This will be my first time to join the TNF 100 Phil race. I have sent and sponsored my elite runners to join this event every year, except last year. Last year was the start of the TNF 100 being held in the higher mountains of Benguet Province. This year is the 2nd edition of the TNF 100 Phil being held in the same area and route.
TNF Trail Run Ads
Despite hearing and getting feedback from the last edition of the race, whether they are positive or negative, runners still register and face the challenge of this ultra trail race. Some runners would join to earn some points as qualification for them to participate in TNF Races in Europe and other countries in Asia but I could see that more runners would join because of the corporate brand it carries.
2013 TNF 100 Race Route
Then, why is it that I have decided to join this race? Simply, to make a Race Report out of my experience in tackling this difficult course. I’ve seen and read Only ONE Race Report in last year’s edition in the Internet but everything was too “general” for me to comprehend as I wanted more detailed description of the route, training and preparation undertaken, race strategy, nutrition, hydration, equipment, support crew system, do’s and don’t’s, and to include positive and negative things about the race. The Race Report I intend to make will be in the personal view of a runner in the “Rear Pack” since I am twice the age of the expected Podium Finishers and the rest of the runners. Whether I will be DNF or not, the Race Report will still be posted in this blog.
Another Version Of The Race Route
So, there you go. It is almost 2 days before the Race Day and I am physically and mentally prepared for this event.
Good luck to all the 100K & 50K runners! See you at the Starting Line!
I was in Los Angeles, California last February to attend the wedding of my son, John Paul. After the wedding, I had all the time to “peak bag” some of the nearby mountains near our house and had my daily runs of about one hour everyday. My “peak bagging” activities would cover not more than 20 kilometers in distance but most of these runs would cover 4-6 hours and my longest was 7 hours.
I was able to “peak bag” the Dante’s Peak @ Griffith Park, Verdugo Mountain, Echo Mountain and Mt Lukens through the detailed information from Ben Gaetos, an ultra runner friend who is based in Eagle Rock, California which is near Los Angeles. Separate posts will be published on this blog on my experiences on these mountains that I’ve visited.
In one of my FB chats with Ben Gaetos, he mentioned to me that he is going to run the Bandit 50K Trail Run in Simi Valley, California which was two weeks to go before race day. Without any training and preparation for the said distance, I forced myself to join this event with the goal to finish the race within the cut-off time.
Breakfast With Badwater Ben Gaetos & ARC Shoe Guru Joe Matias
Gilbert Gray, an ultra runner from Maryland, USA and BDM 102 & 160 Finisher, saw my picture on Facebook with Joe Matias of A Runners Circle Store and Ben Gaetos having breakfast. I posted the said picture saying that the three of us were planning for something about ultra running in California. Gilbert might had been intrigued about my post and picture. He ultimately discovered that Ben and I were registered to run this race. He immediately registered for the race and booked a flight to California with his wife.
What puzzles me up to this time was when I found out that Gilbert Gray’s flight landed in Sacramento, California which is 500 miles north of Los Angeles. He drove from Sacramento and arrived at the race area barely 4 hours before the start time. What amazed me most was that he just finished a 100-mile race in Florida two weeks before this run and drove his car from Maryland to Florida and back. And after the Bandit 50K Race, he would drove back to Sacramento to catch up with his flight back to Maryland the following day! This is the reason why I call him, “The Machine”!
Race Packet Pick-Up On Race Day
The trip by car from our house to the State Park in Simi Valley was about 45 minutes and I was at the assembly area one hour before the start time. Runners would fall in line on their respective distance booth and the Race Packet and Loot Bag were given after stating your last & first names to the volunteers. Very easy and well-organized.
Photo-Ops With The 3 Bandits & Friends @ Starting Line
After pinning my race bib, it was time to look for Ben Gaetos and Gilbert Gray. It was already daybreak when I was able to see them barely 30 minutes before gun start. It was some sort of a reunion and I was very relaxed with the expectation to finish the race within the cut-off time. Few minutes before the gun start, Ben Gaetos told us that we will see each other at the Finish Line which means that he is going to race and finish strong in this event. Gilbert and I positioned ourselves at the back of the pack and we both knew that it would be a long day for us on the trails!
Gilbert & I Were At The Back Of The Pack
After a simple countdown, the race started at exactly 7:00 AM. Gilbert and I were at the back of the pack trying to warm-up with our slow jog but we can still see the runners in front of us. We went around the park on a wider trail for about a mile and then passed by the place where we started. After that short flat loop, we turned right into a wooden bridge and that was the start of almost 2 kilometers of winding single track trail going up to the peak of the mountain. Gilbert and I started to power walk all the way to the peak where the first Checkpoint/Aid Station was located. On top of the ridge, the trail was on top of a mountain made of rock and we simply jogged on this part.
Attack Mode On The First Mountain
After the exposed mountain rock, we followed a trail that brought us for some shade and vegetation until we went down from a mountain that leads to a subdivision/group of newly-constructed houses. We ran on the asphalted roads of this affluent neighborhood until we followed a road that goes to another mountain. Before going up to another mountain, this was where the 2nd Aid Station was set-up to serve a lot of food and drinks. This was where I saw boiled small potatoes were served with salt to dip on.
@ The 2nd/4th Aid StationAnother Mountain To Peak!
From the 2nd Aid Station, we had to face another mountain which was exposed to the sun. It was hot during the day that I had to drink a lot. It was on this portion of the course that I thought I was dehydrated and tried to look for Coke for some “sugar rush”. It was only when we reached the turn-around point at the Km 25 that I was able to refill my bottles. This was where the 3rd Aid Station was located. But my mistake was not to take a drink from the ice-cold coke offered at the Aid Station. I relied on the electrolytes that I brought with me in my pack which was my first time to use.
Picture Taken By Ben Gaetos Before The Km 25 MarkPicture Taken By Gilbert Gray While Meeting Ben Before Km 25
I was still strong from the turn-around point up to the 2nd/4th Aid Station. Gilbert and I ate some foods at the 2nd/4th Aid Station and we stayed longer to mix my drinks and engage short conversation with the volunteers and other runners trying to refill and eat at the said place. From the 2nd/4th Aid Station, we started to jog and walk but the heat of the sun was too much to bear but I tried my best to power walk on the inclines and slowly jog on the downhill parts of the course.
Downhill Run…And Uphill Challenge!
On our last 15 kilometers, I started to have cramps on my quads and I had to stop to stretch the affected parts and Gilbert Gray was there to see to it that I was fine. Slowly, we walked on a long stretch of uphill road to the top of the mountain and I was on survival mode! When we reached the peak of the long uphill road on the last mountain which is about 5 kilometers from the Finish Line, I thought I could no longer move my legs! This is where I analyzed my mistakes in joining this race. No decent “back to back” long runs and introducing a new electrolyte mix in this race! I told Gilbert that I have to finish this race and consider it as my long slow distance run even if I slowed down from my past 50K trail run in the United States. Gilbert was very patient with me as he would start a conversation that would boost my ego and morale. He would tell me that people with my age (60 years old) would be fat and sitting in front of their TV set and constantly visiting their medical practitioners for their health problems.
A Pose With Simi Valley On The Background
As part of our brief rests, we would take some photos of us on the last few kilometers of the course. The 1st/last Aid Station was a blessing to us as we had the last cup of Coke and there was a towel soaked in an ice water which I rubbed on my head, nape and face. From here, it was our last 3 kilometers and we simply started to run on switchbacks going down the mountain (the first mountain that we peaked). Our pace in going down the mountain was so fast as if somebody was behind trying to overtake us on that single-track trail. Gilbert and I were excited to cross the wooden bridge where his wife was located trying to get a picture of us. At this point, we were 400 meters away from the Finish Line.
At Last, Crossing The Finish Line!
Few meters from the Finish Line, Gilbert and I held our hands up high until we crossed the Finish Line. We had an identical time of 8:07:19 hours, placing 119 and 120, respectively out of 140 Finishers. Ben Gaetos crossed the Finish Line one hour ahead of us. He was really fast on his way back to the Finish Line.
Tres Bandidos With Their Finisher’s Medals
If I have the chance to join this race again in the future, I would gladly prepare and try to improve my time and correct my mistakes. I am highly recommending this race for those who usually visit California and Los Angeles during the month of February.
If you look closer on my blog’s title, I have changed my old tag line which had been there for the past five years. I have decided that I should have a new one and a more “focused” identity to this blog.
So, there you have it. The new tag line is, “My Journey In Ultra Running”.
You always hear the usual greetings, “ Welcome to the Dark World of Ultra Running”, when you finish an ultra race. The way I understand the greetings or statement is that an ultra runner needs to run and finish the race at all cost with his/her strength within the prescribed cut-off time which can last till night time or till the next day. It also means that an ultra runner should also come into reality that running in darkness is part and parcel of being an ultra runner.
As I progressed from 50K distance to 100+kilometer distance races and in my personal experiences in my multi-day adventure runs, I learned to appreciate running at nighttime or in darkness. It came to a point that I have to train and run more kilometers in my training during nighttime. Slowly, I am starting to appreciate the meaning of the said greetings.
In the ultra races that I organize and direct, most especially on the 100-miler distances, like the BDM 160 and TD100, I observed that runners have the fear of darkness, moreso, when they have almost completed one half of the course. This is where I received information of runners of declaring themselves as DNF in the race.
Despite the completeness of lighting equipment of the runners, the fear of running in the darkness comes into their minds. What could be the reason why runners have the tendency to quit the race when darkness comes? If you ask me, I really don’t know why!
Some runners are afraid of dogs on the streets and trails during nighttime and I could understand their predicament. But based from stories from ultra runners, running in darkness alone saps the strength and mental fortitude of an ultra runner. Could it be that this observaton is only applicable to Pinoy ultra runners? I personally don’t believe so. I firmly believe that Pinoy ultra runners are brave to run in darkness.
So, how do we deal with the fear of darkness in ultra running?
In my experience as past military commander, darkness is always a friend of the troops. Soldiers move silently under the cover of darkness in order to “surprise” the enemy and ultimately, defeating them. Some runners also adopt such stealth tactics in ultra races when they put-off their headlights to “surprise” their targets as they get nearer and pass them. Always think that darkness is your constant ally during the run. Don’t believe on ghosts or vampires roaming around you waiting to strike you. There are no such things or creatures! If somebody appears in darkness and it is moving, most likely, it is a human being like you or an animal roaming around the place.
In this age of high technology, there are lighting equipment, i.e. headlamps and hand-held flashlights which have high and powerful illumination with lesser use of power/batteries. There are also batteries which can give extended period of constancy for the illumination needed for these headlamps. Get these “high-tech” headlamps and flashlights and use them in your night runs. It is advisable to use them during your training runs in order to find out for yourself if the advertised capabilities of these equipment are true or not. Never use “new” lighting equipment on race day. And bring extra batteries for your headlamps and flashlights. For better illumination on the course, use both your headlamp and hand-held flashlight. The headlamp is focused on the road/trail (where the feet are leading to) and the hand-held flashlight is directed on a wider-angle in front of you covering both sides of the road/trail.
Most of the time, fear of darkness is attributed or caused by human beings or animals you meet on the course of your run. In my experience, I usually wave my hand and start a conversation by greeting the individual with the usual “Good Evening” or saying, “We are in a middle of a “Fun Run” or “I am jogging to this place and I started from this place”. Always start the conversation and try to look them on their faces. But most of all, simply smile at them and show on your face that you are having fun and enjoying the run. As for stray dogs, simply walk and observe the movement of the dogs. Directing the light of your flashlight to the face of the barking dogs could also “stun” them temporarily.
Gaining 100% confidence running in darkness is through running the course on nighttime. If the course is not available or accessible, you can find a place that resembles the elevation or terrain of the course. Try running alone on this course using your headlamp and/or flashlight not once but as many as you can. Repetition of such workout during nighttime conditions the mind to be relaxed and focused.
Sometimes, having a “buddy” who trains with you could also give confidence and solve your problem of the fear of darkness. Get somebody who would be your pacer or somebody who have the same pace and strength as with you. But you must be always prepared for the “worst” scenario if your “buddy” declares himself as DNF. Get somebody as your “reserve” pacer or “buddy” or wait for another runner to pass you and stick with the said runner as you continue your run. Make that runner as your “point man” along the course.
If you are preparing for a 100K or 100-mile trail ultra marathon, running at nighttime should be your friend and ally.
Next topic…Fear Of Coldness…soon!
@Mt Ugo Trail Marathon (Photo Courtesy of Darkroom Running Photographers)
You can “google” the word if you want to know what the word means. These are stone or rocks being compiled or grouped together to form a certain structure. They are mostly made by men on top of mountains or hills or in a certain part of a trail. The cairns could be seen as a pile of stones and rocks or simply some formations of rocks or stones.
In the history of making cairns, there are so many meanings and purposes why people would make these structures. From one continent to another, their purposes are varied. Some are simply markers to signify that you are at the peak of the mountain/hill. Some would point to a certain direction; some would symbolize as a mark of honor to somebody; or some would simply wish good luck for one’s trip or hike in the mountains.
I am not sure if we practice on making cairns in our country. In my peak bagging activities last year, I haven’t seen any cairns on the peaks of the mountains that I visited. I think I might as well start the said practice of making cairns on the peak that I bagged or visited. Well, it takes some extra effort to collect such stones or rocks within the area of the peak of the mountain but the effort is worth if the purpose is well meant and comes from the heart.
So, I’ve started making some cairns on the peaks of hills and mountains that I’ve visited for the past days and weeks. These cairns had been dedicated to special friends in the ultra running community to wish them good luck in their present condition. Miguel De Alba is supposed to join the 2013 BDM 160 Ultra last January but due to an accident during the “test run” last December, he is now recuperating from a broken bone in his right leg. I have dedicated the cairns that I’ve made in one of the peaks of the Verdugo Mountains in Glendale, California and at the peak of Mt Lukens in Arcadia, California.
Cairn @ One of the Peaks at the Verdugo Mountains For Miguel De AlbaCairn @ The Peak of Mt Lukens For Miguel De Alba
In my visit to the Echo Mountain in Pasadena, California, I made a cairn for my good friend, Andre Blumberg of Hongkong, as a symbol of appreciation to the selfless support to my elite ultra runners for their participation to the Vibram Hongkong 100K Trail Run for the past two years. It is also my way of wishing him good luck for his participation in the 2013 Ultra Running Grand Slam in the United States.
Cairn @ The Peak of Echo Mountain (Pasadena, CA) For Andre BlumbergAnother View of the Cairn For Andre Blumberg
If ever you will be visiting on these places where I made some cairns for these gentlemen, you are requested to add more more rocks into them.
As I continue in my peak bagging feats, I will be making more cairns and feature their pictures in this blog. Their purpose will be to honor the “gods” of the mountain for them to keep us away from harm and danger and at the same time wish good luck to our hike/trek on the said mountain. And if you happen to see these cairns, you are enjoined to add more rocks into them.
See you on the mountain trails and peaks in the coming days, weeks and months!
The Pinoy Runners were ably represented in the 2013 Vibram Hongkong 100K Ultra Trail Run with 21 registered runners, to include 4 lady runners, out of the 1,225 participants in the event. Out of the 21 registered runners, 18 runners had been listed as finishers in the posted provisional result of the race. It is worthy to note that only 854 runners finished the race out of the 1,225 starters. Hereunder is the list of Pinoy finishers with their respective ranking and finish time:
(Note: This post is intended for Media Release. If there is anybody who would like to make a NEWS on printed or broadcast media about our Top Runners in the HK100, you are encouraged to use, copy or make this one as your reference. Thank you!)
Marcelo Bautista of Baguio City finished as the top 15th Finisher in the newly-concluded 2013 Vibram Hongkong 100K Ultra Trail Run held on January 19-20, 2013 along the famous McLehose Trail in Kowloon. It is the first international running event for Marcelo after winning eight (8) consecutive ultrarunning events in a span of nine (9) months last year held in the different regions of the country.
The Flying Marcelo @ Km 28
Marcelo crossed the finish line in 12 hours and 8 minutes after the race started with 1,225 participants coming from 40 different countries. This ultra trail run had become prestigious after its two past editions where the registration for this year’s race had lasted for only 48 hours or two days. Only 21 Pinoy Runners were able to beat the 48-hour registration period.
Gerald Sabal of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat finished in 33rd place after running among the top 10 runners in the first half of the race. he crossed the finish line in 13 hours and 21 minutes which is two hours faster than the top two Pinoy finish times recorded in last year’s edition.
Gerald In 7th Overall @ Km 52
“This is the toughest race that I’ve ever finished. I’ve learned a lot of lessons here and I would like to return next year with a goal to improve my finish time and ranking”,said Marcelo who kneeled to the ground after crossing the finish line and could hardly stand by himself due to exhaustion brought about by his faster split time on the 2nd half of the race. He added, “I’ve exerted my best effort on the second half of the race because my primary goal in this race was to finish it at all costs!”
Gerald, being the faster runner than Marcelo on the first half of the race, had complained of cramping muscles on his both legs at the Km 65 section resulting for him to walk and stop along the way. “I did not notice Marcelo passing me as I was busy trying to massage my legs as they were tightening up due to cramps”, said Gerald who has more knowledge of the terrain and the weather as he was able to conduct a recon run on the 2nd half of the route last July 2012.
The Vibram Hongkong 100K Trail Run is on its 3rd year as it started with only 200 runners on its first year and then allowed 750 runners on its 2nd year coming from at least 20 countries. However, for this year the participants were increased to 1,225 runners coming from 40 countries where the slots were filled up in two days.
The Overall Champion in the race went to Yun Yan Qiao of China with a finish time of 10 hours and 16 minutes. He finished 5th place last year with a time of 11 hours and 1 minute. The 2nd Place went to Stone Chang of Hongkong with a finish time of 10 hours and 19 minutes where he led by 16 seconds from the 3rd runner. The 3rd Place went to Ram Kumar Khatri of Nepal who registered a finish time of 10:19:59 hours.
From Right: Yun Yan Qiao, Champion; Ram Kumar Khatri, 3rd Place; Stone Tsang, 2nd Place
On the Ladies Division, British Claire Price of Hongkong got the Ladies Champion Award with a time of 11 hours and 58 minutes which is a new course record by 20 minutes. She placed #14th Overall Finisher besting Marcelo by 10 minutes.
“We will continue to discover, develop, and expose our best local ultrarunners to international events as we have the potentials to become podium finishers on these races”, was asserted by Retired AFP Major General Jovenal D Narcise, Founder and President of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU), the country’s Sports Federation for Ultrarunning and the Team Manager & Coach of Team Elite Bald Runner.
In addition, he said, “It’s about time for our local Sports Corporate Firms & Companies to come into the picture in supporting and sending our elite ultrarunners in this kind of international events”. With Marcelo & Gerald’s accomplishment and strong performance in the 2013 HK 100 Ultra Run, there is a bright future and potential for this Sports to grow, discover more talents in the country and for our best runners to excel in other international ultrarunning events.
Andre Blumberg of Hongkong With Team Bald Runner
Marcelo and Gerald’s participation in the Vibram HK100 was principally sponsored by Andre Blumberg of Hongkong who is also an avid ultrarunner travelling around the world to participate in ultrarunning events. This is the second year that Andre Blumberg had supported our elite runners to the HK100. Members of the Pinoy Ultramarathoners Group and PAU runners have also contributed on the training and other miscellaneous expenses for the two elite runners.
Marcelo Bautista and Gerald Sabal are presently the top elite ultrarunners of Team Bald Runner.
Bald Runner 
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