The male conquerors of Mount Apo: tales from the race
The Mount Apo Sky Race in Santa Cruz, Davao sul Sur, is supposed to be celebrating its 5th anniversary this coming 25 April. The corona virus epidemic has, unfortunately, thrown a spanner in the works. The event has been postponed upon governmental order to a new date later this year, which will be announced before the end of March. The Mount Apo Sky Race is an iconic event in the Philippines because Mount Apo is the highest peak of the country at 2954m above sea level. Situated near the coast and Davao, the biggest city on the large southern island of Mindanao, the higher slopes of the mountain als offer amazing vistas of the surrounding region. Mount Apo captures the imagination, not only for local and Filipino trail runners, but also from those across the Asian continent. Climbing the mountain is very tough in its own right, and having to do it as part of a trail race that has developed into a 100K ultra is a challenge for everyone at each single attempt. Moreover, the area is sensitive and not always open for hikers and tourists. Being part of a field of maximum 100 runners on the 100K category is already reason to be happy for many. Time to take a look back at the Mount Apo Sky Race and those runners who have managed to crown themselves as race champions since its inauguration in 2015. Ten days ago we put the spotlight on the women, today in this second episode, we focus on the four men who conquered the Mount Apo Sky Race: Jonathan Pido (2015), Pablo Diago Gonzales (2017), David Gianelli (2018) and Ronie Torlao (2019). But first, we talk to the founder and race director, Mr Doi Calbes.
By Kris Van de Velde
Romualdo Calbes, better known as Doi Calbes, is the founder of Vertical 2 Sky based in Davao and has been organising quite a number of trail running events on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines for quite some years by now. Calbes runs himself, too. He is an ATM Grandmaster since 30 September 2018 and has a particular taste for the really long ultra distances.
ATM: What brought you on the idea to set up the Mt Apo Sky Race in 2015?
Calbes: All I want was to bring the sport of trail running here to Mindanao, to prove that mountain running exists and it is possible to do it.
ATM: Mt Apo is usually closed for tourists. Is that still the case, and how did you get the approval to hold the race back then? Yup! Every Holy Week in the month of April Mt. APO Sta Cruz trail is closed for tourist and hikers, and its only open for the race. Thanks to the LGU Sta Cruz & PAMB DENR for letting us to use the National Park at least a day or two for the event.
ATM: What are the technical difficulties of managing this race?
When it comes to technicalities it is 100% loveliness. But of course, three days without sleep has never been enough to manage this race. I am always thankful for all the support from the Local Government, volunteers, rescue teams, and the local tribes around Mt Apo.
ATM: The 100k race is limited to 100 runners. What is the main reason for that? Do you think this number can be increased in the future?
The main reason to limit the participants is to minimize the impact to our National Park. I think 100 runners is enough, it is also what makes this race prestigious and special. Getting in is tough, let alone winning it.
What is the local response to the short distance categories?
Yes, no sweat for them locals running on a short distance, for them 50k is the new 5k, haha! 100k and other ultramarathon distances are really mainstream now a days. We have had different winners on the long distance every year, both in the male and female category.
Is there any winner who stands out for you as the “most impressive”?
Yup! Torlao .
What do you expect of the race this year? Still awesome and lovely even though we a have an issue around the globe with this virus. We will have a meeting with all local stakeholders in the course of the next two weeks and come up with a new date, hopefully. We welcome everyone and are aiming for a huge success. See you all soon at the starting line!!
2015: Jonathan Pido
“A 100% YES that I saw myself as a potential race winner”
Jonathan Pido was the winner of the inaugural editon of the Mount Apo Sky Race. “It was promoted as a major event,” says Pido. “I gladly joined as the trail route was really challenging but also had beautiful views. A 100% YES that I saw myself as a potential winner, too! At the start I was only 10th in rank in the first few kilometres of the race, but then as it went on, I was able to slowly get ahead of the others and eventually I was the first one to cross the finish line. I remember as I reached the summit it was very cold, but despite that I was able to witness an amazing, beautiful view that Mt. Apo gives us.”
Pido’s victory had a deeper meaning also for him: “Aside from being able to truly appreciate the nature around me, I became a nature lover as they say, I was also able to prove to myself that I am someone that can achieve the things that I am determined to accomplish. A conqueror of different obstacles that I am confronted with, and finally, I became a Certified Trail Runner that day. “
If given an opportunity, Jonathan Pido would happily run the Mt Apo Sky Race again, five years after his glory day. But Pido is a busy bee and does not restrict himself to trail running in his free time. “ After I won the 2015 Mt. Apo, I participated in several local competitions and was able to place first in for example Mt. Kalatungan Trail Challenge, The Punisher on Babak Samal, and three times the Mapawa Trail Run. I was also able to participate in an international event. Aside from trail running, I also participate in Ultramarathon Road Events and became champion in 50km, 80km, 100km, 260km, 300km, and 400km events. Right now I am focusing mainly on Triathlon, and especially the Iron Man type events.
2017: Pablo Diago Gonzales
“ I definitively place Mt Apo’s 2017 victory as one of my best sporting achievements so far. ”
“One of the things I enjoy most about trail running is discovering new places, “ says Pablo Diago Gonzales. The Spaniard works and lives in Singapore and has been a multiple race winner and podium placer across the continent in our Asia Trail Master series. He also ended the 2017 and 2018 ATM Championship seasons as 4th and 5th respectively. So far, 2017 was his Grand Cru, the year when he also won the Mount Apo Sky Race.
“ In 2017 I hadn’t done any races in Philippines yet so when I saw the event on the ATM calendar it caught my attention. It’s no secret that I enjoy mountain races, especially those involving challenging climbs and Mt Apo certainly qualifies as challenging. I also liked the fact that it was the highest mountain in the country and we were climbing it all the way from sea level. Easy logistics were a plus, luckily Mt Apo is easily accessed from Davao and I have direct flights there from Singapore.”
“At the time of the event I was slowly getting back into shape following some rest. At my previous race a few weeks before (Sungai Menyala in Malaysia) I had hit the wall very hard so I wasn’t overly confident about my fitness. I knew the mountain terrain and cooler weather would favour my strengths so I was hoping to at least have a much better day. Before the event I thought I could be a contender for the podium if everything went to plan.”
The weather turned nasty on the day with just a few hours till the start at midnight. Pablo recalls: “Before the start there was a big storm, but luckily Rene Amigleo and his family had taken me to shelter were they were staying. We got to the start with just enough time to get ready before the gun went off. The first part of the race was relatively runnable and Rexel Aguirre took off like a bullet. I stayed behind with Aleksis Capili and other runners, including a horse that didn’t allow us to overtake him for a few minutes!”
“As we continued climbing, the terrain became more technical and it was challenging to find the way in the dark especially across a couple of rivers that probably had more water than usual. I didn’t see Rexel on the way up, but when I reached the last stop before summit attack I was told that I was in the lead. Later I found out that he had missed an intersection on the way up. The boulder face was as challenging as expected, I thought I was making only slow progress, but I didn’t come across anyone until after the boulder section coming back down again, so I realized I had a healthy lead. On the way back I enjoyed crossing paths with the rest of the field (it’s an out and back course), shaking hands and even stopping for pictures with some participants. The last few km were tough, it was getting very hot and I was worried someone would come from behind so I was really relieved when I reached the finish line. “
Pablo enjoyed his moment at the summit of Mount Apo: “I took a short breather to take in the view, because the last section of the climb is hard. I got to the top in the early hours of the day and was lucky to have beautiful weather. Mt Apo is not that high but it’s very close to the coast and doesn’t have other similar size mountains around so the views are very special.”
Gonzales is a bit of an all-round athlete and has always been quite successful in competition. “I’ve been racing MTB and running since 1996 so I know how difficult it is to win any event; so the few times I’ve been in that position are very special moments. Winning a tough ultra is even more satisfying; I definitively place Mt Apo’s 2017 victory as one of my best sporting achievements so far. “
The Spaniard is one of those who enjoys returning to an event he likes. “For example, there is a MTB race in Spain that I have done 13 times, even twice when I had already moved to Singapore! So, a year after winning Apo, I went back to try and win it again, but David Gianelli and Jag Lanante were stronger on the day. This year I’m finding it difficult to plan with all the event cancellation/deferrals, Mt Apo is one of the options I’m considering at the moment and if I go I’d like to be competitive.”
2018: David Gianelli
“It was a really beautiful day. Winning was just the cherry on the pie”
Do you remember David Gianelli? Before Alessandro Sherpa entered the ATM scene, he was the first Italian making headlines in our series with a strong 100K race win in Indonesia prior to attacking the Mount Apo Sky Race in April 2018. As Pablo Diago Gonzales mentions above, two years ago the sympathetic David Gianelli was just too strong for everyone else. With hindsight, it was also his last moment of glory in trail running.
“I had always wanted to visit the Philippines,” David Giannelli says. “My girlfriend is Philipina, and the timing in April 2018 was perfect with me leaving Australia, where I had been working, around then. Going to the top of the highest mountain in Philippines was atttractive, so the choice to run was quite easy to make. But I never expected anything before a race. I never thought about the finish line until I actually crossed it, because you never knew what could happen. I can't deny that I was pretty confident after my race preparation, but I was concerned about the heat. So I went in with an open mind.
2018 was an edition that had its fair share of unforeseen circumstances. In one area of the course, political unrest developed on race day and a few runners, including Gianelli, even came face-to-face with army soldiers. “The race for me started really well. I felt good and the chilly temperature of the night really helped me to keep a good pace. I was just keeping steady behind two local runners. Thank God I had decided to stay with them at first because when we suddenly faced the soldiers, those local runners were able to communicate properly with them so there was no bigger problem and we are allowed to continue. The Apo climb then, there was some passage really steep and technical, but really nice. I don't exactly remember when I took the lead, but it was still before halfway and going up the mountain. Unfortunately, during the climb a race steward - I guess - sent me in the wrong direction so I followed the signs of another multisport competition that was taking place on the same day. I lost 20 minutes or so , so when I came back on the right trail I pushed soo much because I thought I lost some positions. For me the real challenge then started when the sun came out and started burning. I got really exhausted by the heat until I approached the summit where luckily it was slightly windy. That last part of the Apo climb was so hard that I really couldn't enjoy the beautiful view. I did it for only a few seconds and I started to descend.
Once back down the race was halted by race director Doi Calbes at the km 80 mark for security reasons. Nobody complained, and in any case David Gianelli was far ahead in the lead.
“it was a beautiful day with friends, and where I met beautiful people, with really incredible hospitality I couldn't have asked for nothing more. Winning was just a cherry on top of the pie!,” says the Italian, who reshuffled his life not long after adding his name to the Mt Apo record book.
“Today, I am in Koh Tao in Thailand. Since I started my career as a diving instructor I have given up running. After the disappointing adventure in Penang Eco 100 about a month after Apo (where he DNFd after losing the right trail but was never in contention for a podium finish, kvdv), I decided that I don't have the motivation anymore… I don't think I'll ever run a competition anymore. I may restart running but I think I'll not race anymore in a competitive way.. even though I do miss the feeling at times.” .
2019: Ronie Torlao
Pic: Ronie Torlao
“It was my first 100km race!”
Last year saw the emergence of Ronie Torlao as a new ultra force to be reckoned with in Philippines and beyond. Ronie was the fastest using his experience of the terrain as a mountain guide on Mt Apo.
“It was my dream to run a 100km trail race, not just the Mt. APO Skyrace but also other races outside the Philippines. I did not expect anything when I went to the starting area. All I wanted was to finish. I would already have been happy with that,” says Ronie Torlao. “After flag off, for the first ten kilometres I was with the 10 frontrunners. I still had no intention to lead by myself because it was my first 100km trail race ever. Koi Grey and Julito were with me. After aid station 5 around 40km, that was the time I broke away even though I felt tired and already had quite some body aches. But I was able to build a gap. Reaching the summit of Apo, I was enlightened and felt rejuvinated because there was a clear blue sky and a perfect view.”
It was indeed quite amazing that Ronie Torlao left behind an established top runner as Koi Grey in his first try at a 100k trail race. “For me it was a dream come true and it was really a great achievement to win”
Will Ronie be back to try and win it again this year? “I will try my best and hopefully I can do it again!
