Conquering Dahilayan

July 15, 2011

At 1:30 in the morning of Saturday, July 9, the shrill sound of the telephone awoke me and trail running queen Merlita Dunkin at our hotel room in Dynasty Court Cagayan De Oro.

Wordlessly, we went through our pre-race rituals – shower, final check on our running gear and anti-blister kits.  We made sure our pockets were filled with gels, salts and candies for the 55 kilometer trek.  Unlike the two ultramarathons in Cebu, we were on our own in Cagayan De Oro with neither support crew nor the ever- reliable Ungo Runners aid stations.

At the hotel lobby we met up with runners from outside CDO – secretly checking out the competition in the female category and it looked like aside from Helen Tacling (runner-up in the TNF 100 in Camarines Sur last May) and Michelle Estuar (fitness coach and winner of the 1^st Cebu Ultramarathon 50K) Merlita had no other competition.

Photo credit:  Bro. Carlo Bacalla, SDB

Circle Productions, organizer of Mindanao’s first ever ultramarathon  expected 150 runners.  But on the eve of the race, entrants ballooned to 175 runners (58 from Manila, 20 from Cebu and the rest from CDO, Iligan, Bukidnon, Davao and Zamboanga)  – a huge turnout by ultramarathon standards. 

Runners gathered in front of the Cagayan De Oro City Hall and at 3:12 in the morning the starting gun was fired as fireworks lit the sky.

Photo Credit:  A Runner's Circle Ph

We passed through hilly forested towns of Indahag and Kili-og where we passed by streams, pocket waterfalls, mini forests and local residents travelling on horseback.   But nothing can be as gorgeous and breathtaking  as the Municipality of Libona at daybreak.  It was like running a postcard-perfect route.  In Libona the pineapple plantation and the rest of the town looked like a manicured lawn you forget that you’re running an ultramarathon. 

As the race progressed, my candies and power gels started to run out, but I didn’t have to worry about nutrition and hydration.  In every barangay we passed locals provided boiled camote, cassava, eggs, bananas, yellow corn, salt and water.  This was in addition to the official aid stations provided by the race organizers every five (5) kilometers.  Runners were also treated to bottomless pineapple juice, L-Carnitine drinks, pinapple and mixed fruits at the Del Monte plantation where  aid stations were set up every two (2) kilometers).

Left Photo by Margie Velasquez (Frontrunner's Jonel Mendoza).  Top photo courtesy of A runner's Circle Ph (Ultrarunner and Triathlete Michelle Estuar)

With BDM classmate Chito Carreon photo by Margie Velasquez

But of course there’s no such thing as free lunch.  When we reached the bottom of Agusan Canyon, the relentless climb began.  The most difficult part of the race came at KM 45 just after Camp Phillips where runners had to run on sharp rocks and a relentless uphill climb to Dahilayan which had an elevation of 4,000 feet above sea level.  There was a nasty surprise as we realized that the finishline was two- kilometers more than the published distance of 55K.  This would have been fine had the route to the finishline been a flat road and not a killer uphill climb and if the runners were informed of the extra two kilometers at the race briefing.  In any case ultrarunners never complain about extra miles, except perhaps for those who were struggling to finish within the 12-hour cut-off.

In the end I finished in 9 hours 49 minutes while Merlita Dunkin finished in 6 hours 38 minutes placing second to Helen Tacling who finished in 6 hours 36 minutes.  Michelle Estuar finished third in 6 hours and 49 minutes. 

As for the men’s side, all the top three podium finishers were from Iligan.  The best finish by a runner from Cebu was courtesy of Paul James Zafico of the People Support Black Panthers who placed fifth and finished the race in 5 hours 7 minutes.  All finishers got a medal, commemorative jacket, finisher’s certificate, lunch and a free ride on Asia’s longest dual zipline spanning 850 meters.

       

The Cagayan de Oro-Dahilayan 55K Trail Ultramarathon is probably one of the best ultramarathons in the country I’ve run so far and I wish there were more Cebuano runners who experienced it. 

I’ve been schooled in the Baldrunner school of ultramarathoning where pain and suffering seem to be the order of the day.  But after Dahilayan I learned that an ultra distance can also be as fun as a regular fun run making it the perfect race for ultra virgins and veterans alike.  There will be a second edition next year.  Try not to miss it.

Running Saves Kidnap Victim from Abu Sayyaf

June 24, 2011

Fifty-nine year old Cebuano engineer Virgilio Fernandez took up running in 2008 to help ease his hypertension. Fernandez's eldest son Neil Adrian tells ABS CBN Cebu reporter Rachelle Dangin his dad Virgilio would run around the Fuente Osmena circle every morning without fail. Little did Virgilio know that his recreational running would one day save his life.

It was 1:30 in the morning of June 19 in Tipotipo, Basilan. While everyone else was sleeping, Fernandez, held captive the by notorious bandit group Abu Sayyaf since June 3, ran like he never ran before.

The night before his daring escape, Fernandez pretended to be sick with stomach flu. His captors let down their guard and let him sleep by the door of a hut. The bandits asked him to remove his shoes and made sure he only had his socks on, probably to make sure he won’t run away. But being barefoot did not prevent him from running non-stop away from Tipotipo. At 1:30 in the morning, after making sure that his captors were sound asleep, Fernandez ran towards freedom.

Feeling neither pain nor tiredness, Fernandez literally ran for his life.

Over TV Patrol Central Visayas, Fernandez recounts how he dared not ask for help from the local residents as most of them were in cahoots with his captors – “Kadaghanan nila ila mang kasabwat.” (Many of them were in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf.) Barefoot and with only the moon as his guide, the stocky engineer ran and walked non-stop in a northwardly direction until about 7:30 in the morning. He found help in the morning after meeting a man with a bolo, who luckily had a brother who was a military asset.

What happened to Fernandez that night was a flight or fight situation. Fleeing his captors caused his body to produce adrenaline, which allowed Fernandez, who until that night probably never ran that fast and that long in his life, cope with dangerous a situation. With adrenaline rush, air passages are dilated allowing more oxygen to enter his body and pain-dulling hormones were released masking painful cuts and blisters on Fernandez legs and feet.

Of all the different sports out there, running can be the most practical and can literally save your life . Hearing Engr. Virgilio Fernandez’s tale really makes you want to lace up and run, though hopefully not away from kidnap for ransom bandits like the Abu Sayyaf.

Carpe viam!

It hasn’t sunk in yet. Even as I write this first column, I still can’t believe how running has taken me to a totally unexpected path – from non-athlete to certified marathoner and now a sports columnist.

This incredible journey started February 8, 2009, on a chilly Sunday morning in Hongkong where I got picked up by the sweeper bus at kilometer 25 for running too slow.

I remember sitting on that bus so forlorn and utterly ashamed of myself for having spent so much money just to DNF on my first marathon. My thighs were in great pain, but not as much as my wounded pride.

Despite being spurned by the marathon gods on my first attempt, it was then that I decided that long-distance running would be my sports for life. As the song goes “if at first you don’t succeed, you can dust it off and try again.”

I went back to Cebu , bought new running outfits, trawled the internet and read everything I could about marathon running. I also sought guidance from coaches Raffy Uytiepo and Precing Capangpangan and did all my (very) early morning runs with a diligence and consistency of one studying for the bar.

It has been a year since and what a year it has been. I won first place honors in one 3K and two 5K runs and I’ve had two full marathons under my belt. I’m also just two weeks away from running my first ultramarathon, the Bataan Death March 102. Yet, it still feels like there’s still so much out there to accomplish, and so many running paths that have yet to be discovered.

I’ve been asked countless times, why do I run? Truth to tell, I still don’t fully understand why. I just know that preparing to run a marathon has given me a new sense of direction, commitment and a renewed purpose in life. When I’m running I feel that I can be more, achieve more, give more.

Sometimes I get this crazy idea of taking a really radical sabbatical and just spend a year or two doing nothing else except training and running. Perhaps, if I take this passion as far as I possibly can, maybe I can be really good at it and even run for the Philippines someday.

I tell myself that it’s never too late. The champion of the women’s marathon at the Beijing Olympics was then 38 year-old Romanian Constantina Tomescu Dita (2:26:44) making her the oldest gold medalist in Olympic marathon history. But then reality interferes with my running dreams. There are bills to pay, pleadings to write and duties to fulfill.

Maybe the Olympic marathon is too far off. Like many serious runners out there, I content myself with training for at least one of the five world marathon majors and working hard to save enough money to finance that dream.

In the meantime, the Marathon Foodie continues to run the streets of Cebu no matter how very little time there is to spare, and no matter how difficult and painful it gets. I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again. That’s just how it is when you love something or someone. You invest time, put in your heart and soul and learn to have patience that can run for miles and miles and miles.

This torrid love affair with running I’ve shared with other runners through my online journal called Marathon Foodie

(http://marathonfoodie.blogspot.com), and now I’m sharing it with you, even non runners.

I will not pretend to be an expert, because I’m only an expert of my own running experience. But I can most definitely share with you everything I’ve learned, share tips and information, as well as point you to new runner-friendly routes and tell you which perilous roads to avoid – all of which I’ve road-tested myself.

And speaking of expert advice, Lit Ornubia, the only Chi Running Certified Instructor in the Philippines, will be conducting Chi running workshops in Cebu on March 26 – 27, 2010. The workshop will include a lecture and actual training runs. Each workshop session will be limited to twelve runners only. For more details you may email Dr. Raymund Reel Bontol at reelraymund@gmail.com.

Finally, good luck to all those running in the 2^nd Rotary Run this Sunday. Carpe viam!

(For questions, comments and suggestions please email haide.acuna@gmail.com.)

Fried, Frazzled & Frozen with fear

The month of February came and went like a blur.

While the rest of Cebu ran the weekend races that filled the weekend race calendar, I ticked my TBR calendar (free for all those who subscribe to The Bull Runner on-line alerts/ mailing list. Subscribe na! Now Na!) with super duper long runs under the heat of the sun, the longest of which lasted for ten hours covering 66 kilometers -- a necessary prelude to the Bataan Death March 102.




Mid-February was taper time, but not for work at the office. It was a race against time. The goal was to finish all my pending pleadings before I fly out of Cebu for the BDM. At least my clients won't be defaulted even if I drop dead while running my first ultra. (Haha)

But it wasn't all run, run, run and work, work, work. I had fun posing for Island Souvenirs "I love Cebu" campaign -- a first and again probably the last for the Marathon Foodie.

One of the high points for the month of February was the launch of Marathon Foodie, the newspaper column. It appears every Friday over at Cebu Daily News.

But not even the new gig as sports columnist could distract me from being afraid of the unknown. I trawl facebook for Abby Jocson's and Takbo.ph's photos of the BDM race route and I'm literally paralyzed with fear over the idea of running and walking all of 102 of unfamiliar roads.

It's eight days to D-day. I guess I'll never know unless I get out there and try. =)

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: Little by little, bit by bit.

It's final. I will be running my first (maybe only) ultra marathon in this year's Bataan Death March 102.

People ask me why and I wish I had a deeper reason for wanting to run an ultra. I want to do it because it's there -- a new running challenge waiting to be conquered.

102 kilometers from Mariveles, Bataan to the old train station in San Fernando, Pampanga in 18 hours or less.

An ultra is unknown territory for the marathon foodie. 42K is already long. The BDM is twice that distance and then some 18K more. So how am I preparing for this race?

Mileage is a given, but one needs a race plan you can commit to on race day. Pretty much like preparing a trial brief at the beginning of the litigation process.

I made a guide and it looks good on paper. Eugene will be my one-man support crew. I hope it all comes together on race day. Wish me luck?


Time/ Race Pace Plan

12:00-1:00AM KM1 to KM6

1:00-2:00AM KM7 to KM12

2:00-3:00AM KM13 to KM18

Note: Road forks at KM 14, support vehicle to wait at KM 14 marker.
Runners turn rigt upon reaching KM 14.


3:00-4:00AM KM19 to KM24

Note: Road forks at KM 23, support vehicle to wait at KM 23 marker.
Runners turn rigt upon reaching KM 23.

4:00-5:00AM KM25 to KM30

5:00-6:00AM KM31 to KM36

Note: Road forks at KM 32, support vehicle to wait at KM 32 marker.
Runners turn rigt upon reaching KM 32.

Note: Breakfast 10 mins. (Wheat pandesal, Adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana)

6:00-7:00AM KM37 to KM42

7:00-8:00AM KM43 to KM48

8:00-9:00AM KM49 to KM54

9:00-10:00AM KM55 to KM60

Note: Snack Break 10 mins. (Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana)

10:00-11:00AM KM61 to KM66

11:00-12:00PM KM67 to KM72

Note: Lunch Break 10 mins. (Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana)

12:00-1:00PM KM73 to KM78

1:00-2:00PM KM79 to KM84

2:00-3:00PM KM85 to KM90

Note: Snack Break 10 mins. (Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana)

3:00-4:00PM KM91 to KM96

4:00-5:00PM KM97 to KM102

Nutrition/ Hydration Plan
9:00PM Jollibee Meal (Rice and Chicken)
1:00AM Trail Mix, Water, 100 Plus
2:00AM Trail Mix, water, 100 Plus
3:00AM Trail Mix, water, 100 Plus
4:00AM GU, water, 100 Plus
5:00AM GU, water, 100 Plus
6:00AM Wheat pandesal, Adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana
7:00AM Trail Mix, Water, 100 Plus
8:00AM Trail Mix, Water, 100 Plus
9:00AM GU, water, 100 Plus
10:00AM Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana
11:00AM GU, water, 100 Plus
12:00PM Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana
1:00PM GU, water, 100 Plus
2:00PM GU, water, 100 Plus
3:00PM Wheat pandesal, adobo flakes or adobo pinauga, banana
4:00PM GU, water, 100 Plus


Grocery Needs:

-Wet Tissue
-10 bottles 100 Plus
-10 bottles Cobra Energy Drink
-Water (2 bottles 5 liters each)

Pharmaceutical Needs:

-Terramycin
-Betadine
-Leukoplast Tape (for blister)
-Micropore Tape
-Gauze Pads.
-Cotton balls
-Ponstan SF (5caps.)
-Loperamide (5caps.)
-Benadryl Antihistamine No Drowse (2 Tabs.)
-Body Glide

Race Day Clothes:

-shorts (2)
-orange singlet (for 12AM to 6:00AM)
-longsleeve dri fit golf shirt (for 6:00AM to Finish)
-Sugbutri shirt (for photo op.)
-extra sports bra
-halo
-cap
-scarf
-shades
-3 pairs socks
-belt bag
-2 pairs of shoes

Other items:

-2 GF 305 (ombined batt life 20 hours)
-1 TMX Ironman watch
-flashlight and extra batteries
-two (2) sprayers, one for water, one for eficascent oil
-eficascent oil (big)
-hand towels
-big towels
-styrofoam/ice chest
-water, additional 5 gallon to be carried in vehicle
-paper towels - to dry feet and stop eficascent from dripping onto -shoes/socks
-hydrite - three (3) tablets per five liter bottle
-big cardboard - to hide behind when you want to pee

Music:

-Bach
-Mozart
-Bethoven
-Vivaldi
-Mahler

It will keep me on a 9:00 MPK pace. Plus they help conjure images of running water, rain and the sea while running on a really hot day.

RUNNR in Cebu (and a blast from the past!)

This was my first road race ever.

The year was 1996 just a few days before I turned 18. The race was called the Cenovis 5K for women, while Pharmaton sponsored the 10K run for men. The race director was Raffy Uytiepo and the road you see in the picture is the junction of Osmena Blvd. and Escario St. right across the Cebu Provincial Capitol, where all the local road races used to have its start/finish area.

As you can see in the photo, runners then were content to be running in cotton garments (in my case, the regulation cotton PE shirt and shorts from STC) and sneakers (regulation Spartan brand which was the required footwear for PE class). The lady just behind me is wearing denim shorts and canvass slip-ons! We didn't know any better then and dri-fit science was a good 5 or 7 years away from Philippine shores. It was a miracle we didn't get injured as much then.

Fast forward to 2009 -- the age of the second running boom. How times have changed! Today, no one would be caught dead running in a pair of denim shorts or Spartan sneakers.

Today, runners have the privilege of improving performance and preventing injury with aid of state-of-the art technology that can help determine the right fit and correct show type.




In June this year, Runnr opened it's first store at Bonifacio High Street. In less than six months, Runnr opens its second store in Cebu giving runners and sports enthusiasts from the Visayas and Minadano access to Runnr's exclusive and much vauntedFootworx Fitting process.

The Footworx Fitting process is a combination of three, state-of-the-art technologies: FootDisc, High-Speed Video Gait Analysis, and the Custom Insole Molding. The store is the first and only store in the country (and possibly the world) to offer all three technologies under one roof.

A team of highly trained staff can take each customer through the Footworx fitting process to be able to offer accurate and comprehensive recommendations based on an individual’s foot type and gait characteristics . First, foot morphology is analyzed using the RUNNR “Footdisc” Analysis System, which uses a thermodynamic system to determine foot type. Second, using the high-speed video gait analysis, customers will run on a treadmill while the camera captures the way they run, checking their pronation angle as they go through their normal gait cycle. Then they can compare different shoes to find the one that works best for them. Lastly, RUNNR offers the ‘Flashfit’ custom insole molding process where insoles are heat-treated to make the perfect insoles in while you wait.


These customized services ensure that whatever one’s requirements as a runner, the shoes and optional insoles minimize foot instability for better shock absorption, and minimize fatigue while reducing the chances of injury.


Toby’s Sports, the country’s largest and most popular sports retail chain is the people behind RUNNR running specialty store.

RUNNR Cebu will offer its premier brands that include Adidas, Asics, Fuelbelt, Hammer, Nathan, New Balance, Nike, Polar, Newton Running Shoes, and CW-X compression apparel.



Other running gear and accessory brands available at RUNNR Cebu will include Sennheiser, Halo head bands, Body Glide, Speedlaces, Finis, Equipe, Mueller, Spenco and Oakley among others.

RUNNR will open on the first week of December at the 2nd level of Ayala Center Cebu (where Collage used to be and right across Sbarro)

For more details log on to www.runnr.com.ph, or check out the RUNNR social networking sites on Face Book and Twitter (www.facebook.com/RUNNRstore and www.twitter.com/RUNNRstore

The hills are alive!

I focused on reminding myself I was running my race and not trying to keep pace with somebody. It's about your journey -- not everybody else's journey. -- Jennifer Beals, actress, on her first road race.


Marathon day started just like all the other long run Sundays. My two alarm clocks went off at exactly 2:30 in the morning and with rote precision I did my routine – wash up, dress-up, tape the feet, put petroleum jelly on the toes and elsewhere where seams touch the skin, wear socks with toes, wear shoes with chip, put on the race number, eat whole wheat pan de sal with peanut butter chased with isotonic water, wear cap after eating.

By 3AM the big bad city was still fast asleep, but the Marathon Foodie was ready to go. I locked Eugene’s house and walked to where the cabbies were waiting. In my best neutral Tagalog, I gave firm directions for the driver to take me to the Quezon City Hall or at least up to where the road blocks were.

When I arrived at the starting area, the other Cebuano runners were already there. We were all in high spirits and took lots of photos. At exactly 4:30 AM the starting gun went off and there was no turning back. This is it. The culmination of three months of hard-work and sacrifice.

By the time we reached KM2 inside UP, I was running 6:30min/km. This was a full minute and a half too fast. I slowed down and enjoyed the route. The academic oval looked surreal in the dark as I ran to "Police On My Back" by The Clash.

As we exited towards Commonwealth Avenue, I was amazed at what I saw. All eight lanes of the north-bound side were closed to vehicular traffic. Commonwealth had turned from the country's most dangerous highway to a runner's playground.

There was plenty of water and 100 Plus on this part of the route, I stopped for a sip or two on each one of them. We made our way to Batasan, which literally smelled of uncollected garbage, but the people on the side of the road were cheerful and encouraging. I joined the 5:15 pacers. Yeah right. I knew I was being over optimistic.

Then the hills began rolling. I said OK ra. I run the hills of Banawa three times a week, this should be no problem. Just as we were entering a quiet village called East Fairview, we saw the lead pack with the Kenyan runners and Cris Sabal making their way back to the QC Memorial Circle.

I soon discovered that East Fairview Village connected to the La Mesa Eco Park, where the hills just kept coming. This was no Banawa. This was like running in Nivel Hills towards Busay, which I've only done once. Then I felt a slight twitch on my right leg. It wasn't painful, but I knew what it was. This was a prelude to a leg cramp.

I took off my earphones and listened to my body. No pain. I leaned and shifted my weight forward to ease the pressure on my legs as I landed. It worked. The legs felt easy, but I was much slower. The soldiers patrolling the park told me -- "Primera lang ma'am paakyat kaya mo yan".

Running 5 kilometers inside the Eco Park and the La Mesa Dam was a truly beautiful experience. But it was also the most difficult. Aside from the hills, there was no water throughout this portion of the route. There was water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. As I negotiated the last kilometer towards the park's exit, I met a bunch of gentlemen in their 50's who asked me if it was my first marathon. I said -- "Opo." Then the one whom everyone addressed as Dr. told me it's all in the mind hija. "I'll see you at the finish line", he said. Then he and his friends sped away.

I was counting on drinking water at the water station just beyond KM 22 as we exited the park, but there was none. I told myself it's all in the mind, water will miraculously appear. But still there was none, not even chunks of ice to suck on and I was really, really thirsty after running more than 5KM sans water. The need to conserve my energy, prevented me from getting mad.

At this point I lost the 5:15 pacers. I decided not to join the 5:30 or the 5:45. I thought it was better to run the race alone. No pressure.

I saw another water station just before SM Fairview, but the runner ahead of me just got the last cup of water. I begged the marshal for water. There was a shed nearby with a gallon of mystery water. It belonged to uniformed MMDA personell I think. I drank a cup and said "Thank you Manong MMDA." Beggars can't be choosy.


After SM Fairview, I really didn't know where I was. I've never been to this place before. I just knew the general area to be Fairview, which on the QC map looked like a really big chunk of land. I was hoping to see a road sign that would say Commonwealth because I knew that meant the road towards the Circle where the finish line was. Frankly, as a promdi in the big city, I was more afraid of getting lost than running out of water. Thankfully, the race marshals with QCIM shirts whether on foot, mounted on bikes and motorcycles were everywhere.

Finally, I reached the start of Commonwealth Avenue and the unforgiving hills coming one after the other began again. I tricked my mind to thinking that I was running in Cebu and not on those unfamiliar hills. I kept thinking, if I were running my LSD from Capitol to Danao Cebu, where would I be at this point? It made all those lonely miles seem easier. When I reached KM 29 to 32, I imagined that I was running in the roads of Danao with the Camotes Sea to my right. I couldn't hear the buses and cars stuck in traffic on the other side of Commonwealth, all I could hear was the sound of the sea in my head.


Now what's the Marathon Foodie to do after crossing 32KM? My mental picture was up to KM 32 in Danao City only. With no more mind tricks and imagery to occupy me I started noticing the pain on my left chest, my thighs and the left side of my back. Coach Precing once told me that from KM 32 to the finish line, I will feel pain everywhere, even the nails and the hair will seem painful. Coach told me "It will be the longest 10K of your life. But no matter what happens, do not stop running bahala na ug hinay, or your legs will lock."

So I turned to power words and phrases. Words like courage, strength, and don't stop believing. I also thought of reserving a little for the final 300 meters. I wanted to sprint and not hobble towards the finish line. So reserve, reserve, reserva troncal! What?!? Anyway, that went on until I reached North Avenue towards Trinoma.

As the time elapsed ticked away from 5:00 to 5:15 to 5:20, I kept thinking there's no way I could run faster than Katie Holmes' 5:30 NY marathon time, but I'll be damned if I finish my first full mary at 6:00. I thought that would be a real letdown.

So power words and the need to finish with pride propelled me towards the home stretch. After exiting North Avenue, I saw that the elliptical road was already opened to vehicles. Oh no! How do I cross this thing? Thankfully there were two other male runners struggling to cross eight lanes of traffic and we made it together. As I saw a crowd 250 meters away, I knew this was it. Irene Kara's "Fame" was playing on my MP3 and with everything I had left, I lifted my legs and sprinted at a 4:15min/km pace and crossed the finish line at 5:47:53 (unofficial Garmin time).

It was proudest I had ever felt in a really long time.

For now, I'm happy with the way I performed. I'm glad I made my own race not about targeting a specific time, but all about endurance, mental toughness and chutzpah. I know now, without any doubt in my mind that as far as mental toughness goes, I have it in me to finish a marathon. Hopefully, I'm able to translate this new-found power to real world situations that I deal with everyday.
I know there's plenty of room for improvement. I know I've to shed 10 pounds and strengthen my core muscles and lower extremeties. My speed needs serious work and my legs have miles and miles to go.

I realize that finishing the QCIM isn't the be all and end all of my running "career". I'm only 32 and I'm just getting started. As the first woman to ever win the gold in the Olymic marathon Joan Benoit Samuelson once said -- "Running is a lifetime pursuit. Your paces may vary at different times, and you might have to walk sometimes. But if you set goals, and have passion, and believe in yourself, anything is possible. You only have to just do it."

P.S. I met Ray Abenojar on KM 39 and did not even know it. Thanks Ray for the ice candied Gatorade! You were an angel. And to all the strangers who were kind enough to pass on a banana from their cars on KM 37, and Kate the volunteer nurse and her Salonpas spray at KM 36, to Jazzrunner Rene Villarta and to the wonderful people of Quezon City who sacrificed a lot just so we could run this marathon-- THANK YOU!

Photo Credit: Lovena Guardo

60-Hours to D-day

On Thursday, carbo-loading day, I woke up with swollen lymph nodes and could barely swallow water let alone eat pasta. I also had the beginnings of a flu.

I knew immediately what it was. I had this condition once before on my wedding day when stress and anxiety also caused my lymph nodes to swell making it hard for me to swallow food and water. I could not even eat at my own wedding reception and spent part of my wedding night at the Chong Hua Hospital emergency room.

The marathon foodie panicked!

I drank bio-flu, overdosed on vitamin C, forced myself to drink liters of water using straw, went home from work before lunch, skipped reading the news that night, and slept hoping it would all go away in time.

When I woke up, Kris Aquino was being her usual annoying self on SNN. Thankfully, the swelling has subsided significantly and it was OK to chew and swallow food once again. I ate bread and left over pizza and went back to sleep.




On Friday I made arrangements with my BFF Mary Valero that should anything happen to me on race day, her husband Atty. John Lood, who is practicing in Manila, will have to take care of emergency arrangements. Mary, being Mary slapped me back to reality, told me I'd be perfectly fine and promptly treated me to all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and potatoes.

Then there was nothing else to do. I had no pleadings that were due and my bag had been packed the week before. The only chore left was for marathon foodie to buy her race day bread -- wheat pandesal from Postrio and small tub of peanut butter. Not that there was no pandesal where I was going, except that my wheat bread pandesal has been with me through all of my race mornings and training runs and LSD's and I didn't want to change one bit of my training routine on marathon day.



On Friday night I cooked myself a big batch of pasta puttanesca with tofu and held my own carbo-loading party at home. As I cooked in my tiny kitchen not thinking about running, everything seemed right with the world. Although still not entirely sure whether I had it in me to finish all of those 42 kilometers, I felt calm knowing that I've done my best to prepare for the big day.

The Saturday flight to Manila was uneventful. I went home to my husband Eugene's place, ate Jolly Spaghetti and Chowking noodles all day and read "Triumph -- the untold story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics" by Jeremy Schaap. Once again I started questioning myself and thought that my longest run was only 32K, what happens after that? "We'll only know for sure after you run 26 miles tomorrow Haids. So stop thinking and just read your book." I realized that at this point, there's really no use fretting an that there should be no more room for self-doubt.

Suddenly, I couldn't wait for race morning to arrive.

2 Races, 1 Sunday

On Sunday 11 October runners in Cebu can choose whether to run in the north or south.

After the success of last year's Run 2 the Max, Holiday Gym and Spa will hold another ten miler to mark HGS's 4th year anniversary.

Registration is at the HGS in Banilad, Cebu City or at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center or at Casa Ilonga at Robinsons Place Cebu. Last day of registration will be on Thursday.

The race will use the same route as last year. This race is directed by very good friend and running guru Mr. Raffy Uytiepo.








For runners coming from the South, there's a race that's closer to home -- the Congressman Gullas Fun Run.

There's a 1K race exclusive for senior citizens of Talisay City and open categories for 3K, 5K and 10K

The registration fee for the Gullas Fun Run is pegged at P150.00.



Race Starts at 5:30 in the morning at the Talisay City Hall (please see photo). For those who don't know where it is, just drive through the South Coastal Road. Before you reach the Minglanilla exit, you should see the huge Talisay City Hall to your left.

Good luck to all the runners! Be safe on the road.

World Heart Day Run

Whether your heart is in the pink of health like the first blush of new love...



...consumed by passion and is on fire...





... or tired, battered and bruised...



...or broken into a million irrevocable pieces...





you may be living on borrowed time...
but for now, your heart is in your hands.

On Sunday, 27 September 2009 let us all join the World Heart Day Run (3K, 5K, 10K) at 6:00 AM, starting at the Cebu Doctor's Hospital Gym in Capitol Site, Cebu City (near Coco Mall).

You may register at the Perpetual Succor Hospital - Cebu Heart Institute with tel. No. 232-2522, just look for Em-Em.

You may also text Dr. Raymund Reel Bontol at 09228266865. Registration fee is P150 only.