They say trail running is a mental sport, and we’re all just a little crazy for loving it. I guess I proved that right. Because even after sore legs, muddy shoes, a strained IT band, and missing the cutoff, I wouldn’t trade my first 30KM trail run for anything.

But let’s back up a bit, because this journey didn’t start at the starting line.

As a career driven mama, training isn’t always as consistent as I wish it could be. I squeezed in road runs whenever I had the chance, about two to four times a week—usually after my shift. On weekends, I’d sneak out for a dayhike, a trail run and go chasing hills and streams, In a span of 2 months I also managed to squeeze in a major climb in Negros and a Fun Run at Lexmark in between.

Still, I knew I lacked a bit of practice. Summer came, and priorities shifted.

I went back home to spend quality time with my kids—and if you’re a mom, you know the deal. When that rare opportunity to be fully present with your children arrives, you take it. Training took a backseat.

But I still found ways to move. During my three-week stay in Guiuan, my son and I would jog together around the airport runway. Not exactly high-altitude or technical terrain, but hey—it was movement, and it was ours. We laughed, we sweat, we ran. That still counts for something.

When I returned to the city, I did my first recon weeks after the GPX file was shared. I went with Rylah, a friend from work who’s a seasoned road runner I somehow "budoled" into registering for her first MTR. I was honestly nervous about reconning with just the two of us since I wasn’t that familiar with the route. Luckily, we bumped into fellow DHT runner Gerico and his tropang “USA HEIST”—Jelly and Wayne, another work friend, Ronniel also meet us at Tubod that day.

Suddenly, I had new trail friends who welcomed me into their circle.

One meetup, one shared recon, and a whole lot of encouragement later, I felt part of something.

So to the USA Heist Runners, thank you for adopting this solo mama into your crew! We even had a race banner made the day before MTR. Because here in Cebu, race banners are a thing—and we weren’t about to miss out.

[Credits to Kierwin for the great editing skills]

Then came the big day—Minglanilla Trail Run (MTR).

The energy at the starting line was electric. During the race briefing, just 30 minutes before gunstart, Jelly and I couldn’t help but notice that most of the 30KM runners looked like elite trail athletes. I felt intimidated and started questioning why I chose 30KM over 15KM. But hey, it was just me vs. me, baby.

And just like that—gunstart.

Within minutes, I lost track of half the people I arrived with. They took off like a flash. I started running with Jelly, Rylah, and Wayne, but we all eventually found our individual paces.

Soon, it was mostly me and Jelly navigating the first few climbs. I bumped into Gerico now and then.

The intermediate cutoff was 9 hours, we had to be at Lubas Aid Station (KM 22.1) before 1:00 PM. We arrived a little past 12nn, had a quick lunch, refilled our hydration packs, and off we went. I eventually went ahead at Calbasaan, not out of competition, but survival mode.

By the time I reached Manduang Aid Station, doubt began whispering.

I was alone on the trail.
I kept checking my watch.
It was almost 3:00 PM.

I knew then that making it to the final cutoff would be tough—maybe impossible. I hadn’t recon the trail from Manduang to Kutod. I had no idea what kind of terrain was waiting—how steep, how long, how cruel. All I had were aching legs, a strained IT band on my left side, and the growing awareness that I was bleeding—Day 1 of my period had made an entrance. Perfect timing, right?

Face to Face with the Final Boss—Kutod Trail.

You think you're 4KM from the finish line and your brain goes, “Almost there!” But Kutod laughs at your optimism. It was steep, endless, and emotionally draining. The kind of trail that makes you question all your life choices, starting with, “Why am I here again?”

But every time a runner passed by me, it gave me a bit of strength, knowing I wasn’t alone on the trail. We didn’t exchange trail food or sit down for heart-to-hearts—but their presence spoke volumes. A simple nod. A “Kaya pa na,” “Duol na lang,” "Laban".

That was enough, it was just silent camaraderie, the unspoken connection of people going through the same struggle. That’s the beauty of trail running—it’s not just the mountains or the medals. It’s the people.

The strangers who become teammates for a kilometer or two. The volunteers at aid stations with cheerful faces and hands full of hydration. Oh, and let’s not forget the refreshing ice bath from Mangtas Runners & SugarPops at Katitong AS, the leg massages at Campo 8 by Sakro, and everyone who cheered even when I feel like I'm the last on the trail.

I finally reached the Kutod exit at 4:03 PM.

Photo Credits to Dakilang Laagan

The cutoff was 4:00 PM and I still had about 800 meters to go before the official finish line. Despite it all, I still pushed to finish the whole route.

Did I cry? Not visibly but the experience gave me a lot to reflect on. I didn’t get the medal, the finish line photo, or my name on the results list.

But I got something else: PROOF

Proof that I could do hard things.
Proof that I could keep going, even when everything hurt.
Proof that sometimes, the win isn’t the medal—it’s the story, the resilience, the quiet pride of knowing you gave it your all.

So yeah, it wasn’t the perfect first 30km (technically 34km lol) trail run. It was muddy, painful, confusing.

But it was real.

And in its own way, it was perfect especially after seeing the beautiful messages my kids left for me. That, in itself, was the medal. The win.

Not every goal is met on the first try.
Not every plan works out the way we draw it in our heads.

But that’s okay.
We adjust.
We grow.
We come back stronger.

MTR, I’m not done with you.
I may have missed the cutoff this time, but next year?
Next year, I’m coming back stronger, with healed legs, more miles under my belt, and that same never gonna give up attitude.

Ma. Morena is a nature enthusiast, an optimist and outgoing person who loves turning her adventure and thoughts into writing.

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ᶜʳᵉᵈⁱᵗˢ ᵗᵒ Tᵉᵃᵐ USA Hᵉⁱˢᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖⁱᶜˢ, ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵉˡˢᵉ ᵇᵉˡᵒⁿᵍˢ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ˢᵗᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳʷⁱˢᵉ. ˢᵒᵐᵉ ⁱᵐᵃᵍᵉˢ ᵐᵃʸ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ˢʰᵃʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵒᵘʳ ˢᵒᶜⁱᵃˡ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᵃ ᵃᶜᶜᵒᵘⁿᵗˢ ᵖʳⁱᵒʳ ᵖᵒˢᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇˡᵒᵍ.