Six months ago, I started
my training for my first full marathon. I initially used the training program
included in my welcome kit but since it was designed for a beginner I started
looking for a training program online. Good thing a friend gave me an
individualized training program. I thought it would match my ability minus
getting bored.
Although I tried hard to
stick to my program I cheated most of the time. I knew it wasn’t something to
be proud of but there were just so many things goin on that I couldn’t stick to
it. Long weekend runs were taken for granted. What made things worse, I gained weight
after the holidays so come January I was obsessed in trying to lose weight.
Crunch time combined with diet resulted to unhealthy me.
While I felt physically
unprepared my mind asserted otherwise. Tiwala
lang, I would always remind myself. Things changed though when I met my
fellow Dreamers at the send off party. I realized everyone seemed emotionally
and physically ready that I thought pushing through with TBR DM was a not so
good idea.
And
then finally here comes the BIG DAY…
I was glad I joined Dream
Run in September so getting to Nuvali was no longer a problem. Although I knew
I could handle it alone, I decided it would be nice to be with friends for the
much needed support. Two of my trusted students went with me. We left
Cabanatuan City at around 5:00pm and got to Cubao at 9:00pm, just in time for
the last trip to Balibago. During the trip, I desperately tried to sleep to no
avail. I just couldn’t. I realized the team should have travelled early in the
morning so that gives me ample to rest. I should have. I should have.
The team stayed in Mc
Donalds. My students were hungry and we had to wait for someone too. We
decided to just stay there until midnight. Besides we doubted if we could find
a room when there was a huge event in Nuvali the following day. Again, bad idea. I
lacked sleep.
Past twelve and we decided
to go to Nuvali. Music volume was at max. I could barely hear my own voice. Or
I guess I was just too nervous. And before I head off to the start area, I did my
last minute rituals. There wasn’t enough time but I knew I had to. My anxiety
was eating me up.
When I thought I somehow knocked my anxiety out, I, along with my students went to the start area. I took my
time chip which was personally handed to me by the organizer herself – Jaymie Pizzaro. Once I fastened it on my right ankle my students and I had a big group hug. After
which, I joined my fellow runners for a prayer. I couldn't remember how long it
took but somehow it felt so surreal that when I opened my eyes I stepped
on the blue mat – and the race began...
Galloway
all the way…
I knew I lacked training.
And if there was one thing I was holding on to, it was only tibay ng loob. Of course, that wouldn’t
make me finish my first marathon alone. Thus, I decided to scrimp and save my
energy. I thought it would be best to do Galloway from the start to finish. It
was 4-1; four-minute run and one-minute walk. I stuck to it
until I reached KM5 and I thought I was bored. So I decided to run the next 5K
at an easy pace without stopping. Good thing I had a bottle of Pocari handy. I
knew there were enough water stations but I just needed something to hold,
somehow the bottle became my company. Remember the ball made of coconut in
Castaway?
I wore running shorts with
pockets. I thought I could use my pockets in bringing stuff I might need along
the way. So I kept a small jar of Vaseline in my right pocket while in left was
a tiny bottle of Omega Pain Killer. Thanks to Marlon who reminded me to bring
pain killer. I started using it as soon as I hit KM10. The Vaseline also saved
me from chaffed inner thighs.
Dream
Chasers
I’d say TBR DM was the best
race I have joined so far. Every runner was treated extra special. Although
unlike other runners who tagged their whole running team and friends with them,
I only had my two trusted students with me. But I never felt alone or sad along
the way because there were many Dream Chasers. Plus, their posts
where strategically placed in routes where the runners needed a boost. They handed
the runners chocolates, banana, chips, energy gel, and they cheered for every everyone on top of their lungs. I bet my fellow runners would agree if I say we
needed it.
KM
32
The Galloway continued. I
hung on to 4:1. However, having not included even at least one 32K in my training I felt
I was about to hit the wall. See, my cheating part had taken its toll. Putting
my foot in front of the other seemed impossible. Plus it was around that area
where there were slopes. Going down was easy but going up was near impossible.
I thought it was time to prolong my recovery period so I decided to do 3-2;
three-minute run and two-minute walk. Along the way I kept on reminding myself
that I only needed to cover 10K. If I could cover 21K then 10K would be a piece
of cake. Hahaha so talk about self-reverse psychology!
Last
4K
The last 4K seemed to be
the most difficult part. There was a twist in the route. Runners had to turn
right and make one loop before heading to the finish line. The Finish Line was
few just hundred meters away if I head on but of course I needed to turn right. I
had to remind myself that if 10K was a piece of cake the 3K was… was… was… It
was around this time when everything seemed challenging. And to my horror it
rained. Although it somehow refreshed my body, my shoes and clothes became damp
that gave me an uneasy feeling. I had to apply Vaseline on my inner thighs
again to avoid chaffing.
When I registered for TBR
DM I only knew one fellow runner; Belle. In fact she was the one who encouraged
me to join TBR DM. And since I was not able to attend in any of the running clinics my
network was limited. However during the race everyone seemed to be my long time
friends. We cheered for one another. Every time I ran past a limping runner I
asked him if he needed help. The same thing happened to me when I had to stop
and apply Vaseline. Just the thought of making sure
everyone was okay was enough to inspire and motivate someone. I may not meet those runners
whom I shared road on my first marathon but they will forever be cherished. I
will forever be thankful for being extra nice. Two things I realized: being
nice is contagious and it isn’t difficult to be one.
Photogs
Another thing I loved about
TBR DM was the gazillion of photographers (now that’s exaggerated). But kidding
aside, there were so many photographers everywhere. So who didn’t want nice
photos? For someone maarte like me, I
would want photos of me smiling beautifully despite the struggle. So I guess
somehow the photographers motivated me to go on. At one point I was
battling with myself whether or not to prolong my walk break but when I spotted
a photographer, I decided I should run. Hahaha
Finish
Line
Just before I had my final
right turn, I came across Team Logan. “You can finish it under 6 hours. Go for
it!” were the words of Craig. One could guess it was definitely the sweetest.
With my right knee aching I did my final kick. I could hear cheers of
admiration from the onlookers which made me run faster. I ran with my remaining
strength with a big smile on my face. It was like a scene taken out from a
movie – and the world around me stopped moving, all I could heart was my heart
beat, I was running towards the finish line on a slow motion with my both hands
raised as if praying and glorifying God for helping me conquer that freaking 42
kilometers. (Okay, that was so dramatic. But who could blame me, finishing a
marathon itself was a dramatic experience.) As soon as I crossed the finish
line I looked up and the time read 5:58:11.
PS
Ms Jaymie, it was
definitely a life-changing experience. Words are not enough to thank you for
all your efforts in coming up with the best race for first time marathoner. Every
single thing about DBR DM will be cherished. And I shall always boast of being part of TBR Dream Marathon 2013.
