Run United 3 2012: My 2nd 32km

After completing last year's Runrio/Run United trilogy (and missing the awards ceremony, I might add), I decided I'd sit this year's trilogy out. Not only have I promised to spend less, I've also learned the beauty of running solo, so I've been choosing my races over the past few months wisely. But when Run United 3 was announced, I felt a burning desire to beat my 32k personal best of 4:08 during the previous year's RU3 despite the steep registration fee of P1,000.

Still smiling after 32km at Run United 3 in 2011!

Unfortunately, my lower back started hurting the week before the race, and watching Phantom of the Opera with my family the night before meant not getting enough time to rest. After much deliberation about whether to push through with the race that very rainy morning, I headed for the start line at Bonifacio Global City with my friend Dave about thirty minutes before gunstart. I could feel the soreness of my back, and I had zero hours of sleep in my system; breaking my PR would be a real challenge!

It was raining the entire race (with a single brief pause of about five minutes or so), and this turned out to be a blessing and a pain. The nonstop rains meant the climate was cool and breezy, but it also meant endless puddles, painful chafing and blisters, and wet clothes heavy with rainwater. I never felt so thankful for my compression pants and the Leukoplast I'd put on my toes.

A must for blister-prone people like me :)

However, despite the very wet route, I was able to stick to a consistent pace...that is, until KM22, when my Sony Walkman decided to die on me, and my patience began to wear thin. But it turns out overplaying my tracklist worked to its advantage, because I eventually pushed my legs to run again, "mentally" singing the music I'd been playing only minutes before, and it got me through the mindgame that was the last 8km. I gritted my teeth to bear the chafing; the only consolation was that the cool breeze brought about by the rain meant I hardly felt the urge to grab water from the stations (of which there were more than enough).

When i got to KM 30, I could feel the finish line was near so I picked up my pace again. I knew then that I was going to be able to achieve a sub-4 chip time finish, but I had to ensure I'd get a sub-4 guntime as well. True enough, as I approached the finish,  I saw the red digits on the timer were ticking the last seconds before 4:00, so I sprinted, and crossed the finish line just a few seconds before the target. Garmin check: 3:56 -- a whopping twelve minutes better than last year's 32k time! (Side Note: That Garmin went missing a week after...I guess it was a good last run together. Sad.)

Happy and wet at the finish line! With Romar, Doc Dave, and Doc Edwin.

The third piece of the Runrio Trilogy's pie medal, a finisher's shirt, and a loot bag were waiting for runners at the finish line (very orderly redemption of finisher's kits!). I met up with Doc Dave and got to know new friends Alvin (whom I'd previously met at the Condura Marathon), Joanne, Gerry, and Noel, and we had breakfast at McDonald's. I suffered my usual post-long run appetite crash and barely finished my breakfast, but I knew I'd finished strong. The "blackout nap" I took when I got home was arguably one of the best I've ever had.

Breakfast with new friends :)

I have yet to make up my mind about whether to run the last part of Run United 2012, that is the Run United Philippine Marathon. But getting back to long distance running after a month-long post-Milo hiatus made me realize how much I miss long distance running. So will I be hitting the road again come September 28? Let's see!

Get ready to Xplode in BodyCombat! (Fitness Xplosion 2)

I'm a self-professed gym rat. I've been one since 2006, long before I started running, when I first signed up for a Fitness First membership as a my new year's resolution and ended up getting hooked on group exercise classes. Although I'm versatile and like rotating workouts to maximize benefits and prevent boredom, there are two classes that are especially close to my heart: flow yoga, and the workout that I rely on for my regular supply of endorphins: BodyCombat.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, BodyCombat is a martial arts inspired workout by Les Mills. It incorporates moves from the various martial arts disciplines such as karate, taekwondo, kickboxing, muay thai, tai chi, and capoeira and transforms them into a fun and calorie-killing workout

BodyCombat Memories: Ultimate Combat Challenge at Fitness First Ortigas, March 30 2009.

Last September 1, Fitness First held an event called Xplosion 2, the second installment of a series of five marathons of Fitness First's most popular cardio workouts including RPM, BodyAttack, RetroPop, BodyCombat, and BodyJam/Sh'bam. Prices for the event weren't cheap at P399 per single program (inclusive of an event singlet), so I decided I'd attend just BodyCombat. There was already news prior to that day that BodyCombat tickets had been the most saleable, so my friends and I decided to assemble at SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia early after a decent lunch.

Jam-packed BodyCombat! 

Hundreds (literally) of BodyCombat addicts came together that day at SMX, and it felt great to be in the midst of fellow BodyCombat addicts from all over the metro (plus Cebu and Pampanga) once again. The floor literally rocked as BodyCombat instructors presented the new release BodyCombat 53 in addition to old tracks.

On a side note, BodyCombat 53 has to be one of the best releases in a while, from the catchy "Written in the Stars" (cutest warmup track ever!) to the combat rendition of the old Les Mills favorite "True Believer" to the energetic finale "Summer Rain." Even the Muay Thai track "Blade" is a big improvement over the tiresome tracks of the last two releases.

Adrenaline was pumping in the auditorium from start to finish as presentors led participants through the fresh new tracks and old favorites such as "The United Vibe" and the immortal "Miracle." Presentors included various instructors from Fitness First including FF Philippines BodyCombat heads Mark and Kerwin, my mentor Jury (one of two people to whom I owe my love of BodyCombat), former BodyCombat head "Mother" Fhe (now based in Singapore), former BodyAttack head May (now also based in Singapore), Vanessa, and Allan, as well as international presentors Ben Tang (from Singapore) and Renee Low (from Malaysia).

Fight!

With Jury, one of two mentors to which I owe my love of BodyCombat :)

Renee Low was certainly a welcome addition to the lineup. The BodyCombat trainer from Malaysia quickly became a crowd favorite as she enthusiastically led the mob through a series of new tracks from the new release.

BodyCombat rules!

Two hours went by like a blur; I barely felt the time pass by, and the energy was so intense that people who were outside the SMX during the event reported that BodyCombat literally rocked the house!

With fellow BodyCombat addicts Romar, Ron, Doc Edwin, and Chal (L-R).

After all the tracks, the crowd clamored for more, and Ben Tang led the crowd to mop up the dirt and sweat in a delightfully painful conditioning track (a bit masochistic, yes).

Fitness Xplosion 2 was Xplosive, that's for sure. Though there will surely be mixed reviews, but I don't think anyone can deny that it was a remarkable improvement over the previous year's version of the event. Being the most attended event, BodyCombat was no exception. I'm sure I'm not the only one for whom Fitness Xplosion 2 invoked a feeling of nostalgia as I remembered why BodyCombat was -- and still remains to be  -- my favorite fitness workout. I'd have to say my fellow combat addicts and I left Mall of Asia with an undeniable endorphin high, and are all definitely looking forward to Fitness Xplosion 3!

Kia Kaha! (Stay Strong!)

NOTE: Thank you Joseph for the awesome photos of the event! :)

Milo Marathon 2012 (Manila Eliminations)

Running the Milo Marathon Eliminations has been my dream since 2011. That year I first signed up for Milo's half-marathon event but was unable to run it because I'd carelessly left my race bib at home. It had rained hard that day, and I couldn't risk running bandit in that kind of weather, so I decided to stick to the sidelines and wait for my friends to cross the finish line instead. I enviously watched runners cross the finish line that day, and became fixated with the idea of eventually earning that finisher's medal since I don't think I'll be able to qualify for finals in this lifetime.

With the UP Heartbreakers! Support Mode during the Milo Marathon in 2011.

Fast forward to June 2012. I already had three full marathons under my belt by then and had an unimpressive PR of just under six hours (5:56), but I was just as determined to become a Milo marathoner as I was eleven months before. However, doubting my ability I decided to ask for help, and approached my good friend Dave De Castro, better known as Doc Dave, to ask if he'd be willing to pace me for the event. Doc Dave is a triathlete blessed with rock-hard discipline I will never have, but after the Condura Skyway Marathon he said he never wanted to run another full marathon again, so I was elated (and nervous at the same time) when he agreed to pace me to a sub-6.

Race Map for the 36th Milo Marathon Manila Eliminations, passing through four cities of Metro Manila.

During the next few weeks I trained worked on leg strength and like never before. Unfortunately the rainy season prevented me from running outdoors as often as I would want, so I had to force myself to appreciate the treadmill at the gym (a real mindgame for me) in addition to getting used to running alone. I was scared about 6-hour cutoff, and I figured training, along with a strict diet (time to shed off body fat!) and encouragement from friends, was the only way I could get over the fear. By race week, I was a basket case. I drastically cut down workout hours in hopes of being able to give my body enough time to recharge.

Training time! My last race before Milo was the DRM Fun Run at Veterans Memorial  Medical Center.

July 29 finally arrived. I rode to Mall of Asia with Doc Dave and another friend JC, but I really couldn't remember much about the trip going there except that I was obsessed about having everything I needed since I was still traumatized about having left my race bib the previous year. I wore the exact outfit I'd worn during the Singapore Marathon, my full mary personal best, from my visor down to my Nike Lunar Eclipse+ shoes. They'd proved their worth during two 42k's already, so I figured I'd take them for their last full marathon.

My Nike Lunar Eclipse + after (hopefully) their last full marathon!

As we headed for the starting line to await gun start, I remember seeing many of my running friends, but I couldn't really think about much except praying my friends and I would finish the race injury-free and within cutoff. I took some energy gel to boost my confidence a bit, said a silent prayer, and when the gun sounded we were off.





The Race

During the first 10km or so, I took on a steady pace with Doc Dave, JC, as well as Gino and his other friend, trying (quite unsuccessfully) not to rely on my music too much. By around KM 15, I couldn't keep up with the pace anymore, so Doc and I fell behind as our three other companions sped off.

The route was relatively flat, but the humidity served to be a challenge. By the time we parted ways with the 21k runners and headed towards Fort Bonifacio, I could already feel the strain on my calves. I tried forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone and change my forefoot strike, but doing so drastically reduced my speed so I decided to bear the calf pain. By KM 30 I was already starting to feel a bit tired and bloated, and it felt like the humid weather was making me melt. And then a miracle happened; it started to rain, and I couldn't agree more with Doc when he said the light shower was God's blessing, and I was able to push myself to run at a constant and comfortable stay. I was also thankful many of my friends ran, because meeting each of them along the way gave me a much-needed boost and encouraged me to go on.

Recognize that McDonald's branch from Fort? Caution: Wet floor!

By KM 37, however, I could feel my speed drop again as heat began to take its toll. I was having mixed feelings by then; I was hopeful that there were only five kilometers to go, but I was frustrated I couldn't keep a constant pace anymore. Water stations were running out of cups, so I had to rely on refilling my single trusty water bottle. I kept apologizing to Doc Dave that I couldn't go any faster. Runners around the area had also significantly reduced their speed, and many of them were in fact already walking tiredly, and I could feel that urge to cry. Then Doc did something I didn't expect; he placed his arm around mine and told me we were going to run the last stretch. Apparently, he decided that if he couldn't push me to my goal time, he was going to pull me...and he did!

Second Wind!!!

When we got to the finish line, I tapped the button on my Garmin triumphantly. 5:34.35. I said a silent prayer of thanks. Not only did we make cutoff, I was also able to beat my previous PR by a whopping twenty-one minutes! I was feeling absolutely euphoric as I hugged Doc Dave and thanked him for all his help and patience. It was I got my beautiful and gigantic finisher's medal, the oversized finisher's shirt, and the loot bag.

My finisher's shirt and loot bag!

The next few moments went by like a blur; I knew there were so many people and things going around me, but I was so tired that I just plopped down on the sidewalk with Doc, and didn't move for who knows how long. When I finally recovered my sanity and composure, I inched my way back to the car; my feet and calves were killing me and I knew I'd killed at least one toenail, but I didn't care. I was a Milo marathoner!

I couldn't help reminiscing about the day I finished my first marathon in March 2011. The day was March 20. I remember the feeling of accomplishment I felt that day, the feeling of gritting my teeth while enduring the pains of plantar fasciitis, the mixed emotions coursing through me, the cheers of my friends as I crossed the halfway point and the finish line. I thought I would never feel as accomplished as I did on that day when I first became a marathoner.

Memories of my first marathon: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon 2011, where I clocked in -- injured -- at 6:42.

Well, I was wrong. I didn't know then that there would come a day when run a race against time and the elements, across four cities while battling rain and heat. I didn't realize how much more fulfilling it would be to run a race I've been eyeing one year ahead and do actual training to achieve my goal time. I didn't know then how good it feels to have someone at your side all the way to encourage you, to assure that you can make it when you feel ready to give up.

But now I know my sense of achievement on the 29th of July would be even tougher to beat, because now I know how it feels to have that enormous medal draped around my neck and to be finally called a Milo marathon finisher.

Milo marathoner, at last :)

BDM 2012 (Part 2 of 2: The Adventures and Misadventures of Team Memi)

KM 00.

KM 00 -- KM 17: Quiet, Steady Start

Memes requested a pitstop once every two kilometers initially, and we gladly obliged. Jill and I took the first shift; we're night owls and were both wide awake. Memes took on a steady pace that was slower than his usual full marathon pace. He took one gel and alternated water, Gatorade, and Pocari, and took an occasional slice of banana or a handful of chips (for sodium).The first part of the race was quiet and uneventful; little did we know what was in store for us next.

Support crew member, ANR Ortigas Coach Drew. It was this dark!

Memes' "throne": a director's chair that Jill had brought along for the ride :)

KM 18: "We're doomed."


I admit I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to car maintenance and repair; apparently, for the first eighteen kilometers, I was carrying out a mortal sin: leaving my car headlights on with the engine off. After our pitstop at KM 18, the car suddenly seized to start, no matter how many times I attempted to ignite the engine, and we realized the car's battery was drained. My hands went cold and my heart sank; we were in the middle of nowhere, it was late (past midnight), the gas stations and other establishments were closed, and my car was an automatic Innova, meaning pushing the car wouldn't help it to start. In Jill's words, we were doomed.

I knew I couldn't forgive myself if Memes DNF'd (a running term which stands for "did not finish") because of my clumsiness. I immediately called Ron in Manila and asked him to search on the Internet for any battery supply or charging stations in the vicinity of Bataan. Drew called Allan, a friend of ours supporting runner Ronnel Go along with another friend Hendy. Drew asked Allan to look out for Memes for the meantime if they happened to see him. I tried calling the emergency number the organizers left, but the woman who answered snapped and told me it was not her business if our car wouldn't start.

A few moments later, some members of the Team Kamote Runners stopped and asked if we needed help. Members of Team Ok-ok also stopped and tried to help us; they checked out our battery and one of them, Jsin, actually snapped the wire of his iPod connecter (gasp!) in an attempt to do something about it. The car still wouldn't start though, and by then I was getting a bit hopeless.

Jill was the most level-headed of us; she grabbed a bag of supplies including water, Gatorade, and some food, and headed off to search for a way she could catch up with Memes. Eventually, we found out that she hitched on a bus (they didn't charge her, wow) until she found Memes, and hitched with the Team Ok-Ok Runners so she could continue to provide Memes with his hydration and supplies. Wow!

Thank you Kamote Runners and Ok-Ok Runners!

Meanwhile on our end, we finally found the tail of the convoy: a sweeper ambulance carrying a couple of soldiers who had apparently been deployed to check the area and ensure there were no runners or support crew vehicles left behind. They took a look at our battery and told us that the truck they were riding in was too big, if another car would be willing to lend their battery, they could try to jump start our engine so it could run again. Eventually we came across the support crew of Brandy Simbe, another runner. The crew was composed of members of Team CB led by Jimmy, whom I know from ANR Ortigas, and Drew asked if we could borrow their battery in an attempt to jump start my car's engine. Jimmy told us they wanted to help, but they would have to ask for the permission of Brandy, since the car was his, and come back to us. As they sped off to meet Brandy, we could do nothing but pray they would be back at the soonest time.

They held true to their promise; after a few more minutes we caught a glimpse of their headlights which were like a ray of hope (sorry for the pun, but that was really how it felt). The soldiers did a bit of mechanical work (which I really need to learn, I think), and after a few more moments of praying and holding my breath, they told me to try to start my engine again and it finally sprung back to life! I knew the worst was over; I let out an enormous sigh of relief. After offering the soldiers food and thanking Jimmy and his fellow support crew members again and again, we sped off to look for Memes and Jill. We called Jill and met up with her, then finally joined Memes for an ecstatic reunion at around KM 28. Later he told us he was already feeling a bit hopeless when Jill had suddenly appeared to give him water and a short explanation of what had happened on our end.

Can I just say, the camaraderie of the running community is just amazing!

KM 28 -- KM 60: Second Wind


After the dramatic reunion we went on cruising along the road again. I felt incredibly awake and refused Hapi's offer to take over the driving. I told the others to get rest. Since it was really dark we almost got lost a few times; I for one was always glad each time we saw the original Bataan Death March's commemorative markers, because this assured us that we were on the right track. We eventually saw some of the runners we knew, like Irene, Doc Art, and Marvin to name a few.

At around KM 42 I closely monitored Memes' time. His time was nowhere his 42km/full marathon PR, but his pace was consistent and he was still strong, showing absolutely no signs of fatigue.

Memes, say "Aahhh..."

Eventually we came across the six:30 members too and thanked them for their help.

Thank you, Six:30!

Eventually the sun started to peek through the clouds signaling daybreak. Hapi and I finally exchanged seats and he took over the driver's seat. I got knocked out cold for an hour and a half.

Daybreak!

KM 60+: Newfound Friend


At around KM 60, Memes told us that his legs were started to feel a bit tired, but he couldn't stop since stopping might trigger his cramps. By the time the bright sun had eradicated the darkness, it started to get really hot, and Memes decided to change into his red singlet. At around KM 60 or so, we came across Team CB member Randy, who I met a few times also during ANR Ortigas sessions. He had been on relatively the same pace as Memes since after the car had stalled. He explained to us that he had overtaken his support crew, who was supporting more than one runner. We told him he could get hydration and food from us since he and Memes were running at pretty much the same speed anyway. It was helpful having Randy around, too; he was familiar with the BDM 102 route, which despite the kodigos and written directions we'd printed proved to be very confusing.

With Ultra Memi and Ultra Randy!

Memes asked to change into his Asics at this time, which was no problem since he didn't seem to have blisters anyway. Later, I would discover that Memes had actually changed shoes because his feet were already hurting; prior to the race, he was actually suffering from plantar fasciitis (incidentally, this was the same injury that had bogged me down during my own first full marathon), and didn't want us to worry. Aww.

Shoe change!

It was also this time that we brought out our secret weapons: the magic spray bottle, as well as the signboards that Ron had made to motivate Memes!

Cheerleader mode!

Last Stretch (Third Wind?)

Soon after it started to drizzle, and weird weather as it was, everyone was thankful since by then it had started to get sunny and really hot. Memes and Randy started to employ the Galloway method (run-walk) to conserve energy. Their pace had decreased a bit, but they were still fine with pitstops every two kilometers. There was absolutely no question about them beating the cutoff, but it was getting hotter and hotter so we tried to motivate them by telling them to beat the sun and heat. Though truth be told, apart from starting to really sweat because of the blistering sun, they didn't look tired at all!

KM 97. Last five kilometers!

When we finally got to KM 101, I told Memes and Randy there was only one kilometer and asked them if they could sprint to the finish line, and they gladly obliged. We were also happy; our runners were almost at the end of their journey!

Last few hundred meters!

And when we finally got to the much awaited finish line, Memes and Randy kept true to their word; they really did sprint towards the finish. There was nothing like seeing our alaga cross that much-awaited finishline! He clocked in at 15:09:39 :)

Sprint to the finish. You can actually see the finishline!

Randy crossed the finish line right after Memes. I myself was feeling rather euphoric, so I can just imagine how it felt for them to cross the finish line after a hundred and two grueling kilometers!

Memes at the finish line with Sir Jovie, aka Baldrunner :)

Upon reaching the finish line we discovered that Memes and Randy were 44th and 45th to finish, respectively. They had overtaken many runners in the last stretch of the race!

Memes, at the KM 102 marker, with his medal and trophy :)

The finish line was the most festive I've ever seen. Sure, there were no balloons or promo booths, there was no bubblegum pop music, nor was there confetti or free Gatorade, but the exhausted exhilaration on the faces of the finishers was unlike those I've seen in any running event.

We couldn't stay for long, to wait for everyone we knew though; Memes was exhausted and all of us were famished. We congratulated the runners around, boarded the car, and drove again, until we got to a place called Holiday Land in San Fernando, Pampanga, where we had unlimited food and iced tea for P160! The food wasn't fabulous but the halo-halo, kare-kare, balot ala pobre, and other dishes were enough for us to call it a feast after almost twenty-four hours of travel and running/support.

Out of the blue, we talked about whether Memes would want to run again in 2013. His answer was an almost resolute yes; whether he wanted to do BDM 102 or the 100-miler (160km) event, he didn't know, but he was almost certain he wanted to return.

So Mariveles, does that mean I shall see you again in a year's time? :)


NOTE: Again, thanks to Team CB, Six:30, Team Ok-Ok Runners, Team Kamote Runners, and the soldier-sweepers for all the help. I don't know what we would've done without all of you!

BDM 2012 (Part 1 of 2: The Road to Mariveles)

When my friend James "Memes" Escasinas first expressed his desire to run in the well-known BDM 102 (Bataan Death March) Ultramarathon, I was probably the first person to pledge my support along with my trusty Innova. Memes is one of my dearest friends, and I'd previously been the driver/support during his first ultramarathon (T2N, which started in Tagaytay, Cavite and ended in Nasugbu, Batangas). My friends and I had no trouble at all getting him through the 50 km back then, and I looked forward to getting Memes across the finish line the biggest race of his life thus far.

Memories of T2N 50k, where Memes placed #13 with a time of  5:05.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, BDM 102 is one of the most prestigious local running events during which participants run a 102-kilometer course that begins in Mariveles, Bataan and ends in San Fernando, Pampanga to commemorate the original Bataan Death March during World War II. Runners are required to have their vehicles carrying their own support crew who will provide them with their hydration, food, and medical supplies during the quest to attain the much sought-after BDM commemorative trophy and medal. This year it was held on March 3-4, 2012, starting at 10:15 PM with a cutoff time of 18 hours.

The coveted trophy and medal.

More than a month before the race, Memes had been contemplating on whether to push through with the event knowing he was undertrained. Memes and I are both active members of the Happy Ortigas Team (HOT) Runners, but many of us had significantly lessened our mileage after our last running event, the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore, due to the busy holiday season. But knowing he'd already signed up and paid, Memes decided to go through with it anyway, with Condura Skyway Marathon as his longest run prior to the event.

Since there were two other events held that weekend, namely the Ateneo Aquathlon and Leg 1 of Run United (the Runrio Trilogy), forming a dependable support crew was not that easy. Finally, two weeks before the event, our support crew of five members dubbed "Team Memi" was completed, consisting of me, Mich (who'd supported Memes during T2N with me), Jill (everybody's favorite "mom"), Drew (team leader of AdiNation of Runners - Ortigas), and Hapi (a very good friend who's such a night owl so he's perfect for overnight events). Our friend Ron couldn't come as he had a family event, but he pledged support and took care of logistics and many of the supplies we need for the trip.

Team Memi, fresh and ready to go! (Not in picture: Ron, who took this shot)

Memes met us on March 2, the day before we had to leave, to discuss our support plan and plans for the weekend, and the following day we met at mid-afternoon to depart for Mariveles, Bataan. It was a long trip; I dropped by for everyone in their respective areas and before 6 PM we were on our way to Mariveles. The trip was noisy and fun; Memes was slightly nervous but could still joke around. He was also partly in jitters because this would be the first event he would run without the aid of MP3's, since these were banned following an accident that happened during BDM 160 in January.

Supplies!

We didn't anticipate that the trip was going to be that long; we arrived at the venue only about an hour before the 10:15 PM gunstart. The air was less heavy than I expected. I came across some of the runners and support crew members I knew and wished them luck, but most of the time we were focused on taking pictures and preparing Memes for the race.

In solemn prayer.

At around 9:30 PM Memes headed for the starting line. After national anthems (since there were international participants), prayers, and more pictures, the gun fired. We got the car ready and we were off!

Go Team Memes!

Supporting one of my dearest friends during the Bataan 102K Ultramarathon (from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga) this weekend.  Team Memi all the way! :) 

Midnight Marathon: The Condura Skyway Marathon

Three full marathons.  Each made me face a new challenge. The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, I battled plantar fasciitis, severe chafing, and the pains of a first marathon. The second, Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) presented us with a tough route and tough weather. On the other hand, my third full marathon and the country's first midnight race, the Condura Skyway Marathon, felt more like a mindgame.

Before the Race


The nervousness began to kick in the week prior to the marathon. My ankle, which I'd sprained during SCMS, was better but still not in top shape. A bout of flu had bogged me down the previous week, so I decided to take it easy as early as Wednesday night, carbo-loaded Thursday night (thanks to my good friend JR!). On Friday I loaded up on Gatorade (a pre-race ritual); by then I was a nervous wreck and could hardly think of anything else but the forty-two kilometers that awaited me.

The gun was to be fired at midnight. I figured I needed to wake up late on Saturday morning, so I slept at about 3:30 AM Saturday morning and woke up at past noon the next day. I loaded up on Spam (another pre-race ritual) and did a bit of quick window-shopping on Saturday afternoon (attempts to nap had failed), then went home to wait for Doc Dave, JC, and Kevin (who was running his first marathon), who were riding with me to Alabang. Doc Dave took the steering wheel -- and it was a good thing too, given how bad I am with directions -- and we got to the South in record time, more than three hours before gunstart!

Dinner at Starbucks

Once we'd settled down and parked, we decided to have a light dinner at Starbucks Festival Mall. After dinner we got into our gear, stretched, and warmed up for a few meters. About thirty minutes before the race I headed to the front of the start line apart from my friends. I did so with reluctance, since I was under Wave A, which I expected would be comprised of tense, competitive runners. I stretched my ankle hoping it wouldn't give me any problems, and I prayed silently and asked for guidance every step of the way. In no time, fireworks were sent up in the air, and the gun was sounded.

Pre-race jitters!

First Half


Wave A was divided into two groups. Once we were allowed to run, many of them went speeding off, and it was hard not to get caught up in the pace of the people around me. I didn't feel fast, though at least my ankle was behaving.

I immediately realized two things: males greatly outnumbered females, and this wasn't going to be an easy run. Hydration stations didn't come at regular intervals and didn't offer much variety (basically I stuck with water since there wasn't much 100plus offered, though  I'm not a fan of carbonated sports drinks anyway). KM markers were present, but most were a few hundred meters off, so decided to rely on Bee, my Garmin, instead of the markers.

The rolling terrain started as early KM 5.  The absence of cars and obstructions was a good change, although after a few more kilometers I was already bored with seeing nothing but the road. The skyway was well-lighted, yes, but the surroundings were pitch-dark. I was more than grateful for my Sony Walkman earphones, which kept me from losing my sanity, which became hard after KM 10. The terrain was not consistent, and I wanted to reserve my speed bursts for the downward slopes. I was also starting to feel hungry, so I gratefully took a banana when I got to the banana station. I was relieved when I got to around KM 21, since that meant I was halfway done, unfortunately at this time I started to get really bored; it felt like we were going around in circles.

Second Half


I reached a wall at KM 22. By this time I knew it was almost impossible to achieve a personal best. I took my single packet of Roctane and almost immediately felt the much-needed boost, because as if seeing nothing but pavement wasn't enough, there was an area we passed three or four times! There was also supposed to be a gel station around around this area, but I didn't see it. I could feel salt as I brushed my hand along the skin on my arms.

Dark, dark , dark! Photo courtesy of Senator Pia Cayetano :)

A few kilometers later I hit an even bigger wall. I was still feeling strong, but I just couldn't feel the drive to run anymore, and I actually started contemplating how long it would take me to finish the race if I walked the rest of the way. I could feel that my feet were starting to blister. There was the consequence of being a forefoot striker, that is, the growing soreness in my calves. I tried to change my stride, albeit unsuccessfully. The only thing that perked me up was that the weather was as close to perfect as it could get, given that it was February and still quite dark.

My mind started to go blank; I could think of nothing but my music and the pounding of my feet against the pavement. It was a relief every time I saw a familiar face, since this seemed to take my mind off my hunger, chafing, and blisters. I couldn't help but miss the terrain of my last marathon in Singapore. Although SCMS' route was more challenging, it wasn't as much of a mindgame as this one, and the pavement there had been more forgiving on my soles and knees.

At around KM 37, I resigned to the fact that I wasn't going to achieve a sub-6 finish nor a personal best. I needed to cover five kilometers in about thirty minutes, and I knew that would be impossible given the gnawing pain in my legs and arms caused by chafing. I silently scolded myself for forgetting to apply BodyGlide; my calves were strained but my heart and legs still felt strong (thank you, yoga and BodyPump!).

Last 3km!!!

Coming across some 10k and 21k runners helped me pick up my pace a bit. I knew I still had a lot of energy left inside me, and I didn't want to put it to waste. This, along with my favorite music coupled with cheering from friends, drove me to sprint when I finally saw the finish line about a couple of hundred meters away. The feeling of euphoria was nowhere close to how I felt when I finished my first full marathon (or the second, for that matter), but it still felt great draping that gigantic medal around my neck.

Platito medal + Popsicle = Happy Runner!

Post-Race Thoughts


Race organization was top notch. Registration (which I did in Riovana Katipunan) was a breeze, though it had been the priciest road race I'd joined held within the metro thus far. Hydration stations were well-stocked, kilometer markers were placed at regular intervals (though many were a few hundred meters off), there were banana stations, and the route consisted of rolling terrain and was quite challenging. Cheerers at designated stations gave runners a much needed boost when we needed it. And I must say, the weather was perfect.


However, I admit that of my three full marathons, the Condura Skyway Marathon was, by far, the least memorable and the greatest test of patience.  When I ran the half-marathon the previous year I was so anxious to get on the skyway; this year I couldn't get wait to get off it! It got especially bad around KM 25-30, where there were endless U-turns that meant we passed the same area four times!

Mindgame!!!

Also, the time of the race also meant darkness; the skyway itself was well-lighted, but the surroundings were pitch-dark and hardly offered any view. Also, drinking nothing but water did nothing to curb my boredome. The only alternative to that was 100plus, and I'm not a fan of carbonated drinks during races. Energy gels were present but were apparently not well distributed.

Daybreak, with less than 1 km to go! :)

Being held at night was not all bad, of course. I'm naturally a night person, and a night run also meant not having to battle heat, which (along with humidity) had been my primary nemesis during my first full marathon. The light traffic allowed the closure of the skyway to traffic, which consequently permitted runners to roam freely without the worry of cars and pollution.

Prior to the race, I'd been thinking about whether the Skyway Marathon would be my last adieu to the world of full marathons (within the country, at least). But my half-baked finish and knowing I can do much better instills in me an extraordinary determination.

So shall I start training for the Milo Marathon later this year? ;)