Cramps!
Cramps!
That's the only thing I was really focused on the night before race day.
I followed the usual carbo-loading scheme, eating 5 small bowls of Yang-Chow fried rice and some hot-pot goodies on the side. :) I also did load up on water and gatorade the day before the race. But still..... nothing could ever make me really anxiety free. I did my usual pre-race preparation before going to bed. hydration belt.... check! running gear.... check! running shush..... check! oh and enough time to sleep.... check! I had a good 8 hours that night.
I woke up at about 2:45am... excited ey! Got some more gatorade and some bread. and off to Quirino Grandstand. This time I was on time. I met Joms, my pace buddy for almost every race, and Totoy, Mon's friend a direct link runner. Joms was still chowing down his usual pre-race meal.... TAHO! :) and Totoy offered some petroleum jelly for anti chafing. The starting gun blasted one minute before the said start time. The temperature was still cool this time. and some parts of the route was dark since some of the street lamps aren't working (only in the Philipines). :) We headed off straight towards the first turn around point, Coastal Mall. Water stations were still full of support and of course water. Joms and I tried to pace slow at the start with walk breaks at either the Water station, uphill portions, or after 15mins of running. That was the plan. :) It did work! well at least for the first 21kms of the race. :)
We were still running the same pace by the time we reached Fort Bonifacio. Until we hit the next turn around point near Bonifacio heights. Something was bothering Joms and he decided to slow down a bit. He insisted that I push forward, and so I did. I was feeling worried by this time since the halfway point is where i usually meet my evil enemy... CRAMPS!
Reaching the last turn around point heritage park-C5 I was still going steady at our starting pace. When I reached 5th street I felt some muscle twitching from both my lower quad muscles. Sh!t!!!!! here it comes! That was what came into my mind the second I felt that twitch. Only this time it came a bit more later in the race. :) hehehe I slowed down my pace and tried to do more stretching stops every kilometer and more walks. By this time(730am) the sun was already high and no clouds was helping us block the heat. To top it all water stations were running out of water! all that was left was the ice cubes in the tub and the cold water where they dump the bottled water in. Just to cool down, i grabbed a few cubes and applied it to my quads and took a nice cool down with the icy water. (I don't know if it will do more help or harm but it sure does feel nice!).
Reaching the kalayaan flyover the twitching is getting more frequent and so does my stretching. I knew that my pace this time wasn't improving since I was with the same group until the last kilometer.
No water station, More heat, More traffic, and more muscle twitching! This was how agonizing the last 12km of the race yesterday. The only thing that was running in my mind was the saying "its the last 6miles that matter!" hehehe but I thought that there's more left but I was just too afraid to hit another cramp experience.
The whole 3km Roxas blvd stretch felt like a 10km race at my pace. But I knew that ever step that I make will take me closer to my finish and every less time i take to recup will shave some time on my PR :) I did stay with the same group until the finish with a time of 4:35:25 I'm still happy that I made it with that time. I have only 40 minutes to shave off. and I know that with more training days to come. I know I can beat my current marathon PR.
If there's one lesson that I learned from this race... it would have to be Run until your legs cramps, you'll never know that you've given it all by being too careful. I hope it all makes any sense. :)
Singapore Marathon 2007 early registration is now open! Anyone interested to join me train for it???
A can of coke and a hotdog after the race! Joms with a 4:40:00 PR!!!! I guess we're doing some more marathon training! :)
16 comments:
hey, congrats, ben....damn those evil cramps!!! at least you were able to to keep them at bay. how was your electrolyte intake during the race?
i guess now it's time to collect all those pledges :)
i wouldn't be surprised that with more training, you'll be able to finish under 4 in singapore.
thanks eric!
I guess i was too conscious about it that i know when its going to be the brink of cramping. that's the time i do the stretching. hehehehe
i had a good fluid intake for the first 25km. after that i had my hydration belt for support but i had only 24oz on me. and the heat was terrible at 8am here in the PI with absolutely no cloud cover! sheesh!!!
yup i started collecting yesterday! hehehe
and marathon training will start this week. Im back to zero. going to try higdon's training. :) hope it works! :) sub 4 here i come!
Congrats! All those years drinking milo is worth it, eh? :)
I enjoy reading yr blog. Keep it up!
congrats! it's still amazing how you managed to finish the race inspite of the cramps. i would say you're really good at controlling them =)
Hey Ben, congrats! Man, how did you run under that heat? Maybe you should include shades in your long list of must buys for running: 1) garmin 2) mizunos 3) cool shades hehehe.
How many marathons have you run already? Next would be singapore or do you plan to run another one in between?
RunWitMe: I love eating Milo (tastes great without water!) hehehehe, good thing i didn't bulk up. :)
Im glad someone's enjoying what i'm writing here....
Ren: Are you the same Ren on our group????? anyways.... after 2 cramping incidents.... it was only natural for me to learn the signs.... and stay away from harm. the only problem i have now is being to careful means loosing good PR.
Jaymie: God! i hope my ever so beautiful sisters on the east are reading your comment.... hehehehehehe
This is my 2nd marathon, and yes Singapore will be my next target! I hope i can run the whole 26mi! i hate stopping for a stretch.
Hi Ben,
I hv registered for Singapore Marathon....but 10km only. Hope to see you there!
Congratulations, Ben. That was a great article...what a pose (with no shirt again--how about having another moniker?)... Good luck to your Singapore run. Singapore, here comes iron man Happy Feet Ben!
runWitMe: See you on December mate! There's still lots of time to train for a full marathon.... why didn't you register for it???
RunningDiva: hahahaha I think they wont allow me to do that in singapore though! hehehehehe :) will be on the look out for some very light singlets! :)
yeah, we can call him "bare back ben." now there's a moniker for ya :)
hahahahahahahaha! i was actually thinking of putting some nonsense on my back!
"if you're reading this... you are eating my dust!"
or maybe i could make some cash out of it....
"Diarrhea...... mag Diatabs ka! (only 10 pesos)"
:D
you've got to choose now ben which moniker you want... ;) hey, link my blog with yours...
Huwaw, ang yabang mo fafa! Congrats bro! KOnti na lang Jedi ka na. Parang kelan lang tumatakbo pa tayo sa Macapagal, eh isang ikot lang mangiyak-ngiyak na tayo(hehwehwehwe).
May the force be always with you. Ika nga ni:
"I feel your midichlorians levels rising! Are you taking performance enhancing drugs?"- Obi Wan to Floy Landis
hehehehe yeps Tuny! That was last year lang ah. See how time flies... tsk tsk.... by December who knows... i might Finally break my 4hr wall! hehehe
Hi BenMchan,
You're a fast runner, great PR time, me i only average 5Hr++. By the way I'm also joining the SG Marathon this will be my 4th time. Looking forward to see you there
TRF
Hey Running Freeman! give your knees a month to heal. Then you still have 3 months to prepare for Singapore! break that 5hour barrier you have there mate! I hope to see you during the race. Will post a blog entry before going there.
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