Such an amazing start for trail running season here in the land of Oragons!
Road running has been loved and accepted in the running community of Bicol for so many years but this year marks the birth of trail running community for Bicolandia. Simurai Runner 2019 has leveled up the game in running and pushed runners to a different kind of high.
You need to have the strength to endure the uphill struggle (not just physically but that little voice inside your head telling you to quit), the strength to run those steep downhills, and the courage to go beyond into the unknown.
The first trail run that I can remember in Bicol was the Mayon Trail Run. I was part of it’s 3rd edition held last October 24, 2010. All I thought was that running on trails was just simple and easier than road, found out afterwards that trail running is different and something more special. The rest is history and I got hooked with trail running.
Simurai Runner 2019 opened the doors again in Bicol for trail running. If you ask me what Simurai is for me? Simurai is ONE HARD and TOUGH Race but all those hardships paid us with the most scenic views at its peak. Mt. Isarog looking at us from the North, Mt. Asog staring from the East, a glimpse of Lake Bato on the South and Baao Lake on the West.
Photo taken by RD Cyrus Belmonte of Runconada.
The race is composed of 50% Road and 50% Trail, Race directors Ghil Centeno and Bon Gonzales III composed the route of the race and leading runners into the world of running trails. A great start for runners on road who wants to have an experience in trail running. It’s not easy to switch from road to trail but it takes GUTS to do trail running. STRENGTH and COURAGE has always been a virtue of trail runners. You need to have the strength to endure the uphill struggle (not just physically but that little voice inside your head telling you to quit), the strength to run those steep downhills, and the courage to go beyond into the unknown.
80 runners accepted the challenge in Simurai. Some are young, some are veterans in running. Whatever your age is, trail running is for everyone.
It is with joy that I can see smiles on the faces of runners crossing the finishline. The friendship and camaraderie will never be lost forever for all of us have shared the same battle. Locked up into our hearts that WE have FOUGHT HARD and DUG DEEP for this race and NEVER QUIT until the last drop of our blood and sweat.
My RESPECT to all the finishers in this years edition of Simurai Runner! See you next year on it’s second edition.
May the trail running community here in Bicol GROW. Go out and spread the WORD of Trail Running.
Do you have the GUTS to run on the trails?
Do you have the STRENGTH and COURAGE to fight the demons inside you?
Are you READY TO GET HIGH?
OGRap 