Trek the TEC: Two Towers

Trek the TEC: A New Runner’s High

Not to be disgusting, but I’ve been nursing an infected wound on the back of my ankle for the past four weeks. It’s been like that because I never gave it enough time to heal before I started wearing shoes again. Anyway, last week I started taking antibiotics and had the wound drained. It would have been an activity-free weekend for me — if I hadn’t told Mr. F a few weeks ago I’d do the Trek the TEC building run-up with him. I figured that if I bandaged my wound enough, I could make it through the 90 floors we’d be climbing. Besides, it’s the first such event in the country and I wanted to be part of history.

Trek the TEC: Two Towers

Them towers sure are high, though.


An intimate crowd of just over 100 runners gathered at The Enterprise Center last Sunday. A few of them looked like running veterans, and the eventual second-placer at the event was a runner-up at The North Face 100 a week before. Most of us were just there, curious about how it’d feel to climb all those stairs. Mr. F surmised it’d be a bit like high-altitude training, especially with the lack of oxygen-rich air within those confines.

Trek the TEC: Tight Spot

Have I mentioned I’m mildly claustrophobic?

Instead of timing chips, we were provided with proximity cards. We’d be let out in batches of 50 participants, climb up and down Tower 1, cross the bridgeway to Tower 2, and swipe our cards at the finish line on the roofdeck. After all the participants have finished, the times would be compared and winners called.

Initially, I had absolutely no plans of competing. We were there just for the cardio. Right, Mr. F? But as we trudged up the stairs, Mr. F with his long legs soon outpaced me, and I had a hard time going down the steep stairwell. I was left by my lonesome, so I just wanted it to be over very badly. It felt like forever until I finally climbed the metal stairs to the roofdeck, but my watch told me it had only been 21 minutes. What?

Trek the TEC: Top of the World, Baby!

A runner’s high. Literally.

My heart was pounding, I was breathing very heavily, and it was the most unfit I’d ever felt in my entire life as a runner. But you know what? I also had a huge sense of accomplishment. High five!

We were each given a brown bag full of breakfast — an apple, a banana, a chicken wrap sandwich, a Snickers bar, and a bottle of Tiger energy drink. As I waited for the other participants to finish, I was told to stick around for the awarding ceremony. And you know what? I came in second place. Wow! What a blessing.

Race in Review

  • Route: Of course this isn’t a road race, but the route through the two buildings’ stairwells presented its own challenges. The biggest one was ventilation; the air was so thick and humid with heat and sweat that it felt like breathing through a very warm cloth. The climb was steep, and the descent was difficult. I always felt like I was just on the verge of taking a tumble. It would have gotten me to the bottom faster, though.
  • Hydration: There were water stops at the aid stations placed every few floors. Good job!
  • Package and Freebies: For 395 pesos, you participate in a history-making event, have breakfast, and get a great leg workout. I’d say that’s a great package! No goodie bags, but the organizers raffled off so much stuff it felt like everyone went home with something.

The organizers have promised a repeat of the event next year — and we participants might all be given sure slots then. I say, OUCH! and BRING IT ON! I give this race FOUR KIKAY PINKIE FINGERS out of FIVE.

About Noelle De Guzman

Noelle De Guzman is a freelance writer and recreational athlete with over 12 years of experience in fitness and endurance sport. She believes sport and an active healthy lifestyle changes lives.

6 thoughts on “Trek the TEC: A New Runner’s High

  1. wow interesting. how many were there per batch? did it feel too crowded at some point?total workout for the leg muscles. im sure it will do wonders for your race speed.congrats on the 2nd place finish! galing!

  2. Calvin, there were two batches of 50 participants, then a batch of 20 participants. Since I was in the lead of the first pack, I always had lots of space on the stairwell. I'd be occupying the same flight of stairs with a maximum of three people (men, since I was first woman in my batch).I wouldn't give this too much credit for any speed I develop. I'd have to do it much more regularly than once a year for it to make a difference. 🙂 Thanks!

  3. that seemed like a great new experience! 🙂 i'm sure i would've enjoyed it too. congrats AGAIN for a podium finish! 😀 why am i not surprised? 😛 hehe

  4. Hi Noelle,Congrats on your podium finish! Good luck on your marathon training.See you on the road!Ray

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