HA2 1.2 – Hike Run
Like any other day, Uruba Hill lied peacefully and silently, ignoring the jungle of concrete that circled it or busy traffic around its edge. Meanwhile, some hikers were navigating through its hiking trail.
If you compared it with hiking trail around the Lake Hibino, hiking trail in Uruba Hill was much smaller in size and complexity. It had only two hiking trails and the array of woods around it were also thinner. However, it was only one kilometer away from East Nichiko High.
From the base of Uruba Hill, Hide calmly observed the first three hundred meters hiking trail. In some part, the trail had manmade steps supported by row of small bamboo stake. It also detoured around when encounter a steep slope. In summary, it was gentle trail made for urban people who wanted to enjoy nature without breaking their ankle or knee.
At the same time, Tenma and the third year girls strapped a pair of bangle just slightly above their ankles. Tenma used 200 gr bangle on each ankle, while the third year girls used 100 gr bangle.
“Do I need to put it on in my ankle too?” Hide curiously asked.
“No, you can start wearing this toy only after you complete your basic training.”
“Okay.”
“Can you use your watch as stopwatch?” Tenma asked as he got up to his feet.
“I can.”
“Good, use it to record your time.” Tenma give Hide a brand new whistle as he added, “and use this whistle in case you have accident. This whistle also a token that you are member of Hiking Club, so don’t lose it and take care of it as good as you can.”
“Okay.” As he put the whistle into his pocket Hide asked, “Do we will start the run at the same time?”
“No, running off trail in a slope is dangerous. Accident can happen just because of a slight carelessness. If we start running at the same time while we have different speed, it will be too long before we realize someone had accident,” One of the third year girls calmly explained. “And you can call me Big Sis Nao.”
Hide nodded, while the other third year girl added, “We will run one by one in same track, ten minutes interval each. The order is Nao, you, me, and Tenma. In case you had accident, try to walk to nearby trail and wait. If you can’t walk, blow your whistle as loud as you can every ten second until one of us arrive.
And you can call me Big Sis Miku.”
“Understood.”
A moment later, Nao tied her hair into pony tail and tightened the strap on her backpack. Then, she started her run. Her run was light and nimble like a deer. In less than three minutes Nao’s figure had disappeared from the view, swallowed by sea of oak trees.
Then, it’s Hide turn. Tenma immediately gave him an advice, “This is your first run, so don’t push yourself beyond your limit. Just gently introduce your body and mind to this kind of run.”
“Understood.”
“The finishing line is an open field before the peak.”
“Okay.”
Wasting no time, Hide then hit the start button on his watch before running in moderate speed. Slowly but surely, he started entering the thickest part of the woods. Then, his struggle began.
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On an off trail run, runners would have trees and obstacles scattered on their track. They have no other choice than avoid every tree, while other natural obstacle required quick but precise judgment. For example, to overcome an extremely steep slope someone with robust physical fitness would take it head on. Meanwhile, someone weaker would take a detour and have additional distance on his track.
Moreover, unlike the designated hiking trail, the surface of an off trail track was uneven and fully covered with dead leaves and rotten twig. In some area it would also had soft soil, slightly wet, and very slippery. It was really hard to get firm foothold on this kind of track.
If Hide didn’t have an extremely good sense of balance, he would already slip and rolling on the ground a few times. The other fortunate factor was, in his previous life, after he joining 1st Airborne Brigade, high speed run on an off trail and steep slope was like a meal for him. Therefore, Hide was very familiar with it and could make correct judgment for every obstacle he met.
When he encountered a 1.5 meter wall made of hard soil, Hide didn’t avoid it. He swiftly climbed it before continuing his run. When he encountered a very steep but dry slope, Hide also didn’t avoid it, but crawl on it with both hand. However, when the obstacle was a four meters high and dozens meter long rock slab, he wisely took a detour.
‘Not now, but in three weeks I will be able to climb this rock with ease,’ Hide muttered as he gave the stone wall a quick glance.
Without delay Hide continued his run. In the last 500 meters, the oak tree became rather scarce and Hide could see the finishing line. He didn’t surprise seeing Miku and Tenma had already completed their run and stood next to Nao. Then, on the last two hundreds meter, he suddenly felt as if someone was roughly gripped his lung and heart. At the same time, his legs became very heavy.
Hide had no choice but to lower his speed. In the end, he arrived on the finishing line while profusely bathing on his sweats. As his shoulder going up and down, Hide hit the stop button on his watch, and the counting stop at 32 minutes 23 seconds.
At the same time, Nao took a water canteen from her back pack and offered it to Hide, “Here, you should rehydrate your body, but don’t drink more than two mouthful or you won’t be able to run for second round.”
“Thank you, Big Sis Nao.” Hide immediately took two mouthful gulps before returning the water canteen.
“It’s hard to believe you were still running to the last moment,” Tenma said in a tone that neither a mocking nor complement.”
“Yeah, but it’s very slow like turtle,” Hide replied in a dejected tone and he didn’t fake it.
Hide was fully aware that if he compared it to when it was in its peak, his current physical fitness was only at a level of toddler. However, knowing it and tasting it personally were two whole different pond and fish. In short, it was so frustrating for Hide.
However Miku didn’t know Hide’s inner thought, so she expressed her disagreement, “Hide, you already did it a remarkably good.”
Miku’s words of encouragement didn’t lessen Hide bitterness, but he chose to play along and in curious tone he asked, “Really?”
“Really,” Miku firmly replied. “Everyone in Hiking Club couldn’t finish their first off trail and uphill track by running. Most had completed it by walking for more than halfway, while some other pushed themselves beyond their limit and ended up with accident.”
Nao calmly added, “We also had some who lost their way and arrived on the other side of the hill because they took too many detour.”
Hide knew how it was very easy to lose a sense of direction when traveling in the woods, but he chose to innocently asked, “They lost their way?”
“Yeah,” Tenma slightly nodded before explaining, “There is no land mark in the woods. People who are navigating on it for the first time will be unable to tell the cardinal direction.
Not to mention, the quiet and dimly lit forest will create a feeling of helpless, anxiety, and uneasiness. This negative feeling will easily cloud your judgment.”
“I see.” Hide slightly nodded before asked another question, “In the whole history of Hakka Outdoor, what is the fastest record for Hike Run?”
“14 minutes 20 seconds, by a local boy named Suzuki Kirishima,” Tenma replied as bitterness was reflected on his eyes.
Miku immediately added, “Suzuki is the reason why last year Tenma ended up in second place, even if he broke his record from previous year.
But Suzuki is a monster in human flesh. His record is beyond high school level. Unfortunately, you two will meet him in next Hakka Outdoor.”
“I see.”
“Well,” Nao looked at Hide deeply as she said, “Maybe we will have our own monster this year.”
Tenma and Miku didn’t question Nao’s opinion, but they refrained themselves from agreeing with it. Meanwhile, Hide skillfully put an innocent face. He had already decided. Even if he intended to shape his physical fitness to highest result, in the Hike Run he would only barely take the third place to avoid unnecessary attention.
After some other small talk, Hide and the three then returned to the base of Uruba Hill for the second hike run.
*****