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| Awesome 2013! |
The best experience for me was the DISNEYWORLD MARATHON WEEKEND at the start of the year. Per and I flew all the way to Orlando, Florida for her very first Marathon (and of course do some side trips there and in NYC). Lucky for us, it was also the 20th year of the Disneyworld Marathon so we each received a very nice commemorative finisher medal.
There were also a 21km race event (Donald Duck medal) the day before the full marathon and a 5km Family fun run two days before the full marathon (Mickey Mouse and friends medal). Of course, I had to do all three races and once I finished them, I received a Goofy medal (for completing a Half and a Full Marathon).
It was a nice and flat course made more exciting by the various Disney characters positioned along the route for which you could take a picture or two with them. Of course, a lot of runners had the same idea and you may end up lining up for a bit (which in a road race where every second counts, this can be frustrating at times too). I ended up lining for the shortest lines and skipping the long ones (such as that of Pirate Jack Sparrow, Beauty and the Beast, and super long lines for Mickey and Minnie!)
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| Chip or Dale? Hmmm |
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| at Epcot Center with Stitch |
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| Donald Duck 21km finisher medal |
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| we went through Disney Castle for the 42km race |
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| We did it! |
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| best MEDAL EVER!!! |
The most painful race for me happened in 2013 as well! Right after doing Disney Marathon and Condura Marathon at the start of the year, Alvin and I then attempted to complete the Bataan Death March 102km in March, which had a cut-off time of 18 hours. I started out strong and even happy when I crossed the 50km mark but by 60km, I was having a very hard time running. My hands became swollen later on and for some reason, my saliva dried up too so it was difficult for me to chew and swallow solid food. Drinks weren't enough (and I was worried too that I was drinking too much because of my hands) and this affected my race. I didn't make it to cut-off time by more than an hour. But I was too exhausted to care. I was officially DQ (disqualified) but that was fine. At least I survived this ordeal and lived to tell about it!
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| the starting line at KM 00 |
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| posing with the local kids of Mariveles, Bataan |
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| reaching KM 102! |
1. T2N (Tagaytay to Nasugbu, Batangas 50km)
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| Garmin casualty |
My road to Ultra Marathons was supposed to end with one 50km only (as a sort of redemption run to BDM) and also so that I could officially say I am an Ultra Marathoner. But who could resist an Ultra Marathon falling on your own birthday?
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| nice scenic background |
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| finally reaching Lucban, Quezon! |
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| finisher of 50km race with 3 bonus 3km! |
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| my first running trophy!! |
The lure of a 50km is always there. This time, Alvin and I are joined by Janine (in her first Ultramarathon) and Kervin (as our support crew). First Ultra Marathon where I would be running solo as Alvin will be running at his own pace and also Janine.
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| Team Akala Namin 10k lang ito |
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| Kawit, Cavite survivors! |
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| bringing home the loot |
4. Hero to Hero Run 50km - unfortunately, wasn't able to run this as got sick. So Alvin did it solo with his wife as his support crew. Sorry! :(
2013 was definitely me going the distance by exceeding the Marathon distance. But there was a price for this as well as during this time, I rarely worked on my speed and focused on endurance instead. This was a price I paid when I joined Milo Marathon and didn't make it to the 6 hour cut-off time. I also did the RUPM 42km and since its cut-off time was more lenient, I was able to get a finisher medal at the end.
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| Milo Marathon |
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| Run United Philippine Marathon |
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| Condura Marathon |
Aside from these big races, there are also a lot of good races for 2013!
One of my favorite races was Rexona Run 21km as it infused music in the race (via live bands and speakers), making it quite fun to run in. Having it at 3AM gun start helped us avoid the morning sun which Roxas Blvd races are known for. This race is also my longest current running streak as started doing it since 2010.
There was also the unique distance of 25km via New Balance Power Run
Another unique distance race was 34km Caliraya 360, which had a very nice view of Caliraya Lake!
The nice singlet offered by Adidas King of the Road 16.8km race!
The unique (and dirty) Mud Run in Filinvest:
This race aside from being intentionally muddy also had a set of obstacles that you had to conquer.
Of course, who could forget the terrifying Outbreak Manila for which I joined two events in 2013:
1. Outbreak BGC
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| which of these will be a victim or a survivor? |
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| cool Zombie medal |
Probably the longest 5km I did in my life!!! Pretty cool to run inside a shopping mall too at midnight with zombies lurking around.
For the final month of 2013, races were fun too from Greenfield's 21km Christmas Run to Mcdonald's unique 9km run (5km, 3km, 1km).
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| best loot in a 21km race!!! |
Thank You Lord for everything... for keeping me safe and healthy. For getting me to the finish line in one piece.
Thank You Per for your support in my running addictions and for putting up with me!
Thank you Alvin for all the long runs you pushed me to do (via text, being there, and literally pushing me! Haha!).
Aside from all these events, 2013 will be forever memorable to me and to my family as it was also the year that Per gave birth to our second daughter, Alexandra.
To God be all the Glory!
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