Running is addictive … once you start, you just want to keep on increasing your dose. I remembered running my first race which was a 10k during last year’s VSO held at the fort.  After a few 10ks I ran my 1st 15k during Asian Hospital’s Run New and then my 1st half-marathon which was the Condura Race. I was actually planning back then on making Botak my first full marathon. Lucky for me, I had so many deadlines at work that I had to forego of that plan and instead registered for the half-marathon.  Had I been stubborn and pushed through with it, last Sunday’s run would have been a very painful memory. Me and my friend Ian weren’t expecting PRs for this race as I didn’t have enough time to train (my weekly mileage went  down from 38 to 0 after pacing for our friend Isko in BDM 102) and Ian is under the weather. So, we decided to aim for a finish somewhere between 2:15 and 2:30. We were able to finish it with 2:29:29 on my watch. Observations : There was a water truck in the Kalayaan flyover.  Sweet! Excellent singlets. I don’t  wear singlets anymore but I have to make an exception in this case. Lots of Gatorade at the finish line. There was also an awesome band at the finish line. The race started late.  It started at 6:00 am. Starting a 21k race during the summer months in the Philippines is not cool (literally). There were not enough water cups in the aid stations ; luckily I brought a disposable hand-held water bottle with me which I conveniently refilled whenever I reach an aid station. Since this race involves a lot of “turn-arounds”; they should have added...