Pain Pain Go Away

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"Agay!" Marathon Foodie gets help from running friends Madelyn Carter, who placed 2nd, and sleepless call center agent Paul Zafico who placed 5th. Congrats Guys!(Photo courtesy of John Mark Lim Causin)

Pain has a purpose. -Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

In all of Cebu’s road races, only CDU’s University Run can manage to gather more than 3,000 participants. Never mind that many of the kids (students of Cebu Doctor’s University) were there for extra credit. The more important thing is that young people are exposed to the great sport of running and hopefully take up the sport more seriously someday, even without prodding from a PE teacher.


Because the University Run is one designed and organized by prominent Cebuano runners – Dr. Yong Larrazabal and Dr. Peter Mancao, the Marathon Foodie had high expectations, and they did not disappoint.


The Start/ Finish Area with the Turtle Runners Club


The start and finish area was big and expansive occupying all four-lanes of the road fronting CDU campus in Mandaue City. This is important when you have more than 3,000 runners and participants. However, the organizers missed the inclusion of a holding and check-in area, which delayed the start of the race.

The organizers also provided a courtesy booth where runners could leave their things. For those who did not know about this, the courtesy booth was located near the CDU swimming pool and was ably manned by student volunteers. The Marathon Foodie thinks that all organizers should include this in their race plan and logistics.


The water stations did not run out of water and cups and there were student volunteers who not only handed out the cups to runners, but cheered enthusiastically as well. One thing about the volunteers at the water stations though, they were sometimes in the way, standing on the runner’s path. This is dangerous to both the volunteer and the runner. I guess the volunteers needed to be briefed to just stand at the side of the road and not in the middle of it, when handing out water.

There was food at the finish line. (Yey!)

Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz and Donna Cruz made the University Run a star-studded event, but it was the Atan Guardo Runners who stole the show and “brought the house down” (even though we were outdoors). Wearing their Cory tribute singlets and short-short running shorts, Guardo led a cast of all-male runners in a surprise dance number – Nobody But You by the Wonder Girls. (Click here to see video)

Just like in the Run for Sight Series, the organizers used the same two loops of 5-kilometer asphalt roads. The race course was flat, fast and free from vehicular traffic. It was so fast in fact that many runners broke their PR’s. In fact, the Marathon Foodie clocked 59:58 despite running with an injured foot. This was my fastest 10K run, my best time being 1:01. There were concerns about the race course being a bit short – Garmin wearers noted a deficit of 200 to 500 meters, which confused the Marathon Foodie since this has never been an issue in the previous Run for Sight Series which has been using the same route for five months now. I

In any case, this should not diminish the effort of the runners and the organizers, although the organizers should address this.

Frankly, the Run for Sight Series and the University Run distinguish itself for being two of the regular running events in Cebu where runners (especially the new ones) can be assured that the organizers truly care for the welfare of runners. Maybe because Drs. Yong and Peter are runners too and they know exactly what it feels like on the road. Congratulations to the organizers and Joel Baring who directed the technical aspect of the race.

Marathon Foodie and Drum and Run a.k.a Carlo Serrano of Takbo.ph meet Donna Cruz for the first time. Donna placed 3rd while Carlo recorded his first sub 60 finish in a 10K race (57 mins).

The 4th University Run will always be memorable for me, not because I finished 10K below sixty minutes for the first time, but because of its valuable lessons about pain and foolhardiness.

For about a month prior to race day, I’ve been bothered by a nagging pain between the heel and arch of my right foot. I would later learn this to be plantar fasciitis. I ignored the pain and told no one about it. I thought, I needed to hit my mileage goal for the week and will run even in pain if I have to. I just adjusted my stride and form in order to hide the fact that I was running in pain.

Then on Thursday prior to the race, while Coach Precing and I were doing intervals at the track, the pain transferred to my forefoot. The pain was sharp, like a hammer striking my right forefoot every time I hit the track. Suddenly, there was no hiding the pain. Not only were my strides much shorter, I also limped when I walked.

The track workout was cut-short and Coach had explicit orders for me to rest the foot and if possible, skip the University Run. But I told myself I was strong and can deal with all kinds of pain. Besides, I really really wanted to run 10K below 60 minutes. And so against Coach Precing’s advice, I still ran the University Run.

In the morning of Sunday, the Marathon Foodie took 500 mg Ponstan SF, which dulled the pain a bit, but did not totally eliminate it. The hammer strike on my forefoot was no longer as sharp as it was on Thursday, but my heart was beating fast, not from exertion but from fear. Each time my right foot struck the pavement I had this graphic imagination of my running shoes exploding with my ligaments and bones on the right foot smashed to smithereens.

Throughout the race the Marathon Foodie ran and did not walk. While I was resigned on not breaking my PR, I was also determined not to DNF, even if I had a perfect excuse for dropping out of the race. But it was such a slow and agonizing run. All the while I was kicking myself for not taking the day off. After the race, the Marathon Foodie could hardly walk and hobbled to and from work like an old lady on Monday and Tuesday.

Pain has a purpose. It is often a signal that something is wrong. "The key is to have a sense of when the pain is just soreness or a signal of something more serious. Good indicators that something isn't right include a sharp, localized pain that doesn't improve as your run progresses, and any ache that alters your running form," says Kara Goucher, the current rising star of American marathon running.

Mary Valero, Arlene Acuna, Cattski Espina and Marathon Foodie.

I know runners try to run even while in pain, hoping that it would just magically go away. But for new runners who have very limited experience with injury, ignoring the pain may lead to more serious injuries. What we can do is try to understand what caused the pain and seek (professional) help if you have to.

The Marathon Foodie learned that resting for a day or two or even a week from running is not a mortal sin. Training schedules are not set in stone. A week or two off is much better than not being able to run for three months because of an injury.

It was such a foolish decision to run while injured. Although I hit my target of running below sixty minutes, it still felt hollow because I was not one hundred percent on race day. Who was I trying to impress anyway? I know I will pay dearly for this. I just hope it won't cost me my dreams of finishing the QCIM or SCHKM.

Next stop: Cebu Doctors Rehab Med Dept.

P.S. Congratulations to Dr. Raymund Reel Bontol a.k.a. Reel Running for placing 3rd in the Doctor's 10K Division and to Abby Ponce for shaving 8 minutes from her previous record at the Run for Sight. It's not the Lunarglides Abs! Thanks to Drum and Run for the Photographs.