It was indeed insane.
The “Insane Tour” - is an annual event organized and hosted by the Alliance of Mountain Trekkers and Adventures or famously known as “AMTA”. It is usually held every last Saturday of November and the 2016 event is their 15th times. The goal is for the participants (members and quest) to tour around the island of Cebu by mountainbike taking its coastal road, from Minglanilla towards northern part of the island and then head down south before going back to Minglanilla, in a shortest possible time. Considering that members had their respective comfort zones, teams were created which by then was the Warriors, Phoenix, Gurkha and the Expendables.
My first attempt – 2015 insane tour, “failure”.
Comes the last years event. As early June of 2016, the EXPENDABLES (my team) started our practice. At first it was “RIDE LESS, DRINK MORE BEER” moments, to which I rarely joined the “ride” part and frequently the joined latter, in each and every occasion. We were, as if, getting ready for war, we formulated strategies, techniques and even organized a counterterrorism (idiom) program, seemingly designed for foreign and domestic threats; thus, the creation of the “Expendables Elite”, their mission was to conquer within the shortest TIME possible and for the remaining members, our only goal is simply the to “FINISH”. Time had come that it was “ALL RIDE, NO DRINK” situation, only that, I was still in the “drink more” mode. I barely joined practice rides, and if I did, I either I finished last or won't finished at all.
In all honestly, it once came to my mind not to join the tour for lack of practice, lack of confidence, lack of motivation and the absence of almost every essential qualifications of a tourer had to possess. I was very skeptical about joining and, thus, I missed practice rides because of such low self esteem feeling. I told my family and teammates (closest friends) on how I felt about everything and how I look myself down in this line of sport called biking/cycling. That the sport isn't for me and I rather be playing badminton (my sport before cycling and I'm good at it, so to speak). Despite everything, my family and friends never gave-up on me. Luckily, they never did. My friends shared their heartwarming advises and motivational stories, made me feel that I am not expendable to the “Expendables” and that I'm as important as any other member of our team. They made me believed that I deserved to be called a “Tour Master” and that they needed my positive emotional state as their morale booster. My family, on the other hand, never loose hope, they encouraged me to join the tour and that they will support me all the way, no matter what.
One day, in all of a sudden, my heart was pounding, my mode was set on a different perspective and my willpower was incredibly different. I was excited, I was determined and motivated to join the tour, full of hopes, and not just to join but to finish.
Since, it is physically impossible for me to practice everyday with my bike, due to work and with the limited time I had. On 15 September 2016, I enrolled in a fitness gym and ask for a program, not for muscle building, but rather, specifically designed for strength and stamina. Together with my officemate, everyday, after office, we went to the gym to workout. It was hard and painful at first, but eventually, I got used to it. I played badminton, basketball and/or run if given a chance, for cross-training and ride my bike even alone during week-ends.
Comes the dawn of 26 November 2016, the moment of truth and the trill is on. The passion of insanity has began. As I was preparing for the real deal, I took time to ask myself “Am I ready for it?” and I bravely answered “YES I am” with full of confidence. Yes I am ready, emotionally and mentally ready. Even spiritually, having attended a mass at Sto. Niño the day before, seeking God's blessing and protection against any kind of harm along the way. However, the question as to whether or not I am physically ready, remains unanswered.
My tools and necessary equipments were ready, my things, provisions, vitamins, medicines and power boosters were al ready and my most of all my wife's GIANT mountain bike was ready. Everything were ready and all are set to go.
Saddle... I heard a commanding voice, after the prayer, and then at exactly 4:08 in the morning the INSANITY had begone. About 40 ATMA riders and guests pedaled gently towards north of Cebu. Our team maintained a normal pace until we reached Catmon and had our breakfast. With no time to waste, were back immediately in the saddle, passed Bogo, under the blustering heat of the sun, down to Astorias, where we had to take a short rest and eat our early lunch. As we were approaching Toledo City, we encountered strong and heavy rains, but we never let the treacherous rain get in our way, not until we had to stop for our dinner. Next was the killer climb of Aloquinsan to Mantalungon (Barili), from 7 team members, we were down to only 4. That time, we were already exhausted, tired and our butts hurt so much, literary “i had a pain in my ass”. But the four of us were so determined, like nothing can stop us from achieving our goals. Pedaling through the night, in a very slow pace, we arrived at the beautiful Allegria, where we had to took an hour rest and waited for the comfort rooms to open. After our bathroom brake, we then continued our journey/agony, passed Santander, where we had our breakfast, then to the rolling road of Oslob, where the sun shines bright to our direction. I was desperately riding alone starting from Boljoon, after I had a flat tire, down to Alcoy (where my group waited me for lunch). From then, I, unknowingly, was left behind by the group as all the others went ahead of me, because I was then very weak already. Now comes Carcar, a very dangerous 40kms left (more or less) to the finish line. My fatigue and tiredness already defies any description. I could no longer control my balance, I was hungry, but my appetite doesn't seemed to care, I vomited due dehydration and as a result I was disoriented and felt like I was floating in the air. The possibility of collapsing and passing-out is quite high and imminent. But despite all the potential risk, I kept myself composed as gently pedal my way towards the end. Next thing I knew I was already at the AMTA station at exactly 6 o'clock in the afternoon of 27 November 2017 (Sunday) with an official record of 38 hours of insane biking with no sleep. As I've reach the finish line, I immediately grab my wife, hug her tight with tears in my eyes and told her that “It was indeed insane” and I was more than insane to ever tried it, that I had enough and will never do it again.
From that moment and until present, I felt thankful to God, to my Family for the support and motivation, to my AMTA Family and to Team Expendables, for without them, I could not have experienced such an Insane thing and there would be no stories for me to tell.
Until my next tour, which remains to be unseen.
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