12 “Types” ng BABAENG RUNNERS PAGDATING SA LIGAWAN.

12 “Types” ng BABAENG RUNNERS PAGDATING SA LIGAWAN.

1. Ms. Elite Runner- Sikat sya sa running community at medyo may pagka-suplada… wala syang ibang iniisp kungdi ang PR nya… So you better do the same… at baka sakali mapansin ka nya… Isa sa mga qualities na hinahanap nya sa isang lalake ay kailangan nakapag sub-piolo na… Kung hindi mo ito kaya, maghanap ka na lang ng iba dyan…. Kung kamukha mo man si Piolo… maybe…. Pero malabo….accept the hard truth…
2. Ms. I am a Runner- Ito ang tipo ng runner na sa mga runs ay akala mo ay tumatakbong Php.15,000…- sa mahal ng mga running gears na suot nya(di pa kasama dun ang Garmin…)… Kung maging kayo man… dapat ang mga pictures nyo puro “headshots” lang dahil kung hindi… magmumukha kang boypreng sagigilid.
3. Ms. I love running- Ito ang babaeng runner na may pinaghuhugutan.Most likely, she started running because of a heartache at gusto nya ito malimutan kaya right now she only loves running… Marahil ay hindi sasabihin sayo sa una at lagi syang naka-smile tuwing runs pero i-check mo ang wall nya sa FB… puro heatbreak quotes ang laman… Maging simpatiko at kumeybi… malaki ang chance mo… malay mo ito na ang pinapangarap mong jackpot…
4. Ms. Hitlist Material- Madali makita ang ganitong type ng runner, kung saan may “Kodak moment” ay andun sya… eksperto sya sa mga Japan-Japan, jumpshot , wacky at ang paborito nyang look-back and duck lips emo shot… Kung babalakin mo na ligawan ang ganitong tipo… alam na! Having a camera is an advantage… being a photographer is a blessing…
5. Ms.” You just got Chicked”- Wag mo na balakin pang ligawan ang ganitong type ng runner kung ikaw ang tipo ng runner na hindi nagpapatalo sa mga babaeng runner. Na ang pinapayagan mo lang tumalo sayo ay iyong mga mukhang Lydia de Vega at Elma Muros type lamang. Maganda sya at seksi at natutuwa sya pag nakakatalo sya sa takbuhan ng mga lalaki… at isa ka na doon… At kung sakasakali mang talunin mo sya… Goodbye ka na sa pag-asa mo na sagutin ka nya… galit na sya sayo now and forever….
6. Ms. ITBS- Ito ang babaeng runner na lagi na lang inaatake ng “ITB” o di kaya ay “Cramps” pag may nakakasalubong o nakakatabing gwapo at macho na runner tuwing runs… No choice ka kung hindi tulungan at ayun pasok ka na sa patibong nya…HALA KA!!! She prefers longer distances such as 21km and marathons dahil sa mas marami ang guys at mas mahaba ang time nya makapili…
7. Ms. Girlfriend mo na ba ko? Ito nag pinakamasap at pinaka-sweet na runner na makikilala mo… todo support sya sa mga runs mo…lagi mo syang ka-pace sa mga short distance runs at kung hindi pa nya kaya ang marathon pace mo…Tatakbo na lang sya ng 5k at mag-aantay sa finish line na may dalang pamunas ng pawis mo… lagi mo din sya kasama sa breakfast pagkatapos ng run… Kung bakit ayaw mo na maging kayo ay hindi ko alam… ayoko sakin manggaling…
8. Ms. Maharlika-Daig mo pa ang “pumodium” pag sinagot ka ng ganitong klaseng runner…But again,this time on a different connotation, “Boypreng Sagigilid” naman ang drama ng buhay mo .ikaw ang taga-sundo at hatid nya tuwing runs… kasama na dun ang pagregister mo ng kit tuwing runs at pagbili ng mga ‘gels” nya. Galit pa sya pag mali ang nabili mong flavour…pero at least pumodium ka sa kanya….
9. Ms.” Base ka ba? Magaling ako sa agawang base”- Ito ang pinakadelikadong uri ng babaeng runner… Medyo may pagka “stalker” ang dating… Wala syang paki-alam maski sabihin mong “taken” ka na. at kung sa maisipan mong makipag-break sa current mo… paglapit mo sa kanya ayaw nya na rin sayo… hahanap na sya ng ibang “challenge”…
10. Ms. Sunblock- Madali marecognize ang ganitong tipo… Ito ang runner na kala mo ay espasol sa puti sa starting line dahil sa dami ng sunblock na ipinahid nya sa mukha… pero ang lipstick nya ay kadalasang kulay pula so you will know that umaalembong din sya kahit papaano. Mag-abang sa 200 to 400 meters before the finishline…makikita mo , titigil at mag pe-“freshen up” ang ganitong tipo before crossing the line.
11. Ms. Naruto- Mas higher ang level ng pagka bampira kesa kay Ms. Sunblock ika nga…Marahil during the run ay hindi mo mae-enjoy ang ganitong tipo ng runner pag ka-pace mo sya. Ito ay balot na balot na parang “ninja” kung tumatakbo. Swerte ka na kung maaninag mo ang kanyang mga daliri pero kadalasan ay may nail polish din ito…Kung wala ay baka pagkamalan pa na lalake ang pine-pace mo ….Ang positive side nito ay after the run sa mga group picture, lahat kayo baluga… sya lang ang maputi at maganda…at na- pace mo sya!!!! IKAW NA! BOY NEGRO!!!
12. Ms.I’m Sexy and you know it runner- Patay ka sa GF mo or sa kumander mo pag nakita kang kasama mo ito sa mga runs… at pag na-add mo ito sa FB sigurado ay away…. Ang concept nya ng “running attire” ay mas nababagay sa “lingerie” or “underwear “ garments kesa sa sports attire ng Sarah Lee catalogue magazine … wala halos pagkakaiba… talaga naman luluwa… ang mga mata mo… Kung wala kang GF oK lang… pero kung meron… THY KINGDOM COME ang aabutin mo!!! Mag isip muna…masakit magkalatay…

RUNNING THE LONGEST STREET PARTY EVER ( My 2012 BDM160 Experience )PART 2

To Finisher #21,

 “I wasn’t around to see you kicked off at the starting line, but as I promise, I was there to see you crossed km 102, I saw you almost limping in terrible pain and you still have 58 more kilometers to go! I knew then, you would be running with your heart! You said I am the only person who could decide if you must DNF but yeah right, no one could make you come to halt, at that point in time….” – excerpts from NOTES OF A PACER @ BDM 160 (Jan. 28-29, 2012) Pacer of Bib# 60

There are times in your life where hard work just doesn’t cut it…. When WILL POWER isn’t just quite enough; And the travails of the race requires a higher octane… Where the inevitable overcomes the will… Stripping it down to your core…

This is a story of one of those times…

I would begin my story 2 weeks before D-day of BDM160. As I was preparing myself mentally and physically for my greatest race of my life when lady luck turned its back on me…  I was doing the Cebu Marathon when at km 36, I landed my right foot on a crack on the pavement that resulted into a minor sprain…So I thought… I never made a big deal about it but since my scheduled physical examination was up I had it checked. Then, the results came in a week that devastated me… That minor sprain was in fact a recurring injury that I delevoped over the months of training I did or rather when I was still fat… a hairline fracture in my ankle… I could almost breath the air of competition only to be crushed by a serious ankle injury… My doctor advised me not to run… That hurt a lot… emotionally….

Cebu Marathon 2012

I was overtrained…

But I was determined to race…This was my stubborn side talking…I never told anyone nor uttered a word of my injury until the final meeting of my support crew a few days before the race… I figured that they should know and I told them only KC can decide if I am to DNF or not… I trusted her more than myself…

With all the burden of expectation from friends and family  for me to race I had no choice but to push through(again, this is my stubborn side thinking) The original plan to run a sub 22 hours to finish was just a bleak  memory now… So I adjusted my pace plan to a sub 24 hours I remembered my last long run that I covered 136km in 19 hours without support so I thought I could do this…   Mental toughness,the ability to endure pain and suffering and more importantly my heart will be my strength at the starting line…

But the thought of my injury kept haunting me like an 800 pound gorilla behind my back. I said to myself I would be like racing blind… I don’t know what to expect… I couldn’t sleep for 3 days prior to race day…

BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER…

I know that every single moment that my mind was restless… my body will surely be restless too…  It always comes back to take what it gives… It will bite you in the head…

ROAD TO GROUND ZERO

Team KB was divided into 4 groups. My home team HBK ( Ate Glo, Phoebe, Beth, Zarina, Dyep, Aileen, Micky, Leo, Mona, together with friends Tita Susan and Jixee was sub-divided into 3 support vehicles while  another close friends of mine the OK OK Runners Ate Annaly, Otek, Enrique,Jsin, Phillip and Edrick Would be the last group.

Team HBK would bunk it out , rest in a place Dyep provided at KM 50 while the OK OK Runners would just meet me at the starting line… Beth , Jixee and KC will just follow at race day at KM 102 pitstop during the race…

Getting ready for the big race

As the time grew near, as we prepare for the race, Dyep and Aileen helped me put on plasters on my right foot. I remember what Aileen said when I was putting on my right shoe… I screamed desperately! I was already in pain even before the race even started.

Aileen: “KUYA, I’m worried… How can you run a 160 kilometer with that foot injury? You are just putting on your shoe and it already hurts?”

I just looked at her and just smirked and said:

KB: “All is good…”

And then she did the nicest thing that made that smirk turn into a smile… She wrote on the plaster that says : “KB, Goodluck!” along with that she drew a smile and a heart then said:

Aileen:  “ We will be there for you in every step you make until you reach the finishline…”

Me with Dyep

BDM Ultrarunners... spoiled to the bone

Hope that would do the trick....

Luck, I'll need all of it...

After that, we were primed and ready… We drove to Mariveles’ starting line for the race to meet up with OK OK Runners who were in-charge of support from KM00 to KM50.

As we were travelling to KM00, I could see the BDM kilometer post as we cruise by each one. I was nostalgic… So many dreams have died on these roads and others realized… Ultrarunners before me have challenged the behemoth . Finding a way to deal to race more than what is expected to because your body is not capable of  going beyond  what you are physically and mentally prepared for… “”Will I be one of those few great men and women who will conquer ?or those who dared but just wasnt enough?” … You cant make a more sharper turn in your life than making it to the finishline…That is why they say it feels the way it does when you do cross it… for some, they do make it look easy… for most… know its anything but easy… You’ll have to go through heat, humidity and hell to get there… This is a magical place for anyone who dared to commit to a dream and dared to go forth

Ground Zero

How many of us can truly treasure the experience of a  single day that does not involve a birth or marriage that is so special, that you remember each moment vividly in your mind… a start of something so profound it shakes you to the bone… For 78 runners, this day is as astonishing as it was just being there at the starting line. The road to immortality starts now…

Everyone was there…the who’s who of our running community… The legends… soon to be legends… our idols… and elites were all lined up at the KM00 BDM post… Truly a magnificent sight…

All confident… All dialed in…

Happy faces at KM00

Sleepy head already...

KB @KM 00

But the first sign of trouble came from a phone call… as if lack of sleep and a fractured right foot wasn’t enough to start with, Otek, the team leader of OK OK Runners for my support from KM00 to KM50 delivered me the bad news… They had a flat tire and was stuck in Mexico Pampanga but assured me that they will follow and will just be late for a couple of hours. I just said “It’s ok…(no pun intended) I can manage the first 30km… just get here safely…”  

So the cow bell rang signaling the start of the race of our lives… the race is on… each man takes a measure of the other…

KM 00-KM21 (The building up of a monster that wants to destroy what I’ve built)

So I ran… I did what I have done last year… The road was familiar now… but this time I ran much wiser and much careful not to burn-out early in the race… I paced with the legend Victor Ting for the first 4 kilometers but I had a much faster pace and lost him at the steep incline until km 10 where its flat… I saw a number of support vehicles who cheered for every runner that passes… The longest street party ever had just began….

The legendary Victor Ting in the middle with another legend Ben Gaetos

But at KM 15, I felt so sleepy…slowed down a bit… those caffeine shots and chocolates before I left our resting point(Dyep’s house) Did not work at all in fact gave me a bad stomach instead… I know it was a band-aid solution at that time but I had to do something to keep me awake… I know this was inevitable…but it never crossed my mind that this will come this early in the race…The MONSTER …The fear of not being able to finish the race has daunted me….and it is gearing its ugly head behind my back to soon…

But that was the least of my worries at that time… I was being careful about my stride not to put much weight on my right foot because of my injury. So I shifted the weight of my body to my left foot and run somewhat unorthodoxly…

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES

Near the KM18 post, I noticed at a distance a couple of cheerers and supporters doing a song and dance number what seemed to be a Hawaiian “Hula” dance… as I approached them, It was my OK OK Runners  support! I was elated! Now I have proper support … They all cheered for me and Ate Annaly was even shouting:  “KC will be waiting for you at KM102 so you better not keep her waiting!!!”

This gave me strength to push….

OK na OK

na ok

THE MONSTER THAT WON’T GO AWAY… AND BROUGHT FRIENDS

After that funny moment it got serious… way serious…. Although I have my support with me already, my clothes, socks and shoes was at  the HBK support vehicle in which Dyep and Aileen needed  to hook up with the OK OK Runners to give my stuff… I ran patiently and waited for the hook up and  managed to retain my pace… controlled …  but I was not used on putting the whole weight of my body into my right leg .This resulted to a blister on my left foot the size of a small tomato. Just like a tomato, It was juicy and bloody red…. And when I changed socks, It was all too visual…

Ouch!

Ouch again...

To make matters worse, the lack of sleep was getting the better of me… I became drowsy and grumpy…

Antok pa....

I was having one of those days where you think you are not running fast enough and you think of quitting but at the back of your mind a voice keeps telling you that you are already in the race and there is no quitting… Just tough it out and see where it gets me

rare moment.... KB all smile... no smirk...:D

salt... ultrarunner's best friend

Smile kunwari pero masakit na...

KM22 –KM 50

To finish a race this hard you need everything to go your way and on that day, it’s not happening for me… In fact, it was going the other way… I tried to consume as much sugar and carbs as I can to help keep me running and awake but resulted only from bad stomach to worst… From KM 22 to KM 40 I had 4 CR breaks that I reckon was a loss of a 40minute time…

My stomach finally improved at KM41 where I picked up the pace… Strategy played a tug-of-war on how I felt then and how hard I need to push for lost time on the first 50km… Still I was determined to put up a fight…

hmmmp....

Ooops... May camera pala kailangan ko mag smile....

At KM 50, I was so glad to see my Team HBK… The first thing that I uttered to them was “Tell KC I’m ok… she need not to worry… I can do this” Then had a short 15minute break to eat my lunch, changed socks(which I do every 20km) and went back running.

Where's my lunch?

Enrique was drumming up a beat

50km to 102 (The Takedown)

Every shuffle puts pain in my right foot the moment I hit the road… This was the hottest part of the race. The drizzling rain had stopped and the sun is at its peak. It’s not just my lungs that are burning… My feet  was on fire as well…  Burning in my shoes…  My right foot was in severe pain again after running about 5km more so had to powerwalk  once in a while.  I am still battling the urge to fall asleep and leg cramps now was the primary concern.

A little to the right please...

There are no sure things in Ultraruns…  When things just don’t go your way, you just have to gut it out and survive… At km 80 my body at that time was beginning to show signs of serious fatigue…

May sumusunod pa ba?

refreshing

push it real good

"Why am I doing this?"

Yup, no MMDA in sight... KB is half naked again...

My support crew HBK was my savior at that stage of the race… Motivating me to keep on pushing and provided me with the will to run… They were so efficient … like an F1 pit crew they move in synchronized fashion .They really know their business. At that point in time, I realized something… Then I realized BDM 160 isn’t really an individual race… It’s a family sacrifice… and each one will share the memories… For letting me complete something that I can share to them right now they might havent realize it yet… but one day… one day it will be soon be crystal clear…

BDM Support: What their friends think they do....

What their parents think they do...

What society thinks they do...

What they think they do....

What they actually do....

and do....

and do....

and do.... (just kidding guys! )

At KM 90, It was cold now since night has started but I was trying to cool down a overheating motor… My body was beginning to take its toll… I could feel it… I was beginning to feel feverish and my feet hurt like hell from blisters and injury but still pushed hard… It was all part of one energy calculation how much do you want to have left after KM102 pitstop…  But at that moment, all I wanted was to see her waiting for me at 102…

And then like a surreal dream, I heard a familiar voice screaming… and at a distance I saw a car pulled at the right side of the road and a shadow appeared… I thought I was hallucinating… But as the shadow becomes clearer into a figure…. It was her!!!…. Jumping out of the car then she ran towards me and gave me a kiss… I sighed… I was relieved… people around us became ecstatic and started clapping… I just whispered to her “ I love you…”  and gave her a hug… and then she said” I love you too…You can do it… I believe in you…a couple of kilometers more…”

The doubt of what I was then is now gone. I ran passing through 3 runners … It got my second wind… Although I felt so sleepy and tired and my whole body at that time was beginning to crumble … I still managed to dig a little deeper and reached KM102… Finally….Now, the end game starts…

THE ROAD TO PERDITION (KM103-KM150)

When you reach your limit you try to figure out a way to get around it and succeed. I was successful  in reaching KM 102 despite the injuries and mishaps that transpired… It was hard… I was not in my best shape to start with… but still, the fighter in me wouldn’t throw in the towel as well…. Played hard-ball with my body and won… but the big unknown is still yet to be conquered… I still need to do 58 kilometers to reach Capas, Tarlac… I was in no shape to run already but I never uttered a word or showed them signs of giving-up… I showed courage under fire for them to not lose hope and in return would give me the will to finish the race… But I was beginning to doubt myself at that point..

“How much can my body take of this beating before it breaks down completely?”  I was beginning to worry…

As I enter the most pivotal part of the race, I was having doubts if my legs could survive another 58 kilometers… I started walking… not power walk nor brisk walk.. Just a slow walk… Tita Susan who was my first 10km pacer was ready but I couldn’t run… I just told her I need more time to relax my muscles… Little that she knew that the pain was already excruciating….but I was determined to put up a straight face to them…  I never intended to let them see me weak… I saw a number of runners pass though but that doesn’t matter to me anymore…  The pain was unbearable…

THE SUM OF ALL MY FEARS (The Monster has finally beaten me down…)

My biggest competition at that moment was what my mind and body  was telling my heart…  Every inch of fiber in my body was telling me to stop… My fever was getting worse… I had to wear my jacket just to stop the shivering…  My feat was in a really bad state…  Every 100 meters we would stop and Enrique, one of my crew would massage my legs… My crew decided its best if Enrique would be the pacer since he knows massage therapy that helped me a lot since km50…

We walked … But every step was pain in my legs and feet…  I was like a zombie…. My whole crew never stopped cheering me to go on but I can feel that they are already worried… And at KM105, I stopped and asked them to take off my shoes and check…. I have bruises and blisters on my toes and in the base of my feet… My feet was swollen… They tried to take off the plasters to replace it but the pain of it was just too much for me… I asked them to just put it on top of the other and put back my shoes but there was no way to put my shoes back on… the pain was  too great…

Then a thought came in… Enrique was only wearing slippers at that time. I asked if I could borrow it which he gladly obliged… This solved the problem of the constant pain in my toes… But again… It was a band aid solution….

And then at KM107…. My body finally gave in…

Sometimes, you wonder if there is a hole too deep to climb out of… this was it… I couldn’t feel my legs…  I saw this one coming

I called Beth’s mobile to talk to KC to come back for me… in a short while they came rushing… 

KB: “I couldn’t feel my legs babe… I think this is it…. And I’m too sleepy to go on…”

KC: “ You just rest for a while everything’s gonna be ok…”

When you need it most your body doesn’t match the spirit … I couldn’t look her in the eyes… I don’t want her to see me weak…But I can feel in her voice that that she was already crying… As I laid my head on her lap and rest, holding her hand I wondered… “  I’m beat… My body is not responding anymore… Is it possible that this body can run even further?  Or this is as hard as my body can go?..”  I don’t have the answer and then I dozed off…

After a while I overheard Jixee say “25 minutes is up Mish! You have to wake him up…” and then KC asked for a little more time but Jixee said it would stiffen my legs even more…  So I stood up… remarkably, I could feel my legs back again but still there was agonizing pain….

As I started walking again, I glanced at KC as she was looking at me at by the window of Beth’s car as they pass through me for the next pit stop…  Saw tears in her eyes…

I paused…

took a breather…

then walked again…

walked slowly…

One step in front of the other… Walking turned into small but fast steps… then realized I was running again!!! Every step I took developed pain that was reminiscent… It hurt physically with all that pounding. Pushing myself until there is nothing left. I was stripped to the core but I was silencing all the voices in my head… Everything in my body was telling me to stop but my heart says just keep on going!!! Scrapping the bottom of my soul…. I was exorcising the demon from within…. With a pair of bandaged-slippers…

I’m running with my heart now…. When I reached my pitstop I didn’t even stopped… everyone was surprised that I was still running in a 6 minute per kilometer pace average … This made them flipped out of their feet  and started yelling my name…

After a couple of minutes I saw a runner in front of me… I zeroed in and made the pass… Every kilometer KC would tell me how many meters  the next runner was in front of me… She’s smiling now…Screaming like a little kid… I smiled back… I was digging deep as ever…  I was challenging what is ahead but the clock doesn’t lie… I was running out of time and still there are around 50 kilometers more to cover…

Every runner I see, I look for a weakness… and there it was… a pause… it is that slight pause that I always made the pass…

At around less than 40 kilometers to go, KC decided to pace me… I was still running strong but I was suppressing the voice of doubt which screams as I explore the limits of every part of my body… Sharp rocks pushed through my slippers but I didn’t care… I had to finish what I have started.

“As a pacemaker, I could only do so much. We were running on the side of the road where practically every corner has a sign that says “accident prone area.” Truck, busses, private cars zoomed past before us; I had to be vigilant in keeping us safe from those dangerous vehicles. The road was rough, small sharp rocks were a mess and sand was just everywhere. That made it so hard for you to run since your feet were wrapped with tape, wearing slippers”  - excerpts from NOTES OF A PACER @ BDM 160 (Jan. 28-29, 2012) Pacer of Bib# 60

 

She kept encouraging me to run… passing a couple of more runners along the stretch…  My body was breaking up again but still, she wouldn’t let me quit… It was a magical moment for us that I would forever cherish

THE LAST 10 KM TO THE FINISHLINE

When we reach Capas, Tarlac I was disoriented…  My timex GPS watch was not accurately showing the correct distance because it was reset at the mad scuffle at KM120. No one in my team could actually tell what kilometer we were…  When we reached the grand Obelisk , Someone told us its about  5 kilometers more before the turn around which is  uphill  then back  the finishline… I couldn’t believe it! I thought we were already there… more or so I just wished…  I was already limping and wanted to rest again but she wouldn’t let me. She kept telling me to never stop and the finish line was just a couple of kilometers more…  I felt that I didn’t have anything more to give since my feet was in a horrific state because of the sharps rocks that gutted me on that mad rush to Capas…  We passed a couple of more runners until we reached the turnaround point… 5 kilometers to go…

So we ran again running about 3 kilometers more… passing yet another runner… This is it I said… the epic battle was about to end…

“But really, I didn’t know why I slowed down, and when you asked me why, I said it was your moment and I will just follow. I couldn’t really tell you what’s on my mind because I was awestruck as we near the obelisk. I was processing the whole experience that’s too hard to even grasp. I felt all your pain just by looking at your eyes, down to your feet. Nevertheless, it was your big heart that made all the difference” – excerpts from NOTES OF A PACER @ BDM 160 (Jan. 28-29, 2012) Pacer of Bib# 60

 

At the last 2 kilometers before to the grand Obelisk I said to her “Let finish this!”  My body provides one last dagger of pain to pull away… I literally gritted my teeth  for that last push…

But when I looked back… I saw her pause…

I asked her:

KB: “What’s wrong?”

KC:  “You go ahead… It’s your moment… Leave me behind I’ll just follow…”

KB: “It’s OK… let’s just walk…I promised you I’ll cross that finishline no matter what…despite all of the odds…I value you more than a silver buckle…Let’s cross it together… Yes it’s my moment… and I wanna share it with you…”

As we walked, a number of runners passed us by… but it didn’t matter to me anymore…

 “As we approached the grand obelisk, I couldn’t believe it, the finale was too sweet to fathom. It has shaken everyone’s core beyond doubt and I was in so much awe as I let you crossed the finish line, you conquered the seemingly insurmountable ultra distance, the 160 km, that is, despite all the odds. All that you’ve worked hard for has definitely paid off and yes; the silver buckle’s all yours for the taking. Congratulations, it was a journey I’d forever cherish!” - excerpts from NOTES OF A PACER @ BDM 160 (Jan. 28-29, 2012) Pacer of Bib# 60

Every man has a different definition of winning… For me, knowing that I gave my best and shared it… that’s a victory for me…

We, along with Ate Glo, Dyep, Phoebe,Zarina,Aileen,Micky,Leo,Mona, BoyP, Tita Susan,Otek,Ate Annaly, Enrique,Jsin, Phillip and Edrick and all the people who participated as runners and support crews  are forever bonded for the drama that we shared that fateful  day that we will have forever….

Thank you so much...

So when someone ask me how hard BDM160 was?

I would tell them.. “You have no Idea until you try it yourself…”

It’s not easy to be a member of  BDM160 silver buckle club

If you do get in…. You are a member for life….

RUNNING THE LONGEST STREET PARTY EVER (MY 2012 BDM160KM EXPERIENCE) PART 1

A wise man once said “ Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go”…  T.S. Elliot once uttered those fateful words… Now it’s one of many quotes an Ultramarathoner use to describe the feeling and the “raison d’ etre”  (to be French about it) on running an outrageously long distance covering more than 50kilometers or more… The battle cry of the crazy bunch!

But to put it into perspective, does one really need to run that punishing distance? Pushing the limit of human capacity to endure pain? Are we considered strange and eccentrically challenged individuals to bear such seemingly masochistic pleasure on finishing an Ultramarathon race? Well, to tell you honestly… All I can say is that you’ll never know the feeling unless you try… If that makes me one crazy son of bitch runner out there, be warned…. We are many…. And we are growing like a contagious virus.

BDM160…  A dove tail project of Bald Runner’s dream to have a hundred miler race held here in the Philippines and that of South East Asia. You need to qualify first at BDM102 for you to race here… I heard Sir BR refused some Ironman finishers’ entry because of the fact that it’s a totally different thing… They have to have to qualify too… It’s a different ballgame… It’s like comparing apples to oranges… I’m not saying these in a condescending manner… all I am saying is that the training is different…. Waaaaay different…  It’s has their own distinctive discipline altogether. Not unless your name is WILNAR…

But one thing is for sure in BDM160….  It is one hell of a bad ass event where a runner and also his/her crew will be tested…  Throw in the pain, anxiety, lack of sleep, crankiness etc, of both the runner and crew… Peg it in 30hours and you will experience all the Love, Drama, Suspense, Action and Comedy in life that you never experienced before….  Someone coined BDM160 as the longest street party there is in the land simply because it’s a party that is  stretched from Mariveles Bataan  to Capas, Tarlac where people(support crews) leap-frog from kilometer to kilometer to cheer and support not only their bets but all the runners. The level of camaraderie and compassion of each crew is truly remarkable… A hundred and sixty kilometer stretch… Imagine how long it is…. This is what makes BDM ultramarathon a class of its own.

And here is my story….

THE ROAD TO IMMORTALITY (THE PURSUIT FOR THE SHINY SILVER BUCKLE)

The lure of the silver buckle... Nice and shiny...

After finishing BDM102 last March of 2011, only one thing was on my mind… The next big thing… I survived BDM102 so I am qualified to be invited by BaldRunner to run BDM160! The invitation wouldn’t come until the latter months of 2011 but still, I was eager to put my name on the intention list…  I thought that it is best to train early. So May 2011, fully recovered, I ran a 98km UP to Alabang then back to UP stand alone long run. It covered all Adination of Runners(aNR, Adidas sponsored running groups) headquarters (meeting place) from aNR UP to aNR Tiendesitas, aNR Ortigas, aNR BHS, aNR Alabang aNR MOA and aNR Ayala then back to aNR UP. I started at 3am and finished around 7pm took me 16 hours and 4 minutes…  A combination of sorts running, power walking (a really good technique for ultramarathons), taking photos, heat training, eating while walking everything!

Ikutin ba ang Maynila? (Click photos to enlarge)

Start at UP

aNR Tiendesitas HQ

aNR Ortigas HQ

aNR BHS HQ

aNR Alabang HQ

a little side trip to aNR Pasay (Just kidding)

aNR MOA HQ haylab team boring sign!

My Timex TGT before the battery went dead... It stopped at KM60 so 60+10+20+8 = 98KM in 16 hrs and 4 minutes

aNR Ayala HQ

Back to UP Mother base!

Now, since my training for BDM102, I was never a fan of power gels. I noticed something peculiar on using them on my long runs. It gets you bloated easily. I tried it and was hooked to it like any newbie runner before… On marathon distances I think it’s ok but for Ultras? Definitely a  NO NO! Simply put it this way… Have you experienced using such gels that you can only take around 6 packets max? After running a marathon you can’t eat solid food? You feel full even though you think you’re hungry? Well, the instruction says that you need to take one 15 minutes before the race and take again every 45minutes… so if you compute how much you’ll consume in a marathon distance, 4 to 6 packets to finish a marathon in a normal non-mamaw (elite) pace which is around 4 to 5 hours.

In ultra races notably BDM races, 4 to 5 hours is just like you are just starting and you have a long way to go! And the key to ultra races is constant carbohydrate intake. Simple carbs which your body can absorb quickly every hour.  If you use gels you will be most likely to be bloated and feel full and cannot eat other foods which is critical in the last kilometers of the race and worst, you’ll vomit and feel weak…  So, stick to natural foods if you ask me…

Eating anything natural on the streets...

Yummy!

watermelon makes you smile....

and go crazy....

What? I'm an ultra marathoner... I can eat whatever I want....

Anyways, after that run I was regularly running longer distances for the months to come … I was raking up good mileage. My weekly runs would be 160+km per week… On a typical week, on Mondays I would run 50-60km. Rest on Tuesdays… Do a 50-60km again on Thursdays, rest again on Fridays, then on weekends,I would do another long run or  I race… had to ditch my regular weight training because of time constraints…  I was trying to accustom my legs (muscle memory) to take the beating of constant running… The goal was to do back to back long distance running at month’s end starting at 50km then increase 10 km every 3 weeks or so depending on how my body will react. I always run alone but are instances where fellow group members (HBK & Friends) would  join me.

I always train alone...

But sometimes... An angel would accompany me....

The quest for the elusive bulalo Luneta to Tagaytay

We are strong ! nothing can stop us... even if it rains...

malamig pala hehehehe....

Macaulay Cultkin moment

Bioman moment

Calling my mommy moment

 

I would run wherever my legs would take me…  For uphill training I would go to Antipolo but still my regular run would still be UP to C5 Resorts World and back… I always make it a point to not to do it one way and always run back where I started simply because I noticed I was beginning to have more endurance and power on the  last 20km…  I reckon its only psychological but still was a good improvement.

8 hours and 45 minutes

My 70km run trophy

Little by little I would increase my mileage… Come October,November,I was doing long runs from UP to Tagaytay, UP to Antipolo, or UP to  Cavite… Doing great distances really made me feel better… I went farther and farther and faster and faster…

50km run @ 5 hours 11 minutes

60KM run after an 80KM run 5 hours 23 minutes getting better!!!

25km @ 1:44:59

Kawit Cavite 80km

Back to Kawit Cavite after a few days

UP to Tagaytay 73km (one way)

My Last Longest training run before D-day (UP to Cavite City and back)

A month before the big day, I embarked on a grueling 136km UP Diliman to Cavite City and back to UP final long run… I was psyched! I thought I have to be mentally and physically be prepared before I tackle the monstrous BDM 160 race… I was being optimistic about myself since the long hard training proved to be working as I began to feel that I can really do well at BDM160 come January 28,2012.

Started at 12midnight as usual at UP Oblation. I ate a grand meal the day before so I would have the power to burn… My legs were primed and ready… all was good…. I was in the zone the first 40 Km no troubles whatsoever and managed to reach my turnaround point in the Cavite City arc in about 7 :19am which means I ran 63km in about 7 hours 19 minutes… I was blazing… I  wanted to cover as much land as possible before the sun would burn me down… It did burn me down… because as I went back to UP, I was dehydrated and hungry… running this kind of distance alone without support is quite dangerous. I stopped for a while to eat a hefty breakfast then paced myself a little slower so that I could regain my strength…

63km turnaround point 7hours 19 minutes

A photo of a "babybus" as the locals call it... not allowed in Manila with the big buses because its still a "baby"

half naked guys allowed... nice!

All smiles at MOA... I'm gonna eat again bwahahaha

in Makati after being chased by MMDA's

A runner spotted me and asked for a photo op... Me already!

@ Market Market

Still determined...

offer your "egg" to Sta. Clara for good fortune

The last push (so I thought)

Arrived in UP at 5:53PM

And did another 10km around UP with my trainee Leo

136KM in 19 hours 24 mins would make your feet look like this...

The rundown...(click to enlarge)

After that crazy run, I said to myself I was ready to tackle the beast…  Created a nice video to pump and psyche  myself up….

End of Part 1

Please follow Part 2 of “Running the Longest Street Party Ever(My 2012 BDM 160 experience) to be published in a few days

11 Klase ng mga runners pagdating sa panliligaw…

Runners are natural born lovers.

1. Mr. Elite Runner- Kilala sa running community.Sikat!  Mataas ang confidence level nya pagdating  sa panliligaw. Kaya pag nabasted, bruised ego ang drama. May tendency na mag sour grape at sabihing “ Hay naku, Pinagtripan ko lang naman yan kala mo kung sinong maganda!”
2. Mr. PR-  Pumi-PR sa bilis ng diskarte pagdating sa pambobola ng babae. Isang uri ng runner na kada magkikita kayo sa race eh walang ibang alam na sabihin kundi “Kelan mo ba ko sasagutin? “; “Mahal na kita eh, Mahal mo na rin ba ko?”  Kahit na bago lang kayo magkakilala. Feeling nya sobra tagal na… Eto ang type na dinadaan ka sa pangungulit  para mapabilis ang pag sagot mo.
3. Mr. Hydration – Ito ang tipo ng runner na malaki ang ulo parang may Hydrocephalus sa laki ng ulo. Ubod ng kayabangan. Dadaanin ka sa mga “Highfaluting” words na feeling mo napaka smart nya. Linya nya ang mga katagang “  Sagutin mo lang ako, ibibigay ko sayo lahat, lahat ng magustuhan mo. Kahit ang mga bituin at araw…” Pesteng yawa ka kapag nagpauto ka. Dahil pag sinagot mo yan. Makakalimutan nya ang mga linyang yan.
4. Mr. Pacer- Ito ang stalker na runner  type na laging nakiki-pace sayo tuwing runs. Lagi syang  nag-aabang sayo at sumusulpot na lang bigla na parang ninja sa starting line. Maski sa Facebook lagi sya nagla-like sa mga post mo at nagsusulat sa wall mo. lagi rin sya nagtatanong kung kelan ang next run mo. Ito ang klase ng manliligaw na pagkahiwalay nyo sisimulan ka sa text or sa FB message ng “Ang bilis mo kanina galing congrats!!” At pag nagreply ka ay babanat na follow up question na  “Kumain ka naba?” at susundan pa ng “Nasan ka ngayon? “ “Sinong kasama mo?” “kakatapos ko lang maligo eh ikaw?” maski hindi mo tinatanong. At kung ano-ano pa tungkol sa daily activities mo na kailangan nya malaman.
5. Mr. Runner Sweet Lover– Dadaanin ka sa mga pambobola at matatamis na salita. Parang si Mr. Hydration  din kaya lang mas matindi kung mang-uto… Ang tipo nito ay may mga ganitong banat… “ Ang ganda-ganda ng mga mata mo…” “ Ang lambot ng mga kamay mo..” “Alam mo cute ka pa din maski pawisan ka na… “I bet mabango ka pa din…” at iba pang pang uuto para mapasagot ka.
6. Mr. Support  Crew- Ito ang pinaka nakakatuwang manliligaw. Kasi payag siyang magpaalipin na parang support crew mo sa mga ultra-runs mo. utusan baga… Taga-bitbit ng bag mo at running shoes mo pagkatapos mo tumakbo maski ng mga kaibigan mo ok lang sa kanya. Pwede nyang labhan maski ang amuy pawis mong singlet at medyas. Ikatutuwa nya pa ito. Nagpapakitang gilas kung baga… Pero pag sinagot mo na, babawi yan for sure….
7. Mr. LSD – Motto nya ang “ Action speaks louder than words”. Wala kang kaalam alam na nanliligaw nap ala. Kaya pala ang bait bait nya sayo. Eh ang akala mo mabait lang talaga.
8. Mr. Multisport – Pag binasted mo ang ganitong type ng runner ay asahan mo bukas ay may nililigawan na syang iba… Multisport kung baga. Palipat lipat ng discipline… At eto pa ang matindi! Hinding hindi ka na nya papansinin. Period…
9. Mr. Never Quit Runner- Siya ang pinakamasugid mong manliligaw. Kahit 100 times mo sabihinn na ayaw mo sa kanya at wala na syang pag-asa. Ang sasabihin pa rin nya ay “ Sa race nga di ako nag di-dnf eh, sayo pa…?”
10. Mr. Kumikeybi- Jologs sa pamamaraan ng panliligaw.Lagi ka nyang isu-surprise at todo effort para bulilib ka. Maari nyang punuin ang kotse mo ng “post it” kung gaano sya patay na patay sayo at iba pang “KB moves”na di ginagawa ng matinong tao..Pero  madalas magpakilig ng mga nililigawan nya. Mag- Ingat sa ganito type… Extremely dangerous…
    

    kumikeybi

    

    

11. Mr. Jumijixee- Dating kilalang babaero… na nagbago dahil takot  magkalatay. Dadaanin ka sa abs para maglaway ka…. Pumopodium pag dating sa diskarte sa pambobola. May nalalaman pa syang secret language sa mga post nya sa FB tulad ng “ILYSM” na kala mo ang meaning ay “I love You So Much” na ang totoong meaning pala ay “ Ikaw Lagi , Yari Sa Matinik

wagas!

At eto ang 2011 na pinakamatitikas na lalake sa larangan ng takbuhan sa balat ng tinalupan…

Making Great things happen( My BDM102KM experience)Part 2

March 5^th 2011… At dawn…. My mind was  restless… But had to shut my eyes… wide shut… Need to sleep for a couple of hours more… After a couple of minutes, opened my eyes again… Seeing uncharacteristic shadows seemingly hovering over my bed… ambient light glaring through my window trying to keep insanity astray… One question lingers through my mind… “AM I really that READY…?” A question I asked myself almost a hundred times before I went to bed… I decided to sleep on it and hoped that when I wake up the next morning, I’ll have a clear answer to most troublesome question that is putting my mind into perturbation. But neither sleep nor a clear answer was at bay…  Excited? Perhaps… Worried ? Yes, but not scared… Just like all important races I’ve done in the past year…. I always encounter trouble in sleeping before a big race…

March 5^th 2011…   The day of reckoning… For those runners who are aspiring to be called “Ultramarathoners” in the much coveted, highly praised, no frills, no non-sense pure hardcore  Ultramarathon race in the country today… THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH 102KM Ultramarathon race. The one that started it all…. A race where only the strong survives… a race which test one’s ability to conquer unimaginable odds and pushing the human body to its toll… No whiners are allowed here… only the brave and bold…. No Ultramathoner can proudly say that he is one if he hasn’t finished the BDM102. This is simply the mother lode of Philippine Ultramarathon running. There are maybe other longer races that will pop out in the future but BDM 102KM will still be  KING of the hill.

March 5^th 2011… At the break of sunlight… Alarm just went off and I had to get up and eat my scheduled breakfast. No kamote this time… I ate a glorious meal, bacon and egg and loads of rye bread with my usual whey protein drink. While I was eating my breakfast , I thought came into mind… Last year, I was fat bastard.. weighing 238lbs, the only concern in my mind then  were drinking booze, where to party next, and lechon now, I can’t seem to fathom the fact that I am now anxiously worried on finishing a freaking ultramarathon!!! I keep telling my self “ You came a long long way KB… You have accomplished a lot in less than a year…You’ve lost 90lbs in less than 7 months… You can do this!!! ” I have transformed my life from a sedentary lifestyle to an active and more meaningful purpose… I remembered how I was heckled, joked upon and ridiculed for being fat   and now, my mother didn’t even recognized me. I literally shed off my old self.. Then it just struck me.. Ready or not I have to do it… I HAVE TO BE READY… I’ve trained so hard for this day and no one can take it away from me. March 5,2011 is my anniversary run. This day will be a day of rebirth… But still, anxiety kept on haunting me… I haven’t heard of anyone for that matter who has less than a year into running and would be crazy enough to run the BDM 102KM and let alone finish it.   I mean, this is not peewee league any more, this is the Majors so to speak. Most of the names on the qualifying list are seasoned and veteran runners who have years of running experience. But crazy as it may seem, I always believed that I can surprise myself… Yes, I am crazy… but I am also determined….

EN ROUTE TO THE STARTING LINE    Team KB main support met at TRINOMA mall at exactly 1pm. We are to rendezvous with my 2 other support team at my gym at 3pm took off to Bataan at half past three. Since I was restless since I woke up that morning, I asked Allan(42@forty) if I could drive in which he reluctantly agreed. Jokes on FB was the topic on the long ride to the starting point since there were constant updates of runners via FB and twitter like the one I clearly remembered from  Julie Rodulfo, The girlfriend of my fellow BDM contender Jason Masayon which she incessantly updates on FB her boyfriend’s every move saying that their runner ate a banana, then ate adobo, took a shower, already sleeping… All Allan(42@forty) could throw back on our end was “all runners for BDM102 are now resting… ours is still driving…” When we reached KM 00 (starting line), there was a sense of seriousness among the faces of the runners… Although there were a number of people taking photos at the KM 00 post and your usual “meet and greet” and exchange of respect among runners you could see deep in their eyes that each and every runner are sizing up the competition. There was an eerie feeling like a blood thirsty wolf watching its prey over the horizon. At T-minus 30 minutes the race director called upon all the runners to gather up the starting line and proceeded with the starting ceremony. The Japanese national anthem was sung, next was the American national anthem  which was sung by a American BDM contender and of course the Philippine national anthem. After a few minutes, the cowbell was struck signalling the start of the race of my life…

My team @ a gas station en route to ground zero

Doc Maya busy as a bee

Peeka: "Ate Phoebe, What am I supposed to do? Phoebe: "Just stay there and look cute..." Peeka: "OK... I'll do that..."

                                    

Support vehicles prep and ready!!!

KM 00 to KM 10  At the start, runners were very eager to take the lead seemingly unbothered by the steep hill of the dreaded 7km ascent towards the first allowable pitstop at KM 10. The “usual suspects” , the elites and crowd favourites, Camilla Brooks, Beeps Delos Santos  and other army runners  took the hilly climb like it was cream cheese overtaking all runners and establishing a “lead pack “  for the race. I, on the other hand held a steady 6-7 minute /KM pace and stuck with my game plan as advised by Doc Maya and Phoeb. Prince and Carl was my pace buddies along with fellow HBK DocR at that time but they slowed down around the 5 kilometer mark. When I reached the summit, I saw a number of support vehicles and crowds of supporters all cheering for the runners. It was my first time to experience such feeling and I must admit the feeling was surreal. A wonderful feeling indeed!

KM 10 to KM 20 I was doing a comfortable pace when a familiar voice shouted from behind.. It was Kampuger… alongside with his fellow Team UNGAS member and a good friend Beep Beep. They were in a comfortable pace around 6-7 m/km. The normal musings among old friends ensued…  We were just at the warm-up stage of the race… no need to push… too early….

KM 21 to KM 25 The roads long and wide coupled with occasional dogs and rampaging trucks and buses but we managed to avoid any mishaps. We met the so called  BDM local supporters…bargirls, drunkards and the infamous “local girls” members of the Bataan chapter of the Gay Federation. I don’t know what’s scarier… Being hit by a bus or being chased down by those members…. But If you ask me, I choose the latter. so we ran a 5 min/KM pace… and they followed us for 3km… I was the scapegoat. Kampuger kept on telling them to pace me…. You’ll have your day too my friend….

But the first sign of trouble manifested at KM 23 when I felt the urge to go to the “John” … Steadily pacing with Kampuger and Beep Beep, we were raking up good mileage when Kampuger noticed that I looked pale and suggested I take salts on my next pit stop. Little did he knew that my tummy at that time was experiencing a Che Guevarra/Fidel Castro against Batista revolution of sorts….I thought I could contain myself until I reach my support crew that was waiting for me at KM 26 and let them find for me a good place to “relieve” myself but the “revolution” was acting up big time!!I couldn’t run properly since I was trying to retain my composure. My support crew was still 3 kilometers away and I could not bear it any longer so I told my pace buddies to go ahead without me and  I looked for a place to “refresh myself” . Luckily, a kind hearted guard in a bread factory agreed to let me use their comfort room. It took me 16 minutes to regain  myself but at that time, my pace buddies Kampuger, Beep Beep and one Fairview guy runner was about 3 kilometers away already. Shoot!

KM 26 to KM 40 After that seemingly embarrassing call of nature I reached my support crew at KM 26. I could by the look in their eyes that they were a little bit alarmed and saddened since I was left behind tremendously. Doc MAYA (as usual) was vocal about it. She said about 20 runners overtook me with the likes of Tin Ferrera, Victor Ting among others but still encouraged me to run. Although she was sweet when she said that the night is still young and it’s still a long race but I have to move my butt since I need to recover the lost time. So I ran… Picking up the pace this time so I could catch up. Along the road, I met up with TEAM KAMOTE’s lovely duo Sheryl Quimosing and Lori Llamado who both gave me a big wet kiss in the cheeks and profusely offered me some snacks and electrolyte drinks. They were supporting BoyP and we were just about 500 meters away. I told them the kiss was more than enough to boost my morale. I thanked them for their generous kisses and hurriedly ran again. After a couple of kilometres more, I managed to catch up with a familiar soul… It was McCoy Lontoc (Team Boring). He was strong! Braving the uneven terrain even running the uphills. We were playing “catch –up” for a couple of kilometres when I noticed that he changed his running style… He was limping and dramatically slowed down. I think he sprained his foot on one of the uneven surfaces. As a sign of respect, I wished him good luck and ran ahead of him.

KM 41 to KM 50 Alas!!! My team was ecstatic since I was slowly regaining my lost time and overtook a couple more runners… We were back in business. The careful planning really paid off since the synchronized pitstops and nutrition and changing of socks was so efficiently done that I managed  to catch up with Kampuger and Beep Beep at Kilometer 41. I guess half of the race can be won by a good support crew not just the runner alone. So true. When I reached my old pace buddies, Kampuger suggested that we pace together until the the end and do the Galloway method. Honestly, I was never a fan of the Galloway method but as a sign of respect to my comrades, I agreed… This agreement caused dire effects between me and my crew especially Doc Maya who was shocked to find out I’m doing Galloway, She mocked me by saying “ My runner turned into a walker”, “I’ll punch your face” since we were slowly being overtaken again by a couple of more runners. We managed to reach KM 50 in less than 6 hours which was still considerably strong.

Doc Maya's famous lines.... "My Runner turned into a walker... I'll punch your face!"

 

Pasyal pasyal

  KM 51 to KM 60   Doc Maya was getting furious at me by her constant nagging since the original plan wasn’t followed but I didn’t utter a word. I followed the plan and changed wardrobe and socks to make me feel “refreshed” and waited for my pace buddies…  Salt and Carb intake was still strictly followed as per advise by my tactician Phoebe… and so we ran again … Just a simple advise to those who want to join BDM races… Strictly follow your battle plan… Put everything in note…  Like when to take your breaks,when to take your salt and carbs etc. Because when your running, you will definitely or most likely forget all of these things… get someone on your crew to think for you…

"Wag dyan... may kiliti ako dyan"

KM 61 to KM 95The morning sun was at bay but most of the runners were still strong although we managed to get a 4km lead from the next pack of runners behind us…. at KM 70 we stopped and ate our breakfast… After eating  for about 20 minutes we ran again but this time after a few kilometers Kampuger’s ITBS injury started to show its ugly face so it slowed us down a bit… I was feeling good and rested, we were taking too making stop-overs and taking pictures  and Maya’s rumblings made me decide to go ahead and run ahead of them. So at KM 65, I ran and tried to cover lost time… I was shocked that I was still running at a pace of 5:30- 6:00 m/km. Maybe I was so determined to finish the race and the fact that I was rejuvenated with what I ate….

At this time also, my back-up Pompom girls arrived! I was so elated to see them I managed to give them a kiss! They were cheering me with their pompoms. It was really a sight for sore eyes!

My very own pompom girls!

A picture that paints a thousand words....

still strong!

KB... smirking...

at KM73, At this time with the sun’s scorching heat made all runner’s walk more than run… Since the road was straight, I can see which runner was ahead of me from a distance of a kilometer…. What I did to cover ground was run if they are running and when I see them walking I would run a little more then stop. I would do this patiently until I reach them and when I’m near I would wait for them to walk then run right pass them… I overtook them and run a kilometer before I stop again. It’s a mind game I tell you… I managed to catch up around 15 runners using that technique…. My crew was athrill because of the improvement of my pace… They were all smiling especially Doc Maya which made me feel more stronger… At the KM 90 pitstop my crew hurriedly changed my gear and water bottles… I was taken aback with the sudden rush and initiative and then Phoebe said “You’ve managed to reach the lead pack!!! Go! don’t stop now! Beeps is just around the corner!!! Go Go Go! ” I was in shock! Never thought I could still reach the elites! I hurriedly went off and saw at the corner of the gas station I saw Beeps! He was still strong and running a good pace….

KM 96 to KM 100 This was the most memorable time of the race for me… Beeps and I were head to head! The support crews were all at their feet cheering for their runners… And the pitstop at this level of the race was pegged per kilometer since the runners are already exhausted…  Beeps’ support crew and mine kept on leap-frogging on each other… At one point I’ll be ahead of Beeps then at one point still, Beeps would be in the lead. This has gone on for 4 kilometers but at my km100 pitstop,  One of my crews spilt  cold water  in my left  thigh that made my muscles hard thus muscle cramps ensued… I could not run… I walked and Beeps overtook me and saw him fade away from the distance… Oh well, its was a nice fight to the finish but Beeps was formidable opponent.. I respect him. He was stronger and had a bigger heart than me…

ouch!

konti na lang KB!

Never underestimate the power of Evian to cool you off

Hershey's syrup... Yummy!!!

KM 101 to the FINISH LINE   The last 2 kilometers was all fun… I brushed off my competitive side and thanked my support crew for a job well done… at KM 101 pitstop, We were all smiling and happy for what we have accomplished on that day…. It was an experience indeed… Both runner and support crews… a test of one’s ability to conquer and a test of true friendship… BDM102 will be forever etched in my heart… A memory of which I was able to run with  the finest men and women in our running community…. In reflect, Believing in oneself to conquer the odds and persevere no matter how hard life throws at you… It made me stronger… wiser… and finally able to gain my self respect back… From a fat,tubby 238 pounder happy -go- lucky guy and in a year of running … How much can change … I can honestly say… I came a long way…. 102km that is….. Making Great Things Happen… In a magnificent way…. Congratulations to all Finishers!! Next stop BDM160! The road to immortality… KB

at last!!!!

Team KB cheering at the finishline

Proud and Happy

Making great things happen…My BDM 102 experience (Part 1)

After my first marathon at the 2nd Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM)  held last December 5,2010 I was looking for a new challenge… So I thought since I am still training hard and doing outrageous long runs, (about 30km a day on weekdays) I contemplated on joining BaldRunner’s much coveted Bataan Death March 102KM Ultramarathon. I thought it would be nice to own a Kilometer Post trophy and be included in the roster of great ultramarathoners in the running community.Hey, its kinda cool!  I reckon….

But at the back of my mind, I was saying to myself… “Hey, This is way serious stuff …. 102km is no joke!!!”  ”This is no cake walk(run) so to speak” “You wanna die KB?”  All this negative notions kept on circling in my head but the lure of a great challenge is upon me I guess, so  I have to do it  ”How hard can it be? that’s what I always say…” After much ado, I declared my willingness to join the BDM102. I posted my details in BR’s blog and praytell that I had the guts to finish it...

But at that time, I had no idea on ultramarathon running,a propos…  on how to do it… No idea on support crews, nutrition, training plans, you name it! I don’t know shit! All I know at that time is that I have to train harder… run longer distances and longer hours… build up the mileage! thats my training plan. worry about other things when push comes to shove… Well, I have my lucky charm with me My ever faithful Doctor MAYA PELAYO!!!

My "lucky charm"

TEAM KB

Doc Maya of course was the first one on board.She will be the Head team leader of TEAM KB vehicle no. 1. since she is a certified medical doctor.Although there were talks made from my previous running group HOB to plan to support me but since my fellow HOB Jason Masayon will be joining as well,  I opted to decide that  the whole HOB just to support Jason since I plan to create my own crew. I asked also my good friend Last Man Standing a.k.a 42@forty to be “Man behind the wheel” (Although he became also my FB updater during the race)  and Phoebe Beltran to be the tactician/ navigator /nutritionist/ hydration specialist/pace recorder/secretary and the Castillo couple Noel and Nette who is in charge of  my fashion and running apparels such shoes, wardrobe change and visual gadgets(blinkers and headlights) Noel also is in-charge of documentation(Photographer) and last but not the least, my friendly Kamote Zaldy Santillan who is in-charge of my painkillers, liniments, gauze, straps, and Mueller tapes for those anticipated trying moments he is also in-charge or our main supplies… Alas!… My main support crew is complete!!! TEAM KB Main Support Vehicle no. 1 is now ready…

My team at work... not really...

The crew fixing the BDM tarp

KB SUPPORT VEHICLES NO. 2 and 3 plus KB pompom girls plus plus the HeartBreaker’s support vehicle

Now, since the 3rd BDM102km was my debut for my ultramarathon distance races, with all the overwhelming support I got from family and  friends, I thought I might as well live up to the hype…  I was supposed to get one MB van for the support vehicle but that was scrapped when my “kumpañeros” Atty. Bert Tria, Atty. Sam Laurente and Atty. Jun Bello wanted to support me as well. I decided to go there in style!!! SUV’s all the way! I  brought 3 Toyota Fortuners instead. (Wicked!!) The first one was for my main support crew(Doc Maya crew) The second, for my partners Atty, Bert and Atty Sam who have the secondary supplies(extra water, pocari , softdrinks and food) plus bottles of beer and Johnny Walker Black Label for the after party and the third was driven by Atty Jun and his good wife along with my little sister Peeka and my trainer Dexter Magsino and my gym buddy Marc Orenza.

My pompom girls Beth Rosal, Ate Glo Arbatin and Heartbreaker kid Aileen Roque were to arrive much later… I told them I need to see them at my breakfast at the projected 70KM mark at 7am for my pleasure and enjoyment =D (just kidding) of course for the much needed boost of morale!!! While aNR UP Heartbreaker’s Seevee and Buji Lastimoso along with Marc dizon and Jolo Borja  will arrive at 10am at the finish line to congratulate me. 5 SUV’s all in all !!! talk about supporting in style!!!!

Prep and ready

THE ROAD TO BDM102 (training)

Since I don’t have any knowledge whatsoever on doing an ultramarathon, I consulted the books, the net was full of resources some useful, some full of crap. So, I started training on my own… I didn’t join any test runs that were conducted since I wanted to surprise myself… One thing I know about me is that I’m good at overachieving myself when it comes to difficult situations… I wanted the element of surprise not for my fellow runners but to myself… So I embarked on a every other day long run… I started at 30km…From my house to Eastwood and back then rest and recovery the following day after that I’ll do another 30KM then rest again I will do it for a week then add 10KM  the following week until my heart rate and mind (and legs) becomes accustomed to it. The plan was to run 90km for my training.Week after week the mileage keeps piling up… I felt good… I’m getting better I said to myself…. I ditched my IPod to really focus on mind training (which I found out its waaaay better) on running long distances. On my 3rd week I was running 50km to 60km without feeling any injury or soreness in my legs… Wow! I think I can do this!!!  Thinking aloud…

One of my GPS training logs...

My 50km run in Laiya Batangas

THE DREADED 70KM (Not many people know this)

I was doing good… getting pretty cocky I must say when I was reaching 50km to 60km on my long run training… From my place up to NAIA3 and back (60KM) was pretty decent training for the BDM 102… the Katipunan/ C5 road was my training ground. It has everything to simulate the BDM route. It has hot asphalt, muddy terrain, gravel,dogs,drunkards not to mention the crazy truck drivers that you have to play “Patintero” especially in the Pasig Area (Crazy Sons of bitches). (well I didn’t experienced the crazy drivers at BDM 102) So as my training target goes, I was about to run a 70km on my first week of my second month of training for BDM102…. I remember posting a status message  in my FB that goes “How hard can it be?” so I thought…. I was wrong…. Big time…

On all my training for long runs, I always plan ahead. Planning is a pivotal part of doing good in races… On all of these training, I seldom or never bring a celfone and also, I only bring enough money for my breakfast which is a Php100 pancake breakfast  and a spare change for my pit stops either Jolibee or McDonald’s. Just enough to by myself a couple of softdrinks and ask for sachets of salt since its quite nuisance for them to ask for these if you’re not buying especially if you are ransacking their cold water for your hydration refill and raiding their restrooms. =D The rationale here is that I have to finish my run no matter what happens… To tell you honestly, when you reach 50KM, your mind will play tricks on you… blame it on pure exhaustion or pure starvation. things look funny, I remember passing through a donut stand and it seems like the donuts are talking tome saying “EAT ME!!! EAT ME!!”  Hallucinations at its peak… but aside from that, I never thought that running 70km would have its toll on me… at KM. 63, I was in a bad shape… really… my blisters were all swollen and popped out already… Blood was gushing out of my shoes’s.. I thought at first  its just sweat, but a second look and I know its blood coming out… I can’t feel my feet, my hamstrings are numb, calves aching…. I had to stop… The last 7km was hard. I was at the brink of giving up but I didn’t… I had no choice but to finish it . No money, no celfone… so I walked limping… When I arrived home I can barely get out of my bed… “So this is it…”  I thought to myself…. This is why  The BDM 102 is such a difficult race… your whole body just stops at KM 70….

I contemplated and studied my run through the use of my Timex Global trainer… Heart rates good… the pace was somewhat  easy pace  run but not heavy, elevation is the same… “So what am I doing wrong?”  So after 4 days of rest I tried again… but resulted into another disaster… rested again for 5 days this time but ended up with the same result… at 70km my body just stops… I must be doing something wrong… For almost a month I struggled at KM 70. I cant seem to break pass it… with just almost 3 weeks left before my debut as an ultramarathoner I was getting nervous…real nervous

Then, Rogin E’s Last man Running came… I was advised by Doc Maya that I should taper already but I was determined to break the 70km toll mark that is beginning to be a quandary of sorts for my BDM bid… So I entered Rogin E’s Last Man Running event… Its an endurance race of 7 hours non-stop running. I thought this would be a good avenue to test the 70km dilemma  so I prepared… Changed my nutrition plan,  did a lot of core exercises since its Mckinley Hills I anticipated a lot and I mean a lot of uphills! did a lot of lower back exercises and for endurance…but still in the back of my mind, I don’t know how to  to fix the blisters and worn out feet problem… but still I competed…

feeling matibay pa din... feeling lang...=D

As the saying goes… “You learn through your mistakes… ”  which proved to be the key on surpassing the 70km mark…

I started at my normal race pace thinking that since I will just be running in loops for 7 hours, I can just pass the sweepers in about 2 loops so I can walk and take a break for a couple of minutes or so… but I was fucked!(my mistake really) If you stop, you automatically be out of the race. I was given a warning when the marshal saw me walking. I was arguing at first but when he explained to me the mechanics, I was cursing like hell…

So I changed my plan… after 3 hours of running non-stop, I slowed down… thinking that all I need to do is survive and run for the next 4 hours… I knew I can still survive in the next 2 hours or so but the last 2 hours will be difficult since I knew my feet and body will take its toll… the big question was how can I prevent my feet and legs from being injured from the constant beating it gets from pure asphalt… Had to do something….

By then I suddenly had an idea! why not change from forefoot to midfoot then to healstrike then to quad running to minimize the impact of my feet? Seems to be plausible…

So I tried… every 30 minutes I change my running style. After an hour its seems to work! and I maintained my pace and made even faster!!! So I did that for the rest of the remaining hours changing every now and then… Alas!!! I finished strong!!!

Rogin E's Last Man Running finishers

Now I feel I can take on more then 70km!!!

Funny thing was after 2 days, I was itching to run again… all the soreness of my muscles were gone and my feet seems ok… (Although swimming laps did a great help)I did spinning drills, tried a  plethora of additional plyo-metrics and core workouts in which my trainer was begging me to try out since he was concerned that I haven’t done any leg exercises at the gym.mostly cardio and upper body workouts.I agreed and included it to my concurrent training program.

The next day, I did a test run. 80km this time… I planned my route the night before and advised Maya Pelayo that I’ll be visiting her at the Taguig Hospital for my 40KM turnaround pitstop.(She always checks my blood pressure, monitor my vitals and feeds me in a local carinderia as long as I act as her love-struck suitor just kidding Maya !!!)

Doctor,doctor I am sick... in the head for doing this

I started in UP oblation as I normally do, reached Resorts World within my target pace then went back to UP. Everything was getting along fine. The pain was utterly gone. I Had a IMPRESSIVE  run.

MY LAST 87KM LONG RUN BEFORE D-DAY

I was back on schedule! The last day of training has arrived and I was determined to push myself to the limits of my undaunted challenge. The whimsical feeling of actually finishing what was just a couple of months ago, a fickle of my mind was actually conceivably attainable. A paradisaical thought of owning a kilometer post and placing it in my trophy room  was all I could think of… Nirvana here I come! The master plan to run 90KM at BDM102 and just walk/run the remaining kilometers is really looking good.

Started 2am along with my fellow Bdm102 contender and HeartBreak’eR BoyP. Started in UP oblation (again).we ran a comfortable pace and taking great (more like crazy) pictures along the way…

KB Pose @Taguig

" A little bit more to your left BoyP"

NAIA Terminal 3 Photo OPS

BoyP about to board... A jeepney LOL!

WTF?!!

crazy motorists beware... we have a crazy traffic officer

"Hmmm, Chauffeur late again... "

BoyP had to stop at KM 40 since he earlier told me that he had a prior engagement to attend to… I had to run on my own… I had to finish it. my legs are still OK since I was using a  ”new” type of running style… The sun was unforgiving but who am I to complain?  Crossed city after city then went straight to UP. I was exhausted when I reach KM 70 but still had enough bravado and will to take on another 3 hours of running… I experienced every bit of pain in the last 20KM.. quad running became my saviour…

When I reached UP and finished my crazy long run… I was worn out beyond explanation… I did a 2.2km recovery walk around acad oval for my legs not to go stiff… I was walking like a 90 year-old osteoporosis-stricken man and  every runner was looking at me thinking,wondering what happened to me…. But I didn’t care… None of those mattered to me… Although I looked and walked liked a Zombie in PVZ, There was a silly grin on my face….

a smirk…

I was elated….

I realized…

I AM READY….

End of Part 1

Please follow Part 2 of my blog entry “Making Great Things Happen (Part 2) BDM102km D-Day!!

My first marathon…

“HOW HARD CAN IT BE?”

“The best things in life are free… having this in mind makes you wonder why a little help from friends goes a long way… when you feel like giving up and just try to walk your way through your last kilometer of your first full mary, you see your friends cheering for you in the horizon… cheering for you to give that last push to finish strong and hard. A wonderful feeling indeed that no amount of money can buy…”
- KB

Striking a pose in the QCIM photowall

Today, I finished my first marathon with a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes at the recently concluded Quezon City International Marathon 2. Before, I always thought that on races, finishing it with the least amount of time would be the greatest achievement a runner could ever accomplish… beating PR’s, training hard almost everyday so that on your next race you’re gonna beat the person who smoked you on your last race, pure determination fuels you to attain such feat… I won’t deny it… I AM LIKE THAT… but what I experienced this morning made me realize one important thing… On finishing your first marathon which most of us considers the culmination of one’s running vocation… there are more than just that…
“It is not really important how fast you run… How less time you get to finish a Full Mary compared to the other runners in your age bracket…How you smoked the “other guy”… What makes your first marathon a special one is that when you reach the finish line, you’re friends are there to congratulate you…and tell you did great…How fulfilling that after gruelling 42 kilometers of run, familiar faces are present cheering for you… A WONDERFUL FEELING INDEED…

My HOB family

Posing for a wacky shot after a serious run

what the!!!?

My adversary, Zorro UP who ran a 5k (what a wimp!)

My H.O.B. family may not be considered one of the fastest running groups there is today here in the metro, but we pride ourselves on supporting each other when the time arises. We may have differences, whether it may be in opinions or point of views… May it be personal or matters that involve the heart… But watch out… with this kind of support from each other that we draw our true strength… It’s just a matter of time before we prove to the world that we are force to be reckoned with…
Today, people realized why H.O.B. is different from other running groups….today they realized that H.O.B. is not just a bunch of happy go lucky social runners. Today they envy H.O.B….Today H.O.B. run as one…. “WE RUN AS ONE…”

To my H.O.B. Family, Congratulations to us all and remember this, this is a start of something great for all of us… That’s a promise…

KB

 

December 5, 2010