Enervon Happy Trail Run

I was checking my other, not-as-popular-as-Facebook social networking site the other day and saw a quick note from Second Wind Running Store saying they had 30 free slots for the Enervon Happy Trail Run today. Despite my pitiful miss record when it comes to freebies I still sent an email, and what was supposed to be a Sunday devoted to a relaxing, long, slow distance turned into an instant sufferfest.

More Energy, Mas Happy: Image Credit

My cousin Alvin, armed with a brand-new Garmin FR60 and the hope of being able to register on-site, went with me to Timberland Heights, where we both had our first experience of racing on the trails during ATKOM. I saw Neville (Manaois) at the secretariat tent and he gave me my bib number. After a few minutes, he also gave Alvin a slot, which was very cool of him.

WORRISOME

I had a brief chat with Neville and asked him how the turnout was. He said it was okay, but it wasn't the turnout he was worried about. Neville continued, "I'm worried about the difficulty of the course. Ang hirap eh."

The latter part of the route, around KM 6-10, was familiar, as it was practically the same trail which we took during ATKOM. My previous experience with that part of the trail gave me a mental advantage, but it was the first five kilometers that gave me the goosebumps.

Happy Trail Run did not start from the gate of Timberland like ATKOM. Instead, it began close to the clubhouse, so we practically began on the trails and were saved from the two-kilometer uphill climb on a concrete, winding road (which was a big relief). However, the first right turn on the trail gave way to a sudden, steep incline. I've seen that track during bike rides and remember a group of motorbike riders who succeeded climbing the track only after a giving the throttle a big twist.

Of course, what goes up must come down, and the loose, dry clay of the descent combined with deep ruts created a spectacularly scary downhill experience. It was my first time to run on the trails with the assistance of a rope. Apparently at least a couple of people had a great fall on that portion, one of them so covered in the dry clay that when his sweat broke through his skin he looked as if he wallowed in mud. Bless the guy's spirit--he just kept on keeping on and just ran strong.

A highlight of the race for me was running right behind someone I met recently in a display of how the universe helps put people with the same passions together. I met Pen, a female ultramarathoner who recently completed the TNF 100K race in Baguio, formally through an interview (she was interested to take over my job as an outdoor educator). But in the first couple of seconds after I opened the door to our "office" I sensed that I already knew her. We both figured out that we often cross paths during morning runs in UP, most recently the day before we met for the interview! She joked and said we should've just talked during the run and saved her the trip to our campus. It was quite awesome running with her and being pulled by that invisible force that comes from running with someone you know is stronger than you. That definitely helped keep me going during the tough climbs (she's a very patient climber). Salamat sa hila.

PLANS? WHAT PLANS?

The original plan was to take the run easy and just enjoy the scenery. While I was able to do that at the start, I just couldn't help but feel the nudge of competition and the need to see how far I could push myself. I had enough juice for a strong final kilometer, and finished at 1:10:27 by my Garmin. Given the tough terrain, I'm very happy with that.

Enervon Happy Trail Run was a great running experience and I can not thank Neville Manaois of Second Wind Running store for giving me the chance to run this race. Maraming Salamat!