak of the mountain and drink to their hearts content and noisy as a result before retiring to their respective tents. Other would mimic or answer the sounds from the birds through their loud voices or involve themselves in loud conversations and laughter while hiking along the mountain trail. All of these are “toxic or pollutants” on the peaceful environment of the forests and the mountains. Local people would predict unfavorabe weather a day or two after such “noise” are done in the mountain!

e. Smile & Greet Everybody you meet along the trail. Find time to talk to them even for a few seconds. Your message should be clear that you are there to simply have a quick look of the place or just passing through. Always be positive on your comments and observation of the place.

f. Most of the mountains in the Cordillera Region & along the Bansalan Trail to Mt Apo have vegetable farms on the foot and slopes of the mountain. You should not mess up or step on the growing plants on these garden/vegetable farms. Never try to harvest or pick any of the vegetables or root crops as you pass by these farms. Most of the farms have cabbage, carrots and potatoes.

11. As much as possible, make a journal or document of your peak bagging activity in every mountain that you visit or attempt to make in reaching a summit. There is no shame if you could not make the grabbing in your first attempt as the mountain will always be there waiting for you. If you have a Garmin/GPS Watch, it would be nice to get the following data: Duration of Peak Bagging Activity from your specific Starting Point to the Peak and back; Distance recorded; Altitude of the Peak; Profile Elevation; Average HR; and other data taken from the equipment. Your personal experience will somehow inspire others to go to the outdoors and be interested in “peak bagging” activity.

(Note: Pictures from Mt Pulag, Mt Natib, Mt Ugo, and Mt Timbac)

I came to know about this race when I asked the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner if they are interested to join in this year’s TNF 100 in Baguio City. The answer that I got was that they had been preparing for an adventure race to be held in Mt Apo/Davao Del Sur. It was my first time to hear such event and later found out that the Cash Prizes are simply not to be ignored. (Note: My Elite Team Bald Runner had been past Champions in the TNF 100 since 2008). I heard for the second time about this event from mountaineers when I had my “peak bagging” feat at Mt Apo during the Holy Week. After a thorough research on the mechanics of the event on their website, I was hoping that my elite runners would make it to the podium finish.

Due to its “low-profile” exposure among the ultrarunners in the country and its mechanics, trying to form teams among the “usual suspects” would be a hard proposition. Plus the consideration on the logistics and financial resources needed to join the race is very expensive. However, if you are good in mountain trail running and have the capability to land among the podium finishers, the Cash Prizes would replace ones investment in joining this race.

I was surprised to see a picture of Gerald Sabal posted on Facebook with the boulders of Mt Apo as the background with a note that he is featured as one of the Champions of the event. I immediately called Gerald to congratulate him and found out that his brother Cresenciano, was his team mate!

Cresenciano and Gerald Sabal won as the Team Champion in the 2nd edition of the International Boulder Face Challenge and won the purse of P 150,000. The team of Alquin Bolivar and Raul Lamprea landed as the 7th Finisher with a purse of P 10,000.

Cris and Gerald established a Course Record with a time of 15:38:33 hours, breaking the old course record by more than 7 hours! Awesome!

Read the result and related story on Dabaw Pinoy.

Congratulations Cris & Gerald and to all the Finishers!

Date: May 20, 2012 (Sunday)

Start Time of Assembly: 3:30 AM

Gun Start: 4:30 AM

Starting Area: Picnic Grove, Tagaytay City (infront of the Development Academy of the Philippines, DAP)

Finish Area: Plaza Roxas, Nasugbu, Batangas (Municipal Plaza Infront of the Municipal Hall)

Registration Period: March 28-May 18, 2012

***NO Registration on Race Day

Registration Fee: P 1,250.00

Registration Center: ARC Manila or Deposit at Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) Savings Account # 0296-0673-22 in the name of Jovenal Narcise. Keep the deposit slip and bring it to the Starting Area on Race Day.

Cut-off Time: 9 Hours

The following were the past results of this event:

1st T2N/November 14, 2010

2nd T2N/September 17, 2011

See you at the Starting Line!

These races will serve as a “recon or test run” for those who are intending to join in this year’s 2nd edition of the Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Trail Endurance Run which is scheduled on December 15, 2012.

The following are the details of the races:

Date of Race: June 2, 2012

Place of Assembly and Starting Area: Infront of the SOCOM Headquarters, Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City

Assembly Time for 50K & 50M Races: 3:30 AM June 2, 2012

Assembly Time For 21K Run: 4:30 AM June 2, 2012

Gunstart For 50K & 50-Mile Runs: 4:00 AM

Gunstart For Half-Marathon: 5:00 AM

Cut-Off Time For 50-Mile Run: 16 Hours

Cut-Off Time For 50K Run: 10 Hours

Cut-Off Time For 21K: 4 Hours

Registration Fee For 50-Mile Run: P 2,000.00

Registration Fee For 50K Run: P 1,500.00

Registration Fee For 21K Run: P 1,000.00

***Included in the Registration Fee: Dinner & Accommodation Inside Fort Magsaysay on Friday night, June 1, 2012.

Registration Period: May 2, 2012 to June 1, 2012

Registration Center/Area: ARC Running Store OR Deposit the Registration Fee at BPI Savings Account #0296-0673-22 in favor of Jovenal Narcise OR at the Dinner/CLP & Race Briefing on or about 6:30 PM of June 1, 2012 at the SOCOM Headquarters. (Note: Please bring your validated deposit slip to the CLP/Race Briefing)

Good luck & see you at the starting line!

N A M E                              BIB #          T I M E

1. No Prize, No Race. In the early times, racing has always a prize for grabbing. It is either money, property, position or any tangible object which one can sell or need in their daily lives. Running feats for faster times had been won by wagers and bets. In the countryside, the best runners don’t run if there are no cash prizes! For obvious reasons, they paid for the registration fee from their savings or had loaned from somebody else. The motivation for winning is to be able to regain what they have paid for and at the same time, earn some money for their basic needs. Bragging rights for them is not for the Finisher’s Shirt or Medals or Loot Bags. They simply need the money!

2. No Sponsor, No Run. Runners with talent and fast finish times always look for sponsors to finance their registration fees. Instead of getting a loan, they would prefer to look for somebody in their community to finance their participation in a race where there is cash prize. It could be their leaders (local government, barangay captain & officials) or somebody who is supportive to their passion/talent. Runners don’t need to pay back the Sponsor just in case he/she does win any of the cash prizes. If they don’t have any sponsor, they would not join any race.

3. Cheating Is Not A Big Deal. Runners in the countryside would finish the race at all costs, even if they cheat! To them, it is natural to cheat because they know that everybody cheats, from their leaders, business-owners, traders, vendors, parents and friends!

4. Running as Talent Is Normal. Most of the best runners were exposed to hardships and manual labor during the early stage of their childhood. Most of them lives in villages in the mountains and they have all the time to ascend and descend the area to look for food, fetch water, and cultivate some lands on a daily basis. Due to their environment and living conditions, they were honed to be endurance athletes since birth. Try to look for one elite runner and conduct an interview about his/her family background and you would know what I mean. And at the same manner, try to look for an elite runner who belongs to the upper class of our society and you will be surprised to find out that you are looking for a “dream”.

5. New Running Kit Is Alien To Them. For obvious reasons, they don’t have any opportunity to use the latest running apparel and shoes due to poverty. Most of their kits are used (second-hand or “ukay-ukay”) and given to them to protect them from the elements. They don’t have any access on the new technology of running in terms of shoes, apparel and accessories. If they have an opportunity to grab a “glossy” runner’s magazine, attention is more focused on the pictures and not on the articles written inside it. I am not sure if they can read or understand English or what is written on those pages.

6. Hydration & Nutrition Are Also Alien To Them.  They drink if they feel thirsty. They eat if they feel hungry. They replenish the basic necessities for their body by feel. They only react to any problem when it is there. They usually drink and eat after finishing the race.

7. There Is NO Shame in DNF. If they think they could not place themselves on the ranking where there is a prize money, they simply stop and declare themselves as DNF and say lots of alibi and complaints. To them, finishing a race where they did not train properly is a punishment! They have to preserve their body from any exhaustion or injury and be “race-ready” again for the next race. In short, they don’t take the “extra mile” to persevere in order to finish the race. It is worthy to note that my Elite Team Bald Runner members are also like this in major races in Metro Manila. However, it took me sometime to change this kind of attitude.

8. Bragging Rights & Recognition. Among their friends, they would brag that they finished a certain race with a certain ranking but the truth is that he cheated along the route by riding a passing motorcycle or a public utility vehicle along the route. But for them, recognition of finishing and receiving an award is translated to the money that they received as a prize! So, if there is a cash prize in a race, the temptation to cheat is always there because it is a part of their training and preparation to finish the race. Very smart, indeed!

9. Race Organizers & Directors Are Businessmen. They organize and direct events for you for a fee! Of course, they should be! It is because they appear to be professional but in the end they will take advantage of you. Not all Race Organizers/Directors are elite runners as most of them are average athletes/runners. Those athletes think that if they finish one or two ultra marathon events, they have already the skills to organize one. Race Organizers try their best to invite runners through ads on the internet, radio and printed materials because for them, more runners means more income aside from the fact that they are being paid for P 85,000 per event, which is the lowest rate outside Metro Manila. But once the gun is fired at the starting line, his work is done!

In short distances up to half-marathon, their time to monitor the runners is up to 2 hours! After 2 hours, they packed up and just leave the last runners to cross the finish line on their own. Sometimes, without marshals, ambulance or water at the aid stations. Once the top 3 runners cross the finish line (Overall and Female Categories), the race is done. The results of the rest of the finishers are immaterial as the results of the race will not be published. Only the top 3 runners are awarded with cash prize and a simple tap on the back of the athletes is enough. The Race Organizer will just say, “see you on the next race!”.

I am writing this post for the simple reason that the nationwide 2012 MILO Marathon Races are about to start. Our best runners in the regions and provinces are now training for this much-awaited event because it is the most prestigious running event in the country and it offers a lot of cash prizes for our runners in the “grassroot” level and a free trip & accommodation in Metro Manila for the MILO Marathon FINALS. This makes me wonder again why there is NO Filipino Corporate Entity (Filipino-Owned) that could match or even start what MILO had been doing to promote running in the “grassroot” level for the past years! I just hope also that our best runners in the regions and provinces would be training properly and not prepare/train to cheat on the said races!

Does it ring a bell if I say that there were cases of cheating in MILO Marathon & Elimination Races in the past editions? Well, that proves my point, there will always be a cheater (or  bandit) if there are cash prizes to be grabbed at the Finish Line.

On the other hand, I hope this kind of culture of road/trail racing in the running community would be removed in due time. There is a need to aware the runners that cheating has no place in running/racing events and it will eventually result to the end of their running carreer as they would be declared permanently “banned for life” in running events.

In life, like running a Marathon or Ultra Marathon Race, the opportunity to cheat is always there easily to be grabbed with or without any material rewards or prizes. Your actions will define the character you are made of and if you will fall to the temptation of cheating, there will always be someone who will see what you have done!

See you at the Starting Line!