I Did It. I Did It With His Help.

I could not believe it. I finished my first 10k race without having to walk. I did it. I achieved my objective. And it's all thanks to God and to a lot of people. 


Since my last post, I was contemplating on what I would do for the last few weeks before the race. I did not do the test run that I was thinking about for fear that I might injure myself, or I might not have enough time to recover. So I just did my usual run and held out on running for the last 7 days heading to race day. By Saturday, I did not feel any bit of soreness on my legs or feet so it's safe to say that I'm completely recovered. But I still felt unprepared. I did not have the right amount of training. I haven't even ran 10 kilometers straight up without stopping or walking. I was scared. And this is what scared me even more.

It's when I found out about the route 2 days before the race that it started to sink in how challenging the race was. I felt stupid not to prepare well. But I won't back down. I've told everybody already. What will I say to the people who will ask about how my race went? That I chickened out at the last moment? Make up a lame excuse about why I wasn't able to race? No way. 
I had a lot of driving to do by Saturday. And I was able to sleep past 12AM. It was horrible. I was exhausted and nervous. I could hardly sleep. I woke up at 2AM thinking I overslept went back to sleep again and got up at 3:15AM when my alarm went off. I bathed quickly, got ready and left. I had to drive 45Km to the race location, which is why I left early. I was there by 4:30 and started eating my sports beans for a pre-race meal. I parked my car near the finish line and took a cab to the starting line. I was quite sleepy but the realization that I'm about to race woke me up. I pinned my bib during the ride. I realized that there were a lot of 10k runners. And I really mean a lot. We were squeezed into clusters. Everybody's getting ready. Warming up. Stretching. I, on the other hand, just pissed at the portalet, found a spot at my cluster, sat on the curb, attached the D-tag to my right shoe, and waited 'til gun start. I started to pray. I knew I couldn't do this on my own so I asked God to pace with me up to the end of the race. All I wanted was the energy to keep running up to the end. That's all. I can only run for 5 kilometers straight during my training. I lifted up the remaining 5 kilometers of the race to God as He's the only one who could help me at this point. 

I didn't stretch because I realized during my training that I'm stronger and more efficient if I didn't stretch before a run. I didn't warm up as well because my objective was just to finish the race. I'm not aiming for any personal record so might as well just use the first kilometer of the race to warm up. 
Right before gun start, we were all clustered together and that's how I realized how many the 10k runners really were. There were wave starts and I was part of wave G. The gun sounded off at exactly 5:30AM. The first wave went off. The next wave after 2 minutes. When our cluster reached the start line, I started running just to warm up my legs. Everybody was ecstatic. Cheering and clapping. I noticed also some who brought point-and-shoot cameras in the run. Obviously, they're fun-runners. They took pictures at almost every marker they could stop at and pose. After the first kilometer, some were already walking. This dissipated my noob fear that I might finish last. I ruled that out and I started to loosen up. 


By the time we reached the skyway ramp, some walked while some sped up. A lot of people were still horsing around. I just maintained my pace. Right on top was the first hydration stop. I didn't need to drink. I could still go. I kept running until I reached the next hydration stop. I took a cup of 100Plus and took two sips. I dropped the rest and made the U-turn. After the turn, somebody from the other side called on my name and cheered me on. It was The Curious Runner herself. I waved to her since I didn't have much time to say something. It's great to see some people you know and cheer you on. I also feared that she might outrun me. But I just kept running. 


We reached the end of the Skyway and I sped up at the off-ramp downhill. It's my only chance of speeding up without having to exert more energy. When we turned right at Buendia, there was a banana stop. I didn't get one. I just kept on going, knowing that Buendia is quite a long stretch with another uphill at the end. By the next hydration stop, I took a cup of water since there were no more energy drinks. I took two sips again and threw the rest on the ground. Then I reached the 5 kilometer marker. I said the same prayer I kept saying since the start of the race, "Lord, help me finish this race. I can't do this without you." 


By the 7-kilometer marker, my left ankle was aching. My left hamstring was also getting tighter. I kept running and saying my prayer. I took a cup of Plus100 at the stop, then I saw the flyover. That uphill that, I knew days before, would punish me. I kept my pace at the uphill and at this point, a lot were already walking. I felt my heart raise rise up but I kept on going. By the time I reached the top of the flyover, I felt empty. But something just kept me going. I knew it was Him. He's there. He was running with me. 


We landed at Bonifacio Global City and marshals were cheering us on. The 9-kilometer marker presented itself and I was amazed at how I even reached that point without stopping. We turned right and saw the finish line. A lot of cheerers were on the side. There was even a drum band playing. I had goosebumps. I sped up a bit with the little energy I had left and crossed the finish line. I thanked Him. It was a great feeling having achieved my objective. I couldn't have done it without Him. 

Phillippians 4:13 says, "I can do anything through Him who strengthens me." And it's true. I finished my first 10k race with barely 4 hours of sleep and a lack of training. Of course, it won't be the same on my next race. I'll continue to train and harder this time until I can run 10 kilometers in 45 minutes. Discipline is still key in achieving this and as always, with the help of God, it's doable. 

Runners painting dolphins on the wall after the race. I painted one and put my name on it. I also signed a petition form to stop dolphin shows in order to protect them. Looks like I won't be watching any dolphin shows  in the future. Besides, it's better if you watch them on their real habitat.

Thank you again, Father God, for helping me out. Thanks also to Runners Speak for giving me the free 10k slot as consolation prize. You're awesome. Thanks to Ice Rodriguez who talked me into taking the 10k race instead of the 5k race. Ice ran a full marathon with ITBS. Both his calves cramped at 32k. He was considered to be pulled out of the race because of his condition, but he got off the stretcher and walked to the finish line. Kudos to Ice for the determination. God sustained Him. Thanks also to my former pace partners, Dax and Dale. We used to run at the Meralco compound twice a week after work. Hope to see you guys in future races. Thanks also to my wife for continually encouraging me. The medal is for you. 

I know. Give me a break. It's my first race.