Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people. - Randy Pausch ( 1960-2008 )

TNF100 2010 in Baguio

Posted January 27th, 2010 by wilson

So it’s confirmed - the TNF 100 this year would be held in Baguio.

Most readers would probably know that the TNF 100 is on the top of my “DO AGAIN” or “TO-AVENGE” list. True I would like to run the SCSM again, as a more competent runner. I would like to have a go at the Botak Paatibayan given the opportunity. But they don’t compare to how much I want the TNF 100.

I had been hearing rumors about the race being planned for Baguio this year, but then I really didn’t believe it before the announcement. I must admit, in my heart of hearts, I was even hoping that it’d be Sacobia again, unlikely as that may be.

So Baguio it is.

It seems that they’re opening a 50K single loop category, for those who would just like to experience running a trail ultra.

Personally(and I can’t stress this enough), I’m having none of that. Isandaan ang inutang, isandaan ang kabayaran.

I’m not after the title “ultramarathoner” - that would be frivolous and shallow, especially when it is brandished about repetitively as an excuse for sucky performances.

I am after the experience, and so why would I go for the partial experience when the whole thing is there?

And besides, the hard part of the TNF 100 is in the second loop, or for most runners, the night leg - when you are already fighting against the cutoff, the fatigue, the sleepiness, the dark. With all the sight-seeing and the high energy, the first loop could be fun(although there is a first round cutoff). The second loop is all about survival.

They say that the real halfway point of the full is not at the 13-miler mark, but at the 20th. I daresay that the one-third mark of the TNF100 is at the boundary of the first and second leg. Why would anyone wanna miss that?

On a lighter, shallower note, doing the full hundred would save you having to do additional explanations whenever you recount your TNF 100 story. Just imagine -

“Man, the TNF 100 was tough”

“But you were able to finish it?”

“Yup”

“Wow, you really do kick-ass! Hundred huh? That’s like up to Bataan already.”

“Well, I did not exactly do 100 kilometers. It’s more like…”

It would’ve been a way smoother convo if you had just done the hundred, right?

See you in Baguio, everyone.

If this would convince one person originally planning to go for the “TNF 50″ or “TNF 1/3″ to change into the TNF 100 - I’d be really really happy. Even though I’ve a feeling I’d probably be cursed by that person while running at night. Haha

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Filed under:Races, Thoughts and Musings

4 Responses to “TNF100 2010 in Baguio”

  • gerard Says:
    January 27th, 2010 at 11:30 am

    You got me thinking there. I really only want to do TNF50. but i might just put in some training for TNF100. we shall see!!!

  • dhenztm Says:
    January 27th, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    What can I say but Good Luck! As of now there are not much details about the route but all I can say is that don’t count onto anything until you’ve really ran the route. TNF100 is quite tough and full of surprises :)

  • hershey Says:
    April 5th, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    It’s beyond words describing how i feel about the upcoming TNF100… this will be my first ultra trail and i have mixed feelings about it. i feel nervous at the same time happy about it. it is totally defining my limits as a female runner. The thought of the route makes me wonder if i’d survive it. I just hope that my legs would be strong enought to carry me; my spirits would push me and go further; that God would guide me and keep me safe from falling down those ravines!

    My running buddies went for a mild practice during the holyweek and sure enough it was tough. We didn’t run, we walked it..”pinetensya talag”… I had a few scratches from burnt ‘lantannas’ on our way up. Water and food were essential fuel to avoid dehydration and cramps. Music was another one and a whole lot of prayers.

    While we were up there…we talked about the marshals during the race, the cut-off time, the darkness, the turning point or the first loop…the loose rocks, water/food and first aid stations. We also wondered what’s in our kit…

    All these and more…

  • hershey Says:
    April 5th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    It’s beyond words describing how i feel about the upcoming TNF100… this will be my first ultra trail and i have mixed feelings about it. i feel nervous at the same time happy about it. it is totally defining my limits as a female runner. The thought of the route makes me wonder if i’d survive it. I just hope that my legs would be strong enough to carry me; my spirits would push me and go further; that God would guide me and keep me safe from falling down those ravines!

    My running buddies went for a mild practice during the holyweek and sure enough it was tough. We didn’t run, we walked it..”pinetensya talaga”… I had a few scratches from burnt ‘lantannas’ on our way up. Water and food were essential fuel to avoid dehydration and cramps. Music was another one and a whole lot of prayers.

    While we were up there…we talked about the marshals during the race, the cut-off time, the darkness, the turning point or the first loop…the loose rocks, water/food and first aid stations. We also wondered what’s in our kit…

    All these and more…

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