RACE INFORMATION
A. Course Details
source: http://rizalmountainrun.com/episode2/rmr50-2017-50k-details/
B.Elevation Profile
Elevation gain: 2,800 meters or 9,240 feet
Elevation loss: 2,800 meters or 9,240 feet
RACE REPORT
After its inaugural race last year, RMR returned this year featuring the same distance categories: 15 Km, 30 KM, and ultra-distance of 50 Km. The organizers pushed back the race to an earlier date – January 29, 2017, a month earlier compared to the inaugural event that was held in February 28, 2016. Much as I want to join the 50Km event, the sched was a critical constraint considering that I practically stopped running the whole month of December and cramming my way to 50 Km with the remaining days of January does not sound right but we have to do what we have to do (as if it’s work stuff). Anyway, I had to sign up to an exhausting race to motivate me to go back to training. Also, I enjoyed my RMR experience last year – the route is pretty much straightforward (low chance of getting lost) but the terrains and elevations is tricky (imagine, the last 6 km to finish line, when you’ve drained all your fuel, is mostly uphill); the scenery is breathtaking – of course, it’s Sierra Madre; aid stations are well-supplied; and the race volunteers/marshals are your friends haha. Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo, Rizal is also very near Manila. In short, this is one of the few races that I’d like to do over and over again.
So for this year, the route for the 50 km category is pretty much the same with that of last year except that they are adding a climb to Ayaas. Trail runners doing longer distance trainings refer to the RMR route as Wawa loop but instead of starting in Brgy. Wawa, the race begins in Basekamp (a popular bikers’ pit stop) in Pintong Bukawe. Few kilometers of concrete road in Pintong Bukawe would lead the runners to a technical downhill course all the way to Bajo river. Runners would then climb Mt. Purro, which is around 4 km of endless ascent. Ascending Mt. Purro was a real challenge to me. First two kilometers of Mt. Purro features a a steep and single track course and the claustrophobic in me felt that I’m being trapped then I found it difficult to breathe. Towards the final climb to the peak of Mt. Purro, I believe I became the last runner, with the sweeper just right behind me trying to motivate me to slowly finish the climb. Alas, when I reached the peak, I regained my strength after seeing the gentle rolling terrain which was followed by a steep and dangerous downhill section to Sitio Calawis where the first aid station is located. It’s mostly gentle downhill to Sitio Apya and rolling towards Sitio Malasya. The 2nd AS is in Malasya and this marks km 17 of the course. Runner then climbed Malasya to reach the next AS in Puray, which is around 11 kms away. This is where the climb to Ayaas will start. Climbing Ayaas sounded easy for me after leisurely hiking Ayaas for the first two weeks of January. But the organizers opened a different trail leading to Ayaas peak, which is way steeper compared to usual hikers’ route to Ayaas. And of course, the runners already ran (walked) almost 30 kms so hiking that steep trails became super agonizing. After Ayaas peak, it's mostly downhill all the way to Wawa proper (around 5 kms). I tried to make up for the time I lost for the many breaks I took during the Ayaas climb and so I attacked the downhills faster and when I reached Wawa, I felt that my quads would start to blow. Wawa is where the 4th Aid Station is located - I remember this AS had a lot of food and I ate some but I can't remember the exact food they offered because of sheer exhaustion. I just felt the need to eat to have fuel for the next 16 kilometers to the finish line. From Wawa, it's another 2 kilometers to the next water station (Acacia) - the first kilometer of this section is concrete road so I just walked. Before I reached Acacia, I felt strong contraction in my left and right quads; i tried stretching but cramps happened! It was the most agonizing moment of my life. I don't know what to do - it's more difficult than cramps in the calves. The 16km section leading to the finish line should have been the easiest section in the whole race course because that was my training ground (Wawa-Casile-Pintong Bukawe). In my mind, it is on the last 16 km that I would compensate because I'm familiar on how to attack the specific sections of the course (where to run faster, where to hold back to prepare for a faster run, etc.) but this strategy did not happen because of the quad cramps, which incapacitated me on the last 16km! I cannot run, i cannot walk fast, and I'm walking like a lame duck! Huhu.. I'm not sure what caused the cramps. Perhaps it was the reckless downhill run worsened by soda intake.
nonetheless, the race was super fun, challenging and therefore fulfilling. I'd love to this race again next year. Hopefully with a better time!
