Running: 34th National Milo Marathon Butuan Elimination Race Review

Kudos to the organizers of the 34th National Milo Marathon Butuan Elimination. 

3.5/5 stars.

Pros:

• Very well organized race without the hoopla
• On time gunstart (for the 21k)
• Lots of water and Gatorade 
• Support crew (ambulance, police) in full view
• Kilometer markers

Cons:

• Abusive drivers on the National Highway
• No bananas, water sprinklers
• No music, festivity-like atmosphere along route
• Water and Gatorade on plastic wrappers, not cups

35, 36...37. My friend and relative, Cheche Pastor Plaza (the running nurse in OR scrubs), counted the total number of 21k runners. Wow, so few runners here! I looked around. Very few indeed. Of the 37, I was the only one in sandals and toe socks being gawked at by fellow 5k, 10k and 21k runners alike. Is this guy, kidding? They seem to say. Of the 37, only 1 was in compression tights and the rest? Well, they were wearing very short split shorts! These were competitive runners and we were mixed in with them!

With the RTC runners
L-R: Nemesio, my dad, Cheche, James and Ronnie

I was running today with Elvin Pastor, also a friend of mine, a cousin of Cheche, who I ran with in the Milo Cebu Elimination last Sept finishing in a blistering 2:04 for his first 21k. This time around, the plan was to pace Cheche all throughout her first half mary and finish within the cut-off time of 2 hours 30 minutes.

The gun started without warning and all 30+ runners were off to fast pace. I was still trying to start the timer on my Garmin when the frontrunners were already 50 meters ahead. Sick pace, I muttered. Spectators stared at us, maybe they were wondering why we were running so slow, if you consider 6:00 mpk slow. We were tempted to race but prudence and a calm head made us linger back to the planned pace. At 6:45 to 7:00 minutes per kilometer, we expected to finish within 2:30.

We unfolded our DOPMH Medics banner. We promised to run today for Dr. Luna, a fellow doctor of DOPMH, who succumbed to heart failure 2 weeks back. This is for you, Tatay, as we fondly call him.

We realized we were at the back of the pack, the nearest participant, a 50-something runner in an all-black attire, a good 30 meters ahead of us. We purposely stayed back of "oldie in blackie" as we had the same pace.

Water and Gatorade were aplenty but the only downside was that they were in plastic wrappers. Drinking from them was like a leap of faith-- Is it hygienic? Safe? Or would you rather be dehydrated?

With Elvin at the Butuan City Police HQ

At the 6k mark, oldie in blackie was slowing down a bit on the inclines so we overtook him and never looked back. 

Cheche, meanwhile, this being her first half mary, was starting to breathe and plod heavily, so I cracked up some jokes with Elvin just to keep her spirits up. I even tried to sing "My Way" and April Boy's "Di ko kayang tanggapin..." but the lyrics were lost on me. Thankfully, nobody was close enough to hear me, "... and did it my way!" It would have been bam, bam! Yikes!

We met the frontrunners at the 8k mark and they were not a happy lot. We tried talking to them, even encouraging them, "Bai, ayos ka!" or "Bai, layo pa ang turning point?" but it seemed that our merry running was confusing them. There they were running until their lungs burst out and there we were laughing our hearts out. The Visayan lingo "dili ma-drawing ilang nawng" suited them perfectly. 

One station had Bon Jovi's "In These Arms" in full blast so I sang along and mimicked striking a guitar to the amusement of the waterboys, medics and spectators. I don't know but I just felt... lightheaded and happy today. There was a slight tinge in my right knee where my ITB (Iliotibial band) was but I realized that when I run with my foot pointed straight, not toed out, the pain disappeared. 

I didn't realize Cheche was already in so much pain from her own ITB. Regretfully, after having lost so much time, she gave up, told us to run ahead as she rode the ambulance. It reminded me so much of my own humbling DNF. So Elvin and I were left to run the rest of the course which was relatively flat with four inclines that slowed you down. The Milo Marathon in Cebu was a race I would not care to remember. The weather was so unforgivable that day that not even water sprinklers could help dissipate the heat. But today, the sun was just right. Perfect for a half marathon.

In all its shining glory: My 2nd Milo 21k Finisher's Medal

Since we were the last 3 runners, me, Elvin and "oldie in blackie" a few kilometers back, an ambulance, a police escort and a mobile water station kept hovering over us, its driver asking, "Kaya pa po, sir?" Haha! Since we were running slow, they must have thought we were ready to give up! Well, not in this life partner.

My dad finishes his 2nd 5k. Not bad for a 66-year old. :)

Elvin and I felt like celebrity. We had police escorts and waterboys handing us Gatorade and water (in plastic, but of course!). Police motorbikes were in full sirens. Yipee! You will find something like this in Cebu if your name was Simon Losiaboi (where is the guy now, by the way?), we thought.

Lots of time, I told Elvin only to realize with a kilometer to go that we were actually 1 minute behind schedule. Arrghhh.... I miscalculated!

Cheche drags her ITBS-sticken L leg

So we picked up our pace, spread our banner once again, got a curious look on my sandals from spectators and halt traffic to a stop in Butuan City's major intersection. Good-looking runners passing through! Passing through! All  eyes were on us. Cameras clicked and we were greeted by applause as we crossed the finish line.

Time: 2:31:04. Man! I hope they will still give us our medals, I thought. 

But yes they did! 

My 4th half marathon in minimalist shoes while celebrating my 1000th kilometer in 10 months of running. Tripple whammy! Great day after all! 

Now off to the beach in Buenavista! 

How was your run today, runners?

 

DOPMH 10k 5k Fun Run: My own race report

It's time for Africa!

The day started with a deluge of torrential rain such as one common all year round here in Agusan. A search on online weather forecasts was not what I would like like to hear either. High chance of precipitation, thunderstorms from 5 am to 11am on Race Day.

Indeed it was. Rain splashed so hard on our roof a few hours before sunrise that I consigned myself we would be having one merry finisher's snacks in the hospital lobby mobbed by a hundred runners instead of a run.

Milo Race Report: Running in the nick of time!

“Puera visita! Puera visita!”  The shrill sound of the ship’s bullhorn jolted me awake. It was a dream, one that I knew only too well. I couldn’t help but be amused by the analogy of my recent (mis)adventure of the 34th National Milo Marathon just held recently in Cebu on September 5th.

The bullhorn was replaced by a pacer who shouted “1 more minute!” as a fellow runner and I sprinted the busy intersection of P. del Rosario St. never mind the impatient jeepney drivers. All traffic came to a halt as eyes bore on us runners hoping to finish the race on time.

Aboitiz Race to Reduce: Going Green

 

2am and it was raining cats and dogs. It didn't matter though, a fun run won't be cancelled on account of rain and a 21k was an event not to be missed. At least for those running the 34th National Milo Marathon Cebu elimination leg 21k on September 5th. Today's race was a gauge for runners hoping to finish their 21k in 2:30 or less-- and that included me.

Weeks of training for my second half marathon has come 2 weeks ahead of schedule. So treating this as one long run, I signed up for Aboitiz Race to Reduce planning to run this at 6:45 minutes/km pace to finish well within the 2:30 cut-off set by Milo.

Aboitiz had promised to plant a tree for every runner registered today. Despite my preference for yellow, today I am Green!

A friend of mine, Gifford, invited me to run with him at 6:30 pace but I declined knowing I could not maintain that pace (yet) for that great a distance.

I met Gifford and his brother Harrold at the preliminaries. I also met Salvdian and Jerry, a fellow dailymiler. We trooped to the starting line. We saw many runners in Vibrams Five Fingers, running shoes that mimick barefoot running so popular these days.

Without so much as a countdown, a shot rang through the air and off we went. I kept reminding myself to stick to my strategy, slowing down when I was running at 6:00/km pace and picking up the pace when I strayed near the 7:00/km pace.

You could tell runners who were prepared for long distance runs and runners who weren't (like me 3 months ago). These runners had heavy footfalls, breathed noisily and was streaking past other runners. Soon enough, you'd see them taking a hike.

The run through SRP was breathtaking. I wished I could have brought my camera with me but running and shooting just don't mix. The stillness of the ocean magnified the sunrise hidden behind a blanket of clouds. It was peaceful and I was reminded of the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire in which Eric Liddell explains to his sister on why he runs, "I feel His pleasure."

I kept ultrarunner Haide Acuna in plain view. She was about a hundred meters ahead of me. We were probably running at the same pace because neither she nor I gained distance from each other. If only I could keep up with Cebu's most famous running personality, then I would be ok, I thought.

Near SM at about 7 km+, Kenyan runner and missionary Simon Losiaboi was already on his way back, his nearest competitor a good 1 or 2 minutes behind. Unbelievable pace and stamina. I just wish our Cebuano sports writers could write an article about him-- how he trains, how he keeps up with his training, etc.

The real challenge was the climb from SM to the University of Southern Philippines. The distance to the 21k turning point was almost 2 km and there was no let up in the incline.

At Mabolo, we converged with some of the runners from the Silliman University Run. I saw my cousin, Van, one of the City Prosecutors, running this one and waved him on. Turning back at some point near IT Park, I saw Twinkle Ignacio struggle with her tree-inspired costume. I also met fellow Cebu Doc alumni Sander.

Lots of people recognized Haide on sight. The ABS-CBN broadcaster was still picking up the pace. As we entered SRP for the last 3 or 4 km, I realized I was nearer the ultrarunner now thinking I must have been running too fast. A check on my GPS showed I was on pace and I realized she was slowing down. I passed Haide and said a customary, "Good morning" and proceeded to tackle the bridge.

Right now, a stiffness on my ankles began to emerge but with just a few km to go, I ignored it and dug in deep. The last 800 meters seemed to take so long. I could not sprint it even if I wanted to. Salvdian, a friend of mine who I passed on top of the bridge struggling with cramps that started near SM, recovered his pace and easily passed me back.

There were cheers a few hundred meters to the finish line and you could not find a better cheering squad than Ungo runners egging you on. I did it! 2:23 unofficial time on my Garmin, well within the cut-off time of 2:30 (The official time from the timing chips will be published in tomorrow's Sun Star paper, according to the CebuRunning Facebook page). Thank God for the weather, thank God for great race organizers and thank God no injuries!

The real challenge is yet to come. Let's bring it on!

Running: The Newbie Runner

2010 came out with a blast as 2009 was a disappointment. This will be my first, and certainly not my last post, on a new interest I have undertaken. Running. 

I have just come to realize not only for the health benefits but the similarities of F1 racing and running-- its heart and passion that drives one that is similar be it a V8 2.4-liter Mercedes or a 4-chambered piece of soft cardiac tissue.

Every year there is a new resolution to break but I feel this year is going to be different. I feel it's going to bring luck to a recipient of a Tiger year, no matter what the soothsayer says. Tigers won't be lucky on a Tiger year. (But wearing a red underwear will surely bring fortune-- Chinese expert. I'm thinking...)

I started the year running. Huffing and panting, I must have been an embarrassment to look at on my first day. The sun was out and the need for speed got the better of me.

But out on the track, the hard pavement and my seeming inability to run a few meters without gasping like an asthmatic jolted me to reality. I must persevere or so I said.

I did it twice a week, never mind the wet socks and blisters and I gradually did it thrice a week running 3 and 4ks. The persistence was inspired by a childhood friend of mine, who I last saw more than 25 years ago, running his first marathon on the highly successful Sinulog Run last 01-10-10 in Cebu. (We still haven't seen each other yet due to our busy and conflicting schedules but we have each other's numbers.)

I am setting my own course for December this year to run a half marathon at an acceptable time-- 21k in 2 hours I gather.

6 weeks into running since January, together with a newbie runner friend of mine, we bravely registered and joined the 5k Fun Run organized by the Cebu Dental Society last February 14.

We clocked at 41:06, an acceptable time perhaps for newbie runners like us. We ran 5-7 minutes and walked 1 minute. We would have wanted to finish in 35 but the ascent to JY Square was a killer. The time, however, was an improvement of the 43:36 I clocked in one of my practices here.

Now I am setting my sights earlier than December on a 21k ambitious half marathon come April 18-- The Great Lapu-Lapu Run. To accomplish a 2-hour finish more or less, I need to train a total of 12 weeks running a combination of 8, 10, 12 and 15k weekends. Wow! The sheer running mileage is intimidating.

I'm not worried though. If I won't be able to maximize my training until then, there is the 10k I will backtrack to which I plan to run in less than an hour... hopefully.

I don't have the luxury of 12 weeks but I have 10 until April 18 and day 1 begins tomorrow. Hope the sun comes out.