Archive for April, 2011

When will you join an ultramarathon? I can’t count anymore how many times I’ve been asked that question. And, honestly, I never felt compelled to give a specific race for an answer.

First of all, I’m not in a mad rush to reach ultra distance.  I’ve been quite fulfilled running my favorite 21ks and challenging myself with a 42k every now and then.  Secondly, I am a bit choosy about my first ultramarathon.  For the longest time now, I’ve had the following conditions for my first ultra:

1) Scenic and surrounded by nature
2) Off-road
3) Safe (traffic-free)
4) Fun (relaxed, nothing too serious, and among good friends)

I planned on shooting for my first ultra abroad, forever envious of Rick’s ultramarathon adventures.  But, after a brief trip to Cagayan de Oro City last Saturday where I was invited by Circle Productions to give an inspirational talk on running at SM CDO, I changed my mind…

CDO-DAHILAYAN 55K TRAIL ULTRAMARATHON

Our hosts, Francis Velasquez and Jeffrey Ang of Circle Productions, are the organizers behind The CDO-Dahilayan 55k Trail Ultramarathon, which takes runners from Cagayan de Oro City to Bukidnon.

As soon as we arrived at CDO, they took us through the entire route of the ultramarathon starting from Rodelsa Circle in Cagayan de Oro City to Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon…

– The route is a mix of road and trail. It passes through the backroads of CDO to Bukidnon skipping major highways. Lots of trees along the course –

– I won’t lie to you. The course has a lot of climbs, but that shouldn’t scare any of us, right?  RIGHT?! –

– Vehicles are few and far between –

– Scenic route? Check! –

– Hardly any vehicles nor pollution on the route? Check! –

– Yes, we had to stop, ooh and aah over the route, and have a touristy shot taken. Lit, myself, Francis, and Jeffrey –

– Course passes through cornfields… –

– …and Del Monte’s pineapple fields –

– with Francis who I first met at Condura 2010. We were minutes away from each other after crossing the finish of our 42km. He recently finished BDM 102km –

– Aaack. I can’t wait to run on roads like this… –

– …and this! –

– Icing on top of the cake: the race ends at picturesque Dahilayan Adventure Park. Francis and wife Margie (TBR DM 2011 Finisher), myself, Cheryl and Jeffrey –

– Weather and atmosphere was very much like Baguio City. There are activities for the entire family from ziplining to a small zoo –

– Pinegrove Mountain Lodge is brand new and would be a great place to stay. KC Concepcion and Sam Milby stayed here a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I just had to share that bit of trivia –

– Right outside Pinegrove is the zipline rides which comes free with your CDO Dahilayan race fee. They have the longest zipline in Asia! –

– These are the brand new rooms for sharing. If you plan to stay here, reserve  ASAP. Limited rooms available. Details below –

– with Elpie Paras (2nd from left), owner of Pinegrove, after our presscon –

RACE DETAILS

• Event: CdO-Dahilayan 55K Trail UltraMarathon
• Date: July 9, 2011
• Assembly Time: 3:00 am
• Gun Start: 4:00 am
• Cut-Off Time: 12 hours
• Distance: 55 kilometers
• Starting Point: Rodelsa Circle, CdO
• Finish Line: Dahilayan Adventure Park
• Registration Fee: P2,000 inclusive of:
  • Free Zipline Ride
  • Carbo Loading Party on July 7, 2011
  • Finisher’s Jacket
  • Medal
  • Free Shuttle Ride from Dahilayan back to CdO
• Registration starts on April 20, 2011. Early Bird Rate: P1,800 until May 31, 2011
• Registration Centers:
  • Manila- A runner’s circle ph along Roxas Blvd
  • Cebu- Vivo Barefoot in Ayala Center Cebu
  • Cagayan de Oro- Max’s Restaurant CdO and La Cabana Spa
• Accommodations: Pinegrove Mountain Lodge
  • Call 0922 880 1319
  • Family Room P5000 (6pax), Standard P2800 (2pax w/ free breakfast), Deluxe P3200 (3pax w/ free breakfast for 2pax), Extra bed P500

IT’S TIME

As with many things in life, I wasn’t looking for this one, but it just appeared out of nowhere. And, I think it’s the one!

So, after I viewed the route and before I left Dahilayan Park, I was 97% sure I was going to sign up for this as my first ultra. Then, I received a little surprise after our talk in SM. Francis and Jeff presented us with a little gift: a complimentary race pack for the Cdo-Dahilayan Ultramarathon. Thanks Circle Productions! It upped my decision to 98%!

– See the joy in my face?! Thanks to Margie for this photo –

As for the last 2%, I’m working on it…gotta get permission from the hubby and kids. Let’s see! For now, training shall commence anyway!  To my running buddies, expect me to bug you about joining this one.  It’s going to be great fun!

Thanks to Smart Parenting for featuring me in their April 2011 issue.  On the cover is Tessa Prieto-Valdes, another running mom who I’ve had the pleasure to run long with a couple of times the past month now that she’s training for Paris Marathon, along with her daughter Athena.  (Good luck in Paris, Tessa, Leana, Lit, Leah, Lara, Coach Rio, and everyone else who’s running Paris this coming Sunday!)

This issue has an article on running basics for beginners called “Run for Your Life” and this is where they snuck in a photo of me and a brief interview on how I got started with running.  Aack, I couldn’t help getting all sentimental about those early days.  Thanks again, Smart Parenting!

For those who are looking for a small race in a relaxed atmosphere, look no further. New Balance Raising Hope is only for 1000 participants within Dasmarinas Village on April 9, 2011. Registration has been extended all the way until April 9, 2011 including race day.

This is a story of faith, hope and love in Weng Baltazar’s first marathon…

BIB NO. 51: WENG BALTAZAR

Running a marathon was never in my “bucket list”.  Running didn’t even appeal to me back then. At 35, I found my first love in tennis. But after finishing my first 5km in Baguio in 2009 (I was 40 then), I knew there’s something out there I needed to accomplish before my knees start wobbling with age.

And then I read about The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, a marathon event designed especially for 1st timers. This is what I have been waiting for, so my husband and I signed up at once.

I had no idea how grueling the training and preparation would be. It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park.  When I missed some of my training schedules, I knew I was gonna be in trouble. I started to doubt myself.  I finished my last 21k with a bit of a struggle. How much more would I endure for a run that’s double its length? Should I go for it? Undecided, I asked for God’s sign and prayed .The night before the big day I made a personal letter to God praying for strength and safety. Part of the letter says: “may  the realization of this dream brings forth a better person, not only on the road of an enthusiastic runner, but a better person on the road to righteousness, faith and love.”

Hours  before the run, I compelled (not asked  ) my best friend Ellen and little sister Kris to pray and  say the rosary for us. One hour before the marathon, I received a text from a friend (Ate Cheryl), must have been the sign I was asking for.  Without any doubt,”I will run my 1st marathon!”

Fast forward to the race day.  My husband gave me a kiss at gun start, during the 1st few meters I paced with him and some friends. Slowing them down I started spotting for runners who had the same run-walk interval as mine. I heard these two runners counting and I asked if I could join them . Let and Dittie gladly accepted me and I met my new running buddies. The 1st loop- we were doing fine, Dittie and Let were even singing Disney and Nickelodeon songs their kids love to sing (too bad I can’t join them, because my 4-year old Euan watches Mr. Bean).It was a joyride, until KM 27.

At Km 27 Dittie started feeling pain at the back of her knees (probably hams). We stopped at Medic station for some topical remedy. Then we started running again but the pain got worse.She took some pain killers but nothing seemed to work. We decided to shorten our run-walk interval, until she couldn’t run anymore . We started walking at Km 30. Dittie started crying and getting angry with herself. No amount of assurance could make her feel better. I guess the pain was so bad. She was so apologetic for holding us back and putting us through her ordeal.  She told us to go on ahead but we knew she needed us to stay .Let and I gave her all the motivations, prayed with her, and kept her going.  We walked for 5 kilometers more, and by God’s miracle Dittie got her second wind. We started running again at Km 35. The sun was up but that didn’t stop Dittie’s determination to finish. She was just awesome. Less than 1 km to finish, Dittie had an adrenaline rush. Let and I could hardly keep up . Together, we ran and finished strong. Seeing us together, the announcer even called us Charlie’s Angels, but I guess Dittie and Let were my angels: Dittie, for making me keep my prayer, and Let for making me keep  the faith.

Staying and running all throughout the course with an injured buddy made my first marathon experience even more fulfilling. Not only did I survive my 1st marathon but we helped a co-dreamer fulfill hers.

– Let, Dittie, and Weng –

I never thought my prayer would be intended on the journey itself and not only after crossing the finish line. God works in wondrous ways. My 1st marathon was a marathon of faith, hope and love.

Will I ever run a marathon again? Part of me says definitely. One marathon in my lifetime? I can live with that, but then I can always change my mind.

Congratulations to The Bull Runner Dream Marathon Team! You guys did an awesome job!