Running the Dream: TBR Dream Marathon (Part 1) -- Getting In

When I first got into running in 2009, running a 5k seemed to take forever, and I couldn't imagine going beyond that distance.  After two races I ran 10k at the Adidas King of the Road within the year; unfortunately, about halfway through the race I took a bad step and ended up with a painful inflammation of my left knee. The injury slowed me down for almost eight months, and I developed a phobia for leveling up. It was only in October 2010 that I conquered this fear and decided to take on my first half-marathon.

The Bull Runner Dream Marathon is a 42k-only event open only to first (or second) time marathoners. Held in Nuvali, Laguna, TBR debuted in 2010. It was tailored to suit the needs of neophyte marathoners: cut-off time for the marathon is a comfortable eight hours, workshops and training programs are made available to participants at no additional cost, and waivers and medical certificates to assure physical fitness are required from participants.  It was pricey at P1,800 per person, but given the entire package and the limited slots, it took only 11 hours to fill up all 400 slots on the first day of registration.

The Camsur Marathon, my second out-of-town marathon. JP Navarrette (purple bib) was the first among the members of our small running group to become a marathoner.

Watching friends cross the 42k finish line in races such as the Camsur Marathon, the Cebu Marathon, and the Condura Skyway Marathon, made me wonder when I myself would debut as a marathoner.  TBR seemed like the perfect race for my first marathon. I wanted my first marathon to be held out of town, and TBR is regularly held in Nuvali, Laguna -- far enough from the smog of the metro but near enough to not require special accommodations, it was certainly no sellout race (there were only 400 slots, after all), and dedicated members of the running community regarded the race with a certain prestige.

But when I learned that all slots were filled up, I was filled with mixed emotions. I was kind of sad that I couldn't join, but I was also happy because it meant I'd have more time to prepare myself physically and emotionally.  I seriously considered Camsur, where I'd run 10k previously and which I very much enjoyed, as the venue for my first marathon. You could say it was this race that not only solidified our small running group, but also ignited a genuine love for running. Plus, it would be held out of town, and out of town races are always something to look forward to. But friends advised me against this, saying the heat and humidity were not conducive to first-time marathoners. By this time I was debating on whether to abandon my out of town dreams, thinking that it might be better to run my first full mary during the Quezon City International Marathon instead.  It wouldn't be as exciting, but at least it would be held on familiar home turf.

One evening, during a weekly meeting with my running group, the AdiNation of Runners - Ortigas (Pearl), my friends and I were talking about upcoming runs and I happened to bring up wishing I had a slot for the Bull Runner Dream Marathon.  Our assistant coach, Maan, suddenly told me she knew of someone who was selling his racekit for TBR, and that I could buy that racekit and could in fact have the name changed to mine.  Another member, Maridol, told me runners also sometimes sold different racekits on the Takbo.ph online forum and I might be able to try my luck there.  Although I knew I wouldn't be "fully" prepared by March 20, there was still more than a month before race day and I knew there was still enough time to become "adequately" prepared, so I suddenly gained a little hope and the wheels in my head began to turn.

The next day Maridol told me she'd made contact with Rommel Eusebio, a member of the Takbo.ph forum who'd gotten injured and wanted to sell his racekit.  I made contact with the person immediately, and I made plans to buy his racekit and meet up with him the next day.  I met up with Rommel, who turned over his "Dream Card" at a discounted rate.  After that quick meeting, I couldn't help staring several times that day at the Dream Card that Rommel had turned over to me, which it turns out he'd also bought from the original owner by the name of Tina Zamora. I couldn't help feeling a mixture of elation, dread, excitement, and annoyance with myself for being so reckless.  Rommel and I both e-mailed race organizer Jaymie Pizarro to request for the change of name.

TBR Dream Card

That same day, I received an e-mail from Jaymie (the Bull Runner) stating she'd received my message and welcoming me to the Bull Runner Dream Marathon 2011.  There was no turning back now. I was in!