2014 Outreach Program

The Outreach Program was held last Sunday, 12 January 2014 at the Aeta community in Sapang Uwak, Porac, Pampanga Philippines.

CONVENIENCE

 

 

During my 6 plus-hour solo run in Miyamit yesterday, I caught myself thinking about what other places I can run in. Even during my quick climb in Arayat the day before, it was the same thought. That is not to say I am bored in both places except that it would be interesting to visit other trails to get in some run, enjoy and absorb the scenery and be with friends. A change of scenery is always welcome. 

There are other places, perhaps even better, for sure out there but it is always the question of convenience for me. I'd particularly love to train in the highlands of Kayapa NV, venue of Hardcore 100 miles if only I had the power to teleport. Right now, Miyamit and Arayat are the best places I can train in because it is closer to home. Sure I can travel for several hours just to get in a run. Once or two occasions are okay but for someone who trains for ultras, it becomes a question of sustainability as well. Can you sustain it in the long run? For months? Every weekend? Priorities must also be taken into consideration especially if you have a family, kids and a day job to care of.

 

CLARK-MIYAMIT FALLS TRAIL RACE WITH DNF CHALLENGE

NOTE: Description of DNF Challenge below.

As a result of our run (see previous post below) at Miyamit last Sunday, the Clark-Miyamit Falls Trail Race  is a GO on 27 November 2011 but there will be only one event - 60k approximately.

The Miyamit trail from 2,500ft to 4,287ft (peak) is now rendered impassable to vehicles and dangerous to runners due to massive soil erosion on different parts of the trail. This means that setting up of aids stations is close to impossible and rescue operation, if any, very difficult. Thus, turn around point will be at the Miyamit Falls.

Unless there are at least 6 HARDENED ultrarunners (ideally 3 male and 3 female) willing to take up the DNF (yes, Did Not Finish) challenge to cover the entire distance from Clark to Miyamit (near Pinatubo) and back to Clark, trail condition and lack of aid station (for about 20K on hilly and remote territory outside of civilization) notwithstanding, the RD might consider accepting their registration. If you finished this challenge within the time barrier,  your  name would be forever inscribed on the Hall of Fame.

Registration is paperless  via email to: atty.jonnifer@gmail.com. Please include your full name, age, sex, email, mobile no., size shirt, key races so far finished  and your brief reason for joining which event.Those who qualified will receive an email from the RD for more details.

(NOTE: There is a huge probability that cash prizes will be given to top finishers for male and female in both events (at least to offset/defray incurred expenses). Announcement will be made in due time. So cross your fingers. Cheers :)

DNF CHALLENGE

For clarity on the CLARK-MIYAMIT FALLS TRAIL RACE. We have the 60k event (time barrier 15 hours)  from Clark to Miyamit and back. This has 4-5 aid stations strategically placed along the course and the other event is the DNF (yup, Did Not Finish) challenge which adds additional distance of 20k to the 60k event. That 20k starts from the last aid station of the 60k event going to the remote, uninhabited, cold, hilly terrain almost close to Pinatubo. HARDENED ultrarunners will go up from 2,000ft to 4287ft in 10k in quad-numbing, calf-ripping hills then turn around to go back to Clark joining the route of the 60k. Time barrier is 16 hours. In that 20k,  you are on your own.

Just to give a picture. While at our peak training for UTMB, Simon and I covered the entire 42k distance from Sapang Uwak to peak of Miyamit and back in 9 hours including the distance to the Falls (from 2,000ft drastically down to 500ft in a mere 1.5k distance and imagine one still has  go back up from the Falls). And one still has to consider the distance going back to Clark.

Doable but you have to be one heck of a gutsy HARDENED ultrarunner to attempt it. To this date, only 4 have covered (at least documented) the entire Miyamit course on foot - Simon, Isko, Jeff and myself.  Don Ubaldo said he will do the DNF challenge. Let us see. I just need 6 HARDENED ultrarunners to register for it. If anyone finishes this DNF event, I will prepare a pale of water (your choice of lukewarm, warm, boiling, cold, icy cold or freezing with alcohol of course :) and wash his/her feet (blistered,thrashed, cramped, with black nails and all) as soon as he/she crosses the finish line. Promise. Of course, your name will be included in the Hall of Fame plus the title "HARDENED" prisoner, I mean, ultrarunner.

You have been forewarned. Goodluck.

43K Miyamit Run

One of my best runs so far in Miyamit last Sunday. Good company of Jeff Abenina and Isko Lapira. (Too bad Jerry Guiao and I had miscommunication on the date of the run. He failed to join us. So he ran 40K by himself on Saturday. Sorry mate. Next time :) Above all, the weather was almost perfect. It was cold and foggy at maybe 20*C to 27'C (at midday) with minimal wind. We started at almost 3AM starting off at an elevation of 500 ft and the more distance we covered the better the weather got. At maximum elevation of 4287ft (at least that is what my Garmin said) which is almost near Pinatubo, the weather was ideal in that it allowed us stay for a while at the turn around (20K) without risk of hypothermia.

Unfortunately, the trail from the path leading to Falls all the way to the peak was so bad due to multiple massive erosion like an earthquake ripped the ground underneath. One of the thoughts that entered into my mind was the safety of the runners. Also the question of how to put aid stations for runners. Pushing through with the 50 miler is still possible but only those who are hardened ultrarunners maybe able to survive it. Go and ask Isko and Jeff. The condition of the terrain is far more inhospitable now on top of the killers hills that runners must hurdle. So the trail race will no longer include the 50 miler. It will just be one event of plus/minus 60K depending on the condition of the route connecting Clark and Sapang Uwak. Otherwise, runners will have to be rerouted for safety reasons which translates to a longer distance. Such is the idiosyncrasies of trail running.

Anyway, one of the highlights of our run is of course the Falls. We did not have the urge to leave right away. Strange that the sun likewise cooperated in that it shone while we were lounging under the Falls and hid when were climbing back up the main trail. I think this will be the prevailing weather throughout the month of November. We considerably slowed down on the way back on account of depleted fuel supply. Long story. Haha. Isko and Jeff are in a better position to narrate it :) Our run was capped off with a perfect hot "bulalo" inside Air Force City in Clark. Isko even had take out.

Anyway, below are some the pictures. Enjoy.

Cheers,

Jon

Hazy is foggy

Astig. Hinga naman Jeff :)

4,253 feet with 30% grade

Trail condition. This is not the worst.

Photo courtesy of Jeff (ahead is me and Isko with Camelbak)

Best picture ever!

Highest elevation

Nakatulog na yata si Isko

Isko and Jeff below the trail path

At the peak with Jeff sitting and eating and yonder is

Isko top less and simply absorbing the view.

The sun peeking through the clouds and over the

mountain range on our way back.

The word for today is "FLAT" (Miyamit-Pinatubo run)

It became the joke of the day. Jerry, our host, was kind enough to cushion our collective fear of more intimidating hills ahead (angle as high as 50 degrees?) after we reached the junction leading to Miyamit Falls (left) and Pinatubo crater (right). When asked what would be the condition of the rest of the trail, he merely answered "Oh it is hard-packed and flat". This is in contrast to the thick powdery and dusty hilly course from the start to Miyamit junction. I am sure everyone heard him said that. So we proceeded with renewed interest to check out the rest of the trail leading to crater only to find out that we'd be "eating" more hills for breakfast. Never-ending hills to be precise. We descended just to ascend again. Rinse and repeat. No such thing as "flat" in this course which made it really challenging (to put it mildly). I could not help but be reminded of GNW100 again.

For instance, there was a portion where Jael ("Wency") and I were running a descending blind curve. We were enjoying the gravity to rest our calves and barely a few minutes into it, we were greeted by an intimidating hill ... again. We could not help but utter some expletives. There were countless times I heard sighs of resignation and complaints from my companions everytime they were confronted by uphills so steep it made our calves burned.  

What consoled us are the serenity, purity and breathtaking 360' view of the trail. A rare place which is still detached from civilization. Amazing place with cool morning breeze which made our run enjoyable... and bearable. Add to that was being in the company of some of the friendliest and accomplished ultrarunners around. 

When we reached a few meters down the trail leading to the crater, we finally called it a day and decided to visit it some other time. We rode in Jerry's 4x4 on our way back. Most of us were pressed for time because of family affairs. Also tired from the run. I am sure 3 runners (Don, Pioq and Philip) joining TNF Camsur met their mileage for the day. It is almost 19K from our start leading to the drop-off point to the crater which took us more than 4 hours to reach. Another 2k more or less to the crater. Unfortunately, no trail yet connecting the drop-off point to Sta. Juliana. It appears we approached the other side of Pinatubo. Highest point is around 1,300 masl. This height, however, is not the same as elevation loss or gain.  

I am sure my fellow runners - Albert with his son Pot Pot, Boss Red, Boni, Gene, Jael, Chito, Don, Philip, Pioq and Jerry have their own stories to tell. Fast and/or strong runners for the day were Gene, Jael, Pioq, Philip, Don, Chito and Boni. The rest of us were slow :) Again, a huge shout out to Jerry for his generosity and kindness and to the first group of runners who have successfully conquered this trail! Awesome effort. Congratulations and thank you for the wonderful time (as simple as the conversation during the run, the post-run breakfast, etc.). Enjoy the pictures below.

Cheers,

Jon (still slow and heavy)

Early morning start

Can you see the snake?

Before sunrise ... (from left) Chito, Jael, Gene, Boni, Pot pot, Albert, Don, Jerry. Boss Red & Pioq

One of those "breakfast" uphills 

Junction - to the left is Miyamit Falls and to the right is the Gazebo (view deck) one of the highest peaks

Don, Boni. Albert and Chito

See the white lines on top of the mountains? They call it Great Walls which is the paved trail leading to the drop off point.

Trail over the horizon

At the drop off point. Behind is the crater.

Descending the trail leading to the crater

Before going back