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Welcome back to the Pinoy Ultra Runners and their guests who ran 55km up Mt. Pinatubo and down again for a good cause: Kythe kids’ Christmas Party.

Read Part 1 of the story here.  Neville, we shall wait with bated breath for the 2nd installment. 

* Photo courtesy of Pinoy Ultra Runners

TBR RACE REVIEW: UNICEF WALK ON THE CHILD’S SIDE 2008

Organizer: Rio de la Cruz
Overall rating (5 highest): 3

WOOHOO, HIGH FIVE!:
– challenging 10k course (as always whenever McKinley hill is included)
– fair atmosphere with kids’s entertainment (inflatable), photo wall, finisher’s family photo, raffle, etc.
– race marshalls were everywhere
– quick response of marshalls in emergency
– UPDATE: Same day release of race results

GOOD JOB:
– ample supply of mineral water at stations
– mile markers

AAW, BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:
– high traffic after entering McKinley hill
– limited parking space
– crowded race start (roads are too narrow in that area)
– need for more portalets (lines were too long)

_______________________________________________________

[ MY FIRST DNF ]

The Unicef Walk on the Child’s Side wasn’t going to be a “walk in the park” for me. This was the plan: I was to run 10k with JunC at 5:30 to 5:45 pace. Yaya would dress the kids, who lay asleep in the car, and have them race ready by 6:45 a.m. Hubby would run 5k so he could be back in time for the kids’ 2k at 7 a.m. Hopefully, I would run fast enough to be back for the 2k as well.

Now, this is what happened: JunC and I ran within 5:20 to 5:30 for the first 5k. It was quite fun to finally run fast again after so many long slow runs the past weeks. But, upon entering Heritage Park at around 5k+, my left knee started bothering me; it was just a slight nagging pain that I could’ve ran with until the finish. But, with Singapore Half only two weeks away, I’ve been practicing extreme caution and over-paranoia. So, bereft of any runner’s ego, I slowed down to a walk and bid JunC goodbye as I made my way to the marshalls’ booth asking them to drive me back to McKinley.

At first, they planned on making me ride a motorcycle with a marshall. Gawd, I had no pride when it comes to DNF-ing, but I certainly didn’t want to tell the world about it. I was about to search for a brown bag to cover my face when Billy, a Heritage Park marshall, volunteered his car instead of us having to wait for the medics.  As I was about to heave a sigh of relief, the host at Heritage announces on his microphone “Thank you for joining the race, Ms. Jaymie.  We hope you join us again next year!”  Oh boy, let’s tell the world indeed.  In no time at all, we were back at McKinley with a few minutes to spare before the 2km walk’s start.

[ A FAMILY OF RUNNERS ]

I knew it was a “2km walk”, but my press release at home was a “2km run.” My two kids were looking forward to this “fun run” for days, but they had very different goals. As it was my 7 year-old son’s 3rd or 4th run, he knew how tiring it could be so he only aimed to finish. On the other hand, my Little Miss Bull Runner, who was joining her 1st, had more serious plans. When I tucked her into bed the night before, she whispered “Mama, I’m going to win the race.”

I held my daughter’s hand, while hubby was with my son.  When the race started, it was a slow walk through the crowd and I could see the disappointment in Little Miss Bull Runner’s face.  But, as soon as there was space, we took our positions and I yelled “Ready, Get Set…Go!” as I always do when we race after school, and off she went smiling as she climbed up McKinley Hill.

We frequently stopped for walks and water breaks throughout the race, but for the most part, my daughter was dragging me to run faster.  Whenever Little Miss Bull Runner spotted Kuya in front of her, she would look up at me and say “Mamaaaa!” as if to say “We can’t let the boys beat us!”  

Before the race ended, as we climbed the other steep hill towards the exit of McKinley, I let go of my daughter’s hand and let her run free; as expected, she showed off her patented aerodynamic propeller-arm run for a final sprint.

As we neared the finish, hubby and I agreed to cross the finish all at the same time to ensure that no one “won” the race. The kids were spent, but they were happy.  This was definitely a good experience for the entire family.  

– Little Bull Runners with Little Foreign Runners –

When I tucked my daughter into bed that evening, she asked me if she won the race.  I replied “Yes, you won…and Kuya won too!”  Then, she asked “But…where’s my prize?”  Uh oh, let me think about that.

Thank you to the race organizers, especially those at Heritage Park, who took care of me during the little emergency!

Thank you to Dindo, JunC, and Marvs for photos!

A couple of days ago, I dropped by ROX to register for Unicef 10k only to learn that slots were all filled.  Race bibs were only available for 2k.  Argh.

Today, however, it was announced that there are slots open for all distances. For those of you who still wish to join the Unicef run this coming Sunday, register at ROX now.

I have never had uglier feet than I do now.  

I’ve had a black toenail on my right foot for what feels like f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  If that wasn’t bad enough, after New Balance last Sunday, my left pinkie toe was practically covered by one giant bloody blister that scared the living hell out of me after the race. To add icing on the cake, I also discovered a tiny blister on my right foot last night.

For weeks now, I have had my toenails painted in rich, dark red pedicure in an attempt to conceal its sheer ugliness.  And, all this while, I’ve been happily wearing my Havaianas, flipflops, and other open-toed sandals wherever I go blissfully thinking that I’ve been fooling everyone around me.  I was wrong.

Two nights ago, I was reading my Running Horoscope at Lonerunner’s blog and, much to my horror, this is what it said:

Taurus 20 Apr-20 May

Symbol: Bull

Element: Earth

Stop wearing Sandals/Flip-flops, your dead toenails from your last long run are never sexy.

Harharhar, I had a long good laugh!  In fact, I was practically hitting my head on the laptop while rolling on the bedroom floor laughing.  Lonerunner (or his manghuhula) hit the nail on the head for that one!

But, when the laughter died away, feelings of insecurity came clawing its way into my head and down to my toes, which curled up in embarrassment.  Should I stop wearing flipflops? Is it really that bad?  Lonerunner, does your manghuhula really think my feet aren’t sexy?

Last night, I removed the pedicure with acetone and stared at my ugly feet in all its naked glory.  Yes, my toes were hideous, but must I be ashamed of it?  I realized that I should be proud to show off such tiny little survivors, or better yet, warriors that just fought their way through 25km of rough roads.  So, what’s your problem if they aren’t white?  So what if they aren’t perfect?  They still do their job, right?

So, from now on, let it be known that whoever stares at The Bull Runner’s battered and blistered feet with disgust will get a kick in the face and hear these words:  “So I’ve got ugly feet. Who cares? I am a runner.”

To the Pinoy Ultra Runners—who may have uglier feet than I do by Sunday—I wish you the best of luck in your Pinatubo 55km run tomorrow.  Stay safe and, as always, have fun!

Just as most of us are almost drowning in our own sorrow over the postponement of QC Marathon, Atty. Jon from Clark comes in and brings us a shimmer of hope.  Read his comment as written in my QC Marathon post…

Hi fellow runners. I am the Team Captain of Team Clark based here in Clark.

We are coordinating with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) (where we work at) and other groups/sponsors to continue the 2nd Clark International Marathon with or without the Kenyans (no pun intended). Some sponsors have expressed willingness and support for this race. I hope things will pan out and the clamor for 42k, 21k & 10k races in February will prevail over annoying hindrances.

We will do our best to hold this race most likely by February since January is too soon (it will be January again in 2010 due to cold weather) and even if we (the Team Clark members) don’t run ourselves just so our fellow runners like you would run and enjoy their first 42k or half marathon for that matter.

We will depart from the usual flat route for the 42K and will venture out the Clark Freeport Zone into an area which we call the “Sacobia”, the Next Frontier as aptly called by the new P/CEO Ricafort of CDC (he was there during the NB Power Race 2008). Hilly but manageable terrains and good scenic views in smog-free environment. Believe me we have so many good plans. One of which is finisher’s medal you can proudly hang in your car, office or room.

Like most of you, we are really hoping for a full marathon in February 2009 after the Singapore Marathon in December 7, 2008 (I hope all of us Pinoys will get to see each other in Singapore after the run, say congregate in one area. Maybe TBR can announce a place for this  as a good long run for the Bataan Death March Ultra-marathon courtesy of Bald Runner or rumor has it, the 2nd North Face Ultra-marathon.

Please pray for and wish us all the luck.

Folks, it is about time we “institutionalize” an annual prestigous marathon here in the Philippines in the likes of Boston, New York, Singapore or HK marathons. Long shot but definitely possible.

The first step is we form and incorporate an organization of runners and other athletes that will concentrate on this endeavor and carry on the legacy from this year henceforth.

Kaya natin yan!

Atty. Jon, thank you for the info.  We do hope Clark Marathon pushes through in February 2009 and more sponsors (ehem ehem) come in to support your endeavor.  I’m sure a lot of us “displaced” runners will consider joining this, myself included.  More power!