I have been looking forward to the 1st QCIM, not just because it is an important new event in my home city, but because it coincides with the end of a rather tumultuous period in my life. In the months just prior to the race, I had to struggle with depressing relationship issues while trying to deal with all-too-fussy school requirements that must be accomplished before I could graduate. When it rains, it really pours! But thankfully, I did manage to make it to graduation just last week , then finish the grueling filing process at PRC for the November Board Exam, and last but not least, I'm past the break-up blues! The worst is over, I feel like I've accomplished so much. I felt like celebrating, and what better way to do so than with a half-marathon?
Okay, I would have been happier to run the full mary, but I simply was not ready. Heck, in truth, I hadn't prepared all that well either for the half, what with my busy, busy schedule. But I had done a half before, and I felt it's an attainable goal this time.
At any rate, I wasn't planning on getting a new PR. And I knew I absolutely had no chance against those Kenyans, duh! I just wanted to run, celebrate, be happy, enjoy my accomplishments and the fact that I'm still alive and kicking... er, running ... after going through some difficult times.
On race day, I got to the race venue some 15 minutes before gun start. Getting to City Hall proved a little difficult at first because the area was closed to traffic and I didn't know which road to take. I left my bag at the baggage area, make a quick trip to the portalet, pinned on my bib, and adjusted my Nathan hydration belt for the nth time. I was a little worried about wearing the Nathan. I'm still not used to it. In fact, when I first used it just days ago, the bottle fell to the ground while I was running, and the belt got broken (the plastic buckle part snapped). I just had it repaired at Quickie's the day before the QCIM. On this race day, this is just the second time that I'm wearing it. Tsk, tsk!
The crowd was eager, the air was filled with excitement and energy, and at exactly 5:00 am, the gun went off for the 21k runners. I appreciated that the race started on time. I started slow, as usual. (Well, I am slow at every part of the race, not just at the start, haha.) I enjoyed the crisp, cool morning breeze (still fumes-free at that time) and the wonderful scenery. We went inside UP first, my home running ground, and then off to the long stretch of Commonwealth Avenue. There were school bands playing along the way. I thought we were going to take the Tandang Sora Flyover, but we didn't. It would have been nice (but more difficult) to run along the flyover. Looking at it brought back fond memories of my first half, the Condura Run.Aside from the different route, an unexpected surprise was meeting an old college acquaintance, Victor. A stranger running beside me asked what time I was targetting, and to my surprise, I found out it was Victor! We hadn't seen each other for almost two decades, but I still recognized him. Aeons ago, we were org-mates at UP-ACES. We chatted for awhile, then he ran ahead of me.
For a brief time, I also ran beside the famed BaldRunner, but I was too timid to say hello. I also didn't want to disrupt his focus or whatever. Besides, I was wearing my Ipod headphones, and for some reason, I thought he might berate me for this undesirable behavior. Haha. I do have a wild imagination. Although BaldRunner can appear formidable, I have heard that he is really very friendly. I am a fan of his. At the finish line, I came up to him to say hello and congratulations. (Was it my imagination, or did I finish slightly ahead of him? He must have been taking it super slow, or maybe he ran the full.)
I also made a new acquaintance on the road, Ron. We ran together for a while, and again met at the finish line. He told me he had fever that day, and diarrhea the night before (holy cow!), so he hesitated on going ahead with the run. It's a good thing he ran. His endurance and determination is admirable.
To my disappointment, at about Km 15, I felt the familiar leg cramps starting on my left calf. I consciously slowed down and watched how my left leg landed. I compensated by depending more on my right leg, until I felt a bit of a cramp on my right leg too. From then on, I had to be very careful, slowing down when needed, gathering speed later, then slowing down again. The first Salonpas station I found along the way was empty (of both patches and aides). Thankfully, the second station was not. I was about to put the patch on when an aide suggested that I use the liquid form instead. I rubbed it on my calves and felt instant warmth and relief from the cramps. That helped somewhat. I still ran very cautiously afterwards, praying that the cramps wouldn't incapacitate me to the point where I'd have to stop, or jog limping. Later, something caught in my eye and my hand automatically came up to rub the eye. But I stopped just in time, remembering that there must be some remnants of the ointment in my hands. If I had rubbed my eye, it most likely would have stung like hell. I had enough of a problem with the cramps; I didn't need eye pain to complicate things further.
At about 3km to the finish, just past Trinoma, I found myself running beside JazzRunner, another icon in the running community. We chatted briefly and I found out he too was having problems. Apparently, he had to go to the can twice because of abdominal problems. Golly gosh! Now that is indeed a difficult situation :-( Nonetheless, he seemed to be in good form, he was forging ahead, and eventually I lagged behind him. Not that I minded. I was enjoying the run, cramps included.
I savored my final fifteen minutes or so. In my mind, I prayed. I celebrated in a quiet, meditative way. I offered my sincere gratitude to the Eternal Being for giving me so many blessings in life, including this chance to run. I gave thanks for my health. I also thought of the recent difficulties I went through and was grateful that I had sailed past them. I breathed forgiveness to those who had hurt me. I gave thanks that I was free now, that I could breathe easy now. I breathed consciously, taking in and savoring the precious breath of life. I communed with my whole body, feeling everything -- the cramping, the heaviness, the breathing, the tiredness, and yes, the lifting up of my spirits, the euphoria above all. It was a good run. It was a wonderful run.
I finished in 2:41:xx. Not bad, I thought, what with the cramping and insufficient pre-race preparation.
Ron, me and Let at the Finish Line. Take a look at their feet :-)
I met Let, another familiar face, at the finish line. She was waiting for her husband who did the full.
Overall, the race was great. There were enough water stations, the marshals were friendly and helpful, the route and scenery was awesome! There was a time though when some vehicles were moving right beside the runners. This happened near Trinoma. One runner was signalling the marshal to do something to steer the vehicles farther away from the runners, but the marshal, a teen-ager, didn't seem to understand what was being asked of him. The terrible traffic jam going home post-race, was also a bummer, but I guess this couldn't be helped.
I also appreciated the bands, some cheerers amidst the crowd, and yes, the cut bananas offered to the runners along the way. Not to mention the Salonpas/pain ointment! :-)
The medal wasn't bad either.
Kudos to the organizers of the race, to Runnex, and the QC government. I hope to see a repeat next year. I'll most likely run the full marathon then :-)
