Whenever I have to treat a foreign guest, I usually take them to Tagaytay Highlands and an onward visit at the Taal Volcano. On 26Dec09, my family have to host our friends from New York and given the opportunity for a different running venue, I decided to run the Taal volcano trail route from "Tabla Boat Station" all the way to "Taal Volcano viewing deck".
The distance will be less that 2.5km one way, but, will require a rapid ascent of 771 feet for the distance. The trail route is powdery dust and constantly used by horses being used to haul tourist from the boat station to the viewing deck. The horse ride cost P500.00 plus tip to the horse handler.
My party arrived at the Flamengo Resort at Talisay at around 10:30am. After dressing up for running with hydration belt secured, we immediately took the 20 minute boat ride to Tabla boat station at Taal Island/volcano. Upon reaching the island, I just turnover my guests to the resort guide to provide them with their horse transport to the viewing and I was on my way to my Taal Volcano Trail Run.
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Dressed in running gears and with trail shoes fitted, I started my run at 11:18am as expected, the ascent was not only back breaking, but, very dusty and most of the time you have to compete with the horses for the right of way as the trail on certain areas can only accommodate single passer either those ascending or those descending. Further, although running is faster than the horses speed, it is difficult to force your way and bump the horses aside they being robust and stronger than you are. Although it was almost midday the temperature was not that bad as it was somewhere on the 30 degree C.
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00h24m27s after I accomplished the 771 feet climb with a distance of 2.22km. I arrived the viewing deck way ahead of my guests so I had to wait for them before taking our photo opportunity at the viewing deck. Having satisfied with the needed rest, I again begged my guests to start ahead in the descent and will meet them at the boat station later.
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The descent although does not require much strength was more dangerous that the climb as the trail is slippery and you need to be precise where to land your foot. It does also require you to apply constant foot brakes with the trail horses on the opposite side. The descent took me only 00h18m04s for a distance of 2.16km. Overall the run covered 4.38km in 00h42m31s for an elevation rise/fall of 771 feet and burning 442 kCal in the process.
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The run is short in distance but the elevation, route and scenery more than compensates for the trill and excitement the run generates. I strongly recommend this experience run for those who will one day find themselves visiting the volcano. Do not take the horse ride, instead run the distance and save yourselves the P500.00 cost.
