How I found love and myself on the trails.
When I was 16, I wrote a poem that got printed in a school publication. It was about unrequited love. I did not have the tiniest clue what love was. But I did listen to a lot of “Sunday Slowdown” on Magic 89.9.
At 19, I got my heart broken badly. As I got older, I would realize that particular heartbreak drove me to depressive episodes, because I was too attached to the idea of having someone. I also did not have much else going on in my life.
From then on, my approach to future romantic relationships would be more, as 2025 would put it, nonchalant. I would pursue, love, and lose, without much of the profound entanglements Hollywood would like us to believe.
Love Hurts
Almost three decades since I penned that poem, I still can’t say I have a complete grasp of what love is. From my experience, “love” is almost always lost (or misguided) when you chase after it. I’ve also seen how love drives the underappreciated mother to care for her family unconditionally, in spite of how entitled, bratty, and out of their own heads they can be.
That’s why I love the trails. Because it is mostly about being. Being able to stay on two wheels regardless of traction or terrain. Being able to master skills incrementally at your own pace. Being away from the noise and haze of people and responsibilities.
Whether it’s a post-work afternoon in a small community trail, such as the Victoria Bike Trail in Imus or a weekend morning in a commercial one like Arden Trails in Trece Martires, it always brings me profound joy when I can spend time riding these outdoor mediums for inner peace.
Victoria Bike Trail
I was probably a month into discovering the joys of cycling. The first time I took my girlfriend’s 2022 Giant ATX offroad, we were meandering around Dasmariñas before stumbling into a patch of dirt. It was love at first pedal stroke. I hadn’t felt that exhilarated at such slow speeds.
Shortly after, I would take her bike to Victoria Bike Trail with no mountain bike riding experience. With hours of YouTube watch time under my belt, I pedaled across the trailhead. Before long, I would glimpse a sign that warned of a drop ahead. I did not know what that meant, exactly. As my ribs landed on the handlebar, I would learn that hitting features without any experience hurts.
And it would hurt to laugh or cough for the next couple of months.
Arden Trails
When the trails at Arden Botanical opened its gates, I fancied myself as an experienced XC mountain biker. At that point, if it didn’t involve massive jumps, I was confident I could ride my 2022 Trek Marlin 6 up, over, through, down, or around most trails.
Arden is massive compared to the small community trails I honed my skills on. The 40-hectare off-road track facility is designed as a hub for cycling, trail running, and various motor sports. It’s also intended to get eyeballs on Arden Botanical Estate—an ambitious (and astronomically expensive) 251-hectare botanical-themed township that aims to champion wellness and sustainability.
I’m not sure what their pursuit means for the future of real estate developments in Cavite, but I do know that having access to 15 kilometers of single track and a five-kilometer flat/MX track is an incredible blessing.
As I’ve wandered into midlife, I still can’t quite put my finger on a single truth that defines love. But I do know that I found myself on the trails. And I love this version of me.
