I’ve always been an outdoor junkie. Picture this: skinny little me, standing on my ‘mother mountain,’ as strong winds turned me into a literal paper doll swaying at its peak.

That moment lit a fire in me, realizing there’s something about the trail that gets me. From then on, mountains became my love language.

Over the years, I’ve trekked, hiked, and run through the Philippines’ breathtaking landscapes: volcanoes, ridges, mountain ranges — you name it. But 2024? Oh honey, that year had me doing the unthinkable.

First, I joined a major hike on a last-minute invite — like, a 30-minute heads-up kind of last minute — to conquer six mountains in a day. (We did it under 14 hours.)

We didn’t just hike; we ran the ridges like maniacs, ending up with only 350ml of water left for the final 10K. (Hydration? Who is she?)

 

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But wait, there’s more. I capped off the year with my first ultra-trail marathon at the Cordillera Mountain Ultra. It was a brutal 45KM race through the Cordillera Mountain Range that gave me grit, drama, and some questionable life choices.

I brought along the Amazfit T-Rex 3, and let me tell you, this rugged smartwatch stayed strapped to my wrist like a loyal bestie who wasn’t about to let me quit.

Skeptic to believer

Okay, confession time. When I first got the Amazfit T-Rex 3, I had major trust issues. I mean, I’m a Garmin loyalist through and through, and this was my A-race. I wasn’t just running; I was creating content, people.

My beau needed to see my Strava upload hit 26+ miles, preferably with a side of “Look at me; I’m conquering mountains!”

But here’s the plot twist: I’ve known Amazfit for years through my gig as a lifestyle journalist.

We’ve reviewed them, featured them in GadgetMatch lists, and even had our former writer rave about their models. Yet, I’d never actually tried one myself.

I’ve always been curious about it, especially seeing Spartan athletes crush races with their trusty Amazfit smartwatches.

Even my friend and three-time podium finisher, Spen Manlangit, swore by his experience training with the device, especially for his races won in Malaysia and Indonesia.

So, in a leap of faith, I strapped on the T-Rex 3 and hoped for the best.

 

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Looking tough, looking good

Let’s be honest: outdoor smartwatches often sacrifice style for durability. Not this one, though. The Amazfit T-Rex strikes the balance between being ruggedness and refinement.

Its stainless-steel bezel screams tough, yet the liquid silicone strap wrapped comfortably around my wrist without that icky, itchy feeling.

Also, its 1.5-inch AMOLED display was a chef’s kiss. Its 2,000 nits of peak brightness lit up the trail when we arrived at Itogon past midnight.

Forget my headlamp and the watch’s built-in flashlight, its display was my guiding light.

Making it to the first cutoff

Fast forward to race day: I was wearing the Amazfit T-Rex 3 on my right wrist and my trusted Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) on my left. Yes, double-wristing it like a fitness tech psycho.

When you’re running 45KM in the mountains, you want backups for your backups.

By 3:30 a.m., adrenaline had replaced the smartwatch’s noticeable heft, and I was off — descending from Itogon, Benguet to make my way towards Mt. Ugo.

The first 10 kilometers felt like a dream. My legs were fresh even when the air was cold, and the T-Rex 3 was busy logging my every step.

The first intermediate cutoff for the Cordillera Mountain Ultra loomed at KM15, with a strict five-hour limit.

By KM13, I had already stumbled — literally — after a bad misstep on a steep downhill.

The strain on my knee was starting to catch up as I ascended to Mt. Ugo, and by KM14, I hit the runner’s wall.

Maintaining an impressive 7:00 min/km pace on the punishing terrain left me no time to refuel properly.

My pace tanked, and my knees screamed in protest. Three grueling hours of running the trails had taken their toll. The realization that I still had 32 kilometers to go hit me like a truck.

Yet somehow, I reached the first cutoff in four hours, taking a moment to refuel and reassess after the fall that had strained my knees.

Meeting my first angel

Buoyed by being ahead of schedule, I set off for the grueling 7KM ascent toward the West Summit of Mount Ugo via Tinongdan.

Temperatures dropped to a biting 5°C as I climbed. The sun offered little comfort against the icy winds.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3, however, stayed unbothered, feeding me live altitude updates and heart rate readings as I pressed through the relentless climb.

At KM18, the strain in my kneecap intensified. Still, I pressed on, telling myself I’d rest properly at the summit.

That was when I met Mike Mendoza, a fellow trail runner who seemed to be my guardian angel. Seeing my struggles, he waited for me, constantly checking so that I didn’t veer off the trail, which was a bad habit of mine. I guess I’ve always taken “the road less traveled” too seriously.

After two and a half hours of continuous climbing, we finally reached the KM21 marker at the summit. He was fine, but I was breathless and in pain.

The moment that might’ve ended it all

As we began the descent from the summit, I asked Mike to go ahead without me.

My knees were screaming with every step. The steep, rocky terrain demanded precision, but my legs were unsteady, sliding on loose soil and gravel.

Adding to the challenge was the brutal transition from freezing temperatures at the summit to blistering heat on the open trail.

The ridges offered a breathtaking view of the Cordillera Mountain Range, but the relentless descents left me dehydrated and vulnerable. My pace slowed to a cautious crawl to protect my knees.

Meanwhile, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 soldiered on, its battery barely dented even after hours of constant GPS tracking.

Its promised 42-hour battery life in GPS Accurate Mode felt like my one reliable companion.

Then came KM23 — the moment that almost ended it all. A herd of cows (yes, cows) decided that the single-track trail was their runway, and charged at me. In a panic, I veered off the path, slipped, and found myself clinging to my pole near a cliff’s edge.

My trekking pole saved me, while my knees bore my weight. For a moment, I wondered if a dramatic mountain death might actually be better than becoming a cow kebab. Somehow, I survived.

And if you’re asking, no. The T-Rex 3 didn’t record the tumble. But honestly? It’s probably for the best. It securely strapped to my wrist, even as I stumbled through one of the most terrifying moments of my life.

With no cellular reception and no working SOS signal, I was on my own.

I whistled for help for what felt like an eternity until four runners from the summit came to my aid.

Words (and hearts) of gold

April Mae, one of the trail runners who came to my aid, taped my injury. They helped me navigate past the herd of cows (who were still out for blood).

As we approach the second summit at KM3o, I told April that I was ready for a DNF (Did Not Finish). But April encouraged me to keep going, reminding me how much I had already conquered — what was the point of quitting?

Together with Mickey, we summited Mt. Ugo once more to hit the next cutoff at KM30. We reached it with an hour to spare, despite my knee screaming with every step.

Descending Mt. Ugo was pure agony. The pain was so severe that tears streamed down my face as I hobbled through the trail. April and Mickey left to rush to the medics so they can prepare everything I might need. (They were like my angels, I swear.)

Alone again, I relied on the T-Rex 3’s heart rate updates to ground me. “As long as I’m breathing well, I’ll be fine,” I told myself.

By the time I reached the medics at KM 31, both of my knees were in shambles that they had to urge me to stop and call it quits. I refused, remembering April’s words.

Literally gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this

From KM31 to KM40, I fought through the pain, tears streaming down my face as the mountains punished me with relentless descents.

The T-Rex 3, meanwhile, remained my rock: tracking my heart rate, my altitude, and, most importantly, my will to keep going.

At KM43, I met a veteran trail runner who was cruising at his own pace. He saw my struggle and shared words that stayed with me: “You’ve already won. Finishing this is just the cherry on top.”

At 13 hours and 42 minutes, with a total elevation gain of 3,500 meters, I crossed the finish line.

Emotions overwhelmed me as my fellow runners greeted me with hugs and cheers. Their pride in me shattered whatever composure I had left, and I let the tears flow freely knowing I’d earned them.

No, I didn’t land a podium finish. I didn’t even have a medal to bite and wear. But I won something far greater: the knowledge that I am relentless, that I can face unimaginable pain and still rise, and that the trail running community is one of the most supportive I’ve ever known.

And more importantly, I had proven to myself that no amount of pain or bad luck could stop me from finishing what I started.

 

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A trusty companion

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 didn’t just survive this ultra-trail marathon with me. It thrived. Its GPS, heart rate monitoring, and rugged build handled every challenge the trail threw at us. And after 13+ hours, the battery still had plenty of juice left. (Still on half battery, like, for real?)

It recorded the most important race yet in my life, while my Garmin’s activity was corrupted. Thankfully, I had the Amazfit T-Rex 3.

At that moment, it wasn’t just a piece of gear; it was a partner in adventure. It was a witness to every tear, fall, and moment of triumph.

So if you’re still looking for a smartwatch that’s built to endure — just like you — then look no more. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is ready for you and the trails.