It was mind boggling, heart shattering, and earth shaking!  That is my description of the Marathon.

I’ve always wanted to conquer 42.195 kilometers and after almost a year running several 5s, 10s, and 21s, now I’m a certified marathoner.

Many have said that The Bull Runner Dream Marathon is the “Marathon for virgins” and that this is the best event to join when you want to experience your first.  Now I say, YES, I AGREE!  After much pampering to all Dreamers, I guess this will go under my “favorites” list.

It was a hectic day for me.  Had to juggle my time for a photoshoot in the morning that ended around 3PM, sleep, hear mass at 7PM, and off to ROX in BHS at 9PM.  I don’t want to be late and get left behind by the TBR shuttle to Nuvali.  Would you believe I was still undecided on what to wear for the race?  I haven’t packed my things either.  I packed my stuff an hour before I stepped out of the house.

As we arrived at Nuvali the chilly wind added to the jittery feeling and nervousness.  The Snail Runners Alabang support crew arrived and we had our chat with them.  Runners were asked to start check in at the starting line and after a few introduction and encouragement, we started to count down.

It was too unfortunate for me though that I started the race with guess what…shin splints.  It greeted me good luck!  I had to stop on every aid station available to rest, get a massage, and make it go away.  After a couple of kilometers, the shin splints just went away like nothing happened.  I was even asked by a GMA cameraman to get a footage of me while my legs were given a stretch.  You may watch the video here.

The route was challenging.  One uphill to another and to another.  I took advantage of the downhill part as this is the easiest way to catch up on my time.  Another mainstay visited me….leg cramps.  Since the route is mostly uphill and we had to do a second loop, it really triggered cramps on my legs.  The good thing is that they weren’t as bad as they were in Condura but still the cramps lingered.  Well “lingered” is a not so good term to use.  Because the cramps wasn’t really present as in all throughout the race.

This event has one of the best support system every marathoner could ask for.  Aside from ther personal support crews, the TBR DM team also has their own support.  Every runner was pampered with what they need.  I myself brought with me my own nutrition since I don’t want to get hungry along the route.  To my surprise, we were given energy gels, chips, different fruits, chocolates, candies/beans, biscuits, etc.  We didn’t ran out of water and Gatorade.  It’s like stopping at a one-stop shop where you get everything you need, from a massage, water/hydration, cheer, and food.  Not to mention our own support crew did bring their own hydration and nutrition for us and was always ready with our bags should we need anything.  This is the best part of the race I guess, getting all the support you need to go on and finish.

The first 21K was not as bad as I expected it to be, I’m talking about the first loop.  Though I’ve already suffered shin splints and cramps, I’m still on schedule.  The hardest part was when I had to do it all over again (the second loop).  I was always telling myself “welcome back to the route” and “not again!”  The hills were making my quads, hams, and calves go crazy!  They were literally shaking (fasciculating that is).  It was also my first time to feel a mild cramping on my hamstrings.  The moon was out and the sun was slowly showing.  With that, the route now looked longer; it was like a never ending road.  I just enjoyed the scenery and the early morning wind.  Good thing cheers were coming from all over the place:  from chasers, pacers, Mr. Lafferty, cars passing by, even from fellow Dreamers.  The cheers made everything light and easy somehow.

I was at a trance at one point.  I even thought I got deaf.  Got lost for words; talking nonsense perhaps.  And I really felt tired.  As I left the tent with the loudest music (tent 1?) I walked the whole uphill route.  When it was time for me to take advantage of the flat route, my legs would not let me.  My legs could only walk.  I sought for the nearest hydration and aid station to have a massage and release the stress that my  legs were feeling.  After a short rest, I went back on my feet and tried to walk fast moving into a slow jog.  I continued my run/walk strategy to help me recover from cramps.  At one point I was chatting with a fellow Dreamer who was already complaining of blisters under his feet.  We even talked about what socks we’re wearing that time (sweet ‘eh?).  I then realized my feet are feeling swollen, hot, and at the same time painful.  It occurred to me that I may be suffering from blisters as well that I just didn’t notice.  But surprisingly I have none.  Thanks to my ever trusted socks which I used since day 1 of training.  I had to bid farewell to the guy (sorry I forgot your name) to do another fast run downhill.  I offered him to join me so we can bit the lost time walking.  But he declined.

A few more kilometers left, I can already see the call center building, I can hear the music and I was already exhausted.  All I wanted was to walk to the finish line.  Beeps joined Titanium Runner in pacing me.  Geesh!!!!  That was hell!  They kept on telling me not to stop, pushing me to move, go on.  They even pulled my compression garments off my legs and did an aggressive stretch with pressure on my calves (this happened on the last 3K I believe after the last support station of Team Boring and Snail Runners).  It really made me shout like a cow!  But that helped a lot.

As we were approaching the last 2 kilometers, they had me run on the grass to lessen the impact and increase the bounce and make it easier for me to run.  They cried out loud and told me to finish this race sub 7 hours.  What!?  Are you kidding me guys!?  Sub 7 hours and I only have a couple of minutes left before I cross that finish line?  As I approached that 42K marker, turned left, I saw Kassy (wait, Kassy? How the hell was she able to get there?  Last time I saw her she was somewhere…far from that place) and was also shouting that I only have a minute before 7 hours.  And there I heard deafening cheers and I could not even remember their faces, who they were.  All I remember was Beeps pointing at the clock saying that I still have time to beat 7 hours.  Told myself that these guys believe that I can so I tried not to disappoint them.  I sprinted my way to the finish line, I swear I did!  Those were my last reserves.  The cheers were deafening and I wanted to say thank you to them by smiling but my focus then was to reach the finish line before 7 hours.  I clocked in 6:59.

After crossing the finish line, I got disoriented.  All I know was someone placed the medal around my neck, a guy and a girl congratulated me.  It took sometime before I realized that it was Coach Rio and The Bull Runner herself, Jaymie.  It took like three times for Coach Rio to say congratulations before I get to notice him.  lol! 

After the event, we ate lunch and I had grilled bangus belly and a stick of pork barbecue and a cup of rice.  We went straight to Starbucks while waiting for the bus going back to ROX.  Guess who we bumped into:

To all Dreamers 2011, congratulations!  We are now Marathoners.

Photos courtesy of the following:  JP, Jojo, Madz & Reinell, Alex, TR