i run therefore i am: my merell adventure run experience

so it was all done and the runners crossed the finish line. some are wounded, some are smiling, some are dead tired but all are muddy and dirty. there was an open shower just beyond the final hydro station where everyone tried to wash away the dirt and mud and in some cases, blood.

i thought the race event was going to be canceled because of the non-stop rain the night before it. actually, it was still drizzling as we made our way to the venue. the trail just got more challenging, i thought. i just don't know whether to be happy or not with that in mind.

we gathered at the start/finish line and the countdown for the gun start began. i looked around to gauge how the other runners are feeling. most of them are wearing their game face while i shiver in the combination of drizzle and fear. this is my first trail run and i am just seconds away from doing it. no turning back now.

and the gun fired. they were all blitzing away while i try to find my comfort zone. the first part of the trail was just fine but in 30 seconds, my running buddies were far ahead. i got stuck in traffic. i'll just meet them at our pre-arranged place after the race. we were running at a low impact hill and everyone was full of energy and they were running like finish line is just around the corner. i just tried my best not to lag far behind. i still have the top 50 finish in mind.

alas, the trail turned to a beaten path and the surface is dirt and mud. balance and leg strength came to test the runners. the beaten path has only one lane and to overtake, one has to run on grass. this is where i had my advantage. modesty aside, my leg is powerful on bursts and spurts. i overtook many runners as everyone was having a hard time staying on their feet and avoiding falling on their behind. there was even someone who got mad at me because i slipped a bit while trying to overtake. she said that i shouldn't overtake given the slippery nature of the surface we're running on. i held back on sarcastically reminding her that we were in a race and not an excursion. i just left her behind and went on with my business of finishing as fast as i can.

the next challenge i faced was when i reached a turn where the trail was wide with no trees on both sides and was a steep and long downhill. i abused my legs as i try to go fast while doing everything i can to balance and brake without the help of the trees. this is where i felt that i might get injured anytime if i am not careful enough. my fear heightened when a runner in front of me fell hard on her behind because she lost control of her movement. it didn't slow me down but it got me going extra careful. i felt sorry for not helping the fallen runner but i was in a race and i am sure she's gonna be ok.

then there was this part where we had to go through a concrete barrel half immersed in puddle of mud. good thing i never bring any gadget with me whenever i run otherwise, it will spell disaster.

next, a long and steep uphill climb. if i didn't have to stop to go through that concrete barrel, i would've carried my momentum and run uphill albeit slowly. i was forced to walk my way up but i was able to summon enough energy to jog half of the way. when we reached the top, there was the mud pit. it was literally a pit and it was literally muddy. i was ignoring my loose laces for the longest time before this mud pit and i thought my shoes are going to fall off because of the mud. fortunately for me, it didn't.

for most of the race, my shoe kept collecting mud and dirt and every step i take makes my shoe heavier. i just took it as a challenge for my legs but my legs didn't like it. there was a stretch of about 500 meters where my legs feel all rubbery and they just won't listen to me. it was my hardest stretch of the race. my legs got back to its working condition when i saw the marker last 1km. however, i still wasn't able to go all out because we were back at a beaten path that is all muddy and slippery. i was just taking small but sure steps to prevent injury.

at last, i saw the wide trail where we started and someone shouted, last 500 meters! i was like, whoa! the stretch i just went through after that last 1km marker was the longest 500 meters of my life. well, at least, i am already in homestretch. however, i still wasn't able to sprint the last 500 meters because of fatigue. i crossed the finish line and a marshal gave me a medal. i made it! i was one of the top 50!

would you forgive me if i take pride in my medal even if it's just for 5km? would it be ok if i pat my back and tell myself "not too shabby for a first time, buddy?" would you hold it against me if i celebrate the accomplishment even if it's not much? to be honest with you, even if it's just for 5km, i feel like shouting and jumping for joy.

so anyway, here are the souvenirs i got from the run: