Archive for October, 2009

TBR RACE REVIEW: 2009 NIKE+ HUMAN RACE 10k 

Overall rating (10 highest): 4
Organizer: Eventologists

THUMBS UP:
• Unique concept: to run with the rest of the world.
• Nice shirts. High-quality material, great fit.
• Race started on time.
• Scenic, out-of-town event.
• Nike bags given out after the race.

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:
• Marshals were mostly on bikes only.
• No kilometer markers.
• Lack of water at the station.

Nike calls the Nike+ Human Race “the world’s biggest run” as runners from all over the globe run 10k on the same day. Sadly, the 2009 Nike+ Human Race at Subic International Marathon failed to live up to the hype of the global race and paled in comparison to the spectacular 2008 Nike+ Human Race at McKinley Hill.

Less than 200 runners showed up for the race, which was unexpected for a Nike event, but not too surprising either for an out-of-town race that only offered a 10km race distance and coincided with two other weekend races in Manila. With the limited number of participants, one would think the race organizer could’ve provided runners with a perfectly organized race. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite.

The course initially took runners through flat roads, but eventually led to a steep and tortuously long uphill climb lasting for about 2.5 kilometers. Disappointingly, after the 5k turnaround, there was no water left at the last station. Marshals were mostly on bikes so they failed to block traffic as runners crossed major intersections heading back to the finish.

The saving grace of this race? Wonderful race shirts provided by Nike, plus a chance to view the Kenyans as they finished their marathon. That’s about it.

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I had fond memories of Nike+ Human Race last year. And, the thought of running with the community of runners spanning the globe was a novel idea. So, I was intent on signing up for the Nike+ Human Race this year despite the 3-hour journey from Manila to Clark, the disruption of my training program (I don’t run on Saturdays), and the exhaustion I expected from running 10k that day followed by a 21k at Adidas KOTR the next.

When we arrived at the assembly area in Remy Field, I was surprised to find such a small gathering of runners.  Clad in the red Nike+ Human Race shirts, the runners were in relaxed mode awaiting race start.  I chatted with Nike+ Human Race ambassador, Bards of Banana Running, spotted another ambassador, Lino Cayetano, but failed to see the other three ambassadors.

The race started at exactly 4:30 p.m.  My run was quite the antithesis of the atmosphere of the event. As we rushed out of the track oval and through the flat but busy road, I found myself running in full race mode, not my planned slow 10k. My friend, Alvin, had sent me a commanding text message earlier (in full caps): “EASY PACE ONLY!”, but since Alvin was in distant Manila, he would never know, right?

I had ran this road twice before so it was nothing knew. At around 3km, a man yelled out to me that I was in 5th place, so it gave me an added boost of energy to go faster.

The next portion of the course was a shocker; it was a never-ending uphill climb that left me wishing I had listened to Alvin instead.  But, there was no turning back. I focused on my breathing, took smaller steps, and paid no attention to runners who started walking instead.  It was a long, dreadful, and exhausting climb to the top. What made it worse was I was chasing after the 4th placer!  Shortly before the 5km turnaround, I ran past her. 4th place, baby!

Soon, I rolled down the steep hill I had just climbed. With my paranoia over my old injury, Runner’s Knee, I slowed down and stepped on my inner breaks. By this time, everyone—yes, even those guys who were walking up the hill—were leaving me behind! Grrrrr!  As for that female runner I had worked so hard to overtake up the hill, she swept past me and was gone from my sight in a matter of seconds. Double grrrr!

By the time we reached the flat roads again, I caught sight of female runner again and tried my best to catch up with her.  For the last 2 km until the end of the race at the track oval, I ran close behind her trying to overtake her. I never did. She finished a few meters ahead of me.

I finished the race at 59 mins. Considering how spent I was, I thought I ran it much faster. No worries. I’m just glad I survived the toughest 10k of my entire life.

– with the little Bull Runners –

– Female Kenyan runners gets a well-deserved massage after her marathon –

– Aileen Tolentino, top female Filipino marathon finisher, 3:29:01. Behind her, Mari Javier is all smiles over his new PR, 3:27.   –

– It was nice bumping into Gilbert of Chris Sports and Coach Jim Saret –

Every hard step I took in my first marathon at QCIM has come back a hundredfold by way of wonderful blessings. Here are 5 rewards I received this week for the effort I put in last Sunday:

1. Food

 I think I’ve eaten my quota of food for the whole year in the past five days alone. My first words to my husband after I crossed the finish line are words that he will forever keep in his heart as a sign of our deep and everlasting bond, I said “Do you have food? I need food!”

I’m not a big eater as I put on weight faster than you can say McDonalds, but for the past five days I have been able to eat to my heart’s content. Aaah, if I could I would run a marathon weekly just so I have the chance to eat to my heart’s content.

2. Absence of Soreness or Injury

I vividly remember how I ended my long races in the past: limping way back to the hotel after my Singapore Half Marathon, or cringing in pain as I entered the car on the long drive home from Clark after New Balance 25k. But, now after the full marathon at QCIM, I was a walking fiend, attending a baptism for lunch and dropping by the Adidas Running Expo at SM Megamall. The following days, I barely felt any soreness. My right ankle swelled for a day, but disappeared on its own after some ice (accompanied by minor panic!)

3. Free day from the gym

Nothing compares to the feeling you get when you pick the “Get Out of Jail Card” in Monopoly—except, of course, a free pass from the gym! That’s what I got from my PT, Peter, when I informed him about my 32k-turned-42k last Sunday. He immediately replied: “Skip Monday. See you on Friday instead!” Wooohooo! (Note: As much as I have an aversion for the gym, I would have to admit it played a key role in my performance at QCIM)

4. Confidence

You don’t know how nervous (read: paranoid) I was about my goal marathon, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. 42km was a number that was simply out of reach. I worried about hitting the wall at 32km, cramping up, or my knees locking midway (just like in Singapore Half last year.)  But, now that I’ve done the 42km and managed to come out of it alive (and with a smile, too!), I’m a little bit more confident about my body’s performance (no worries about the mind and soul because I know I want the marathon bad!)

5. God’s Gift

So, I do believe (and you can tell me if you think I’m mistaken) that God was watching from above while I was running the 42k and He said “She’s been through so much injury, I should give her a gift if she finishes the marathon.” So, He sent one of the most perfect men on earth to me; He got him thinking about running and gave us a chance to meet. This future runner just started training with Coach Rio and will run 10km at the Timex Race on November 15. By God’s grace, I had the pleasure of spending time with him, glaring at him for hours, and handing him a copy of my heart, er, I mean my TBR Magazine. Maybe you know him? Here’s our photo…

– with Piolo at the Timex Presscon –

The Bull Runner Magazine was recently featured by our October cover runner, Tessa Prieto-Valdes in her column last Sunday, October 11, 2009…

Here’s a clearer version of the photo above with Ben Chan of Blacksheep Photography and myself with super fun, Tessa Prieto-Valdes…

And the article…

Click on this link to read the full article.

I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday morning expecting to run a slow and easy 32km at the first Quezon City International Marathon. Little did I know that I would end the race as a marathoner. Yes, I finally achieved my long time dream of finishing the full 42.195km. You’re surprised? I was too!

Here’s the full story:

THE PLAN

I was to meet good friend and now training partner, Alvin, at the assembly area. He was to run the full marathon while I was to stop at 32km. Target pace: 6:30 min/km. I was registered for the 21km but I was to start with 42k at 4:30 a.m. so Alvin and I could run together. Unfortunately, Alvin and I didn’t find each other before gun start.

AND THE RACE BEGINS

Of all people to bump into during the last minute before race start, I was lucky enough to have found great company. I ran alongside Run Radio co-host, Jay (Prometheus Cometh) and Atty. Raymund who celebrated his 30th birthday that very day.

No pressures for this run. It was just a training run for me after all! We ran at an easy 6:15 chatting and laughing along U.P. and Commonwealth before the sun rose.

– with Raymund, the birthday boy, and Jay (Prometheus Cometh) –

Occasionally, we would get cheers from others: young students with whom my two running buddies exchanged high fives with like celebrities, race volunteers (one even yelled out “Mabuhay and kababaihan!” to me at which I replied “Mabuhay!”), and even Coach Rio, who shouted what I thought was the word “Injury!” from his vehicle only for me to find out from Jay that it was actually “Jaymie!” We met interesting people along the way too: Love Anover of Unang Hirit, who was Atty. Raymund’s support and John Pages of Cebu Marathon along with his brother.

– with Raymund and Cebu marathoners, John and Bro. Carlos –

– Looks like we were going at 4 min/km pace. But it’s probably the photographer who went that fast –

LA MESA ECO PARK

It was smooth and easy all the way until La Mesa Eco Park. Entering the area was a wonderful break from the monotony of the city roads, but the course was also quite challenging. The hills were undulating and steep. As we didn’t care about speed nor time, we took frequent walking breaks during the climbs while chatting away.

My favorite part of the entire course was here. The course took us by the dam, where the temperature cooled and the view of the water and the trees was much more scenic; I felt like I was in Subic.

BACK ON THE ROAD

When we exited La Mesa Eco Park, it wasn’t only back to urban reality, but even worse. As we ran by SM Fairview, the road traffic was terrible with cars and buses sweeping past us. If that wasn’t dangerous enough, the air was polluted, not the best atmosphere for health-conscious runners. And, worst of all, water ran out at the stations. Thank God I still had 4 ounces of Gatorade left in my amphipod.

When we hit North Avenue and Commonwealth again, it was back to safe and relaxed running. By this time, it was just Jay and I running together. Half of the road was blocked, so we could view (and hear) irate motorists stuck in traffic. Although I was on the other side of the road, the traffic posed a huge problem for me; it meant that the hubby wouldn’t be able to pick me up at Km32 on Commonwealth. I had brought my cellphone with me, so I texted Hubby to say that I would run back to City Hall instead, which would be around 35km.

ON MY OWN

By 30km, Jay and I parted ways and I ran the rest of the race alone. Still on training pace mode, I maintained an easy 6:15 to 6:30 pace and took walk breaks, especially at the climbs. By this time, water had been replenished at the stations, so I stopped at every station to take a sip and drench my head and arms with cold water.

I hit the 32km mark alone. Much to my pleasant surprise, I was feeling great—no pains, no blisters, no tightness—so it was then that this Bull started welcoming nasty thoughts of just going for the full 42k.

Soon after, I spotted Hector of Second Wind, almost like an angel (but darker and on a mountain bike), sweeping down the road with a bagful of yellow Gatorade popsicles. Manna from heaven! I thanked him profusely and, as he left, Neville, his best friend and Team Principal of Pinoy Ultra Runners arrived. He started to bike slowly by my side.

THE LAST 10KM

Neville stayed with me from then on until the end. As the leader of PUR, this guy knows how to support a runner in need. He carried my hydration belt to lighten my load. He didn’t ask endless questions nor did he bombard me with small talk. He was silent most of the time, except for the instances when he’d share info about the course ahead. He advised me to just decide at Km35, when we passed the assembly area at QC City Hall, if I should stop or go for the full.

We passed Km35 with no fanfare nor talk. In silence, I had decided to push through with the bullish, foolish, or whatever-adjective-you-wish-to-describe-it decision to run the full marathon a little less than two months in advance of my planned first marathon in Singapore.

During these last 10km, I was fearfully expecting to hit the much talked about “wall.” I took one step at a time, listened to my body, and waited, but “the wall” thankfully never came. My legs were completely fine. My mind was calm and confident.

When we hit 37km, Neville told me “the last 5k will be the longest 5kms of your entire life.” As I went through each of them, it was quite the opposite; I actually enjoyed it. Each kilometer marker didn’t leave me thinking “4 or 3 or 2 more kilometers to go…” but I was thinking “Wow, I’ve done 38…39…40…Cool!”

Neville then told me, “You’ll enter Trinoma for 500m and I’ll wait for you here outside. After that, it’s just 500m to go.” I ran in, hit the turn around at the end, and exited unscathed. I spotted Neville and ran once again until the end.

FINALLY…MY FIRST MARATHON!

I crossed the finish 4:54:23 according to my Polar. Clock time read 4:55:36. I couldn’t be happier with a sub-5 for an unplanned and ill-prepared training run turned impromptu marathon. I didn’t shed a tear nor jump up for joy. I ended the run in a state of disbelief, excited to see the hubby who was famished by that time (as he only learned I ran the full when I was at 40k!)

– A race I trained for since I started running in 2006 –

– Big thank you to Neville of PUR! Ultra next year? Game! –

As they say: Running is a metaphor for life. In this QC International Marathon, I was proud to have gotten a glimpse of my life in a 42k. I learned that obstacles shouldn’t be feared but used to jumpstart a stronger, better you; that friends will be there for entertainment, for company, or most importantly, for support when you need them most; that you must grab every opportunity thrown your way and try your darndest best to make full use of it; and that no matter what you go through, the one who loves you most will be the one waiting for you at the finish.

– 42km: DONE! –

* Thank you to Raymund for some of the photos.

THE DAY THE WORLD RUNS

Date: October 24, 2009
Distance: 10k
Time: anytime
Place: anywhere in the world

Nike provides an avenue for runners around the world to converge and run in one day through the Nike+ Human Race 10K. By synching their runs onto www.nikeplus.com.ph, runners at any place in the world can compare statistics with other runners by syncing their respective Sportbands any time on the 24th of October.

Nike has chosen key cities around the world where official Nike+ Human Race events will be held. Unfortunately, the Philippines was not chosen as an official race city. (Now, now, I know how we Pinoys can get all patriotic and can raise hell over not being picked. But, don’t sweat the small stuff. Our time will come.)

CHOOSE TO RUN IN SUBIC WITH OTHER NIKE+ RUNNERS

Since we are not an official race city, Nike Philippines offers runners the opportunity to run their 10k with others. Nike partnered with Subic International Marathon to provide Human Race participants a venue to run together.

The virtual Nike+ Human Race 2009 will be part of the Subic International Marathon on October 24, 2009, 4 PM. It will be a sundown run, so people can actually drive to Subic in the morning in time for the afternoon race and get home after the race as well. Participants of the 10K leg, regardless if they have a Sportband or a Nike+ kit, will get a limited edition Finisher’s Bracelet to certify their accomplishment of running with the world. The only thing Nike required is that you register in the Nike+ website. There will be laptops set-up at the finish line for those who haven’t registered yet so they can register on the spot.

NOTE:
– Partnering with SIM does not make the Philippines an official race city.
– The Nike+ Human Race as part of the Subic International Marathon isn’t free and you still have to register for this. For the details of the registration, just visit www.subicinternationalmarathon.com/sim09/

CHOOSE YOUR TEAM!

To make the Nike+ Human Race more exciting, Nike has chosen 5 Nike Ambassadors to lead their own teams. They are:
– Team Banana Running, Bards Bathan (Banana Running)
– Team Steady Lang, Lino Cayetano
– Team Tatanka, Tata Garcia
– Reema’s Road Racers, Reema Chanco
– Team Weekend Warriors, Jinno Rufino

No brainer. I’m signing up with friend and fellow addicted runner, Bards of Team Banana Running. You should too!  Click here and join Team Banana Running NOW!