TNF100 Camsur 2011: My First Trail Ultrawalkathon err, Ultramarathon (Part 2 of 2)

Me displaying my running Oscar

Running Oscar

We treaded upward to the next aid station. We sat down when we got there and asked for some water. Robert was already saying that he can’t go on anymore. And then in just a few minutes while I was busy changing the batteries of my headlamp, Robert just fainted. It was a good thing the marshalls were quick to respond and was able to revive him. He already told the marshall that he won’t go on. The next challenge was to get him down to the clearing for the ambulance to pick him up. He was tall at 6’4” and said he was 80 kilos. There were about ten people who took him down in a stretcher. I was just fervently praying that he gets help ASAP and nothing serious happened.

TNF100 Camsur 2011: My First Trail Ultrawalkathon err, Ultramarathon (Part 1 of 2)

Getting jittery before the race

It was the height of naivety.

First, I never did a trail run. I am a road runner. Second, while the endurance of my first road ultramarathon helped me with the endurance and all that, a trail ultramarathon is far different. And last, what the hell was I thinking?

I did finish it though. It was not a strong finish. But it was a good one. 

With Roch before racestart

TNF100 was supposed to be my break into ultramarathoning. But as luck would have it, Mayon 360 came around calling. I remember likening TNF100 as the main course and the Mayon 360 as just the appetizer. I could go without the appetizer but still went with it anyway. I was almost in taper mode after the run in Albay with 21 kms as the farthest I have run. That was for a month! I basically slept my way to the start line.

On to the next one: Bitoy's next ultra - TNF 100 Camsur

After much hype, TNF100 in Camsur is a go on Saturday, Apr 30th. This is supposed to be my first ultramarathon (100 kms) but I was too weak to resist the fantastic race called Mayon 360. This is the most expensive race in the Philippines I have ever joined. The registration fee amounts to P3,500. That's steep considering it is just a local race. Good thing I registered early and got a free roundtrip bus ride to Camsur and a cool sun visor cap. 


I am not sure but I feel undertrained for this one. The longest run I had was in the 80km race I did in Albay. But the difference is that the Mayon run was a road race while TNF 100 is a trail one. We are given 30 hrs to finish and since it's my first trail run, I wish to finish it in 24 hours. I don't have any concrete plan yet but I plan to bring sufficient provisions with me and will play it really really conservatively.


Whenever I venture into a new territory, I always feel jumpy and jittery. I know I should think positive and all that sunshine-y whatchamallit. Anyway, just to display my jumpiness, I would jump (sorry for the pun) to my wish list for Saturday's race:


1. Not to be dehydrated or suffer heat stroke or my stomach to act funny (that's a top priority)
2. Injury to spare me
3. Safety to be always by my side
4. A perfect weather meaning the sun to be a little gentler.
5. Not to get lost.
6. My fighting spirit to prevail when the going gets a lot tougher.
7. Enjoy the race and the beauty of nature along the way.
8. Safety for my fellow runners.
9. To be armed with the prayers and thoughts of my loved ones to carry me through the race.
10. The Lord to lead me through it and to the finish line. 


That's all for now. I have to resume packing and wish me luck!