Actually, "not a fan" is an understatement. Ever since I started running a couple of years ago, the apshalt, concrete and grass always seemed to beckon with a certain openness. The trails seemed to always reject me much in the same way that Lebron rejected the Cavs. Okay maybe not that harsh, but you get the idea.
Ever since me and Abby drudged our way through the New Balance Trail Adventure at Nuvali, people have always been asking me "Why? Trails are awesome!". And as much as New Balance and race director extraordinaire Neville Manaois did a spectacular job in organizing the race amidst a spectacular backdrop, it just seems that one man's pleasure is another's poison. Let me count the ways....
What Fun...Trail shoes.... or the lack thereof.
It's like the veritable chicken-or-egg debate. I constantly whine on trails because my feet hurt in the absence of a serviceable pair of trail shoes. A poor flat-footed lackey like me will surely struggle with the treacherous terrain. But then again, I never really got about to buying a pair..... for the simple reason that I practically never run trails. Hmmmmm.
This little piggy wore badminton shoes to the trail.....I don't like getting my feet wet in bacteria-infested swamps
Usually, wet feet and wet socks equate into wet blisters for me. So I sort of abhor any form of liquid on my shoes. Last time, I literally had to plunge my entire foot into the murky looking brook/swamp thing. And while I am not as mysophobic as Emma from Glee, wading through seemingly malaria-infested waters is sorta not my thing. Although it seems I'm a tad bit maarte for my purported Gingerbread tough guy image, I guess I grew up watching too many National Geographic specials on PTV-4.
Germs! Germs! If I wanted to climb rocks.....
I would have been a mountain climber, and not a runner. I didn't know that the words "trail" and "climbing" would somehow go hand in hand. I had to make hawak the yucky rocks and eewy ropes. So kadiri. :P
Cleaning the mud off my shoes right after is not my kind of thing
Once again, in the absence of trail shoes I use my standard lighweight road shoes. Being totally immersed in mud, the cleaning part right after doesn't exactly enthuse me. And somehow, even after a day at the cleaners, there's this weird notion that the shoes are never the same again. Much akin to a person who was subject to a harrowing event and was traumatized for the rest of their life. Why do I get the notion that my shoes go through the same thing? I refuse to put my plush road shoes through any form of psychological trauma that would scar them forever. Case closed.
Shoes look great in muck. And last, and probably most importantly....
I'm speed bagal in trail runs
Not that I'm necessarily fast, but I don't like going slow either. During the latest New Balance trail gig, I believe we finished the entire 16k race in just over an three hours. Three hours! For a 10-miler! What fun! That's if you equate drudgery with fun that is.
Ayaw na...In all seriousness though, comparing road and trail runs would be like looking at apples and oranges. They are distinctly different, and all appeal to a certain running palate much in the same way that some of you may not have the stomach for that certain 102k race we completed awhile back. But isn't that the beauty of running? You can always find your own niche, be it a 5k sprint, a 102k ultramarathon or a 16k trail run. Happiness is relative, and running will always give you that option.
Muddy tracks and all. :)
Love the article a usual GBM. Love the pics that went with it too. Me, Im just scared to get injured in trail runs that's why I don't. :)
Great post! :D
I believe I was one of those who asked 'whyyyy??? trails are fuuunnn!!!' hahahaha! I enjoyed my first trail run, but I guess that's because my shoes didn't get muddy at all :P
I can relate Luis! I hate getting wet feet! The last time I waded in water with shoes on was during Ondoy and I had to get my Lolo out of his house. I still remember the last time I climbed a mountain, I had muddy shoes coz we had to choose a rainy day to do our climb. Oh what horror! :(...the nightmare! :( Haha!
Nice entry as always ;)
I have never tried trails before and swear i'll never will. thanks man. :(
Thanks for the kind words Margaaaa :) Lol fun pix :P I dunno, I never quite warmed up to it :D Unless Abby would "convince" me to. Haha :P
Winner yung badminton shoes mo. I actually saw that, pero dahil I was trying to be polite, no comment na lang muna ako. Haha.
Haha nice one Maan! :P Good for you! I guess, maarte lang talaga ako wahhahaa.
Gail, hahah at least I have one on my anti-trail team na wahahah :P Eww mud ahaha.
Thanks for dropping by Bong! Haha the New Balance at Nuvali was well-organized, it's nice to try things kahit once lang :D Malay mo!
Wahahaha lol Ricow, those badminton shoes are still with me hehe :P Nice seeing you yesterday bud, thanks for the support!
Haha. As someone who got lost on her first trail run (a 3K turned 9K x_x), I never really enjoyed both of the trail runs I've been on. Maybe it'll be different if I weren't attempting to race the trail, but enjoyed it instead. But then that'd be a trek instead of a trail run.
But I have no excuse when it comes to shoes -- I got a free pair. Hrhrhr.
Kowts!!!! I really enjoy trail run, maybe because sadyang ako ay taga bukid at sana'y sa maputik na daan, hehehe..nice post Kowts! ^-^
Lol Noelle, I guess we're in the same boat then haha :P Waaah at least you get shoes! Abby's a big trail gal so I guess I need to buy em' boots este trail shoes. :)
Naks buti ka pa Jhuvy! Dapat may Adination Ortigas trail run hehe :)
c'mon, luis, the NB trail adventure was not yet within the standards of a mountain trail run. however, i like your post and the reasons. this post keeps me laughing.
Blasphemy! You have just dishonored the swamps and trails as bacteria and malaria infested, you weakling, you! And those badminton shoes you wore on that trail--did you think you'ld get to play your cockshuttle in the marshes and bushes? Lol!
Seriously, Abby must have took her time just to enjoy the scenery kaya sinamahan mo na lang. Had you been serious in running/racing it, i'm sure you would have done great and enjoyed the course at the same time. Good thing i didn't wait for you to hand-over Abby's S. Baka namuti na mata ko!:-)) See you soon!
You're just too cute. Hahahahah :)
You just spent QT with Abby on trails so.. be a fan!
Haha you know I'm just kidding Sir Jovie :) But hey, I'm happy you like it :) Thank you for dropping by!
Haha buti na lang Sir Rene! :P Shempre, bantay tayo hehe :P Kahit tatlong oras! :D
Lol Kassy :) Oh boy, that sure is a weird form of QT, but I'll take it! :)
Kowtz, trail run is fun but running in road in more exciting. you got to chase around.
Nice funny post. Keep it coming!
I am new here and i enjoyed reading ur blog.
I agree Lee, I find a lot more joy in it :P
Why thanks for dropping by Lonerunner, glad you liked it! :)
galing talaga mga post mo idol gbm...
the best!
as for me, i havent tried trail running yet but im planning to join the north face thrill of the trail bohol series this september. not a lot of trail runs to join in cebu.
ready na maputikan! hehehe!
Thanks Ken, glad you liked it! It's always fun to run in Cebu, we had a good time during the last Cebu Marathon. We're coming back definitely. Hope to meet you there!
ayos yan gbm!
im planning to join the cebu marathon as my 1st full marathon. do you think its too soon? i just started running april 2010, 5k in the great lapu-lapu run 2.
i havent tried any 21k yet but have 2 coming up on aug 22 (aboitiz race to reduce) and sept 5 (milo cebu elims).
i read your previous post on the cebu marathon, it really seems you had a great time here. well, whether it be the 42k or just the 21k, im all set to join the cebu marathon next year. maybe even bump into you, not during the race, though, baka pareho tayo bumalentong. hehehe!
anyway, did you join the rexona run? i was hoping to see you and other runner-bloggers there but had to leave early to wash up & pack up for my return flight.
keep the very entertaining posts coming.
be safe gbm!
What's the kadiri making hawak on the yucky rope is that Sir Luis? hehehe! Can't you see? You're already loving the trails :)