It all started in BDM. When Isko requested a support team for his take on the 102km challenge that was the Bataan Death March in April of this year, I got hooked to the 'support the runner' idea. Thus, on Oct 24, when the boys needed support for the 42km Subic International Marathon, I immediately geared up into planning mode.
October 24, 4:30 pm. Our white support van inched its way after other support vehicles as soon as the runners took off. Like a huge python snaking to the left lane to Subic, the road warriors sped off to beat the setting sun. One by one, I recognized some of the runners who were both ecstatic and excited to hit the SCTEX asphalt for the first time. It was just contagious. If I was not in the support vehicle, I could have been one of them too. Nah, maybe next year ;)
However, the ecstasy lost its vigor when we noticed waterless aid stations. It didn't bother us (of course, it won’t bother us – we’re not running! Duh!) until we got to the next station. Still no agua!…poor runners! With 16 more kilometers to Subic, how does one survive? Ask the lovely ladies in the white van if they can spare water. And that was how our support vehicle was converted to a mobile water station for the next or so kilometers. And like the drug, the frenzy that started at Floridablanca turned into a nightmare when darkness overwhelmed SCTEX. One by one, runners come up to us for water and we have to offer what we can and what we have – water, bananas, Gatorade, eggs, wheat bread, chocolates…until our very own supplies ran out. With only 7 kilometers left to the finish line, the runners had to accept any hydration that was being offered – refilled Gatorade, half of another runner’s bottled water, oxygenated water (?). It was here that I wished we had brought more water than the two 6 liters of water that we had. At 5 hours and 10 minutes, Ian and Isko crossed the finish line dehydrated, exhausted but triumphant. Eugene came in 24 minutes later. Jeff and Gene – who were both BDM veterans – finished under 4 hours. It was late and I was also tired – supporting this race was, in fact, more tiring than during BDM in April. Maybe it was the fact that we had to provide supplies, not only to our runners, but to everyone who asked for it. At least, my fatigue slowly shook off when I saw the runners crossing the finish line while the boys were still having their own proud (mary) moment…
ADIDAS KOTR: Up on my Heels
The thought that I will claim another PR at KOTR dwindled away when we left Subic at midnight. Without enough sleep and rest, I bet that I will only be walking the whole 10k stretch. Still, with the addiction gradually controlling me at every race, I got ready at 4am, downed half of a hotdog, took my vitamins, and stretched.
At the 6am gun start, I was unbelievably up on my heels and eating everybody’s dust. Ian, who became my constant pacer from the starting line, albeit his weak state, made sure I was not inching away from the 7min/km mark and breathing like a cadet. Eugene would keep the stories coming and then break away every once in a while whenever he feels leg pain from the 42k run they had 9 hours before.
It was remarkable that I kept on running until the aid station after the Buendia flyover – where I walked and counted 10 seconds while waiting for Ian to get me a cup of Gatorade. I ran off again until after Makati Avenue where I had to take another walk break - at 20 seconds this time. This went on until I reached the Buendia flyover back to the Fort. I crossed the finish line at 1:15:30 - 2 minutes and 30 seconds better than my last one and 30 seconds earlier than my best one. Whew!!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
QCIM: Pulled it off until the sandman came.
The game plan was NOT to do a PR on Sunday’s run and just to take it easy and enjoy my first time to run the wide Commonwealth road – which I only traverse while in a vehicle. Although I am a morning person, having zero sleep for two consecutive days left me so tired and weary when I landed at Quezon City Hall. The cool weather and the early morning darkness - as I came in before 5 am - didn’t help either that I had to rob forty winks before the 10k gun off.
After the 42k warriors were sent off, I swept through the crowd and was tapped by Pat, who was a pacer for 21k, met with Mina and Perry, who were also running the 10k, and sized up the mood. It was festive and upbeat. Save for the sleepy policemen behind the stage, everyone was up and ready to hit the road.
The bluish atmosphere sent a chill through my spine after the gun off, along with the thought that I will be running through a car-free Commonwealth. And it was not hard to miss the bands and the cheerers near PNB, UP, and Tandang Sora. I expected the first 3 kilometers to go through the academic oval in UP – as indicated in the map, but alas, I was a bit disappointed to learn early on that the route is just the whole stretch of Commonwealth from Philcoa. After the first kilometer, I noticed that the kilometer markers for the 10k were in blue background…hmmm, looks like they’re color-coded – nice touch. The aid stations on Km2 were posted on two lanes – which provided enough hydration for runners plying the 8 lane road. Every now and then, I get remarks from my left and right which I acknowledge despite the trickles of sweat and the panting. To “ayan, malapit na tayo sa paakyat – good luck sa atin!” I would reply “yessir!” “jog lang, lapit na turnaround” – a smile. “hi!” “hello!” “dito ako, para may inspiration” – a smile again. And these kept me going until I reached the horde of 5k and 3k runners on my way back to the elliptical road.
Going back was not as grand as I had to bump into some walkers along the way, good thing my ‘christmas shopping skills’ worked overtime. I half expected to see the finish line at the same jump-off area near the city hall grounds, and was relieved to find that we were turning left smack into the heart of QC circle, where the activity area was – the same venue where the CLP was held Friday night. A band was there to greet the finishers when I clocked in at 1:18 on my watch, along with a number of long queues of runners lining up for freebies. Satisfied with how the race turned out, from the aid station to the marshals to the kilometer markers, and to the route, I rehydrated with a bottle of 100plus. Contented, I waited for a couple more hours at Max’s and recharged with a combo meal and halo-halo. When I got home, took a refreshingly hot shower and my much needed (and wanted) ZZZZ’s.
After the 42k warriors were sent off, I swept through the crowd and was tapped by Pat, who was a pacer for 21k, met with Mina and Perry, who were also running the 10k, and sized up the mood. It was festive and upbeat. Save for the sleepy policemen behind the stage, everyone was up and ready to hit the road.
The bluish atmosphere sent a chill through my spine after the gun off, along with the thought that I will be running through a car-free Commonwealth. And it was not hard to miss the bands and the cheerers near PNB, UP, and Tandang Sora. I expected the first 3 kilometers to go through the academic oval in UP – as indicated in the map, but alas, I was a bit disappointed to learn early on that the route is just the whole stretch of Commonwealth from Philcoa. After the first kilometer, I noticed that the kilometer markers for the 10k were in blue background…hmmm, looks like they’re color-coded – nice touch. The aid stations on Km2 were posted on two lanes – which provided enough hydration for runners plying the 8 lane road. Every now and then, I get remarks from my left and right which I acknowledge despite the trickles of sweat and the panting. To “ayan, malapit na tayo sa paakyat – good luck sa atin!” I would reply “yessir!” “jog lang, lapit na turnaround” – a smile. “hi!” “hello!” “dito ako, para may inspiration” – a smile again. And these kept me going until I reached the horde of 5k and 3k runners on my way back to the elliptical road.
Going back was not as grand as I had to bump into some walkers along the way, good thing my ‘christmas shopping skills’ worked overtime. I half expected to see the finish line at the same jump-off area near the city hall grounds, and was relieved to find that we were turning left smack into the heart of QC circle, where the activity area was – the same venue where the CLP was held Friday night. A band was there to greet the finishers when I clocked in at 1:18 on my watch, along with a number of long queues of runners lining up for freebies. Satisfied with how the race turned out, from the aid station to the marshals to the kilometer markers, and to the route, I rehydrated with a bottle of 100plus. Contented, I waited for a couple more hours at Max’s and recharged with a combo meal and halo-halo. When I got home, took a refreshingly hot shower and my much needed (and wanted) ZZZZ’s.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Happy Thoughts
While I was huffing and puffing on the way up to the Philippine Army HQ during my training at Mckinley last week, coach kept on saying, “Think happy thoughts…inhale, exhale, happy thoughts lang. Humps lang sa atin yan…” A cacophony of images ran through my head. It was difficult to point on just one happy thought when you’re breathing hard and propelling harder. I had to focus on the uphill attack – fast and furious! And then I have to think happy thoughts???!!!
How can two extreme emotions be happening at the same time? I know it happens in another set of exercise which is equivalent to one flight of stairs but while running???!!! With pain and a happy thought mixed together, all I could think of is a burst of energy – then, I guess, it really works.
So, this time I went through my desktop and captured every “happy” image I could browse through. I have more but this will do for another week of training…
How can two extreme emotions be happening at the same time? I know it happens in another set of exercise which is equivalent to one flight of stairs but while running???!!! With pain and a happy thought mixed together, all I could think of is a burst of energy – then, I guess, it really works.
So, this time I went through my desktop and captured every “happy” image I could browse through. I have more but this will do for another week of training…
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Green Revenge
Everything I learned from Isko’s training program, I applied at today’s Milo race. And I’m so glad I did. After the gun-off at 6am, I told myself that I will maintain a 7min/km pace – in order for me to beat my former Milo 10km finish time last July.
As soon as I heard the ‘chip’ squeaked, I pressed start on my Timex watch and ran off. The first kilometer read 7:13 on my watch. Crap. 13 seconds too late. Bid Grace goodbye and went off. Propelled harder on the second kilometer and timed faster – 6:45. Yeah! I maintained the 7 min pace for the next 5 kilometers, all the while making math computations in my brain. As an English major, you must understand how difficult that is for me.
Unfortunately, I trickled off to an 8 min pace at km 8 and was already huffing. “Push! Wag mo pansinin sakit sa katawan. Sa finish line ka na mag-reklamo…konti na lang!” Sprinted off at the last 500 meters and finished at 1:16 on my watch. Sweet! Got my revenge against my last Milo 10km of 1:27! (And a 4 minute improvement against my last 10km) Yeah!
the coach after his 42km
As soon as I heard the ‘chip’ squeaked, I pressed start on my Timex watch and ran off. The first kilometer read 7:13 on my watch. Crap. 13 seconds too late. Bid Grace goodbye and went off. Propelled harder on the second kilometer and timed faster – 6:45. Yeah! I maintained the 7 min pace for the next 5 kilometers, all the while making math computations in my brain. As an English major, you must understand how difficult that is for me.
Unfortunately, I trickled off to an 8 min pace at km 8 and was already huffing. “Push! Wag mo pansinin sakit sa katawan. Sa finish line ka na mag-reklamo…konti na lang!” Sprinted off at the last 500 meters and finished at 1:16 on my watch. Sweet! Got my revenge against my last Milo 10km of 1:27! (And a 4 minute improvement against my last 10km) Yeah!
the coach after his 42km
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