THE GROUND IS LAVA - TraiLSD - a recap

TraiLSD - nature is best enjoyed together.

Welcome back and thanks for your time. This past weekend we were able to host our monthly run with Satisfy at one of the most beautiful places to run in Bali, The lava fields of Mt. Batur. Read along to know more and see some of our favourite shots from the talented team we had capturing all the moment in their full uncropped glory.

When the team at Satisfy pitched the idea of a Trail edition of their monthly LSD ( Long Slow Distance ) We were so excited to showcase the rugged beauty of the volcanic trails of Mt. Batur. The group was smaller than usual and logistics were also something to figure out but I think we nailed it.

Big thanks to Arno for helping me figure out a route that provided a lot of runnable terrain, some variances in terrain and overall a loop that gave the full spread of what a trail run in Bali can be. Starting in the parking lot the energy was high and everyone was so excited to arrive just as the sun was coming up over the surrounding peaks. We ran together for the first km or so to arrive at what could be the best looking aid station ever. Some pre run fuel from our friends at SUB: 3 served iced cold in the Yeti cooler got us ready for the remaining 10km loop.

We made our way through the rugged moon like terrain which always tests coordination and proper foot placement. It’s such a great experience to run through here. It’s so quiet and each turn provides a new vista or jaw dropping lava rock formation.

It’s a maze of jeep and dirtbike tracks. Finding the way even after running it previously was a group effort. A couple km’s later and the smell of onions (and pesticide) filled our noses as we wiggled our way through the lower farm lands. Some smiles from locals and views of the lake made this section special in its own way. 

As per tradition we did make a wrong turn and added a few hundred metres but after a bit of bush whacking we eventually got onto the single track that leads up to a temple on the hill.  The lead group had a steady pace and as the long climb set in the conversation dwindled as the focus and lungs turned up a notch. The last little section of loose dirt proved challenging but was rewarded with some Dino gummies at the top ( if you didn’t know Dino’s and Volcano runs are the perfect match .)

We could see where we started about an hour previously and again the solitude up there fills the group with so much gratitude. From there we powered up to the highest point and as we approached the descent the Volcano provided us with a smoke show from the natural gasses. No eggs to steam this time but the dramatic effect was something to remember. The descent proves challenging at its very steep, jagged and demands full presence to make it through. 

The last section is a loose and wide open black lava dust descent towards the set up where we started. There is a classic shot by Tom Hawkins that I’ve wanted to recreate. But replacing dirt bikes with humans. The dust was perfect and the shots from both Iman and Marc turned out super special. One of my favourite parts of the whole day was everybody fully cheering for those making their way down the challenging final hill. 

The catering was set up masterfully and the addition of Arno’s Land Rover brought it all together. We enjoyed snacks and cold pressed juice from Thirst Trap, a delicious recovery mix from SUB: 3 and some cold brew coffee. All in all it was a beautiful time together and we look forward to offering similar types of experiences to our growing community. The best compliment of the day was “ I really like Flowerboy Community, It actually seems like everyone wants to hang out with each other.”

Thanks for being there, if you missed out we are working on some special offerings to bring us together in nature more often. 

Thanks to Yogi, Iman and Marc for capturing the day. Take care and look foreward to a coffee and run together soon.

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