Running to infinity and beyond

February 25, 2011

By the time you read this, my crew and I will be on our way to Mariveles, Bataan. This historic town sits right across Corregidor Island – the last stronghold of valiant Filipino and American soldiers before surrendering to the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

Mariveles is also KM 0 of a journey of a hundred miles – the Bataan Death March 160.

From a historical point of view, the Bataan Death March did not end in KM 102 where the old train station of San Fernando Pampanga used to be. The Filipino and American soldiers and defenders who survived the 100-kilometer march were all loaded in cattle cars for their final destination some 60 kilometers up north to the concentration camps in Capas, Tarlac. Participants of this memorial run will complete the infamous journey running through the path where WW II heroes used to tread.

The BDM 160 is the country’s first ever 100-miler solo running event. To prepare for this, I trained for four months doing longer than usual long runs. The longest practice I’ve ever done was fourteen (14) hours running and walking around the Cebu City Sports Center from 4AM till 6PM. Going round and round the oval allowed me to train under the heat and condition the mind to command the body to move forward despite boredom and fatigue.

Three weeks before the BDM, race director Jovie (Baldrunner) Narcise increased the cut-off time from 28 to 30 hours. Still, I don’t know if I trained enough or racked up enough mileage to survive this 100-mile journey. But then again, you’ll never know unless you try.

But there are two things about this race that I am not leaving to chance – nutrition and hydration.Unlike last year’s BDM I eliminated all solid foods from my race day menu and replaced them with liquid food. Ingesting Hammer Nutrition’s Perpetuem and two gels every hour ensures that I get exactly 450 calories of food replenishment every 2 hours. If I eat solid food on a really long run I find myself becoming sluggish and sleepy because all the blood rushes to my stomach and intestines to work on digesting food instead of helping me run he race.

As for hydration and electrolyte replacement, I’ve eliminated all the sugary sports drinks and replaced them with water and Endurolytes electrolyte caps.

To help me get through 160 kilometers of pure torture, I recruited my husband Eugene and my brother Alexander to be my support crew.

Eugene as you all know did a superb job as my one-man crew during last year’s BDM 102. But the sheer length and breadth of this year’s race is just too much for one man to handle. Eugene will be joined by my brother Alex who is a nurse and firefighter for the Special Rescue Unit of the Bureau of Fire Protection. With Eugene and Alex manning my support wagon, I’ve nothing else to worry about except run the race as if it was my best and last.

Making my peace

February 20, 2011

I finally made peace with Standard Chartered Hongkong Marathon and finished with a new personal best of 5:04:34.

Photo credit: Eugene Cabusao (w/ my Mom and Dad)

I ran Hongkong sans any sports gel as I left my stash in Cebu after switching travel bags. I survived on bananas and biscuits provided by the organizer. It was so cold I had to wear a garbage bag at the starting line and two layers of tops, arm warmers and Michael Jackson gloves.

But runners used to training in the tropics generally run better when racing in cold countries. You can’t say the same for runners used to running in the cold who find themselves racing in the tropics.

Hongkong Marathon is a qualifying race for Boston. For the Pinoy runner on a tight budget, this is the cheapest venue to try and become a Boston Marathon qualifier. But it also means you have to learn to run faster and stronger on a mercilessly undulating terrain. (Think three bridges, three tunnels and multiple flyovers in the last 5 kilometers.) I will be back in two years, this time to chase 3:40 for ages 35-40.

Slaying old demons, settling unfinished business

February 18, 2011

Hongkong- As I write this, it's 7 o'clock in the morning and it's still 12 degrees outside. The sun has yet to make an appearance, and it looks like he won't be around anytime soon.

This means I would have to chuck the shorty split shorts and run with arm warmers, gloves, a beanie and compression leggings. The past three months I've been preparing my body to run at 34 degrees at high noon - a necessary evil for the BDM. I've never run in anything resembling this Hongkong weather, but the cold is the least of my worries.

When my airport bus passed by the harbor tunnel, at the exact same spot where Chinese speaking marshals picked up and hauled my sorry ass to the DNF (short for did not finish) bus in 2009, a sudden chilling fear from out of nowhere crept up my bones. What if I choke in one of the seven cut-off points along the marathon course? What if I get cramps? What if I do not finish the marathon, again? It was a crisis of confidence and it's as if all the other five (5) marathons and two ultras I finished prior to this did not really matter.

When I first ran Hongkong marathon in 2009, I had absolutely no training, no mileage and no idea what it takes to finish a marathon. I relied merely on the wisdom of someone who knows nothing. The cut-off time then was 5 hours 30 minutes with at least five cut-off points spread throughout the 42K route. The sweeper picked me up between KM 26 and KM 27 for running too slow, and rightly so.

I seldom fail in my pursuits, and DNF'ing my first marathon really stung. This chip on my shoulder made me want to pursue and finish other marathons and even venture into ultras of which I have been successful. But the Hongkong Marathon is like a demon that must be put to rest.

Looking back I realize that I truly deserved that DNF. If I had managed to wing it in 2009 without putting in the work, I wouldn't have the same appreciation for the beauty of the marathon nor would I have the same respect for the distance and the commitment it demands from those who attempt to scale the so-called Mt. Everest of running.

This appreciation and utmost respect for the marathon is where this creeping fear must be coming from. This fear, which should not be confused with self-doubt, puts the runner in the right place. You realize that no matter how many 42 K's or even ultra distances you have tucked under your belt, each full mary is different from all the others.

Joe Henderson, former Runnersworld editor and pioneer of the long slow distance as a marathon training tool says it best - "You can never be sure. That's what makes the marathon both fearsome and fascinating. The deeper you go into the unknown, the more uncertain you become. But then you finish. And you wonder later, 'How did I do that?' This question compels you to keep making the journey from the usual to the magical. "

And so on Sunday, I will be back at the starting line along Natahan Road where my endless pursuit for the marathon distance started. I'm hoping that even as the tempreature dips to 10 degrees and below, the fire in my belly keeps me running all through the finish line finally lay this old demon to rest.

A Perfect Race, Made Even Better

January 14, 2011

Days leading into the second edition of the Cebu Marathon, the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) organizing committee must have been on tenterhooks.

With the resounding success of the first Cebu City Marathon last year, CERC was pressured to roll out an equally successful, if not better Cebu Marathon in 2011.

As CERC’s John Pages puts it, “the success of the first Cebu City Marathon came with a huge responsibility to come up with an even better marathon”.

As it turned out, CERC did not have to worry about the dreaded “sophomore curse”. On Sunday, January 9, the stars in the pre-dawn sky, the water cups at the stations and the pylons along the 26.2-mile road stretch were all aligned to make Cebu Marathon 2011 even better than the inaugural edition.

As usual, the water and aid stations were aplenty and well-manned, while the road closure implemented by the cities of Cebu and Talisay through the entire race course–kept the runners safe and (supposedly) in good form.

However there were three major improvements in this year’s edition that was lacking in 2010.

First, a much-improved Cebu marathon website and the event’s presence in the social networking sites allowed for better dissemination of information to participants. This was coupled with an online registration and payment facility, which made it much easier for out-of-town runners to register.

My hope is that the Cebu Marathon gets listed in the international marathon calendar. Unlike the other marathons in the country, only Cebu Marathon has the most predictable schedule – it’s always held on the 2^nd Sunday of January. This predictability allows runners from far-away map-out training schedules and plot travel plans early.

Second, the 42K route this year was a great improvement from last year’s. Doing away with the twists and turns at Archbishop Reyes Ave. and San Jose Dela Montana (now Juan Luna Avenue), made the route simpler and more straightforward.

But simple and straightforward do not necessarily mean easier and faster. In fact, the 2.5 kilometer side-trip towards Gen. Maxilom Avenue’s undulating terrain some 35 kilometers into the race sapped most runners’ energies, even the ones who were running a conservative negative split in the first half.

This year’s route would have been perfect had the 42K runners ran through Maxilom during the first half and not in the final seven kilometers.

John Pages explained to me that the organizers wanted to take the 42K runners inside the SRP as early as possible in order to avoid the heat that SRP’s shade-less road and causeway is notorious for.

If I were to choose my poison, I would rather be caught running under the heat in SRP, than deal with the additional two hills in Maxilom at the seven-kilometer home-stretch.

Heat is a fact of life in the tropics and it can be managed by sponging, putting up additional water stations and the firemen’s misting stations. On the other hand, there is no mitigating the hills in the final seven kilometers. The hills in the homestretch are in fact so unforgiving, it will make you cry.

Letting the 42K runners run Maxilom in the first half will allow CITOM to open this busy avenue to motor traffic as early as 6AM. This way everybody wins -- non-runners included.

Aside from this small revision suggested in this column, the current Cebu Marathon route looks really promising. I hope they keep it in future editions so that the 42K runners can set and reset course records over the years. If you notice, the routes of major big city marathon hardly ever change.

Third, the finisher’s medal featuring twin mangoes – one of Cebu’s iconic symbols, was much heftier this year.

This makes me wonder. Will CERC add one mango to the Cebu Marathon medal for every year of its run? The mango medal design possibilities are endless. The additional mangoes for every edition can be quite a seducer. I should know because this was how I got seduced into running the full marathon at the last minute instead of merely running half, just four weeks into my training schedule for the Hongkong Marathon.

I didn’t want to miss this year’s twin-mango medal especially after receiving last year’ solo mango version. The goal is to hopefully have 10 mango medals lined up on my wall on my 42^nd year, eight years from now.

Photos and video from www.cebumarathon.com

Honor System

December 10, 2010

It’s been circulating for two weeks now – names and bib numbers of runners (yes, plural, because they are more than one) and accounts of how they cheated during the recently concluded 1^st Cebu Ultramarathon 50K.

At a recent all-athlete’s party I attended, the names of two prominent weekend warriors were mentioned and how they seemed like goners even as early as KM 19 then suddenly overtaking runners at KM 46 looking fresh as a daisy, when everyone else who had been consistently running way faster than them, were all laspag from climbing three huge hills and negotiating toe-crushing descents under an unforgiving sun.

Then there are stories of actual sightings of runners riding on motorcycles for hire, another runner riding inside an SUV, and another runner riding in an unmarked van. The cheaters probably thought that in the long and often deserted stretches of the Transcentral Highway no one would notice.

How wrong they were.

Photo credit: Willie Estepa

I never thought I would find reason to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson on crime and punishment in a sports column, but these disturbing revelations about brazen violations of the honor system at the 1^st Cebu Ultramarathon 50K make the following immortal words apt.

“Commit a crime and the world is made of glass. Commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge and fox and squirrel and mole. Wherever a man commits a crime, God finds a witness. Every secret crime has its reporter.”

The length and breadth of ultramarathons and the logistical challenges of staging an event that runs for 9 hours or more, force most if not all organizers to employ the honor system and rely on the runners’ integrity. When cheating happens, organizers are left with no choice but to rely on eyewitness accounts of those who actually saw cheating being committed.

But witnessing a crime is one thing, and taking action to make sure the real perpetrators don’t go unpunished is another. What good is a witness if he’s unwilling to come forward and stand by what he saw?

Not coming out means condoning cheating which the witness purportedly saw. By not coming out and stand for the truth, the witness then has allowed himself to become party to the crime. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke).

Let the complainants and witnesses come forward, and let the accused runner defend himself, before organizers can sanction and actually name names. That's how this should be handled. Otherwise, all runners, even the honest ones, can become vulnerable to false accusations and unfairly branded as cheaters.

Due process first before punishment.

Fellow runner, writer and Ungo founder Max Limpag has presented a challenge to the cheaters. Return your finisher’s plate and shirt (even anonymously)

at the back entrance of the Sunstar Cebu office at P. Del Rosario and save yourself from the shame of a full-blown investigation, public exposure, expulsion from the list of official finishers and being blacklisted from future ultra races.

Photo credit: Jonel Mendoza

But even if cheaters at the 1^st Cebu Ultramarathon do get away with their hollow victory, it does not in any way diminish the efforts of others who ran and walked every inch of those 50++ kilometers. Neither does it diminish the success of the event, especially those who worked hard at bringing this ultramarathon experience to the Cebuano runners.

There is punishment for cheaters far more terrible than public exposure.

That is the punishment of bearing the shame albeit in private knowing that on one Saturday morning in November, in the hills of Transcentral Highway, when you thought no one was looking, you rode parts of a 50-kilometer race course just so you can be called a pseudo-ultramarathoner. That’s like cutting-off your own balls and feeding them to the dogs for a plate and a shirt that mean nothing because you and your conscience know you did not earn it. I wonder how you can look your son or daughter (if you have one) in the eye and not be ashamed of yourself.

For me that is enough comeuppance.

Ageing backwards

June 10, 2010

Birthdays make you, well, older. It’s nothing to celebrate about. A birthday run however is another matter. The day I turned a year older was a Thursday. It meant waking up at 3 A.M. in time for my 4AM track workout at the Cebu City Sports Center. The quota was 800mx8 at 4 minutes 45 seconds with 400m recovery jog in between. No free passes even on your big day.

There was a time when birthdays for me meant thoughts of the macabre -- ageing equals inching ever closer to death, less and less time to accomplish things on my to-do list. After taking up running, moving up the age-bracket now means better chances of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. When it comes to running and aging, I look up to Constantina Dita, who at 38 so unexpectedly won the Olympic women’s marathon in Beijing making her not just the oldest Olympic marathon champion ever, male or female, but the oldest Olympic marathon medalist.

Although the lines around my eyes and the uneven skintone on my face betray the real age of my world-weary heart, I run around the wet track like a 20-year-old college girl -- strong, free, pretty in my short running skirt and more importantly, ever hopeful of getting faster and stronger to run the dream races on my list.

Photo Credit: Purrl J. Tan

Whether on the road or on the track, running is truly the best part of any day – birthday or not. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all this time I’ve spent on the road it is that unlike love, running and cooking are two of the very few things in life where genuine effort is truly directly proportional to success and personal reward. Know the recipe by heart, don’t scrimp on ingredients and add a healthy dash of zeal, then you can whip up any dish like a pro. Run smart, train diligently and watch what you eat and drink – and I guarantee you you’ll become a better runner. If only, the rest of the real world could be that simple and easy.

Save the date!

DYAB will celebrate its 15th year in June. The month-long celebration will kick-off with the annual Kapamilya Run on 13 June 2010 Sunday. Save the date!

Almost, but not quite

The Great Lapu-Lapu Run was great in many ways.

The turn-out of 4,000++ registered participants was second only to the Cebu City Marathon; the race used timing chip technology; and the organizers’ biggest coup – having the east and west lanes of the beautiful Marcelo Fernan Bridge as the highlight of the 21K route. All in all, it was a great improvement from last year’s edition.

What’s disappointing is that the GLLR was a missed opportunity for perfection, or even just near perfection.

The race was definitely not lacking in corporate sponsorship. Proof of this were the gallons of Gatorade that were provided the runners and the buffet breakfast and raffle prizes that came after the race. GLLR also had the LGU’s resources and clout.

Thus, with all this corporate and local government backing, I was surprised to find chaos at the starting line; mismanaged hydration stations; and that the roads, especially during the latter part of the race were opened to vehicular traffic even as organizers promised that half the roads would be closed during the duration of the GLLR.

The chaos at the starting line could have been prevented 1) if holding areas were set up for the different categories; and 2) if huge and idiot—proof directionals were provided so that runners would know where to go while waiting for their gun start.

The hydration stations were plenty, but the cups were recycled, as in picked up from the ground to be used again by the next runner. (Think: hepatitis and salmonella). I think this had something to do with the fact that even as late as Saturday, organizers still accepted runners hence they were unable to prepare a sufficient number of cups.

The 21K route would have been perfect if not for the 2.5K trip to Barangay Mactan, instead of an extended jaunt along Barangay Pusok, which had bigger roads. That half the roads were not closed, especially the crowded turnaround in Barangay Mactan was such a letdown.

It is a fact that Mactan, with its small roads, really does not have the infrastructure to support a race with more than 4,000 participants. This makes road closure more important than ever. If the city is serious about making GLLR a destination sporting event, then the organizers must insist on road closure. It’s been done before during the ASEAN summit in 2006, they can do it again.

Veteran marathoner James Abilla wrote to me about his GLLR experience. While we both share the view that GLLR has great potential to be really great, there is still so much room for improvement.

”I had the sense that the organizers were so obsessed with the "chip" that they forgot everything else. I actually saw them running around at 5:30 am looking for an extension cord to power up the clock!

At the men's 10K race, I followed a participant who came literally an inch of being maimed by an overtaking jeepney that decided to pass the runner as he was just making the U-turn at the 5K mark. The marshals did nothing to prevent this from happening!

When I started running in Cebu with Peter Mancao and Yong Larrazabal, our hope was to have the sport be picked up by Cebuanos in a big way. Now, eight years later, I was very happy to see the numbers grow, especially at this latest run. The last thing I want to see is have these new joiners be disillusioned about running because of poorly organized runs. The organizers need to focus on the well being of the participants first and foremost, and worry about the peripheral items when those primary concerns are addressed properly.

A runner need not worry about getting hit by a truck, getting hydration and sustenance support during and after the race, and be rewarded for their efforts after the race. Marshals, accurate timing, on-time starting, water and hydration, and a commemorative pronouncement at the finish will help continue growing the sport and attract new runners.

We can do better, and there are so many resources available in Cebu now to make a good fun run happen. All the organizers have to do is ask.”

I know the GLLR will improve next year. Who knows? Maybe the third time's the charm. See you again next year!

Photo credit: Armand Manatad, Ronald B. Caracena, Tito M. Vildosola (all from FB)

Crossing over

Do runners make good race directors and organizers?

This was the question that hounded me as I chose which races to run for the summer while recovering from the BDM. Even if you’re not in recovery, you just can’t race every weekend you know. It disrupts your training schedule and it’s expensive. Just seven months ago, you could race for only P150.00. Those days are gone, and they’re not coming back.

These days when a race can set you back by no less than P250.00 you have to choose well. It’s as crucial as making the right song choice in American Idol. You have to ponder which race will most likely deliver on the four basics of a good race – accurate race course measurement, well-stocked water and aid stations, safety, and accurate timekeeping.

(Run to the Clouds Finishline at Zipline)

(Forum members www.sugbutriathlon.com)

The summer race calendar featured three big runs all organized and managed by runners – Run to the Clouds by members of Sugbutriathlon.com; Citi Run by Joe Franz Canizares and Waterfront Hotel; and Pinay in Action by Kenneth Casquejo and Annie Neric with their newly formed company Run Check.

(Citi Run March 21, 2010)

All three races delivered, providing a calling card of sorts for these three budding race directors and managers. Annie Neric said it best – “Kasi naman palagi tayong nagrereklamo sa ibang races na nasalihan natin. Sa dami nang nasalihan natin both good and bad, we know first hand what a good race should be.”

(L-R Marathon Foodie, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Annie Neric, Jane-Jane Ong)

But running and organizing a race can have so many variables that even the best race director and manager cannot control – lack of corporate sponsorship, red tape at the local government and profit-taking orientation of some race organizers who are all-too willing to collect fees but are unwilling to spend money on sufficient hydration and proper race marshaling.

(Pinay In Action Visayas Leg)

Still, these variables are no excuse for shabby race management. That’s why one perfect race is not enough. Now that the boys and girls of Sugbutri as well as Joe Franz, Kenneth and Annie have shown that they can be very good race directors, the next challenge for them now would be consistency. They must show willingness to stand-up for the runners who pay good money to join races and not compromise on the basics.

As runners, we can help improve the quality of race management in Cebu by providing feedback. Visit blogs that do race reviews and leave a comment. If you have Facebook, interact with runners at Cebu Running, Cebu Runners or go to the Sugbu Triathlon website. And if feedback seem to fall on deaf ears, you can always skip the races run by those who consistently fall short of our basic expectations. As runners, we have the power to choose.

PACERS

For the first time since the running boom hit Cebu , a local race will have pacers to help runners hit their target finish time. What are they?

Pacers are experienced runners and marathoners tasked with keeping other runners on pace and if possible do even splits, which means no racing out at the beginning only to fade away at the end. They will encourage, motivate, cajole and if necessary, threaten the runners in the group to keep up and cross the finish line.

Pacers don’t get paid to run as pacers. It’s their way of giving back and paying it forward helping runners reach their target finish time.

At the Great Lapu-Lapu Run, the 21-K runners will have two pace groups – those with target finish time of 2:00 to 2:15 led by Kenneth Casquejo and 2:16 to 2:30 group led by James Michael Go. You won’t miss them. They will be running with balloons. I only wish they had narrowed the range to ten minutes instead of fifteen and with more pace options at the sub two-hour range.

Speaking of targets, I’m hoping to set a new personal record and finish in 2:15 or better. The last time I raced 21K was in July last year at the Cebu elimination of the Milo marathon making it in 2:25.

To all runners joining the Great Lapu-Lapu Run on Sunday, especially the 21K virgins, good luck, race well and seize the road!

Women, Holy Grail & Second Chances

Organizers of the Great Lapu-Lapu run must be on tenterhooks as race day nears. It is after all Lapu-Lapu City ’s second attempt at showcasing Mactan as a running and sports tourism destination.

The first staging of the Great Lapu-Lapu run in July last year took a beating from runners and critics alike because of poor race management, bad location of start and finish area and a chaotic traffic management along the race route.

Does Lapu-Lapu deserve a second chance? Of course! Everyone deserves one.

This year’s edition of the Great Lapu-Lapu run looks promising.

First, the use of timing chip provided by Coach Rio Dela Cruz’s Finishline ensures better, more efficient and accurate time keeping. The start/finish area has been relocated from the Lapu-Lapu Hoopsdome to the Liberty Shrine (where the Sutukil stalls are).

But most of all, organizers have promised to close off some roads during the duration of the race to keep the runners safe from Lapu-Lapu’s notorious tricycles and killer multicabs. As an added treat, the race route will include the beautiful Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the park underneath it.

I really really wish the Great Lapu-Lapu Run succeeds this time.

Holy Grail

It is defined as any ultimate, but elusive, goal pursued as in a quest. In marathon running it is called the Boston Marathon – the oldest and most prestigious of all marathons next only to the Olympics. A Boston qualifier is the holy grail of every seasoned marathoner, whether they care to admit it or not.

This is the reason why news of prominent Cebuano female executive runner Millette Chiongbian earning her Boston Qualifier at the LA Marathon last month earns space in the sports pages. It is a monumental achievement. It is a big deal.

Why so?

To qualify for the Boston Marathon, runners must meet the designated time standard that corresponds to their age group, and boy it is tough. Example, if you’re male aged between 18-34, you must clock 3 hours 10 minutes in a marathon certified and recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races or AIMS.

If you’re a 5-hour marathoner, you’re time is only good for the 80 and above age bracket. So, tough luck for us mere running mortals. But if you’ve been reading the Marathon Foodie, you must already know our mantra here – nothing is impossible and runners only get better with time, you just have to keep at it and train hard.

Running for Women

At first, the Pinay In Action (Visayas Leg) was open only to women, while the men could only register with a female companion.

This stringent rule has been relaxed and made more egalitarian by allowing men to race (with or without a female companion). The men can now also win prices in their own separate category (just be sure to wear pink, dude!). Pinay In Action has male and female categories for 5K and 10K, but the 3K remains exclusively for females. Registration is on-going at the Ayala Active Zone.

Proceeds from the race will go to projects that aim to empower women by providing them tools geared towards leading a healthier and better life as well as information on how women can protect themselves from abuse.

The Marathon Foodie is racing in Pinay In Action on April 11 for far more personal reasons. I’m dedicating all 10 kilometers (and more) for my sister Arlene – a victim of domestic abuse and is currently fighting to survive.

Finally, I’m appealing to all sports-loving Cebuanos to help send sportswriter and colleague Mike Limpag to the World Cup in South Africa .

Mike's article entitled CES Theater of Dreams has been included in the short list of articles by Asian writers vying for a spot to watch the World Cup in June. Please visit http://extratime.posterous.com/tag/top20/ and click the thumbs up sign beside Mike’s name and article for the vote to count. Let’s all help Mike live his football dreams.

Seize the road!

(Email: haide.acuna@gmail.com)