If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Its been a while I last joined a 32km race. The last time was last year, which I DNF’ed, ironically it was a Unilab race if my memory served me right.

This was supposed to be a come-back long distance race mode. Checking my best time for 32km (3h:06m) at Rizal Day run 2 yrs ago, I thought I could easily do a sub 3 hours.  Here’s my recollection of that dreaded day:

- race started at exactly 4:30am
- I can’t believe I was 300 meters away from the starting line. Judging from the volume of runners that day for 32km (more than 2k!), I knew I was at the wrong place. I knew it would take more than 3 kilometers before I could run my race pace.
- It was a slow start as I have to run and overtake slow runners for more than 3 kilometers. I blaimed myself, I should have positioned myself near the starting area
- I reached the U-turn in Makati at exactly 1 hour.  I was so off but my pace is just fine.
- I reached 25thKm in 2:40 minutes..good bye PR.
- Last 3 km was unbearable for me. I started to feel sleepy, hungry and the freaking heat was annoying me.
- Those friends/runners I overtake later, they started overtaking me.
- I finished the race in 03:43:39. Its a pretty embarassing finish time for me. I set my standards and expections too high. It was sub 3 hours or fart. Lesson learned: If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise.
- I resigned to the fact that I suck in this race because I lack sleep, I didn’t take my breakfast and no heat training. Makes me think that the Condura 2012 42km race that will start @12am  will be a PR and marathon newbie friendly. I knew it! The Concepcion brothers wanted marathon runners to achieve PR in their events so they will remember it as one of their best. Galing!
- And also because the Skyway rent is much cheaper if race starts at 12am.
- Hehehehehe!

So I did good in this race while I suck in this race. Back to the drawing board…

Titanium Runner to Me:  Sam see you on Sunday ah!
Me: hhmmm…ano meron sa Sunday?
Titanium Runner: 500 Smile Run!
Me: aahhhhh 

If it was not for Blas reminding me of this race, I would have slept over it. I was originally given a 10km race kit for this one but later on shifted to 16km, with the aim of  nailing a PR on this category as its been a while I ran a 16km race, heck I can’t even remember what was the last 16km race I joined. I’m not really a PR conscious guy, I just want to check if I’m improving or my running is starting to suck. With a relatively flat route and rainy morning that day, a sub 1h:30m finish should be achievable. So I met Beep Beep of Team Reebok to get my 16km and off we started the race around 5:45am. It was a late start,  the race should have started around 5am but due to a vehicular accident in Buendia flyover, we were told it need to start later to clear the area.

We heard the announcer doing the usual count-down, and as the race finally started I ran slowly to make sure my form/stride is ok. I saw Beep Beep blazing off in the earlier part of the race and my plan was to catch up with him. Slowly I warmed up after 2 kilometers and with the 5:30ish pace, I started  to overtake a couple of runners. Noelle who ran 10km would catch up with me near the 2nd flyover and I used that as a cue to increase my pace. As the route was simply a loop around Roxas bldv, I was always on the look up for 16km runners on their way to the Start area just to check my possible placement at the end of the race. I saw Beep Beep on 3rd place near the  Coastal Mall U-turn, just 1km away from me and didn’t notice anyone. I knew I was on the fourth place then and it dawned upon me that for the first time, I might end up in top 10 for this race, the idea of announcer calling my name on the stage was very exciting. My mind was seducing me to run faster, and run all out on the last 3km.

On my way back to the starting line, however I was surprised a couple of runners whom I’ve overtake was all ahead of me! I knew they wouldn’t cheat for this race and I was already under the impression that the marshal made them do a quick U-turn instead. As my dream of achieving top 10 for that race crumbled, I still maintained my pace and later saw Doc Maya and Ultramarathoner Mar together, just almost 300 meters from me. They unknowingly made the first U-turn because the marshall told them so, while some of us ran all the way near the Costal Mall U-turn.  Mar was especially running a very strong and consistent pace, and I made him my target*laughs*.  I was finally able to overtake him I believe on the last 3 km on the race, but I knew he was just behind me as I could hear his feet’s slapping sounds against the pavement. The last km saw me running faster and I reached the Finish area with a time of 1h:31m.

I heard somebody that those who ran all the way to the last U-turn actually ran more than 18km+.  And those who did the 1st U-turn were right after all. Whatever the distance was, I believe its better than kulang. With the free race kit I got, I was not really in a position to cry out loud hahahaha. I’m thankful I was able to finish the race, minus electrolyte capsules which I always carry and minus the Spenco middle sole. I like to believe that somehow, I did improve and it was enough for me. I want to congratulate Ian Alacar/Jay Em of Without Limits, it was a successful, worthy race and we made a couple of kids smile that day. I hope there would be more ‘run for a cause’ races in the future.

As I waited for a couple of minutes more to hear the awarding of top 10 finishers for 16km, I heard something that went like this:

Announcer: and the 9th place goes to Sammy Delena..of Team Diadora.

 Ayos ba?

Thirteen years ago, I went to a mission in Aurora province together with a bunch of churchmates. We did distribute Bibles and gave free dental checkups and foods as well. Thirteen years have passed but the colors are still very vivid, the warmth of the people as they invited us to come to their homes were encouraging, kids playing with us and the camaderie between our teams. However, there was one particular incident that I will never forget. I met a kid, I believe she was only 4 yrs old that time and she had a cleft lip. As her friends were playing with us, there she was, alone,lonely staring at us. I asked her whats wrong with her, and she was telling me something, but I couldn’t understand her at all. That time we only had 2 dentist and I knew they don’t have the expertise nor the necessary tools to treat her. We left the place after a week but the thought of her continued to linger on my mind. I wish I could do something, but heck I was just in college and I don’t have the means to help her, but I promise myself that someday I hope to help kids like her.

Fast forward 13 years later, Blas invited me to join 500 Smile Run blogger press and all the memories of that little girl came back.

So runners, I won’t continue my drama anymore. Make use of your money wisely. Instead of being a willing marketing agent of companies/race organizers, why not make use of your money to help somebody smile. Your money will be used to treat kids with cleft lip, cleft palate and other childhood facial deformities. We were told during the presscon that it takes php15,000 to treat a child with cleft lip. I really hope this race could race a lot of money to treat more kids. So there you go, smile and run!

I’m going to give a 10km race kit to anyone who can first reply here. Unahan na!

Cute singlet. I'm so passionate about this run for a cause event that I'm wearing this singlet on Sunday's Manila International Marathon (42km) event

Registration Sites

Chris Sports (Registration Period: September 23 – November 3, 2011):
SM Fairview
SM Manila
Robinsons Place Ermita

Puma Stores (Registration Period: October 7- November 3, 2011)
Bonifacio High Steet
Trinoma
Greenbelt 5
Cash N’ Carry (Buendia)

Smart Business Centers (Registration Period: October 7- November 3, 2011)
Ayala Avenue Head Office
Megamall

Race Categories & Fees (Manila)
500meter dash for children Php 300
3 kilometer run    Php 500
5 kilometer run    Php 500
10 kilometer run   Php 650
16 kilometer run   Php 800

Race Categories & Fees (Davao)
3KM, 5KM and 10KM  PhP 350.00
16 KM    PhP 650.00

Race Organizer: Ian Alacar

For more info about Operation Smile, visit their site. http://www.operationsmile.org/

August 22, MANILA – Beginning today, you may now avail of the KOTR Prepaid Reservation Form giving you the chance to pre-register for the adidas King of the Road (KOTR) slated on October 23 at the Bonifacio Global City. KOTR Prepaid Reservation Forms gives you the chance to reserve a slot by paying in cash at selected KOTR doors.

Visit registration booths in participating stores namely: adidas in
1) Alabang Town Center
2) Gateway Mall
3) Glorietta 3
4) Greenbelt 3
5) Greenhills
6) Newport Mall
7) Powerplant Mall
Robinsons Place Ermita
9) SM MOA
10) SM North Edsa
11) Shangri-La 12) TriNoma, and
13) RUNNR Bonifacio Global City and
14) RUNNR TriNoma.

Choose the category you want to join, ranging from 5k, 16.8k, and 21k. Pay the race fee in cash—P1,050—for both 5k and 21k, and P1,300 for 16.8k, then receive your KOTR Prepaid Reservation Form, which indicates your Reservation Code. Only cash payments are accepted. The Reservation Code is a unique code that corresponds to a race slot. Read the rest of this entry »

So my so called return to ultramarathon failed miserably. Although my legs were still kicking strong, the sun’s heat destroyed me. Several things I’ve learned from that race:

First. I will never be comfortable with that gigantic hydration bag (a 2Liter Camelback) bouncing off my back. As I ran I noticed that it caused some friction on the lower section of my back neck, hence the annoying heat I felt whenever I run. Good thing I carried my petroleum jelly, I didnt suffer any chaffing on that area. I might purchase a smaller one, probably a 1Liter local brand, I saw one at Mall of Asia (forgot the brand)

Second. The run walk strategy is a cool idea, but it didn’t work on me. I had extreme difficulty transitioning back from walking to running and this affected my pace. I’ve found my running phase got slower everytime after a minute of walk.

Third. When opportunity knocks, I will try to dose myself with cold water. I only did this on my face but never on my head and upperbody as I’m always wary of too much water ending up on my shoes. Read the rest of this entry »