Mukhang Guilty’s BLOG

The ‘Evil Plan’ according to Bananarunning

I had my sights set on running this year’s Milo Marathon, but due to bananarunning’s ‘BardsBaliwText’ on doing a 42k ‘LONG RUN’ at the Botak Paa-Tibayan 42 race, several other T2 Runners (myself, V, E, myironshoes, runmd, K, Ate ni K) decided to either sign up with bananarunning, or run as bandits.

Race Planning

We decided to field our own support crew for this run because:

1. We believe that it is not proper to be drinking off the water stations as some T2 Runners did not register for the race.
2. Most road races in the Philippines are notorious for having too few water stations, or water sources that are suspect (you’d see floating stuff on the water drums)
3. T2 runners are evolving… more than half of our runners are now capable of running full marathons. We are now working towards having our own support crew so we could be self sufficient in any Marathon race we join.

Botak 42k Race Route

A copy of the map was downloaded from takbo.ph to mark the locations of the kilometer support points.

The Route Plan

We also decided to put up T2 banners to distinguish our support station from the Botak water stations so as not to confuse the runners.

T2 Banner

Race Start

This OBVIOUSLY was NOT a Biscocho race, the race started LATE, around 4:50 am.  I was concerned that it will be unbearably hot towards the latter part of the race.

KM 1 – 21, Keeping Up with the Hardcores

I was told that Team Baldrunner’s Hardcores will be running at a pace of 5:30 to 6:00 min/km, that was my target pace, so I decided to keep pace with them.  The first 21 kilometers of the run was relatively uneventful, I was quite familiar with the terrain as I’ve ran the route several times… there were no surprises.

KM 22 – 28, Steady lang…

As we crossed the Kalayaan Fly over, some of the Hardcores started to increase their pace and started to pull away.  At this point, I decided to just maintain my pace, so as not to burn myself out towards the end.  It was also at this point when some of the elite 42k runners were on their way back to the finish.

KM 29 – 35, Fatigue and the Cursing Runner

After reaching the Pasong Tamo / Buendia turnaround, instead of making a right in Ayala towards Makati, I was surprised that I was made to turn left towards Kalayaan by a road marshal.  At this point fatigue was starting to set in, my pace dropped from 5:30 to 6:00, the temperature has started to rise as the sun was directly on me.  The heat became so unbearable that I took my first walk break at Km 30, alongside was another runner who was cursing at the race officials for making him run a complicated race route.  I walked for 200 meters, then continued running till I reached Km 35 for my second walk break.

KM 36 to 38, Walk Run Walk Run

Kilometers 36 to 38 wasn’t very pleasant, my legs were becoming heavy and my 200m walk breaks are now at every kilometer, instead of every 3 to 5 kilometers.  I was tired, and was weary of my finish time.  I pushed myself to reach Km 38 where I knew that the T2 support van will be waiting with cold water, and Gatorade.  I took a two minute breather, downed some Roctane and Gatorade before going up the Kalayaan flyover.

KM 39 to 42, To Infinity and Beyond!

Having fueled myself with Gatorade and Roctane, I feared not the Kalayaan flyover and attempted to run it like a runner with fresh legs.  But just like a defective cellphone battery, I ran out of power after 60 seconds.  I had to settle for walking up the flyover, running on top of the flyover, and walking again on the downhill portion to save my quads.  When I reached the bottom of the flyover, Javy pulls over and encourages me to move on.  Just like Singapore, the last 3 kilometers felt like forever, but unlike Singapore, my body wasn’t totally wasted, I managed to cross the finish line at 4:27.

with RUNMD

T2 and Friends

Thoughts About The Race

1. I’m not sure if the distance was really 42.195, my polar registered 44.6
2. Why did they change the route at race day?  I took time to understand the route so I could plan the logistics for support, the fact that they changed routes screwed up our support.  I understand that plans change, but the change should have been communicated, either through email, ROX (or wherever you signed up), or through the running blogs
3. The route was complex, I had to cross reference the Botak map with a much more detailed map to figure out the turn points.  It didn’t help that THEY CHANGED IT LAST MINUTE.
4. If understanding the route was already difficult, how much more confusing would it be to a runner who never had a chance to read it in detail?
5. In fairness, there were marshals at every turn point, but the problem is they were not THAT VISIBLE, and PROPERLY TRAINED.  I had to keep a watchful eye for them at every turn point, and once I spot them, I always had to yell and say”42 ako, saan? diretso? kanan? kaliwa?”… c’mon Mr Race Organizer, men have trained sheep dogs to guide herds of sheep, I’m sure it’s so much simpler to train humans to guide humans.
6. What was originally intended to be a long run turned out to be a redemption marathon for me.  The 4:27 finish time WAS my target finish time in Singapore (I finished the Singapore Marathon in 5:07).

Singapore SC Marathon vs Botak 42

The Botak 42 was tougher than the Singapore Marathon, it was hotter and the race route had more rolling hills.  How was I able to improve my time from from 5:07 to 4:27?

1. I ran Botak 42 injury free, I had a bad case of untreated Post Tibial Tendonitis during the Singapore Marathon.
2. Mileage mileage and mileage.  Last year, I was putting in 45 to 55 kms per week, this year it’s 66 to 75 kms
3. I had 5 hours of sleep, sleeping in my own room was definitely better than sleeping in a hotel room.  I always have this problem of being unable to sleep the first night in a hotel.
4. I wore the right pair of shoes.  The New Balance 903s that I wore in Singapore didn’t offer enough support, the Asics Gel Kayano 14s did a good job in Botak 42.  I highly recommend the Kayano 14s for those who require a good stability shoe.
5. Home court advantage, we had support, I was able to hydrate myself properly
6. Imodium (thanks br)

So what’s next?
… milo milo milo