Ridge Run for Reef: A Surprising and Wonderful Uphill Downhill Adventure
By: Vicboy de Lima
Our Bicol. Our Home. Our Run.This is a mantra that our Batch 83 runners will be repeating in the coming months as we endeavor to have a major presence in the major runs that our magayonon Bicol has to offer.
The first one this year – Ridge Run for Reef – proved to be an uphill and downhill adventure of surprising and delightful experiences.
Held last Mar 20, 2011 in Legaspi City, the Ridge Run for Reef (RRFR) is a fund-raising effort of the Bicol University High School Class of 1986 (BUHS 86) and Albay Runners Club for the benefit of Uson Fishing Sanctuary and Marine Reserve in Bacacay, Albay. The leader of BUHS 86 is Ruby Mediones is a tireless advocate of sustainable fisheries in our Bicol region.
Given that we are a high school batch ourselves, this fun run is close to our hearts. We think and feel it is a very good idea to support other high school batches doing good for the community. Thus, we registered 8 Batch 83 runners for the fun run: Ed Balcueva, Ernie Badong, Bob Castilla, Ruben Fajardo, Noel Guevara, Ric Lozano, Allen Tolledo and myself. I also recruited 15 runners from First Balfour to join.
FB Runners in front of Mayon Vista Pension House: Allen, Ghibz, Vicboy, Bob, Ed, Ric, Fards & Ernie.
15 First Balfour runners joined the run (5K & 10k).
Surprising Experiences:
The Challenging Terrain. We should have guessed from the name “Ridge” that this run will involved high topography but it was never mentioned in the internet announcements or flyers that the RRFR will be a trail run. Furthermore, when we arrived in Legaspi the day before the run, we tried asking the hotel receptionist, a tricycle driver and the secretary of the head of the Albay Runner’s Club the nature of the 21K route but none of them were familiar of the places indicated in the route. Imagine then our surprise when a kilometer away from the start, we were already hiking up a hill. And it was not just one hill but a series of hills, each higher than any of the famed Chocolate hills of Bohol. Hahahaha. If I would have known this will be a mountain trail run, I would have worn trail running shoes rather than my brand-new Asics. In my estimation, 14 kilometers of the 21K route were all in hilly terrain. Not that we are complaining because we truly enjoyed this uphill and downhill run.
The 21K route, courtesy of Ghibz’ Blackberry.
FB runners Icar & Rose at the high point of the 10K route with a great view of Mayon.
Ric showing off his damaged running shoe, a casualty of the hilly and rugged terrain.
The Vigor of Batch 83 runners. If the terrain was surprising, the vigor of all 8 Batch 83 runners surprised me. All 8 Batch 83 runners finished the 21K route and got their finisher’s medals. None was left behind. None quit. What better testimony to our youthful vigor. For the record, here are our 21K finish times:
Bob Castilla 2 hrs. 8 mins
Ric Lozano 2 hrs 17 mins
Ernie Badong 2 hrs 40 mins
Fards Fajardo 2 hrs 42 mins
Ghibz Guevara 3 hrs
Ed Balcueva 3 hrs 9 mins
Allen Tolledo 3 hrs 9 mins
Vicboy de Lima 3 hrs 9 mins
All 8 Batch 83 runners posing at the finish line with organizers.
Delightful Experiences:
The Generous Hospitality of our Batchmate. Bodgie Importante proved to be very hospitable to us for the RRFR experience. He was the one that registered us for the fun run there in the law firm office of Atty Regala in Legaspi City. Bodgie also was the one that scouted for the reasonably-priced Mayon Vista pension house where we got 2 rooms for our Mar 19-20 stay in Legaspi City. And to top it all, Bodgie and his lovely wife hosted a carbo-loading party for the Batch 83 runners in their house a night before the RRFR. Bodgie took good care of us.
The Rugged Beauty of the Place. Tell me what running experience in the Philippines would offer you a route that has a view of a perfect cone volcano (Mayon) to your left and a big blue ocean (Pacific) to your right. RRFR is it.
The Warmth of the People (participants, organizers and onlookers). One thing I like about running in the province is that a fun run is a special event and people along the route do get out to watch and cheer the participants, unlike in Manila. We experienced it in the Camsur Marathon last year and we experience it here in RRFR. And an added bonus for me is that I was able to run a long stretch (2K marker to 9K marker) of the RRFR with a lady runner by the name of Janet Sibayan. A member of BUHS 86, she was one of few lady runners who participated in the 21K. Running with an energetic runner like Janet makes a long run like the RRFR an easier one to finish. Kudos also to the organizers like Ruby, Mau Gines, Jessel Basanta and Joy Regala. They were patient and helpful with all my queries.
Batch 83 runners posing with Janet, one of few lady runner finishers of the 21K.
Running the Galloway Method. After the 9K marker, I found myself running after Ed and Allen. Teaming up with the 2, we formed a troika that followed a 4min run and 1 min walk ratio. Running the Galloway method gives you an added assurance that no matter what happens or no matter what terrain is out there, we will finish the race and we will finish it strong. This we did as we even had a burst of energy at the end for a wild and iscariotic finish.
Allen, Vicboy and Ed enjoying the sprint to the finish.
So that’s it for our very first home run this year 2011. It won’t be long till we are again treading on native Bicol soil for a few of us Batch 83 marathoners are taking on the challenging 80K Mayon ultramarathon this April 2. A day after April’s fool day but seemingly a run for fools like us.
No place like home to go run crazy.
Batch 83 runners at the entrance to Embarcadero de Legaspi.