Virgin TRAIL RACE 10K
Every trail runner has an “origin story.” Mine involves a banyan tree, a bad case of overconfidence, and a cramp that humbled me faster than I could say “aid station.”
This is the story of my very first trail race: the Merbabu Sky Run 10K.
The Start Line Jitters
I stood under the giant banyan tree at the starting arch, arms crossed, sunglasses on, trying very hard to look like I belonged there. Truth is, I had no idea what I was doing. Around me, hundreds of runners were doing that pre-race shuffle — stretching, adjusting vests, checking watches — and I just stood there thinking, “Is it too late to back out?”
Spoiler: it was. The gun was about to go off, and there was no un-signing-up from this one.
Mistake #1: Going Out Like It’s a 100m Dash
If there’s one thing every trail veteran will tell a rookie, it’s this: pace yourself. I did not do that.
The moment the race started, adrenaline took over completely. I bolted out with the front pack like I was chasing a podium finish, not realizing I had roughly 10 kilometers and 429 meters of elevation gain waiting for me. By the 500-meter mark, my legs were already asking questions my brain didn’t have good answers to.
Lesson learned: trail running rewards patience, not enthusiasm.
Mistake #2: The Cramp That Came Out of Nowhere
Somewhere on the climb, right around a water station, my body decided it had had enough of my nonsense. A sudden, sharp cramp hit — the kind that stops you mid-stride and makes you question every life choice that led to this moment. One second I was moving, the next I was hunched over, massaging my calf like it personally owed me money.
That water station became an unplanned pit stop. I drank, I stretched, I questioned my training plan, and I stared at the rolling green hills around me — genuinely beautiful, even through the haze of muscle pain.
The Long Walk Home
After that cramp, running wasn’t really an option anymore. So I did what any sensible rookie would do: I walked. All the way to the finish line, I walked. Not the heroic, dramatic finish-line sprint you see in race highlight reels — just a slow, steady, slightly limping walk under the Central Java sun.
And you know what? It didn’t matter. When I crossed that finish line — 03:26:56 net time, 493rd overall out of the pack — I was smiling for real. Sweaty, sunburnt, cramped, but genuinely happy.
What I Actually Learned
- Nerves are normal. Everyone at that start line was nervous, even the ones who looked like they weren’t.
- Pacing is a skill, not an instinct. My legs learned this the hard way so my brain wouldn’t forget it.
- Cramps happen, and they’re not the end of the race. Sometimes you just have to walk it out — literally.
- Finishing is finishing. Whether you run it, jog it, or walk the last few kilometers, crossing that line still counts.
Final Thoughts
Merbabu Sky Run wasn’t fast, and it definitely wasn’t graceful. But it was mine — my first taste of trail running, my first finisher’s certificate, my first “why did I sign up for this” moment turned into a “when’s the next one?” moment.
Because here’s the thing about trail running: it humbles you on the trail and then makes you sign up for another one anyway.
Next stop: Siksorogo Lawu Ultra 15K. Let’s see what Mount Lawu has in store.
📍 Merbabu Sky Run 10K — Sept 7, 2025 — BIB 1067 — Net Time 03:26:56