GO ASIA TRAIL 
It's been a while, this is Tsutsumi from GO ASIA TRAIL, and on April 11, 2025, I participated in the Explore Your Backyard, a local trail running race held in Tucheng District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. I actually ran this race eight years ago in April 2017.
This Explore Your Backyard is not held at this location every time, but rather differently from year to year. It is not entirely different, however, and there are several locations that rotate. Other locations include Shilin and Neihu. The location of the race changes from year to year, so it is a race that can be enjoyed even if you participate every year.
This year's race was held in the same place as 8 years ago, and the starting point was Dingpu, 30 minutes by MRT from Taipei Main Station. It is the last stop on the Taipei MRT's Banqiao Line (blue line).
Race Outline
- Name: Explore Your Backyard 2025
- Starting point: Miaoxing Zen Temple (Tucheng District, New Taipei City)
- Distance: 31 km (Super Tough), 21 km (Tough), 13 km (Speed), 7 km (Fun)
Compared to when I ran this race 8 years ago, the 31km course, which I heard was quite tough, was newly established, and the 21km course, which I ran this time, was enhanced. For 31km in particular, there are areas where there are almost no course markings, and it is necessary to run with the GPX data distributed by the race organizer in your GPS watch or smart phone. For other distances as well, GPX data is distributed and running with GPX data is recommended.
In fact, when we ran 21 km, we all lost the course because some of the course markings were wrong, and we were warned by our GPS watches that we were off course, so we recognized it right away (a trap?). The race registration was held the day before and the day before the race.
Registration for the race was held the day before and the day before at a directly managed store of a Taiwanese sports supplement manufacturer called " FAV Athletic Injury Deposit Protection Specialist " in Taipei City. Some people spoke Japanese. The store also handles registration on the day of the event, so it is a safe place for participants traveling from Japan to participate in the event.
Also, the security of the drop bags (luggage storage) has been improved compared to the last time, and they are stored in a proper building with limited access, so you can store them with peace of mind (last time, they were stored under a tent).
Please see the official page for more details.
On the actual run
I arrived at the venue around 7:10am. The 31km runners had already started, and while I was on my way to the venue, I met the 31km runners.
One of those runners was a Japanese runner who said to me, "Hey! and called out to me, "Who is it, do you know him?" I thought, but we later became friends over dinner at night.
When I arrived at the venue, I got the impression that many of the 21km runners had a lot of experience in trekking, and there seemed to be a lot more serious runners than the last time I ran this race. Last time I ran 15km, there were many fun runners, but if the race was marked 21km (TOUGH), the fun runners wouldn't run it.
Then, before the race, everyone does a preparatory exercise. Preparation exercise is important for injury prevention!
The temperature was 26 degrees Celsius and it was cloudy, but ...
The 21km race started at 8:00 am. The forecast at this time called for a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
The last time I ran, the temperature was well over 30℃, so it was easier than this time, but it was still hot, partly due to aging and partly because I came from Japan, which has a cooler climate than Taiwan. In Japan at that time, the daytime temperature barely exceeded 20°C, but the morning and evening temperatures were still around 10°C, so when I was running, I would pour like a waterfall of sweat.
Critically, I had left my Midori Safety salt fever supplement at the hotel, and my electrolyte supply was inadequate. I had two bottles of Mag-On for emergency leg cramps, but they were not enough, and I ended up having a lot of trouble with leg cramps. At the aid stations, there were sports drinks and salt, so I added salt to pineapple and Taiwanese Salonpas cola (black pine sachet) and drank it with salt.
Climbing the famous cliffs of the Taiwan Trail
Due to the topography of Taiwan's mountains, there are inevitably steep climbs here and there, and this is a prime example. In case you are wondering, the area where we are filming is relatively safe, but we can't record the places where it is difficult to film with a camera, so if you want to know more, please try running a trail running race in Taiwan.
The course is one of the better maintained ones in this race, so there are ropes. This is the scene where I feel that trail running requires upper body strength as well.
A gym in the mountains?
There are about two areas on the course where you can do calisthenics (muscle training with your own body weight). This is a facility that is not often seen in Japanese mountains. I saw mainly elderly people training for their health.
Recently, I have been doing strength training at the gym or in the park in addition to running, so I am very interested in seeing this kind of equipment. There was equipment for dips and pull-ups, and I was running around wondering how they got these things.
Getting attacked by geese
At the second aid station, there was a pond, which was inhabited by quite a few geese, though I am not sure if they were wild or domesticated.
So, the three geese in the video above approached us and after being threatened, they pecked us with their beaks. The video shows what happened after the attack. They were walking away as if nothing had happened.
The geese may have been a bit nervous because of the many people wearing shorts and light clothing, but why did they attack me, a visitor from overseas? I thought.
Aid Stations
For the 21km, there were a total of four aid stations set up: at 5km, 10km, 15km, and 19km.
At the aid stations, pineapples, bananas, guavas, and other fruits were offered, as one would expect from Taiwan, which is a fruit-growing country. Dried fruits and nuts were also available, and although I did not eat any, peanut butter sandwiched between pieces of bread was also offered. The other drinks offered were water, Coca-Cola, Black Pine Shashi (Taiwanese-style cola), and 舒跑 (Taiwanese sports drink).
Perhaps because my stomach and spirit had been hit hard by the heat, I could not pass much solid food, so pineapple, cola, and energy gels that I brought from Japan were my energy sources.
As I recall, at the last aid, I laughed when I saw a "Coca-Cola" water server with a black pineapple sarong in it. I thought it was a cola, but when I drank it, I found that it had the aroma of salonpas, which is very popular in Taiwan.
They did not let me relax until the end.
From the aid station 2km before the finish, we were forced to climb again. Since we were in the mountains, we thought we would be able to finish the race after descending a gentle road, but I felt the kindness of the organizers who did not make it easy for us until the very end. (This was the same eight years ago, and this is a tradition that has remained unchanged for a long time.)
I remember 8 years ago, I was young and the distance was short, so I skipped this part, but this time, my legs were cramping all over, partly because I ran without salt fever supplements, and I couldn't run. This time, however, my legs were cramping all over the place, partly due to running without salt fever supplements, and I couldn't run.
When I crossed the finish line, I was knackered, my head hurt, and I was suffering from heat stroke.
After the race
After the finish line, the heat had completely destroyed my stomach and I had no appetite. I could not even touch the yakisoba and other dishes offered after the race, so I drank only Coca-Cola. Beer was also provided, a Taiwanese craft beer called RED POINT, but there was no room for it.
After finishing the race, I immediately went to pick up my luggage and went to a place where I could bathe in the water, and cleaned my soggy shoes there as well.
Also, a Japanese runner who was running 31km on his way to the starting point approached me. He was a regular customer and manager of "KISEN run&trail," a trail running specialty store in Wakayama.
After the race, they approached us and shared their impressions of the race. The regular customer of this store had read my blog from 8 years ago, had run this race several times, and was a very fast runner.
Loot (novelties)
- Lunch box (participation prize)
- T-shirt (participation prize)
- FINISHER cube (only for finishers)
The novelties looked like this. The lunch box is a well-made stainless steel container with a wooden lid. You can take this with you after the race on the day of the race to eat yakisoba. Chopsticks and forks are not included, so you had to procure them separately, but I was sick to my stomach, so I don't know what they tasted like.
Also, the FINISHER cubes are good. With medals, there is the problem of where to put them after returning home, but with cubes like these, they can be displayed in the room and do not interfere with the interior design. I have it on my work desk now.
Smartphone failure (Galaxy S24 Ultra)
When I returned to the hotel after the race and tried to charge the battery, the following warning appeared and I was unable to charge the battery.
Looking back and thinking about it now, I wonder if the sweat I had while running got into the USB-C terminal, or if the drink that was served at the aid station got into the terminal and corroded it... I am not sure of the cause, but I was unable to charge it.
I have been trail running and road running with various smartphones such as iPhone, Pixel, Zenfone, Huawei, etc., but this is the first time I have experienced this kind of problem. I wondered if there was a possibility that it was over-detecting the humidity.
Fortunately, it seems to be able to charge wirelessly, so I found a wireless charger at a bookstore near my hotel and decided to use it until I return to Japan. I will sell it after repairing it (I already bought a Google Pixel 9a as a replacement).
We went to a hot pot restaurant for dinner.
We decided to go to a hot pot restaurant with Wakayama Trail Runners whom we met at the race. The restaurant information is here.
The restaurant seems to be quite popular and has a good reputation. As is typical of hot pot restaurants in Taiwan, ice cream is all-you-can-eat.
I think it probably tasted good. I say "probably" because my stomach was more damaged than I thought it would be from the midday race and I didn't have that much of an appetite. It is full of medicinal spices, but I was in no condition to accept this smell in my condition at this time, so I ended up eating rice, ice cream, a few pieces of meat, and mainly vegetables.
Off to a foot massage for recovery.
After the meal, I went straight to a foot massage parlor in front of Taipei Station with everyone else. Two of the Wakayama Trail Runners were energetic people who were going to run Yangmingshan the day after the race.
I often go to the following foot massage stores (I have never been to any other foot massage stores in Taipei City). I guess there are a lot of tourists here, but the Japanese is quite understandable, and the staff at the time of my visit was quite good, although the skill depends on the person.
I also received a lot of information about bird watching spots, which is my hobby, so I think I had a good time.
Summing up the experience
- Fighting climate and aging (8 years is a long time)
- Honestly, I was in a hurry when my smartphone almost broke down while traveling abroad (it's better to have a spare phone)
- Grateful for new encounters with Japanese runners
- Taipei is close and enjoyable after the race
A discussion on the meaning of the race name by ChatGPT
Finally, as for the meaning of the race name "Explore Your Bakyard", ChatGPT gave us the following insight.
It seemed to me that this is exactly the race that made me face my inner self. Thank you! See you in Puli, Taiwan in November!