My First Half Marathon

Had a very interesting Sunday. I finally completed my first ever half marathon during the Condura Run in over 2 hours 20 min+ (actually I couldn't decipher the "0 " in the digital timer as you approach the finish line, it could have been a 6 or an 8), just a few seconds behind a famous running blogger (if my eyes didn't fail me) who was wearing that tiesa-yellow spandex statement T-shirt and some fashion model/celebrity. Sorry, I'm not the type who asks for an autograph while huffing and puffing at Km 19.

Surprisingly, I have been expecting to limp and perhaps even crawl my way out towards the finish line but that wasn't the case at all. I've been doing 45min-1hr running exercises at the Marikina oval and it did help a lot in improving my endurance. Jun likes to point out that we now have construction worker legs. I still have major problems with ascents, I had to walk several times in the sloping stretches of Kalayaan and the Skyway. I also tend to fade out in the last 2 kilometers of the race, maybe it's the "almost there, yet still too far" mindset that envelopes your mind during the last grueling stretch towards the finish line.

It was a well-organized event all right, except that there were too few portalets at the starting venue resulting in long lines, Jun said there were portalets along the route but I didn't see any, and wait, the water came from some Manila Water tanks parked in the road side? So where were the promised cheering squads? I guess they meant the marching bands. There were loot bags and medals for each race finisher. Nice.

So here's the checklist:
5K - nah, too short a distance for me
10K - done
15K - done
21K - DONE
25K - Not yet
42K - A possibility, not anytime soon
Ultramarathon - Dream on!

Fotos with dragoboat teammates who participated in the Condura Run courtesy of Ann and Jilla.