MARK BRIAN “KOI” GREY
Facebook.com/silangangmansaka
Koi is a hiker, an avid mountain biker and trail runner. He joined his first trail race at the Merell Adventure Run in 2010 and was lured into it; eventually joining a 50 Mile trail race at CM50 and a 100Mile Trail Race at Hardcore 100.
He considers the "4M" as the most memorable race. It is an invitational underground race hosted by a mountaineering group, ADUANA to celebrate their 4th year anniversary. The race mainly composed of running in the mountains and biking in between of 4 summits from Batangas to Laguna. “We biked to and from the towns of Cuenca, Lipa and Sto. Tomas, Batangas then Laguna to reach the trail jump off and run out and back to the summit of Mount Maculot, Mount Malinpuyo, Mount Manabu and Mount Makiling. It was a memorable one for me because the race fits me well. It provided a competition for what i love to do such as riding a bike and running in the mountains.”
The most significant hike/run for me is the CGT or Cordillera Great Traverse, not only as an athlete but as a human being. It was the trek of the Cordillera spine. It changed me more than an athlete. There were so many learning right from the very beginning of reconnaissance as we retraced the old paths until the stage of adaptation – knowing the locals’ way of living; the mountains/ provincial/ regional boundary dispute; cultural conflicts and history of their civilization. Lastly, but definitely not the least, the 3-day trek from Conner, Apayao to Kalinga is momentous in my whole mountaineering career. We were off-the-grid for 3 days, trekking in the woods from the boulder of Apayao, Abra until we reached the Kalinga via border traverse to Kalinga. It was the toughest part and most unharmed section of the entire Cordillera Great Traverse. Fortunately, we successfully traversed the Cordillera Mountains in 18days accumulating of 350+km crossing 6 provinces and city of Baguio of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
His goal this year is to finish my H1 for the 3rd time H1 and CM50 for the 5th time. I consider both as the toughest trail ultramarathon in the Philippines that I do not want to miss joining. If blessed with a kind-hearted sponsor who will support me for another international race, then I would like to join International races.
I saw a friend using Simple Hydration Bottle. It was “love at first sight”. Simple hydration simply fits my needs. - I love to run in the mountains in a simple way. I usually use Pet Bottles because it’s light and small but not environmentally friendly. Before, I don’t see a bottle which is very handy. Most often, the water bottles are big and come with a strap which makes it heavier to bring. Just like my own personality, Simple Hydration is versatile and simple and has no fancy straps; not so big and light as usual but very reliable. This is really helpful in trainings and good for short distance running and for longer distances running, Simple Hydration can be easily placed in hydration vest..
ORDER YOUR SIMPLE HYDRATION BOTTLE NOW AND RUNSIMPLE LIKE KOI. Enter Koi15 on your Order Form for 15% discount. Discount is valid until May 8.
