Event: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon 2014
Distance: 42.195 KM
Date: 16-Feb-2014
15-Feb-2014 (Saturday): I woke up with a flux of emotions; excitement, joyousness, and a shard of fear. Honestly, I wasn't completely prepared for this even after 6 months of training. But my will to finish was firm.
I reviewed my checklist and prepared few of the things I left for packing before meeting with Eva. We went to Intercare Makati to have my left knee taped. The tape added an extra ounce of confidence since I was anxious my ITBS would act up and hinder me from finishing strong.
If there's one thing I wouldn't do again after signing up for an out-of-town race is, not booking a hotel room months before the event. Why didn't I think of renting a room sooner? Stupid me! Good thing Kay was generous and kind enough to share with us her hotel room. So, just before we left for Laguna, my day was already completed. Wooh! I got even more ecstatic! I was afraid we'd end up at Sogo Hotel-- to which I found out just recently that it was fully booked! The odds were in my favor, a sign that everything's going to be great!
We arrived at Technopark Hotel (read Eva's review about it here) and was surprised to see how beautiful, relaxing and huge our room was. Their amenities include outdoor swimming pool, KTV & Billiards, Gym, and Dry Sauna/Massage. The ambience was perfect for us runners trying to grab some rest. After checking in, Kay suggested that we have lunch and visit the race village. There were only empty tents when we arrived at the race proper, so the two girls just went on a shopping spree while we were at Solenad. (Hoping to see you wear your first Tri Suit, Kay! :P)
Time check: It's past 7 PM, and I am still wide awake! Eva was hungry so we had to go out and use the hotel's shuttle service to buy our dinner at McDonald's. Time check: It's alsmot 9 PM. After my "last meal", I was so happy to feel sleepy. I could finally grab 3 hours of sleep, at most. I don't want to think too much, I just wanna sleep and save enough energy for the race. And in 3..2..1.. *bleep*
16-Feb-2014 (Sunday): I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, it's 12 AM. I was refreshed and felt like I've clocked an 8-hour sleep. As usual, I had to exercise my pre-race rituals; drink coffee, number 2, shower, apply petroleum jelly and re-check the things I need for the race. Eva was still sleeping since she planned to go to the venue at a later time. The race will start in less than 2 hours. I don't know what to feel. My mind was all blank. I wasn't thinking about the race as I feared it might bring mental stress. For the whole week, I've tried my best to remain positive and in good vibes. I checked the things I need, again, for the third time. Kay went ahead of me as she needed to check on her car. Before leaving the room, for one last time, I glanced at the stuff on the table that weren't in my bag. I was nervous I may have forgotten something. Eva was still sleeping like a baby so I said good bye to her and gave her a kiss.
Time check. 1:50 AM. 10 minutes before gun start. Kay and I were lined up at the starting line, a few rows behind the front pack. Just before they fired the gun, the DJ played our batch's theme song, "Ready For Anything" by Landon Austin. While the rest sang to the tune and danced to the beat, it gave me goosebumps. Haha! As the 10-second countdown to our first marathon started, I pulled out my Rosary, looked up high, prayed for protection and guidance, and kissed it. And we're off!
RACE PROPER:
KM 0-16:
As part of my strategy, I would do Galloway from start until the end, brisk walk most of the hills, and run every downhill at a faster but comfortable pace. (Thanks to Ortigas hills for preparing my body. LOL) So as early as KM 1, my Garmin was set to 3:1 (3-minute run, 1-minute walk). I witnessed the first batch of Dream Chasers (My Ayala Triads family) boost everyone's confidence with their endless cheers during the first few kilometers of the route. They were also handing varieties of food that will surely indulge everyone's appetite. There were two loooong and steep hills before reaching KM 16, and just as I planned, I brisked-walk it. I was able to meet my time goal for KM 16 in less than 2 hours (1:58:34).
I had to conserve my energy for the final battle. From a Gamer's point of view, in every game/battle, there will always be a boss/final stage, so you have to prepare early for it. Gather enough HP/SP potions, extra weapons and armors, etc. So in my case, my potions are my GU energy gels and bananas, my extra armors were my Rock Tape and compression leg sleeves, and my weapon? Just sheer will and determination to cross the line.
KM 16-32
Two hours have passed and I was still on top of my game. Plan #2 was to reset my mind after 10 miles. I had to convince my mind that I was only going to run 26K, so I started counting again from 1 KM until I reached the finish line. I contained my urge to run fast as I know I'd pay the price soon. The plan was to hit a sub-3 half-marathon, and I did. It was still dark when I reached the 21K marker, most groups that started together were already separated from each other. The gap between each runner was starting to consume the roads. I was far from the person infront of me and I could no longer see the person behind me (it felt like I was the last runner!)
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| I've been planning to have this pose for so long, and Photo-Ops captured it perfectly. |
One of the highlights of this event was the "bull" that was trying to cross the road shortly before the 30 KM u-turn mark. By this time, the pack was starting to gather again, thus, brought in more crowd. I was able to see the bull from afar, and I can tell that it was panicky. There were only 3 or 4 of us in a 30-meter radius, and two of us were ahead. So I thought, if the bull wanted to cross, our tiny group would undoubtedly open an opportunity. AND..I..WAS..RIGHT!! Just a few, very few, very very few meters from passing by it, it raised its head, snorted and crossed right infront of me! I would've been hit if I took another step, but I instinctively stopped to make way for the mo#!%^ fu%^&ng bull! I was in shock for a few seconds after it crossed. I didn't want to DNF just because I got hit by a mo#!%^ fu%^&ng bull! I am not a matador! Haha! Did I mention it has large and pointed horns? Anyway, enough with the bull already. It was a fun experience, and an absolute memory for keeps.
I caught up with a small group before the 30 KM u-turn slot. I heard one of them say, "let's start switching to 1:1." Fearing my GPS' battery would run out and planning to switch to this method eventually, I informally joined their 1:1 group, tailing them a few meters behind. Haha! I took cues from them-- when to stop and when to run. I kept up until KM 32 only and ousted due to their increasing pace. I think they were on to achieve a negative split, or maybe I was just getting slower. I still managed to reach my time goal for the 32 KM mark, though.
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| Somewhere around KM 31. |
KM 32 - Finish Line.
As most marathoners would say, this is where the start of the marathon is. This is the point where "the wall" usually surfaces. In my case, I still had a roomful of energy left for the remaining kilometers despite the brief cramp I have had at KM 27-28. I managed to set a new PR for my 32K as well. From 32K - 36K was mainly downhill. I took advantage of the descents, pouring a slightly heavy percentage of my energy. This is where Eva was dropped off from the Dream Mobile. She was there to ask how I was doing, whether she'd request for a stretcher or if I'd want to ride with her in the Dream Mobile until the finish line. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is my supportive girlfriend. Haha. Kidding aside, I was delighted to see her at the most crucial stage of my journey. We chatted for a minute while I was applying petroleum jelly on my armpits as it started chafing already. Somewhere in KM 35, I cramped again. I stopped at one of the tents to request for a quick massage from a fellow Triad, Mark (a BDM champ). The pain was relieved, they even gave me ice candy as my "baon". At KM 36, I looked at my time and smilingly whispered, "mukhang makaka-sub-6 ata ako". I continued to run wearing a smile on my face, constantly greeting runners, marshals and even spectators. But at KM 37, the inevitable happened. I felt a sharp pain tore my right quad that instantly made me stop running. There were three of us pacing each other, but I didn't bother to ask for assistance as I felt they were also trying to finish strong , and if lucky, hit a sub-6 finish. I had no other choice but to part from them as I needed to massage my legs. I bent towards my quads, kneaded them for almost 5 minutes while alternately glancing at my time. That moment, I knew I couldn't make it before 6 hours. I was continuously blurting out every cuss word I know. As the next runner behind me nears, I got back on my feet, disregarded the pain, and carried on. The minute he passed by me, I had to stop running and resumed massaging my legs again. This happened repeatedly. I dropped my pace tremendously and took frequent walk breaks.
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| The Walking Dead. |
I knew I was nearing the rotunda as I've recognized the voice of a fellow Triad shouting "his" magic word, "Rutangina". I heard "him" give inspirational words to a girl who, I think, was about to quit, "Panindigan mo yan, 'te! Inumpisahan mo eh, tapusin mo!" I laughed so hard that it made me forget that I was actually in pain.
I passed by the rotunda towards the 40 KM mark, I was still struggling and in pain. I didn't bother doing the Galloway anymore. I was mentally fatigued and exhausted. I checked my time upon reaching the 40 KM mark, and showed me 5 minutes before 6 hours. I've hit the wall at 40 KM. I was singing Frozen's OST, "Let It Go" just for fun as I was really frustrated that time. Haha! Every step was heavy, every breath was deep, I wanna finish the race already and get some sleep! I hit the 41 KM mark with my legs still cramping. I kept talking to God and asking for protection. The sun is starting to get hot. Good thing there was this last tent with ample hydration. I think the tent was from Team Powerpuff Boys as I've recogized their Kenyan member. I ran towards the tent to hydrate, to which I vividly remember, was asked by the Kenyan "do you want soda, brother?" I refused as I am not used to drinking soda during races, but I smiled at him and responded kindly. The funny part was, he asked if I wanted him to pace me until the last turn towards the finish line. It took me a few seconds to respond as I didn't know what to say. He is a Kenyan! He is friggin' FAST! I declined, of course. Haha!
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| Ice Candy, yo! |
I was headed back to the rotunda and can see Dream Chasers pacing runners. I was still in pain and decided to walk until the finish line when someone approached me and said "Tara, jog lang tayo. Slow lang." I recognized the guy as Kampuger (another BDM mamaw), also from TPB. We jogged slowly nearing the last turn. I swear, that was an im-so-near-yet-so-far experience. That was the longest 1 kilometer I have ever ran in my entire life. He picked up another lady runner who was apparently in pain, too. He was like the sweeper and pacer. Just right after he got the lady, my legs finally gave up on me. They started cramping again, but this time, it's different, it was the most painful thing that ever happened to me. It felt like I got stabbed and immediately died. So I stopped and grunted, and my pacer said, "O, ikaw rin??". I nodded while stretching, when Kampruger exclaimed, "Wag mo i-stretch! Relax mo lang, tayo ka lang." So I wasted another few minutes standing and relaxing. He had to leave me as he was pacing another runner.
I am almost near the final turn, approximately 600 hundred meters before crossing the line. Run, walk, run, walk and run; enduring everything, giving all I have, pouring every ounce of energy left in my system, remembering all the sacrifices I've made, sweat I've shed, early morning runs, and hot long runs. I was actually hoping a Magic Bean would fall from heaven (that's how wild my mind was already! haha!)
I've made my last turn and saw the finish line. I was looking for Eva as she promised to pace me until the end. She then came out of the crowd taking pictures of me, and started running. The moment she matched her strides with mine, I went into second wind, or more like a surge. I was in pain but felt I could handle all the heavy pounding while closing to the finish line. I couldn't remember the last few scenes anymore, except the part where the girl ahead of me posed too long with the finish banner that gave me no window to strike my pose. So sadly, I have no photos holding the banner. (I didn't know we could wait in line to have your photo taken until my friend told me). Nevertheless, it was a euphoric finish for me. I took a moment to savor the victory after I got my medal. I was happy and grateful to have crossed the finish line with Eva, and was so glad something great and unforgettable came out of my sacrifices and training. I've clocked my first marathon in 6:14:03 (official time/PR).
Running a Marathon just became an essential part of my life, and wouldn't trade anything for it. I will definitely have my sub-6 revenge at The Milo Marathon Elims this coming July.
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| If the "S" from Superman's cape stands for Hope, mine stands for Courage. #mema |
Thanks to Photo-Ops and Mark-Luzel from Ayala Triads for the photos.
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