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I was honestly worried about our 12km team going in without a pacer, but they proved me wrong— they had the time of their lives! Up until today, both 21km and 12km squads are still riding that post-race high. 🤙🏼

To the organizers: that course was pure trail majesty! 🔥 Hands down one of the best routes I’ve ever ran. Huge thanks for bringing GRiT 2026 to life. Turns out ladies don’t just run trails— we own them! 💪🏽🌹

Happy International Women’s Month! ✨

Thank you pud sa online talks about gear, safety, map reading, our rights as women on the trails, etc. Gamit kaayo inyong mga info, sayang gamay ra ang nangattend. Ma recommend jud toh nako. Hopefully you can organize another workshop or seminar about it kay mu attend jud ko since wla ko nka attend sa tanan online talks!

See you again next year! 😘

Again salamat GRIT Visayas Team for bringing the trail running sport here, ug sa pag showcase satong nindot na mga trails! Hoping this kickstart more trail run events here in Toledo!

A day of firsts—

First time riding a bus on my own.

First time stepping in Toledo.

First time joining a trail run without anyone beside me...

One conversation stuck with me—a local woman in her late 40s, who wanted to explore, to run, to experience more… but felt held back because her partner was insecure. And it hit me hard.

Because that’s what patriarchy looks like. Patriarchy isn’t just a big, abstract word. It’s something many women live through every day.

Patriarchy is a system where men are given more power—at home, in decisions, in freedom—while women are expected to stay small, obedient, and limited. It shows up when women are told what they can wear, where they can go, how far they can dream. It’s when a woman’s world is reduced to “what’s allowed” instead of “what’s possible.”

It’s not always loud. Sometimes it’s subtle—disguised as protection, tradition, or “love.”

But control is still control, even when it’s quiet.

Women are not meant to be caged inside expectations.

We are not born just to serve, to shrink, or to ask for permission.

We are meant to move.

To explore.

To take up space.

To run trails, climb mountains, ride buses alone, and discover who we are outside of what society tells us to be.

Kudos to the amazing organizers and everyone who made this event so meaningful and successful. Coming in alone, I didn’t expect to feel such warmth, safety, and genuine welcome, yet that’s exactly what I found. Thank you aid station hypers, lead, sweepers and marshalls that really checks on you, very patient and ensuring that you are safe and welcomed. You deserve a rest... and kulafu HAHAHA. See you sa trails!

I don't even know how we arrived at the loc still functioning after harsh ferry rides (dagkog balud ug hangin kaayu) plus the bus ride to Toledo City wasn't exactly as semi comfy and dreamy as bus rides in the probinsya. I almost lost it with how claustrophobic the bus ride was. We stepped foot at the venue sweaty, greasy (with all the abog) and beat.

BUT

We were at a new place with a lot of new people! With the festive atmosphere we were soon at our feet taking pictures and exploring the place. Plus the lovely vibe was set as soon as we get to meet other runners and organizers! Light, respected, exciting (Really really different from the last trail race we joined)

Raceday.

Handsdown jud. All those obstacles we had, were all so worth it! Di magutman with all those aid stations! I also really love how the route was set, how we were at a different mountain a moment then confused how we landed at an aid station twice and ran another mountain again! Figuring it out was fun!!! Also the variation of terrains - makes me feel like i was running a race and touring Toledo at the same time. Daghan pod pitik hue hue hue! Also we felt really safe with all the marshalls and locals cheering us along the way 🥹 And becoz of that, we were able to finnish the race before lunch time! - The very fist 21km race we finished before lunch time ✨ Congrats to us✨

Also a huge congratulations to team GRIT 2026, Congrats RD Andrea and to the whole team behind GRIT! Thank you for making this trail race an experience that challenges our strength, spirit, mukbang skills and pa posing skillz 😆 Thank You 🙌🏾✨ Next year napod .