The idea of running a marathon first occurred to me late in 2007 when I had barely started running and I decided to sign up for a 10k race in early 2008. Since I could already complete a 10k, I thought it wouldn’t be much more difficult to complete a 42k. Fast forward more than 1 1/2 years later and I’ve realized what a foolish thought it was then and just how grueling a 42k really is.
Last July 5, 4:00 AM, I finally made it to the starting line of my first marathon. My only goal that day was to finish the race – I didn’t set time goals yet based on other runner’s first time marathon experiences where their finish times always seemed longer than what I thought they were capable of, given their 10k and 21k times.
With Harry, our Race Logistics Director and the awesome T2 ladies
With all the warm-up exercises, opening prayer and race course description, I thought that Mr. Biscocho would start the race “late” (meaning at exactly the scheduled time) but when the starting gun fired, I checked my watch and true to form, it was 5 minutes early at 4:25 AM. My plan was simple: pace with Bards as long as I can, run conservatively up to 32k, and give it all I’ve got the last 10k.
Within the first few kilometers, Doc Joe ran up behind us and we were a running trio for 19 kilometers until he peeled off to meet up with Jonel.
Pacing with Bards and Doc Joe
My first 22km went well as Bards and I stayed on a pretty consistent pace. The weather was perfect since it wasn’t until 6:30AM when we first experienced our first peep of sunshine but that quickly changed when there was a downpour while we were in the Lawton / Bayani road area. On km. 23, I found that I needed to take a walk break already so I told Bards to go on ahead since I knew she was targetting to hit 5 hours and I didn’t want to keep her from meeting her goal. On hindsight when I was reviewing my Garmin data, I realized that my heart rate had been creeping up so even though I maintained an even pace, I was growing more weary with every kilometer. At km 23, my heart rate was at 10k race pace levels already.
I was conserving my strength for the last 10km so I practically walked the uphill back to Lawton. At the Bayani road area, RJ kept me company on his bike and paced with me for long stretches.
RJ kept me company along Bayani Road
I approached the T2 aid station right before taking on the Kalayaan flyover again and I loaded up on banaba, Gu and fluids before I headed into uncharted territory.
Getting ready for Kalayaan flyover
As I hit kilometer 32 after Buendia – Paseo de Roxas, cramps started attacking my legs. As I stretched my hamstrings along the road, I could only watch as T2 runners Kathy and Beni passed me. By this time it was already 9AM and the weather had become quite hot and humid, around 31 degrees and the sun was shining bright. I pushed on and would periodically douse myself with water from my hydration pack.
When I stopped at the water station past South Super, to my horror my left knee suddenly locked up and I couldn’t bend it. I had to literally drag my foot for about a minute until the muscles loosened up again and I could resume walking then brief jogs. While jogging, cramps again attacked my right leg, beginning with my hamstring then spreading to my knees. I dragged my legs again as if I didn’t have any knees until they gradually loosened. I worried that if I attempted to stop at any water station again, my legs might cramp so much that I might not finish the race.
As I approached the Takbo.ph cheering squad at Buendia-Leveriza, runners ahead of me would get energized and speed up but I could only keep walking. Gene aka Barracuda Running approached me and asked if he could assist me in any way, if I needed a pacer. Without hesitating, I said yes, I’d appreciate a pacer up to the finish line!
Gene readily walked / jogged with me the last 5km at 10am in 30+ degree weather. He would run ahead to refill my water bottle so that I wouldn’t need to stop at the water stations since I was afraid of cramping again. Along the way he would encourage other runners that were exhausted also and were struggling just to get to the finish line.
Gene aka Barracuda Running paced me the last 5 km up to the finish line!
Finally we passed the US Embassy and we started jogging again and I used my last ounce of strength to give one last sprint towards the finish line. I was just so relieved to have finally finished, and with satisfaction I saw my Garmin read 42.05 km, completed in 5:52. Que of Takbo.ph snapped my photo right after crossing and I apologetically told her I was so tired I could barely manage a smile. I felt like Pheidippides when he finally arrived at Athens!
I didn't make the 5-hr cutoff but I still got my finisher's certificate! Thanks to Vener for the picture
With Mr. & Mrs. Takbo.ph Jinoe and Que, Gene
Gene, Beni, Kathy, Bards, Vicky, Tin and Mesh
Congratulations again to all the finishers last Sunday, notably Jay who did a blazing 3:38, Mesh who finished 7th in the women’s division, Bards who just keeps improving her time by leaps and bounds, other T2 ladies Kathy, Beni, Tin, Kristine: your perserverance and endurance amazes me!
Special thanks to Gene who helped me endure the last few kilometers of the race. Bro, I hope to repay the favor by supporting you in your marathon debut in QC this October – I’ll be there!
runningDATCom 
congrats on finishing your first! marathoners na tayo! 😀
We can now address each other as “my fellow marathoner” 🙂
congrats for completing your first one. there’ll be more in october. 😉
cheers for a speedy recovery!
I didn’t want to think about racing since Sunday but this morning I started entertaining thoughts about another marathon in October!
Congatulations Dindo!!! i’ve been running since 1980 and I’ve never done a Marathon.
You are a Marathoner!!! Congratulations !!
Regards Mark & Tiffin
Yes, call me a marathoner, wag lang natin pag usapan ang time 🙂 Join ka na rin, game!
Hi Dindo, congrats for finishing your first marathon. Hope i can do the same. Thanks for the email you sent me. God bless!
Believe you can BroJ! I know you have the desire and discipline for it, it just takes a lot of patience but you can do it.
Congratulations Dindo, you made it. After those long time of planning and training, your perseverance paid off. Cheers!
Thanks Vener, next time, may time goal na!
Finally, you made it! All those training under the sun when I chanced upon in Clark. You’re now a MARATHONER. It is such a nice feeling, isn’t it? Enjoy.
Jon
http://jon-ultra.blogspot.com
Thanks Atty. Jon, I’m enjoying even the aches and pains in my legs now. See you in Clark, I hope to be running there again in around 3 weeks or so.
Congratulations!!!! After today, nothing is really too far anymore! You can do anything if you set your mind to it! Enjoy it. Savor it.
Maybe I can qualify for Boston too if I improve my pace by a minute or two per kilometer and maintain that until I’m in my 80’s….
Congratulations fellow marathoner. The word has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it, especially if you put in blood, sweat and tears to earn it.
Congratulations too on your first marathon! A wise man once told me the best things in life are the ones you work hard for. This was one of those things.
Hey congrats Dindo! A true blue marathoner, now for the next one in October, I’m sure below 5hrs na yan..
Aaahhh pressure! 🙂 I’d definitely like to go sub-5 but I don’t know yet if I’ll be running in October. Teka, where were you last Sunday??
i saw you in front of museo pambata, and you were really struggling. but still you finished the race like a true warrior. congrats dindo! ultra na ang kasunod nyan! =)
Thanks rod! Ultra? Mmmm….pass muna, improve ko muna marathon time ko, hahaha! RJ and I talked about your post, tanong mo sya 🙂
Congratulations Dindo!!! You’re a MARATHONER!!! Great achievement!! Love all the posts, the drama and the pictures and the crowning achievement!!! You’re another inspiration for me to attempt my own marathon soon!!!
With your new Garmin, it will make training for the marathon easier 🙂
congratulations! 😀
Running with you the first half made it easier and more enjoyable, thanks!
now that you’ve had your go on the marathon road…kelan ulit? haha! 😉 good run, dong! That’s one sun-kissed dream in your pocket …and i’m pretty sure there will be more to enjoy… congratulations!
The earliest marathon I’d consider is Clark in December if it materializes, but who knows, I can be persuaded to do something crazy….:-)
Good luck in SFM! Go kick some butt!
psst. kung saan at kailan. magpasabi ka lang, sabay tayo ulit sa Full 😀
Tara, next time sabay na tayo mag sub-5! 😀
Sounds like a painful run from your vivid description of the cramps. But you finished, which is the most important thing. When and where will your next marathon be?
Yes, it was that painful, I’ve never experienced anything like it before and I still suffer from occasional aches and pains in the legs today. There are 3 marathons here in October and a tentative one scheduled December. I’d go for December except that I don’t know if it will materialize.
Good luck on SFM!
Congratulations Dindo!! Galing! In a year and a half you have ran your first marathon and finished it.
Thanks, the key word there is “finished”, regardless of the time 😛
Congrats!!! Great job!!!
So all finishers get a certificate of completion but only those who finish before the 5 hour cut-off time gets the medal. No medals even for 5:01. Correct?
As far as I know everyone who finishes within the 5 hour cut-off should get a medal but I don’t know if they all actually got a medal.
Are you going to publish a statistical analysis of the race?
The results only covered finishers up to 5:04 since the cut-off time was 5 hours. I am not in the finishers list and I can’t do an analysis since the results will not show the whole picture.
congratulations dindo!
while most of us procrastinate and quibble you just did it!