Race Report: RunRio Trilogy Leg 3: Run United 3 (Nov. 13, 2011) - Myfirst 32K and My Last Long Run Before the Marathon
My race report on the Runrio Trilogy Leg 3: Run United 3 held last Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 at SM Mall of Asia (MOA). I did the 32K distance. The 32K started at MOA, went to Makati via Buendia Ave., turned around just before Makati Ave. to head back to Roxas Blvd. At Roxas Blvd, we headed towards NAIA Road, then turned around to go to Luneta still via Roxas Blvd. From Luneta, another U-turn to go back to MOA for the finish line.
I also tried a negative split pacing strategy based on the Marco Marathon Calculator to see if it will work for me and thus use it for my target marathon. This is a neat tool that plots your pace and heart rate for each kilometer of a marathon with a negative split as the strategy. Using this tool, I generated mine based on previous races and max heart rate as parameters. Then I took the first 32K of the guide.
It didn't work as planned by the Marco Marathon Calculator. I started slow as planned (even slower than my usual long run pace) but I was even slower on the second half of the race, which is the opposite of the plan. I attribute it to the heat that morning. I wanted to do heat training before but for the past couple of months, the sun just didn't show up during the days I was supposed to do heat training. My Garmin also shut down after 25K and wouldn't turn on, so I had no idea what my pace, time and distance were (the kilometer markers were already dismantled by that time).
The race started on time, but since I positioned myself at the very back, I didn't hear the gun start. People just started moving. A few hundred meters from the start, it was still very dark. And I noticed dark figures standing on the grass on both sides of the road and they were like 2 meters apart from each other. I was thinking they were race marshals. But what were they doing there in the dark and why so many? Then I noticed they were facing the other way, then one of them pulled up his shorts and went back to the race. Oh. It was quite funny and it was happening on both sides of the road and there really were a lot of them, at least 20 on each side. It was like, "Hey look, they're peeing on the grass, it looks like fun, I'm doing that too." The sad thing was, later on my way back, there were some people on the grass - picnic style.
The course from MOA, to Macapagal Ave., to Roxas Blvd. was OK except for the bridge along Macapagal Ave. The creek there really stank. But Buendia Ave., from Roxas Blvd. to somewhere before Osmena Ave. was the worst. Only a small portion of the road was cordoned off by traffic cones and the rest was filled by trucks, buses and jeepneys stuck in traffic. Imagine the noise, pollution and danger to runners. Buendia from Osmena to Makati Ave. was very good because the whole road was closed off for runners.
Along Buendia, I met a couple of my wife's colleagues already on their way back to Roxas Blvd. At the intersection of Ayala and Buendia, I met my brother and sister in law, already on their way back too. They cheered me on. At this point, it was still less than 10K so I was still fine and I was just taking my time. After the U-turn before Makati Ave., I had a fairly good idea of my place in the race. There were only about 10 other runners behind me, but it didn't matter.
It was quite lonely on my way back to Roxas Blvd., I was alone most of the time except for when a runner will pass me (now there were less than 10 other runners behind me, but it still didn't matter).
When I got to Roxas Blvd., it was like I was back in the race because there were other runners with me, although they were all moving in the opposite direction. By this time, it was already hot. I decided to change my run-walk ratio to 1:1 from 2:1. I didn't want to push myself too hard here and risk not recovering in time for QCIM.
Because of the heat, I needed to regulary douse myself with water at the water stations. But after the U-turn near NAIA road on the way to Luneta, the three succeeding water stations were already dismantled. This really irked me. And it irked me some more because on the first dismantled water station I saw earlier, a lot of bottled water stilled packed together in plastic, piled high were being loaded in trucks. Fortunately, I brought my own hydration, but I badly needed to pour water on me. I felt like I was wilting in the heat. And what about the others who didn't have their own hydration? At the next water station that was still up, I spent some time dousing myself and luckily this one also had ice, so I also iced my arms and legs and got some more to put in in my cap. This gave me a boost and I was relatively fine again. Most if not all of the succeeding water stations along Roxas Blvd., were already in the process of being dismantled although they were still serving water and the people manning them were very helpful.
I passed some runners on my way to Luneta. I guess the heat got to them too.
At the U-turn at Luneta, I met the first photographer on the course who took my picture. I thanked her for her patience. I also changed my run-walk ratio down to 30:30 just to be sure I don't over-exert myself. It was really hot.
Near CCP, a marshal on a motorcycle asked me to move to the sidewalk because Roxas Blvd. will soon be opened to traffic. That's how I knew it was almost 9am. My Garmin already shut down and wouldn't turn on. The sidewalk was actually a relief because it was shaded by trees. It was also a bit demoralizing to be asked to move to the sidewalk but that's just the way it is.
From CCP back to MOA, was the hardest - so near, yet so far. But I knew I will get there eventually. I just need to keep on putting one foot in front of the other. I actually passed around 5 runners in this stretch.
When I arrived at the finish line, my wife, her brother and his wife were waiting for me. I hope I didn't worry them. They had cold Powerade and granola bar for me. Thanks guys!
I just did an additional 1K as cool down for a total of 35K for the day. The soreness I felt the next day was just like the soreness after a long run instead of like one after a race, so I guess I didn't overdo it.
So now I'm done with my first 32K race and my last long run. Next, the Marathon; bring it on.
Scorecard:
- Water Stations: Many and well stocked with water and some with Powerade and bananas - until they dismantled them.
- Cheering: I didn't notice any
- Route: Mostly good except for Buendia where there were trucks, buses and jeeps with us. It was relatively flat except for the EDSA and Buendia flyovers. But these flyovers were tame compared to Kalayaan and the C5 flyovers.
- Traffic management: Good, except on Buendia.
- Kilometer Markers: There were kilometer markers up until around 23K. They probably dismantled the rest already when I got there.
- Weather: Very hot!
- Marshals: There were enough on most key turns/intersections.
- Singlets: Yes. But I didn't use it.
- Timing chip: Yes.
- Race Results: Not yet out as of this writing.
- Photos: Yes.
- A run for charity: Yes.
- Finisher's shirt: Yes.
- Finisher's medal: Yes.
- Injuries: None. Thank God! I actually had pain on the balls of my feet before the race. I felt a small lump that gave some pain when I ran in not very cushioned shoes. It disappeared after the race. The lump probably got pulverized during the race.
- Personal Best: Yes.
PERFECT Race Experience Index: PERFE
Things I really liked:
- My first 32K.
- The finisher's shirt. Although I prefer it to be in cotton.
- The helpful marshals in the last kilometers
Things that they can improve on:
- Close off Buendia
- Don't dismantle the water stations and kilometer markers; or publish cutoffs
- Publish the race results early
What I learned:
- A negative split is hard to do if the second half of the race is much more challenging
- I'll need a pacer in the last 10K of the marathon to help me keep me going. I already asked my son and he agreed.
- Bring an extra watch or simply don't care about your finish time
- Again, train for heat
- I should douse myself with water earlier and not wait until I feel like I'm already overheating
- Before the race, always look for the portalets and pee
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