Rock and Road Trail Marathon Race Review

Respect the distance or the distance won't respect you...

A little over a month ago, I was torn between two races, the "Rock and Road Trail Marathon" and "New Balance Power Run." Keeping in my mind that I should start my training for BDM 102, I needed longer races.  Needless to say, I picked a 42km Trail Run over a 25km Road Run.  And boy, was I happy with my decision...

Me and my teammates arrived just before the race began.  We had just enough time to get their race bibs, and deposit our bags in the baggage counter.  Looking around, I recognized some of the faces and thought, "Ano ba tong napasukan ko, dapat nag 21km na lang ako, puro mamaw yung mga 42km, hehehe." But having a competitive nature, I got really excited to run the 42km distance.

Then, Sir Jonel of Front Runner gathered all of the runners at the starting area, posed for some photo ops then positioned ourselves for the start of the run.

3,2,1.... the run started... said a short silent prayer which I normally do, stepped on the starting mat, then off I went.

I planned to do a 4:1 run-walk interval throughout the race, so I positioned myself in the middle-ish part of the pack.

Km 1 - 5 (Rocky Bumpy Road)

The start of the route was really dark, If I didn't have my headlamp on, I would have gotten lost.  It was also bumpy, there were injury inviting deep bike tracks, uneven and muddy route.  I paced myself with a 7:30min/km  run pace because I did not want any injuries.  I ran along keeping a 4:1 Run-Walk interval.

Km 6 - 10 (Forest Run)

This part of the route had many trees.  The terrain was a bit better than in the first 5km's, it was a rolling up and down, muddy, but still manageable.  I started to run at a pace of 6:30min/km to gain some ground on the other runners.  at this point, I think I passed about 15 - 20 runners.  I kept my 4:1 Run-Walk Interval at this point.

Km 11 - 15 (The Cow Zone, Slipping sliding and the Case of the Full Memory GPS)

Passing the 2nd hydration at the 10km mark, I thought to myself, "Turn around point na pala ng 21km, kokonti na yung runners."  I was wrong, I soon found out that most of the runners were running 42km's.  Suddenly, passing the 11th km, I came to a complete stop.  Upon the horizon, staring at my very soul was a big white cow.  Yes a cow! In the middle of the track! Staring at me, with the light from my headlamp reflecting from it's eyes.  I started walking, it turns out this area was the "chill spot" for some cows.  There were about 6 - 7 cows there, and when there are cows, there is cow manure! Needless to say, it stunk in that area.  Upon passing "The Cow Zone" the road suddenly became wet, I had a hard time running let alone balancing myself in the dark route.  I think I walked most of the part of this route.  It was that slippery.  It was about km13 when the track became dry again, just after passing that I looked at my watch.  WTF! the chronograph and the distance was blank, but the pace and intervals was running.  I started to wonder what happened.  I stopped and jump started my watch.  I attempted to start the run again then there it showed "Memory Full." DAAANNGGG!!! I forgot to erase some data on my watch, I suddenly remembered that I haven't deleted 2 previous 42km's and other runs from the watch.  I was pissed at myself, right there and then, I lost my eagerness to run fast.  This time I didn't mind the pace but still kept a 4:1 Run-Walk Interval.

Somewhere between km 15-16

Km 16 - 27 (The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Feet)

Passing the third hydration at the 15th km, the trees disappeared and a grassy area ensued.    It was like a scene from "The Sound of Music"  complete with the rolling hills.  With the sun peeking and light creeping in, I removed my headlamp, then started to run at a moderate pace again.  The track was narrow, I had to go "off track" to overtake some runners.  This was when the lead pack started to go back. Upon reaching the turn around point, I took my cellphone out and started texting my team mates.  (I was doing 42km alone, and they were doing 21km).  It took me 2hrs 53mins to run 21km, which was good considering I walked a number of times.  at the hydration station, I ate an egg, a banana, took some Pocari Sweat then started brisk walking back.  I started thinking negative splits! But then again I was wrong,   the race was just about to start.

Running in sight of the photographer

It was about 23km when I started to feel a tingle in my right hamstring.  Looking back, I ran a 16km tempo run 3 days earlier, I knew my body haven't recovered yet. What started as a tingle, became very painful.  I started to walk more than run to relieve some pain.  This time I just wanted to finish sub 6 hours.

Km 28 - 37 (A Painful Hamstring and the Return to the Cow Zone)

Upon reaching the hydration station at 28th km, I started to text my team mates again.  I found out they placed good in their 21km run.  Notably Goldy, Roxanne and Joyce went on to finish 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively while Daniel finished 5th among men.  Unfortunately, awards were only given to the top three finishers, so it was only Goldy who took home some extra loot.

Goldy is the one on the rightmost side, I was still running while the awarding ceremony was going on 

I was elated for them but soon thought that I have to finish the rest of the route ahead of me. I started running more albeit slower than usual.  What kept me going was the thought of my team mates waiting for me. (Sorry guys, it took me so long to finish the route >.<)

Nearing the 31st km, it started to smell funny, it was then I remembered "The Cow Zone."  Then looking down, I suddenly realized that I was wearing red.  I started to envision funny thoughts of the cows running after me.  I thought that would be extremely funny not to mention it would make me run faster LOLZ!  Unfortunately, what I had imagined did not materialize.  The cows just minded their own business and let me pass without lifting a finger or should I say hoof.

I started to gain some momentum and some speed and not think of my painful hamstring while I ran.  upon reaching the last hydration station at the 38th km, my time read 5hrs.  I could finish sub-6!!

Km 38 - 41 (BIKE!! BIKE!! BIKE!!)

There was a bike event using the same route that day, during these last 4km's there was no room to run because of the fast bikes that would pass through the route.  I had no choice but to walk in the rugged part of the track.

The last Km (Getting Lost and the 20+ minute kilometer)

Passing the 41km mark, I had more than 10 minutes left for a sub 6 hour finish.  I started to relax a bit knowing I could finish before my target time.  But as fate would have it, I would  get lost in the final part of the run.  I made a wrong turn and walked for about another 300m, realizing the mistake I made, I started to walk back.  by this time I knew I would make it sub 6.

Upon making the last turn, I saw a familiar face on the horizon.  It was my team mate Christopher waiting for me.  He ran with me in the final 200 meters.  It was funny because most of the time, it was me who is always waiting for him to finish.  This time it was the other way around.

We were laughing at the song I was playing at the moment 

At last, I was able to finish the race, with a painful hamstring and plantar fasciitis on both my feet.  I managed to finish in 6hrs 8mins 26secs.

I finished where I started, in the middle of the pack

Roxanne giving a menacing smile as if to say "Sa wakas natapos din tong isang to!!!"

Photo with the RD Jonel Mendoza

Group pic with our medals and with our great finisher's shirt on

The hardware the team got that day

After the run we headed somewhere in Ortigas to celebrate the birthday of Daniel, it was booze, food and videoke.

Running a marathon is a challenge itself, running a trail marathon is something else, but it is one of those things, I would love to do again.


Photo Credits: Tong Pascua, Aquiz Minlay, Daniel Bersano