So: Nap and Joel and their Vibram 100K

Thursday, February 23, 2012

CONGRATULATIONS, Nap and Joel, for finishing the Vibram Ultra Trail in Hong Kong last weekend in a temperature so cold that something in your lower anatomy was said to have shriveled into prunes.

You bring pride to Cebu for being among the 506 of 755 ultra runners from all over the world who hurdled 100 kilometers that passed through mountains, forests and beach sand within 32 hours. It’s OK if neither of you finished in the top three.

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Of the 506 finishers, 13 were Filipinos; of the 13, two were Cebuanos and they were Napoleon de la Torre Jr. and Joel Garganera.

Nap and Joel have run three 100Ks together—the first in Singapore in June last year, then in Cebu last November, and last weekend in Hong Kong.

Nap ran the Vibram HK 100K last year and returned this year to shave his time by four hours. He was better clothed now.

Last year, he ran the same trail in the same temperature in a sleeveless shirt. He usually runs shirtless and bares his wings. So for the first time in his life last year, Nap heard his teeth chatter and found himself uncontrollably making faces. Fortunately, a fellow runner gave him an emergency blanket to keep himself warm.

With more clothes on now, Nap finished Vibram HK 100K 2012 in 18 hours 13 minutes and 21 seconds. He got a silver trophy, given to those who finish in 16 to 20 hours. “Just as I wanted,” he beams.

Joel, on the other hand, contended with running in three to six degrees in borrowed clothing. His thermal shirt and windbreaker were so drenched from sweat that by the time he reached mid-route at 52K, he was chilled to the bone and feeling sick. Unlike Nap, Joel was running his first trail race and 100K at that.

For the first time, the guy known as The Serial Marathoner contemplated quitting a race. He had run for almost 10 hours now. It was 6 p.m. and the temperature was dropping. The next checkpoint or pit station was 13 kilometers away uphill.

Feeling lightheaded and cold, Joel rested and prayed for enlightenment and strength. A checkpoint volunteer offered him a shirt and one of the organizers lent him a windbreaker.

The fresh top and encouragement from the checkpoint crew revived Joel’s sagging spirit. He got up and ran again.

The Vibram 100K is no ordinary trail race. It’s run in steep mountains with descents that lead to a beach and then back in the mountains. The route has an elevation gain of 4,500 meters with the highest altitude at almost 1,000 meters above sea level. It is held during the coldest time in Hong Kong.

Only the hardcore run this; only the craziest of runners do this; only the finishers experience being “ordinary people being extraordinary.”

Ryan Sandes of South Africa finished this year’s race in three minutes shy of 10 hours! Incredible! He broke last year’s time of 11 hours.

At 10 hours, Joel had just finished 52K. In less than 10, Ryan was done! When Joel crossed the finish line in 25:58:58, he was too ill to think of anything but a comfort room.

Nap, wrapped in an emergency blanket and still feeling good after the race, waited for Joel at the finish line.

Going by the numbers, Nap was the 184th finisher overall and 167th in the men’s category. Joel was 440th overall and 375th in the men’s. Among the Filipino runners, Nap was fourth and Joel 11th.

There can be no crazier Cebuano runners than Nap and Joel who had dragged me to run with them in the mountains of Toong and Pamutan in Cebu City. I gave up after two days.

The first Pinoy crossed the finish line in 15:09:34 and was 189th overall; the last to make it to the cutoff of 32 hours came in 27:43. Hugs to all Pinoy Vibram 100K finishers.