These past few Sundays, I have been doing long runs – the last of which was joining my CAMANAVA runner friends Isko and Jomar prepare for the recently concluded 2010 edition of BDM 102. They did 52 Km while i did 30Km only.
It was after that when I realized that my Nike Triax would need replacement soon. After all, it is the only pair I have and after around 600 KM ….
So now, let me introduce you to my little friend (drumroll please) … The Asics Gel-Nimbus 10
I really like Asics GEL Technology
I hope that I can break it in before this Sunday’s Globe run for home
Before I even started running , I have already summited several of our country’s mountains. So whenever there is a trail run on the race calendar, I really try my best to participate in it.
The North Face trail run in Nuvali is one of the best trail runs I have ever joined due to the following :
Cheap registration fee.
Near Metro Manila (no need to bring a tent or get a hotel room)
Shuttle Service was provided (although I didn’t avail of this service)
Nice race distance – although it would’ve been better if they had a 50k category (something to look forward to in TNF Baguio)
Ample water stations
Lots of marshalls
TNF and PUR really did a great job with this one; the trail wasn’t that difficult but it gave people like me who haven’t hit the trail in quite a long time just the right dose of endorphins
Congratulations to TNF and PUR for a job well done.
The 22k starting line. The race started at 5:45 am instead of 5:15.
The Dawn
Blue Skies
(Road) signs of the times
George of Team Hardcore - he covered more than 22KM as he was running back and forth the trail. IDOL!!!
Nice view! Never mind the runner, hehehe
This pair used to be color gray ....
The second river crossing - view from the top
Nice stairs
There were a few of these rock formations along the trail ... I miss trekking
I remembered my first Condura experience when I ran my first half-Mary in the Skyway last year – it was awesome! So, when this year’s edition of the said race was announced, I definitely had to register. You see, the half-mary last year was just that : half of the skyway, so I thought that it was a good idea that the Concepcion brothers included the full marathon event.
It has been a well documented observation in the running community that organizing races has turned into a profitable business with some organizers more interested in making a quick buck rather than satisfying their participants. That is the reason why starting this year, I am choosing the races that I join (and being a bandit with the rest, hehehe). I know that quality has an expensive price tag that goes with it ; so even if I had hesitations in joining this race due to the expensive registration fee , I still joined the 42K event and I’m glad that I did.
Fireworks lit up a seemingly cold and tense morning where the 42K runners were preparing for the end of the countdown that would start the event. This is a refreshing scene compared to the usual Sunday morning race start. Everybody was happy and excited to run!
The challenging but enjoyable part of the race started early on as we ran around the Fort area , claiming one ascent after another before we scaled the Kalayaan flyover towards Buendia – this part of the route was dark since the streets we traversed had no lamp posts on it.
The vertical path which was the Kalayaan flyover as well as the rest of the Makati area was well lit and lively with the presence of various bands along the route – I was particularly energized upon reaching the corner of Buendia and Pasong Tamo when the Philippine Army band played the theme song of the movie The Magnificent Seven – I felt like Yul Brynner riding his horse, hehehe!
Upon entering the skyway, I said to myself – “Finally!” and took the most challenging path of my asphalt loving career. The ambience on the skyway was cool, exciting and bright …. Did I say bright? I thought it was, but somebody turned off the lights! Running the skyway was reminiscent of running Lawton Avenue about an hour ago – dark!
When the sun finally rose, the view from up there was spectacular, it’s different when you’re running it compared to just driving through it.
When we reached the turn around point near the Bicutan exit, I felt a bit sad because this feeling of enlightenment is half-over. It didn’t also help that there were small specks of matter floating in the atmosphere which some runners have inhaled and worse – ingested.
Just as I thought that the challenging part was over comes the most difficult ascent of this race – Condura hill. Well, like what most runners did , I just simply walked this part and enjoyed the view, I even took some pictures while I was at it. The sun was already up at this time as I saw it took its toll on the band that was supposed to perform the lively music for us runners.
Then came the sign at the bottom of the skyway which read “Congratulations, you have conquered the skyway!”. At least now, I can say that I have completely conquered it compared to just half of it last year.
… and there it was , on my return trip I met the generous souls of Takbo.PH and Reinier Pacific. The banana I got from them gave me a boost that I was able to run up to Makati Avenue.
After the short lived energy burst, I jogged /walked until the finish line. I finished the race in 5:46. 12 minutes slower compared to my first marathon.
All in all, this was a fun race : very unique and challenging route , water trucks, long water/hydration tables, sponges , fire works and bands. Did I say it was a race? Oh, I thought it was a party .
Condura Village the day before the race
Along the Magallanes area
Blue skies ...
Condura Hill
Another view of Condura Hill
Near the Bicutan Exit
I don’t usually bring an mp3 player, but it sure would’ve been nice to listen to this while running :
I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to run the 2nd BDM test run even if I am not participating on the race itself. This is my first attempt at an ultra-marathon and I’m glad I tried it.
With the strong CAMANAVA Runners
50K in 7:56:40
When we arrived at the Bataan shrine in Mariveles, it felt quite different, considering that the first time I have been here , it was dark … because the 1st BDM strarted at midnight.
The 1st 7 kilometers were well, very difficult, most runners (me included) walked the up hills. We were very lucky last Saturday that the weather was a bit overcast, because had it been sunny all throughout, I may not have been able to finish the race.
Now I understand what Isko says when he speaks about attitude and mental toughness … having completed a couple of full marathons, I thought that running for 8 more kilometers would be easy – I was wrong!
My easy pace became difficult, my target times – lost … I was worried that after 4 hours, I haven’t even reached the 30 KM mark. In fact, I had doubts that I will be able to complete this daunting task.
Then, it all came to me – the reason why we were all doing this : to pay tribute to those brave souls who marched these same streets of death more than half a century ago.
After all, who am I compared to them? What is running a mere 50 kms compared to the distance our martyrs have traveled? Who am I to complain?
102 kilometers may just be a moment in a poet’s play, but for me this is as real as it gets.
I was able to squeeze in a few runs after the Rizal Day run; but that was just they are – a few. So I decided to run around 10k today and 20k tomorrow.
I was supposed to do a single loop around MOA and then to CCP, knowing that the Black Nazarene was in Quirino grandstand and that there will be a lot of devotees there.
But then again, when I met Ian who was about to start his bike training, I changed my mind and eventually ended up going to the Quirino grandstand anyway.
I have been to the Quirino grandstand a lot of times before, but this is the only time that the atmosphere was so solemn.
Devotees on their way to the Quirino Grandstand - Most of them are barefoot
Mass
After running, I returned to MOA but ended up limping again, this was due to the blister on my left big toe. Since I didn’t anticipate a long distance run, I just used ordinary cotton sports socks when I should have used running socks instead. ( I only use them during races since they are a bit expensive).
The thing about running socks is that it provides proper cushioning (that is why they are left / right foot specific), it wicks away moisture and most importantly, they don’t have extra threads protruding near the toe area. – I think that was what caused the blister on my foot.
Nike Running Socks
Nike Elite Running Socks - No Show
Don’t get me wrong, ordinary cotton sports socks work for me for distances up to 10 miles.
I was about to call it quits after 20km but I ran (pun intended) into Ian (he is running this time, after 60km of bike training) who convinced me to do another 2km. He then treated me to some snacks before we ran our final kilometer together.
It would have been great if I could still accompany him for a few more kilometers but the blister won’t let up
All systems go for tonight's concert at the Mall of Asia
Ne-Yo's Poster at the entrance
Good luck to all the participants of the Cebu Marathon!
When I started running about a year ago, I ran my first race using my old Nike cross trainers and it carried me smoothly thru 10 kilometers of pavement so I thought that maybe, there really was no need to buy running shoes; but since it was an old pair, I decided to buy a new pair of running shoes anyway .
My first pair was the Adidas Adizero Mana, it worked well for me. In fact, I still have it with me and it almost looks brand new since I wasn’t able to use it that much since I immediately increased my mileage so that I could run the Condura half-marathon a few months after.
While training for my first half marathon until I completed my first full marathon, I was using the Asics Gel Cumulus Eight – for me, this was the perfect pair, it carried me through new heights during the Condura half-marathon in the skyway, the dust of the 1st BDM 102 while we were pacing Isko and finally, the cool asphalt layers of the SCTEX during my first marathon.
.. and just like any other pair of running shoes, it has already reached its maximum mileage. After 10 months of sweat and pain, I have retired it after running the Subic International Marathon – a fitting end for a shoe so great.
Since we were in Subic at the time, we decided to drop by the Nike depot and there I found my new running partner – the Nike Structure Triax 12 (and it was on sale!) .
I was so excited with this pair, thinking it will outperform my old Asics. So when it was time for the Pasig International Marathon, I put on this pair with much gusto – it felt good at first; but after around 25 kms of running , I felt a pain in my inner foot, just below my right ankle.
After the race, I ended up with a very big blister in that area of my foot – an area that used to be blister free. I thought it was because I haven’t broken it completely yet. But after almost 300 kilometers of running, the blister machine is still at it.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the new pair is an excellent shoe, except for its blister-creation mechanism.
I wonder if there are any other Nike Triax users who has the same problem ?
Anyway, this is how I feel when running with Asics:
2009 was a good running year for me … I have joined a lot of races and have completed 2 full marathons before my 1st year running anniversary – a feat that I thought wasn’t possible due to the corporate-sponsored stress which was given to me for free.
.. and what better way to end it than to run two half marathons (NB and Philstar), an unplanned trail run and the Rizal day 32km run.
Hmm – I am at a loss for words. Last Sunday’s Timex half-marathon is perfect.
As I was driving around the Fort Global City area on my way to the parking lot, I have noticed the long tables filled with cups of water / sports drinks. I said to myself that finally, the organizers are listening to the runners – this must be a good sign!
I was aiming for a PR for this run, but as the race started, I was surprised that the race has
actually started, hehehe – you should be there, everybody just started running.
It was your typical 21km race route around the Fort and Buendia . The roads were closed and irate motorists giving us the finger – tssss! Do we have anger management classes in the Philippines ?
I was so excited in achieving a PR that I forgot to warm up – big mistake. After 4 kms, my 5:30 pace dropped to 6:00 and then 6:30. I got so tired that I realized after reading the official results that my pace for the last 2kms was around 8 to 9 mpk! I finished the race at 2:18 (chip time) – so much for a PR.
I was happy that at the finish line, we were treated like VIPs- we were given towels and awarded a medal ; but wait, that’s not all : there was free breakfast, lots of 100 plus / free coffee sachets and a loot bag that contains .. wait , let me see – an energy bar and wait, another bottle of 100 plus!
I didn’t think that I would be able to complete my 2nd attempt at a full marathon. The night before the run, I wasn’t feeling well – I had to take paracetamol before I slept. I also took another dose when I woke up at 2 am on the race day itself. In fact, I still was a bit hesitant to join the race when we reached the starting area at the KM 0 mark at the Quirino Grandstand.
The event, having one of the network giants as a major sponsor, started with a lot of fanfare (or should I say spot lights and cameras plus a noisy emcee). The mood in the starting line was fun, I especially enjoyed watching the performance of the Philippine Marines band.
True to the Biscocho tradition, the race started at 4:28 am ( 2 minutes before the scheduled gun-off). The three of us started a bit slow with Isko slowly picking up the pace to which Ian and I followed. We were going so fast that at around 5kms, I slowed my pace down to around 6 mpk. There was after all still 37 kms left to run.
The water stations didn’t run out of water – thank God I didn’t get dehydrated at my first attempt to run 42kms during the daytime.
As for the route, I doubt that anyone would get lost this year as there were directional signs and marshals along the entire route. Besides, If I get lost, all I had to do was to follow the scent of the river – after all, this race has Pasig written all over it.
I started walking around the Guadalupe area, I think my legs aren’t as strong as the other runners; it has been only 2 weeks after I have finished my first 42km. While I was walking / jogging near the Pioneer area, I saw Sir Jovie (aka The Baldrunner) walking … this came as a surprise to me because I know that he is a strong runner – I was later informed by his staff that he has an injury in his left leg – but as a true warrior, he still finished the entire 42km.
After receiving hydration from Team Bald Runner support staff (Thanks a lot!). I went on my way … I was able to run a bit on the downhill area of Pasig (thanks Coach Isko, I was able to apply our “downhill” run in this area).
When I reached the C5 area, I was happy to see that the Pasig Traffic enforcers themselves acted as barricades in order to secure the area where runners are supposed to run.
As I entered the Fort area, I started to feel hungry already. It was all psychological at this point. The heat of the sun, the feeling that my feet would burst from my running shoes and the longing for food.
Seeing the Takbo.ph people at the bottom of the Kalayaan flyover also helped me in the “psychological” department – at that point, even the slightest words of encouragement can go a long way. After all, there were still 10 kms left, I was thinking, I could easily cover that distance in less than an hour (that was if I haven’t covered 32kms already!).
It is true what they say about the last 4kms of a marathon – it will be the longest 4kms of your life!
I was able to finish this race in 5 hours 50 mins – not as good as my marathon finish 2 weeks ago but hey – in spite of my complaints while running it – I enjoyed it!
