Date: Jan 15, 2012
Location: Yingge (where else?)
Hares: Big Tree and German STD
Weather: Mild, overcast
Turnout: Decent
We’re now in the 3rd year of the Annual Big Tree Yingge Run and up until last Sunday they had not been pretty. So, it was with trepidation that I paid my 31NT$ and boarded the peasant train to the run. On arrival we walked to the run start, a non-descript looking parking lot populated with about 50 runners and 6 plastic shit-houses. The clouds above said rain. The lack of cover spelled misery. But, thankfully, it was all okay in the end. The weather held and the run exceeded expectations and previous efforts. They say practice makes perfect and at this rate in 2016, Big Tree will be delivering the run of the year in Yingge.
The run began by heading for the main road by way of a level crossing. We then headed onto a concrete walking path, following this for a while until coming back down to the road..mmmm. We then headed into a small complex of farmhouses nestled snugly behind a quaint, CPC Gas Station, which Dump n Run assured us had been built by the Japs in 1908. Some of us were doubtful.
In here was a check which seemed to take for ever to solve. Strange really, as the flour mark was 50m immediately to our right. The levels of retardation on the CH3 never disappoint. We were then taken up some steps onto some moderately runnable trails and then back onto road. Along the road, up again on a connecting trail, back onto road and then along to the second check, near a nice little farmhouse. This check is where the front pack got away and many of us got screwed. To solve the check, one merely had to follow the road up and round. But, no! That was way too easy for the cerebrally challenged amongst us, who decided to ascend a near vertical muddy bank, densely forested of course. By the time we got up this, the front pack were long gone- the run was now essentially split into 2 groups.
We then hit a long windy road that took us up, up, and away- indeed, this run had more elevation than the Taroko Gorge Marathon according to SDF’s Garmin- although that same gadget did tell us we had run to Siberia one Sunday, so who really knows? It was a bitch of an up anyway. As we reached the top the road leveled out and we began to run a little.
“Don’t bother, there’s more!” came the cry from CSJ. And indeed there was. After running along for about 30m, we then took an immediate turn into a forest trail that went straight UP. Due to pre-marking, the trail was clearly marked although quite what Herman was on, I don’t know. Running behind me in a daze, he watched me turn into this trail, ran over a giant turn-mark and continued down the road……..never saw him again!!
This trail took us up to a connecting hiking trail and then to some steps which afforded us some great views of the surrounding country-side, Taipei 101 and assorted authentic peasant habitations.
From here on in it was ski-time as we ran a network of trails on the ridge that were as slippy as hell.
“Wow, it’s really slippy isn’t it?” I shouted at CSJ as he slid over on his arse and then down a slope. No reply.
“Wow, it’s really slippy isn’t it” I shouted once more at CSJ as he slid over again on his arse.
“Do you really want me to answer that question?” he scowled. “Or can it just be a rhetorical question.”
“It can be rhetorical,” I mumbled.
We followed the undulating muddy trail for a while until coming to the Long/Short split. Two 1st time runners I was competing with pussied out and took the short, while I- a 42 year old with a bum-hip- manned up and did the long. This entailed a vertical ascent to the top of the ridge and then some nice forest trails.
After this, we rejoined the pussies for one last set of steps that took us up and over to our final descent back to the finish.
First man in was SDF who almost killed Rocketman and Rocketman’s Gay Lover at the level-crossing by pushing them back in front of an oncoming train. He said it was an exciting sprint finish that he won. We know better. The real sprint finish involved myself, returning runner Ari, and some other upstart- both of whom got a lesson in sprinting from ‘The Payne’.
FBI was Gaelle aka Canton Clap- although there was really no competition for her as German STD was the hare.
The Verdict
A lot of up, not many checks, muddy but a good run. Well put together, some great trails, well marked, and nice scenery. Big Tree’s best effort yet.
Mr.Titties had this to say:
“Solid run with few checks and enough hills to weed out the pack. Some fun flat trails but the grinding ups is what I will remember. Great running weather and an overall solid day out on the trail. 7.5″
The Score
Overall, I would give the run 6.5. I would have given more but a lot of road, a bit too much up- and the cardinal sin of pre-marking hurts the score.
Official Score: 7/10
Posted on January 19, 2012