Eventually Team Logan was able to catch up with us with their consistent pace for a five-hour finish.  For a good distance we were all running with Team Logan, until fatigue set in.

Team Logan was on a 40-man marathon relay, two persons pushing Justin’s stroller for two kilometers with of course the presence of his loving dad Craig.  As such the team was able to set a consistent pace.  These fresh legs are great for pacing, but wreak havoc to those who have already run the miles.  Some relay members run much longer than their required distance and as such runners come and go intermittently and before I knew it I gradually lost my original stakeholders.  I was a big failure!  Now I’m no longer qualified to call myself a pacer—at that point I became a regular runner—being paced by Team Logan.  It was a humbling experience, but I learned a lot.  Once again my dilemma haunted me—should I have stuck with the plan, or should I have stuck with the people?  I felt like soldier abandoning his post.  It was a run of shame for me; at least I was at the company of good people.

Running beside Pasig River; Rockwell skyline at the background

The Band of Runners

Running is a solitary sport—or so they say.  It’s a sport that is not for spectators and is usually done for one’s self.  Being with Team Logan and takbo.ph made me believe otherwise—it was more than just “passing a baton”—it was camaraderie at its finest.

Team Logan along Buendia

The Heat of Competition

By the time we reached C5 we were really feeling the heat as there were hardly any clouds in the sky.  It was very commendable for the organizers to have provided runners ample supply of water so we were able to douse ourselves with it without worrying for the other runners’ supply.  Of course each water station marks changing of runners, fresh sets of legs.

Buendia Ave. was very pleasant for two reasons: first, there was shade from the skyscrapers that line the road; and second, the lively takbo.ph gang was there to cheer us up!  It was like an instant charge of energy—it felt like their enthusiasm was transferred to us in an instant.  The same energy boost was given to us by another set of the gang approaching Roxas Blvd.  Their rowdy cheers, encouraging banners, and loving support really was a refuge to the hardships we were facing.

Finally we arrived at Roxas Blvd.  This was one of the toughest parts of the race, despite being flat and straight, because there was hardly any shade there, and the scorching sun was very high in the sky.  We had some issues at this part as well because of the number of vehicles and bikers we had to divert (a biking event was being held on the road as well and a dragon boat regatta on the bay).  For the final four kilometers, at the last water station before the finish, it was takbo.ph’s first couple, the Gavans’ turn to push Justin to the finish.

The gang at Roxas Blvd.

The Finish

After more than five hours Team Logan crossed the finish line complete with Justin, Craig, Michelle, and the rest of the relay team.  Finally Justin had just completed his first marathon and I’m glad to have witnessed it firsthand.

Minutes later, one by one, the rest of my friends arrived at the finish including Running Diva who had just completed her marathon debut.  She had an unexpectedly difficult ordeal with PIM, but then again I’ve never heard anyone said that marathons were easy.  Surprisingly even Sir Jovie (Bald Runner) had problems with this race as for the first time I was able to see him finish the race (as he’s usually long gone by the time I finish my marathon), together with Sam (Running Ninja) who also had another mishap.

PIM actual route

Another Surprise

Arriving beyond the five-hour cutoff I wasn’t expecting that we’d have any finisher’s medal, but to my surprise even those who finished in sub-four hours didn’t have any as well!  It was the first marathon that I’ve joined without any finisher’s medal!  It was a very disappointing moment for me as it would’ve been my seventh medal from running, three from half marathons and three from full marathons, and this was my birthday marathon!

Why Do You Run?

Later on I kept asking myself why I did this marathon—had I known beforehand that there won’t be a medal would I still have gone through all that effort just to register for this race?  What was my goal for this race?  Was I only driven by the medal, or PR? – No.  I joined this run because I wanted to.  I was ready to run “bandit” just to run.  I was ready to be a pacer to make for a more meaningful “bandit” run.  I was even prepared to be envious of my friends receiving their finisher’s medal had I not been able to be an official runner.  Should I be affected by a medal that I may or may not receive?  Then I figured that I already received the medal I was hoping for—it came in the form of my family from takbo.ph.  For that I am very thankful, and I know this was one of the best birthday celebrations I had.

Getting complimentary race kits literally just hours before race day comes with a price.  We were surprised at what we saw: a decent singlet, a piece of paper that looked like an event flyer, and… wait, that’s it?!  Apparently we were just a singlet away from a “bandit”—no race number to distinct us and for use at the finish.  The “flyer” served as a “generic bib”—if it was a cinema ticket it would be a gate pass.  It became official—we were complimentary runners!

Fortunately I still had some tricks under my sleeves—I still have the regular race kit from a fellow runner who incidentally registered twice so I’m still “officially” in the race.   The problem was that I need to get it on race day itself—another scenario for trouble.  I hate it when I’m right.

Pre-Race

Before 4AM the gang met up at a 24-hour fastfood a few hundred meters from the starting line.  We had our last minute “carbo-loading” and after a few minutes we were off for the assembly area.  It was such a quick stay that I only had a sip of my coffee, literally.  The trouble now is I still have yet gotten my race bib—the one with a number, that is.

Assembly

It was one of the most attended races so far, and with the backing of ABS-CBN, the assembly area was very lively.  In fact, the race was being broadcasted live nationwide.  The trouble is with all the runners around, I can’t seem to find my friend to claim my race bib.  Frustrating.

Gun Start

Just before 4:30AM the race officially commenced.  I still wasn’t able to get my race bib so I checked in my “generic bib” (prior to gun start of course) as proof that I started at the right place.  I even forgot to start my GF405 after gun start.  I thought that my friend was with Team Logan at that time so I waited for them to start, but after virtually walking for a while I got really bored and just decided to proceed without the race bib.  It turned out that Team Logan started a few minutes late, and my friend wasn’t with them.

Due to all the confusion I broke my targets so early in the race.  I decided to try to catch some time but unfortunately those that I was supposed to pace seemed to start slow as well.  As I mentioned earlier I decided to join this race as a pacer to have a more purposeful “bandit” run but apparently even that plan would fail.  I sure would love to correct my early mistakes but I know that I can’t force it to my “stakeholders” because that would mean doing a five minute per kilometer pace until delays were compensated—too fast, too early.   I also felt somewhat responsible because they probably waited for me.  Plans are being messed up, time for some compromise.

Back in the Game

What I didn’t realize was that my friend who had “my” race bib was indeed part of the relay team but would be starting not from the starting area but on the next relay station.  While approaching the area I heard someone call my name and to my delight it was the person I’ve been looking for all this time! Finally I got “my” race bib, and I’m an official participant of the race.

Running along Mendiola

The Grim Reaper’s List

The ETA list that I mentioned in a post a while ago is back.  That was when I realized the gravity of the situation—we were way off target.  The original plan was to set a pace of 6:30 (per kilometer) but we were running much closer to 6:55—even slower than the average pace needed to finish in four hours and 50 minutes.  We had a dire need to compensate!  My mind was getting nuts thinking of how I can effectively set the pace that would not burn my stakeholders out too early, while catching up for lost time, while still being able to give them their walk break!  If I was a calculator I would probably yield “E”—Error.

Sunrise over Manila

Confessions of a Grim Reaper

I wasn’t about to give up hope so early.  While I still can cover up the severity of the situation (we were gradually losing more time away from target) I would, if it would help motivate my “clientele.”  In fairness we were able be as little as a minute off schedule by skipping a walk break for kilometer 4-5, but eventually I had to give us a walk-break.  It was very difficult to tell them how much time we lost by not adhering to the 6:30 pace but I totally understand because even though the route was virtually flat and at sea level, bridges that we cross aren’t.  The consistently spaced water stations (that also served as relay stations for the 42K relay) didn’t help us get any faster as we tend to stop.  Eventually even the 10-minute buffer I planned to finish within cutoff of five hours ran out—and I can’t set the pace any faster.

The Fit ‘n Right Fun Run would be held at the SM Mall of Asia on November 22, 2009 with 3K, 5K, and 10K events for the benefit of typhoon victims through the SM Foundation.  This race is being organized by CEMG, an events and promotions agency that handles events and activities for brand-building and corporate wellness.  The Race Director is CEMG President and Event Director, Mr. Ed Dames.

Registration

For a registration fee of P300 (until November 16, 2009 only, P400 from November 17-19, 2009), runners can get their race packet with the Dare to be Fit ‘n Right Fun Run singlet, race bib, Fit ‘n Right products, etc.  Interested participants can register at the following areas:

• Bonifacio High Street
  Del Monte Office, B-3, between Crumpler and Nokia.
• SM Hypermarket
  Sucat, Pasig, and North EDSA
• SM Mall of Asia (beside Toby’s)
• Fitness First (November 16, 2009 only)
• CEMG
  3A Vernida I Bldg., 120 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

You may also register online via www.runningmate.ph/del_monte.

Race Routes

Here are high-resolution maps of the 3K, 5K, and 10K events.

Race Packet Distribution

You can get your race packet at the same location you registered with if you register on or before November 16, 2009.  For those who registered online you can claim it at CEMG Office (address above).  Here are the schedules of packet distribution:

Registered before November, 16, 2009: Claim at registration site (CEMG for online registrants) on November 16-21, 2009.

Registered on November 16, 2009: Claim at registration site (CEMG for online and Fitness First registrants) on November 20-21, 2009.

Registered on November 17-19, 2009: Claim at CEMG on November 20-21, 2009.

Just about every plan I had with this race didn’t come to fruition—from registration to meeting targets.  At the same time some of the unexpected came to be, both pleasant and repulsive, making this one of the most stressful but interesting races I’ve had.

Decision at the 11^th Hour

The previous “prestigious” event that I was really preparing for found me flabbergasted—with so much disappointment at that race I felt like I had to get redemption somehow.  Prior to the said event I wasn’t really thinking of sweeping all the “International Marathons”—all I was aiming for was to support our city’s initiative (QCIM) without sacrificing my dream of running at the SCTEX in a decent manner.  For the latter the goal was simple: aim to run my marathon with hardly any walk breaks.  Unfortunately even though I got a new PR I didn’t fulfill my “simple” goal.

By the time I truly decided on joining the race registration was already closed.  It really took me a while to decide to sign up because the day of PIM was the day after my birthday—would you run a marathon the day after your birthday after you had just finished two marathons back to back?

Desperate Runner

Knowing that registration was already closed I was seriously considering a last resort—yes it’s doing the “B” word that I don’t encourage.  It’s not a matter of not wanting to register; it’s just that I can’t.  I was so desperate to join that I event filed a leave from the office to go to ABS-CBN Foundation to try to register, but failed.  So when life gives you lemons make lemonade—in this case if I was to run as a “bandit” might as well make it a more purposeful act—be a pacer… again!

Meant to be

Heaven was hearing my prayers—I found a “legal’ work-around to my “B” problem by getting the race number of a fellow runner who registered double, one for the full marathon and one for the marathon relay with Team Logan (more on this later).  Although race bibs are not transferrable it at least allows me to join the race “legally.”   At that moment I was just ecstatic!  Finally just a few days before the race I’m “legal.”

Another “But Wait, There’s More” Moment

Barely 48 hours before the race I was offered complimentary race kits by Sir Rene courtesy of Quezon City Hall—at first I was reluctant because I already have a kit and didn’t know it was complimentary but due to the urge of fellow runners I again signed up with the idea that I’ll have a kit under my name—full legality and not just a workaround.  But wait, there’s a catch.

(To be continued)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends who greeted me for my birthday yesterday, November 07.  I was really overwhelmed and am sorry if I wasn’t able to respond to your greetings individually (greetings on my Facebook wall exceeded way beyond what can be conveniently displayed) but rest assured I read them all (through my email).  I’d like to thank as well Microsoft Philippines for giving me a licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional as a birthday present.

To my takbo.ph family as usual I’m deeply honored to have known you guys and one again was overwhelmed with the overflowing support you give me, fellow runners, and the running community as well.  I really appreciate all the efforts and the love you gave us earlier during the race.

To Craig, Michelle, and Justin of Team Logan once again you truly are an inspiration to a lot people, myself included, and thank you for giving me the honor of letting me run with the team.  We’ll miss you for the time being and have a safe trip!

God bless!

Ateneo’s Collegiate Society of Advertising (COSA) will be having its first-ever Fun Run on January 24, 2010 (Sunday) at the Ateneo campus grounds called, “RUN AGAINST THE ELEMENTS: Ateneo COSA Fun Run 2010” (3/5/10K) with our slogan: Stand Up to Climate Change for the benefit of Illac Diaz’s project, Design Against the Elements, an international design competition that responds to the call for social and climate adaptation by building sustainable homes.  This was launched to international architects last June 16, 2009 at the Institute of International Education (IIE) at the United Nations Plaza in New York with the support of the IIE, the Philippine Consulate, Gov. LRay Villafuerte, Gawad Kalinga, United Architects of the Philippines and My Shelter Foundation.

Date: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Assembly Time: 5:00AM
Location: Ateneo de Manila University campus grounds
Assembly Area: Blue Eagle Gym
Registration Fee: P350.

Illac Diaz united 47 Pinoy rock artists together to join his campaign.  The end result is “Stand Up” which was officially released to the public at a press conference last October 29, 2009 at the Alliance Française de Manille.

“Climate change is real. Addressing climate change requires a mix of mitigation and adaptation.  This requires more mitigation for industrialized countries and more adaptation for developing countries.  This can be translated into one simple scenario:  While the industrialized world continues to send up tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, whether or not we blur the amounts through carbon credits, hopes are fading for those who will be receiving the sharp end of the Damocles sword; the developing world.  The urgency is to realize that this is not going to stop at 350ppm, or even double at 600ppm, the Philippines has to realize that despite all the petitions and feel good campaigns of dreams for a climate stabilized world, real solutions need to be done.  We have to get to the part where we learn to start dealing with this.  The country is located right beside the warmest parts of the ocean that is in the perfect storm of vulnerable coastlines, intense winds, and an observation of growing dumping of large amounts of rain.  We need to live in a world where climate will hit the poorest of the poor first, regardless of where they live, it will test our resiliency as a city, as a village, as a community, and specially as a people.  This song is dedicated to the awareness that dealing with one ONDOY is not the victory, but a climate of change will be the battle of this generation.” – Illac Diaz

You may contact the organizers via runagainsttheelements@yahoo.com for sponsorship inquiries and other concerns.

You had your marathon training but still feel uneasy about reaching that five-hour cutoff?  Here’s my guide that may be able to help you achieve that sub-five hour marathon finish.

First and foremost, the total distance and average pace.  A marathon is 42.195K long but due to a lot of variables actual distances may vary, but for simplicity’s sake let’s keep it at that.  Given that distance, for you to finish in four hours and 50 minutes you should have an average pace of six minutes and 52 seconds per kilometer.

Unfortunately, it is easier to compute your average pace than actually doing it, especially given additional factors like terrain and elevation, temperature and humidity, physical stamina, and the like.  Keeping track of your current progress is also difficult especially when fatigue steps in.  To keep myself on target I employ an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) list—a list splitting the course into 5K intervals which proved to be successful during QCIM where I first used it.  Here is my ETA list for a 4:50:00 finish:

The list above assumes that you’ll be employing even pacing all throughout the race.  For many runners this could be a problem, so by slightly tinkering with the pace while keeping in mind the ETA, here are other options:

Option 1: 6:30 pace with 8:20 pace walk breaks every 5K

Option 2: 6:31 pace with 10:00 pace walk breaks every 10K

As you can see despite inserting walk breaks the arrival time on key points of the route were maintained.  Also by reducing the number of walk breaks you may enjoy slower and longer walk breaks.  Note though that to reach our goal of 4:50:00 the absolute minimum pace to maintain is the average pace, which is 6:52.

Create your own

I only defined 5K and 10K key points in my options for convenience only but you may set any distance that is suited to you (2.5K, 15K, etc.) provided that at your ETA end of that key point is less than or equal to the average pace (6:52).  To define your walk break (set at 1K for my examples for convenience) simply deduct the total time of your walk break with the ETA at the end for that point.  The pace for the run phase would be the time remaining divided by the distance.  Note that the more often and the slower your walk breaks are, the faster your run pace would be.  Should you prioritize longer breaks or slower run is entirely up to you.

Why 4:50:00?

I chose 4:50:00 for a sub-five hour marathon finish because it yields a relatively relaxed pace for beginners while at the same time having a 10-minute fail-safe time buffer.  At the same time it may also allow faster than estimated finish time should you opt to skip some walk breaks or complete certain walk breaks faster than the time allotted.  Again these are just some personal preferences.

I plan to use the options above for my next “pace” and to those who’d like to try this out with me during PIM this weekend send me a feedback on which option you like better (or should we make a new one).

Should you have more questions in making your own ETA list feel free to ask by posting it via comments.

For the first time since 1982, an American won the ING New York City Marathon.  Meb Keflezighi, 34, won not only the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon but also the USA Men’s Marathon Championships which was held concurrently—first two marathon titles of his career in a single race.  Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, won the race in a personal-best time of 2:09:15.  He defeated his runner-up Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, a four-time Boston Marathon champion, by 41 seconds.  Defending champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil dropped out in the 23rd mile.

Meb Keflezighi, winner of ING New York City Marathon 2009, courtesy http://www.nycmarathon.org/

For finishing under 2:10 Keflezighi also won a bonus of $30,000, winning a total of $200,000: $130,000 for the ING New York City Marathon title and $40,000 for the USA Men’s Marathon crown.

On the women’s side, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia, the Olympic gold medalist at 10,000 meters in 1992 and 2000, defeated Russia’s Ludmila Petrova in the final half-mile to win her first New York women’s title in 2:28:52.  Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, the world record-holder and defending champion, settled for fourth place because of an injured tendon in her left leg.

Six Americans finished in the top 10: Keflezighi, Hall, Jorge Torres (seventh in his marathon debut), Nick Arciniaga (eighth), Abdi Abdirahman (ninth) and Jason Lehmkuhle (10th).  The fastest Filipinos (based on the unofficial results) were Dino Pison (03:28:27) and Michele Chan (03:54:46).

The ING New York City Marathon 2009 drew a record 43,741 participants on a windy, occasionally misty day with temperatures in the mid-50s.

Race results can be viewed from http://www.nycmarathon.org/Results.htm.

This November, McDonald’s is celebrating McHappy Day!

McHappy Day, formerly known as World’s Children’s Day, is a global fundraising effort to support various children’s causes.  In the Philippines, McDonald’s aims to raise funds for the RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES (RMHC) and its two flagship programs: BRIGHT MINDS READ (BMR), a beginning reading program for public elementary schools and BAHAY BULILIT, a program that builds day care centers in low-income communities.

One of the special McHappy Day fundraising initiatives is the McHAPPY DAY FUN RUN.  McDonald’s is inviting adults and kids alike to join and run for a good cause!

McHappy Day Fun Run Date: November 30, 2009
Venue: McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Registration: From November 3 to 25, 2009

Application forms can be downloaded here and are also available in selected McDonald’s outlets in Metro Manila:

Three races are scheduled on that day: 3K, 5K and 10K races—all in support of McHappy Day and RMHC.  There will be a total of 18 winners (each race level will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each for male and female categories).

Register now and join the first ever McHappy Day Fun Run!  It’s time to run, have fun, and give the gift of education to Filipino children.

Subic International Marathon was a unique event that it spans two days and was two races in one—aside from the main SIM events the Nike Human Race were also simultaneously held.

Day 01: Marathon and Nike Human Race

SIM distinct itself from other events by featuring a sundown race for its main event and Nike Human Race also inherited this trait, both of which were held on Day 01.  Here was my partake on the events that transpired during the main event.

Day 02: Side Events

The main event during the first day of SIM served as a precursor for the following day during the side events.  The second day was another higgledy-piggledy event—despite the very narrow confines of the track and the number of runners, the organizers still decided on a mass start! Thankfully there was no stampede.

The assembly area, 5:23AM

Before gun time, the crowd at the staring area…

…going all the way to the back of the track

Because of the huge number of combined runners from all side categories (3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K) being funneled through the narrow tracks it took a very long time before all runners were able to get out of the area.  In fact the winners of the 3K event already crossed the finish line and the starting area was yet to be cleared!

Not only was starting congested, finishing was as well.  Eventually the huge crowd of runners arrived at the finish line and with that the people manning the line was overwhelmed!  This caused a very long line of runners waiting to finish.

The long line to the finish…

…extends way beyond the arch

Can you spot the 21K winner? This was how crowded it was when he crossed the finish.

I got pictures for as long as sunlight permits me.  Once darkness fell onto us, bad things started to happen—and it was anything but supernatural.

The Count of SCTEX

Slowly but surely darkness covered the beautiful sceneries that I sought for with this race, and with that came boredom—yes I got bored!  Running practically in a straight line with nothing no see was boring.  I never had the habit of listening to music as I want to experience the great outdoors fully when I run.  To make matters worse was that there were no lights for most part of SCTEX so you’re virtually running blind!  So what can you do to ease the burden?  Count kilometers!

Water you looking for?

The organizers promised runners that water stations would be stationed every two and a half kilometers.  As I was counting down the meters out of boredom (with the aid of my GF405 of course since there was no distance markers, and if there were it won’t be seen in the dark) I was eagerly waiting for that next water station.  Being “the most prestigious marathon in the Philippines,” I decided to bring only a 500mL of my trusted hydration fluid and rely on the water station as my primary source of water (note: I wasn’t demanding any special drinks, just plain water).  Slowly but surely water stations started getting farther and farther—not because of my perception due to fatigue, but the distances in between really were getting wider!  At first I was telling myself, “Maybe they got the distance wrong, it should be right there, or probably 500 meters further.”  But later on it got 1 kilometer, 2, 3 …wait a minute this is absurd!  And finally after that long wait what do you get—an empty water station!

During the period between water stations (that had water) I had no choice but to rely on the hydration fluid I brought along.  During which of course I had to stick to my plan on when to eat my chewy granola bar (I get really hungry during long runs) and when to take my power gel, which of course is best taken after with water.  Because of the wide gaps between these water stations I almost run out of fluid just barely into the first half of the marathon.

The darkness that is SCTEX

“Prestige”

The worst feeling during this “prestigious” event was the fear of just collapsing due to dehydration with no one seeing you due to the darkness.  For a moment I assessed the situation: I wasn’t even at the 25^th kilometer mark, I’m almost out of fluids, I’m slightly dehydrated, I’m not expecting any water up ahead for the rest of the route, I can barely see my self, and I’m running uphill!  That was the most frustrating feeling I’ve ever encountered on a long run (and I’ve been through much a more difficult ultramarathon!) and my mind was ready to give up on me.  Thoughts of quitting and riding that next ambulance kept playing on my mind.  Quitting?  NO!  Even if I had to walk the entirety of this race I will not quit!  For as long as I can drag my feet, for as long as I can hold on, I will not quit! So that was when finally I started walking.

It was like a sad battlefield that night—you see a lot of runners just walking!  They probably were encountering the same ordeals that I’m having.  Conserving your energy and what’s left of your fluids was the most logical approach to this race if you were planning to finish it—have you ever seen anyone run on a desert?  (Even camels don’t)

Support vehicles run free in the darkness of night.  At one moment I saw one pull over to give supplies to their group of runners who, like me, were also walking.  At that point when I saw them being replenished with their supplies I felt like bursting into tears—here I am walking uphill in the dark, thirsty, with just about a few gulps of fluid, with more than 17 kilometers to go—I felt like I’m all alone in the world.  I had no choice but just continue walking and watch how slowly the kilometers go by.

Miracle in the Dark

God is good.  Out of nowhere there was this vehicle with water with them.  At that time I felt a huge feeling of relief!  I gulped down what’s left of my fluids in the bottle and refilled it with water.  Suddenly I’m alive again!  I stopped eating what’s left of my granola and suspended taking gels because of the water shortage, and now that I’m “charged” I can resume my nutrition plans, although at a more cautions level.  Who knows that may be the last water station I see before the finish!  500mL of water for 17 kilometers—it should be interesting.

Second Wind

It turns out all I really needed was water—I was running again just minutes after my “re-charge.”  Naturally running would also increase your demand for fluids and water stations remained dry so eventually I had to take another walk-break when I noticed that it was getting steeper and my water supply was again dwindling into the danger zone.  It was a steep uphill battle from kilometer 27 until kilometer 34 where it peaked.

Third Wind?

Thankfully by the time we entered SBMA there was finally water!  I was also able to get the lone boiled egg left at the station so I was at my second “re-charge.”  With less than 10 kilometers to go I decided to finish strong—500mL of water plus the relaxing terrain, it’s all green for me.  I was even able to set my fastest kilometer of the race between kilometers 36-37 with 4:53 pace!  Could this be considered my “third wind?”

The Home Run

I was running full steam ahead when a van carrying my friends from takbo.ph passed me by.  It happened too fast as they were heading against me, but when I heard them shouted “Go Dennis!” I knew that the worst has passed (for me at least)—it was all just a matter of time and finally I’ll be done!  They were on their way to support fellow members also running the marathon and I’m glad that they were there to support those who needed it more—their presence was enough for me to feel “home.”

I was able to buy a lot of time when I started running from kilometer 36 and was able to pass a lot of runners as there were only a few that remains running at that time (of course the fast ones were probably finished already).  When I looked at how long I was running I discovered that I was easily on my way to a new PR!  All I needed was to maintain pace—easier said than done but luckily I saw a runner running at a consistent pace of about 5:45 so I decided to tag along (without permission).  I knew that if I had done this alone I may take it too easy so even if I sometimes get a little left behind I always strived to keep up—finish strong!

The “Olympian”

Finally the finish line was just a few hundred meters away.  I was so surprised on how it was set up—on an oval track!  We entered from a side some 300 meters from the finish line and to be honest, that was my favorite part of the race!  I felt like an Olympian!  Marathons usually finish in tracks within stadiums during Olympics so I felt just like that—suddenly all that I’ve been through didn’t matter—that was my moment!  And I didn’t just finish it—I finished strong with 5:45 pace to the line at a new PR of 4:36:36 (gun time, self timed) shedding 11 minutes off my previous.

Runners pass through this arch before leading to...

...the finish line

I’m proud of finishing this marathon because it was very “difficult” and I had to get though a lot of games that my mind played.  This was the most “mental” marathon I’ve had and on the physical side I was still able to better myself despite a lot of walking.

Runner 101 finishing SIM

Subic International Marathon 2009 route

Subic International Marathon, “the most prestigious marathon in the Philippines.”  I didn’t realize that running such a “prestigious” event would be this difficult.  If this is what “prestige” means in a race, I may just keep signing up for “less-prestigious” races.  I love running.  I love adventure.  But I don’t like it when I’m not prepared.  Wait, are we the ones who are not prepared?

Some of the takbo.ph “graduates” of SIM, courtesy Rodel (The Argonaut)

Congratulations to all finishers!