Outwit, Outrun, Outlast: Subic International Marathon

By Perseverance the snail reached the ark…

An Instrument of God for giving me the oppotunity to be strong...

I was actually excited by the fact that I am running my first official marathon.  I’ve been asking my collegues about this to go or not to go but almost everyone gave their support.  They believed in me; however,  I guess the kind words of support could also not be possible without my believing in myself that I can…

I started training with a few weeks I had; 20+Km at least 2 or 3 times a week including the Sunday 21K races I’ve joined.   I got sick a week prior to the event but recovered so the last week a totally a week without training so as not to strain myself.

I’m ready… that’s what I believed.

That I can conquer the race at 5hours 30min.

I was full of passion and excitement the night before and even on the day of the race.  Arriving at the place, I thought everything would turn out right.  Imagine a very good weather and night running would be just fine…  a very good weather and night running would be just fine…  a very good weather and night ru….

But then, I was wrong… (Comes in a scary background song)

I was performing good at my first Kilometers…  Steady, my run walk strategy worked.  It was 1 minute walk and few minutes of running in a pace probably not better than 6km/min. (nahh, it’s just a wild guess though)

The Catastrophe I Feared About:

3^rd water station: I asked for water and told us they have none. No way!  No water at the 3^rd Km?  This started to scare me because of the thought that what if the 4^th station doesn’t have water, yet I was willful and luckily I got a refill of my hydration flasks.

5^th water station: A guy gave me a bottle of water that could fill my flask partially and still thankful that I have outwitted the other runners who doesn’t have a hydration belt.

6^th water station: They have gallons full of water and Pocari water.  I was totally rejuvenated by that and completely refilled my flasks… I guess that’s the last visible station I saw.

Darkness…  We were all running in the dark…  There were parts were in we could only rely on the lights of the vehicles on the other side of the road but then, after they pass, it was a total darkness.

Annoying: Water station without water.

I am almost running out of water at a distance I am not totally aware of, since the race doesn’t have a Km Marker (I don’t have a GARMIN yet) I was really threatened about the thought of it; I started to question my own ability… my own strength…  because I know that I haven’t really trained myself in a race without water.

At last I saw a water station… but wait a minute; no runner is around him for water.  So I ask the guy  if he still has some (though I already know the answer) until I hear the NO word from him.  I was totally a disaster.  I feel anger already at that point but decided to be calm… but at the back of my mind, I REALLY WANT TO TOPPLE THE TABLE!

My Angels

Little things that could touched you...

I decided to run at the right side of the road thinking that my friends could help me. I texted Ellen on my situation…  I was already walking at that moment when I heard someone called me.  IT WAS THEM! The moment Carina neared me, I sobbed at her informing about the situation and that I want to stop…  Carina told me that I’m already near (though I’m really not) and gave me a boost that I can.  Ellen eventually paced me after a few Kilometers.  Hydration came before the toll gate and it all came from the GOOD SAMARITANS.  I believe they were the Elite runners.  Then came the real water station before the toll gate of SCTEX.

Down to the Last 8km

I couldn’t really have made it without their support… I t was really awesome seeing them that I could almost cry again.  They even have this banner saying GOW ARGOW!!! that made me laugh and at the same time touched by their wit to encourage us.  I went back to the road after a few minutes to end my mission.  Ellen decided to move forward and to look for his friend ahead of us so I again ran alone.  Good thing that I already have strength to run till that the last few kilometres.

Finish Line Photo (Nao's album)

The finish line…

Oh no!  I’m already here.  I couldn’t really imagine that I have done it!  A number of takbo.ph friends were there to support us and to give us a final boost.  I sprinted the last few meters to the finish line and realized that my finished was 5hour40min.  I shouted for joy for the fact that I was really close to my target.  I was totally overwhelmed!

The overwhelming finish. (photo by Carrey Reyno)

The marathon is indeed to me more of a survival… I’m really grateful about this wonderful experience; I believe that God gave me the opportunity to become strong at those times because he also believes in me; that I already have strength waiting be unleashed.  The marathon is just the instrument he created.

I am also grateful for God gave me friends who I could really rely on in these times…  I am proud finishing the marathon… but I am prouder for having friends like them.