First Marathon, a climbathon and a running clinic

How do you choose your first marathon?

This was the question posed by Angeli Cardinez who gave birth last year and is looking for ways to lose the baby fat. Angeli was inspired by Donna Cruz-Larrazabal’s (Marathon Mom) article about how she trained hard and finished her first two marathons despite having to raise children, running a household and being the wife of famous eye doctor and runner Yong Larrazabal.

The marathon distance is the same. It’s always 26 miles and 385 yards in the English system and 42.195 in the metric system. But deciding where to run your first full mary can be as crucial as training for the marathon itself. Choosing which course to make a marathon debut in is as important as hours spent on the road.

For the first-time marathoner, choosing the right course can be as overwhelming as the distance itself, simply because there are lots of options available to the newbie marathoner, especially those with travel money to spare.

The Marathon Foodie says a newbie marathoner should only stick to these three factors in weighing her options: 1.) Do I go local or abroad? 2.) How much time for training do I have between now and my target marathon? 3.) What kind of training ground do I have in the next 3 to 4 months before my target marathon?

Many newbie runners like to mix traveling and running a marathon. Like hitting two birds with one stone, the runner has run a marathon whilst discovering a new and exciting destination.

Gail Kislevitz, a veteran of 20 marathons and author of First Marathons, a book of personal accounts says this may not be a good idea. "Traveling adds another level of stress to an already difficult event. The number one thing people do is underestimate what it takes to run a marathon. Running the miles is not enough. When choosing a marathon, keep in mind how and where you are doing your training, and try to simulate what you’ll find on the course. The ideal situation is to pick a marathon close by where you can train on the actual course."

Apart from a familiarity with the race course, running in your own turf also allows you to harness your own local fan base that can provide you with material and moral support when you need it most at the crucial points of the full marathon (from 25KM till the finish line.) Sure, big city marathons like New York and Chicago have their big crowds, but there’s nothing like seeing the familiar faces of your family, friends and loved ones along the race route and when you cross that marathon finishline for the first time.

Before the Cebu City Marathon, runners aiming to run a full marathon for the fist time had to race in Metro Manila or Subic . If you’re a runner based in Cebu or the nearby provinces looking for a marathon debut, I suggest you make the Cebu City Marathon in January 2011 your goal. It is home, so logistics and hotel accommodations need not be a problem, the roads are familiar and the cut-off time of seven hours is generous enough even for the slowest of runners. More importantly, the CCM has proved itself to be an excellently managed race making your marathon debut as pleasant an experience as possible, despite the inevitable muscle pain that marathon running brings.

And speaking of cut-off time, the more generous it is, the better for the first time marathoner whose first and primary goal should only be to finish the full marathon regardless of time. The oldest running event in the country which is the Milo marathon has a cut-off time of 5:00 for the full marathon, so the Manila eliminations set this July 4 may not be the wisest choice for a full marathon debut, unless of course you are as gifted as Marathon Mom Donna Cruz- Larrazabal, who finished her first full marathon in 4:48:45 in Macau, which like Milo has cut-off time of five hours.

Mt. Manungal Climbathon

The Municipality of Balamban will commemorate the 53^rd death anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. with a climbathon at Mt. Manungal on March 20. 2010.

The climbathon is open to all professional runners and weekend warriors. The race starts at the Welcome Arch of the Municipality of Balamban at the Transcentral Highway all the way to the crash site in Mt. Manunggal . The race distance is 17KM for the men’s open and 13KM for the women’s category and executive division. The race route consists of a mix of concrete roads, dirt roads and mountain trails. So it might be a good idea to leave the racing flats at home and wear all-terrain shoes for the climbathon.

Balamban dumptrucks will be picking up trekkers as early as 5Am in JY square in Cebu City on March 20. There will also be a pickup point in Balamban for local trekkers. These same dumptrucks will be ferrying trekkers on Sunday back to Cebu City and Balamban. For inquiries you may call 3332190 or 4650455 local 115.

The Marathon Foodie has one observation. Women runners have been running far longer distances since the 1960’s. In this age of gender equality, why do women have to race the shorter distance of 13KM in the climbathon while the men race all of 17KM?

Free Running Clinic

Take advantage of Runnr Academy ’s free running clinic on “Optimal Running Technique” with three-time Philippine National Triathlon champion Arland Macasieb at Ayala Center Cebu’s Active Zone on March 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and March 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Macasieb will discuss common running errors among recreational runners; the attributes of elite runners; correct running posture; Running tools, drills and skills for speed.

Macasieb is an exercise physiologist and holds a masters degree on exercise sciences from the Montclair State University . He was the Philippine National Triathlon champion in 2001, 2005 and 2006. He is also a 6-time Ironman finisher.

Seize the road!

(Email: haide.acuna@gmail.com)

Rooting for Ms. Carter

Her name is Madelyn Carter and on Sunday October 11, she will make her fourth appearance at the Milo Finals.

In her debut marathon in the 2006 finals, Madelyn clocked 3 hours 43 minutes. In 2007 she placed 12th after clocking 3 hours 36 minutes 56 seconds. Then in 2008 Madelyn jumped four places higher and landed 8th place after finishing 3 hours 31 minutes 30 seconds -- or 5 minutes and 25 seconds better than her previous record.

This is a long way away for someone who only started running almost four years ago hoping only to lose weight. "I never dreamed of becoming a competitive runner," says Madelyn. "I started running just to lose weight. Before that all the exercise I knew were house chores and farm work back home in Siargao. " But Madelyn's got natural talent. You don't run a sub-four in your first 42K sans training if you're not naturally gifted.

It all started in 2005, Madelyn was diagnosed with a thyroid condition which affected her metabolism and made her overweight. She took up walking as complement to her radiation therapy. "Sa una mag-walking ra ko sa Fuente circle ug sa Abellana, tuyok-tuyok lang. Hangtud wa ko kabalo nagsugod na diay kog dagan hinay-hinay lang." (At first I would just walk around Fuente circle and Abellana. Until one day, I don't know how it began, I just started running very slowly at first.)

Madelyn says she never had any training nor followed any running program. Everything she knows about running she picked up from varsity runners at the Abellana track. "Nakakat-on ko parti anang competition sa dagan sige chika-chika sa mga runners sa mga varsity dinha sa oval. Naamigo ra nako sila kay pirmi man ko naa sa Abellana." (I became friends with varsity runners at the oval because I was always at the Abellana. I learned about competetive running from them.)

I met Madelyn in June this year when she asked to be trained by Coach Precing Capangpangan. Madelyn says she wants to take her running to the next level and improve her time some more. Madelyn and I do intevals together at the Cebu City Sports Center on Thursdays from 4AM to 7AM, of course at different paces. Her easy run is my racing pace.

We became fast friends when on weekend races, she would finish her 10K and come back and pace me and the other slow runners so we'd run faster and beat the clock. I asked her once why she does it, then she tells the Marathon Foodie that in every race, regardless of pace we all have equal opportunities to turn from ordinary to extraordinary if we push ourselves hard enough. Madz says she likes being there to watch it happen to other runners too.

Good luck Madz! Maybe I can be as good as you some day. But in the meantime, I'll run my Milo finals vicariously through you.

My Milo Story

Mark Torre, Marathon Foodie and Joel Cortel

As my alarm clock went off at exactly 3AM on Sunday 5th of July, I had no second thoughts about getting up. It was a big day for breaking personal records and there was no time to lose.

I did my usual pre-run rituals -- trip to the bathroom, a quick breakfast of 3 wheat pan de sal with butter, cheese and peanut butter, hydrate, change clothes, put petroleum jelly on the toes and on the seams of the sports bra, wear shoes, wear MP3, lock the house and run from the village gate to the venue.

It was chilly outside as it had rained all night. At 4:05 AM I started my pre-race warm-up -- an easy run from Convergys (Banawa) to Cebu City Sports Center. By the time I reached Osmena Blvd. near CNU, I could hear Milo commercial jingles playing on a loop, which made my eyes misty. They were from commercials I grew up with. Although I was a Sustagen kid, I always liked the Milo commercials with athletes (Bea Lucero) beating all odds to the tune of “I’m getting ready, getting ready. Oh what a day it’s gonna be. I won’t give up, gotta get going. I need the energy Olympic energy. I need my Milo today, Milo everyday.” Hard sell, yes, but to a kid (and now a thirty-something runner wannabe) it's totally inspiring and motivational as opposed to two mascots Susie and Geno dancing “Sustagen with 23 resistensya builders!”

At 4:30 AM I strolled to the finish line. Except for the technical crew, it was practically deserted. Pretending it was the Olympic stadium I visualized myself sprinting on the CCSC oval and victoriously crossing the green finish line.

I checked in at the 21K corral outside CNU where I met the 21K runners – a happy and cheerful bunch of competitive runners, weekend warriors, marathon veterans, newbies and a handful of celebrities all running for a variety of reasons. Although I did not know all of their names, they all looked familiar to me as I've met them all before on the road, on the track and at the start/finish line of the occasional 10K events. You see, runners may not exactly call each other by name, but when they meet each other on the road on early morning runs, they acknowledge each other with a smile or a wave of the hand as if to say they’re looking out for each other. That's why, even when you're on the road running as early as 4AM you know you'll be safe.

At the starting area, I met two guys – one in his twenties and the other in his fifties- who asked me what my goal time was. I told them that based on my pace and fitness level Coach Precing Capangpangan had set a goal finish of 2:25.

The starting gun went off at 5:25 AM and off we went. The first ten kilometers went by fast and easy. The two guys I met at the starting area, ran with me and we paced each other. Our pack included heart surgeon Dr. Peter Mancao – a finisher of the NY and Big Sur marathons so I thought we were in good company.

It was an uphill run towards the first turnaround near the Pardo Police station (around 500 meters farther than the original turnaround). It was 58 minutes from the start of the race, we were in good form and on schedule. However, by the time our pack reached Salazar Institute, I saw Dr. Peter move ahead from the pack and saw several runners from the back overtaking us. I knew then we were slowing down and getting tired. Still our group plodded on.

At this point, Jeson Guardo of the Atan Guardo runners group joined my pack. Jeson had an amazing crew of running coach and water/Gatorade staff. Jeson’s coach would give our pack instructions when to slow down and when to pick up, when to swing our arms and when to drop the arms and relax; while the water crew would give us bottles of ice-cold Gatorade from an SUV turned hydration wagon. It didn’t matter that we just met on the road and were not even on the same running team, the Guardo team shared their resources so generously without any hesitation.

By the time we reached Hipodromo, Jeson’s group moved on ahead. I could not keep up as I felt my thighs stiffening a bit. I was still running with the fifty-something guy whom I called Tatay and the twenty-something guy whom I called Bai. We would exchange encouragements and wait up for each other. We laughed occasionally and made comments about the celebs who were running like Donna Cruz and Sen. Pia Cayetano. Except for two three steps of walking every five kilometers, no one in our group really stopped running. Deep inside I was really tired and wanted to stop to rest for a bit, but I didn’t want to let my “running mates” down. I don’t know if they felt the same way. It was just ironic that although we were running thick as thieves, I still did not know their names!

At last we reached the second turnaround at Inno Data at the border separating Cebu City and Mandaue City. An hour and 50 minutes had already elapsed and I knew we were going to make it before cut-off, but I didn’t know if we would make the 2:25 target as the last four kilometers seemed to go on forever. When our pack reached Sikatuna, I knew I was slowing down both Bai and Tatay so I told them to just go ahead, but when you’ve been running the race together for the last 19 kilometers wala nang iwanan.

At one point during the last 4 kilometers a guy with a backpack on a bicycle was handing out ice-cold water and told us to pour it on our heads to cool us down. I didn’t know from where he came from and why he was being so kind to us, but his water really helped us get through the last mile of the race.

As we crossed the last intersection of P. Del Rosario and Osmena Blvd., I knew then that not only would we make it before cut-off, we would also finish the race earlier than our goal time of 2:25.

As we entered the oval, I was crying from a heady mix of exhaustion and overwhelming sense of achievement and not least of all gratitude for all the three months of hard work, training and lonely long runs finally paying off.

We crossed the finish line at 2:24 or a minute faster than our original goal of 2:25. I thanked my teammates and only then did I learn their names. The twenty-something guy is Mark Torre while the fifty-something gentlemen is Joey Cortel. To them I will forever be grateful.

Before today, my best time for a 21K was 2:40:39 set last March at the Condura Run in Manila. This means that after three months of hard work, I broke my PR by sixteen minutes! At the Sinulog half marathon in January this year, I ran 21K in 2:55, which means that in just six months, I improved by 31 minutes!

Running has been defined as an individual sport. Its lonely nature is what truly attracted me to it in the first place as I hate team sports and anything that required a playmate or partner (such as badminton, tennis or squash). But today I learned that while a runner’s achievement may be singular, it is the kindness of others, such as the nameless guy on a bike with water; the generosity of fellow runners such as Jeson Guardo and his crew; and the unwavering support and encouragement from friends you get to meet on the road like Mark and Joel that will carry you to the finish line. As runner and city councilor Ed Labella once told me – run alone and you will run fast, run with friends and you will run far.

Of course, excellent coaching, mileage and hard work played a really big role in achieving my running goals. I don’t think I would improve as dramatically as I did without the mentoring of Coach Precing and Raffy Uytiepo. But today I learned that running a race is not just about breaking PR’s. It is also about going the extra mile, both literally and figuratively, not just for yourself but also for the runner beside you.

Today, not only did I become a better runner, I’ve also learned how to become a better human being.

Battle Ready

It is past ten in the evening and my alarm clock has been set for 3:00 AM the next day. I know I should be sleeping already, but my restless legs syndrome won't let me. It's always like this on the eve of a race. Moreso on a night like this, on the eve of my first ever Milo 21K race.

I've set a modest goal for myself -- a 2:25 finish for the half marathon. But if you consider that I clocked 2:55 in the Sinulog half marathon in January this year and 2:40 at the Condura Skyway Run in March, 2:25 or a good 15 minutes faster may be setting the bar too high. Is it possible to improve by as much as thirty minutes in just six months?

But as they say, nothing is impossible with a little prayer. I sign out tonight with the runner's prayer, which I found while trawling the net for running inspiration. I hope it inspires you too.


Lord,
Watch over me today as I run.
This is the day
and this is the time for the race.

Watch over my body.
Keep it free from injury.

Watch over my mind.
May I listen to the signals from within
as I enjoy the scenes from without.

Watch over my spirit.
Watch over my competitors.
Remind us that we all are struggling equally.

Lord,
Let me win.
Not by coming in ahead of my friends, but by beating myself.

Let it be an inner win.
A battle won over me.

And may I say at the end,
"I have fought a good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith."

Amen.

(Adapted from The Ultrarunner’s Prayer by Carolyn Erdman & Jay Hodde)