2010 Remaining Runs

In less than three weeks, I will be doing my third ultramarathon for the year, the PAU 65k in Ilocos Norte, organized by Bald Runner [check his website for more details at http://baldrunner.com]. Other than that, I will also be doing three more marathons before the year comes to an end.

Camsur 42k Marathon September 2010 [http://www.camsurmarathon.com/]

According to recent surveys and tourist arrivals, Cebu is no longer the number one tourist destination since 2010. It’s Camsur in Bicol region. And it shows too because two months before the marathon, I was trying to purchase tickets online via Cebu Pacific and a one-way ticket to Naga City two months back already cost 3,500 pesos one-way! I paid the same amount of money for my Laoag trip and I only booked a few days ago, just weeks before the PAU 65k challenge! This is even more costly than my Cebu Marathon tickets! I already bought my tickets for the 2011 Cebu Marathon and it only cost me 2,300 pesos for round trip tickets!

So this means that I will take the bus going to Camsur. According to the website, CWC is already fully booked and the ones accommodations left are a bit pricey and way beyond my budget. So I booked in Naga City and will just take the taxi going to CWC for the marathon. I might end up running to CWC venue on that day. This remains to be seen because I might end up too tired to even run the actual marathon or just have enough to do a slow paced marathon.

This will be first marathon in the Bicol region

Subic International Marathon[November 2010 [http://www.subicinternationalmarathon.info/ ]

I missed this marathon last year. I just started doing marathons last year so I didn’t want to push myself too much. I did three marathons last year and at the time, I actually felt that I was already pushing myself to the limit. I only had one thought on my mind on why I did more marathons in 2009 — I was preparing for the BDM102k ultramarathon. And it is the same reason why I am doing more marathons and ultramarathons this year. I am preparing for my longest ever ultramarathon in March 2011 — the BDM151k ultramarathon. In short, all the marathons I finished earlier this year and the remaining marathons I am finishing this year are “training runs” for the next big ultramarathon. The Subic International Marathon already has its own website now. I already signed up via email and waiting for the paper registration.

My first marathon up north of Metro Manila

I wonder how many runners out there will be going to this event? According to blogs that I’ve read, the route is relatively flat and that the road has no street lights whatsoever. With this information, I will then treat is as a trail ultramarathon and bring my own flashlight. I also read that last year’s marathon seriously lacked hydration stations. I wonder when will I ever join a marathon that has adequate hydration stations for a marathon? They seem to always lack water for those slow runners who log in at five hours or more for a marathon.

2nd Quezon City International Marathon [December 2010]

Two things why I want to do this marathon. One, I joined the first one and this is one marathon that I would like to do for the next 40 years if I should still be alive by then. I was inspired by a special issue of RUNNERS WORLD as they featured the New York City Marathon and how it evolved over the past four decades. They have runners who have joined the event for close to 40 years since it started and it has evolved to be one of the most popular marathons to join. Someday, I wish the QC Marathon would reach a similar prestige and that runners from all over the world would join this event to the point that the organizers will have an electronic raffle for participants similar to that New York City Marathon.

Another reason why I am joining this event is that I live in Quezon City and I literally spent half of my life there. I studied at UP Diliman for college. When I entered the workforce, I still couldn’t detach myself from leaving UP campus so I ended up renting bedspace inside the campus. Eventually, logic and finances had to give way and it was tough commuting to and from the office to Makati or Ortigas. So I decided to move closer to the office. But three years ago, I moved back to QC simply because I consider it as home.

So there you have it, the ultramarathon and remaining marathons that I will be joining for the year. For each race, I will dedicate it to someone or to an organization and pray for them on the road. I still believe that prayer is a powerful means of communicating with God.  I am thinking of adopting an organization and running for one during my next BDM151k for March 2010.

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