FRONTRUNNER Philippines

September 29, 2013

Start/Finish: BE Resorts, Mactan, Cebu

Start: 1:00 AM, September 29, 2013

Finish: 11:00 AM, September 29, 2013

Cutoff  Time: TEN hours (10:00:00)

Pre-race briefing/Claiming of race bibs(for bank payments): BE Resorts parking lot, 12:01 AM onwards, September 29, 2013

Race Route: BE Resorts-Liloan (via Fernan and Cansaga Bridges)-Compostela (turnaround) and back to BE Resorts via same route

Registration Fee: One thousand Five Hundred Pesos

• Pre-race: Bib number. Discounted room rates at BE Resorts during the weekend of the event
• Post-race: Commemorative FINISHER’S MEDAL and SHIRT, and post-race meal and drinks at the finish line. Free use of bathroom and swimming facilities of Be Resorts for registered runners
• Race results and pictures to be exclusively published in frontRUNNER Magazine

ENTRY REQUIREMENT: Participant MUST have finished at least one 21-kilometer race(trail or road) within the official cutoff time 

RACE DETAILS:

1. Runners have the option for crew support or carry their own provisions for the duration of the race
2. No unregistered pacers or bandits allowed
3. This is an open roads race, that is, no roads will be closed. Therefore, runners must take utmost precaution in crossing intersections and navigating the roads and stay left of the road(facing the traffic) whenever applicable and safe
4. There will be four aid stations at Kilometers 12/38(hosted by SMART COMMUNICATIONS), 25( hosted by ARC-Cebu) and finish line(hosted by BE RESORTS). Ice-cold water, electrolyte and cola drinks, and assorted snacks will be available. NO cups will be available in all aid stations. Runners are required to bring their own hydration bags/bottles and are free to refill in all stations
5. Runners are allowed to buy food or drinks in any establishment at any time
6. All runners must have the mandatory night running gear such as headlamps/reflectorized vest that must be worn at the appropriate times
7. It is the the responsibility of the runners to be familiar with the race route and to look after the safety and welfare of their support crew, if any
8. Protests must be submitted within one hour after the end of the cutoff time accompanied by sworn and signed statement and documentary evidence(video or picture)
9. Runners must familiarize themselves with the official race map and are encouraged to carry the same with them for the duration of the race
10. Once the official time reaches 10:00:00, all aid stations will pack up and the race will be officially declared closed
11. The Race Director may, at any time, modify the race rules and/or course with the welfare of the runners as the utmost consideration
12. With all due respect, the Race Director’s word is final

REGISTRATION/WAIVER FORM

race waiver

Congratulations to all the participants and finishers who braved the Signal number 2 weather conditions brought about by Typhoon Gorio.

For event pictures; https://www.facebook.com/photo.ops.com.ph?fref=ts

As if ultra trail running at 2:00 AM was not enough, here came Gorio and his minions.

Towards the end of my course marking on Saturday afternoon, the rains started to pour and that was when I was informed that Gorio was hitting Laguna with Signal number 2. But I would have none of it even after getting the latest updates from PAGASA’s website. I kept looking outside the window and extended my hands from time to time to feel the rain and wind. In my assessment, previous running experiences and personal knowledge of the course, I felt it was tolerable and the race, doable.

My Hardcore Hundred Miles(H1) experience up in Kayapa has already taught me enough where near sub-zero temperatures, strong winds and rains accompanied the runners right at the start and for the most part of the 100-mile event last February. These did not deter any of the participants then.

But the H1 group were a seasoned bunch and Valley Trail Challenge was tagged as a beginner’s ultra trail run. There lay my predicament on whether to push through or not. But deep in my heart and after having seen quite a lot of trail survivors, I knew that the present VTC crop of runners would be up to the task. I have seen how tough ultra trail runners are. Tough as nails is an understatement.

Seemingly on cue and as the gun start came nearer, text messages started flowing in, asking me whether I will push through with the event given the prevailing weather. All I said was, “Yes, we are here.” Meaning that I, the frontRUNNER team and the early birds were already in NUVALI. I have no way of finding out if those who contacted me came, if at all.

As the rains became stronger and the winds came howling, the runners started to come in as well. Their numbers and demeanor proved me right that indeed, ultra trail runners are a different breed altogether. Right there and then, I knew I had one of the most determined non-whining group of hardcore runners ever to join my race. My dream crop!

Not only did Gorio’s Signal Number 2 render the course slippery and muddy but I could also imagine all the ribbons serving as course markers curled up and other painted markings  invisible. Getting lost along the course, while already a given in an ultra trail race, became more and more of a foregone conclusion because of the mess courtesy of Gorio. And there was the trail head flowing like a raging river to greet the runners.

With the ongoing weather conditions, I decided to waive the cutoff times also as a personal tribute to the courage of the runners. For who else can claim that they did an ultra trail run in the midst of a Signal number 2 typhoon, in the Philippines no less?

And like the trail gods playing tricks on us, as soon as sunrise broke in the horizon, the skies started to clear, the rains and winds started to abate and as the day wore on, the sun came out shining. Before I knew, Rocky Rondera (30k champion) David Munro (50k Winner) and the rest of the runners started coming back. All wet, muddied, bruised, scraped but I am sure (ultra trail) wiser for the better and mighty proud of their Valley conquest.

Just looking at the finishers having their meal and exchanging their war stories already made my day.

As an aside, had I cancelled the event, VTC 50 2nd runner up Sharon Zhang of Singapore who flew in with Kelly Lim would have struck out twice. She was a last-minute entry because Kuala Lumpur Marathon where she was a participant, was cancelled earlier.

The 2013 VTC became a true challenge literally and figuratively and I can only be thankful to the Lord for guiding each starter to the finish safely. Pushing through with the race was one of the best decisions I came up with. God knows how hard I prayed.

That said, I would like to thank the following for making life a wee bit easier for all;

• NUVALI, our venue partner
• ENERGIZER
• SOLEUS, our official timer and for providing the wonderful GPS watch as prizes and represented by Ms. Judith Staples and  L Time Studio (for the innovative course markings but unfortunately not all were used for fear of being blown and torn away)
• C2 Iced Tea, C2 Red Tea, Refresh Purified Drinking Water and Red Dragon Energy Drink, all from Universal Robina Corporation
• MILO R2 
• Reebok
• Ibex
• Luisa Raterta and company for manning all the stations
• And last but not the least, my friends who volunteered to help me out every step of the way – Meljohn Tezon, Jeffrey Amurao, Alex Jones, Juvy Pagtalunan, Official Photographer Tong Pascua of photo-ops.com.ph, Jingle Melanie Marquez, Siosan Baysa, Carmeli Ortega and Attorney James Roldan

And to warm your hearts, HERO Foundation whose beneficiaries are orphans of soldiers and policemen, is the recipient of the proceeds of the event as in the past two years.  In behalf of the children, I sincerely thank you.

I am taking the liberty of publishing and sharing the letter below emailed to me by David Munro, an Australian runner working here and who successfully defended his Valley Trail Challenge 50 title over the weekend. It goes without saying that  this year’s field is, by no way, a lean one. Consider James Tellias, the 2013 Hardcore Hundred Miles champion, H1 4th placer Aldean Lim, BDM 160 champ Alfred delos Reyes, Lao Ogerio, up and coming Jerome Bautista, David’s buddy, Lee McMeekin who eventually finish second and Coach Roel Ano.

As a race organizer and director who conceptualized this event, I can only be but humbled and proud at the same time because David’s sentiments are exactly what I want everyone to experience in all of my races.

Spoken like a true champion, read on. (highlights are mine)

Jonel,  

Thanks for organising a fantastic trail run yesterday. It was good to be reminded that no frills doesn’t mean poor organisation or limited provisions. Your runs are among the best organised that I have entered and the aid stations are the envy of many larger events. It is pleasure to join a race that focuses on the joy of running, the runners, and the trails.

Thanks to the many race marshals who gave their time to be stationed in the rain and who provided unlimited support and encouragement to us runners. Special thanks goes to the marshal (at about 40km) who helped stretch out my cramping legs. In my rush to get to the finish line, I fear I may have jumped up and run off without offering sufficient thanks.

Running the trails at night presents a very different experience to running during the day. The dark and the weather caused the field to bunch up and stay together. Running with a group – James, Aldean, Lee, & others – & working together to navigate the course, is an experience you don’t get on the roads and can only be found on the trails.

Sadly, this was probably my last race in the Philippines, as my 4 years here is coming to an end. This was a great finale and will serve as a wonderful reminder of my time in the Philippines.

Thanks again,

Dave (Munro), 2012-2013 Valley Trail Challenge 50 Champion

RACE DATA c/o Aldean Lim

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/335776512

Be proud but humble of your Gorio and Valley conquest. I hope that you who have tried ultra trail running for the first time will continue on searching for longer and challenging races for you have already proven to yourselves what you are capable of. Welcome to the dark underground world of ultra trail running.

In behalf of the frontRUNNER family, I thank you once again for your participation in our simple event and thank you for proving me right once more that you guys are a hardy bunch.I wish you all the best in your next races.

When it came to the matter of who would blink first, it was Gorio. My ultra trail runners bit the bullet, took the bluff and came out swinging.

I kept my faith in you and you delivered. You all have earned my utmost respect.