“Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat.”
Malcolm S. Forbes
I have many difficulties during the entire race and let me recall them first:
1. Lack of sleep- we’re having a hard time sleeping in our tent, the humid air aggravated the situation, the noise and mosquitoes too.
2. My supplies not enough-I carried 4 bottles of Pocari Sweat (500 ml each) and plenty of foods but along the way, I’ve run out of stock specially the liquids. Worst was, I don’t have foods at the base camp except for Coke in Can and some biscuits. What I needed here was Meals with Rice, hot soup and plenty of liquids that I can carry for the next 35 kms. Since I don’t have any companions or family at the base camp, no one will give me that supply. I overlooked this one, and I think this was my biggest error.
3. All of my shoes were broken-At the start of the race, I’m wearing an Adidas running shoes but the Sacobia river dismantled it while my Merel was shattered up there in the mountain. There were discomforts already at the early stages of the race and to reserve my strength, I brisk walk instead of run, but since both of my sneakers were all wet, blisters begun to occur and every steps I made, pain was there. At km 35, I have another shoes, my New Balance but blisters developed at Km 7, and I do have 28 kms to go to replace my shoes.
4. My heart rate increased tremendously running uphill and I needed to settle it down first. I rested frequently just to make it normal. I listened to my body. It slowed me down. 5-6 steps upward then rest for 2 minutes or so. I thought I’m ready and my endurance was enough, I was wrong.
5. Those mandatory “stopped” instructions really affected me.-Approaching AS4, Cas and I were caught by heavy rain for some 30 minutes or more. Too good that we were able to subdue the tallest elevation at that time but as we reached the Mp before the AS4, we were told that the race will be stopped for a moment and all runners were obliged to stop running. The marshal explained that he received order from the base camp that the heavy rain made the river not passable for runners and they needed some time to decide when to start the race again. We waited for 45 minutes and since I’m already wet-I’m now beginning to chill!-this was critical, for here I’ve lost my momentum. As they allowed us to continue, and as we reached AS4-we were again told that the race will be stopped until further notice because the base camp was destroyed by a strong wind and the Timer was now malfunctioning. We waited again for an hour.
Being a regular TNF participant two times already (and it’s my 3rd), I have many observations comparing my last 2 TNF with this one:
Mp Station-it’s better If the Organizer put water here instead of just making this a “record” section only. The route was so hard and my 2 liters of liquid (which was already a big burden plus extra pair of shoes plus foods and gears etc) really decreased our energy. I’m already dehydrated and in one point I almost drunk the dirty water from the river.
AS- As I passed the AS1, there was no water and to get one, I needed to cross over the other side some 400 meters away, opposite the river. This was a major sin in this kind of race!
Marshals- Majority of them don’t know how many kilometers were there from the starting line up to their area. Somewhere along the route, one marshal forgot to give pink bracelet to the runners, but I have mine.
Freebies-No more discount coupon unlike last TNF, no photographers (it’s good I brought my N70).
Whistle-it’s useless. I tried to use it (just to test what will happen) in the midst of the forest for I don’t have water anymore, no one came.
Final Briefing-Coach Rio gave the final pointers and I jotted it down, It’s said that in Loop1 at MP5, Mp12, Mp16, Mp19 and Mp20-we will be receiving bracelet and in some stations we need to sign up, however it was not followed by his marshal. I haven’t affixed my signature at the entire race.
No roving marshal- In TNF Nasugbu, there’s a roving marshal riding on a horse. I’m just curious why in a tough race like this, I haven’t seen one.
Timer-All of the participants will have a problem on this for they will not get their exact time (PR). When the marshal told us that we need to stop, they didn’t get our time when we reached the area. So how are they going to tabulate it later? And how about those runners who were still running in the midst of the forest when this announcement was made? No one can stop them, that will give them an edge in this race!
I have an idea of what trail running is, 2 TNF’s and 3 Makiling Challenges -but this one was extraordinary! The depths, the heights, elevation, rivers, forest, lahar country, the big “sawa” in the river, the native (Aeta) gone wild attacking a runner, papaya for sale, rapelling, Small sari sari store in Tarlac selling rice with ginisang ampalaya-wow-that was the best food ever!
At km 50, I was informed that the 2nd loop will be changed completely. Originally, Loop 2 was only the repetition of loop 1 (with some minor revision) but due to rain, loop 2 became easier-30 kms in the lahar country and 20 kms off road, no more mountains and severe elevations like in loop 1. This I think was unfair for those runners who were already in the midst of the 2nd loop, for they have to endure the hard and difficult way, not unless the Organizer was able to contact them but there’s no signal at the forest.
I’m only at AS4 with a time of 12 hours and 5 minutes when I raised my white flag. Those difficulties I’ve mentioned above really affected my performance specially no. 5.
I DNF this race but learned so many things. I’m so sorry guys for failing you! In my 55th racing events, this was the first time I DNF. If TNF100 will happen again next year, I will join again, this time I’ll be better and hopefully, qualify.
I fought a good fight but in the end, I found myself and my resources lacking. The only one to blame was me. I miscalculated this race. God knows how I prepared for this event and I prayed so hard for it, but at the end of the tunnel, His will must be done-not mine! Trail running is different from road running, and not because I was able to conquer 102, it already means I can survive a 100.
I congratulate those winners, those finishers and those who like me, failed in this course. We have a back subject for completion and we need to study, train and practice more so that when the next trail run comes, we’re ready! As the saying goes…“Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat.” I’m looking forward for that day again!
With this, I wrapped up the TNF100 as a successful event, yes, there maybe loopholes and shortcomings but I have seen them (Organizer) to be strong and firm despite of some turmoils and chaos. The route was sadistic but perfect, too hard but too exciting!
My 3 buddies Cas, Joe and Romy also DNF. A sign that this race was really tough! All of my buddies were veteran marathoners and Romy known for his 9 successive 3 hour plus Milo 42k PR and mountaineering too, he DNF at km 85!
If Napoleon has a Waterloo, Ronnie has a Sacobia-and this will make me train harder, run faster and dream bigger! That place Sacobia will remind me always that my feet were just made of clay, I’m not mutant or superman and I MUST rely more on HIM than anything else.
Like a wounded soldier at the battlefield, I’ll rise up again and will prepare for war!
God be praised!
“Stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” -1 Corinthians 16:13
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