My First 42K Experience (33rd MILO MARATHON)

07.05.2009 - D Day

Around 2AM...
- awaken by my alarm clock
- tried calling Timmy to wake him up. No answer. Texted him instead.
- double checked all the things I need for this marathon

• hammer gels / power bar (thanks pat!)
• powerade
• atm card
• ID
• health card (just in case something happens)
• some cash for food & transport
• singlet / race bib
• garmin 101 (thanks marga)

- what was I thinking... the plan was to run only 5K races after the Condura Run. I'm messing up my own schedule.

Around 3:30AM...
- arrived at McDo UN Avenue. I was the first to arrive at the meeting place.
- Pojie arrived 15 mins later.
- ordered breakfast.
- this is it... no turning back.


Around 4:20AM...
- Bong Z, Ellen, MCoy, Doc Roy and Wilnar arrives.


4:30AM...
- Race started on-time.
- So on-time that me, Pojie, Doc Roy and Wilnar was positioned at the back of the 42K runners pack.


1st Km...
- Pojie and Wilnar upped their tempo.
- I was still trying to have the GF101 locate a signal.
- Doc Roy, still having problems putting his race bib number.

2nd-5th Km...
- Upped my tempo a bit, as I was trying to follow my set pace for 4hrs.
- Caught up Rico along KM2.
- Paced with Pojie along KM4 when he told me to go ahead.

6th-8th Km...
- Still on my target pace for 4hrs.
- Caught up Ziggy and Sam.
- Saw Sir Jovie, team Bald Runner, Vener, Wilnar, Chris running back towards Gil Puyat going to Taguig area.
- Those guys are fast!

9th-11th Km...
- Still on my target pace for 4hrs.
- Took half of the hammer gel. Too sweet... Good thing that there was a water station.

12th-21st Km...
- Still on my target pace for 4hrs.
- Passed by takbo.ph Gil Puyat support station.
- Did not stop to get anything as I was still very much hydrated.
- Took a shower from the firetruck along Gil Puyat Ave/Pasong Tamo.
- Wrong move... my shoes and socks got wet and it felt weird running.
- Passed by takbo.ph Kalayaan support station. Got water and banana.

Ziggy & Me

- Saw Wilnar and Chris already going back to Kalayaan Flyover.

22nd-27th Km...
- Already lagging on my target pace for 4hrs, still on target for 5hrs.
- Changed my socks along Bayani road. Reserved socks also got wet from the firetruck shower.
- Saw Stephen, Sam, Ronnie (RunnerForChrist), Aries and Natz' father.
- RJ (X59), one of the bike support for takbo.ph asked me if I needed anything. I told him I'm still okay and pointed at the direction of Natz' father. Asked RJ to assist Natz' father instead.
- I still have the energy to move, but to run is a different question.
- My feet and knees were already hurting.

30th-36thKM
- Stopped at the Kalayaan support station. Got water and banana.

takbo.ph support station, kalayaan fly-over

running sideways?

- Was struggling to run. Tried power walking instead.
- Ran with Rico and pacer Migz the stretch of Buendia.
- Was assisted by Patrick up to the Buendia support station where Timmy took over from him.

Patrick, bike support

- Got the iced towel from the support group and spray of water mists. Thank you!

takbo.ph support station, gil puyat

37thKM-Finish Line
- Timmy paced (walked with) me.
- Saw Roselle (RunningDiva) along Baywalk
- Saw Grace and Ten waiting for us in front of Aristocrat restaurant.
- Grace commented that I look fat. It's the singlet! Waaaahhhhh....
- Nearing KM0, I was wondering where Pojie is, because I left him at the Kalayaan flyover.
- All of a sudden Pojie showed up behind us. Good timing, pre!!! Thinking about it, whenever we run on a same race. Pojie and I finishes almost at the same time.

McChicken please!

- Nearing the finish line, the guys were already cheering us to make a dash for it. I don't know if you can call it a dash, it seems more like a crawl to me.
- I wasn't able to hit my finish time with my set paces. But I was happy that I was able to hit my goal and that is to finish my first full marathon.

Aftermath...
- Took pictures with idol Vener. Met Xty!

with Vener (RunUnlmtd)

- Then asked Neil (CrashNBurn) if I can borrow his MTB so that I can go back to check on Doc Roy & Sam.
- Biking along the baywalk area I saw Drs Eric & Pinky... "ang sweet!!!"
- Then I saw Natz' dad, then Aries with Bong Z as his pacer.
- Then I saw this lady "runner" and asked her, "kaya pa?". And she gave me a two thumbs up sign.
- Said to myself, "she's faster than Doc Roy & Sam?".
- Reached CCP area... I saw Doc Roy & Sam with support bikers Ronald, RJ & Carmen. I told them the runners who I saw ahead of them. When Ronald told me that he saw "runner" ride a bus along RCBC tower in Gil Puyat Makati.
- We just thought that "runner" parked her car somewhere near CCP.
- Ronald pushing Doc Roy & Sam to keep moving since there's only less than 3kms left near the finish line.

- Ronald blurted out true words of wisdom...

"tutal masakit din naman katawan nyo bukas... lubus-lubusin nyo na!!!"

And at KM0...

"tama na yan! gutom na ko!"

Classic parekoy!!! =)



* pictures grabbed from MykolAnt, Vener, Edu, Doc Marvin, Argonaut, Josiah. Salamat mga bro! =)

The race was really organized. Hydration was overflowing with Gatorade. More drinking water next time perhaps. Too early for the firetrucks to shower the runners. Maybe next time, firetrucks should be placed at least 5Kms before the finish line. But still, hats off to you Mr Rudy B for a well organized race.

To the "runner" who took the bus from RCBC, who I saw along Baywalk, whose picture I saw holding a MILO finishers medal... Goodluck to you!!! You are one of the runners I used to admire. You are one of the runners I used to secretly watch over during races.

To all takbo.ph support group (Gil Puyat / Kalayaan), bikers, pacers... I will not mention names as I might forget somebody from the group... but you all know who you are. =)

MARAMING, MARAMING SALAMAT PO!!!