Why do people do trail runs?
Last October 25, runners traversed 10 to 50 kilometers of trail during the Spartan Trailfecta Weekend in Porac, Pampanga.
They covered concrete pavements, grassy lanes, sandy paths, river crossings, muddy trails, rocky tracks, and slippery slopes.
Talking of pace? It's tough to keep up in Zone 2 or 4 or 5 when you hike to an elevation of 446 to 1,823 meters.
So why do people do it?
"Gusto mo mag-Spartan [Trail] bukas?"
For Kristine Berneth Bugna, it was actually unexpected. She was just called up by her coach the day before if she wanted to do the 10K trail.
"Sabi ko nga, 'hala, totoo ka ba'?" Bugna recounted to One Sports.
It wasn't easy as the road running she got used to.
"Mamamatay na 'ko! Gano'n 'yung feeling ko," Bugna shared. "'Yung papunta palang, 'yung mga first three kilometers, runnable pa siya."
"Tapos 'yung pag-akyat natin 'di ba? Grabe, solid. 'Yung parang gagapang na lang. Hindi mo siya matakbo, hindi mo siya mailakad. Walang makapitan!"
"Tapos 'yung sa mga steep slope, parang ang feeling ko, 'ito na yata 'yung katapusan ko,' kasi parang mahuhulog ako sa bangin, 'di ba? Sobrang dulas. Tapos 'yun, buti na lang, na-survive nating lahat!"
Still, the 28-year-old runner did just fine. In fact, she topped the women's category with a time of 1:04:43.
Second placer Silamie Gutang was a good distance behind at 1:11:01, followed by Erica Lachica at 1:13:47.
In the men's category, 21-year-old John Paul Carreon was the fastest with a time of 46:35, followed by Marelino Anzano (48:11), and Jobert Carolino (48:44).
"Dito kasi ako masaya."
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Randolf Gonzales outraced everyone in the 21K category with a chip time of 1:54:41.
It was a considerable distance ahead of second placer Andrico Mahilum (2:09:57) and Jose Cayabyab (2:10:38).
In the women's category, Ailene Tolentino reached first place with 2:31:15, followed by Eileen Mercado (2:48:59), and Shekinah Velasquez (3:08:24).
Gonzales started in 2018. His lung capacity was considerably boosted since he came from a swimming background.
But the trail is where he found joy.
"Dito po ako masaya eh," he told One Sports. "Kasi iba-ibang terrain 'yung mae-encounter mo, iba-ibang view, tapos marami kang tao na makakasalamuha."
"Fresh air po," he emphasized.
"Kahit mahirap siya, paulit-ulit pa rin na binabalik-balikan."
When it came to the 50K trail, 22-year-old Ligorinson Abbugao was a cut above the rest by finishing with at time of 5:46:44.
That's 23 minutes and 24 seconds ahead of Al Tellias (6:10:08) and John Solano (6:19:12).
In the women's category, Elizabeth Dangadang also finished under six hours, with a time of 5:52:21, followed by Virginan Romano (8:12:50), and Krizia Bondad (8:29:56).
Abbugao, an Ifugao native, was just grateful for the cloudy skies, since hot weather would add a lot of pressure to the race.
But like Kristine, one particular section of the course gave Ligorinson and everyone else a lot of trouble.
"'Yung uphill. Meron 'yung part na talagang unli-ahon siya na manginginig talaga 'yung tuhod mo pag umakyat ka. Tapos 'pag nakaahon ka na sa summit, manginginig talaga 'yung tuhod mo."
Abbugao started November 2024. He finished at the podium. So he joined again. And again. and again.
"Parang nakaka-addict lang," he told One Sports. "Kahit mahirap siya, paulit-ulit pa rin na binabalikan na sumasali."
"Tapos 'yung ruta, makikita mo 'yung iba't ibang lugar, magagandang view."
Abbugao has always stayed fit, either going to the gym, going for a road run, or what else, a trail run.
"Sabi nila, mas challenging 'yung trail run," he noted.
He prefers it now because of the view and the challenge it poses.
Tips for trail runners
Abbugao though cautions anyone against immediately going for the ultra course without any experience.
"I-assist niyo 'yung sarili niyo kung kaya niyo 'yung tatakbuhin niyo," he said, warning against peer pressure. "Gusto nila, agad nila i-try mag-ultra na hindi pa sila nakakapag-21K."
As for Gonzales, first-time runners should welcome the challenge of the course.
"Subukan nyo po rito. Bukod sa hindi lang kalsada matatakbuhan niyo, maputik, mabato, mga bundok na matataas, pero sulit naman kasi maganda 'yung view. Tapos, 'yun nga, fresh air. Maganda sa katawan natin."
"Kaya subukan niyo lang, wala naman mawawala kung subukan niyo. Pero sobrang masaya rito."
Bugna said yes because of one thing: she loved the view.
"You're gonna love the trails, especially here sa Alviera, especially looking at the Mt. Pinatubo ranges," she shared.
"Sobrang ganda. Kahit sobrang hirap, sobrang ganda. Worth it."
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.