Full Marathon in High Definition

Immortality! Take it! It’s yours! The last words that was going through my head as the countdown for my maiden full marathon ticks it’s way! Achilles once declared this phrase from the movie that spearheaded by Brad Pitt. These words was like a last song syndrome from the moment I left my baggage to a close friend.
An accidental situation that transpired based from my longest run of 50K from Tagaytay to Nasugbu that gave birth in lining myself at the start line of the 42K category at the 2nd Quezon City International Marathon. I am actually inked for the half-marathon category. A week before the race that it so happened that my mind conceived the inevitable and convinced to take the full marathon, it . With the help of Prince Baltazar aka Goma King and Aileen Piacos led me in finding the thinnest possible line to acquire a 42K bib. Fortunate enough, I was able to via the Fb QCIM2 page a 42K kit was up for grabs from Mr. Iah Isip of Team Bald Runner (unable to participate due to a nagging injury)that left an door open for me, such a blessing. Maridol Yabut helped me fix the anxiety of acquiring Mr. Isip’s bib. Thank you so much JDB and Sir Iah!
Regrouped with Team CB inside Jollibee and started the traditional regards to my team mates at the start line. Even in the dimmest condition was able to exchange regards with friends from the running community.

lace a pair it's the D-day!

My FR305 still acquiring satellites 2 minutes before gunstart. Overboard chills that I stretched in mixed variations. Still having the LSS of Achilles running in my head as time locks and off we go! Still with the LSS up until passing C.P. Garcia Avenue to the UP Acad Oval. Hate to say I’m a user each and every race day, because today my first victim was my teammate Doday, paced with the “mamaw” up until the first 21KM U-turn including hydration stops. I was in the zone during that time tweaking a 5:30-6:15 pace with the inclined northbound stretch of Commonwealth. Was our pace that fast for a 42K? Gave it a thought that I need to conserve to survive, so i let go and let the mamaw bring the gap. He was actually asking me along the route “asan c Argo?” “Wes c Argo nakita mo?”, much to my knowledge that it was indeed a competitive race for both of them. Give the devil his due, Argo appeared at the 19th KM, chat a little and still unable to catch up to the pace they’ve set. It’s like let them be, its their race, I have my own survival game to finish, hehehe. A monster thanks to Mr. Martos & Cuaton for the pace. Nice to see both mentors bringing their A game.

with Aileen & Doc Apple

There were no problems as far as hydration goes, grabbed a potassium riched banana before entering Doña Victorina village, which was another set back due to its rolling hills, but wait it doesn’t end there, The La Mesa Ecopark has its own version, mind game i supposed and turned the T2N moment to conquer all the rolling hills provided by this race. My second victim sprouts, it’s Rodel Montejo hehehe, my batchmate from the VTR. Both pacing each other every interval on a 6:30-7:00 zone. The usual pace, usapang survival and appreciating the majesty of the ecopark. We both exited the village but before we could exit, right at the bridge comes Ley Gripal of Team Ungas, there is no turning back right at the middle we stopped, gave him a hug and a kiss, what can i do, my hands are tied “kaladkaren talaga ako” hehehe. after the flirtation, now with the 5H pacers led by Prince and Carly, we head towards the exit of Doña Victorina Village but before we did, a couple of friendly supporters offered a liniment massage to our aching calves. While the northbound of Commonwealth was closed for the race, the southbound already has its own bottleneck, people staring like devils and ready to butcher the runners due to heavy traffic build up.

my idol -> Team Ultra Boring

With the current situation taking its toll on each runners as we head back to UP Diliman, I wasnt able to catch up with the 5 hour Pacers, the author started to wither due to lack of electrolytes, only pure sanitized water was offered inside the ecopark. With the sun’s welcoming glare, it was a bad sign striding and pace dopping to 7:30 until i felt like i can only walk til the next kilometer where a powerade booth was stationed. Like a mirage, only will power enables me to continue running, it was a tough distance reaching the booth. Chugged a cup and used a sponge to bathe my overheating body. Luckily, the guy from the Powerade was generous enough to give half of the bottle to take with me. Before i could recuperate and bring back my pace, I saw the 5 hour pacers in a such a distance that I myself will never catch, not even for a 100 meters.

high after the finish with the Bilz!

Commonwealth Ave., proved to be one heck of a route, I only manage to walk uphill and took advantage of the downhill slopes after popping my second flat tops chocolate. Doubt lingered til Mr. Gerry Lita my 3rd victim along the Kalayaan flyover, we dragged each other and in an Indian run pace, so kind of him that he asked his support crew to put another set of liniment on my calves. It was an added boost and made us pace in a smooth transition. Thank you sir Gerry! It was only a matter of time before reaching the UP Oval in reverse mode, another advantage from Palma Hall up until the oblation. 7KMs the last rolling hills of C.P. Garcia, Huffed a good pace after crossing the last timing mat, popped my last chocolate and absorbing my last hydration upon U-Turn. Much to my demise and thanking the heavens above for the last surge on the final 2KMs.

from 202-176 lbs.

The last 2 turns was a dramatic scene with Team CB cheering and boosting my moral, naka 5:30 pace pa ako hehehe, and on the last turn, friends from Team Palibhasa Lalake, ChiCem Runners, Team Kamote and the rest of the Takbo.ph did hyped the pace. Nothing really beats friends cheering when crossing the finish line. That’s why without a shadow of a doubt, end to end, I love this sport.

5 hours 6 minutes 11 seconds ...nothing is impossible!

After crossing the line, 42.195 Kilometers clocked at 05hours 06 minutes and 11 seconds, a Full Marathon Medal on my neck and the runner’s high immediately activated. Tears began to fall with my sunglasses on, faced the traffic and wipe them away. (no one saw that) hehehe. It was a full effort coming from the worst training I’ve ever gone my entire life. Its been 9 months, from Globe’s 5K fun run ’til this 42K 2nd QCIM. At first it was just a simple goal of losing weight to finding the inner peace. 9 months ago I weigh like 202 lbs now down to 176 at the same time reliving the inner peace every time I race, the bliss of a lifetime… whats next? I’m not stopping, I have a Bataan Death March 102KM come March 5, 2011. With all the friendship, support, love, brotherhood, affiliation and the sense of belonging I get from this sport, Tell me how can I stop? I did find and define who I really am.

5K - 42K

Thank you Sir Iah Isip of Team BR for making my debut a memorable one. To my pacers Allan Martos, Coach Argo, Rodel Montejo & Mr. Gerry Lita. Maridol for fixin the race bib, Prince for the hardcore training, my home team -> Team CB & Team Palibhasa for the undying support.

my home team > Team CB <

To Team Boring (idols), Team Ungas, Kamote Runners, ChiCem Runners, aNR UP Diliman & BHS group, to my family in Cavite (see you this Christmas!) and our Lord for all the good health, strength, guidance and patience each time I race. Thanks for making my marathon debut painful and at the same time, rewarding, that’s why its fitting to call this my full marathon in high definition because its not just me.. its all of us…… very nice noh?! arya!!