Merrell Adventure Run 2012

This is my 2nd year to participate in the merrell adventure run. and this time its wild. In 2011, I registed for 5km. This year, I upgraded it to 21km. I have no idea how far the 21km is, I never ran half marathon before, and Im not a regular runner who attends running clinic or run for practice.And the last time I sign up for a running event was the merrell adventure run 2011. So doing a 21km for the first time might sounds like a little farfetched, they said that you should do it slowly. Run for 5km ,then 10km before doing a 21km. Well im hard headed, I did not follow the advice though. Prior to this event , I have no running exercises, Im still recovering from the recent Amuyao traverse climb.So while others are training religiously for the event, Im just relaxing and thinking of where will be our next climb.

                                                Pics before gun start

                                              Merrell adventure runners

                                               Master of faster


Going back to merrell adventure run, it was always set for the month of June, I dont know why, maybe just to have a little rain on the trail can just add up to the excitement and thrill for doing a trail run.I imagined it might be not as fun as doing it on the rain and it will be more hell running under the heat of the sun. The river also might be dry if it is not a raining season , so the place might be dull and boring.

Just before the event, the first typhoon of the year enter the country. So its raining the whole day before the event, and it made the trail muddy and slippery. Theres a lot of elite and pelit runner, some are doing the trail run for the first time,and some have already been participating in skyrun(skyrun is a trail run that held more than 2000 feet above sea level) , and some are mountaineers who are just looking for another challenge.

The first part of the trail was wide,the hordes of 21km can run simultaneously on this part, then it becomes narrow with slight uphill and dowhill. It was a rolling terrain all the way to the river.The river crossing, is something you will not experience on the road run, some runners dive into the deepest part of the river, while others just walked on the side, while most used it to lessen the mud on their shoes as the muds add weight to it.

                                           The uphill part of the trail.
Then an uphill part comes up, with rope to assist the runners. Some runners who have not used to descend on a slippery trail,just sit down and used their butt so slide safely downhill. While others who have good trail shoes and balanced just run all the way down with ease and comfort. The difference of road runners and mountaineers will become evident and obvious in some part of the trails.

                                    The mud crawl ..pics from sir thumbie

                                 The bamboo bend.,,pics from sir thumbie..

 Then another interesting part if the mud crawl. All of us have fun crawling to the mud. The trail of 21km means that you need to do another round of the race course,and that made it more challenging , since the trail is now paved and damaged by runners, and it was now more slippery and no more foothold for descend . With the mud so thick and stuck in your shoes that you can feel the weight as its getting heavy for every step you take . Many running shoes failed,many runners slipped and fall ;and all of them was just smiling and keep going. Others did not finished the entire 21km for their own personal reasons,while others tired as they were still finished the event, savouring all the fun and glory running in the hills of timberland. Most of the time I was just walking chit chatting with my new found friend until the 10km loop, then in the 2nd round I run and hike trough the muddy terrain. It took me 5 hours and 22 minutes to finished the entire 21km with just one slipped, no bruises and cuts. My spirit was still high and my legs are still strong that I feel I can do another loop, just walking,jogging and hiking.

After I passed to the finished line, I went directly to the adventure booth to claimed the medal and finishers shirt. That is the main reason why I sign up for the 21km in the first place.

                                    Crossing the finish line at 5:22 hours

This years adventure run attracted a lot of trail newbie and elite runners and we all have fun. We are now looking forward for next years Merrell Adventure Run.