The marathon run has enjoyed a considerable surge in popularity over the last few decades. Every year there are more organized marathons and every one sees a large number of participants trying it for the first (and often last) time. I find it ironic that this has occurred while on average we are becoming a bunch of couch potatoes.
But here is the whole point. When you're actually running in the organized marathon, even though there may be thousands there, it is an extremely personal endeavor. You are not racing anyone. It is a battle between yourself and this idiotic notion that formed months ago when you thought this would be a good idea. For many first marathoners, it their Mt. Everest.
It was a very bright and sunny day yesterday as I headed to the Bonifacio High Street for the United Wellness Marathon... yeah, and also my first ever 10k run! Running is addictive and contagious, admittedly I fell for it. Before race day, woke up late (not my usual thing) feeling "tamad" but kept thinking .. "what if i can't make it?" over and over again.
Got a call from a friend who wanted me to help him out to move to another apartment... went over and finish the job. Went back home and Googled all day. Dozed off late in the afternoon, woke up remembering to go to the grocery to get some energy drink.
Bought the following : Cobra Energy drink, Manny Pacquiao's Vit Water & some noodles for carbo load. Went back home and watched tv. Did some facebook posts at around 6pm... ate dinner, prepared my stuffs... people don't forget to put on the timing chip in advance.
Went to bed early thinking the same thing over and over again... "What if i can't make it?" it's like counting sheeps but your not actually counting the sheeps, you are counting the time and hope this nightmare would be over.
Come race day... excitement gushes thru my blood while i drank my cobra energy drink... saw my bosses and felt "ah, may kasama pala ako dito ... " At this point, everything began to move quickly. What I thought would feel like an eternity whizzed by and the start gun went off. We were moving, the mats underfoot were beeping, we were running slowly, then faster, like a trot, up the incline road of the Bonifacio High Street, as the mist along the road to the International Schools vanished and sun broke through the high clouds. And i commented : "Putang-ina ang layo pala!"
The route were longer and longer. The last three kms felt like the longest kms I had ever run. I saw the times and realized that I had slowed down. Now I knew I was way off pace and suddenly it didn’t matter—I just wanted to make it (could I do it under 1.30:00 at this point? ) Two kms to go. I knew I could do it, two kms was nothing. But why did it feel so so, so far. I'd even used my phone and took a picture of the 8km signage... surprisingly, even uploaded the pic to my facebook account! ha!
Finally 1.2 kms, 1 km, 800, 400, 200 meter markings, but even these do not come soon enough. I was still running but it felt like a crawl (was I crawling?). I saw the finish line and hoped that it was as close as it looked. I heard that beep, looked up at the clock (yes!.. 1:22:23, —disappointed, only a bit, just glad to be standing, but barely, so glad to have finished…but was told to keep walking)
I was like in a zone... vision only from a horse's view ... a voice in me kept saying ... " you can still do it, go go go" but I was already at the finish line ... at that point ( at a snap of the finger ) i awoken ... whew! i then said to myself ... I did it! Where do I eat now??? lolz
Wow Man. It was over, i actually ran my first 10k! Actually via GPS on my partner Noel G.'s Nokia and it registerd a total of 11.48kms... but enough of that... Rewarded myself with a big plate of sausages and eggs.. coffee coffee coffee too!
Thanks to all that helped. You guys led me here and got me through it.. I was befriended, inspired, coached, and supported by the runners of Team 2Bots & coach Paopedal. You helped me set new goals, face new challenges, enjoy new accomplishments, find wonderful running partners, make new friends, and enjoy running even more.
So, when do I begin training again? Should I go for 15k? I’ll make sure to put in more long runs to run those last ones stronger…
Till the next time
Keep on runnin'
DagulRunner
