Own it 42K!

It’s been 2 weeks and 3 hours since I crossed the 42.195km finish line and I am still on high. Does endorphin from running really last this long? I guess it does. With all the hard work of weekly running, LSD (Long Slow Distance), strength training, reading magazines and online articles on what are the do’s and don’ts of running your first marathon, I believe I am allowed to savor the moment as long as I want to.

Race Day.

I woke up hours before my alarm went off. I was already in the bathroom when it rang. I let it ring as my husband and my pacer are still sound asleep (I am so jealous that they get to sleep). I showered and changed in to my marathon gear. I was surprisingly calm and not nervous on what will happen in the next 9 hours. I was however scared that I might need to use the portalet for aside from peeing while on the race course. I ate my banana and had my vitamin water for breakfast. I wore my #teamguttom Tri-Shirt uniform for the race because of the 3 pockets at the back which I filled with 6 GU energy gels ( 1 for every hour on the road- as I was targeting to finish sub7), shades, arm sleeves (that I was not able to use), simple hydration bottle, my patellar strap (just in case my knees hurt during the run) feminine wipes and mobile phone. Boy, I have a lot of baggage (literally!) But I am the kind of person who does not leave anything to chance. Everything has to be planned. It could also be the reason why I was not nervous as I approach the start lane because as the Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizarro, said herself, if you did the training plan religiously, there is no reason to be scared of not finishing your first marathon. I know in my heart and mind that I will finish it, whatever it takes. But I have never prepared myself to what happened after I finished the 1^st half of the race course. I expected it to be hard...

I was all set, hours before race day

1km to 21km.

It was pretty fun, running towards 21K mark. I have done this 9 times so it should be a walk in the park. As planned, me and my pacer, Arlyn, followed the 1:30 interval which was the same interval we did for our LSD 30km prior to race day. We want to preserve our energy for the 2^nd half of the race and plan to do 2:1 interval on our 2^nd loop. Just so you know, I was diagnosed to have sinus bradycardia, and so I am monitoring my heart rate, in my not so young age of 38, I have to keep my heart rate to a maximum of 182 bpm. I had to slow down around 4km-5km as my heart rate spiked to 190-200 bpm. ( I remember my boss telling me ..” Do not die, okay?!” when I told her that raceday is this weekend.). Once I had my heart rate back to 140bpm, I got back to our running rhythm. Keeping in mind what I learned from the bull sessions and bull circle to stop at every water station and sip not gulp on Gatorade, we did just that and did the same on every Pumped Up Station that had bananas, chocolates, muscle spray, chips, mallows, etc.. I heard myself say..”Yehey! Chippy!” when a dream chaser offered me some. Smiled at every camera that we came across and cheered other runners that we see, even if I only knew them by face and not by name, it’s such a nice feeling and a boost of energy.

Finally we came to our first H-loop. I remember my pacer said, “half way there mum!”.

on the left, at the end of the 1st H-loop at 21K mark. on the right, between 24K-25K

22Km-29Km.

We crossed the 21K mark at 3:08:02. I am on track. I thought “I can make it to my sub7 target finish”. We decided to keep the 1:30 interval instead of our original plan to change to 2:1 interval in the second half. However, I started to feel my calf muscle tighten up between 24km and 25km so I started to stop at every hydration station to do some stretching and for the first time I had medic spray muscle relaxant on my legs. I had my fair share of cramps in some of my 21km race which usually happens at the last 2 remaining kilometers where I end up walking to the finish line. But for this race, I am like “this is not happening now; I am so far away from the finish line… I won’t make it to my target time if I walk from here on… and the sun is almost showing up his mighty rays”. We kept running and kept our mind off the anticipated pain in the next kilometers by taking selfies and taking pictures of Nuvali’s sun rise. While we are at it, I get extra boost and inspiration as I read proverbs and inspirational quotes provided by The TBR Dream Team along the route… its like Jaymie herself were saying those words to me.

30km-42.195km.

The sun is here. Weekend bikers shared the road with the marathoners 

Words to ponder when you are in pain

As we approach Miriam College for the second time, not only that my legs felt so heavy, my hips started to ache as well. And by the 30^th kilometer, my body wants to give up. But my mind and my heart had other plans. I told Arlyn that I am so tired, every part of me is aching… but her pacer-on-duty took over and kept on saying “konti na lang” 12km to go. I started to pray “ Lord, give me strength”… I was so tired to talk so I just repeated this prayer again and again and again in my head. I just talked when I need to tell Arlyn that I’m stopping for a muscle spray or stopping for a drink. The heat of the sun was an added challenge as I easily got dehydrated so I didn’t sip Gatorade and water anymore, I gulped them, a cup at a time (sorry Jaymie, I know you said no gulp just sip). As we are approaching the end of the T-loop ( 34km- the longest I have run), my throat was burning for water. When I saw the pump up station, I could open my mouth to say the word “water” so I just made a sign language and a dream chaser gave me a cup. It was like the best tasting water ever!

8km to go and I’m so decided to walk to the finish line. But Arlyn didn’t let me fall into that trap of giving in to the pain. She said we’ll run 1:1 interval to the finish line. I agreed but told her I can’t run anymore… so I made a deal that instead of Run, she’ll say Jog (hahaha! Seems like there’s no difference but for me, “jog” has less pressure than “run”). It was the longest 8 kilometer of my life. As we approached the “uphell” before the the rotunda (I thinks that’s about 5K to the finish line), my phone started to ring, I know it was my hubby and if he is calling me, it means that he has crossed the finish line. I should be happy for him and I am (don’t get me wrong) but I am struggling here you know… and I just can’t phantom to say a “yehey, I am so proud of you for finishing your first marathon”. I was already walking backwards to use other muscle group of my legs to avoid cramps. I gave my phone to Arlyn because I am so tired to speak. As we approach the H-loop, the final 2.195Km of this race. I hear someone say, Go Shiena! And as I search for the voice, I saw Allan de Dios who was a TBR Alumnus and a former officemate. Dream Chasers shouting “konti na lang” as we pass through. I saw friends from #TeamGuttom cheering “go mumshens!” The last 1Km was a struggle. Really. So near yet it seem so far… Then a dream chaser ran towards me with a mirror and told me “dapat maganda ka sa finishline photo mo” so I looked at myself in the mirror while jogging (I couldn’t make myself stop as I’m afraid to feel the pain when I stop jogging) I was laughing and gave him a thumbs up, “okay na? “ he said. I left the final Dream Chaser Station with a smile on my face. Then I saw my hubby coming towards me in the last .195km and he ran with me and Arlyn to the finishline. Before reaching the finishline. I hugged Arlyn and tears just fell. They say that I don’t need a pacer to finish the TBR Dream Marathon, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.  

I shouted "Achieved!!" for my finish line pose.
As a true-OTWOLISTA who missed JaDine's concert because I'm running a Marathon

As I ran toward the TBR Smart Dream Marathon ribbon, there was one thing that on my mind… Lord, Thank you for the strength.

Thank you very much TBR Dream Team for making my dream of becoming a marathoner come true. Indeed, You’ll never forget your first.

…And then I saw coach Francis, with his open arms… the hug was a great bonus! :-)

P.S. Cramps!!!!  hit me as I hugged coach Francis and can’t straighten my leg. That would explain the photo above. Me, hanging like a monkey on coach Francis haha!! Sorry Coach! (yes, its my most embarrassing moment to date.)  

got this cool medal to boot too!

After crossing the finishline, you just want to eat.. where's the buffet breakfast?

My Team Guttom, we started as strangers, trained as friend and finished strong as a family. This is what TBR really is,
A Family of runners who pays it forward.

Gain not just the title as a Marathoner, but more importantly, I gained  more running friends, L-R: Me, Faith Chong, Czarinna Cucueco-Lansang and Arlyn Simbahan

my running buddy and hubby

So the question is, will I do it again? Run 42.195Km, Hell yah! see you in 2017 TBR Dreamers!

Until our next run... see you on the road!

XOXO,

S

The day before I became a Marathoner

When I woke up last Saturday, Feb 20, 2016, like it was an ordinary day. My son had classes that day so the usual grind happend, preparing breakfast, getting his school uniform ready, take a bath and took him down our building to wait for the school bus. Then I got ready to attend the LSM-PTA Lenten Recollection for Parents at my son's school which we have been blessed to have participated in. From 8am-12nn I was not thinking about the race at all. I was focused on the recollection at hand.

At St. Francis Theater, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong for the Lenten Recollection 

By 12:30pm we had lunch at Italiannis at Shangrila Mall and was joined by my Pacer, Arlyn who had a small rolling luggage in tow that feels like she'll be running a marathon in another country. We already did our Marathon Planning and Strategy Meeting the previous day, and yes it was over some delicious Xiao Long Bao of the famous Michelin Star Din Tai Fung (we are serious about carbo loading haha!), So we did not talk anything about marathon or running during lunch. Soon our food arrived as well as two of our friends who are riding with us going to Nuvali, Arnie and Ariel.

my pacer, arlyn with her traveling runner luggage

Lunch is served @ Italannis Shangrila Plaza Mall

Nuvali here we come!!

We left Manila around 2pm and arrived in Seda Hotel Nuvali around 4:30pm. I chose this Hotel because its near the start/finish of the race course. The week after I receive the great news that I got accepted to join TBR, I researched on which hotels are near the vicinity and having read that Seda Hotel Nuvali was one of last year's hotel partners, I immediately booked a room even on their best regular price and not on a discounted TBR price because at the time of my booking, no agreement has been penned yet between the organizer and the hotel management. But since I am by nature, a person that loves to plan and don't take anything by chance. I negotiated to get the TBR Discount once its finalized but I will already reserve the room at regular rate. And it was such a relief that they agreed on this arrangement (great customer service Seda Hotel!).

But wait! back track a little bit, So while on the way to Nuvali, I was checking my facebook and reading the posts in the TBR Batch 2016 fb group and I got a tag from Lauren in one of the posts, when I opened and read the post, I squealed in excitement because Jaymie choose my entry on for the TBR Smart online contest  (In Max of 2 sentences, HOW TBR SMART DREAM MARATHON CHANGED YOUR LIFE SO FAR...)

I won a 40-day Urban Ashram Pass!!! I haven't done any yoga for like 10 years and I miss it. It was like destiny because earlier that day, Hubby bought each of us a yoga mat since I cannot find my old one and he needs one for the Triads' drills. It was like the prize was really meant for me :-)

my winning 2 sentences on how TBR Dream Marathon changed my life so far.

Okay, Now back to when I saw Seda Hotel in front of me, that was the only time I had the OH MY GOD! THIS IS IT! MARATHON RACE DAY NA! feeling. This is it, I am about to run a marathon in a matter of hours!!! I went to check us in and I was advised that the hotel is fully booked and instead of the Deluxe room that I reserved, they have upgraded my room to Premier Room (WOW!! This is so unexpected - it nice to check in late when its fully booked!) I had to contain my excitement and just smiled and thank the front desk lady (if she could just see me doing summersault in my head haha!) Another plus points for a great Seda Hotel Customer Service.

The happy Hubby tried the day bed of our (upgraded) Premier Room

So giddy to see a kitchenette and a microwave (we won't be eating a cold pizza tonight!)

beautiful view from our hotel room

This day is such a blessing after blessing after blessing... and that's not all, Rhea, one of our running friends from #TeamGuttom is staying right across our hotel room with her family... What a coincidence :-)

So its less than 10 hours before race starts and I am now having race gitters, While Arlyn and Hubby went for a swim, I decided to have my nails done. Yes, to calm my nerves I had a mani and pedi... the possibility of ruining my nail polish after the run is the least of my worries I told a friend. after an hour, we went to the supermarket to get some vitamin water and some bananas for our pre-race breakfast. 

Knocked at the room across ours and its Rhea!

Team Guttom reprezent here in Seda Hotel Nuvali

Mani-Pedi to calm my nerves before raceday at Bench Fix

Back in the Hotel, we ate our take away pizza and salad from Italiannis and we are ready for bed by 8pm. I couldn't sleep immediately so I called my son and check up on him before I went to sleep, that was around 8:30pm. I was tossing and turning and took me forever to fall asleep. I was anxious and felt that the alarm did not go off so when I checked the time, its only 10:45pm. WHAT?! thats like 2 hours sleep I tried to go back to sleep but its useless, I got up around 11:30pm to do what I trained my body to do for the past week (which was very successful) but today... it just didn't go as I hoped it would. And then I heard the alarm. its 12 am, Sunday, February 21. RACE DAY!

Seda Hotel Nuvali Welcomed the Dreamers

Check out my next post for the Raceday Story :)

XOXO,

S