Long overdue.
But still, I feel I still have to talk about this event.
At least before RU3 comes.
So here goes.
Let me take you back to that day, June 17, Sunday. This time I parked my car in BGC knowing how the shuttle system goes. It was drizzling, cold and windy. 21k runners were packed and came in waves. I think I was in the 3rd wave. While I was waiting for the waves 1 and 2 to start, I noticed a lot of runners climbing the barricade just so they can start right away. Mga pasaway! Lahat naman tayo makakatakbo. Anyway, from the get go I was anticipating all the adjustments made from RU1. And true to Runrio's promise they really took it to another level. Now, they lit up the kalayaan flyover for better visibility.
But while observing these things I was also focused in achieving my goal, which is to get a new RU 21k PR. After passing through Kalayaan flyover, reached the 10th km marker with a sub 1:00 time, so far so good. The marshals, together with the traffic enforcers did their best to control the traffic from buendia to taft, may mga makukulit lang na drivers talaga na ayaw magpaawat.
I was still feeling fine after turning left from buendia to roxas. I think that was the 15th km when I started feeling fatigue setting in. So I bust out my secret weapon, my counter fatigue-ant(?)...a thumb-sized pack of Nutella strapped in my race bib belt. Instead of buying chocolate flavored race gels, I had to use resources found in my home. Its cheap, mas masarap, fulfilling at wala pang nasasayang! It helped. Together with the bountiful bananas, water, energy drinks and sponges made available to us along the stretch of Roxas Blvd. But with these amenities came loads and loads of litter, I dont know who or what to blame in this part. As a runner, after drinking or consuming a banana, your first instinct is to throw whatever trash you have in a bin, but in the absence of a bin you've no choice but to throw it on the side of the road. I think organizers should deploy trash cans along that stretch so that the runners will be responsible enough to throw their kalats in the trash can. And also, before the race starts, the announcer should advise the runners about being responsible and the importance of cleanliness.
Goin back to the race, I was still occupied battling fatigue, soreness and the urge to walk more than a minute. I gave in at times, especially around the 18th to the 19th km. I had to save up on my energy so I still have enough in me to make it through the finish.
At the 20th km, I gradually poured in whatevers left of me, this guy that i was silently racing with did the same. Sadly, he was faster, stronger and I finished 3 minutes behind him. But I thank him for being there because I followed his pace at the last 4 kms so I think without our silent race I wouldnt have achieved a new PR of 2:12:15.
At the finish line, marshals were at hand to give you your well deserved 21k medal. And after that you get a congratulatory hi-five from your lovely wife and some of the coolest friends that you have. After that you redeem your loot bags and finishers shirt, have breakfast with friends, and this is when you stop and think. After every grueling, painstaking, leg-cramping 21km run, comes the medals, friends and loved ones. Just like in real life. So till next time, run hard, run happy!
* oh, and big thanks to the photographers who were kind enough to wait, stand and share their photos to us.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
