Soleus Valley Trail Challenge 2014... Finishers

For almost two (2) years that I've been running, I always finished the race on my own pace targeting a better PR than the previous races that I've joined. If I'm with my wife, I cross the finish line first then  return to the route again to pace my wife until she reaches the finish line. So when this event, Soleus VTC was promoted, I decided to register for the 30k category, instead of the 50k, to run along with my wife.

I know that this is a good event to join and cross the finish line together with her. Trail run is adventure run, we have discover the Miyamit falls together, and I believe that we can also do it in Nuvali. As per the organizer, the route is a good race for those who like to begin their trail running experience, they say that  the route is not that hard, not so many uphills and downhills, a very good route for beginners. 
Since we are from Bulacan, we don't have such trail areas to do our training, instead, we just do some endurance training on the road, hoping that it can bring us to the finish line of the race within the cut-off time.

I used to stay in one of the Apartment Sta. Rosa, Laguna for 6 months, 10 years ago, that was during my probationary period in my current job, I never heard of a place called Nuvali that time. This is the first time that I visited this place.

We take our pre race dinner in TBS Blue corner, sizzling pusit (their bestseller) and soup is what we eat and I'm so glad that she enjoyed it. We take our rest in one of the room in an affordable room near Nuvali. 

At 2:30am, we are already awake and preparing ourself and our stuff for the race. We then headed to the race start venue for the 3:30am assembly time. As per the RD, the 30k (2km) is the category with the most registered runners. 

 We pray (must, always, all the time) before the race starts then in 5..4..3..2..1.. bang! we go, excited on what the route will give us (no gun start shot actually :-).


The weather was good that time, we see stars in the skies, no signs of rain. Tall grasses are the walls of the first 3km of the route, cut grass also covers the road/trail in this part, after that, single narrow path leads us to the 1st AS (which is in the cemented part of the road. Distance covered is 6km, for almost 1 hour of running, during this time, the route is still crowded with runners and it's really dark, we are very careful since my wife already slipped in the 3km point, it's good that she is not injured. I tell my wife that if we will run in that pace for the next hours, we will not meet the cut off time so we need to catch up.

After almost 2.5 hours, we reached AS2. The sun is showing up and from this point, the view is very cool to the eye, lots of green grass, blue sky, white clouds. We reached the place they called New Zealand, it was really a nice scenery. I observe that my wife is already tired, I started to be more aware on here needs from this point. I carry our nutrition supplies, hydration and OPK.

I sometimes give her a push or a pull on the stiff and inclined part of the route. It's even more difficult for her when we passed in the hottest part of the road, we are looking for cold water or ice to cool us down. It's good that there are this support crews (to other runners) that gives us some ice tube, good enough until we reach the next AS. We get ice, chocolate bars, banana and refill our hydration bottles. We also poured our head and nape with water, wash our face and arms with cold water and ice. We still have less than 1.5 hours left to catch the cut off time. She already complains pains on her feet, calf and legs. I already have a vision of DNF for not finishing on the cut off time :'( . But we never stop, we need to keep on moving, every second counts so we move, move, move.. And when I got a glimpse of the Finish line, about 400m, I see the timer "5:57:44"!

It was a buzzer beater finish but we did it. I let her cross the finish line first, she deserve it. That is the most important part, finishing the race safe, fulfilled and hungry (for more races) :).. We will join this race again next year.

Trail running is life, there are ups and downs. 
Trail running can build our confidence, though we fall and slip.
We might get lost or hurt, but we never stop pushing ourselves to survive it's challenges.

This race gives us a lot of memories not only as runners but also as partners in life.
Trail running builds a stronger relationship just like what we've earned. :-)