On to the next one: Bitoy's next ultra - TNF 100 Camsur

After much hype, TNF100 in Camsur is a go on Saturday, Apr 30th. This is supposed to be my first ultramarathon (100 kms) but I was too weak to resist the fantastic race called Mayon 360. This is the most expensive race in the Philippines I have ever joined. The registration fee amounts to P3,500. That's steep considering it is just a local race. Good thing I registered early and got a free roundtrip bus ride to Camsur and a cool sun visor cap. 


I am not sure but I feel undertrained for this one. The longest run I had was in the 80km race I did in Albay. But the difference is that the Mayon run was a road race while TNF 100 is a trail one. We are given 30 hrs to finish and since it's my first trail run, I wish to finish it in 24 hours. I don't have any concrete plan yet but I plan to bring sufficient provisions with me and will play it really really conservatively.


Whenever I venture into a new territory, I always feel jumpy and jittery. I know I should think positive and all that sunshine-y whatchamallit. Anyway, just to display my jumpiness, I would jump (sorry for the pun) to my wish list for Saturday's race:


1. Not to be dehydrated or suffer heat stroke or my stomach to act funny (that's a top priority)
2. Injury to spare me
3. Safety to be always by my side
4. A perfect weather meaning the sun to be a little gentler.
5. Not to get lost.
6. My fighting spirit to prevail when the going gets a lot tougher.
7. Enjoy the race and the beauty of nature along the way.
8. Safety for my fellow runners.
9. To be armed with the prayers and thoughts of my loved ones to carry me through the race.
10. The Lord to lead me through it and to the finish line. 


That's all for now. I have to resume packing and wish me luck! 

Race Review: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate

Name of Race: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate
Date of Race: April 2nd, 2011
Venue of Race: Albay Province, Philippines
Organizers: JCI Legazpi, etc.
Will I do this again?: Yes


Pros:

1. Route - Lovely route. The major come-on of this race was the chance to circumnavigate Mayon Volcano. It is the first race that promised to do that and it did deliver. The route was challenging with several uphills but equally rewarding with the lush countryside view it provided the runners.

Bitoy's First Ultra: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate (4 of 4)

finally!

Crossing the Finish Line

In about a kilometer to the finish line, I've asked one marshall on bike if the finish line is far. He said I'm close and decided to bike beside me while I run. He did basically pace me. I thought the last couple of signs were misleading. The last mark I saw said I was only 250 meters away from the finish line. I took note of it but after my Garmin  already posted 250 meters of movement, the finish line was not yet there or even close. It was a good thing the marshall kept assuring me that it is already near. Some more baby steps and I am really close. A line of army friends lined up the path to the finish banner. Hearing the cheering of the small crowd was like, pardon the cliché, music to the ear. And finally, I crossed the finish! I was awarded my finishers' medal and certificate, posed for some pics and I thought I was floating on air for some few seconds. I am now an ULTRAMARATHONER!

Bitoy's First Ultra: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate (3 of 4)

After the 40th km mark

Past 40 kilometers, I planned to change my run/walk ratio to 5:2 and then shift to 4:3 after 20 kms more. This somewhat gave me more time to rest my legs and take a breather. Another thing was I was getting a bit bored. I love the countryside but the silence was making me sleepy. I wore my earphones and soon, I was lipdubbing while running or singing along when I was on walk breaks.

During the orientation, I overheard some runners talking about having lunch in Jollibee. Now, Jollibee, as you all know is the quintessential Pinoy fastfood. This was the one thing on my mind for the past couple of hours. I was thinking of the juicy burgers and fried chickens and those crispy fries. These taste better than the mini-bars of Cloud 9 I've been munching. I thought it was just a few kilometers after the 40 km mark. But I was wrong. I saw the sign of the happiest bee in the world approximately at the 53rd mark. All the exasperation seemed to dissipate into thin air upon entering the store and smelling the langhap sarap aroma of the food on the counter. Never mind the curious stares of the other patrons. I ordered my spaghetti and took a seat upstairs. The spaghetti was gone faster than you can say the word. I rested for a bit to refresh. The sun was getting hotter and it will get hotter and hotter as the afternoon ripens. After a very long toilet break to do stuffs that are 'TMI' to mention, I left the store and headed back to the dusty road of Tabaco City.

Bitoy's First Ultra: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate (2 of 4)

Race Day

How was my sleep? It was staggered. I found myself waking up multiple times during my five-hour sleep checking that it was still early and I didn't miss the event. I finally got up at 2 in the morning, ate a quick breakfast (two slices of raisin bread and a bottle of Gatorade), showered, dressed up, prepared my baon like energy gels and granola bars and off I went to the starting line in Penaranda Park, Albay.

A quick program and the gunshot signaling the start of the race was heard. No, there was no gunshot, I think the host just counted down and then we scrambled like lab mice in a labyrinthine maze. I kid, of course.

Bitoy's First Ultra: Mayon 360 A 50 Mile Run for Climate (1 of 4)

I feel so grateful that two milestones of my running career took place in a couple of my favorite places. In December 2010, I finished my first full marathon in the Sin Capital of the world, Las Vegas. Just a few days ago (the 2nd of April to be exact), I upped the ante and survived the 80-km ultramarathon in Legazpi City circumnavigating what is dubbed by most as the world's most perfectly coned volcano, Mayon Volcano.

Why I Run and the First Race That Started It All (part 2)

showing off my finisher's bling at the Las Vegas Marathon (December 2011)

Not satisfied with finishing a pikermi, I committed to train for a 32k race in November of that year. But little did I know that I will be finishing a full marathon two weeks after. I have planned a vacation in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and saw in Takbo.ph about a marathon in Vegas happening two weeks after I arrived there. I thought twice about signing up, or maybe thrice considering the rule of the thumb is to have at least a year of running experience before doing an FM. But again the warrior in me prevailed, took all the necessary precautions, added more long runs in my training and lo and behold, I became a marathoner in just 10 months of running. And to finish it in one of my favorite places and celebrate it with the people I love the most made it extra extra special!

Why I Run and the First Race That Started It All (part 1)

I started running in February of 2010. Running was just one way of fulfilling a New Year's resolution--that was to lose weight. I was getting fat. That was the time when I could no longer fit into my jeans and the buttons of my shirts on my belly would just pop open without me doing anything. Oh wait, they pop open whenever I exhale.

ah those chubby cheeks...
(Mojave Dessert, Jan' 2010)

I am Running Bitoy!

the running corporate slave

What's up, Mmmmbop?!

Welcome to just another blog from just another runner. I am Victor, Tor or Bitoy to people I grew up with and (drumrolls please!) this is my blog! Yep, I am giving blogging a chance. I decided to write just in case I woke up one morning and could not remember my name and all the other essentials. I kid. I kid.

I hail from the land of good food, Pampanga and is currently slaving it off in the corporate world in the country's capital. I have been running for more than a year now and have joined some interesting races that I thought deserves to be heralded about. I might also share some training tips and though I may suggest things that work best for me, I will, by no means, claim to be an expert. So please take everything I say with a grain of salt just like eating balut. 

So, put on your running shoes, grab some Gatorade and let's start chasing pavements!