Milo Marathon is the prestigious local marathon with a 5-hour cut off and a 4-hour qualifying time for the Finals. Naturally, it is the common Pinoy marathoner's dream. Just to be one of the so few qualifiers to run the Milo Finals would be a great running achievement. It's more like a Pinoy lawyer passing the Bar Exams. It's difficult. It's prestigious. It's an honor to be a Milo marathon finalist.
I missed it last year.
The qualifying leg was held July 2009 and back then I was only running a 56-minute 10Km race. When the Finals was held last October 2009, I have only completed a half marathon. It wasn't until November 2009 when I was able to run and complete a full marathon.
I will take the challenge this year.
The grandeur, glory, beauty and beast of the marathon are no easier things to describe and explain as running the marathon itself. Ever wonder why so many runners aspire of the marathoner tag attached to their names? And why is it once a marathoner always a marathoner? Why marathoners know how hard and difficult it is to run a marathon and yet keep coming back?
The time I become a marathoner by reaching the Finish Line of the Philippine International Marathon last November of 2009, I knew right then that I would be coming back for more. Only stronger, faster, more durable and more experienced. Experiencing how it was to run the historic marathon distance almost left me teary-eyed and emotional. I clenched both my fists and wanted to scream out loud. I have conquered it. I belong to the revered group of runners who endured and finished a marathon.
I am a marathoner.
And I will not cease to be one. I will take the journey over and over as long as I could without regards to age. For as long as I could – this is my treaty with the marathon. Like a father-son relationship, it cannot be broken. At the Finish Line of my first marathon, that treaty was etched in my heart and fused with my passion as a runner.
For four furious hours, I endured. Though harmed and hurt. I was suffering, grimacing and almost wanting an easy escape for my bad right knee. Aside from the demanding long distance of running, I had to endure with my right knee that does not want to do any more running. The physical side was badly hurting and could hardly cope with the marathon. But as I have learned the hard way, the physical side is only a part of a much bigger marathon equation. The mental, emotional and spiritual sides of the marathon play a huge part. And those other sides kept me going. Toughness is not all about our physical capabilities. Lucky me. I was able to hang on.
This time around though, I plan to strengthen the physical side and equip it accordingly. I do not intend to hurt my knees again just for the love of the marathon. And that’s just one of the goals -- no injuries.
The mental side also wants to prove that the toughness it displayed on the first go was no fluke.
And so we proceed with the Pandesal Adventures – the Milo Marathon Eliminations.
Chapter 3.1 My Milo Marathon Training Schedule
For fifteen full weeks I would train my physical side to meet the demands of the marathon distance. Endurance will be my priority. This is after spending 11 weeks on speed training for the 5 and 10 kilometer race distances. The speed part of my training was productive. I have ran the 5K distance under 20 minutes. I placed 6th and 3rd on two successive 10Km races. The sprint runs and the interval training runs bore sweet fruits. So far my running season is going on the right directions without derails. I love how my plans translate into actions and results. So far so sweet.
From the Globe Run for Home race last March 21, I reckoned that my speed endurance is lacking. On the middle parts of that 10Km race, I slowed down significantly at about 20-30 seconds per kilometer. To avoid such slow downs on longer distances and to keep a fast steady pace, I have to improve my speed endurance.
The 15 weeks of training will not deal with speed improvements. No more intervals. Longer easy runs and much longer long runs populate my training calendar. Endurance is the priority. I will run 5 times a week. Sundays are allotted for long runs of 21-35 kilometers. Much of my weekly mileage base will be coming from 12-14 kilometers of easy runs to be done 3-4 times a week.
The first two weeks will be dedicated exclusively for longer easy runs and longer long runs. This 2-week start obviously aims to increase my endurance and prepare me for the longer distances of training later on and also for the long distance races.
On the third and fourth weeks, I will slowly incorporate Tempo training runs into the schedule. Tempo training will pretty much tell if my speed endurance is improving or not. I will be doing 15 kilometer Tempos during these weeks. I will then finish the 4th training week by joining the Earth Run on April 18th. I will race for 16 kilometers. Hopefully, I will be able to run it under 1:10 hours (under 4:20 min/km pace).
The fifth week is for rest and recovery. I will cut my mileage down and let my body recover from the hard stamina-building phase of my marathon training. Then on the following weeks, I would be running longer distances again hoping to increase my stamina further.
And that’s the plan.
I missed it last year.
The qualifying leg was held July 2009 and back then I was only running a 56-minute 10Km race. When the Finals was held last October 2009, I have only completed a half marathon. It wasn't until November 2009 when I was able to run and complete a full marathon.
I will take the challenge this year.
The grandeur, glory, beauty and beast of the marathon are no easier things to describe and explain as running the marathon itself. Ever wonder why so many runners aspire of the marathoner tag attached to their names? And why is it once a marathoner always a marathoner? Why marathoners know how hard and difficult it is to run a marathon and yet keep coming back?
The time I become a marathoner by reaching the Finish Line of the Philippine International Marathon last November of 2009, I knew right then that I would be coming back for more. Only stronger, faster, more durable and more experienced. Experiencing how it was to run the historic marathon distance almost left me teary-eyed and emotional. I clenched both my fists and wanted to scream out loud. I have conquered it. I belong to the revered group of runners who endured and finished a marathon.
I am a marathoner.
And I will not cease to be one. I will take the journey over and over as long as I could without regards to age. For as long as I could – this is my treaty with the marathon. Like a father-son relationship, it cannot be broken. At the Finish Line of my first marathon, that treaty was etched in my heart and fused with my passion as a runner.
For four furious hours, I endured. Though harmed and hurt. I was suffering, grimacing and almost wanting an easy escape for my bad right knee. Aside from the demanding long distance of running, I had to endure with my right knee that does not want to do any more running. The physical side was badly hurting and could hardly cope with the marathon. But as I have learned the hard way, the physical side is only a part of a much bigger marathon equation. The mental, emotional and spiritual sides of the marathon play a huge part. And those other sides kept me going. Toughness is not all about our physical capabilities. Lucky me. I was able to hang on.
This time around though, I plan to strengthen the physical side and equip it accordingly. I do not intend to hurt my knees again just for the love of the marathon. And that’s just one of the goals -- no injuries.
The mental side also wants to prove that the toughness it displayed on the first go was no fluke.
And so we proceed with the Pandesal Adventures – the Milo Marathon Eliminations.
Chapter 3.1 My Milo Marathon Training Schedule
For fifteen full weeks I would train my physical side to meet the demands of the marathon distance. Endurance will be my priority. This is after spending 11 weeks on speed training for the 5 and 10 kilometer race distances. The speed part of my training was productive. I have ran the 5K distance under 20 minutes. I placed 6th and 3rd on two successive 10Km races. The sprint runs and the interval training runs bore sweet fruits. So far my running season is going on the right directions without derails. I love how my plans translate into actions and results. So far so sweet.
From the Globe Run for Home race last March 21, I reckoned that my speed endurance is lacking. On the middle parts of that 10Km race, I slowed down significantly at about 20-30 seconds per kilometer. To avoid such slow downs on longer distances and to keep a fast steady pace, I have to improve my speed endurance.
The 15 weeks of training will not deal with speed improvements. No more intervals. Longer easy runs and much longer long runs populate my training calendar. Endurance is the priority. I will run 5 times a week. Sundays are allotted for long runs of 21-35 kilometers. Much of my weekly mileage base will be coming from 12-14 kilometers of easy runs to be done 3-4 times a week.
The first two weeks will be dedicated exclusively for longer easy runs and longer long runs. This 2-week start obviously aims to increase my endurance and prepare me for the longer distances of training later on and also for the long distance races.
On the third and fourth weeks, I will slowly incorporate Tempo training runs into the schedule. Tempo training will pretty much tell if my speed endurance is improving or not. I will be doing 15 kilometer Tempos during these weeks. I will then finish the 4th training week by joining the Earth Run on April 18th. I will race for 16 kilometers. Hopefully, I will be able to run it under 1:10 hours (under 4:20 min/km pace).
The fifth week is for rest and recovery. I will cut my mileage down and let my body recover from the hard stamina-building phase of my marathon training. Then on the following weeks, I would be running longer distances again hoping to increase my stamina further.
And that’s the plan.
Will you be running a marathon soon? Or are you a marathoner? I intend to make Chapter 3 be as much help to future marathon runners and those who aims to qualify for the Milo Finals. Please do provide your inputs in the comments section or in the marathon polls section of this blog. Thank you.
First Week
I started my marathon training last March 22. Just a day after my Globe Run for Home 2010 10K race. I did my leg strength training routine consisting of ankle and calf raises, lunges and half squats using two 19-pound dumbbells. Three times a week, I do strength training targeting the major muscle groups: legs, chest, back, arms and shoulders. I do about eight exercises each strength training day performed in three sets. The first set would be 8 repetitions for warm up. The next set would be 12 repetitions for maximum effort and the last set would be 10 repetitions for each exercise for maintenance.
I hope to continue with my strength training routines and continue to build strength and power. I also hope to tone my muscles as I do lose a lot of weight while running heavy mileage for a marathon. I do not want to be too thin and I do like to have a nice looking upper body, well toned arms and more powerful set of legs.
For the first week of my Milo marathon training, I was able to log three strength training sessions. Legs training on the first Tuesday, chest and back strength training on Wednesday and then arms and shoulders strength training on the Saturday.
I also incorporate Core Drills on my training schedule. I hope to log about two to three core drills sessions each week leading to the marathon race. Core training develops the core muscles that holds the upper body while running. A strong core is required for long distance running to keep me in my good running form all throughout the four-hour marathon run. It helps me avoid lower back pains caused by poor running form like crouching and the likes.
My core drills includes three sets of sit-ups (upper abs), bicycle crunches (obliques) and leg raises (lower abs). I can do 30-40 repetitions of sit-ups per set, 30-40 bicycles per set and 15-20 leg raises per set. I would then conclude the core sessions with a one to two minutes of the plank exercise.
For my running schedule, I would have 5 running sessions per week consisting of 3 easy runs, a tempo run and a Sunday long run. However for the first two weeks of my 15-week schedule, I decided to train myself exclusively for longer runs to improve my stamina. I would only have 14-kilometer easy runs and a 21-kilometer long run. Tempo runs will only appear starting on the third week of my schedule. Speed work and interval training would not be included. I am happy with my current speed and hopes to carry it over much longer distances.
Plans sometimes does not materialize. For my first week of training though, I did everything that was scheduled. I finished the four 14K easy runs and the 21K long run.
Second Week
The second week of my marathon training was not as successful as the first. I struggle against the varying temperatures of my changing environments. It is too cold in the office with the air conditioning while it was too hot outside. After staying about 9 hours in the office, I would go out to Velazquez Park for my scheduled easy run. Unable to cope with the temperature changes, I was bogged down by a slight fever and had to stop my 14K run with only 9K of that distance covered.
I would then miss my evening run and the Thursday morning run because of the slight fever. Of the scheduled 42 kilometers on three easy runs, I was only able to run 9.
Then the Holy Week, a four-day vacation starting on a Thursday. I had the opportunity to make up for my mileage shortage as I recovered from the fever. I planned to run 3 successive mornings starting on Good Friday.
3 Half Marathons in 3 Days
During the Christian Holidays called Holy Week, it is not uncommon for Christians to do sacrifices to commemorate the hardships and trials that Jesus Christ underwent in that Holy Week. It is a week to remember the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and the day he came back to life (Easter Sunday).
The holidays started on Thursday. Office works were rushed until Wednesday, and then I was off to pack my used clothes and head back to my province of Cavite. Most of those dirty, smelly and sweat-ridden clothes were from my running shorts and singlets. Though not as much as the previous week, as I only had spent three days in Makati as compared to the usual five.
Looking at my marathon training schedule, I need about more than 60 kilometers more of running mileage for the week. As a sacrifice for the Holy Week and for the love of running, I decided to go for a wild three half marathon runs in three consecutive days. On the dawns of Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, I would be running 21 kilometers of cement, asphalt and grassy rocky roads each day. That’s a whopping 63 kilometers of mileage in just three days.
To make it bearable and much more enjoyable, I decided to bring a digital camera and a hydration belt on the 3-day runs. I don’t bring hydration belts on long runs. I see it more of a burden than a relief. I don’t like the extra weight and I don’t like the discomfort it gives on my waist. The constant movement of the liquid, the liquid container and the belt on my lower back also irritate me a bit. I really don’t like those belts. The only positives I can say about it are the extra pocket it provides and the cooling comfort of the water poured atop my head against the heat of the morning sun. I put my money, chocolate bar and digital camera on the belt pocket.
Taking photographs of the roads, the trees, vehicles, houses, farms, people, landmarks and kilometer posts along the route is also an unusual running task for me. Again, it has much to do with the extra weight that I have to carry. With these long runs and picture-taking, I loved it. Though the photographs I have taken may not be that lovely.
The photo shoots have given me a reasonable excuse to run much slower than my usual long run pace. While the training schedule calls for around 5 minute per kilometer pace, there were kilometers where I spent 7 to 8 minutes. And I didn’t mind. I just shoot.
Waking Up for a Morning Long Run
Waking up after 5 in the morning is just as tough as running the scheduled long run. It’s a hard battle. Do I stay in bed or do I wake up and get ready for my run? I end up hitting the snooze button about two or three times before I could finally convince my sleepy self to wake up for the run.
I do sleep with my running clothes if it’s a scheduled run on the following morning. This cuts a few minutes off my running preparation time. Time which is actually spent for sleeping a few minutes more before I finally get myself up for running.
The hydration bottles have been filled with water. I do have two bottles on the belt. A big bottle that can contain a little less than a liter of liquid and a small one with about ten sips capacity and is easily detachable from the belt. I use the big one for a full hydration stop and the small one just to pour water on top of my head or a quick sip while running on the roads.
The digital camera has also been placed on the hydration belt pocket as well as a Choco Mucho chocolate bar. I prefer the violet choco bar than the blue white-chocolate bar or the caramel coated chocolate flavor. Why chocolates? It’s more of a mental bribe really. Almost everybody loves chocolates. They kind of give quick satisfaction. It’s a delight to the mouth and a mental boost. The extra calories and the carbohydrates and energy content are just secondary reasons.
At the house kitchen, I will prepare a cup of coffee with a few spoons of rice mixed with it. Just to have something in my stomach before a two to three hour run on the road. Sometimes, I would be lucky to find a few pieces of bread on the kitchen.
Then it is time for a few stretches before I head out of the door of our house. This is it, another long run in the making. I would strap the belt around my waist and head off.
Feet against the Road
From our house to Silang proper and its main road is almost 3 kilometers. From the main road to Emilio Aguinaldo National Highway is about a kilometer. I would have ran 4 kilometers when I reach the 45th kilometer post on the Aguinaldo Highway. For this half marathon long run, I will go and take the up hills and treacherous inclines going up to the direction of Tagaytay City until I reach the 49th kilometer post (Total of 8 kilometers).
On the 49th kilometer, I have already gone 8 kilometers. Time to go back to kilometer 45th for another 4 (Toal of 12 kilometers now). From here, I will run the Aguinaldo Highway instead of going back to Silang proper. This part of Aguinaldo is locally known as the Silang Bypass Road. I will run this road until I reach the Welcome To Silang Arc just before the 41st kilometer post.
From the Welcome arc, I would go and run back to the part of Silang road I entered on my 3rd kilometer of this half marathon run. The Silang Bypass Road back to Barangay Pasipit roundabout is more than 6 kilometers (Total of 18 kilometers). From Barangay Pasipit, I will head back home which is almost 3 kilometers away (Total of 21 kilometers).
Going out of the house, I would push down the Start Lap button of my Nike Triax Fury running watch. I am no longer sleepy and I feel totally focused and excited about the morning’s adventure on the road.
The feet adventures begin.
The first 3 kilometers to Silang proper would be on a harder cement road. Excitement, fresh legs and the downhill roads leading to Barangay Pasipit would all combine to a relatively fast 5:00 min/km long run pace. I would be greeted with smiles and Good Mornings by my neighbors and friends on the early break of dawn. My energy and excitement rises up to the brink and I can feel my legs almost resembling a dynamic piston. I feel like my people’s positive response to my chosen morning activity gives me much more energy than what I can store and generate. It almost is a transfer of spiritual energy, perhaps a positive aura coming from their smiles and support.
Then comes the realization that this would be a testing and grueling long run. After a kilometer of pure excitement and energy, I would be going out of our barangay. The Welcome Balite 1st arc on our narrow cemented road waves its goodbye. The lonely feeling creeps in. The heavier legs make their complaints to the brain. The mind focuses on the long road ahead. I would still be at a fast easy pace for it is all downhills until I reach Barangay Pasipit going up the Silang main roads.
The fast easy pace would soon slow down going up the Pasipit uphill which is the steepest climb of this half marathon route. By this point, I have fully embraced my duties as a dedicated runner on the road. That no matter how tough and how long the journey ends I will keep going. This is what I do. This is me. These are my sacrifices as well as my pleasures. I am a runner.
I do inspire and motivate myself when running really does not appear to be that much enjoyable. Going up a steep hill is a true leg buster. I feel a zombie grabbing my thighs down. Of course that zombie does exist. Gravity pulls you down so hard while you try to go climb a hill. But instead of walking and giving up to that grabbing force, I just tell myself to climb up slowly but forcefully. Let gravity knows it’s not just him who plays a role in nature. I do too. And my role includes defying gravity to reach my goal. So I am not about to give up. This is what I do. I run. You pull me all the way down all you like. I’m going to push through.
And then those dogs.
Uphill climbs are just one of my many concerns while running. And while running uphill does help strengthen my running legs, my concern with a dog bite is not anywhere near as productive. I am not afraid of dogs. I am afraid of dog bites. Dogs make for a very good pets and friends. They protect your territory. As a runner, I kind of go close to those protected territories. And so some dogs feel threaten. They bark out loud to announce their presence. I am not a welcome stranger.
Often times, I just try to avoid the side where a free untied dog is. And I run slower trying my best not to cause any sudden alarm to these protectors. They stare at me and I glance at them. Can I pass in peace? My expected response is for these dogs to do absolutely nothing. Just for them to stay as is. Else, I just walk and stare back at them.
So far, I’ve never been bitten. But there’s always the first time so I’m just being careful. I love dogs. Not so much when they aren’t mine.
The main road of Silang, Cavite will then greet me. We’ve been acquainted. I’ve been running here for more than a year now. At this point, so much more vehicles and traffic show up. The sun has awaken and I am all warmed up and starting to sweat. The cemented road bids goodbye and its asphalt kin greets welcome. My journey has just begun.
I started my marathon training last March 22. Just a day after my Globe Run for Home 2010 10K race. I did my leg strength training routine consisting of ankle and calf raises, lunges and half squats using two 19-pound dumbbells. Three times a week, I do strength training targeting the major muscle groups: legs, chest, back, arms and shoulders. I do about eight exercises each strength training day performed in three sets. The first set would be 8 repetitions for warm up. The next set would be 12 repetitions for maximum effort and the last set would be 10 repetitions for each exercise for maintenance.
I hope to continue with my strength training routines and continue to build strength and power. I also hope to tone my muscles as I do lose a lot of weight while running heavy mileage for a marathon. I do not want to be too thin and I do like to have a nice looking upper body, well toned arms and more powerful set of legs.
For the first week of my Milo marathon training, I was able to log three strength training sessions. Legs training on the first Tuesday, chest and back strength training on Wednesday and then arms and shoulders strength training on the Saturday.
I also incorporate Core Drills on my training schedule. I hope to log about two to three core drills sessions each week leading to the marathon race. Core training develops the core muscles that holds the upper body while running. A strong core is required for long distance running to keep me in my good running form all throughout the four-hour marathon run. It helps me avoid lower back pains caused by poor running form like crouching and the likes.
My core drills includes three sets of sit-ups (upper abs), bicycle crunches (obliques) and leg raises (lower abs). I can do 30-40 repetitions of sit-ups per set, 30-40 bicycles per set and 15-20 leg raises per set. I would then conclude the core sessions with a one to two minutes of the plank exercise.
For my running schedule, I would have 5 running sessions per week consisting of 3 easy runs, a tempo run and a Sunday long run. However for the first two weeks of my 15-week schedule, I decided to train myself exclusively for longer runs to improve my stamina. I would only have 14-kilometer easy runs and a 21-kilometer long run. Tempo runs will only appear starting on the third week of my schedule. Speed work and interval training would not be included. I am happy with my current speed and hopes to carry it over much longer distances.
Plans sometimes does not materialize. For my first week of training though, I did everything that was scheduled. I finished the four 14K easy runs and the 21K long run.
- Tuesday Morning 14K Easy - Done in 1:03:49 hours (4:34 pace)
- Tuesday Evening 14K Easy - Done in 1:04:21 (4:36)
- Thursday 14K Easy - Done in 1:04:34 (4:37)
- Friday 14K Easy - Done in 1:08:26 (4:54)
- Sunday 21K Long - Done in 1:55:00 hours (5:29 pace)
Second Week
The second week of my marathon training was not as successful as the first. I struggle against the varying temperatures of my changing environments. It is too cold in the office with the air conditioning while it was too hot outside. After staying about 9 hours in the office, I would go out to Velazquez Park for my scheduled easy run. Unable to cope with the temperature changes, I was bogged down by a slight fever and had to stop my 14K run with only 9K of that distance covered.
I would then miss my evening run and the Thursday morning run because of the slight fever. Of the scheduled 42 kilometers on three easy runs, I was only able to run 9.
Then the Holy Week, a four-day vacation starting on a Thursday. I had the opportunity to make up for my mileage shortage as I recovered from the fever. I planned to run 3 successive mornings starting on Good Friday.
3 Half Marathons in 3 Days
During the Christian Holidays called Holy Week, it is not uncommon for Christians to do sacrifices to commemorate the hardships and trials that Jesus Christ underwent in that Holy Week. It is a week to remember the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and the day he came back to life (Easter Sunday).
The holidays started on Thursday. Office works were rushed until Wednesday, and then I was off to pack my used clothes and head back to my province of Cavite. Most of those dirty, smelly and sweat-ridden clothes were from my running shorts and singlets. Though not as much as the previous week, as I only had spent three days in Makati as compared to the usual five.
Looking at my marathon training schedule, I need about more than 60 kilometers more of running mileage for the week. As a sacrifice for the Holy Week and for the love of running, I decided to go for a wild three half marathon runs in three consecutive days. On the dawns of Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, I would be running 21 kilometers of cement, asphalt and grassy rocky roads each day. That’s a whopping 63 kilometers of mileage in just three days.
To make it bearable and much more enjoyable, I decided to bring a digital camera and a hydration belt on the 3-day runs. I don’t bring hydration belts on long runs. I see it more of a burden than a relief. I don’t like the extra weight and I don’t like the discomfort it gives on my waist. The constant movement of the liquid, the liquid container and the belt on my lower back also irritate me a bit. I really don’t like those belts. The only positives I can say about it are the extra pocket it provides and the cooling comfort of the water poured atop my head against the heat of the morning sun. I put my money, chocolate bar and digital camera on the belt pocket.
Taking photographs of the roads, the trees, vehicles, houses, farms, people, landmarks and kilometer posts along the route is also an unusual running task for me. Again, it has much to do with the extra weight that I have to carry. With these long runs and picture-taking, I loved it. Though the photographs I have taken may not be that lovely.
The photo shoots have given me a reasonable excuse to run much slower than my usual long run pace. While the training schedule calls for around 5 minute per kilometer pace, there were kilometers where I spent 7 to 8 minutes. And I didn’t mind. I just shoot.
Waking Up for a Morning Long Run
Waking up after 5 in the morning is just as tough as running the scheduled long run. It’s a hard battle. Do I stay in bed or do I wake up and get ready for my run? I end up hitting the snooze button about two or three times before I could finally convince my sleepy self to wake up for the run.
I do sleep with my running clothes if it’s a scheduled run on the following morning. This cuts a few minutes off my running preparation time. Time which is actually spent for sleeping a few minutes more before I finally get myself up for running.
The hydration bottles have been filled with water. I do have two bottles on the belt. A big bottle that can contain a little less than a liter of liquid and a small one with about ten sips capacity and is easily detachable from the belt. I use the big one for a full hydration stop and the small one just to pour water on top of my head or a quick sip while running on the roads.
The digital camera has also been placed on the hydration belt pocket as well as a Choco Mucho chocolate bar. I prefer the violet choco bar than the blue white-chocolate bar or the caramel coated chocolate flavor. Why chocolates? It’s more of a mental bribe really. Almost everybody loves chocolates. They kind of give quick satisfaction. It’s a delight to the mouth and a mental boost. The extra calories and the carbohydrates and energy content are just secondary reasons.
At the house kitchen, I will prepare a cup of coffee with a few spoons of rice mixed with it. Just to have something in my stomach before a two to three hour run on the road. Sometimes, I would be lucky to find a few pieces of bread on the kitchen.
Then it is time for a few stretches before I head out of the door of our house. This is it, another long run in the making. I would strap the belt around my waist and head off.
Feet against the Road
From our house to Silang proper and its main road is almost 3 kilometers. From the main road to Emilio Aguinaldo National Highway is about a kilometer. I would have ran 4 kilometers when I reach the 45th kilometer post on the Aguinaldo Highway. For this half marathon long run, I will go and take the up hills and treacherous inclines going up to the direction of Tagaytay City until I reach the 49th kilometer post (Total of 8 kilometers).
On the 49th kilometer, I have already gone 8 kilometers. Time to go back to kilometer 45th for another 4 (Toal of 12 kilometers now). From here, I will run the Aguinaldo Highway instead of going back to Silang proper. This part of Aguinaldo is locally known as the Silang Bypass Road. I will run this road until I reach the Welcome To Silang Arc just before the 41st kilometer post.
From the Welcome arc, I would go and run back to the part of Silang road I entered on my 3rd kilometer of this half marathon run. The Silang Bypass Road back to Barangay Pasipit roundabout is more than 6 kilometers (Total of 18 kilometers). From Barangay Pasipit, I will head back home which is almost 3 kilometers away (Total of 21 kilometers).
Going out of the house, I would push down the Start Lap button of my Nike Triax Fury running watch. I am no longer sleepy and I feel totally focused and excited about the morning’s adventure on the road.
The feet adventures begin.
The first 3 kilometers to Silang proper would be on a harder cement road. Excitement, fresh legs and the downhill roads leading to Barangay Pasipit would all combine to a relatively fast 5:00 min/km long run pace. I would be greeted with smiles and Good Mornings by my neighbors and friends on the early break of dawn. My energy and excitement rises up to the brink and I can feel my legs almost resembling a dynamic piston. I feel like my people’s positive response to my chosen morning activity gives me much more energy than what I can store and generate. It almost is a transfer of spiritual energy, perhaps a positive aura coming from their smiles and support.
Then comes the realization that this would be a testing and grueling long run. After a kilometer of pure excitement and energy, I would be going out of our barangay. The Welcome Balite 1st arc on our narrow cemented road waves its goodbye. The lonely feeling creeps in. The heavier legs make their complaints to the brain. The mind focuses on the long road ahead. I would still be at a fast easy pace for it is all downhills until I reach Barangay Pasipit going up the Silang main roads.
The fast easy pace would soon slow down going up the Pasipit uphill which is the steepest climb of this half marathon route. By this point, I have fully embraced my duties as a dedicated runner on the road. That no matter how tough and how long the journey ends I will keep going. This is what I do. This is me. These are my sacrifices as well as my pleasures. I am a runner.
I do inspire and motivate myself when running really does not appear to be that much enjoyable. Going up a steep hill is a true leg buster. I feel a zombie grabbing my thighs down. Of course that zombie does exist. Gravity pulls you down so hard while you try to go climb a hill. But instead of walking and giving up to that grabbing force, I just tell myself to climb up slowly but forcefully. Let gravity knows it’s not just him who plays a role in nature. I do too. And my role includes defying gravity to reach my goal. So I am not about to give up. This is what I do. I run. You pull me all the way down all you like. I’m going to push through.
And then those dogs.
Uphill climbs are just one of my many concerns while running. And while running uphill does help strengthen my running legs, my concern with a dog bite is not anywhere near as productive. I am not afraid of dogs. I am afraid of dog bites. Dogs make for a very good pets and friends. They protect your territory. As a runner, I kind of go close to those protected territories. And so some dogs feel threaten. They bark out loud to announce their presence. I am not a welcome stranger.
Often times, I just try to avoid the side where a free untied dog is. And I run slower trying my best not to cause any sudden alarm to these protectors. They stare at me and I glance at them. Can I pass in peace? My expected response is for these dogs to do absolutely nothing. Just for them to stay as is. Else, I just walk and stare back at them.
So far, I’ve never been bitten. But there’s always the first time so I’m just being careful. I love dogs. Not so much when they aren’t mine.
The main road of Silang, Cavite will then greet me. We’ve been acquainted. I’ve been running here for more than a year now. At this point, so much more vehicles and traffic show up. The sun has awaken and I am all warmed up and starting to sweat. The cemented road bids goodbye and its asphalt kin greets welcome. My journey has just begun.
Shown on the picture is the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway just in front of the Balinsasayaw Restaurant. This is my entrance point to the Aguinaldo Highway coming from my house up to the Silang main roads.
It is no easy task to go North towards Tagaytay City. It is all uphill after uphill after uphill. Thankfully, there are a lot of trees on the road and the fresh windy morning breeze welcomes my courageous ascend.
To Batangas? My mind did wonder if someday I can be brave and strong enough to cross Tagaytay and beyond to Batangas (in one of its beautiful beaches)by foot. Someday I might when I'm ready.
Some more pictures of the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway:
Then I would slowly reach my turn around point. For this half marathon long run, I would only go as far the 49th kilometer post of the Aguinaldo Highway. It also marks the 8th kilometer of my run.
The Emerald Garden. There is a church inside and more trees and green grassed lawns. Had I happened not to be running, I would go inside and take more pictures. See if its really a good idea to make the place my wedding site. Hehehe.
I would finish my three half marathons in three consecutive days of the Holy Week in ordinary finish times of 2:16:27, 2:04:55 and 1:57:54 hours respectively. I should have taken pictures of coffee and pineapple farms along the road with cows, carabaos and chickens on them. Don't ask me to take pictures of dogs though. Until next blog. ;)
I got here because I have Silang Cavite on Google Alert :-) I was just wondering how long you have been running?
ReplyDeleteHi Razielle. Welcom to KL. Thanks for reading my blog.
ReplyDeleteI've been running since I was in college and started joining races late 2008. You can read more about my running on the About the Author + Photo Gallery link on the More KL Contents Widget. :)
Hope to read more from you here. Thanks a lot.