Condura Run Recap
Last Sunday, March 22, 2009 was the big day for my first half marathon. I signed up to run a distance of 21 kilometers last month and I've been preparing for it for the past weeks.
I woke up early that day. Earlier than usual. I was up already at around 3 am. I was anxious, nervous and a bit excited. I have never ran a distance that long in my life and never did I think that I'd be running that distance ever. Who would have thought that I'd be actually running it on the Skyway.
I have never thought I'd even get into serious running. I started running again last October. It was a Halloween run in Fort Bonifacio. Since that time I've been religiously trying to run every night. I've joined a good number of 10k runs and 15k runs to build up my endurance. I've been running ever since. I am hoping to finish a full marathon by the end of the year.
Tricia came with me to my run for the first time to support me. I could honestly say that she has been behind me and my running and that she shows her support and encouragement in anyway she can. She and her triathlete dad has been coaching and telling me about the right stuff to do and whatnots. Thanks Labs! We arrived early at the event. Got there at around 5 am. We managed to park near the start and finish area which was a good thing because Tricia planned to wait in the car while I was running.
That's me by the 21k assembly area. Tricia predicted that I would most probably the palest runner there.
Did some stretching. I never really did warm ups. My first few kilometers of the run was warm up enough for me.
That's me beside the huge 21k route map. The route looked pretty simple enough. Simple but LONG.
At around 5:15 am we were directed to go to the starting area. The feeling of anticipation never hit me as bad as that morning. I feel like hurling. Those 15 minutes felt like the longest fifteen minutes of my life.
5:30 am finally hit the clocks and the starting gun finally fired a big resounding boom.
Brought along a small point and shoot with me so I can bring home the experience with me after the run.
We were almost at the end of Buendia in the photo. I still felt good and composed. Felt like I could keep up this pace for the rest of the race.
Going up the Skyway was a totally different experience. The uphill climb was hard. It was almost as steep as the hills of Mckinley.
There was a police man surveying the run as we climbed up the exit ramp of the Skyway.
There were already runners heading back when I approached to climb the flyover at around 45 minutes into the run. Those guys were beasts.
The next 8 kilometer run on the Skyway felt good.
The view was amazing. Seeing a whole bunch of runners scampering on a road that's usually forbidden to pedestrians is really a sight to see.
Manila Water Provided a cool shower for the runners on the of the Skyway.
I never felt so relieved when I saw that 21k U-Turn sign.
The sun was up and shining by the time I was making my way back to Fort which made it a little bit harder to run. The heat was taking its toll on me.
I started walking when I got back to the Kalayaan flyover. Looked back behind me and saw a lot of runners still making their way to the finish line. It felt good. I knew I wasn't last. I started running again.
When I saw the 20k maker saying something like 'time to smell victory', I pushed myself for that last kilometer.
When I saw the finish line, I never felt so relieved. That 100 meters or so felt like the best. People were cheering you on to push it. I also saw Tricia taking pictures of me dashing to the finish.
The guy in black with the green bottles around his waist is me. Finished the half marathon in 2 hours 31 minutes.
I'll certainly be doing this more in the coming years not just to get fit but also because I'm starting to love running. It's true that you get a certain sense of freedom when you run.
That "I will run my first marathon this year" goal isn't looking to bleak.