Sidelights: Vaseline Men XTERRA Trail Run

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend will not be complete without the Vaseline Men XTERRA Trail Run.

Done as a prelude to the Vaseline Men XTERRA Offroad Triathlon, the trail run drew about 500 participants, foreigners and locals alike, done in an equally challenging terrain with a beautiful backdrop of the Camotes Sea in scenic coastal Cebu town called Liloan.

The trail run was divided into three categories--the 21-kilometer run and 10km and 5km races.

The Filipinos, especially the townfolks, are expected to cheer and support their local heroes in challenging the formidable foreign casts that included the vaunted Africans, some European and American expatriates, a couple of South American participants, and representatives from neighboring Asian countries like Japan and China.

In the end, it was the Kenyans who dominated it all.

Kenyans Abraham Missos and Douglas Muite, both fixtures in local races with a deluge of Africans flying in and out of the country to compete in races here, were unchallenged in the men’s 21km run completing a one-two finish in the event where they were expected to win easily.

After the fog of doubt dissipated, the 30-year-old Missos, he with the long legs and gigantic strides, came in, proved too much for everyone and breezed through the finish line with a relatively quick time of an hour, 14 minutes and 49 seconds.

A litte over a minute later, there came countryman Muite, who strode and checked in at second place in 1:15.50 underscoring the Kenyan’s domination of the meet sponsored by Alaska Milk, 2XU, LBC, The Philippine STAR, Summit Water, Timex, Gatorade, Prudential Guarantee, Air Phil Express, MultiSport, Studio 23 and David’s Salon and venue host Amara with the support of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco as hosts.

The best the Filipinos could offer was a proud BonifacioMonjas, who came in at third in 1:16.37, which is not bad considering that he is faced with Kenyans who are used to high-altitude training.

“It’s a little bit challenging compared to regular, on-road races but I did well,” said Missos, a native of Nakuni town in Rift Velley province back home who is staying in Cebu with a friend and University of San Carlos marine biology student Wilfred KibiwotTuitoek.

It was no different in the women’s side as Brazilian Andrea Bess reigned supreme in the division in 1:52.24, edging Manila-based Irish woman Aileen Breen, who finished second in 1:52.55.

And both women said this is one of the best and most challenging races they’ve participated in.

“I’ve done so many races and this one’s for sure is one of the most difficult ones I did, it was an amazing feeling winning this particular race,” said Bess.

“It was definitely one of the most challenging and memorable races I’ve done,” said Breen, who ran with her right elbow on a brace following a biking accident a few months back in Manila.

Cebu pride Merlita Dunkin, who gave up teaching to focus on racing, emerged the best Filipina finisher by timing in 1:57.35 to represent not just the province but the country as well.

“This one’s for my provincemates,” she said.

JasphatKiptanui made it a triple celebration for Kenya, who ruled the men’s 10km races in 49.24 while Madelyn Carter topped the distaff side in 57.56.

Rachel Tan and BatangPinoy gold medalist John Cliff Debulosan of Cebu topped the 5km events in 18:37.10 and 14:39.08, respectively.

Senator PiaCayetano, a familiar face in the local running and triathlon scene, also participated and made a good account for herself. She used that as a warm up to the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon the next day and also made a big impression.

Alaska Milk Corp. president and CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr. a veteran of many races including several Ironman competitions this time took the role as race organizer focusing on the how the race went since this year’s race course was more challenging than last year’s XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon.