I joined this race simply because it’s a night run. With no previous experience running a road race at night, I don’t mind spending Php600. Plus added bonus is I got the chance to bring my wife and son with me. I really intend to get them “expose” to running community with my intention of running with them soon. Hopefully there will be more “family-friendly” races to come such as this.

We reached The Fort area around 6:30pm with elite runner Ellen Tolentino and ultraman Pat in tow. Lucky us, there was no “Parking for VIP” rule that day to piss less-privileged runners like us unlike the previous race I joined. As it was too early before the 8:45pm race for 10k runners, I spent a couple of minutes with wife and son around Bonifacio High Street to cool off. Wife decided to go to Market Market! to have their dinner but I hesitate to join for some unknown reason. Off they went to MarketMarket while I walk around to “feel” the atmosphere. As I was walking around, I saw a couple of fellow takbo.ph guys already having their usual chit-chats near ROX area, Runnr store already filled up with runners window-shopping/buying stuffs and some diners (most likely not runners) looking weirdly at the lower section of my body while eating their foods. I know, I should have not worn my bad ass looking CWX tights for that short 10km distance but I still did. I saw some college girls looking at my tights and I noticed them having this giggly conversation while looking at me. It got me thinking if they were talking about my tights or the shape of my crown jewel.

Walking around got me so hungry so I decided to go back to parking area to get some money to buy foods. Pity me, wife has my wallet and there was only Php25 pesos on the car. I took it and went to 711 near Net One Center, enough to buy a banana and choco mucho. Minutes later, I got so thirsty but with no money, I thought of going to Takbo.ph booth to get some water. There were no water bottles there but I saw Powerade stations and I thought I should get one. Was able to drink two cups of water and I felt relieved. It was already 7:30pm when I decided to start my usual 30 minute warm up jog. I went back to the parking area where I did my 15 minute pre-race stretching ritual. After this, I proceeded to the Start/Finish section where I noticed a couple of runners raring to go. As I planned to go sub 60 minutes on this race and knowing that Takbo.ph boss Jinoe will run sub-60 on this race, I decided to pace with him together with Carlo. Another takbo.ph runner Carmen who I promised earlier I’ll help pace with told me that she won’t be able to run with me due to back pain. I said OK and I noticed her praying minutes before the gun was fired.

I have no idea what got me but as the gun was fired, I ran very fast I ended up leaving my team. On the third kilometer, I looked at my watch and noticed I clocked in 13 minutes. As I reached the 5th kilometer, I checked again and I noticed I clocked in 23 minutes. On my way down to McKinley road and with the help of gravity I sprinted away -  swaying my arms higher (almost eye level) while increasing my back kick. While I love what I was doing while running down this section of the road, I was disappointed to see some 5km runners walking down while occupying the road. I really hope that there would be some unwritten rule that all runners should follow, that if you should walk, try to look quickly at your back and if you’re clear, proceed near the edge of the road and continue you walk there to give way for runners. I must admit that I slowed down on some section of the road on my way down to shout “excuse meehh” while they hurried themselves to one side of the corner to walk. I felt relived as I reached the U-turn at the same time nervous as the next road way up will be the toughest part of the route. True enough, upon reaching the 8th km, I noticed my run uphill took more than 12 minutes. With two kilometers left, I kept on saying on my mind “IMPROVE OR DIE, IMPROVE OR DIE, IMPROVE OR DIE” repeatedly to remind me of my goal for the race. Still thinking of my previous 10km race four months ago (Greenfields: 61 minutes), I thought I would not forgive myself if I don’t improve in this race at all. And if EVER I don’t improve in this race, my plan is to stop running, stop this blog and do something else. Hence the DIE part.

On the last 100 meters of the race, I was no longer uttering “IMPROVE OR DIE” on my mind; I was already shouting those words from my mouth. While running the last 40 meters of the race and for some weird reason, only the word DIE came out of my mouth repeatedly. “Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die”, I saw some runners ahead of me giving way for me fearing their lives.

I crossed the finishline after 58minutes and set a new PR. While happy I was able to meet my goal (and didn’t die), I knew I could do more than this. I shall visit the 10km race a month from now and will try to do sub 55 minutes. Hopefully, with more hill trainings (and stairs training at Net One Center), I will be able to achieve this.

As for the race itself, FinishLine improved a lot I must admit. Longer tables (with cover in case it rains) at water stations, kilometer markers, knowledgeable marshals, organized location of several booths/stations and nice give-away. Love the vodka by the way. Next time to improve is the claiming of race kits. I find it very disastrous and I won’t cover this anymore in this blog as I know fellow runner-bloggers will discuss this part. To Team BaldRunner for guarding our vehicles, thank you too. To all runners who participated and those reading this blog, thanks and I hope you too also take the challenge of improving your race.

See you all in future races!