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 :)

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? ;)

Take Three

When I started running three years ago I could never have imagined running a 21k.  This weekend I shall be going through five cities on foot as I run my third full marathon.  Godspeed to all of us, Condura runners!  Here's to a strong finish for us all :)

2011 Race Awards

In the spirit of the new year and remembering the experiences of 2011, I present my race awards for the second year in a row :)


Best Value for Money: AdiNation of Runners 5th Sunday Runs (January 31, 2011 and May 29, 2011) , McDonald's McHappy Run (November 11, 2011)

The AdiNation of Runners 5th Sunday Runs held in January and May 2011 definitely take the best value for money award.  For a reasonable fee of P50, we were given race bibs, breakfast, Adidas freebies (such as water bottles), and decent hydration during both events, and winning teams were given Adidas products for prizes.  The catch, however, was that you had to be an active member of the AdiNation of Runners, and you were required to have a minimum number of stamps (attendance) during ANR sessions.  As an active member and assistant coach of the Ortigas chapter, however, that was no problem for me.

Adination of Runners - Ortigas Chapter 5k Women's Relay Team during the 1st ANR 5th Sunday Run (January 30, 2011)

For non-exclusive races, McDonald's McHappy Fun Run held at the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio takes the Value-for-Money award.  At P600, the registration fee for 10k wasn't exactly cheap, but the inclusives, consisting of a Sausage McMuffin and unlimited brewed coffee courtesy of McCafe, unlimited Selecta ice drops, a McHappy finisher's shirt, a donation to the Bright Mind Read project of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, adequate hydration, and a voucher for a free Big Mac for Foursquare addicts (like me!) made me feel like I got my money's worth :)

Sulit! (with running buddies Sam and Memes)

Runner-up: Robinson's Fit n' Fun Buddy Run, Fort Striders
Special Mention: Hyundai Run (I didn't run this, but what run gives you better value for money than a well-reviewed and organized run that's free?)



Best Route (Road Race): Baguio 21k (April 8, 2011) , AXN Runs Philippines (September 18, 2011)

 

The soft breeze, the heavy air, the lush scenery, the scents of nature, the killer inclines...the Baguio 21k run adopted "Feel the hill" as its tagline for a very good reason!  But despite the challenging terrain, boredom was hardly felt since I was busy appreciating the refreshing mountain/countryside view.  And as an added bonus, I barely noticed the time it took me to finish the run thanks to the cool breeze and fresh air (albeit not without a bit of smog from the belching vehicles).

With no less than four flyovers back and forth, AXN Runs Philippines wasn't dubbed as a "run challenge" for nothing!  Beginning and ending in F. Ortigas Jr. (Emerald) Avenue in Ortigas, the route of AXN Runs Philippines brought runners along Julia Vargas, through the urban jungle of C5, straight to Lanuza, back and forth the long and winding flyovers of Kalayaan, Ortigas/Tiendesitas, Blue Ridge, Katipunan, and cruising (walking?) along the other rolling roads and hills along the way.  This was, without a doubt, the best city-based route of the year!

Best Trail: Merrell Adventure Run (June 18, 2011)


2011 was the year I got into trail running, starting with the Men's Health All-Terrain Race in June 2011.  Two weeks after, I found myself joining the Merrell Adventure Run in Montalban, Rizal.  Unfortunately (or fortunately?), strong rains poured the night before, resulting in extremely slippery inclines, fallen branches, and mud mud MUD all over.





During this run I discovered I was glad to have my friend Maynard pace with me across the ten long kilometers.  This was certainly not a run for fussy runners nor the faint-hearted.  I slipped a bunch of times and was more than grateful for the showers provided at the finish line.  The effort required for this 10k trail run certainly bested the effort that is usually required for a half-marathon, but the interesting scenery, coupled with the rush of endorphins after, certainly left me with a feeling of euphoria and excitement for more trail runs in the future!




Most Unforgettable Race Experience: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon 2011 (March 20, 2011)

                  

Nobody forgets their first time.  Bull Runner Jaymie Pizarro made sure this would hold true for participants of the second Bull Runner Dream Marathon held in Nuvali, Laguna.  Joining late meant missing the Bull Circles and Sessions, but this still held true for me.  The race itself was superb: clean air and clear roads, overflowing hydration (never appreciated the many flavors of Gatorade as much!), gel stations, the non-competitive camaraderie and encouragement among participants.  But mustering enough strength to keep myself from giving up and eventually "sprinting" with my friends who'd come along to cheer me towards the finish line while tolerating monthly period pains, the pain of plantar fasciitis, and a very troubled mind makes this event the most unforgettable running event for me thus far.

Special Mention: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore


Held outside the Philippines, the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore, my second full marathon and first international race gets a special mention owing to its pretty singlet, nice medal, and tough route.  And best of all, a strong finish with a personal best 42k time left me feeling exhilarated long after the event.

Runner-up: AXN Runs Philippines, AdiNation of Runners 1st 5th Sunday Run



Best Medal: Corregidor International Half-Marathon

I may not have joined the event this year, but I still can't help but name Corregidor International Half-Marathon's heavy and ginormous medallion as the best medal of 2010.

Runner-up: Condura Skyway Marathon



Best Singlet: Adidas King of the Road (October 23, 2011)

The event's 2010 singlet was a black racerback made of dri-fit material that was plain and basic.  This year Adidas King of the Road decided to go for the polar opposite, providing runners with attention-grabbing bright singlets ranging from fuschia or stark blue for females to royal blue and deep green for males, with the same racerback cut.  Not everyone was pleased with the loud shades, but I was an instant fan.  I even got myself a second singlet at the King of the Road expo, where they were sold for P500 each.


Runner-up: AXN Runs Philippines, Nike We Run Manila 10k (Special Mention: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore, which I think also deserves the best finisher's shirt award)



Most Organized Run: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon 2011

This unexpected surprise arrived at my home after a couple days after a bit of e-mail correspondence!

I named TBR Dream Marathon as the most unforgettable race of 2011.  And because of smooth procedures from bull circles and bull sessions to the race packet claiming/carbo-loading session, and during the race itself -- almost all the flavors of Gatorade you could think up overflowing at each hydration station, well-managed traffic and organized roads, gel stations, useful freebies such as a 1.5 L bottle of Gatorade (Gatorade 1 HR), a Thermos water bottle with an insulated cover and lots of toothbrushes -- I would have to consider it the most organized run as well.  Special recognition is due to the team in charge of distributing certificates; because I was unable to claim my race certificate and souvenir program CD at Mercato Centrale, the organizers sent it to me via Air 21.  Nice!

Runner-up: Unilab Run for Wellness Leg 1


Special Awards
Worst Singlet/Finisher's Shirt: Men's Health All-Terrain Race (mislabeled sizes that were way too big!)
Most Forgettable Run: Goldilocks Run (I might've forgotten about this one if I didn't keep the singlet.)
Worst Organized: Nike We Run Manila, Brooks Run Happy

Total Races for 2011: 27
Total (Official) Mileage (Races Only): 465.19 km


Cebu Marathon (21k)
Greentennial Run (15k)
AdiNation of Runners 5th Sunday Run (5k 5-member women's relay)
Condura Skyway Marathon (21k)
Unilab Run United for Wellness Leg 1 (21k)
The Bull Runner Dream Marathon (Full Marathon)
Globe Run for Home (10k)
Baguio 21k Feel the Hill (21k)
Goldilocks Run (21k)
Brooks Run Happy (15k)
AdiNation of Runners 5th Sunday Run (5k 5-member women's relay)
Men's Health All-Terrain Race (10k Trail)
Mizuno Infinity Run (21k)
Merrell Adventure Run (10k Trail)
Yamaha Run for Heroes (21k)
Robinson's Fit n' Fun Buddy Run (10k Buddy Run)
Rexona Run (10k)
Unilab Run United for Wellness Leg 2 (21k - PR)
Fort Striders Run (10k - PR)
AXN Runs Philippines (21k)
Camsur Marathon (21k)
Nike We Run Manila (10k)
Adidas King of the Road (16.8k)
Energizer Night Run (10k)
Unilab Run United for Wellness Leg 3 (32k - PR)
McDonald's McHappy Run (10k)
Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (42k - PR)

My Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore Experience 2011 (Part 2) -- Second Chance

With the help of my ever-reliable Sleepasil, I was able to get almost six hours of restful sleep before I woke up and put on my new pink Asics top (so much for not using new gear during a run!), my black Nike socks, my trusty Nike Eclipse shoes with about 140km of mileage, my 2xu compression pants which had proven their worth during my previous 32k race, my Garmin Forerunner 405cx, and my Ultimate Direction bib belt with a small pocket and single hydration bottle with a single pack of my favorite strawberry-flavored Clif Shot Bloks. I was careful to put on my bib immediately, since I'd already had experiences of forgetting my bib and d-tag during two separate occasions. I realized I'd left my visors in Manila, so I had no choice but to go without them. I ate a piece of fire floss bread I'd gotten from Bread Talk so I could drink my Celcoxib.

Bib # 736403!

After getting all dressed up, I went on the ten-minute walk towards Orchard Road with my roommates Mich and Drew. As I prayed on the way to the finish line, I told myself that the good thing having run my first full marathon at the Bull Runner Dream Marathon under the most dreadful conditions was that there was little room for surprise and there was almost no way I could do any worse. Running with plantar fasciitis? Done; the pain was in fact more worse the first time around, and this time I was armed with Celcoxib to ease the pain. Running with my monthly period? Check; my previous marathon was run on the second day of my monthly visitor. Lack of sleep? Done; I'd had zero hours of sleep the night before TBR. Hot and humid weather? Also done; TBR had been held in summery March.

Memories of the summery heat of TBR (my first full marathon) on March 20, 2011 in Nuvali, Laguna

Having specified a safe target time of 6:15 to complete marathon in my registration, I was placed in the last wave of full marathon runners, so I headed for (almost) the end of the line with Mich armed with my red bib. I had a sub-6 goal in mind, but I figured any time better than my previous 6:42 would make me happy. I strapped the very useful 5:30 and 6:00 finish time guide bands I got from the BMW booth during the expo on my right wrist. I had previously read that pacers were only available for those aiming for a finish of 5:30 or faster, but it didn't matter, the only thing that went through my mind were the words "slow, sure, and injury-free."

These turned out to be really useful!

The gun fired at almost exactly 5 AM, and given the massive crowd that had shown up to run the full marathon, it took almost ten minutes before I started up my Garmin as we crossed the starting line. Many of the runners around me seemed overly excited, but due to the crowds it was quite impossible to run for the first minute or so without crashing into another runner. There was also a tunnel near the start that got quite claustrophobic, and I realized then that this was going to be a very crowded full marathon. Thankfully, however, it wasn't as hot nor as humid as I expected it to be, though I reminded myself we were just starting.

Fort Canning Tunnel. Photo credit: Shonn Tan (http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5915924293_c0fae63572.jpg)

After about a couple of kilometers the crowd cleared up a bit and I was able to move more freely. I skipped the first 100-plus/water hydration station since runners were crowded all around it, and at around KM 3, I realized I was already in Chinatown and quite warmed up. I enjoyed the first familiar sight, the Esplanade, but after a few more kilometers my plantar started to act up, and I realized I needed to remove my gel insoles.  I veered to the side for a while to roll the insoles on my belt and immediately noticed my soles felt better running without them. But I reminded myself that I needed to take caution or risk suffering the consequences later.

The Esplanade at Night.
Photo credit:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/The_Esplanade_%E2%80%93_Theatres_on_the_Bay.jpg/
350px-The_Esplanade_%E2%80%93_Theatres_on_the_Bay.jpg

The water and energy gel stations were well placed during the first kilometers of the run. We were provided with Shotz energy gel packs, which I stuffed into my belt as well. At around KM 10, I noticed that one of my gel support soles was missing, but I decided to forget about it as there wasn't really anything I could do about it by then.

After a couple more kilometers we entered East Coast park, where we went through lots and lots of trees. By this time, runners were already beginning to slow down. I kept on checking my Garmin then, to make sure I was still on target, as I could feel myself start to slow down as well. I showed no signs of fatigue, but my plantar continued to act up, so I figured it might do me good to run on the sandy sidelines. Not only would this help me avoid the crowds of runners who had already started to walk, it would also do my soles good to run off the concrete. Even more importantly, I realized I needed to change my foot stride. My forefoot strike wasn't going to work this time -- not with the pain of plantar, and not unless I wanted to suffer like I did during TBR.

East Coast Park.  Photo credit: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/20786093.jpg

At around KM 15 I could feel myself starting to slow down more so I popped another of my Clif Bloks. My legs and breathing seemed to be working well then, but I figured it couldn't hurt, and that besides, I was getting hungry. The endless trees went on for about twenty more kilometers, past the 21km mark. I hardly noticed any kilometer markers and had to rely on my Garmin and time guide bands to keep on target. My average pace at the 21 km mark was slower than during TBR, and I knew by then that a sub-5:30 finish was impossible.

Onward to the Second Half

As I passed more of the endless trees I noticed it was getting even hotter and that I was getting slower, but two things gave me a boost of confidence. First, I realized I shouldn't really worry as the people around me were slowing down much more than I was. And second, I realized that although I felt like I was getting broiled under the sun, the Celcoxib seemed to be taking effect on my soles already.  I knew I was really, definitely going to finish this, and the thought gave ne a renewed vigor. My Nikes, despite being all muddy and dirty by then, were going to take me to the end of the race.

Second wind!  From Marathon-Photos.com.

At around KM 25, I passed a Tiger Balm muscle rub station and held out my hands to get some of the ointment, but realized it was going to be hard to rub on my legs as I was wearing compression pants, so I rubbed it on my back and shoulders instead. BIG, BIG mistake; the tiger balm started to heat my skin up and I could hardly keep from yelping in pain. I had to risk staining my top as there was nothing else I could use to wipe myself. I was a bit disappointed while thinking I'd probably lost a few minutes while getting it off, but when my Garmin signaled the passage of KM 28 I couldn't help but smile; KM 28 had been my wall during my first marathon, and I'd been unable to rebound from that wall back then. This time, however, I still felt strong, and I could feel the endorphins coursing through my bloodstream.

You know how they say you should never try anything new during a race? I had to learn this the hard way...

The last ten kilometers felt like a death march. But while I wasn't as strong as I'd been during my 32km race two weeks ago, I could still run though not consistently, in contrast to the other runners around me who had resigned to walking slowly and tiredly.  Passing two water stations that had run dry made me very grateful for my single hydration bottle. Unfortunately, the songs on my Walkman were also running dry. I had only come up with my playlist the day, hence it was already on repeat by this time.

Felt like a death march!  From Marathon-Photos.com.

When my Garmin beeped again to signal the end of KM 38, I felt that mixture of happiness, relief, exhaustion, and victory again as I felt my eyes well up. I popped the last of my Clif Bloks and tried to run/power-walk a little faster until my Garmin beeped to signal that I'd passed KM 42, I looked out eagerly until I finally caught sight of the finish line.

Oh yeah!

I checked my time and realized that I'd done it; I'd accomplished a sub-6 finish with just a few minutes to spare...I'd clocked in at 5:56:50, chip time! While I had not quite achieved my secret goal of 5:45, I was still happy to have finished a whopping forty-six minutes better than my TBR time!

The reading on Bee, my Garmin :)

Post-Marathon

After getting through the marshals and checkers, I immediately lined up to claim my medal and finisher's shirt (unfortunately a bit too big for me, but the design on the back was pure love).

Back of the Full Marathon Finisher's Shirt!

There is no feeling that can beat the feeling that comes with finishing a full marathon, but I had to put my euphoria on hold while I looked for my friends in the crowd.  After spotting a few of them I eventually found  Drew and started to calm down, and it was then that I realized I needed to set out to find Mich, since we had to be in the airport in about four hours. After a bit of commotion which consisted of me bugging the staff, panicked phone calls to our friends, and witnessing fallen runners trembling on stretchers while connected to IV tubes, Drew and I went back to the hotel.  However, I eventually decided went back to Marina Bay, worried, but later Drew told me to come back to the hotel, which was where I found a limping Mich with blistered feet.

The rest of the day went by like a blur. We took showers and pack our things, and once Mich and I boarded our plane that afternoon with our flightmates Memes and Ron, we were almost immediately knocked out.  I woke up about 30 minutes before we landed.

There's nothing like your first time; there's no doubt about it. But my second full marathon, I would have to say, was just as unforgettable as my first. When I remember how I tolerated the heat of the sun, ran (and walked) through the endless trees, winced through the pain of plantar fasciitis (now double plantar!), and mastered the art of weaving through death marchers, most of whom I'd probably never see again, I couldn't help but feel mixed feelings of gratitude and disbelief: I felt grateful to people who pushed me to go for the full mary, and at the same time I silently cursed myself for being so crazy.

Still can't believe I ran this far!

But best of all, my second full marathon made me realize that I'd grown as a runner. After TBR I was literally limping, and I couldn't even drag myself to work the next day, something I was able to do this time. This time I felt euphoric, happy, powered by endorphins, and eager to do better in my next full marathon. So if there's one statement that could describe how I felt about my entire SCMS experience, I'd say that second time's a charm :)

My Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore Experience 2011 (Part 1) -- Road to the Marathon

It was during the Cebu Pacific 50% seat sale held in February 2011 that the idea of running an international race spawned.  My friends from the AdiNation of Runners - Ortigas started booking seats for the first weekend of December, which is when the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is traditionally held, and at the price of P3,500 roundtrip tickets were a steal.  Before we knew it, a whole delegation of Filipino runner friends had booked flights and were anxiously waiting for the announcement for registration, even if the event was still nine months away.

When the registration finally opened in August, I was torn between doing a half marathon and a full 42.195 kilometers.  Based on the previous year's race's reviews, the half marathon had a more exciting route that went through Sentosa and Universal Studios, but the need to redeem my abysmal first marathon time, coupled with the thought of this being my first international race event and the pressure by my fellow runners (special mention to my friend Mich), drove me to sign up for the full marathon.  I figured there was less room for surprise, since this would already be my second, and that the plantar fasciitis on my right foot, which proved to be my Achilles' heel during the Bull Runner Dream Marathon, would still have four months to heal.  With a bit of reluctance I signed up for the full marathon

Race Confirmation Slip...no turning back!

The trip was hardly forgotten as we booked hotel accommodations and planned itineraries, and the months flew by.  By September my plantar had gotten loads better, and despite my lack of run training I was able to build up on strength through yoga and weight training.  By November I ran the 20-miler (32k) race during the 3rd leg of RunRio's Unilab Trilogy.  Unfortunately, it was during this race that pain in my left foot began to gnaw at me, and fears of having to tolerate the pains of plantar during a marathon grew all over again.  My last race before the big day was McDonald's 10k McHappy Fun Run.  I could still feel pain in my left foot, but by this time, I knew there was no turning back.

By the week of the marathon my friends and I could hardly think about anything else.  When I started packing the first things to go into my luggage were my compression tights, my sports bra, my race registration, my trusty Nike Lunar Eclipse shoes that got helped me attain most of my personal record times, my one-bottle hydration and race bib belt, my gel foot support, and my race survival kit (which carries petroleum jelly, sunblock, one pack of Clif Bloks that I'd purchased a couple of days before, my Sony Walkman earphones -- replacing my old pair that had just retired days before).  I then threw in a bunch of clothes and I was set to go.

Day One: Welcome to Singapura!

I left for the airport early Wednesday morning, and this being a holiday I got to the airport early to meet the rest of my "field trip" mates Mich, Drew, Gary, Memes, and Ron.  I slept the entire way and by the time we got to Singapore it was raining, suggesting it might be a wet marathon for us.  There were signs welcoming runners for the event, which got us all the more excited.  We did a lot of walking that afternoon and accomplished a lot: we located and checked in our hotels, had money changed to dollars, got Singapore SIM's, met up with Jill (another ANR Pearl member), and had dinner, and strolled while taking pictures along the famous Orchard Road, where the annual Christmas lights and decors display was already installed and picture-ready.  Signs, advisories, and billboards related to the marathon were already visible everywhere, and we couldn't help but feel excited.  We retired early that evening, knowing we had much to accomplish in the next few days.

Orchard Road: Spreading the Holiday Cheer!

Day Two: The SCMS Expo and More of Orchard Road

My friends and I had signed up for the Closed REPC so we could claim our race kits early and avoid the crowds.  After a brunch of roti and curry, we headed for the expo venue Marina Bay Sands at Harbourfront.  We arrived before 1 PM and met up with other friends, but despite having arrived early, lines were already rather long.

Lining up to enter...and what a long line it was!

The Expo was a runner's haven: there were deep discounts for running clothes and other gears, all kinds of elixirs were on sale (Mich was ecstatic when she found that her favorite gel, GU Roctane, which was out of stock everywhere in Manila, was available at the expo), and there were actually freebies being given out.  We met up with our friend Renze, who works for 2xu's Singapore distributor.  The variety of foods and depth of discounts made the expo feel like a runner's paradise; I ended up buying a pair of 2xu compression shorts at a discount, as well as a bright pink Asics running top sporting the official SCMS logo.

The expo wasn't too big, but it was a runner's paradise nonetheless!

After the expo, we explored the Marina Bay area a bit more then headed back to Orchard.  After more window-shopping and one-dollar ice cream sandwiches, we headed for my all-time favorite restaurant in Singpoare, Marché, a restaurant by the Swiss company Mövenpick, to have dinner.  I had freshly-made ham and cheese crepe and rösti (fried grated potatoes served with a wallop of sour cream -- yum!).  After dinner we explored Orchard a bit more before turning in and calling it a night.

Cheap Thrill: $1 Ice Cream Sandwiches!

Marché: my favorite Singapore restaurant all dolled up for the holidays!

Day Three: Sentosa Island

We started Friday off by heading for Harbourfront again and meeting up with our friends from Six:30 Allan, Jonj, John, and Hendy at Marina Bay Sands, where they were staying. 

View from Marina Bay Sands

After breakfast we headed for Sentosa Island, where Mich and John met up with friends from my running group, the Happy Ortigas Team (HOT) Runner before heading for Universal Studios.  Drew, Gary, Allan, and I, on the other hand, stayed at Resorts World Sentosa, where we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Siloso beach, taking the Skyride, and riding the luge.

Welcome to Sentosa!

Siloso beach in Sentosa is man-made and small, but is said to have a thriving night life.

Allan and me enjoying the Skyride!

The luge was a long stretch of pure downhill fun!

Day Four: Taper Day!

One invaluable lesson I learned from my TBR experience is that I should never exhaust myself the day before the marathon.  Forget the "tire myself so I can sleep early" excuse, and never mind that I wasn't able to use my Fitness First international passport that I was previously intent on utilizing, I was determined to be as lazy and comfortable as I could be that Saturday.  To do this I used my Nike Lunar Eclipse shoes all day to make sure my feet were cushioned (since they were tired from all the walking I'd done in the previous days), and headed off to visit my relatives, Ate Dona and her family, in Pasir Ris, away from the city.

Pasir Ris MRT Station

I took the MRT to Pasir Ris and took the bus to Ate Dona's new place, where she and her family were spending a lazy Saturday afternoon as well.  There I played with her kids Chubby, Timmy (who happens to be my godson), and Mia, and caught up a bit with Ate Dona.  Towards late afternoon I joined them for the anticipated Sunday mass in their parish nearby and then had dinner at Pastamania, an Italian restaurant in a nearby mall, before heading back to the hotel and turning in.

After-Mass Dinner at Pastamania

With my godson Timmy!