10am fixing things
12noon-ride fx going to Second wind Diliman to pick up my race packet
1pm ride a jeep going to San Mateo from Philcoa
3 pm I reached Beth’s house where will I sleep and spend the night.
March 28, 2010
@4amwoke up to fix my things and to be ready going to Timberland.
@5am already riding at FX going to San Mateo, as we passed by the town, I saw people going to churches, as today is Palm Sunday. I felt sad that time, because every year I’m with my family attending the first Sunday Mass then we will wait for the Procession to hear the Angel’s singing Osana, afterwards all our “palaspas” will be blessed. But sadly, I’m here in the place where I’m definitely stranger, first to be here and don’t know what to expect. I asked myself why, and I just answered to myself, I want this and I love to this, I just whisper a silent prayer.
When I reached a tricycle, I asked the driver to bring me in Timberland, to my surprise the driver told me to pay P100. Yes P100, akala ko malapit lang, as I read pa, some says it’s walking distance, bakit P100? Hmmm, since I don’t know the place and it’s already 10 mins to go before 6am, I ride a tricycle.
As we travel , wow, grabe as in, P100 is worth it. As in malayo pa siya and sobrang pataas. I felt nervous because it’s already 6am na, I’m already late for the race and paakyat pa ung place, sobrang hirap na hirap ung tricycle to up. Hmmm, kinakabahan na ako, asking why I’m here, I don’t what to expect and most importantly paano ang way ko pauwi? Wondering…
Ng makarating ako sa Timberland gate, the guard told me, “Ma’am, nag start na po ung race”. Oh my, I’m thinking if I still run, but I told to myself, I did not go here for nothing, so I looked for the bag drop where will I left my heavy bag. I bring my water, good thing I bought a hydration belt at Secondwind, my camera and most importantly my Rosary as I will running alone.
I run immediately at the starting line, one of the organizers told me, “Kaya mo pa yan Ma’am, the race just started in 10 minutes”. Nyay, 10 minutes na, kaya pala wala na kong nakitang runner, so I just smiled them and run as fast as I can.
On my surprise, paakyat pala lahat, as in nakaka 500meters pa lang ako, hingal na hingal na ko and I need to drink water, Thank’s God I bring water with me. May humahabol pang runner, hmmm hindi lang ako ang late, so I keep on running and walking, paakyat pa rin kaya medyo need extra effort. I did not expect na simula pa lang uphill na. I can’t take pictures since I tried my best na maaubutan yung runner na natatanaw ko.
After 2kms the trail begins, and guess what, nakasalubong ko na going to finish line ang 1st, 2nd and 3rd runner. Hmmm, tutuloy pa ba ako? Well, as I told to myself, I did not go here for nothing. So I continue my journey. Then I saw the first water station, one of he organizer Mr. Erik of Solomon give an encouraging word “ most admirable ung last nag start than the victory of the first runner at the finish” (something like that, hndi ko na maalala but I know he is encouraging me, thanks Sir Erik) I smiled to him and thanking him for lifting my spirit. I also told them to wait for me to finish the race, baka kasi pagbalik ko, wala ng mga marshall hehehe.
Then I started taking pictures. The pictures will show the journey that I’m been through. The toughest thing that I did, to enter in the trail alone, as in alone. The marshal is only every 2kms. I will walk/run uphill to the best that I can and enjoy the view. Para lang ako isang character sa Blair Witch Project, hehehe. But Of course, hindi ako nagpatakot as I know God with me all the time. When I feel afraid, I just hear the buzzzzzz of the bees, the whisper of the wind and birds singing.
After the run, I felt so much happiness and fulfilment. I finish the 10K trail, and don’t feel any injury, Thanks God.
And now, the problems again arise. Paano ako uuwi?, nyay. As most question that I heard from the people I met, “nasaan ang mga kasama mo?, “mag isa ka lang? “ hmmm..bakit nga ba ako mag isa?. In reality, I’m not a loner, I’m typical jolly and bubbly person, as I’m the joker of the group and no dull moments with me, as I don’t want to see people sad, hehehe. But why I’m here alone?..hmmm I don’t know, I just love to do it, my heart want me to do it, I feel the excitement and the peaceful feeling that I have. I saw some of the familiar faces from Takbo.ph, but I don’t know, sobrang nahiya ako,and hindi ko sila nabati,hmmmm. So I wait for the Mang Inasal treat, I was thinking, if uuwi ako mag isa and maglalakad going down, I need energy, hehehe. Thankfully I met the 3 wonderful people, Troy, Jeka and Mark. A newbie also in this trail run like me, they offer the ride. Thanks to them, I know now my way to go home.
Before calling it a day, I attended an evening mass for celebrating the Palm Sunday. To thank God that I finish this first journey that I have, this is only the beginning of my never ending journey. :)
