It has been 2 days since the 1st PAU Mt. Pinatubo 50k Trail Challenge. My first ever ultramarathon. And still, up till now, i’m left dumbfounded, in the most amazing way. While other participants and finishers (most of whom are my ultra-idols) write about the torture of the route, i’m writing about the sweet pains of the experience.
This was a challenge i took upon myself of finally deciding to enter the worls of “ultra-running” which i never even conceived considering of doing in the first place, never in my 29 years of existence, until my 30th.
For a brief background, i was over 100 lbs overweight before, weighing around 270lbs, living the unhealthiest of lifestyle, munching on the unhealthiest of foods (not that they are unhealthy per se, but definitely unhealthy for me then!), coupled with the usual adolescent pleasures of alcohol and smokes. with other things on the side. When i finally decided enough is enough, running, as a sole answer wasn’t my sole response, but as a supplement, to my yaw-yan. muay-thai and krav-maga trainings, all of which i still dearly love.
When i finally took upon the seriousness of running solely, things took a different spin, in short, for a more challenging uphill drive. I joined couple of 5k’s, numerous 10, 15 and 16k’s before jumpimg to HM races, plus the more numerous trainings of long runs i have, solo-mode most of the time, to get myself prepared, learning from my mentors never to hurry, in order to be physically and especially mentally prepared.
Never did i thought i was preparing for Sir Jovie’s Historic 1st PAU’s Pinatubo Challenge. The ultra-trail run proved to be no less than a pussy trail run. I’ve always loved trail runs, but like what i always say to my peers, trail events just can’t seem to reciprocate such passion back to me, haha! It did made me go on a mental trip, queastioning why was i doing it in the first place.
During the 50k Pinatubo trail tun, the running jargon “wasak” really came into play. unfortunately not after the race, but while during the race, and not once, not twice, but at the least, thrice, but what i’ve dearly learned, it should be a welcome experience, not after the race but while experiencing it all, it’s only then you’ll overcome it all, and find yourself on your feet and running again.
Yes, gels, sports drinks and whichever will have you, would help, but that moment between you passing out and running again, it ‘s not those which will bring you back on your feet, but the spirit of the experience. of course, the congratulatory handshake of The BaldRunner himself, for a feat well-earned, waiting at the most desired finish-line, wouldn’t be a bad motivation in addition of all of those.:) i salute all the finishers and participants of the 1st PAU Pinatubo Trail Challenge! you guys rock! bigger than than the boulders and the Pinatubo crater itself!:)
