Not Meant To Be (my BDM 160 Ultramarathon experience)

February 25
My wife woke me around 6AM. She thought that I will be traveling to Bataan early for the BDM 160 race.
Prepared my things for the race. Double checked everything (so I thought).
Reached Bataan around 5PM.

February 26
I FORGOT MY TEAM BORING SHIRT!!!!! x_X
Taped my feet as I planned to not wear socks... (bad move)

Km 0
As usual, Team Boring was early at the starting line.

Having a grand time with the same faces we met last year at the BDM 102.


Forgot to stretch!!!
Race started at 5:45AM. The halimaws went for it...
Me, Poj, Doc T, Gab, & Doc Abe paced with the rest of the runners who maintained a slow pace.

Around Km4
Tapes at the back of my foot started to fall off. Doc T, told me that it's already bleeding.

Around Km10
Re-taped my foot. Wore socks. Called up my wife to update.
Drank Gatorade blue. Tried to put cap back on... my cellphone... =p

Km20-Km49
Did not rest long at pit stops. Grabbed cups of fruit cocktail and continued to run/walk.

Km50
Still strong at this stage. Team was on time based on our agreed pace.
Ate, hydrated & charged my Garmin.


Re-taped my foot. Sir Jovie, asked me if I was alright. And I said I'm still good.
Did not changed shoes,socks & shirt.
Team took off again at the 8th hour of the race.

Km60
Felt muscle strain on my left foot. Rested for a bit while the rest of the team took off.
Edwin suggested that I change shoes. I lost 30mins during this rest.

Km65
Medics were behind me. I asked if I was the last runner and they said yes.

Km66
Another runner passed by me. So much for being the last runner.

Km69
Got Gatorade from the support. But after a few meters, the pain from my left foot became unbearable.

Thoughts popped up...
Me1: "I know I can do this..."
Me2: "Yes, but you could die."
Me3: "Wag naman die."
Me4: "O sya, sige lumpo lang."
Me5: "Di ako pwede malumpo, kailangan ko pumasok sa office bukas."
Me6: "Ayos! So ano desisyon mo? Malumpo, mamatay, o makapasok sa office bukas?"
Me7: "Next year ko na babalikan yang Buckle na yan..."
Me8: "Di mo na sinagot yung tanong..."

So with that... I signaled the medics that I'm quitting the race.

Texted Cindy to inform Sir Jovie that I DNF'd at Km69.

Did I cry at Km69? Hell no!

Sa ibang kilometer na ko umiyak! =p

2nd BDM 102 - Pagtatapos

Note: Overdue for almost a year. Lost my notes for this piece but since it's BDM season again, I thought that this will be the best time to finish this story.

Click here to read Part 1- The Birth

Click here to read Part 2 - Extra Push

I'll try my best to recall what transpired during the race... here goes...

KM0 - KM7
Team Boring (Me, Gab, Pojie, Doc T) agreed to walk the first 7K of the race.

Was tempted to at least jog when runners started to pass us one-by-one.

KM8
Reached our first stop to hydrate. Re-assessed the plan. So far, so good. Requested the support to do stops on KM11, KM15 and KM20.

Along KM21 & KM22
Received a text from Jet that he was running alone. This I think is where the KM markers were off.

Run ahead from the group to check on Jet but wasn't able to catch up on him.

KM30
Reached the support. Marky informed me that Jet already has a company so I did not try to catch up. I instead waited for the others to arrive.


KM50
Felt blisters on both feet. Removed my compression tights, but I did not change my socks nor my shoes as I don't want to tamper the blisters.



KM60-79
Called up my wife. Told her that I only need to walk/run a marathon (42K) to finish the race.
Tried to eat rice. But it just tasted bland. Got a massage from Marky instead.
I think this was also where Doc T's support came. (Doc, correct me if I'm wrong)
Got a text from Marga (who was in Japan that time) that Sam stopped somewhere in KM72 because of cramps. Tried to look for Sam, but no luck.
Sam suddenly appeared and he was hobbling badly.

Me, Doc T & Sam

Along KM80-89
Garmin died on me. Good thing I was wearing my other watch.
Doc T who was with me that time kept on asking me if we can still make it.
With barely 4 hours left before cut-off, and 20+KMS more to conquer, we started to compute.
We computed that if we do a 6km per hour walk in 4 hours, we can still make it.



KM90-101
My body wants to quit. I was in the verge of crying, quitting.
But I have to finish this... I can't go home to my kid without the medal and trophy.
Doc T was lagging behind. I told the support to tell Doc T to just follow me.
Marga called up and asked how are we.
I don't know if I was hallucinating, but I saw two kilometer posts with the same KM reading.
I was already dragging my feet. My blisters were burning. I wanted to cry but no tears fell.





20 or so meters before Finish line...
As I turned left, a Marshall shouted, "20 METERS NA LANG SIR!!!".
So I went for it, I made a mad dash towards the finish line. Trying to control my tears... and when I touched the finish line I loudly wept.

panget moments...

I made it!!! I made it!!! I made it!!!

Got my medal & trophy from Sir Jovie

And this... this... you'll also get after finishing the race...

those are blisters... and they are huge!
di ako nananakot! ^_^