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Condura Skyway Marathon 2011

Condura Skyway Marathon

Details: 6 February 2011, BGC and Ayala
Organizer: Condura, RunRio, Event King

Rating:
5Medals

Good job:
- online registration and kiosk
- clean and comprehensive website
- race kit included safety tips and chocolates
- Runners’ E-Handbook
- attractive and high-quality shirts
- coral system, efficient race start
- ample hydration
- sponges and food
- Skyway route (of course!)
- high quality medal
- photos from marathonphotos.com (although I prefer Photovendo)
- medical aid throughout the route
- cheerers at the finish line
- giveaways and booths at the finish
- changing areas
- personalized finisher’s certificates

Needs improvement:
- more portalets along the route please! This runner needed it badly

Condura has definitely outdone itself with its spectacular staging of Condura Skyway Marathon. 13,000 runners participated in the event which offered local runners a taste of a well-managed event that is definitely at par with international races. By 2012, we hope that foreign runners can fly in to experience this awesome race.

Noticeably different this year was the back-to-basics approach of the organizers. I was told they focused more on providing runners with the essentials of the race (e.g., water, marshals, etc.) and delivered on these over and beyond expectations rather than spending precious time and money on frills and festivities—which I think is a good thing! The highlight of the race was the actual run on the Skyway; seeing the runners on both sides of the road was already a sight to behold.  If you were looking for all the unnecessary race embellishments that I personally think we can do without, such as LCD screens or entertainment, you wouldn’t have gotten it in this race. This Condura Skyway Marathon was a runner’s run and truly one of the best races organized as of late.

To the Condura Team, RunRio, Event King, and all those who worked long and hard for this race, huge congratulations!

———————————-

OFF TO A BAD START

It had all the signs of being an awful race. Fever on Monday. Tons of work for the entire week with Galloway, plus a side trip to Cebu on Thursday.  To top it all off, I had a whopping 5k for total weekly mileage and skipped both strength training days…Yikes. I pretty much knew that I shouldn’t even hope for a sub-2 half marathon, much less a PR. I was so out of race mode that I had to rush back home for my D-Tag shortly after I realized I left it. I only had one thing to be thankful for: I didn’t sign up for 42k!

I arrived at the assembly area alone since Hubby wasn’t feeling well. It seemed like everyone signed up for this race; there were familiar faces everywhere from the portalets to baggage counters. I even spotted Ton Concepcion being the ever so hands-on race organizer attending to the queues at the baggage check in. I entered the assembly area and waited for my 21k race to start along with friends in front, to the left, and behind me. When the race started, I barely had time to wish them luck. I clicked on my Garmin, put my earphones on, and ran ahead.

ZONED OUT

As I type this, I can’t even remember clearly the roads that we took leading up to the Skyway. The hubby, who was eager to hear stories about the race that he missed, received nothing but a blank stare from me when he asked: How did you enter the skyway? Where was the turnaround? Duh. I couldn’t remember a single thing!

What I do remember was how great I felt running through the Skyway. Running on the paved, slightly undulating and seemingly endless road was almost tranquilizing just before dawn. There were no sharp turns nor potholes to ruin my stride; I set my sights straight ahead and settled into a hard but comfortable pace finding my rhythm. I wasn’t aiming to break my PR nor reach a specific time; I just wanted to run and revel in the experience. I felt like I could go on forever.

REALITY STRIKES

The problem with being ill-prepared for a race is that you feel strong, but at the back of your mind, you know you can bonk anytime if you put too much strain on your untrained body.  So, I made sure not to push too hard knowing that, with the lack of training, I could find myself slowing down by 10km. I rarely checked my pace on the Garmin and listened to my body instead. No signs of weariness in the legs. Don’t go out too fast. Relax. Enjoy. Don’t try to outrun this stupid guy who thinks you’re racing with him.

I was fine for the first 19k. By the last 2k, I was exhausted. And, I knew this was coming. This is how I always feel if my last long runs don’t go past 21k. Had I run much longer a few weeks earlier, I’m sure I would’ve been strong until the finish. Oh well. I ordered my legs to work harder shutting out the weariness from my head. I climbed up Buendia flyover with smaller steps and tried to catch my breath as I rolled down the hill.

Vener

- Thanks to Vener Roldan for the image -

ACCOUNTING TIME

As I breathed deeply to recover while trying my best to just get to the finish, I heard my name: Jaymie!

Coming from behind was, of all people, my accountant who picked up running last year. We used to talk about numbers a lot. Taxes. Income statements. Mayor’s Permits. But, ever since he started running—and discovered that I had this blog—questions from him have shifted from income to races.

He chats me up. Asks my distance (he could converse because he ran 10k!) How I’m doing. And, I can barely talk. And, my eyebrows have transformed into a unibrow to demonstrate that I was in absolutely no mood for chatting. I just nod, wave my hand up to say goodbye, and increase the pace. Sorry dear accountant, wrong timing.

IDEAL FINISH

I head towards the finish—yes, this part I vividly remember—and was invigorated by the enthusiastic cheerers and spectators holding their balloons lining the road. What a fantastic way to end a tiring but completely exhilarating run. According to my Garmin, I clocked in at 2:05 for a 21.45km run with a pace of 5:50/km.

CONA2017

I chatted with a few friends in the post race area (which was huge and festive) and made my way out towards the parking lot. No photos taken, no breakfast with friends. Deep inside, the anti-social, solo runner that I am wouldn’t have had it any other way. A race is always about you and the road and—after conquering the Skyway despite the many challenges—I was on top of the world.

Posted on 02.09.11 to 02 Race Reports. Tags: . Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 25 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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25 Responses to “Condura Skyway Marathon 2011”

  1. It was a very well- organized run. Hats off to the organizers and to the Concepcion bros. ESP. Ton who greeted 42K finishers at the finish line. Lastly, never underestimate the Skyway!!! :-)

    Gino Vineli said on Feb 09 11 at 11:19 AM Reply

  2. Ditto on the portalets. I noticed a lot of male runners making strategic use of the bushes alongside the NAIA runway wall.

    I would also add that marathon-photos.com should be a negative rather than a plus. The photo coverage was pretty thin and their prices are exorbitant.

    Thanks for helping bring Jeff Galloway in. It was my first time to use run/walk in a race scenario and it helped get me to the finish line even though I’m still getting over tendinitis.

    It just feels weird to suddenly be walking only 4 minutes from the start and having to endure curious glances from other runners :)

    Vic said on Feb 09 11 at 11:26 AM Reply

    • Just this morning, two friends have already complained about marathon photo prices. I didn’t even like my photos.

      Run-walk is so much easier done with the a group. We’ll feel a lot more comfortable about this in training runs…and in TBR Dream where everyone knows about it. Maybe I should make a shirt with bold letters in the back: “I am using the run-walk method. Any problem with that?” hahaha

      thebullrunner said on Feb 09 11 at 2:30 PM Reply

      • i would like to get one of those shirts please. lol

        paolojohann said on Feb 09 11 at 6:06 PM

      • I would like to order one too Ms. Jaymie, if you will be selling one ;)

        By the way, I never had the chance to personally thank you during the bull clinic last Wednesday for our “free entrance” in Jeff Galloway’s talk (thanks to Coach Jim Saret, this “guinea pig” felt like I ran 5K that night). Going back to Galloway, his lecture couldn’t be on a good timing. His last advice to me (after the photo opportunity) was “Just ease yourself up to the marathon..” (on the query whether I should do intervals from start to finish). I did what he advised during Condura and got a good race time ;)

        Thank you very much Ms. Jaymie ;)

        Zaldy Santillan said on Feb 11 11 at 6:27 PM

  3. good job/review jaymie!

    could i just add one more item to your “for further improvement” list? i did 21 and am almost always tired after the 16th K. i was hoping for a nice/clear route on the last 5k but was surprised to see everyone along buendia, where the route merged for all runners. very difficult to weed in and out of runners/walkers at that point in the race. it added up to the fatigue that was sinking in. im not sure what could have been done otherwise.

    see you in our nuvali long run. im a tbr dream marathoner. :-)

    Vivian said on Feb 09 11 at 11:32 AM Reply

  4. Not bad at all Jayme for someone who didn’t train much! So when I saw you, you were in your “solo” mood. I’m like that a lot too. Its me, the road and nature and nobody else. Congrats!

    alex araneta said on Feb 09 11 at 12:44 PM Reply

  5. great time!

    were you in dasma in the afternoon? i think i saw you there running with jeff galloway.

    joe said on Feb 09 11 at 5:45 PM Reply

  6. Congrats with your run.., was happy too with the way the run was organized, I was a finisher at 42km but with a forgetable time. Now I know the meaning TRAINING and VASELINE and how they pay off in a marathon.. Keeping those things in mind in the next race.. By the way what are those shoes you are wearing in the photos? Thanks, God Bless and more power…

    Arland Guzman said on Feb 09 11 at 8:06 PM Reply

  7. Agree with you on lack of port-a-potty. I felt that irritating, uncomfortable bladder bounce every step of the way until around 15K where I saw the first portalet. That’s not what they told us at the starting line.

    Dr. Lora said on Feb 09 11 at 8:07 PM Reply

  8. Great review. I’d also like to add more lights on the road…..:-) ang dilim e.

    Webster12 said on Feb 09 11 at 9:10 PM Reply

  9. it was a treat for my hubby and me to fly all the way to manila to join condura..we liked the race and we agree with the comments too…expensive yes..
    and we now know too we need to train..train and more training…

    maya lim said on Feb 09 11 at 10:28 PM Reply

  10. This was our second marathon (the first being the Dream Marathon last year) and we are advocates of the Jeff Galloway run/walk technique and just like our first marathon, the technique did not disappoint. We are proud run/walk marathoners. – T.E. 42

    Gino Vineli said on Feb 09 11 at 10:37 PM Reply

  11. Condura Skyway Marathon this year is indeed a very well organized run. Yes, you are right in saying one of the best races ever. I even saw you running in Skyway when you are already going back, called your name and I’ve noticed that you are definitely serious in running. You’re very fast if you say that you have not trained well. Congrats Jaymie! You are still one of the best female runners I’ve known. See you on Feb 26. By the way, the Bull Circle with Jim Saret was really great and very informative. Thanks alot!

    Mia Macaraig said on Feb 09 11 at 11:39 PM Reply

    • Hi Mia! Saw you last night but too bad we weren’t able to chat.

      Ack, I don’t think I’m the “best female runner.” There are a lot more women faster than I am. Maybe one of the top female runners completely obsessed with running :)

      See you!

      thebullrunner said on Feb 10 11 at 9:13 AM Reply

  12. Nice review! We enjoyed the race too. Looking forward to running with the TBR.

    Lito C said on Feb 10 11 at 4:42 AM Reply

  13. I’d have to agree. The pictures in marathon-photo.com weren’t really nice. The pictures were just in the finish line. I was hoping that they took pictures along the way as well. Yun lang ang pinaka-negative ko about the whole race. The Adidas KOTR photo certificate was miiilessss better than this.

    itskayemiranda said on Feb 10 11 at 9:19 AM Reply

  14. ..hi jaymie, saw you in action at around the 11th KM, you looked super fast and strong…only managed to say “hi” and tried to keep pace, but I said to myself “malayo layu pa to..wag nalang…baka mag-collapse ako.”..run/walk nalang muna hehehehehe.

    Haste said on Feb 10 11 at 11:12 PM Reply

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