LAVARED0, VJ100 & FAT ASS 2025

At the outset, it dawned on me that this blog has sort of become my online "diary." I am really glad that I started it years ago. It is so nice to take a trip down memory lane (good and bad), read and relish some experiences which would have been lost in time. So now, it is easy to go back and read up on past stories especially about running.

LAVAREDO (ITALY)

My good friend, Simon Sandoval swears by this race in Dolomites, Italy when I asked him a few years ago which amongst the ultra races he has so far joined that he really liked the most. He said Lavaredo. By the way, he and another Pinoy, Majo Liao are registered for 2025 edition of Hardrock in Colorado, USA on 11 July 2025. Simon had been trying to get in for 8 years or so! No local Filipino has ever finished it within the cut-off time. (Well, I did finish it in 2018 but a bit outside the time barrier. Here is the story). There is confidence they will finish it. After all, Simon and Majo are some of the accomplished ultrarunners out there in their own rights.

It is most probable that Simon might have a different favorite race now after he manages to finish Hardrock this July 2025. To date, Hardrock is one of my favorite 100 mile races in the world! Simon and I have shared trails at UTMB (France, 2011), Hardcore 100 (Philippines, 2013) and Fat Dog 120 (Canada, 2016).

(My good friend, Simon, in shorts)

Let's go back to Lavaredo. After hearing Simon about this race, I made a mental note to register. That was before Covid broke out. Then the race resumed and we (there were several of us Pinoys) were told our registration would be carried over. Unfortunately, there were too many hassles and inconveniences just flying out of the country due to pandemic protocols. To my mind, it was so much trouble to travel outside the country at that time what with face masks, vaccines, distance, etc. I did not bother anymore until 2025. 

Past forward, I managed to get lucky with the lottery and made it for the registration. No use joining the 120K distance (this was the target) due to lack of sufficient UTMB points. Good thing there were enough points for the 80K category. It sucks. Even I managed to email them about my "qualifications", i.e. races I have done thus far but to no avail. The person answering my email was most likely doing his/her job. So, no point arguing.

The flagship distance of 120K for Lavaredo would have been better. 80K, modesty aside, is short for me but what the heck. We take what we can get ... for now.

So, in my desperation to get that much-needed points for races accredited under UTMB and/or ITRA (getting complicated now but that is another article all together), I joined a local 100K race up in Baguio called VJ100. 

Honestly, it took me in a while to get my motivation back to do ultras after Covid. To date, I have done full marys so far but ultras, that took me quite some time to get my mojos back. I am not sure why, but I am glad I did the VJ100 - 100k of 10k x10 loops last December in Baguio City. More on this race below.

Unfortunately, the UTMB points earned after VJ100 could not be used for Lavaredo anymore. It was too late but at least I have points I can always use in case there is an ultra race I fancy in the future. 

VJ100

Anyway, this race is organized by our good friend, Robert Watson via Intrepid Spirit. It was held last 14 to 15 December 2024 in the Summer Capital of Philippines - Baguio City.

Distances are 20k, 50k and 100k in a 10k loop. I registered for 100K. 

How was the race? Bloody hard doing 10 times of 10k per loop with a total of 7,000 meters of elevation again. Nasty. Also, the mental part of doing the same loop for 10 times will make you go bonkers. 7,000 meters of elevation is high for a mere 100k race. You will definitely need a pair of trekking poles if you ever decide to try this race.

My suggestion is remove the stairs part towards the end of the loop since the total distance of the race, I was told, is more than 100K. (My watch went bonkers as well, battery power thingy). Here are some pictures:

(Only 5 of us survived the 100K. Go figure)

FAT ASS 2025

Now this is the fun part 😀 

Fat Ass Philippines has been going on since 2010. It is one of a kind running events on this side of the planet. A bit of history here.

For 2025, it took place last 11 to 12 January. There was a twist though. 2025 Fat Ass was staged for a good cause. We partnered with Angeles City Justice Zone (ACJZ), Justice Zone Coordinating Council (JZCC), Angeles City District Jail and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Region III to raise funds for their project to support PDLs who want to go to college.

I must say things went well and it was a huge success as everyone had fun enjoying the cool weather, camaraderie and all! Below excerpts are from the FB page of ACJZ. Might as well quote the same 😉

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to our top runners!

Queen of 6-hour Category: Brenda Lyn Balucas = 41.8kms (19 loops)

King of 6-hour Category: Arlo Padua = 50.6kms (23 loops)

Queen of 12-hour Category: Meds Baraquel = 55kms (25 loops)

King of 12-hour Category: Joey San Diego = 72.6kms (33 loops)

Queen of 24-hour Category: Kristine Berneth Drueco Bugna = 171.6kms (78 loops)

King of 24-hour Category: Mario Alcantara = 132kms (60 loops)

A special shout-out to Kristine Berneth Drueco Bugna/ Tin Possible. A new 24-hour record of 171.6 kms has been set! Your determination is truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see you crush that 200km next year.

(Tin)

Fat Ass Kings and Queens

(My good friends, spouses Boy and Beth Siojo who came all the way from Manila)

Some realizations after 2025 Fat Ass. Weeks leading to this event, some of our good old running friends had evinced their desire to join. I was looking forward to it just like the heyday of Fat Ass.

Some did show and some did not. It's just the way things are.

While I have to admit that I missed them but it dawned on me that future editions of Fat Ass should not be relegated to the past. Based on the result, it appears that we should take care of those who are new to Fat Ass like Kristine Berneth Drueco Bugna or Tin who broke the record for 24 hours with a total of 171.6 kms (old record was 160k by a male runner)!

As I wont to say in life, we live in the present not in the past.

Yep, another edition is on 10 to 11 January 2026. See you folks, old and new!

Cheers,

(Jon who misses trail running)

P.S.

These past few days, it dawned on me (again) how important running 🏃 is in my life. It is a source of strength, endurance, humility (ultras humble you), health, focus and perseverance. A glimpse of what life is all about on this Earth.

So much to gain! So, for what it is worth, I will never stop. 

Double cheers!✌