TBR Dream Team Run on 17 November 2012!

Thursday, 13 September 2012  |  Race Announcements

Since our first TBR Dream Marathon in 2010, we would receive constant requests for a reunion among TBR Dreamers batch mates.  Finally, we decided to give in.  And, we took it a step further. We made it a half marathon with the opportunity to invite and encourage our other friends to join in on the fun!

INTRODUCING the first grand reunion for TBR Dream Marathon Alumni and friends…drumroll please!

The Bull Runner Dream Team Run
Half the Distance, Thrice the Fun!

DATE: Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012
VENUE: NUVALI, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
DISTANCE: 21k
ASSEMBLY: 3:30 AM
GUN START: 4:30 AM
BULLSTOCK START: 7:30 AM hosted by Boys Night Out
NO. OF PARTICIPANTS: 600 teams of three (or 1,800 runners)

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TBR Dream Team Run is the first grand reunion run for TBR Dream Marathon Alumni.

For TBR Dream Alumni, this is your chance to relive your TBR Dream experience at NUVALI and to reconnect with your batch mates. But, this time, you get to run with two other friends in a 21k race. It’s half the distance, but three times the fun!

After the race, kick back and relax at Bullstock, a simple and casual get-together at the Fields in NUVALI with lots of running talk and laughter hosted by a team of three too, the Boys Night Out!

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

  1. TEAM OF 3. Runners must register as a team of three. At least one of the three runners must be a TBR Dream Marathon Alumni* or TBR Dream Marathon 2013 Registered Participant.  (* A TBR Dream Marathon Alumni is a confirmed registrant of the TBR Dream Marathon 2010, 2011, or 2012 regardless of him/her appearing or finishing the race.)
  2. MINORS. Participants below 18 years old must have their registration form and waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
  3. TEAM UNIFORMS. All runners are encouraged to come in team uniforms or costumes. Be creative! There’s a prize for Best in Costume!
  4. RACE BIB. Race numbers must be worn at all times during the race and must be pinned in front of the running shirt.
  5. TIMING SYSTEM. Reusable Timing Chip should be secured to the ankle of any one of the three runners in the team during the race. Timing Chip will be distributed upon check in at the corral. Check-in starts at 3:40AM. Timing chips will be collected after the race. Runners who fail to return the chip will be charged P1,500. No timing chip, no official results.
  6. BAGGAGE AREA: Baggage area is available inside activity area from 3:00 am to 8:00 AM
  7. FINISHERS’ SHIRTS & MEDALS. Finishers will be awarded Finishers’ Shirts and Finishers’ Medals upon crossing the finish line.
  8. FINISH LINE. Team must start together and finish together. This is NOT a relay. A team that does not cross the finish line together will be disqualified.
  9. WINNERS. There will be prizes for the Top 3 Finishing Teams and Best in Costume. Only registered team who finished at the same time are qualified to place in the Top 3.
  10. OFFICIAL RESULTS. All protest related to the result must be made in writing and submitted to the race organizer within 30mins after the official announcement of winners. Organizer’s decision is final.
  11. SUBSTITUTION OF TEAM MEMBERS. We will accept substitution of one or more runners in a team.
  • From Sept. 22 to Nov. 16, 2012 substitution requests via email tbrdream@gmail.com
    • SUBJECT: “Substitution – TBR Dream Team Run”
    • Include info: Team Name, Name of Original Runner, Name of Replacement Runner, Phone, Mobile, and Email of Replacement Runner, attach signed waiver of replacement
  • Race day – Proceed to Information Center on race day from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM

REGISTRATION: Sept. 22 to Oct. 7, 2012

Slots will be limited to 600 teams or total of 1,800 runners only.  Start of store registration is Sept 22 – Oct 7, 2012 or until 600 team slots are filled.

Click on this link to download: TBR Team Run Registration Form

REGISTRATION CENTERS

  1. RIOVANA BGC – 
28th St. cor. 9th Ave,. Bonifacio Global City | 
Mon-Sun 12nn – 10pm
  2. SECONDWIND RUNNING STORE
 – Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig City
 | Mon-Fri 11am – 8pm
Sat-Sun 10am – 7pm
  3. THE STARTING LINE MULTI SPORT STORE – 
Autocluster Bldg. A, Westgate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa
 | Mon-Fri 10am – 7pm
Sat 9am – 6pm
Sun 9am – 2pm

CONTACT DETAILS

For inquiries, contact TBR Hotline. Look for Macel. Mobile: SUN 0942.477.6099. Email: tbrdream@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing all you TBR Dreamers again!  It’s been too long!

Part 2: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Expo

Thursday, 14 June 2012  |  Race Reports

The day before the race, I attended the press conference held during the Laguna Phuket International Marathon race expo at the Event Marquee.

Here I am smiling, but deep inside I was torn between the half marathon and 10.5k. I ended up signing up for the 10.5k rather than risking a toilet emergency or worse dehydration or heatstroke during the run.  (I sound so mature, I love it! Wahaha)

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During the race expo, runners were still allowed to register.  Sponsors booths sold running/triathlon products and race merchandise.

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Bumped into Pinoy runners at the expo. Ultra runner Bro. Carlo, formerly from Cebu but now based in Bangkok, registered for the full while Pure flew in from Manila to run the half marathon.

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– Bro. Carlo, me, Lit, and Pure. Yes, we had to climb up on stage just for this photo. Hey, we’re Pinoys, remember?! We do everything for a great shot –

Met Mia, a Pinoy runner based in Bangkok, on the way to the press con. Let me know if you want to join TBR Dream, Ria!

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Met Wu, a TBR reader from Malaysia, who’s looking at running a marathon in the Philippines.  Come over anytime, Wu!

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Marathon Man Trent Morrow from Australia started running in 2008 and has since run 50 marathons (including the Laguna Phuket Int’l Marathon). Here he is with one of his new friends and fans from the Philippines. Such a friendly, amiable, and passionate runner!

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We claimed our loot bags BEFORE we even finished the race.  Perhaps we should do the same in Manila?  Nah!

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Registration fee for Laguna Phuket International Marathon

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Finishers’ Medals – I like!

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Race organizers and personalities during the press con: Ms. Thailand who led the walk to raised funds for “Fully Booked” schools project, Mr. Roman Floesser, race director and triathlete who’s done Ironman 70.3 Camsur a couple of time, Ms. Debbie Dionysius, AVP – Destination Marketing of Laguna Phuket, and Trent Morrow aka Marathon Man.

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Our very own Chi Running instructor and TBR Dream Marathon head coach Lit Onrubia gave a talk on Chi Running.

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Hey, hey, hey, what is this?  A reason to return to paradise?!

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Click to read Part 1: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Report

Part 1: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Report

Thursday, 14 June 2012  |  Race Reports

Race: Run Paradise! – 7th Laguna Phuket International Marathon
Date: 10 June 2012
Venue: Laguna Phuket, Phuket, Thailand

TBR Rating:
4Medals

Set in Laguna Phuket, a picturesque 1,000-acre resort with six hotels and villa properties with 8km of long white sand beaches and lagoons, the Laguna Phuket International Marathon aptly titled its race: “Run Paradise.”

Now on its 7th year, the Laguna Phuket International Marathon drew a record field of more than 4,000 runners from 50 countries who raced a variety of distances: 42k, 21k, 10.5k, 91.5FM 5k community walk, and a 2k children’s run. Of the 4,088 runners, only 1,400 were Thai with around 50 other nationalities represented. The Japanese runners numbered 405.

For a relatively small race in Manila’s standards, this marathon was a well-organized and top-notch event. Free shuttles took runners to and from the assembly area, cold hydration, fruits, and sponges on the course were overwhelming, kilometer signs were accurate, and, last but not the least, the race course was safe, scenic, and a pleasure to run.

TBR REVIEW

PROS:
– beautiful race course. Majority of the 10k course was within the Laguna Phuket area which was both safe and scenic.
– cold and ample hydration (water and 100Plus sports drink), fruits, and sponges
– accurate kilometer markers
– road marshals throughout the 10k course
– free shuttle to and from the race venue within Laguna Phuket
– friendly and helpful race staff
– weather was similar to Manila. Just a little bit more humid.
– attractive medal
– small race with a relaxed and fun atmosphere. No heavy traffic.
– onsite registration available until the day before the race
– pre-race expo with merchandise from sponsors and a short running talk for free
– carbo loading party (for an additional fee)
– for foreign runners, the hotels within Laguna Phuket are mostly five-star hotels that make for a perfect run/vacation for the entire family
– post-race area included free food buffet, massage, and hydration for finishers

CONS:
– no direct flight to Phuket from Manila. It’s a 3 hour flight to Bangkok and a connecting 1 hour flight to Phuket. Laguna Phuket is 20 minutes away from the airport. Travel time is half a day at best. I’d recommend you stop over in Bangkok—shop, eat Pad Thai, and get a Thai massage—before heading to sunny Phuket.
– race bib design needs improvement

TBR VERDICT
If you’re looking for a run destination abroad, particularly an affordable one around Asia, Laguna Phuket Marathon is a race I would highly recommend. Don’t expect all the bells and whistles or the crowds of a Standard Chartered Singapore or Hong Kong Marathon. But, you can expect a relatively small, friendly, and well-organized race in a venue that will leave you feeling invigorated and inspired to run even more.

———————

I was all set to run the half marathon at Laguna Phuket. Coach Andy told me to run it at race pace. In his words, “Nail it!” So, you cannot imagine how frustrated I was when, the day before my flight to Phuket, I fell ill to intestinal flu. Yes, the works: slight fever, stomach pain, and frequent runs to the toilet. With some meds and tons of fluids, I managed to recover enough to make the flight without any major problems. But, I knew I wasn’t well enough to race a 21k. It was with a heavy heart (and restless legs) that I downgraded my race to a 10.5k run.

If I was anywhere else, I would’ve been distraught. But, man oh man, I was just happy to be where I was. Our resort, Angsana, was one of the best resorts I’ve stayed in (reminded me of Shangrila Boracay) and just to have the opportunity to run in a new place no matter the distance was, in my opinion, something to be thankful for.

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– View from my balcony at Angsana where I hung out as I deliberated between a half or 10.5k run –

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– Loved Angsana Laguna Phuket! Yes, that baby elephant was hanging out at the pool and lobby –

I arrived at the assembly area 30 minutes before race start. 10.5k runners totaled 1,661 in number. This was the largest group among other distances.

I sat by the Timex booth and watched everyone: younger runners had their moms as their “cheerleaders” and photographers, foreigners in groups chatting and laughing, and more serious runners warming up on the road running back and forth.

The race started exactly on time. The roads were a little bit wet from the earlier rain. The sky was overcast. Perfect for a short and easy run for me, I thought.

Start
– Off we go! –

I ran through the roads of Phuket with camera in hand. The course was relatively flat and fast (a great PR course in my opinion), but with my condition, I decided to enjoy the sights and sounds of Laguna Phuket instead.

Majority of the route allowed us to run through lush greenery or pass scenic views.  There were little or no vehicles.  Most of the time, we ran in silence.

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There are always a few attractions at a race and Laguna Phuket was no exception.  Some runners came in their colorful costumes.

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Things got even better when we entered Laguna Homes. It was peaceful and beautiful here. Looking forward, I could see the runners ahead of me marching like tiny ants through the zigzag roads. To my left and right was the vast expanse of the golf course.

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Organizers provided very cold hydration and fruits at certain stations.  There were a lot of cold sponges too. I think I used up over 10 sponges for a 10km run!

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At around the 4km mark, I ran behind a mother-son tandem. The boy was 10 years old and he ran in pace with his mom. At times, he would struggle to keep up and he’d hold out his hand to her. Each and every time, she would respond immediately, clasping his little hand in hers and, almost instantly, he would find his rhythm again. There were times she would gently fix his hair while running as it fell over his eyes, or she would give him a little kiss almost to say he was doing a great job. I was touched and, at the same time, worried about the little boy: how long could he keep this up?

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By around 6km, I was feeling weak because of my illness. The course was beautiful and, half the time, I wished I had been well enough to run it fast. The other half I was just hoping the finish line would be near.  Still, the race was enjoyable and fun even for an ill runner like me!

I almost made a right turn when I saw this. I thought it was made especially for me (and the rest of our TBR Dream Marathoners)…

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Almost made a pit stop here…

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Seriously considered this one too…

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And, it took a lot of energy out of me to resist the temptation to just head home to my super cozy hotel room…

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Soon enough, we neared the finish. We entered this area with a lagoon to our right. It was definitely a great way to end the race, especially for the 42km runners.  This was definitely my favorite part of the race course.

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I was still running behind the mother and son. At no time did the little boy slow down. In fact, in the last kilometer, he started to sprint. (To think I was worried about him!) They crossed the finish line right before I did and I shook the mom’s hand congratulating them both. That little boy was a fighter…and I believe he’ll grow up to be one strong athlete.  At no point was I even able to overtake them. Wow.

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I finished at a relaxed 1 hour 7 minutes. On any other day, I would’ve ranted about the awful time. But, who was I to complain, I just ran through paradise!

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– Great medal for an awesome race!  –

The post race area was brimming with free food and drinks and offered free massage for runners. I took the free shuttle back to the hotel, enjoyed a light snack at my balcony, and later treated my body to a massage at the Angsana Spa.  Aaah, what a great day in paradise!

Postrace

Click to read Part 2: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Expo

Laguna Phuket Marathon on 10 June 2012

Monday, 16 April 2012  |  Race Announcements

I signed up for Phuket Marathon last year only to be sidelined by injury.  This year, I may be able to squeeze in a half marathon in my training. Hmmm…

If you’re looking for a destination run within Asia, you may consider Laguna Phuket Marathon.  Online registration is available until 2 June at www.phuketmarathon.com with special deals at Laguna Phuket hotels also available on the website.

Here’s a press release below…

Asia’s Fastest Growing Destination Marathon Set for Record Numbers

Hundreds of runners from around the world will “Run Paradise” in the seventh annual Laguna Phuket International Marathon on Sunday, 10 June, to re-affirm its status as Asia’s fastest growing family-friendly destination marathon.

International registrations opened in October and since then entries have surged ahead of the same period last year, with total international entries now close to 1,000.

Local entries opened on 1 April to great enthusiasm and the final number is expected to exceed last year’s record of some 5,000 participants from 45 countries.

The biggest international group so far is Japan, with more than 200 runners, followed by Singapore (96) and Hong Kong (78).

Year-on-year growth since the inaugural 2006 event with less than 2,000 runners makes Laguna Phuket International Marathon Asia’s biggest and fastest growing destination marathon.

Its “Run Paradise” tagline is an apt description, with runners of all ages and abilities on a mainly flat course that takes in rubber and pineapple plantations, beach views, local villages and the tropical lagoons of Laguna Phuket – all in a family-friendly carnival atmosphere.

As well as the full marathon there’s a 21.1km half marathon and 10.5km run, with families catered for with the 91.5FM 5km community walk and 2km children’s race.

A two-day expo with sponsor booths and fun activities around Laguna Phuket will stoke the carnival atmosphere.

Event Director, Roman Floesser, of organiser Go Adventure Asia, said: “We encourage runners to enjoy the scenery and have a fantastic race experience instead of pushing themselves to achieve personal best times.

“It’s all about participation and having fun in a great atmosphere.”

Race Report: California International Marathon 2011

Friday, 9 December 2011  |  Favorite Posts, Race Reports

The Califonia International Marathon is a point to point, net downhill race. It starts at Folsom Dam, a 20-minute ride from Sacramento and ends at the finish line at California State Capitol in Sacramento. The course offers gentle rolling hills which allows for fast times and, subsequently, a high number of Boston qualifiers. No wonder Runner’s World named it as one of the top 10 marathons to run your personal best.

My hotel, which was booked with runners of all shapes and sizes, hired a bus that would conveniently take us to Folsom at 5:15 am. Race start was 7:00 am.

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– All wrapped up on the bus –

When I stepped out of the bus, I thought I died and went to the North Pole; it was freaking cold. There was no wind (thank-you-Lord!), but with temperature at the low 30s, my Sheddable Shell (tear away wind breaker purchased at NYCM for $10) with a throwaway long sleeve top plus fleece jacket couldn’t keep me warm! I was uncomfortable and I wanted to hide out in the bus until the gun was fired. But, I had to make a quick run for the portalet, check in my bag, and warm up.

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– Runners kept warm with throwaways and trash bags –

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– A wall of portalets. CIM has 1 portalet for every 26 runners. Pretty cool but there were still lines before the race start –

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– Streets were filled with runners scrambling for last minute race preps –

I waited in the cold for less than 15 minutes, then headed off to the assembly area for race start.

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– Just a few minutes before race start. Starting line is right behind me  –

THE START

CIM is a relatively small race with 8,000 runners registered. (Post-race results show that only 5,300 showed up and finished). The start isn’t crowded at all and makes for a pleasant experience. Most runners look experienced—slender, fit, and well-geared for the marathon.

Pace teams stood out with their black flags and pace times. The leaders for each pace team were friendly and experienced and would later give practical tips along the run. For newbies targeting a specific time, this type of system would help give them maintain pace. But, in this race, most runners who joined probably hoped to get that extra nudge to achieve their Boston qualifying time. This was one serious crowd of fast runners.

There was no major fanfare except for the Star Spangled Banner being sung. A few seconds after, we were off.

STEADY DOES IT

We ran through the small and peaceful residential neighborhood of Folsom. The sun was out, the run was slowly increasing our body temperature, and the sounds of our footsteps hitting the pavement was almost tranquilizing. We ran an easy downhill then up a minor ascent which warmed us up even more. There were locals—some in their pajamas—who stepped out of their homes early that morning to give us high fives and cheer us on.

The run was steady, but my legs still felt like lead due to the cool weather. My jacket and gloves were still on (I kept the gloves on until the race ended. Yes, that’s how cold it was!) yet I wasn’t breaking a sweat, literally. At one time, I bumped into good friend Lit and we agreed that our legs still weren’t fully warmed up, my nose was runny, and my lips were chapping. Offering him my chapsticks, I yelled: “Do you want my shlapsphtick?” Man, even my mouth was frozen!

I felt fully warmed up at around Km 8 to 10. And, when that happened, I suddenly felt like a well-oiled machine ready to keep on running. I put one foot in front of the other and never looked back. At Km 13, I turned my ipod on and gained extra strength (and inspiration) from my playlist. (Special thanks go out to Adele and Maroon 5.)

When they said CIM is a net downhill course, I feared it was downhill all the way which was no good for a marathon; it would tire our legs to be running the same way the entire time. Fortunately, this course offered gentle rolling hills. There were slight ascents, none harder than our very own Buendia Flyover killer, and the descents were gentle and easy on the knees. The roads were traffic-free, secure, and wide for most of the way. Race organizers did a good job in setting up this race. Truly the best course I have ever run for a marathon.

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– All smiles! Gloves were off only after the potty break! haha –

LESSONS LEARNED

How many times have you heard runners say: “Running is a metaphor for life”? Well, marathons are much like life too. As you go along, you learn from your mistakes and successes, pick up a thing or two from those who know better, practice, practice, practice, and, when judgement day comes, you hope to be the better, stronger person you are shaped by your past.

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– Fun and fast course! –

In this marathon, I practiced two key things that helped me finish the race:

1. RUN CONSERVATIVE IN THE FIRST HALF. I’ve heard and read this a hundred times before, but being the bullheaded person that I am, I always failed to practice it. After the big mistake at NYCM last month where lack of training due to my neuroma and an aggressive first half left me drained by Km 21, Lit reminded me to apply this principle again. A day before the race, I promised him I’d try thinking that I had nothing left to lose. I ran a conservative 6:20/km during the first Km 21 and found myself reaching Km 32 feeling great.

2. USE YOUR CORE. The day before I left for San Francisco, I ran with Ironman 70.3 2011 Champ and current TBR Magazine cover, Arland Macasieb. He gave me several tips on the Newton technique of running (I’ll post it here within the week) but what stood out was his advise to use my core, not the arms, to push forward. I practiced this during the race and felt like I could go on and on.

LAST FEW KILOMETERS

Much of CIM is run at Fair Oaks Boulevard at Folsom. I knew we entered Sacramento when the street names became letters and numbers. I spotted the street name: 53rd Street and wanted to delete it from memory.

You see, during the talk at the expo, we were forewarned that we should avoid looking at the street names during the last few kilometers. The race would end at 8th Street and counting down street numbers would only scare us about the distance. Well, it sure rattled me. 53rd street to 8th street. Woah boy, we had a long way to go.

Fortunately, this portion was all flat. And, again, the autumn trees did nothing but inspire me to plod on forward. I focused on taking one strong step at a time. Before I knew it, I was at 20th street, then 15th, and closing in on 8th.

RUNNING ALL THE WAY

Among all 7 marathons I’ve run, this was the first and only marathon that I felt strong until the end. For the first time, I had absolutely no long walking breaks; I actually ran all the way until the end!

I finished at 4:41, my second best marathon time after my Condura 2010 PR of 4:24. This was a whopping 40 minute improvement from my NYC Marathon finish exactly a month ago. With so little training due to my neuroma, I wonder about the possibilities of improved performance now that I’m fully recovered.

I crossed that finish alone overwhelmed with joy and beaming with pride. I wore that medal around my neck and met Pinoy friends for a wonderful picnic of free bagels, cookies, and bananas by the Capitol. A perfect way to end a perfect race.

Remember I said I wouldn’t run a marathon twice except for NYC Marathon which I finished in 2010 and 2011?  Okay, I take it back.  I would love to run CIM again…and again…and again.

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– Majestic California State Capitol to greet us at the finish –

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– with Nica (4:08 PR), JaneJane (4:09 PR), and Lit (4:38 PR) –

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– Pinoy finishers of CIM –

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– Fast runners of Team Cebu (Nica, Andrew, and JaneJane) with their relatives –

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– Runners relaxing after the run on Capital Park grounds –

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– Post marathon chatter is the best –

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– Free banana, bagels, cookies, water, and beer for marathoners –

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– with Nica at our little picnic as I sipped on my Gatorade recovery drink –

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– Walking back to my hotel. Couldn’t stop smiling! –