Clark International Marathon

This was a welcome change. Billeted at the Holiday Inn, which was a stone’s throw away from the assembly area of the Clark marathon, all I had to do was do my usual 5-10 minute brisk walk/light jog warm up and I already found myself right smack in front of the starting grid as early as 5:15 a.m.

The scene was less populated than I initially expected but obviously I was among serious runners (like those who were willing to travel for a race instead of joining the more convenient Ictus Race at UP).

I had high expectations for this international race. Organizers announced early on that foreigners signified their participation at Clark. (I was eager to get a glimpse of them Kenyan ultra-fast runners.) The race packet also provided strict rules and regulations that were uncommon in other local races I joined, such as water stations every 2km and aid stations on the course that would provide water sponges (cool!). I was certainly looking forward to this.

At the same time, however, I had my worries. I felt no knee pain at that point, but for the past two weeks, running as little as 5k would leave me sore either on my left knee, right knee, or right shin. So, veering away from my usual pre-race thoughts of PR, PR and PR, I found myself fretting over one thought: Will I finish?

The race started on time. Actually, in my watch, the gun for 10k runners was fired at 5:51 a.m. In a snap, we were off. I bid Marga, a fellow Happy Feet runner, good luck as we parted ways among the sea of runners running against a beautiful dawn backdrop.

The start of the course was quite enjoyable; it was downhill! As much as I would’ve wanted to espouse the rule of negative splits, I quickly allowed gravity to pull me towards a fast pace of 4:45 thereabouts. As for conserving energy for the expected uphill climb heading back to the finish, I thought, I would just uhm cross that bridge when I got there.

My first 5k came swiftly for me. I ran it at race pace averaging below 5 and I was pleasantly surprised to find my legs holding up with that speed. I knew I could sustain this, but seriously worried if my legs felt the same way.

Then came the first water station, which was not at 2km as organizers promised, but at the 5k turnaround. I made the big mistake of slowing down to a walk to drink, which based on experience from my long runs is when the pain attacks from nowhere. I suddenly felt slight pain on my right knee.

Needless to say, the race was pretty much over for me then. At 5k to 7k, I slightly slowed down but managed to keep my pace at around 5 to 5:30 while worrying about the pain. But, after 8k, it was troublesome and tiring. I slowed to a 6 (my training pace!) and only hoped that I would still be able to finish. Er, those cold water sponges would have helped, by the way, but I saw none.

Thankfully, I finished with a respectable time of 52.26 minutes. Not my best time but, considering what I went through, I was just glad I made it to the end without crawling.

- Me with a small group of Happy Feet runners. Others opted to join the Ictus run at U.P. -

- Me with Mizuno Elite Runners -

I stayed until close to the end of the awarding—something I rarely do since I am always rushing to get home—and I’m glad I did. With a sad limp whenever I walked, I felt utterly depressed about not being able to “race” due to the injury. What a waste, I thought, since I couldn’t even run my best due to the knee.

However, after seeing other runners, like Jho-an Banayag placing first for females at 42k and Leo Oracion finishing his first marathon at around 3:30, my spirits were lifted. It was just awe inspiring to see these super athletes cross the finish line with so much passion in their eyes knowing all the pain they just went through. How could I even complain about my little knee then?

- Leo Oracion, triathlete and first Filipino to reach Mt. Everest, talks to reporters about finishing his first marathon -

- Jho-an Banayag finishes first for 42k -

I’m home now. In a few hours, I shall pay my therapist a visit for more strengthening and stretching exercises on my legs. As for my next race, let’s not even go there. Let me fix these broken knees first.

- Top male finishers for 10k –

- Top female finishers 10k –

CLARK RESULTS:

MALE (42K)
1st: Hillary Lagat from Kenya 2:26:29
2nd: Cresenciano Sabal 2:26:48
3rd: Juniel Languido 2:29:05

FEMALE (42K)
1st: Jho-An Banayag 3:02.51
2nd: Cristabel Martes 3:07.36
3rd: Flordeliza Carreon 3:10:12

Posted on 01.14.08 to 02 Race Reports. Tags: Clark Marathon, Run, Running. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 17 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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17 Responses to “Clark International Marathon”

1. Way to finish despite the right knee. Your pain is not so little, whine if you want to. No runner is happy to be hobbled by injury, at least no one I know. Great positive attitude though, fix, fix, fix, race later.

   rick said on Jan 14 08 at 12:25 PM Reply
   

2. seeing all those fast elite runners was all worth the trip

   Head to your physio training and make those damn legs stronger for the next race.
   Your PR race is just waiting for you.

   See you soon miss jaymie!

   ben said on Jan 14 08 at 12:29 PM Reply
   

3. where did you go??? was looking for you!

   aba tumakbo pala si leo. di ko siya nakita.

   marga said on Jan 14 08 at 12:54 PM Reply
   

4. I’m a newbie, running for about 3 months now. Your blog has inspired me to keep pushing myself more, and I finally joined my first race yesterday. I finished the 10k in 1:01, nothing to write home about but still, it was a personal record for me

   Like you, I was looking for the water stations every 2km but no big deal, since I usually just drink at the halfway point and at once again after that.

   While running yesterday, I heard someone behind me remark, “May langgam ako sa dibdib!” which I thought was some runner lingo meaning he was getting tired. But true enough, I saw there were several black ants on my arms as well! Must have fallen from the trees…did anyone else experience that?

   Looking forward to the PSE race on January 27. I’m hooked!

   DATC said on Jan 14 08 at 2:35 PM Reply
   

5. Jaymee – Good idea. No don’t stop running. Lower your mileage and continue with your therapy. By the way, I gave you wrong directions the soft trail is at the Junction of Padre Garcia and Dama de Noche. It goes all the way to Acacia corner Batangas North. Don’t run there when it is raining and definitely not when it is dark. You might twist you ankle since there is no light.

   See you at the races or in training

   Mark P said on Jan 14 08 at 3:50 PM Reply
   

6. Was expecting something smoking from you br, but sorry about the knee/s. Yes, get them healthy first even before you start thinking about joining another race.

   roadrat said on Jan 14 08 at 5:14 PM Reply
   

7. Congratulations! Jaymie…
   So…You made it after all to Clark…and bang you did……
   It goes with a trend… adrenaline at the start….a 3:45 start in DND and a 4:30 in Clark..
   That is fast!!
   You did it again……52 with the knees…they are strong…….
   Keep it up…
   Just imagine what your finishing kick will be if you hold a little bit on the start!…………………a new PR on the way!!!

   oknoy said on Jan 14 08 at 5:25 PM Reply
   

8. Rick, now that you gave me the go signal to whine, I’d love to do just that for the next week. Can I?

   Ben, yeah I’m getting tired of talking about all my injuries! My goal now is to strengthen my legs. PRs will have to wait.

   Marga, where did YOU go? I was with Happy Feet the entire time. Wala ka tuloy sa pictures!

   DATC, hahaha I couldn’t stop laughing about the langgam story! Fortunately, I didn’t experience that. I did have more than a handful of tiny flying insects smash into my face and after the race I met others who had those same insects on their forehead and cheeks. Congrats on your 1st race! See you at all the others

   Mark, I’m so scared to run and injured myself again! I’m in so much pain right now so I’ll rest for around 3 days. I’ll look for your patch of grass next weekend! Thanks

   Roadrat, no smoke from me. Just huffing and puffing and whining and growling.

   Oknoy, aw you’re still so positive! I love it! Thanks for the encouragement

   bullrunner said on Jan 14 08 at 6:50 PM Reply
   

9. hi Jaymie,
   52:26 fora 1Ok is alright considering…. (cheers!!!) . hopefully, it will be the start of your racing mode for this year.
   Train safe. regards.
   venice

   venice nepomuceno said on Jan 14 08 at 11:32 PM Reply
   

10. Haha. Still cant get over the langgam story. DATC, you made good time on your first 10k. I will be at the PSE run too. I can almost assure you that will be bug-free. Has anyone heard about the UP Ictus run last Sunday? It felt longer than 10k and the thick fog made it difficult to breathe. I’m finding excuses for my poor time. Or I’m thinking my long run practices for the halfs may be training my mind for endurance but not for speed.

    Tina said on Jan 15 08 at 8:04 AM Reply
    

11. Ictus Run was 10.9km I didnt get to wake up, sayang 250 : ( Guess its back to my old alarm clock then. hehehe

    Jaymie, 52 plus is faster than most guys I know (including me) After reading your post, I regret not joining clark.

    Who’s going to subic this sunday? My running pals wont be with me.

    Mark said on Jan 15 08 at 10:35 AM Reply
    

12. Hi Ms. Tina,

    Please refer to List of Races 2008 for the comments about the UP Run.
    See you all at the PSE Run.

    Nolan said on Jan 15 08 at 11:42 AM Reply
    

13. Hi, Jaymie
    It was nice seeing you running at the front at the start of the race. I told ben chan that we both have the same “irregularity” with our left leg. My left leg is not straight before it touches the ground while my right leg is perfectly straight. I have the tendency to curve my left foot inward before it strikes the ground. This may not be corrected anymore..however, we’ll just enjoy running in every race. Congratulations, too, on your impressive run at Clark..Always think positive..Hope to see you again at Subic.

    jovie75 said on Jan 15 08 at 12:29 PM Reply
    

14. mare are you joining the subic run on sunday? it’s gonna be my 1st run after my nasty injury last october. sana you would. para kitakits tayo uli! miss ko na idol tbr ko anovah?!

    banggigay said on Jan 15 08 at 5:38 PM Reply
    

15. Hi Venice, thanks a lot. No racing for now

    Tina, I share the same worries—about losing speed as you run longer. Just make sure you have your speedwork sometime during the week.

    Mark, never experiment on a new alarm clock during a race! haha. I hardly slept before clark because I left my alarm clock at home and used my cell instead which failed me twice in the past! I was waking up every hour to check on the time!

    Baldrunner, was it that obvious? Yeah, my trainer once told me about it but I always need someone to remind me Can’t make it to Subic. Hope you have a good run.

    bullrunner said on Jan 16 08 at 9:00 AM Reply
    

16. hey, congrats on the race! even if it wasn’t your PR, that’s still one hell of a run! btw, i noticed you’re wearing a garmin… where’d you get one, and how much is it? thanks… keep on running!

    joe said on Jan 16 08 at 3:48 PM Reply
    

17. Hi Ms. Jaymie!

    Congratulations on the finish despite your knee problems.

    In behalf of the whole Clark Marathon Team we would like to thank you for taking part in the 1st Clark Freeport International Marathon. We apologize for the water stations and the lack of cold water sponges. Rest assured that this shall be fixed in next year’s marathon.

    Should you have any further feedbacks and suggestions as to how we could improve next year’s marathon, please drop us a line at feedback@clarkmarathon.com.

    You can check out the2008 Clark Marathon Race Results at the Clark Marathon website.

    You can just enter your bib # and you’ll be able to get your results. The generated bib is actually an image so you can just save it and keep it as a souvenir.

    We hope to see you again next year.

    The 2008 Clark Marathon Team

    Clark Marathon said on Jan 26 08 at 10:04 AM Reply