I really don’t know why I felt so anxious about this race. Maybe, since this happens to be my first race in 2010. The 21k distance is really daunting, although I had finished one 21k during the Quezon City International Marathon. Would I be able to break my previous 2:15 time for the distance? Would I be able to finish it without walk breaks? Would I be able to last the distance without injuries since I had been experiencing knee pains during my training? These things kept playing in my mind. Or maybe, the thought of running with Derek Ramsay and the Superbods contributed a lot to it. Anyway, my worries afforded me very little sleep. My mind was not well rested, so to speak.
We arrived at The Fort at 4:30 a.m. There were already a lot of runners and spectators. The turnout was good despite the hefty registration fees (will we now see a changing of standard registration fees). After the usual opening ceremony gimmicks, the race started 10 minutes earlier than the 5:20 a.m. schedule. Good for us who arrived early, but bad for those who arrived on time.
I was at the back of the pack and slowly inched my way to find more breathing space. I started cautiously but eventually got my bearings after a kilometer. I noticed that there were large kilometer markers along the route. The water stations were also placed at kilometer points. The first U-turn slot at the British School was dimly lit. Aside from this, it had no energizing mat to deter would-be cheaters. There was a marshal manning the slot, but I doubt if he could see the entire running field. The U-turn slot was not well defined as it was only marked by pylons. The smarter runners opted to negotiate the shorter turn, although some of us negotiated the farthest pylon. It would better if plastic barriers were placed instead.
On reaching 5th Avenue, we were joined by the 5k runners. I got rather confused and looked around to check if I was traversing the correct route. I asked a marshal about this, and he nodded in affirmation. To my sigh of relief, we parted ways with the 5k runners at the end of 5th Avenue.
I was feeling good and hoped to finish in less than 2:10. However, my aspirations turned south in the last 3k, as I began experiencing symptoms of cramps. I did not know what happened. Maybe, this was the anxiousness I was experiencing before the race. It came as a surprise since I hydrated myself well with electrolytes and even took Powerbar gel. I slowed down, not wanting to suffer full cramps and literally coasted to the finish line. My unofficial time was 2:12.
Overall, the organization of the race was good. However, the following suggestions may do well to improve future races:
- Provision of energizing mats at every U-turn slot
- Planning of race routes to prevent mix up of runners of different categories, especially during the early part of the race
- Use of plastic barriers at U-turn slots
- Need to give the finisher’s medals at the finish line to ensure that only legitimate finishers get medals
- Gun start should be as publicized
The decision of Century Tuna to be involved in running is one step further in its advocacy for a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right food is a must for everyone who wants to stay fit and healthy. There is no excuse for runners not to follow this natural law. Tuna tastes good in itself, but running does make it taste far better.
The Green Cursor 