Confusion and Desperation…..

Looking at my right knee, I couldn’t see anything wrong. Yeah the muscles felt hard but definitely not sore, or at least that was what I would like to think. After doing some stretches again, proceeding with walk-run strategy, I figured out there was no way I could continue it as the pain every time I bend my knee was unbearable. I sent a frantic text message to Dhenz and asked him if I could still finish the race within cut-off time even if I walk the remaining distance, the reply several minutes later was “yeah I think so.”

Ronnie finally caught up with me and I told him of my predicament. He shared that he suffered the same fate last Subic International Marathon, he finished the entire 42km of it, albeit walking almost 38km. He left me several minutes later and I kept on thinking what he had just said. I was left on my own, with no one to talk to while pondering the idea of doing an “ultrawalkathon”. Soon enough, runners were starting to overtake me which just added another demoralizing effect on my being. Hoping that my right knee might finally cooperate after almost an hour of walk, I tried running again. The result was unsatisfactory, the right knee won’t bend and I thought quitting.
Read the rest of this entry »

Upon reaching km50 : Wow I’ve just covered 50km in less than 7 hours, and I still have lots of energy left. This is going to be one bad ass race of mine!

Upon continuing the race from km50 after a long breakfast: My right knee hurts! I can’t bend my right knee! Immediately sent a text message to group mate Dhenz: Can I still finish the race within cut-off time if I just walk the remaining route?

The Street Party

Dhenz, Tina and I reached km0 post around 9:25pm. Upon reaching the area, I noticed the place was in very joyful fiesta-like atmosphere. We greeted fellow runners or “warriors” and had some photo-ops with other runners as well. As usual, the usual “KMO picture post” was never missed. (photos by Brandon Losario)
Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve promiseed myself that after my first Ultramarathon race, the next goal is a sub 4 on 34th Milo Marathon. I’ll be more serious on my training and as such, may even miss some road races so that I could concentrate and focus more on my training. I promise to log my training details to help fellow runners who are planning to break the 4 hour barrier, hoping that it will help them as well.

I’ve observed that all my 42km (four of them!) are not something I’m proud of. Yeah I did finish them all but always below my expectations. There’s always a part of me that is really dead set on improving my 42 km run. Signs of OCness? Hope not. Read the rest of this entry »

As I’ve mentioned from my previous blog post, the plan was to run this race at chillax pace and even considered taking up a role of being an “unofficial” sweeper role for 42km runners. Alas, that didn’t happen and as soon as the gun start was fired, I found myself running at my usual 21km pace mode.

As I didn’t bring my hydration belt for this race, I stopped on all water stations and also did some ITB stretching, checking my watch from time to time to ensure I don’t spend more than 15 seconds doing it (adik mode). As I wore the other bib at my back with my name and blog URL on it, I would hear the following from other runners as I passed them one by one:

Sam, kamusta na injury mo?
Uy si RunningNinja nagparamdam!
Go Ninja go ninja go!
Sam, nice to see you back!
Pare si Ninja habulin nten!

The last made me ran faster, to which they followed me for more than 3km until they gave up. I finished the first 10km in 56 minutes and I thought, if my injury will not pop-up and cramps will not bother me, my evil plan of 4:15 will be a piece of cake.
Read the rest of this entry »

The propensity of most Pinoys to get things done in last minute led me to go to Condura Village yesterday at exactly 3:00pm with the aim of getting my 42km race kit earlier, faster with less crowd. As there will be around 8,500 registered runners who will be claiming theirs in the same area (Bonifacio High Street), I expected that the place will soon be crowded. I went there and I found around less than 100 people. I went straight to my designated tent area and I noticed that 9 people already being served. I stayed there under the sun and finally got hold of my race kit 25 minutes later. I informed one of  my friends and he relayed the issue to PatCon and as expected, the organizers fixed the issue by adding more personnel and providing shades to provide comfort to runners who will be claiming their race kit at that ungodly time of the day. As of this writing, I was told that some got their race kit in 2-4 minutes. The Conception brothers are really working hard to please runners. As PatCon once said, the Internet can be your best friend, or your worst enemy *laughs*.

Read the rest of this entry »