BDM Conversations (my BDM 160 Ultramarathon experience)

I first ran the streets of Bataan last year during the "Test Run" for the 2nd BDM 102 (CLICK ME! to read the story). As I said on that post...

• Acknowledge the people who will greet you along the way
• Give high fives or thumbs-up signs

Well I did those... but I forgot to mention to bring a lot of patience and humility too. Not because of the distance but because of the things you will hear from and conversations you'll have with the people along the route.

Along Km20
Manong1: "Boss, yan na po ba yung FUN RUN?"
Me: "Oho"
Manong1: "San ang FINISH LINE?"
Me: "sa CAPAS po."
Manong1: "Ang layooo!"

Along Km30
Manong2: "Bro, san kayo nag-simula?"
Me: "Sa Mariveles po."
Manong2: "Ang layo ah. San ang tapos?"
Me: "sa CAPAS po."
Manong2: "Nyaaaaaa!"

Along Km40
Kids: "Galingan nyo ha!"
Me: gave them high fives!

Along KM45
Truck Driver: "Hoy! Bilisan nyo, tanghalian na"
Me: x_X

Along Km52
Tricycle Driver: "Boss, sakay ka na para mauna."
Me: "Patay tayo dyan..."Tricycle Driver: "Bakit, bawal ba mandaya?"
Me: "Kelan pa po naging tama?"
Along Km55
Manong3: "Boss, san pa po kayo galing?"
Me: ----
Manong3: "Boss, san pa po kayo galing?"
Me: ----
Manong3: "Boss!!! Huuuyyyy!!!!"

Along Km65
Me: (talking to the medics) "Boss, ako na ba ang last runner?"
Medic: "Yes sir."
Then after a few minutes, a runner passes by.
Me: "Ayos!"

To all the runners running this weekend for the 3rd BDM 102 Ultramarathon. Bring a lot of patience and humility! Good luck and God Bless you all!

This Is It!!!!

All Women's Run

Last February 28, Monday, I was invited to attend the bloggers dinner at the Stock Market, Highstreet, BGC for the Women's Health and Athena Milk for Women All Women's Run.

I was happy to see familiar faces as most of the bloggers/runners who also attended were my friends (Poj, Roselle, Rene, Rico, Bards, Earl, Carina, Noelle, Timmy, James, Kas).

Anyhow... after a few chitchat about the BDM 160 where I sucked for stopping at KM69. The presentation went underway.

All Women’s Run by Women’s Health
now open for registration

In celebration of Women’s Month this March, Women’s Health Philippines and Athena Milk for Women team up to stage their first-ever All Women’s Run, happening on March 19. Saturday, 5:00 A.M. at SM Mall of Asia (across IMAX Parking Lot), Pasay City.

While the run is open exclusively to women ages 16 years old and above, girls below 16 years old may register, as long as they are accompanied by a registered female adult running in the same category. Participants may choose among the 3K, 5K, and 10K race categories.

Race Course:


Registration for the Women’s Health and Athena Milk for Women All Women’s Run is ongoing until March 19, 2011. The registration fees for the respective categories are: P500 for 3K, P600 for 5K, and P700 for 10K. The race bag includes goodies from Women’s Health and Athena Milk for Women, and a specially-designed Women’s Health-Athena Milk For Women racer-back singlet that participants must be wearing as they cross the finish line in order to win and qualify for the finisher’s bracelets.




The celebration of Women’s Month also continues after the race! Visit the All Women’s Run Festival Area and take part of exciting activities from our sponsors.



For more registration details, grab a copy of the March issue of Women’s Health or become a fan of Women’s Health on Facebook via www.facebook.com/womenshealthphilippines.




Btw... I registered kumander to run the 5K. And she wants to race this. Good luck sa inyong lahat! =D

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! ^_^

Condura 2011...Tough act to follow?

Less than a month to go before I position myself to the starting line of Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 at the BGC or Bonifacio Global City (The Fort). And I believe that this race will be a tough act to follow.



They've already set the bar literally high when they first included the SkyWay as part of the route during Condura 2009.

Take a peak on their Top 12 Reasons to Join as they upped it a notch higher once again this year.

And as if the info's on their website is not enough. They even emailed participants with links/instructions on how to use the D-tags.

If I may add, do not fold the D-tags as this will break the circuit making it unreadable. How do I know? Just trust me on this... Unless you don't mind not seeing your name on the finishers list.

Information overload? I'm not complaining.

*thanks to Julie aka The Hotlegs Runner for the free race kit!