Trail running is making waves in the Philippines running circles and communities. Many runners who used to run strictly on the road only have discovered the true origin of the Marathon. The first ever marathoner came from Greece who raced against time and his own perceived limitations by running on the mountain trails and today we call this type of running - trail running. It is only fitting to say that one can’t be called a complete runner unless he/she runs the trail.
Unlike road running where the pace is almost constant because of familiarity with the same road you normally pass through, trail running would have you change your pacing many times during the entire route. Because trails are not maintained and are affected by changes in weather conditions the same trail you may run today would be a different trail tomorrow thus your body movement would affect your pacing as you adjust to challenges and obstacles thrown along the way by nature. You may have to move side to side, front then back, or run with your body moving forward, especially in steep climbs then moving back again on steep downhill. Then when you think you already found your rhythm you may suddenly stop and be frozen as you can’t help but stop in awe of the breathtaking scenery that you will discover. Each step is a challenge and in the mountain where oxygen gets thinner as you ascend, you may have to run and walk. This unpredictability would give you the adrenaline rush that makes trail running exciting and fun all the way from start to finish.
What are the challenges then? Rocky roads, forested trails, protruding roots, sticky mud when the weather becomes rainy and would then turn hard as rocks when it’s all sunny for weeks and months, river crossing that will get you wet and your shoes soaked in cold water, tall grass that hampered your vision with low lying clouds that make your visibility as cloudy as it can be. Oops! Before we even forget you also have to contend with the cold temperature when the run is made in the early morning. You are exposed to the elements so what do you do? Suit up for the event if you can or look from your closet for some old running apparel that can protect your body, arms, and legs but you can easily dispose of when it gets too heavy to run (if you do this you may need a running buddy to assist you) or if you have money to spend go to the sports shop they have suits and gears for trail running just right for you.
But there are the so-called minimalist runners, those daring runners who want to be free as possible. Just the shorts, shirt, and running shoes plus a handheld hydration bottle and they are ready to run and ramble in any trail challenges. It looks great in photo-ops if your body can take the elements of nature just described above.
So how do you start and what race would you join in to get a real taste of trail running that combines all the elements of the sports? For the more than 2,000 runners who have joined a trail running race event since it was first introduced in the racing circuit some 10 years ago by Pimco Sporting Events like the famous Nature’s Trail Discovery Run (NTDR) trail running trilogy series which allowed the runners to get a taste of the sports and experience the fun and satisfaction that goes with it. It was conceived to introduce road runners to the sport and allow them to discover the fun, excitement, and joy of trail running with the breathtaking sceneries showcasing the beauty of the great outdoors of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. This article allows you to take a peek at some of the runners who participated in our race events from 2012 to 2016. In fact, some of them have become very competitive in running be it by road or trail. They have developed into tough runners smashing their own personal best each year.
Continuing with what we started ten (10) years ago, where more than 2,000 runners on record have participated in our trail running races and many of them have continued today and even went into other mountain sports such as mountaineering and camping/glamping, we are making a comeback trail running race the "Woodland International Trail Run Fun Race".
So runners, get into the groove of the origin of the marathon, get into the sports of trail running.
Takbo na Hane!
UPCOMING RACE: WOODLAND INT'L TRAIL RUN FUN RACE
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