The IronBaby Running Experience

Darkest Hours

Finally "completed" my first marathon! The much anticipated Condura Skyway Marathon, where runners from across the Philippines gather to run for a cause, and this year's beneficiary are the mangroves. There were more than 13,000 participants this year, where each participant's registration is equivalent to 3 mangroves. This event broke two records in the Philippines,it was the first midnight marathon and secondly it is the first marathon where it involved 1,700 participants to finish a full marathon.



I was blessed to be on the first wave of runners, side by side with elite runners, both Kenyans and Filipinos, the Kenyans towering over the Filipinos. Just a few minutes before the gun-start, the dark sky was covered with light, fireworks were lit, it was a magnificent sight. I enjoyed watching while doing my final stretching. At exactly 12 midnight, the race was set, I started slowly at around a pace of 7km/min.

Apporached the gates of the skyway, thankfully no toll-fee collected, an ascent of around 5 meters above the ground, slowed some of the runners including me, as I was trying to save most of my energy for the latter part of the race. After the ascent, I started to get back to my pace, patient and waiting until I reach the 3 kilometer mark. I began my acceleration, increase my pace to about 6km/per minute and maintained it until the 10 kilometer mark. I was feeling strong at that time, I had to make a decision its either I stick to my pace or should I accelerate. At this rate, I was will be able to complete this race in around 5 hours, but I wanted to break my limits and finish it at 4 hours. I chose to accelerate, passing over some of the runners which were ahead of me, happy with my performance I maintained my pace for a quite a while until I reached the 25 kilometer mark. Just after passing by the mark, I felt an electrifying shock on my left hamstring, I had to slow down, and stretch the aching muscled, and began to run again at a slower pace, the pain was tolerable, I spotted an ambulance and asked for some liniment. I applied, and massaged it to both my left and right thighs, and felt an ease from the pain. Started to run again in a slow pace, until I reached the second u-turn at Buendia Ave., and asked again for some liniment to soothe the pain, they gave me a stronger one I felt its effect immediately and started to run at my normal pace.

At around 30 kilometers, the pain was already tormenting me, I have to succumb to it, if not I might not be able to tear my muscles be crippled and unable to run and walk for a long period of time. I had to stretch my lower extremities and walk for the remaining distance, I tried getting up a few times and running again, but I was only able to run a few meters then the pain would return. I felt I lost everything, I had to sit down and try to massage my legs for a minute or two. Got back on my feet and started walking. I was in terrible agony, a fellow runner was kind enough to ask me if I was okay. I pretended that I was okay, I did not want to be an obstruction to his concentration and to his running. I urged him to continue and with disdain, he left. I think he was bothered on the way I walk, he might have observed that I wasn't walking normally, I saw him took a glimpse of me from a far, knowing that I am injured. 

That injury cost me my momentum, drained all my energy, and my mental strength. I had to somehow fight it, I already completed a large distance and it was only about 11 kilometers more. I fought the excruciating pain, walked for 3 hours, many of the runners have passed by me, including 21k, 16k, 10k and 5k runners. I was helpless, walking very slowly, some of the runners were looking back at me. It was the a duel with pain for 3 hours, but it seemed it took a whole day, the dusk breeze was there, it was chilling me to the bones, enhancing the pain.

At around 6am, I crossed the last tollgate and saw the finish line, I tried to push, but my legs wont budge. I had practiced my finishing pose, sadly I wasn't able to finish strong. After crossing the finish line, I headed towards the exclusive recovery area for full-marathon participants. Had a quick recovery massage, and the pain was temporarily soothed.

The race was great, if not for the injury, I would have finished it without walking, which was my primary goal. Everything was okay, from marshals, hydration, food(banana and a gel) and safety. I am really happy with to join this yearly event, and looking forward to next year. More power to the organizers and my fellow runners. Hoping to hit the road again this week. Till the next race on March!