After having weeks to months of training for my 2nd full marathon, finally the long wait is over, the big day, October 18, 2009 came and I have no more recourse but to go on with my mission.... to finish my second marathon race, the 1st Quezon City International Marathon. Woke up 2AM on that fateful day, our team TARAYEM was billeted at Crown Plaza Apartelle along West Avenue, Q.C. Took a quick shower, ate some boiled eggs, noodles, banana, and hydrated myself with water and Gatorade. After an hour of preparation, my group headed to QC Memorial Circle....
Upon arriving at the starting area, had some glimpse with some runner bloggers and noticeably the presence of Kenyans doing their warm up drills. I saw familiar faces that I once met during the Milo eliminations last July. I bumped on my running buddy Steve Mendoza a.k.a. Runningchilipepper, had a brief chat with him before the stretching exercises. We wished each other good luck. Then the countdown before the race begins, five...four...three...two...one, go!!!!
I started the race following the 5 hours and 30 minutes pacers with my Kumpadre- Edward Villareal who ran his first marathon. Our run was relaxed hearing the stories about running by our pacers Arman and company from Team Hardcore. We exchange ideas with no specific topics, anything under the sun just to calm down our nerves in our leg muscles.
Then we reached East Fairview wherein we made a right turn in a subdivision. After a while we noticed a lot of soldiers in full battle gear that signifies our presence at “La Mesa Eco-Park”, wow... it was really nice to run with nature view, inhaling fresh air that somewhat rejuvenates my exhausted lungs. The scenic view somehow distracts my attention to the hilly course. I took some videos using my cell phone to capture the memories of the race. Just before the turn around, I met Bards, a.k.a. Banana Running and we exchanged greetings.
After a while I felt stomach discomfort maybe due to over hydration but as minutes go by, the uneasiness persists and I can feel, I know that it’s a call of nature...oh men! I have to leave organic souvenir to this historic La Mesa Dam! After a quick hide in the bushes, I was able to relieve myself as I shouted success! Thanks to Edward for he acted as lookout and waited patiently on the road.
Then we finally finished the nature course of La Mesa Dam going to the polluted air of Lagro, Novaliches. Here you can see a lot of vehicles around passing, lot of runners walking, water-less water stations! This time we saw one of our team mates, Jessie having his walk breaks. I shouted, Jess sabay na tayong tatlo. The absence of water at water stations really made runners fuming mad at the race organizers. Its good thing I had a chance to see “Michael of Second Wind Running Store” who acted as support group for their team. When he saw me he immediately handed water and Pocari sweat, thanks a lot Michael!! He never hesitated to offer us help along the way.
Upon reaching Fairview, I told Edward to go on. This time sunog na si Jessie. Edward is not keen on leaving us but I told him it’s okay just move on and enjoy the race cause I need to motivate Jessie who is in distress. He was about to give up but I told him we must finish the race and disregard his goal time. We did a run-walk strategy just to ease the pain that he was experiencing. Thanks God my legs were still in running condition. We reached Mc Donald’s Fairview as my sister Carole was anxiously waiting for us. It was a nice brother and sister reunion on the road. She pampered us with Gatorade and ice tea. After a brief chat, she wished me good luck and we bid goodbye and continued our quest.
Km 30 to the Finish Line... As we continued running, I remembered the words of one runner friend George Corpuz “that the race begins at kilometre 30”! Indeed he was right, my knees started to slow my strides, my mind kept on pushing my body, pushing my legs to respond. As kilometres go by the leg pains started to develop, the intensity increases when I try to speed up. At this point, I was running alone, with no running buddy on my side, no one to talk to, and no one to lean on. I kept telling myself to go on, to enjoy every moment, to feel the pain positively, to bear the burden. I was praying hard that God will help me realize my mission. Then all of a sudden, the pacers for 5:30 hours (Team Hardcore) are on my side uttering words of encouragement, motivating every struggling runner along the way. Then I can visibly see the three angels of Quezon Memorial Circle indicating my nearness to the finish line. As we entered the circle I was able to maintain running with the pacers hoping to sustain the pace. The agony started when we reach North Avenue going to SM North where I can no longer lift my legs to move on. The pacers left me because I can no longer run. I was crying then hoping to release the much needed adrenaline left in my system. I kept telling myself that I can do it but I need to be patient, willing to give my best shot. As I made my turn around at SM North my legs slowly giving in, wanted to surrender, can no longer push to my inner limits. Oh my God, so near yet so far! The misery has elevated along the Trinoma turn around point. Here you can see runners turned walkers. Then as I patiently making my last moves, I finally saw the 41 km marker and I know that I will be running my longeeeeest one kilometre ever. As I crossed the wide street approaching the finish line, I felt relieved, the feeling of distress vanished, and my tears were flowing involuntarily. I thank God for helping me all throughout the race; He was my invisible running buddy. "Tears streamed down my face as I crossed the finish line. I was a new person, a runner, a marathoner”.
