2008 Subic Marathon: Getting the rush

In response to Toe’s question, “What happened in the Subic Marathon?”

"Everyone in life is looking for a certain rush. Racing is where I get mine."

~John Trautmann~

As early as Saturday in the morning, we packed our bags and headed to Subic Bay Freeport (approximately 2-hour drive from Manila) for the 2008 Subic Marathon. The event was scheduled on Sunday but we opted to go there a day early to check out the route. Arni would be running the full marathon (42K) while Alex would be heading for the 21K track. Both of them are first timers in this event. Dan, Eric, and I opted to run the 10K. This is my third for this race category. We are hoping to run at least few more in preparation for the half marathon this June.

Checking out the route, we pitied Arni and Alex. The race route would pass by major landmarks in the former American base such as the Subic International Airport, the Subic Yacht Club, natural parks including the Ilanan Forest all the way to the Ocean Adventure, Botanical Garden and Subic’s several safari and forest farms. After driving through the route, we all agreed on one thing: “The terrain is tough for first timers!” :-/

42k runners are all set at the starting line as early as 4:30 am.

Long distance runners from Kenya and Ethiopia position themselves at the lead of the pack encouraging some bystanders and fellow runners for some photo ops. With the win of Hillary Lagat from Kenya in the recently concluded Clark Marathon, it's not bad to secure an early photo souvenir in case one them (indeed) finished first in the 42K route.

The next day, we got up early and readied for the race. Dubbed as the 2008 Subic “International” Marathon, the emcee announced some foreign runners from UK, USA, Kenya, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia. We also met a group of runners from South Korea but the emcee did not acknowledge them. I had short chat with the only lady in their group and found that they are Korean students from Baguio who are in the Philippines to study English.

The 42K runners started as early as 5am and the rest (21K, 10K, 5K, and 3K) were jampacked at the starting area and started the run at the strike of 6am. After we heard the gunshot, it was like we are all heading for a stampede. There were at least 4,000 runners participating in the event that we could hardly make a move without brushing one’s elbow. After the first intersection, the spread of runners leveled out a bit. The 5K and 3K runners turned to the left while the 10K and 21K headed to the right going to the Yacht Club.

...and off they go! The 21k and 10k races will not be starting until an hour more so I had the chance to take a few more shots before giving up my camera for awhile and concentrate on the race.

Kenyan elite runner, Nelson Kirwa Rotich got to the 42k finish line first with a time record of 2:27:11. Filipino Olympian Eduardo Buenavista finished after splits of seconds with running time of a 2.27.55.

Estrella Diaz is the first female 42k runner to finish checking in at 03:22.0 I always look forward to this category...these women inspire me!

The largest delegation to join in the event comes from Philippine National Police Academy. Hee-hi-hooo!

I had fun watching these guys. They are waiting for their mates to check in, writing down their names and bib numbers on sheets of paper, bearing the heat of the sun.

I got all perked up with the runners in front of me that I immediately started doing a pace run (which is a bad start). Eventually I got a bit exhausted and settled for a steady run after the half turn. Four kilometers away from the finish line, my foot accidentally hit a metal on the road, momentarily lost my balance and got both of my knees skinned. It was a funny sight really. Some of the runners behind me offered to help but I got up fast and ran the last few kilometers. The wounds on my knees started to sting that it incited me to run faster. Eventually I got through the finish line. I finished the race for over an hour (1:12) which is much slower than my Clark record (1:04) but what can I do? I had a few laughs afterwards, I could never get over this kind of stupidity. Oh well, there goes my ugly souvenirs!

And why the heck do I like this quote so much.

"If it hurts, make it hurt more."
~Percy Cerutty~

There goes my ugly souvenir!

We’re scheduled to run again this weekend. This time, it’s the PSE Bull Run 2008 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

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Children of the Sea

Beverly has been into diving an awful lots of time that she can sway with the waves. This was taken after she dived and she was teaching us how to 'swim in an open sea' you know just in case the Titatic sinks. She's a licensed diver by the way.

It never crossed my mind that Mar is like a ballet dancer when he swims. He floats with the waves. He needs the googles to protect his contact lenses. Now that is weird, wearing contacts while swimming in a salty sea.

Ephree is ready to go. She was scared the first time. She said she's getting pains in his ears and can't equalize when underwater. She tried it the second time and made it.

Meet Sean Elijah, he's Beverly's son. A nice charmer in front of the camera. He loves to pose.

And since he's too young to dive, he needs to stay ashore. I know he'll be a great diver one day, like his mom.

Now, ladies and gentlemen...this is all me and my fun loving hand feeling the milky waves. This has been a classic pose I know but you have to understand that one way of being with the sea is to actually feel it.

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a stuborn coconut tree, three women watching the sea, and one big splash

I was trying to get a good scene of the sea while resting under a stunted coconut tree. I meant not to include the leaves but it was hanging so low that it kept on bothering my frame. Finally, I decided to include it.

Three women watching the sea and two coconut trees framing them beautifully. I never get to see that often.

My favorite shot. A huge, salty splash of the wide, blue sea.

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I've got five random thoughts for you:

1. There's at least two reasons why I jog religiously. I get to think and I get the workout I need.
2. I visit blogs because I like it and I enjoy reading getting into other people's thoughts. Not because I fish out for comments. I believe I have established a pattern.
3. I ache to visit Batanes so badly that I bring it in my dreams sometimes.
4. I quit smoking and cut down my caffeine intake (3 mugs of coffee/day) but don't congratulate me. I am still on the verge.
5. I fancy a new camera and one of those fisheye lenses.
   
   

The Marina Lighthouse

The rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
and on its outer point, some miles away,
the lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.

- h.w. longfellow

It bares its all in the middle of the day. Showing what it has to show to the world. It reflects its natural color, never subsiding what "it has been". Its reality is striking that even though it's dare, I chose not to see. From afar I was brave, but near I got all my anxieties haunting back at me. It is best appreciated at night, where it looks mysterious and fully clothed, hiding its insecurities to the world, whispering its secrets to the sea. The lights make it all subtle. But I was tired to go back that night.

Marina Bay

This is Marina Bay Resort in Subic Bay, formerly the site of a major United States Navy base. Subic is around 2 ½ hours drive away north of Manila. The place is known for its pristine blue bay waters endowed with rich marine life. Likewise, the place is a wonderful diving spot due to its historic bay waters with fascinating shipwrecks that are remainders of the Freeport’s naval past. The bay is home to a formidable collection of wrecks. The average depth for the six wreck sites is 45 ft. Subic Bay holds the distinction of being one of the best wreck diving sites in Asia.