After crossing the finish line during my first half marathon, the only thing I wanted to do was rest and eat.
And sign up for another 21k. And probably register for a full marathon. Or better yet, an ultramarathon.
It may sound funny, but most runners (including me) will instinctively contemplate their next race once the pain subsides. Think of it as going back to reality: a recovery run, training again from scratch, and saving enough cash for registration and nutrition, and anticipating yet another world of hurt.
But then again, runners are resilient creatures. They will smile (or pose for a pitik) though their legs are about to give up; they talk to themselves for hours and dream of beer and pizza. While every runner is built differently, there is only one question that they will need to answer once they have that shiny, new medal hanging around their necks:
“What’s next.”
The Marathon
It may sound awkward, but I’ve done two full marathons before completing a Half-Mary. It was during the height of the pandemic, and, of course, protocols on social distancing and prohibiting large gatherings were strictly enforced. I joined the Cebu City Marathon (CCM) and the 7-Eleven Run – both virtual races – in 2022 just for the heck of it. No proper training, no stringent diet, no nothing.
I joined because I was into running and thought of it as my ultimate test as a runner.
Long story short, I finished and got my medal and finisher shirt, but my body was a wreck. My time was even worse.
Fast forward to today, I know that what I did was wrong for all the right reasons. Training for a full marathon requires a runner to be a different beast because running close to 5 times a week is just too much for me; I cannot see myself spending two or more hours on a Sunday grimacing in pain because training calls for a long run.
But pain is part of the process. I know that now. I’m not a fan of the whole “no pain, no gain” mantra, either; pain will always be there, but it will lessen, at least at some point, just as long as you know the basics, observe rest days, and learn to listen to your body when training becomes too much to handle.
I cannot say the same for my 21k last June. It was a “bahala na” decision to register considering that I was more into swimming at that time. It was the “athlete” in me that pushed me into registering (plus the constant nagging of my runner friends); modesty aside, I was in my peak performance, and I thought to myself that running a 21k without proper training should be a breeze.
It wasn’t. Although I finished below my target time of two hours and 30 minutes, I must’ve passed out save for my pacer buddy who maintained my pace and composure.
Finishing my third marathon is something that I’m looking forward to next year. For now, my goal is to improve my Half-Mary time to a decent two hours and 10 minutes, perhaps a sub-two hours. Training will be intense, no doubt about it, but I’m here to prove to myself that I can do more.
The Ultramarathon
Joining my first ultramarathon is my ultimate dream. For me, it’s the ultimate test of endurance, determination and all-out guts. I can only listen in awe when my friends tell stories about their ultra adventures.
At least for now.
I wasn’t built for speed. I mean, I can still pace some elite swimmers, but when it comes to running, I’d be one of those who are in the middle of the pack, huffing and puffing.
Going slow is more of my thing. But slow doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m weak. While speed still does matter in an ultramarathon, it’s more of a mental battle: running a marathon is no joke, and how much more going for 50 kilometers or even more.
I’ll be living my dream come December when my extended family, the Bacolod Road Stallions, holds our annual Bacolod to San Carlos City ultramarathon. It’s around 80 kilometers, which means that I’ll be running for more or less 15 hours.
It’s going to be fun because I’ll be running with my friends and mentors. But it will also be painful because running for 15 hours is running for 15 hours.
Is it going to be worth it in the end?
Of course, it is.
