Condura Skyway Run for the Dolphins 2011 : The Joy of Running Slowly

Don't get me wrong - I'm not really the type who doesn't put his game face on. I did not run Condura Skyway 21K just to have my photos taken. I'm pretty competitive (deep inside, but it doesn't show yet). I always try to run races with a new PR target. It gives me good motivation during training and a race always turns out to be a brand new experience when I try to beat myself, like it's my first time to get runner's high.

And to think this is also my anniversary run (1 year of running races already!), I came out there to conquer pain, conquer fear. I came there to conquer the Skyway. But no - I did not.

That is if we consider only finish time. No way, 3 hrs 8 mins? Very far from my target time. But that doesn't mean I did not enjoy the run. No, let me take it up a notch - I would go as far as saying this is my best run ever! And that is all because I shared practically every second of those 3 hours with my girlfriend Tey.

Just Enough To Finish

At around 4K, 6K, I realized that Tey and I are just about the same pace, palitan lang, so I told her there's no point on not running with each other. So we did, we tried to push each other saying "Takbo tayo hanggang sa next water station, sa sunod pa." or if we're in a walk break, "Takbo na tayo pagdating dun sa green (referring to road signs)."

But somewhere along the way, Tey felt a sharp, biting pain in her right foot (ball). We were on a "takbo-hanggang-water-station" mode but she couldn't go anymore so we walked until we reached the medics who were very caring indeed. They bandaged Tey's foot and this sort of gave her another 1.5 hours of running time, just enough to finish the race.

We couldn't go as fast anymore although we're still trying to push each other a little. "Takbo tayo kahit hanggang dun lang", "Dun lang" sometimes extended a little.

The Land Before Time

Tey and I did not look at it as "lost speed" but rather, "extra time". We had extra time together, to talk about us and just about anything, to enjoy the Skyway view together, to really appreciate the love that the Lord has given us.

We were surrounded by hundreds of runners and yet it still felt very intimate. ;) Just the two us up in the Sky! I know Tey felt the same way. And to quote Tey (from her Facebook status that night), "No new PR for us...but I'm glad we finished our 21k holding hands. :)"

[Shot above by takbo.ph]

Pain Is Temporary, Quitting Is Forever

I knew we wouldn't have as good a finish time as we targeted before the run but I had a great time running with Tey. At around the 17 KM marker, Tey asked me, "Kaya pa ba kahit sub-3?" I looked at my watch. Knowing our pace, it's mathematically not possible. But Tey was determined to do it even with her injury so I couldn't let her down. I told her, "Walang imposible."

You know already that we did not get sub-3 but we did our best and we did it together. I did not leave her behind, I know she would do the same for me.

Condura Skyway Marathon Pics

Good job again (as always) to the organizers! Hurray for the 610,000 pesos raised for the dolphins! Let me share some pics from this fun event.

For obvious reasons, we had time extra time for quick shots at the Skyway.







Tey and Rovilson



We ran for the dolphins!

If we hold on together... :))

[Shot above by takbo.ph]


...and of course, the Superposition! Redemption! :P

Skyway Sucat and the Condura Marathon 2011

Skyway is now officially extended to Sucat! Yey! Being a Sucat resident for more than 20 years, it's really amazing to see the developments that are happening in our little town.

I attended kindergarten and grade school at St. James along Sucat, I celebrated my 5th birthday at Mcdo BF-Sucat (but where is it now?), and I was at the opening day of SM Sucat. I guess you can say that I am indeed a "taga-Sucat" (ng damit?). So how can I resist the temptation to use the Skyway Sucat on opening day?

Last Wednesday (12/15), the exit to Sucat officially opened and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people to use it (I asked manong taxi driver to use the Skyway on my way to a Christmas party). It was a thrilling experience, mostly because we don't use the Skyway that much. :) It was so new that it was as if it's a don't-use-your-car day and nobody told us (it's just me, the driver, and the long stretch to Bicutan).

But if you're on the Skyway, on a new road, with no cars, and you see all the KM markings (2 km to exit A, 1.5 km to exit B), what comes to mind? It's a no-brainer - of course it's the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011!

The Condura Run is close to my heart because it's my first real race. I joined the 5K early this year and I admit I have been a believer ever since. (Come on, you get a medal for your first race, and you see all those nice fireworks, and you hear all those bands and people cheering, who wouldn't fall in love with running?)

[Click here for my Condura 2010 experience]

And with that, of course I am running the 2011 Condura Skyway Marathon! I initially planned to do a full marathon but I realized that I am not yet ready for 42K. And I want to give the Condura Full justice so I don't want to run it when I'm not yet ready.

I and my girlfriend Tey are now officially registered for the 21K of the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011! I know it will be a great experience for the both of us because we have never run that high up before (talk about runner's high!).

Here's me with the nice technical shirt, my bib, and last year's medal.


So what are you waiting for? Let's register for the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 and run for the dolphins! [Visit the official Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 site at http://www.conduraskywaymarathon.com/].

You better register now! Me? I'm going to finish my free Hershey's Milk Chocolate. :))

Condura Run for the Dolphins

I was really charged up for this run. I enjoyed reading the Special Early Edition of Philippine Star - especially the running tips. Even though I was only running 5k, I followed almost every advice in that paper like:

1. Wear slippers.
2. Eat a banana for breakfast.
3. Sleep with pillow under the legs.
4. Pray.

I was also very motivated by the quotes. One of my favorites is this: "The miracle is not that I finished but that I had the courage to start." I have to admit that getting a finisher's medal is also something that I looked forward to.

Since my Gibo running mates were doing 21k, I was left by myself, warming up and watching 3 sets of fireworks. (Here's me at the sidelines when they were about to begin).

This run was way way way better than my last one. There are bands playing and a crowd cheering (some chanting "Con-du-ra! Con-du-ra!"). It felt like I could go faster when I am in a good way distracted by them.

I thought however that I was slower than my training pace. I can go ~34mins for 5k in training. I was trying to remember the map in my head as I was running and at 26 minutes, I was pretty sure that I was only half-way through. I was pleasantly surprise to know that I was wrong.

After just a few steps, I saw the "1 km to go" marker. I was so excited I'm sure I was grinning. For the first time I took a cup from the water station (but just a sip this time) and sprinted on to the finish line.

I'm very proud of my official time which was 31:46, which puts me at 124th out of about 1000 for my age division. Not bad really (upper 15%). And I like the medal too.

The Condura Run was overall a positive experience for me except for one thing : they got my name wrong! My family name's Hugo, not Nugo. :))

Here's my solo superposition (still got it wrong)

Very proud of finishing better than the last (no walk!)!

I was so proud I took a cab wearing the 5k medal.

I was a champion for a moment.