Mayon trail run tackles global warming

By Ephraim Aguilar

Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Allan Ballester looked straight at Mayon Volcano’s amazing peak as he treaded a trail.

Ballester, 34, is one of those who took part in the first Mayon Trail Run (MTR) in Albay Sunday. The event was part of an awareness campaign against global warming.

More than 150 runners negotiated a shaggy hill laden with manmade obstacles, a river crossing, and a pile of volcanic rocks in the 5-kilometer fun run and 18-km adventure foot race.

The race was organized by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) and Northface, an international brand of sports apparel and outdoor equipment. JCI is a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs whose members are more popularly known as Jaycees.

Even for the most experienced runners, some of them holding national and international titles, the MTR was one of the most grueling and unusual races.

The race started from the Peñaranda Park in the city to the top of Ligñon Hill in Daraga town, then down to a newly created back trail traversing the Yawa River to the Bonga Gully, one of the main pathways of volcanic debris swept by heavy rains.

Reaching the lava front, the racers made a U-turn and climbed back to Ligñon.

In his 14-year running career, Ballester said it was only in the MTR that his race plan became erratic.

“In my past races, I would stick to one race plan till finish. But here, I had to change it because the trail was packed with unexpected challenges in every segment,” he said.

The race also required great endurance and the application of different skills, he said.

“I just kept looking at Mayon’s peak as it felt like the sandy and rocky trail never ended. We had to climb rough terrain and slippery wooden stairs, and cross a river,” Ballester said shortly after he crossed the finish line.Continued...

"I had the opportunity to visit Albay and I was really captivated by the Mayon Volcanoe. It has really a perfect cone. I just can't imagine the artistic hands that made it. It's really unbelievable."