Sunday, September 12, 2010

Fort Strider's Run: My First 16k

It was a last minute decision to run this race - I didn't even invite my usual running companions to join. The only reason I registered for this event was that it matches the 16k requirement on my marathon training program for September 12. Of course I tagged Eugene along.

Race Pros:
  • Registration center at Paranaque - After my practice run at Manila Memorial Park, had a 5-minute drive to Nelson Auto Repair Shop in front of Paranaque Medical Center to register. Yes, you read that right - an auto repair shop that accepts race registration.
  • Cheap Registration Fee - 300 pesos only with a free singlet! I didn't like the fit though, so I didn't wear it on the race day.
  • Manual barcode timing system but guess what? The results were released at the same day! Big wow!
  • Ample water stations (and Pocari Sweat stations too).
  • Hyper race marshalls cheering racers on. I love hyper race marshalls!

Now on to the cons:

  • Race Route map was released 2 days before the actual race day. When we arrived at the venue, we found out that they scrapped the initial released route and just used the usual Runrio map, modified a bit for 16k.
  • Late gunstart with no warm-up. Everyone was surprised when the gun fired to signal the race start without any heads-up whatsover.
  • The event name is FS marathon - why the hell are they using the word "marathon" for an event with only 16k as the farthest category?

My legs felt very heavy at the start but after a few kilometers, I felt the leg muscles loosening up. I was really grateful Eugene paced with me until the finish line. We did a steady pace of around 6 minutes per kilometer - just the right pace we're aiming for our upcoming SG marathon. We finished in 1 hour, 34 minutes and 46 seconds.

And since we didn't have our usual running photographers with us, we had to settle on only a few shots from my celphone camera. Here's a pic of the start/finish line before the 16k gunstart:

And here's a post-race picture of me and Eugene from the race village stage:

12 weeks to go before the BIG day. I need more training!

6 comments:

  1. the gunstart was really funny. we were still chatting at the back when the gun was fired. they did the same for the other categories

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  2. Noel try to train on running uphill. I think madaming ganon sa route ng SG marathon. See you soon!

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  3. @daves - mukhang nakita nga kita dun sa event! di ko lang sure kung ikaw nga un.
    @reden - yep, doing hill training din kahit paunti-unti. mejo forte ko ang uphill, mahina ako sa down. weird nga e.

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  4. hey you did pretty good. 12 weeks to go for the big day .. Alright!

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  5. Congratulations to your 10-mile debut, time to add another 10-mile on Nov. 21 at Unilab, hehe... join na 32k :)

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  6. @sir patrick - thank you sir! can't wait for condura 2011!
    @runningatom - yes, i have registered at 32k. see you there! :)

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