Category Archives: Race Reports

Race: Runrio Series Leg 1: Goldilocks Fun Run
Date: 15 May 2011
Place: Bonifacio Global City
Organizer: Runrio

Rating:

Good job:
– enough marshals
– kilometer and directional signages
– route was safe and traffic free
– attractive and high-quality shirts
– efficient race start
– ample water
– bananas at some stations
– high quality medal
– medical aid throughout the route
– giveaways and booths at the finish

Needs improvement:
– 21k race start was too late at 5:15 am considering the heat. 4 to 4:30 am would’ve been ideal
– 21k route was crowded at the start (1st turnaround)
– no Powerade at last few stations (Rizal Drive and near BHS)
– lack of sponges at some stations, other stations had sponges that were dry!
– water could’ve been colder

Being the 1st leg of the Runrio Series 2011, the Goldilocks Fun Run stood out among the clutter of local races in the country with over 8,000 runners participating. It was well-organized with the route clear of traffic and covered by marshals, ample water at stations, and medics to ensure runners’ safety. However, the organizers may have failed to take the weather into consideration. In this heat, I wish the organizers started the race earlier and came more prepared at the hydration stations. Hoping for a “cooler” race next time for all of us!

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GOTTA DO 28K

Aack! I had to do 28k this morning in preparation for Phuket Marathon on June 12. I usually look forward to my long runs, but, in this heat, I was absolutely dreading it. Thankfully, Jun and Lit agreed to run the pre-race mileage with me. We met at 4:15 AM and ran easy around BHS before the gun start. 5KM – CHECK!

ONE HOT RACE

For the race, I decided to run at training pace alone. Well, not exactly, I had my new ipod nano loaded with a thousand new songs to keep me entertained…or shall I say distracted? During the first few kilometers, I weaved through the crowd of runners completely immersed in my music. It was almost relaxing.

By 5k though, the heat started to get to me. Then, I started to panic: Why am I getting tired this early?! Then laziness set in too: This is just too hot. Why don’t I just quit before Buendia? Then, by some stroke of luck, I bumped into an acquaintance, Mike, whom I see at the strangest places (the last time was at the finish of the NYC Marathon!) We agreed to run together with no other goal than to just finish this crazy, hot, dreadful, torturous race. And that’s exactly what we did!

Nearing the finish, after we climbed Buendia flyover, Mike told me to go ahead as he suffered cramps. I plodded forward through the last 3km of the race with my music to keep me inspired again. According to my Garmin, I finished at 2:16 for 21.35km @ 6:24/km. 21K – CHECK!

NOT OVER YET

As soon as I crossed the finish line, Jun was there and he handed me a bottle of water, which was really akin to receiving food after a 100 day fast! Then, I asked him to hold my 21k medal for me so I could cover the balance of my mileage.

I ran alone back and forth through the sidewalks of Serendra on what could have been the longest 2k of my life. I waited patiently for the Garmin to beep on Km 1 and even longer for the heavenly beep of Km 2. Once that was done, it was back to the car for a well-deserved breakfast with friends. I couldn’t believe I survived it!  TOTAL OF 28K – CHECK!

It was a double run weekend for me.  We had our long slow 30k run with TBR Dream Marathoners on Saturday, then I signed up for a hilly 10k race on Sunday: The Edsa Run.  Of course, I couldn’t miss this for the world.  And, I am so glad I didn’t.  It was one fun yet challenging race!

The Edsa Run started near the People Power Monument, not very far from the area where I had stood on EDSA as a 10 year old wearing my yellow Laban styrofoam hat and yellow shirt with my older brothers and sisters.  25 years ago, I knew I was there to make a stand against the dictatorship and for People Power (serious stuff for a 10 year old!), but I also had a grand time devouring fish balls and dirty ice cream along the way.

– February 1986: My three older brothers and my sister –

When the gun went off, it was surreal to start off the race running on Edsa in the dark along with all the other runners in yellow.  For a moment, I forgot I was in a race and I felt like I was tossed back in time making a stand for the country once again—only this time for education.

There were buses and cars everywhere, but it was managed well.  I guess you can never expect an Edsa Run to be completely vehicle free.  We ran past Robinsons Galleria and down towards Ortigas.  The downhills were a blast.  I thought I was going fast enough, but I noticed a lot of runners overtake me here.  I guess I’m still pretty conservative after all.

From Ortigas, we went towards Greenmeadows and E. Rodriguez then back up again towards Temple Drive.  Oh boy, it was a killer route.  The ascents were long and lung-busting, especially the ascent by Christ the King Church where I said a silent prayer for God to help me survive the climb!

The highlight of the run was the confetti that dropped from a crane at the corner of Temple Drive.  It was a nice touch for runners to remember People Power by.  I contemplated on running under it, having the confetti drop on my head as I jumped up and down yelling “Laban Kami!” but, after realizing I could slip and sprain my ankle plus lose a chunk of time doing this, I decided otherwise.

I crossed the finish line at 53 min and 10 sec. according to my Garmin.  Average pace was 5:16/km.  4th Place for Female category.

Greeting runners at the finish were fellow iamNinoy members and very good friends.  It was so nice to see all of us together again.  It wasn’t that bad to see Phil Younghusband and the rest of the Azkals there, too!

– Loved seeing these guys at the finish line! –

– with Maricel, Mimi, and Nina. Photo courtesy of Jordana Queddeng –

Watch this great video of The Edsa Run by Jake de Guzman. Hilarious and touching at the same time. I’m an extra near the end…hah!

Congrats to iamNinoy Runners especially Jamike and Mayi Lopa and ExTribe for a successful event!

Condura Skyway Marathon

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

Rating:

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!

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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.

– 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.

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.

Until the night before, hubby and I were unsure of signing up for Bald Runner’s 32km Rizal Day Run.  I knew I wanted to run, but for how long?  I wasn’t quite sure what distance I could handle now that my body and brain are both in off season mode.  I ran a 10k yesterday and it went fine, thank you.  But, running past that distance is an entirely different story.

After much texting and thinking, hubby, Jun (The Solemates), and I decided to just go for the race.  Thank God for onsite registration!

BURN BABY BURN!

The race was a no frills, no fanfare kind of event, which was just the kind of race I needed after all the glitz and gluttony of Christmas parties.  There were a few hundred participants (most of them training for Bataan Death March), a minimalist set up, and a very simple race route: 7k loop to be run 4 times plus an additional 4k to cover 32km around Camp Aguinaldo. The race started and ended at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand.

My goal for this race was simple: Have fun! With one foot recovering from NYC Marathon and another foot still deep into holiday festivities, I respected my body enough to know that it wasn’t ready for any pushing and prodding.  My plan was to run a minimum of 21k (I had no qualms about a possible DNF by the 3rd loop) yet still try to cover 32k if I felt strong enough.

TIRED AT 10

I thoroughly enjoyed running on the asphalted, quiet roads of Camp Aguinaldo (it was my first time!).  Running at the crack of dawn before the rest of the world woke up made it even more enchanting.  For a while, it was even relaxing with the cool weather and a soft breeze blowing on our faces every now and then.

But, with the cool weather, it took around 2km for my legs to warm up.  Then, after around 5k more, I was actually feeling a little bit tired.  Alarms started ringing in my ear.  Could it be the lack of sleep?  The extra weight? The tight compression socks? The lack of training?  The fast 10k run the day before?  It could’ve been all of the above!  All I knew was that I felt tired earlier than usual and it wasn’t good.

LOOPED IN

Looped courses can be a double-edged sword.  It’s good because it’s simple and easy to understand, one’s chances of getting lost is minimal.  You also know what to expect after the first loop.  But, it’s a course that plays with your mind and tempts you at every single turn to quit, quit, quit.  It requires a lot of self-discipline and willpower to say NO when your legs start feeling numb, your throat is dry, and your tummy starts growling and your car starts beckoning for you to just head home.

I passed the grandstand at 7k and stopped for a bathroom break and change of shoes.  I initially used my Brooks Glycerin 8, which was a half size too small for me, so I switched to my trusty ol’ Nike Lunar Glide 1 to avoid killing another toenail.  Good thing I brought it as backup.

By the 2nd loop, at 14k, I passed the grandstand again for yet another bathroom break.  This time, I had a chance to exchange a few words with Bald Runner before we sped off again.  I was tired, yet I plodded on again resisting the temptation to quit.

By the 3rd loop, at 21k, hubby, Jun and I were exhausted.  Hubby stopped at this point since he had covered a much too high mileage for the entire week.  Jun and I pushed forward, forcing our bodies to deal with the pain and allowing ourselves to run/walk through the course.  Somewhere in the middle I remember yelling “This is tougher than a 42k!”

GOING FOR 4

Jun and I reached the 4th loop at 28k and I was ready to head back to the car.  Then, we thought we should go for a solid number and hit 30k despite my wooden legs and throbbing big toe.  So, we ran down towards the end of the road and climbed back up the last ascent before heading back into the grandstand.  We reached 29.4 km, a few meters short of 30k.  We could’ve covered the last 2k, but we didn’t.

DNF at 30k for the last race of the year! At that time, it seemed like a wise decision. But, an hour or two later, I wondered what the hell we were thinking. 2k more and we didn’t finish it. I wanted to yank my shoes out and hit myself over the head with it.  What kind of endurance athletes are we?  What a dumb mistake.  What a way to end the year.  But hey, I’m not being too hard on myself just yet.  After all, there’s still 4 more days to 2010 to make up for it.

It was a toss up between QC International Marathon and Nike 5k two weekends ago.

QCIM will always hold a special place in my heart since it was my first unofficial 42km. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to drive all the way to QC that week for a race I wasn’t planning to…uhm…race.

Nike Run was going to be relatively smaller, shorter, and more convenient. Definitely the kind of race I was in the mood for. So, I joined the Nike 5k instead. With post-marathon blues gone, my mindset was fun. Fun. Fun.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

The small, relaxed, happy atmosphere was a breath of fresh air for me. No pressure nor stress whatsoever. Bumping into friends, Vimz (Kulit Runner), Aljo, Jun (The Solemates), and especially Dingdong (RunMD) who I hadn’t seen for months, at the assembly area made it even more delightful.

Before us were the Polo Tri Team equipped with their loaded hydration belts, a sure sign that the race was probably just a portion of their long run for the day. For a moment, I felt envious, wishing I could go back in time to our heavy marathon training days. But, I reminded myself to take it easy for now and revel in my “off-season mode”…at least until I figure out what my next marathon goal will be!

AND THE RACE BEGINS

The race took us through my favorite areas of Bonifacio Global City, the long uphill ascent that Alvin and I climb for our training runs.  There was a bit of a traffic with no other distance but 5k, but it wasn’t a problem at all for me.  Despite the crowd, I thoroughly enjoyed every kilometer of this run. Maybe it was because my ipod was loaded with brand new songs.  Or, there was no pressure at all for me to reach a specific time.  Or, that I could almost taste breakfast at Sentro afterwards. Whatever.  My goal was to have fun and that’s definitely what I got.

Before we knew it, the 5k race was over. I crossed the finish with a smile on my face without even glimpsing at the time on my Garmin.  (I did check it later on and it recorded 27:24 for 5k with an average pace of 5:26 min/km.)

– with friends Aljo, Vimz (Kulit Runner), Leia, Bobby, and Jun (The Solemates) –

POST-RACE FESTIVITIES…AND FREEBIES

Hubby and I dropped by the VIP Tent to congratulate our Nike friends for a wonderful event. The post-race atmosphere was festive with cheerleaders keeping runners entertained plus loads of freebies. I loved the mini Nike figurines they gave away which went directly to our kiddos.

– No, that’s not Coach Rio on the right –

A little birdie told me Nike is eyeing a 10k next year…and that is fantastic news. But, I do wish they consider adding a 21k distance to the mix. C’mon Nike…Just Do It, please?