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...