I Thought It was Just a Fun Run

To date, Biodiversity Run 2010 at University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna (UPLB) is my second out of town runs. The first was the Merrell Adventure Run at Wawa Dam, Montalban. My friends - ChickenLegs, XiaiWalker, RunningStitches, BurpRunner, and RunningAtom - and I headed to Laguna Friday night after office. We stayed at the City of Springs Resort and Hotel.

I am not that accustomed to fall asleep easily in new places. So I have to have something to make me feel sleepy. I played a couple of times with my iTouch and I also had a serious talk with RunningAtom. Suffice to say, I lack sleep at race day.

On our way, we (ChickenLegs and BurpRunner) targeted to finish the 10K race at 1 hour and 30 minutes. At the race venue (UPLB), RunningAtom had advised me that it'll be 80% trail for the 10K race category. I just shrugged my shoulders for I thought that the trail that he's referring to would just be simple rough roads and hills.

Star?

The cue for the run had been fired and we're set to go. Run! After a few distance, I am surprised by the trail that RunningAtom had been mentioning. Whew! Slippery rocks that would surely hurt my knees, mud, and all climbs. That's punishment for me. BurpRunner and I were supposedly running side by side; but I fall short of my endurance and I am afraid for my knees. My trail shoes that is supposedly keeping me in balance just slips in most of the rocks that I step on. But as long as BurpRunner is within my sight, I guess I'm still on our target time.

I have seen a number of runners on their way back while I am still going up. There goes Yael of SpongeCola and Karylle who were running the 5K category. There also goes Coach Rio who manages to greet every runner that's calling his attention (He's doing the 21K). I also spotted Scientist Runner who encourages me to run (Thank you!). I also happen to meet a horse along the way that scares me much, LOL! The moment I saw RunningAtom, I told him, "Pedz, ang sabi ko lang gusto ko ng hills; hindi ko sinabing slippery hills." Really, I Thought It was Just a Fun Run; but no, it was a trail run - my second trail run.

After the turn around point, the path is all downhill. As compared to the climb, this is much easier. But balance is something that I hardly get from my shoes that I have to painfully watch every step on my way down.

Catching up on BurpRunner

And finally, there comes the road; but with a little bit of side stitch, I simply jog. On the right turn toward the finish, I, once more, spotted Coach Rio. I am a few meters ahead of him; a very rare chance. Gladly, RunningAtom was there to capture that uncanny moment, hee hee.

C'mon Coach, hurry! :P

The road toward the finish is a climb; and I don't have the energy to finish strong. But gladly, BurpRunner told me that I finished at 1 hour 32 minutes (I forgot my watch). Not bad. I came from a 2 weeks off running.

The Aftermath

Still have the energy :)

Another thing that excites us in this event was the post race event (just for us). Since we stayed at a resort, we decided to have a plunge first and test ChickenLeg's underwater camera.

RunningAtom, you, for the nth time, ruin my supposedly Profile Picture, hmph!

With Coach Rio, 2nd placer in 21K category

With Yael of SpongeCola (He runs fast)

Before leaving the City of Springs

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Race Name: Biodiversity Run 2010
Race Distance: 10K Trail Run
Official Rank: 112/162
Official Time: 01:31:47
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