Running my first Dream Marathon

"Pain is inevitable,suffering is optional"- Buddhist Proverb

Before the race, I asked our officemate/pacer (for a officemate), Sam, for a marathon advise on the cold chilly morning of Feb 16. He told us that - "You will experience pain along the way, what you have to do is forget it and finish the race". I then remembered the Buddhist proverb that I read from Murakami's What I talk about when I talk about running - Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. I breathed these words in then went to the starting line.

I remembered so well, when I was waiting online for the registration for this race. The slots get filled up so easily, so I waited in front of the computer. I knew that this will change my life, I hoped that somewhere in the finish line is the answer to my self. What do I do with my life? How do I rise from all these bullshit? I think I put myself in it, how do I get out?

6 months later, here I am in this starting line, wherein I ran even in my busy schedule, (4 hrs of commute, tricycle-Fx-MRT-bus-jeep-tricycle then vice versa add up two 200m foot bridges) even after my blue aikido belt, even after I got respiratory track infection due to the chilly January wind, even after receiving my bad performance at work, even after learning with friends leaving for abroad, even after a boy who doesn't know he broke my heart because I always I acted cool with everything that had happened, even after my family felt far because I only get to see them at night and they are busy with their own lives, even after my dog ate every single thing that is important to me and I had to buy them back because I need it, even after all of these bullshit, the training still went on. Now, I have to know whether I can finish this or not. I have to run this.

So 2:00 am came, and all of us went for the run. Me, and some of my Holcim colleagues, Mike, Faye and Sam promised that if we see each other on the road, we will high five each other. This is our way of supporting each other. I plan to first pace with ate Mj (a running friend of mine), whom I thought of running with on the first half. But knowing her (and I don't blame her), she will speed off. Knowing me, I am a sloooow runner. My goal was to finish before 9:00 am, but I wanted to finish earlier, I envisioned the sun wouldn't be so forgiving. I came with a plan on this race really, I wanted to start slow, hydrate every one hour, then, GU (energy gel) after. I also plan on walking every ten km, I do not intend to go for the run-walk strategy since I've learned from previous runs that I am not good at it. I tend to sabotage the whole run by walking the remaining distance. So, I'll just run whenever and wherever I can, then if my legs will hurt, I will still run...or will walk a little.. then run again.

The organizers gave us Enervon Activ E before the race. I read over the internet that it should be taken an hour before the activity. I don't know what came to me and decided to give it a try on the race day itself, I drank one tab before the race. I consumed my first gel on the 3rd kilometer, for energy.I felt high with energy on the first ten kilometers.

See how stupid my pacing is, I ran fast on the first half of the race. Not good. 

The first ten kilometers of the race is mostly composed of uphills, or what most runners call "uphells". It is indeed hellish. At 2nd km, there is this very steep road. Since I already encountered this path before, I planned to walk on this area, I don't want to give more pounding on my legs. I will attack the downhills but not uphills, I will forgive my legs for not really trying. I was able to get to my first half 10mins slower than my 7-11 time (2:28). I was telling myself that it is okay, I will be giving it my all on the second half.

The elevation is actually on the graph below, see the blue lines vs the green ones (my pace)

Or not. My legs started feeling a little wobbly on the 24th km. I felt a little pain on the 16th, but it can be brushed off. The 24th km is when my legs felt like dead weight. I started walking. The cold Laguna wind kept blowing on my face. Good thing I brought with me my ever friendly face towel. I covered my face with it, since got sick because of the cold and I needed to warm myself. I thought of the movie Hunger games while running, because suddenly it drizzled. Then, there were dimly lit areas where your only source of light is the moon. It was creepy, and you have to keep running. Since I am all alone and I resolved to not finish the whole race by walking, I put my headphones on.

'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
 Feel weak, and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up.
 But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
 And just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up
 And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse.
- Till I collapse, Eminem

This is the song I kept listening to before the race. This has been my power song. This is Till I collapse by Eminem. The first paragraph is a killer. This was the things I wanted to hear when I put my headphones on. It exactly gave me what I needed to do. I have to pull this shit out of me and not to give up. So I ran again. I thought of the feeling at the 30th km, since I think I have not really experienced the feeling reaching that long.

I ran until the 30th, the 31st, until the 36th, I kept counting how long will I still have to run. I greeted all the people on the other side, (as I am already going back at the starting line) I needed to gather all the energy I have left and not lose hope, and I don't want to see people losing hope as well, so I cheered as I ran. Since there will be photographers along the race course, I resolved also to smile and look good, even though I am feeling hellish, I-have-to-look-good.

I already saw the finish line and started feeling it, but I have to turn right, to run for two more. Upon turning, I almost cried upon seeing the beautiful sky. It was a blessing. It is a good day to finish a marathon. I ran. Then got walked a little, then ran on my last 100 meters.

I was all smiles, upon seeing the words FINISH. I could not contain my happiness so even my leg felt like two logs attached to my body, I ran. I ran like there was no tomorrow, I was aiming for my strong finish. Upon reaching the tape, I roared. Yeah I know, it was unlady-like, but I roared loud, then I heard my name as announced by the emcee - "Abigail Kay Veloso, you are now a Marathoner". I smiled, I know there was no one I get to share this with but when I saw Ate Mj, I hugged her tight. Then shouted the words "We did itt!" it was ecstatic. I can still feel the euphoria up to now.

Was I able to find what I was looking for? I forgot about everything when I reached the finish line. I forgot my bullshit life and everything negative. I was gunning for a sub 7 finish but got a better result by finishing before 8:00am. Yes people, I finished with a time of 5:48 hrs. I was on the upper half, 181 out of 674 runners. Not a bad time for a first time marathoner.

I guess whenever I feel bad, or whenever I feel like giving up. I will always remember that day. That day I finished my first marathon, where everyone is cheering for you to finish, where every runner is not losing hope and kept running.

These are the pros of joining this marathon. It is to give you the best first time experience, and I got it. I loved it, I wanted to run some more marathons after this. I highly recommend this for all first time marathoners. It makes you proudly say, whatever your time is, that "I, Abigail Kay Remerata Veloso, am a Marathoner!"

Woohoo! :)

Credits to Maja Caballero for this picture. Woohoo I have a medal! 

Long Run at Nuvali

Part of the marathon training is having the 30kms long run, so last saturday, June 25, the TBR dream marathon organizers organized the 3hr and 30mins long run. 

The long run is held at Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna where the actual marathon will be held. Me and my office group friends joined this, so that we can actually try the Nuvali landscape and see what we're about to face on the day of our marathon. 

Me and the Manlosa couple before the run. Yes, I look fresh and I am cold! I wore this jacket all the way through - best decision ever. 

The group run is divided into different groups, depending on the pace they want to do on the day of marathon. There are 4:1, 3:1 (fast), 3:1(slow), 2:1 (fast), 2:1(slow) paces (4:1 means 4mins run and 1min walk). 

I tried first the 4:1 pace, which was quite ambitious on my part because I could not run the fast pace it is 6:30/km at least. Since, I could not keep up, I opted to be left behind. I walked then caught up with the 3:1 (fast group) and they are a bunch of really fast people. I could not keep up again, until I got lost and isolated in the middle of Nuvali. Until the group of 3:1 (slow) caught up with me, I realized that this should be the group I went with in the first place. I was planning to join this group when they were already doing the grouping, I should've listened to my guts. 

My alone moment time where I thought - "Where is everybody?" 

I guess one of the things I realized here is that it's hard for me to keep up with a herd of people and to stick to my own decisions. When I was left alone, these are the things I thought of, I shouldn't have listened to my colleague, I knew he will just leave me behind when I could no longer keep up. Good thing I always know how to be alone and it is not something I am afraid of.

Enjoying the sunrise view at Nuvali

When I could no longer keep up with the 3:1 (slow) group, I walked. I think I only have 3kms left to cover. I was coughing (which was my handicap on this day due to - as indicated by the doctor later during the day - pharyngitis) all the way through.

I could no longer feel the long distance, I wasn't thinking of when it's going to end, it is not something I do not enjoyed doing. I just love it that I could not speed up so that I can enjoy the view and the wind and all. I also cut off my mp3 usage because I was enjoying the whole experience. 

I think with this pace, I can finish this at 7hrs or less, which is okay I think. I wish I can do better but there'll be other marathons. I want this first one to be enjoyable as possible. :) 

So this long run is an experience to remember, this gave me the first taste of my long run, and also how will my first marathon will be. A good "alone" experience, I learned to talk to strangers and enjoy my own company and enjoyed the good Nuvali view. 

Can I say I am ready for my first marathon, a hundred percent yes for that. But, I won't be as fast though. But it is okay. Goal is to finish this first. :) 

Me and a couple of batchmates after the long run. Thanks to Faye for the pictures. 

But of course, time for some pampering for my tired feet. I do not like the salon though, will not return there eveeer. 

Running with my Pure Cadence

I bought a pair of shoes last July hoping it will be my TBR marathon shoes, but it felt wrong when I ran. Then decided, I should do practice runs on it and get a new pair.

When I decided to get a new one, I thought of getting an expert's advice and have my gait analysis taken. So, as soon as I got my extra money, I went to Runnr at BGC high street and took my chance on getting my new shoes.

I've already set my eyes on getting a Brooks pair. I have been looking into the Pure project series and saw reviews that it is a good pair. So, after my gait analysis, it was seen that my arch is for Neutral but when I ran, they saw that I needed Stability shoes. 

This is entirely different from what I bought from Singapore, my fuschia pink Adidas. It is for Neutral runners. And it was as advised by our gym instructor. Not that he's wrong, I thought it is the right shoes too. He explained it to me right. When I used my Fuschias it is good on the feet and friendly on my knees. (remember that I've had knee injuries before and I would like to be more careful in my shoe choices)

So, I took this guy's advise and looked at the stability shoe choices. Of course, almost everything is expensive and it was sad spending money on it. But, I was willing to take my chance, this is a marathon after all, and I think I need to really spend in order for me to finish it well. Good thing, Brooks Pure Cadence was on the rack and took it for a spin on their treadmill. 

It feels snuggly and my toes, especially the left one, feels iffy. I might have problems running on it since it's fit is tight on the side. But when I checked, the socks are folded and when I ran again it felt a bit better. I guess it just needs, a little breaking in, in order for me to get used to it.

I bought the shoes and went home. I then thought of using my new shoes in my long run on the next day. I went to UP on a sunday afternoon then road tested Cyan. 

It felt different, I was running without my mp3 to make me feel it more. Since the shoes are for stability running, it felt it was promoting a different run. My legs felt heavy and every step of my feet felt like a big stomp. It feels like it's activating the pain on my ITB (Ilotilial Band). I walked a few times on my first 6kms.

On the 6th, I decided to get my mp3 player so that I can focus on running and drank my gatorade with the GU gel for energy. I was able to run properly, and i did not feel any pain from there on. I was able to focus on running straight, but my feet are still not used to it, and I am still not running I am supposed to with it. 

I was able to finish at around 13.2kms at 1hr and 49 mins. Not a bad run, I think. I was planning to run at an average of 8:00 mins/kms. I guess I just need to get used to it, or I will use Fuschia in my marathon.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Geez. 

PS: if I spelled Fuschia wrong, forgive me. Heehee

First look at my Pure Cadence

Fuschia Pinkie Adidas on its first run