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U/TREKarera:
The 1st Ever Adventure Race
by Abner Gunnacao
Utrekarera,… this is the first ever adventure race
created just for the members and initiates of the club. This
has been running in the previous officer mind but the work
to be done for such activity as this event to push through
was enormous. What your about to read are from my teams own
account (perspective) on what happened during the race.
Teams and their members:
Team E! - Abner-02, Carlo-initiate, Daisy-initiate
Team F3 - Philip-adopted, Bong-98, Eleza-98
Team Quantum - George-02, Terg-03, May-03
Team Swabe - Rory-02, Luv-00, Leya-02
Team RAC-Shockers - Toping-97, Arnel-initiate, Rhea-initiate
This event was first opened up to us by Judith in our officers
meeting last February. Since we conduct our sports fest every
September, Judith said she would like to do this event just
for a change. She is not sure if this would click to the members
or anybody would join, but we are going to push this through
what ever happens. Although Art, John, Jerick, George and
I were interested in joining, we still decided that all officers
should not participate as racers but as marshals only. We
opened up this event to the club during the general assembly
but we only heard a few people who were interested. When we
watch the Makiling challenge in Laguna where the club participated,
George and I become very interested in joining our very own
adventure race. Come first week of September still a few people
would want to join the race. Only 2 teams were known to join
the race. During the pre Pre-Clean-up meeting in our home
base (Cocolife Building), we were still asking who were joining
the race. Judith also said that even if we were officers and
still want to join its ok since 5 teams should be assemble
for the race to continue, thus we did join. John, a member
of the race committee, what would you call that… forced
us to create a team. I would like to join the race but I still
don’t have teammates and the gears. John pointed our
Daisy and Carl to me as my team mates to create Team E!. At
first I was borrowing a mountain bike from Toping when suddenly
he (together with Arnel and Rhea) created Team RAC Shockers,
so I borrowed John and Art’s mountain bike. My team
was a bit intimidated by the runners team… Team Quantum
(composed of George, May and Terg), then were heard about
Bong composing also his team, Team F3, but the other members
were still not mentioned to us. Also, there’s Team Swabe
by Rory, Luv and Leya (well, Jerick was one of the original
members but he had an accident (broken wrist) during their
basketball tournament so he was replaced by I don’t
whom by Luv or Leya). Days before the race, I’ve been
having a problem gathering our (borrowed… hydration
packs and bladders) gears, specially the mountain bike since
both John and Art’s house were in Paranaque and Cavite
(respectively). I don’t know how are we going to get
their bikes, so we were looking for others who’s living
somewhere near or in Makati. When I tried to contact Philip,
he said he is also joining the race and asked me to contact
Rico who’s bike is also not OK. I also tried to borrow
a helmet from Philip but he is also going to use it but he
has another helmet.. he is giving me his scooters helmet (he
he heh.. ang bigat nun eh). Also another problem came when
I’ve learned that Art and John would be using the their
bikes on during race since they are marshals, luckily John
has spare another bike to lend. I called John that I’m
going to his house in Paranaque and get his bike early morning
on the race day itself since we have a few time left. So at
the race day, I went to John’s house in Paranaque to
get the bike.
The race call time was 8:am in Paraiso ng Batang Maynila
Public Park near Manila Zoo, and race time was 8:30 am. But
the race started at 8:45am, a 15 minute race briefing for
the race participants. The rule was that we will be given
some route into (clue) on how to get to the CP and next CO
but before we could do that we have to first finish that CP’s
challenge. The first CP was inside the Manila Zoo, looking
for 3 flags on 3 animal’s cages. We were able to find
out first flag but what I thought was that were not going
to get and collect but just to list down the locations of
the flags where they were seen. When Carl and I got near the
flag, he said we were supposed to get it so we did (but the
other team, Team Quantum got their flags and even the other
teams flags,… Team Swabe and Team F3's flags, and so
I thought he he heh... mahihirapan ang team Swabe at F3 nito
maghanap, he he heh) and then we proceeded to the next locations
of the flags. The first to complete this activity was Team
RAC Shockers. Third flag was very hard to find, so we had
to split up to cover more area, but when Daisy and I found
it we also had a hard time looking for Carl to informed him
that we now have all the three flags, still were able to finish
this a few minutes after Team RAC Shochers so we reported
to the CP and got our next clue. We proceeded to the second
CP, which was also inside the Manila Zoo,.. the activity was
paddling/boating (only two members were to paddle the boat)
and collect our flag... again. We were having a hard time
doing the paddle because Carl was in front and I was at the
back but were able to overcome it (did ba Team Quantum...
he he heh). At the middle of it we decided that Carl and I
should be at the back thus we were able to move the boat well
enough. Then we proceeded to the next CP. The next CP was
in RMSC (Rival Memorial Sports Complex) for a swimming (relay),
but since the guard said the the swimming pool is used by
the UAAP for their swimming finals competition (lucky for
us since one of us (Daisy) is not got at swimming which might
give us a slack and would force us to have some catching up
later on the course of the race), it was changed into a 100-meter-dash
relay (actually hindi nga dash kasi hingal na nga kami sa
katatakbo mula Manila Zoo hangang dito so pa-jog na lang namin
ginawa.. he he heh). There Team Swabe came behind us and I
heard that Team Quantum were still looking for their flag...?...
We proceeded to the next CP, which is the corner of Vito
Cruz and F.B. Harizon. There we had a numerical puzzle as
our next activity. GOTOHANSACCP.. We thought its "go
to Hansa CCP" so I ask is there a Hansa at CCP than Daisy
said "Alam ko na,... GOTOHAN SA CCP" and then we
run again to CCP. At the CCP, again we were having a hard
time looking for the next CCP because there are many Gotohan
stores there. We first went to the stores near the Boat Terminal,
and then we proceeded to the stores near Start City where
we were able to find them (the next CP). Next CP’s activity
was an ala-Fear Factor challenge because here you’re
going to eat a bowl of Got, a Ballot, and a Corn on a stick.
We were able to catch up with Team RAC Shockers, but they’re
almost finish with the eating challenge. While we were eating,
I've learned that Daisy does not eat the Chick Embryo of the
Balut so I got the Embryo and mixed it to her Goto so that
she could not taste it and also our stomach is still full
be cause we ate our breakfast that morning. There Team F3
were also able to catch up with us. God they are fast when
it comes to eating (but Bong was having a had time eating
his Corn on a Stick!....). Team F3 and our were able to finish
the challenge at the same time. Together with Team F3 we proceeded
to the next CP, which is 10 meters away. Next CP's challenge
was a bike (with sidecar) challenge,.. not an ordinary challenge,..
here the female will be driving the bike while the males are
riding long with her on the sidecar. Carl and I know that
is a bit difficult for Daisy thats why we were trying to make
ourselves light (light ha… kahit na kakakain lang naming…
he he heh) thats why we were able to have a bit of lead with
Team F3. In the middle of the bike challenge, there is another
CP and the challenge... synchronize walking. Here we are to
step on 2 planks of block of wood and try to walk at the same
time. Here we were able to catch up again with Team RAC Shockers
because they were having a hard time doing the activity while
for us it was a chicken feed... he he heh!.... When we arrived
at the bike CP they said we have to do another round but now
a male will be driving the bike. Here Carl has speed up just
to make a lead away from Team RAC Shockers. We were able to
finish the bike challenge ahead of Team RAC Shockers and proceeded
to the next CP... looking for the "fightiest mayor along
the Manila Bay". I said Manila Bay very long. I told
my team that it might be near the breakwaters so our team
headed to the breakwater but were not able to find it there
(hu hu hu hu,.... nawala kami). On the way to Roxas Blvd,
we were asking ourselves what or who is this "fightiest
mayor" we’re looking for, We thought it maybe a
live person, a boat/yacht or anything. It even came into my
mind Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Galera ( ay mali... Puerto Prinsesa
pala... he he heh). Still we proceeded to the Roxas Blvd because
I told them maybe it might be along the stores on the Roxas
Blvd. And yes it is. Along the way, Team Swabe caught up with
us. Then we saw the CP. I never thought the "Fightiest
Mayor" is monument of a person not a real person,...
a live one.... he he heh. This CP's challenge was a text challenge.
Only one of each team should type a certain line about the
"fightiest mayor" written in his memoir. Here together
with Team Swabe we caught up (again for us) with Team RAC
Shockers (Arnel is still having a hard time typing his text
because he's not familiar with the Toping's cell phone,...
a Sony-Ericsson) . after a few minutes Team F3 and Team Quantum
caught up with the whole group. Team Swabe were the ones who
finished first, followed by Team F3 and then us. We proceeded
to the next CP, which is the Kilometer 0 marker. Hah, what
is that and where is it?… these are the questions we
were asking ourselves, still we run going to Luneta. We came
by into a Police out post and asked if they know where Kilometer
0 is. A policeman said it’s in Luneta. So we proceeded
to Luneta. While running Carl made a wrong step that injured
his left foot. We took a bit of rest and advised Carl to take
it easy for his foot to take a bit of rest. Here we saw the
CP and touch the Kilometer 0 marker as part of the CP 's mandatory
activity... he he heh. Here we saw Team Swabe assembling a
jigsaw puzzle, aha so that’s the next challenge... a
56-piece Jigsaw Puzzle. It took us not more than an hour to
finish this activity (di ba Team Swabe... he he heh... mahirap
ba talaga yung puzzle… he he heh). Team F3 finishes
the puzzle ahead of the group. They said that it is Eleza's
expertise, her hobby, her talent... he he heh.
We proceeded to the next CP, which is the Batanes..., hah!..
I told to myself the if this Batanes is somewhere in Espana-Quezon
Ave then it's very far if we run, but then it came into my
mind that there is a miniture map of the Philippines here
in Luneta along Taft Ave so we run again. There the next CP
is waiting. When we arrived, Team F3 has just finished the
Piko Challenge. In our team we decided that I’d be the
one doing this activity since Daisy and Carl had the bike
activity and were a bit exhausted and I know a bit about this
game. The activity was easy but it was tiring since you have
to do it twice. After finishing the challenge we proceeded
to the next CP, which is the “perched mango tree”
along Sta. Lcuia street inside Intramuros. Again, we were
not able to find the mango tree (hah,.. nawala na naman kami)
even if we were able to reach the very end of that street
since we did not turn left right away as we entered Intramuros,
so we did a back tracking. It was very hot since we have been
continuously running for more the three hours and it's in
the middle of the afternoon. Doing the back tracking we were
able to find the next CP. We did a wall climb and there we
again caught up with Team RAC Shockers. This CP's challenge
was a Picture puzzle... (puzzle na naman.. di ba Team Swabe..
he he heh). The puzzles were a bit hard since out of 12 items
we got only 7. We had 25 push-ups since 1 mistake is equal
to 5 push up (di ba Team Quantum,.. ano nga ba 45 push ups
kayo... he he heh). Then we proceeded to the next CP, the
park at the back of the Bureau of Immigration building. Here
we had another difficult challenge,... a long-distance soft
drink drinking. A first it was we were having a hard time
thinking on how are we going to reach the soft drinks since
a certain line was all we have to stand into.. but we were
able to do it. Since everyone was thirsty everyone tried to
reach the soft drink and drinks from it (teka... kami lang
daw ang team na lahat nakinom ng softdrinks ah... yan kasi
ang teamwork... he he heh). When were about to finish, Team
Quantum arrived. After this, we proceeded to the next CP,
which is in the Carriedo LRT station. There we caught up with
Team F3 still looking for the CP. When Philip asked us if
we have seen the CP we did not answer (snob,… trick
of this is do not tell anything or any clue to your opponent...
he he heh sorry Philip). So we tried to go up into the Carriedo
LRT station itself (we never taught that we are going to ride
going to the next CP) and there we found the CP. We proceeded
to next CP, which is the 7-11 store in Buendia. Inside the
LRT people were looking at us since Carl and I were a bit
wet and look exhausted. We sat on the floor. I gave the two
some chocolates since we haven’t eaten anything since
the race started except for the bowl of Goto, Balut and the
Corn on Stick during that ala-Fear Factor challenge. I gave
Carl a bandage and he put in his injured foot just to help
ease the pain and help protect his injury. In the 7-11 store
in Buendia, we found the next CP. There we got 27 pesos as
to be used to ride a bus going to Cocolife building,... there
awaits our next challenge which is a bike (relay) race and
to get rope (straw) just to make it sure that the biker reached
the turning point of the bike race. When we got at Cocolife,
Arnel is about to leave. We studied the route for the bike
and noticed that the route was a bit dangerous since you would
be going back across EDSA were buses might not notice you
and run over you. Still we asked Daisy if she could do it
and she said yes. Also, as we were discussing we decided that
Daisy should be the one to do it so that Carl and I will do
the catching up later. When Daisy left the other teams arrived
(Teams F3 and Quantum). When Daisy arrived Arnel was not yet
back. We have learned that the CP was bit hard to find and
Arnel might have lost or had a wrong turn. So Carl got next
into the bike. Still when Carl arrived the other teams bikers
(Team RAC Shockers' Arnel and Team F3's Bong) were not yet
back. So I got up into the bike and had a run for it. When
I came back and passed thru EDSA, well I was a bit nervous
since there many buses and I have to wait for a few minutes
just to make sure the there will be no buses when I crossed
EDSA going back to Buendia. Minutes later I was back at Cocolife,…
so we got our next clue and proceeded to next CP. When about
to proceed to the next CP (we're about to proceed to Velasquez
park, luckily Carl said that the basketball court we're looking
for was at the other side (muntik na naman kaming mawala,...
he he heh). At the Next CP, the basketball challenge was cancelled
because some vehicles were parking there and the guard said
we have to ask for permission first to the Building Admin.
So Judith decided to cancel it and we were advised to proceed
to the next CP,... the final CP, Velasquez Park.. the Finish
Line. But going to the final CP was not easy since our feet
were tied up to each other’s foot (Carl to the right,
me to the left and Daisy in the middle). We walked towards
the Velasquez Park with a smile on our faces since we are
at last crossing the Finish Line. At the finish line there
awaits the gang to congratulate us for being the 1st to cross
it and finish the race. A few minutes later, Team F3 came,
and Team Quantum followed by Team Swabe and last but not the
least Team, RAC Shockers.
Everyone was very happy for finishing the race,.. just like
Toping said, "We're not here to compete but to enjoy
ourselves and finish the race". After the race the whole
group (Judith and the marshals, the racers and their friends
and love ones who supported them and other members of the
club who supported this first ever adventure race of our club)
proceeded to Aling Tikang's Tapsihan (where Emer is the manager.
he he heh... mag-imbita ka sa kasl mo ha... he he heh) to
celebrate this very successful event. This includes the kainan,
the semi-advanced (kasi konti lang ipinainom nya eh) birthday
celebration of Roni and the awarding and closing ceremony.
So we in behalf of all the people who were into the race,
we would like to Judith, Art, the committee and the marshals
for giving us the opportunity to experience this kind of mind-bugling,
heart-pounding, adrenaline-rush race, to our friends and love
ones who supported and encourages us through out the race,
to John and Art and other who let us borrow their gears. to
Daisy and Carl (whom I would like to thank myself) for being
the best team mates who were willing to give their all to
finish this race and last but not the least and most of all,
we would like to thank GOD, for giving us the strength and
will to finish this race.
- a8n3r
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