The Unforgiving Hills of McKinley...The Unicef Run

There are obstacles where one might think easy to overcome, but more often than not, one is always proven wrong. Such is my experience on the Unicef Run last November 23. I thought given that most of the runners are at the Mall of Asia running the Animo Run of La Salle, I will be able to break my PB or at the most get a hold of a much anticipated podium finish on my age category. To my surprise, it was not the case. My mistake.

Before the start of the race, the organizers changed the route a little bit. No worries I thought. But, to my surprise, it was one hell of a “little change”. For while in the first kilometer mark, there came before me a steep downhill at McKinley Hill, and after the first u-turn of course a steep uphill. After surviving that ordeal and reaching the entrance going to Lawton, I felt real tired and it seems that my mind wanted to convince my body to give in. After some internal conflicting moments, I managed to reach another u-turn and then I decided to triumph over my mind’s desire.

I finished the race not breaking my PB, but I was more than glad to have finished the race in one piece. Apparently, there will be a respite from running at McKinley Hills for a while. I will now try to run on even surface. Less draining on the body, and probably I will be able to break my PB.

One good thing about this race though is that I was able to convince my officemate, She’ (who was my photographer on the Adidas KOTR) to finally run this race. An added bonus is that she was able to convince her two other brothers to run also. In spite of the results of this race, I was still overwhelmed.

With She' and her brothers Edward and Paul

Another bonus is that of meeting a friend back in UP, Jun Catacutan. He's grown so big since the last time I saw him, probably about 15 years ago. When I saw this photo, I felt so small as I was dwarfed by his built.

Now, I need to prepare for the next two runs before the year ends. The Yakult Run and the ICTUS Run at UP. The Yakult Run at the CCP will be a new exprience for me, for I haven't ran yet on the area, and though I run regularly at UP, this will be a first competion run at the UP.

I just hope that I will be able to achieve my goal before the year ends. That of breaking the 25 minute mark for the 5K. After that, I will try to run the 10K in January's PSE Run (which I promised my cousin, Ate Nora).

On the Yakult Run, aside from She' and her two brothers, I will also be joined by another officemate, Noel, plus my two nephews, Bikoy and Paolo. We'll Ate Nors, the tribe is growing.

By thw way, my official time for the Unicef Run (thanks to www.runrio.com) is 26:51, 27th overall in the male category and 7th in my age category.

The Bangkok Standard Chartered Marathon

Yes, I went to Bangkok, Thailand on the 14th of November, but I did not run the Bangkok Marathon on November 23. That I want to make it clear.

This is my story.

Before I got hooked on running, I have another passion, it is the quest for adventure and the unknown. On July of 2006, I embarked on a journey to travel every province of the Philippines, document my travel and take a photo of the 79 provincial capitols (now, there are already 81 of them) and whatever sight my eyes can lay upon. It was surely an experience of a lifetime. My goal, to be the first ordinary person to travel the whole of the Philippines and have proof of it. You can read all about it in my travel blog http://www.thelaidbacktraveller.blogspot.com/.

Where does that lead me?

Last August, before my first run (the KOTR), I booked a flight to Bangkok, Thailand, just an early Christmas present from me to me. To experience a culture and a landscape that is not familiar. While walking around Bangkok with my backpack, I chanced upon a poster of a couple running. It was a poster of the Bangkok Standard Chartered Marathon. Too bad, it was slated on the 23rd of November and by that time, I'm already back in Manila running at the UNICEF's Run at McKinley Hill. So I thought that I will not leave Bangkok unless I had my photo taken with the small billboard as my background. Just so to put my sights on running there next year.

Unfortunately, it was not a very busy place, there were no people walking around, and so I waited, and waited, and waited. Patience does pay off. Finally, after I don't know how long, a man came and waited for a bus. Using my charm and my fingers, I asked him to take my photo and he obliged. And I asked him without saying a word (sign language lang). And so here it is......

The regrettable thing is that I wasn't able to ask the name of the man who took this photo. So, to you heaven sent, whoever you are, Khob khun Krab (thank you in Thai).

Now I have one thing to look forward to next year, it will surely be one my running goals in 2009 to run in the Bangkok Marathon. So, I need to look at its schedule first defore booking a flight there, and hopefully, the political crisis by then is already over.

Long Overdue...tales from the OctoberRun

This article is long overdue. Blame on the demanding schedules (work, birthdays of friends, and visit to the Memorial Park), including the recently concluded VSO Run, and most likely, writer’s block. Ok, Iam guilty as charged. Last Sunday was the second week since the Octoberun at the Fort and it is now November, thus Iam compelled to write something about the experiences on that eventful day, since that I’ve already written an article on the VSO Bahaginan’s Run. I will be doing injustice to the OctoberRun if I pass this one out.

Looking back, I realized that the Octoberun was my third race in October, not bad, since I just started joining these runs starting with the Adidas KOTR. There were no big expectations to start with, just finish the race and if ever that I will better my PB, good, if not, we’ll there are other races. It was a very relaxed mood. And I came much prepared compared to the previous runs. Though the training were very much the same (running three rounds of the UP oval every other night), when I said prepared, I meant preparedness with the other necessities, like to bring my nephews (Bikoy and Paolo) together with their mother (Bembet) with me so that I will have a photographer (which I missed in the BOTAK run) and let them experience the very lively atmosphere on the race day, and hope that they will be inspired by it and go into running also. Too bad though that my running-mate cousin (Ate Nora) and my auntie (Ate Ella) were not able to make it to the run because my niece (Eia) had a chicken pox the night before, and they need to take care of her (family first).

Start of the Run

I positioned myself on the sidelines to watch the start of the 10K run, though I don’t know anybody there, I felt the urge of cheering them on, at the same time, clicking my camera just for the sheer pleasure of it. After the sound of the gun, off they went, and I then squeezed myself to the front part of the pack of 5K runners, it was easy because of my thin frame.

A funny thing happened before the start of the 5K. The announcer said that it is just 1 minute more before the start of the 5k, then suddenly, we heard the starting gun, devoid of any other thoughts, we started running. The situation helped us a lot to relax, for we were all smiling when we started the race.

Going through McKinley Hill, it was really tough, good thing there were water stations positioned strategically. Though I’m having a hard time drinking from the cup while running, I was forced to walk a little bit to drink some needed liquid. Then I promised myself to get a hydration belt in the next race so as not to inconvenience me.

The run was great, I knew that I was in the front pack, for in front of me were just a handful of people, and when I glance at the back, there was a road full of runners, and after the u-turn, I saw even more runners on their way. This inspired me to go ahead, knowing that Iam running a faster pace.

Upon reaching the final 1.5 kilometer mark, I knew that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting nearer, so I psyched myself and went on the final curve to the finish line.

There I was met by my two nephews and my sister. It was a great feeling to sprint to the finish line, as I was with a faster runner, a faster lady runner.

I finished the race knowing that I did well, and it felt good. So good that I even stayed for a while to look around for familiar faces and cheer on the other finishers, especially the one with a baby stroller. It was truly a great day.

About to Leave

When we were about to leave to have our breakfast, I heard the announcer called on my name to go to the registration booth to verify my age. This means only one thing I thought, that I was one of the faster runners in my age group. For lack of a better word, that feeling was true. Until now, I couldn’t describe what I felt then, it was a mixture of happiness, excitement, I became very emotional, thankful, and even panic (please don’t ask me for I don’t know why).

As it turned out, I was the 4th fastest in my age group and my official time became my Personal Best. My official time was 25:56 and I was 44th overall (thanks to www.takbo.ph for the official results). This day, the number 4 was really very significant for me, adding to my age-group placement and my overall ranking, my bib number was 1441. Here’s hoping that one day, I’ll be able to get a bib numbered one.