BDM 102: The Countdown Begins

And so the countdown begins, only a day left, 45 hours to go as of this writing.  My journey to the unknown will begin.  BDM 102 Ultramarathon will begin.  

Now is not the time to ponder. Now is not the time to doubt my training.  Now is not the time to doubt myself.  Its been 7 months of "on and off" preparation.  All I can to now it to trust what I have done for the past months.

A little over a year ago, I was content with running 10k's.  But one training session over at Shotgun Road in San Mateo, Rizal with a current team mate opened my eyes for this event.  At the time, never would did I imagine that the day would come sooner that I would be training for it.  And now, alas, only one day remains.

You might ask, what would my target be.  If you have known me for a while then you would know how competitive I really am.

Only a day remains.  The preparation has been done and now all I have to do is believe that it is enough.  I will now put my fate in His hands.

So get ready Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga road.  A runner wearing bib #130 will be ripping through you.

BDM102 Test Run, Km 50 - 102

There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory...

February 10, 2013, 20 days before D-Day.  Elvin, Tope and myself with Ralph, JC and Sir Ted as our support crew, headed out to Abucay, Bataan to participate in the BDM102 test run.  The test run was supposed to familiarize the runners with the BDM102 route.  Unfortunateley, we had other activities when the first test run was held so we saw to it that we needed to participate in this one.

So there we were, 6am in the morning prepping up for the 52km run.  Unlike any other fun runs, the atmosphere was a bit quiet.  There were only a handful of runners.  And with BR out of the country, it was Madame who was the official RD.

In the hours leading up to the start, I was uncertain how would I run.  Should I practice my 4:1 Intervals, shall I take it slow or shall I go stupid and hunt for a PR.

The time passed and it was already 7am, the official start of the test run, Madame said some reminders then counted us off.

3,2,1.... the test run started... said a short silent prayer which I normally do, then off I went.

Km 0 - 12 (BDM Km post 50 - 62)

Upon hearing the word go, I made up my mind.  I would be running all the way at a pace a bit faster than what I plan for the race day.  I was just keeping my own pace, passing runners as I go.  Upon reaching the first km, I was surprised that I was leading.  I didn't mind my place and kept on running as planned, after all this was just a test run.

My plan was to hydrate every 1.5km, by the first 5km, I passed our support vehicle, my bottles were still half full, and decided to make my first stop at the 10th km.  It turned out that this would be a mistake I have to deal with for the next support area will be at the 12th km.

Taken at km 5

Km 13 - 33 (BDM Km post 63 - 83)

After leaving the support vehicle, I resumed with my planned pace.  This part of the route would be very lonesome.  I was all alone.  To entertain myself and keep my mind off the route, I thought of other things, Life, Love, Where to eat after, what to do after, as corny as it sounds, I thought of these all just to keep my sanity. The next support station would come to me at the 20th km, had some food intake then continued my run.

As the run progressed so did the heat of the sun.  I was entering the so called "Microwave Route" of Dinalupihan.  At this time I was still wearing a visor, it turned out that the visor gave less protection because it is still open.  As the heat got worse, I felt my scalp drying up.  So upon the next support station (which came to me at km 27) I changed the visor for a cap.

As I continued my planned pace, I knew something would go wrong.  The support vehicle did not come along at every 5 km as planned (but I do not blame them, they tried very hard to support 3 runners) as much as I avoided it, dehydration, my old enemy, caught up with me again.  To compensate, I slowed my pace dramatically to save energy and not to burn myself.

At the 33rd km was a fork, left would mean to continue on the main highway, and right would mean to go to the town center of Lubao which was the correct way.  I studied the route but failed to see that there was another fork immediately after that.  As I have learned, I must go right. WRONG! I had run about 200-300m when I looked back.  There were people calling me, I knew right there that I had made a wrong turn, I hurried back to the correct route.  This was also the part where Rex caught up to me.

Km 34-45 (BDM Km post 84 - 95)

I tried to pace with Rex, and was doing well until the next support station (which came to me at  km 35).  I told him to go on ahead with his pace.  At this support station, I ate some spaghetti as planned for fuel.

I continued along with my run, with the heat of the sun bearing down, I often doused myself with cold water.  This part of the route was also very lonesome and would drive you mad especially if you have no runners in sight.

But another blunder, at km 39, I looked at my watch.  It stopped, then I remembered that I forgot to delete all the other data on it.  I was frustrated with myself.  At the next support station (which came to me at km 45)  I ditched the watch and run by feel.

Km 46-52 (BDM Km post 96 - 102)

As I went along, I tried to count down on the remaining BDM post, 96, 97, 98.  If it could drive someone mad counting down these post at the state I am at the moment, what would happen on March 3.  I tried not to think about that and continued on.

At the last support station (which came to me at km 99). I refilled up fast.  Only 3 km more to go.  And upon passing the BDM Km 101 post, I decided to run a bit faster, I was already sprinting, I even passed the provincial capitol. BIG MISTAKE! As I was running, It felt like I was already running more than a km, it was the time I asked one of the kalesa drivers where was the old railway station.  It was directly infront of the provincial capitol.  So I turned around and ran toward the correct route.

And then finally after 6:16:52, I finished. My time would have gone sub 6 hours if haven't got lost.

The funny thing is, madam scolded me.  She told me not to go as fast as I did on March.

I managed to finish second on that test run, but it really didn't matter to me.  It was just a test run.  It was just to familiarize ourselves with the route.  The heat training was also good.

So when March 2 comes, I know, I will be prepared.

Our Team Banner

  

 Thank you Ralph for the photos

The Long Run: Part 2 (Condura Skyway Marathon Race Review )

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes... - Oscar Wilde

 

 

So there we were, Goldy, Joyce and Chona at the start of the Condura Skyway Marathon.  The three of them, still fresh, while I was suffering from severe dehydration.

 

Could you tell who is fresh and who is not

 

 

3,2,1.... the run started... said a short silent prayer which I normally do, passed through the starting arch, then off we went.

 

Km 1 - 15

 

For this run, I decided to pace Goldy for a sub 5 hour finish.  We planned a 4:1 run-walk strategy with a run pace of 6:30-6:40.  I was already suffering severe dehydration at the start of the run, those 1 minute walk breaks felt like a blessing to me.  Everything was going great until the 14th km where I started having short breathes.  By the 15th km, I knew I cannot continue with our pace and told Goldy.  She obliged and went her own way for her PR.

 

 

Km 16 - 22

 

The next 6km would be a struggle to me.  I dropped the pace and was trying to run.  I tried to ingest more liquids but to no avail.  Many runners were already passing me, but I did not care at the moment, I was too busy monitoring myself.  There were some pain building up from inside my body, but I still tried to run.

 

 

Km 23 - Finish

 

Just passing the 22th km, the pain was worsen, so thinking about my health, I decided to walk all the way until I finished. 

 

At about the 29th km, Nikki (a friend of mine who was doing her first marathon) caught up with me.  We decided to walk the rest of the way.  We exchanged stories, made fun of billboards, talked about food to pass the time.

 

After some time, we finally reached the finish line, my time was 7:04, my slowest Marathon yet.  But I was not disappointed with my result, I took this one as a learning lesson.

 

 

Me and Nikki running to the finish line



Wasted...

 

After the run, we ate at Festival Mall and head on our way home.

 

I ran from 7pm until 7am, and covered a total of 80km.  I'm a bit wiser about my hydration plan.  And promised myself not to get to the point of severe dehydration again.

 

And so, the last run will signal the start of my tapering period....

 

Or so I thought.... 

The Long Run: Part 1 (Home to Alabang)

Any idiot can run a marathon. It takes a special kind of idiot to run an ultramarathon. - Alan Cabelly

 

February 2, a month before the big dance, I needed a training run that would exceed any runs that I ever did.  Along came the Condura Skyway Marathon, a 42km route.  But it still won't be enough for my training, so I decided to go stupid once again, I would run from our home all the way to Alabang.

 

I have carefully plotted a route that would take me to Alabang and it all started at home.  I said a silent prayer then I was on my way...

 



 

My Pre Condura Skyway Route

 

Km 1 - 10

 

This part of the route would take me to Katipunan, Quezon City.  I started my run at my target pace, 6:30-7, but alas, much to my surprise, I was suffering from cramps as early as the 2nd km.  It must be something I ate because, I was just getting started.  I tried to ignore the pain because I knew that that pain would go away.

 

The cramping did go away at around the 4th km.  The next 6km were pretty boring, I passed through Sta. Lucia Grand Mall, LRT Santolan Station and SM Marikina, there were still many people outside because it was just about 8:30pm.

 

Km 11 - 26

 

This part of the route would take me from Katipunan, Quezon City till the end of the C5 road at the East Service Road in Taguig.  This was the longest stretch of the route.  Keeping an Ultramarathoner's mindset, I stayed in the leftmost side of the road.  The smoke of oncoming vehicles was the main enemy for this part.  At about 18km, I decided to buy a banana from a convenience store and to take my first sip of hydration.

 

I passed through Libis, Tiendesitas, Kalaaan Ave and Market Market in this part. Keeping my planned pace and plan, I moved along.

 

Km 27-38

 

This was the last stretch of the route that would take me all the way to Alabang.  Again, the main enemy in this part was the smoke from oncoming vehicles.  And because I was getting hungry, I bought an egg and ingested some salt near FTI.

 

At around 33km near SM Sucat, it was already 11pm, running on empty hydration (I only brought 20 oz of fluids for my hydration) I decided to pick up the pace, in order to make it at around 11:30.

 

Indeed I arrived at Alabang at 11:30 in the evening, met up some friends at Jollibee Alabang Junction and had some bite to eat.  Just before leaving, I tried to pee, and low and behold, I was in trouble.  My pee was already the color of iced tea, a clear indication that I am severely dehydrated.  To think that I was still going to run for another 42km.  That's when I thought of the amount of hydration I brought along.  I tried a quick remedy drinking as much as possible without feeling bloated, but knew that the damage had already been done.

 

So, off to the starting line we went, without personally knowing what would happen.

 

 

To be continued...

Subic International Marathon Race Review

I also realize that winning doesn't always mean getting first place, it means getting the best out of yourself... - Meb Keflezighi

Last January 26, Me and some of my "Team Rock and Road" teamates, Roxanne, Joy, Jonard, Daniel, JC and Sir Ted headed out to Subic, for the 8th edition of the Subic International Marathon.  The run itself was on January 27 but we decided to go a day earlier.  We rented out a house in Forest Hills so that we can rest our bodies.  But it turned out, we only got 3 hrs of sleep. And this is the reason why...



VIDEOKE TIME!!!



Joy, brought her "Wow! Magic Sing" along.  Needless to say, we almost sang all night, mostly boyband songs.  We were singing as if we were not running 42km's the next day.  But when the clock struck 9:30pm we decided to stop the party and rest.  I got to sleep at around 10pm.

I woke up at 1am the next day.  Tried to wake up some team mates then boiled water for coffee, milo and noodles for the team, and prepared my own breakfast. By 3am, we were all ready to go to the venue.  We hired taxi to bring us to the venue.

We had time for some photo ops when we arrived at the venue.  We also met up with Riz at the venue, she came from their house at Angeles Pampanga.



Red is my color

Shoes for sale

GPS Watches for sale




Riz, Jonard, Daniel, JC, Sir Ted and I were running 42km while Joy (because of a bum knee) and Rox (because of the TBR Dream Marathon) were running 21km.

We headed to the starting area, the host said some encouraging words then counted us off.

3,2,1.... the run started... said a short silent prayer which I normally do, passed through the starting arch, then off I went.

Now, I intended a P.R. run for this, and said to myself that a sub - 4:15 finish would be nice.

Km 1 - 10 (Warming Up)

 

I started at the very back of the pack and unlike my other runs where I usually go out smoking guns blazing near a sub 5min/km pace, I took it a bit easy running with a moderate 6min/km.  I was running mostly by feel than pace at this point.  I didn't even care if there were may runners passing by me, I was determined to keep my pace.  I also utilized the technique Jenny, a friend of mine, taught me.  Long strides mean to rest, short strides means to race.  Needless to say, I was running with long strides most of the way.  I only checked my GPS watch six to seven times at this point, I was running at a 5:50min/km.  By the 5th km I was passing runners.

 

Km 11 - 14 (Back To My Old Self)

 

I ran the fist 10km in 58 mins, a good 2min better than what I had planned.  At this point I was still fresh, so I decided to increase my pace steadily.  I passed more runners, and still doing long strides, pretty soon I was pacing at 5:10min/km.  Thoughts of breaking the sub - 4:15 time kept running through my mind, and said to myself that it was indeed possible.

 

Km 15 -18 (The Uphill Battle part 1)

Right after passing the 14km mark, the part where most of the runners dreaded, including me, appeared, the uphill.  For this part of the route, I switched running techniques, this time I would be running with short consistent strides.  Though the uphill had moderate steepness, it was long, it stretched for more than 3kms.  All along this part, I was saying to myself to keep a 6:30min/km pace and I will just get back the lost time once the route goes downhill.

Km 19 - 22 (Making Up For Lost Time)

After passing the 18th km mark, the terrain started to change.  It was beggining to turn downhill.  This was my chance to get back lost time.  I started to gain momentum.  I started to do the rolling technique with my legs and feet to minimize fatigue.  Pretty soon I was pacing at a good 4:40min/km.  It was all downhill, but soon I started to realized that upon reching the U turn, this part would be another uphill battle.

Km 23 - 27 (The Uphill Battle part 2)

I was right with my assumption, immediately upon making the U-turn, I was in for another uphill battle.  I applied the same technique I did in the 15th and 18th km.  But this time, I was a little fatigued but still managed to keep a 6:30min/km.  Once again what kept going through my mind was I was going to get back the time lost once the route goes downhill.

Km 28 - 30 (Its All Downhill from here)

A bit of fatigue was setting in at this point.  I simply applied the technique I did at Km 19 - 22.  But this time I was a bit more conservative, only maxing out at a 5min/km pace.  I knew that at the foot of this downhill, the route would be flat and a bit of small rolling hills.  I computed what my finish time would be, and concluded that if I continue running consistently, I would go sub 4:15.

Km 30 - 35 (Goosebumps)

After the long downhill, the terrain became flat.  I had only 12km's to go.  If I ran the next km's under 1 hour and 20 mins, I would hit my target.  I started to do long strides at 6min/km again to conserve energy.  Suddenly, at the 34th - 35th, my arms and hands started to feel cold.  For some reason, the hair in my arms was starting to stand.  I was having goosebumps.  At this point, I started to walk to shake off whatever I was feeling that moment.  I walked for a good 10mins, at this point I started to think that I might not beat the 4:15 and said to myself any time that would break my previous P.R. (which was at 4:28:48) would be good.

Km 36 - Finish (The Recovery, The Heat and The Finish)

After I shook off the cold feeling in my hands, I started to run again.  Luckily, I was still able to hold a 6min/km pace.  It was already 8am, and the sun was already shinigh brightly.  remarkably, with all of my training, the heat was almost not a factor to me.  Aside from the occassionally dousing myself with cool water, the heat was not that bad.  Then upon making the last left turn at Rizal Highway, I knew that it was going to be flat and straight.  So I started to increase my pace again, I hit an average of 5:10 in that last two kilometers.

Then finally seeing the finish line, with my body still feeling strong, I decided to sprint for it.

Finished at last, my finish time based on my watch was a good 4:08:45.

A good 7 minutes better than what I had planned.

A good 20 minutes better than my previous best.

After getting my loot, I searched for Joy and Rox.  It turned out Joy was only about to head to the finish line to wait for us, I had no pictures at the finish line.  But I didn't care, I was already happy with my finish.

I had this picture of me during one of the uphills though.

Seriously serious???

After which, the photo ops resumed.

  

My gear and swag

That's me!!

Kristine Joy Cerame

Roxanne Catubig

Jonard Aries Gamboa and Ted Famatiga

Daniel Bersano

John Christian Campomanes

Rizzalyn Damaso

After our last team mate crossed the finish line, we decided to buy food and head back to the house we rented to eat and have some much needed rest.

I was happy with my results, but some thoughts did enter my mind.

What if I trained properly for this Marathon?  Could I have done a sub 4 hour?

But for now I am contented with my result.  A sub 4 marathon can wait another day.


Photo Credits: Sir Ted, Daniel and Litrato Photography