On May 23–24, the municipalities of Palompon and Matag-ob hosted the Mind Over Matter: Palompon - Matag-ob Adventure Race, a two-day staged race set across the rugged terrain of western Leyte.

The event formed part of our 2026 race calendar, where we balance our season between adventure racing, mountain biking, trail running, and road events. Mind Over Matter was our first true adventure race of the year and served as an important benchmark for the months ahead.

This year, one of our goals was to expose our newer racers—our Potentials Team—to the demands of real adventure racing. While the navigation component of this race was intentionally minimal, it placed greater emphasis on speed, terrain association, decision-making, and teamwork.

Originally, our lineup consisted of Erika, Gil, Lilik, Janix, and Jobe. Unfortunately, Erika had to withdraw due to personal commitments that understandably took priority.

Stepping in at the last minute was Daniella, a young athlete from Ormoc City whom we had casually met during the Baybay City Duathlon a month earlier.

With Daniella (15), Jobe (17), and Lilik (21) on the team, our roster was largely made up of young racers eager to prove themselves. Guiding them were the experience and leadership of Gil and Janix, while Nick and Sir Theody served as support crew throughout the event.

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Day 1

Sky Garden

We arrived in Palompon late in the evening of May 22, giving us only a few hours to rest before the 7:00 AM gun start the following morning at Palompon’s Sky Garden.

Following mandatory gear inspections, health checks, and LGU formalities, the race officially got underway.

The opening section took teams inland toward a series of caves hidden in the hills surrounding Palompon. Early in the race, we made a small mistake at a trail junction that cost us valuable time and surrendered the lead.

Fortunately, we managed to recover and steadily worked our way back into contention, arriving at the rope stages in second place.

Terrestrial Eco Park

The next stage brought us to Terrestrial Eco Adventure Park, where teams were required to complete a series of rappels.

The rock faces were not particularly steep, making this an excellent introduction to rope systems for some of our younger racers who had little experience with high-angle activities.

At this point, we were maintaining second place behind Team Race2Share, a strong local team that held approximately a 25-minute lead.

The final checkpoint of the stage came with an unexpected twist. Instead of running the eight-kilometer stretch of pavement between Palompon and Matag-ob, teams were transported by tricycle.

Race Director Raoul explained that the decision was made to avoid unnecessary road running and keep the race focused on the more interesting terrain ahead. Given the distance involved, we were more than happy with the arrangement.

That said, riding a motorized vehicle during an adventure race still felt amusingly out of place.

Bondari Peak

After being dropped off at the trailhead, teams began the climb toward Bondari Peak, collecting another checkpoint located at a cellular tower along the route.

The trail featured rolling terrain mixed with several steep sections. Knowing that the leaders were not too far ahead, we kept the pace high.

Close to noon, we arrived at Bondari Peak, a mountain resort in Matag-ob that would serve as both the finish for Day 1 and the overnight race stop.

Waiting for us there was an orienteering stage. We soon learned that Team Race2Share was still out on course, giving us a chance to capitalize on one of our strengths—navigation.

We immediately attacked the course, moving efficiently between all four checkpoints. By the time we returned, we had completed the stage at approximately 12:33 PM and reclaimed the overall lead.

It was far from comfortable.

Our advantage stood at just 1 minute and 34 seconds.

But a lead is a lead.

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Mandatory Rest Stop

All teams spent the night at Bondari Peak.

As the racing paused, the atmosphere shifted from competition to camaraderie. Racers, organizers, and volunteers gathered over meals, stories, and cold drinks while sharing experiences from the day.

These moments are often among the best parts of adventure racing—the opportunity to connect with the community after spending hours competing against one another in the mountains.

Day 2

River Trekking

As the sun rose over Matag-ob, teams assembled for the second and final day of racing.

Unlike the previous day, Day 2 consisted almost entirely of water-based stages.

At 6:00 AM, we departed Bondari Peak and descended toward Masaba Falls through a long river trek.

Janix made several excellent terrain choices along the way, identifying shortcuts and cleaner lines through the river system that allowed us to save valuable time.

Despite this, Team Race2Share managed to overtake us early in the stage. We focused on staying within striking distance, knowing that any mistake or transition could create an opportunity to regain the lead.

The river trek eventually brought us to the swim transition.

By this point, some of our racers were beginning to feel the effects of fatigue and minor injuries, but everyone continued pushing forward.

At the transition area, Team Race2Share was only seconds ahead.

The race was still very much alive.

Swim to Sabang Bridge

The next section consisted of a two-kilometer downstream swim toward Sabang Bridge.

The water was calm and refreshingly cool, and the favorable current meant we could focus on maintaining rhythm rather than fighting the river.

Throughout the swim, we continued holding a close second-place position.

Upon reaching Sabang Bridge, teams were required to retrieve their kayaks while two teammates performed a bridge rappel directly onto the waiting boats below.

The technical transition cost us some time, and we watched as the lead team slowly stretched their advantage to around a minute.

We knew the final stage would likely favor them.

Team Race2Share had a strong paddling background, while the race would conclude with an open-water kayak leg to the finish at San Juan Beach Resort.

San Juan Paddling

Our concerns proved correct.

As soon as the paddling stage began, Team Race2Share demonstrated their strength on the water and quickly extended their lead.

We watched them steadily disappear ahead while we settled into our own rhythm.

It was during this section that Captain Gil made the call:

“Let’s slow it down and enjoy the rest of the paddling stage.”

And so we did.

With the mountains we had traversed over the previous two days standing proudly in the background, we paddled through calm waters and took in the scenery around us.

Sometimes racing is about chasing the podium.

Sometimes it’s about appreciating where the race has taken you.

We crossed the finish line at approximately 9:30 AM, securing 2nd Place Overall.

Conclusion

Mind Over Matter marked our first adventure race of 2026 and served exactly the purpose we hoped it would.

While we came into the race aiming for a podium finish, our bigger objective was to evaluate the progress of our newer racers and see whether the training invested in both our Core and Potentials teams was paying off.

The answer was clear.

It is.

Our younger racers showed maturity, resilience, and capability well beyond their years. More importantly, they demonstrated that they have the potential to grow into some of the strongest adventure racers in the country.

This race wasn’t just about finishing second.

It was about seeing the future of Team Dirt take shape.

Congratulations to Gil, Lilik, Janix, Jobe, and Daniella for an outstanding race.

Congratulations as well to the organizers of Mind Over Matter for putting together a challenging and enjoyable event, and to all our fellow racers for the sportsmanship and camaraderie shown throughout the weekend.

Next stop: Taragobay Adventure Race.

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