“This is just a race. Come on!” the macho voice said.
Saddened by the thoughts on how will I be able to catch up with the gang, I laid there, faced-down on the concrete while processing thoughts. I have no idea how long did I stay in that position. It seemed as if the clock stopped ticking. With all my running grace gone neglecting the fast paced running crowd I kept myself reminded, “Lady bug, don’t be a loser. Stand up. Fight!” “But it hurts,” and what agitates me more that I cannot accept was the idea of hey! I haven’t even cross the 2nd km marker and there I was again, a damsel in distress. What happened to me?
People ran fast, like the flashy action scene on television screens. Some stopped while others offered help. Bong Damian was there too (the man who introduced trail running to me a year ago), about to bend his knees to aid me, but I said, “Sure thanks, but I can manage. Proceed. Sayang ang time mo.” And of all those people who cared is an authoritative voice that had hit me straight to the soul.
At first it was just like the others…
“Are you ok?”
“No. But it’s manageable. Don’t worry, Sir.”
“This is just a race. Come on.” the macho voice said. And for a time that statement reverberated in my head. “This is just a race… Come on!”
He held me up and didn’t leave until I was able to stand on my feet. I looked at him and to my surprise, that macho voice belongs to the CM50 race director, Atty. Jon Lacanlale. No! I will not cry (even if I really feel like it). Not in front of the one who brought my spirit back. I just couldn’t thank him enough.
“This is it! We’ve only just began. So what if they were all over me? Trail running is no steady sports. A lot of may happen along the trail. Now it’s my turn to play the game. So dare me,” lol. It wasn’t me, actually. It was my ego talking. Haha yabang niya noh?!? I love her. Haha. The fighter. So Amazona, but cute. 😛
Optimism evokes power. Renewing the mind sharpens attitude. And that is my edge, a friend of mine once said, “Maraming mabibilis at malalakas Lady, pero hindi lahat may tamang attitude toward trail running. At yun ang meron ka. Mahirap kang pasukuin.” Idol kita, forever Kokoi. 🙂Alam mo bang kasama yan sa motivational playlist sa utak ko sa tuwing nanghihina ako? At tulad ng sinabi mo, mananatili sa lupa ang mga paa ko.
There was Edward, a man so strong who survived a gunshot trauma pointed to his head a long time ago, but is now into rocking the trail with his second life. What was that compared to my suffering that day? I have no right to stop. There was Alexandria too, with a broken ankle she was still able to groove. They were born fighters. I admire them, look up to them.
Jeysen, John, and Rommel were also there running their first trail marathon, I should not fail. There was Raymond too, haha my buddy for BDM102. I shouldn’t be weak, that was only 42. If he sees me failing he might stop envisioning our goal next year. I don’t want it to happen. Mother Joyce prepared our festive breakfast a day before: the No-to-DNF-meal was served, I must stick to the goal.
Neri, Ms. Jona, Omar, Mit and Sir Dennis, the 50milers were aiming for a strong finish, kaya kakayanin ko ito. At para saan ang videoke night namin nina Erwin and Jerriel kung made-derail ako sa goal?
The aim for female’s top 10 or sub 6:30 was still on. May chance pa. E sina Randy at Dexter nga kulang sa pahinga, go! go! go! pa rin. How about Darell’s dare for a km300buckle? Haha. Let’s do this. And oh si Labidabs pa pala. Haha. Char!
Traction found! So firm it can’t be taken away from me. Just like that statement written on Jeysen’s shirt, “Finish it or die trying.” There should be no option called quitting. Push!
Then I could feel the tearing of the flesh on my left knee. Yayks! It was bleeding seriously. I took my last bottle full of water again to wash the muddy blood out before I put my gel on it to at least lessen the pain from the crash. But it didn’t do any good so I just chose not to mind it much as I must. Again, for my traction, Push!
Whew! Then I could hear my training coach’s claps, shouts, and devilish laughs after every chant, “Block the pain, Lady. Discomfort lang yan.” Haha am I hallucinating again? Of course he wasn’t around since he’s among the leading runners. Crazy in thoughts I finally got to AS1. Thanks Tutu for the training. It helped me a lot. Say it’s all in the mind when it’s actually not. Hehe. Through you I’ve learned more on empowering my brain as much as my body.
There was no room for hypocrisy. I know my strength so well as my weakness. I’m not good on flats so I pushed myself harder going up on hills, but that didn’t go well. My left calf-muscle was straining again
which is not good as my doctor appealed for enough resting time to that injury of mine. But no! I’m almost halfway there, why stop here now? Push!
As I elevate on trail I could sense hope. I was catching up with the gang. I sticked to my sub-time goal and didn’t stop until I’ve seen my teammates cheering me on. “Push! Push! Push!” We agreed to shout “push!” whenever we pass by one another so we could be enlightened. Thanks to them. I was fully on.
Heading toward the other side of Mt. Ugo, there was this man who looked at me in dismay. He said, “Anong nangyari sa legs mo, ma’am? Naku. Bawas alindog yan.” Sa isip ko, wow! Gwapo mo Uh. I looked at him and oh yeah, Gwapo nga. Tsk!
Shocks! Oo nga peklat na naman ito. Lagot na naman ako kay mama. I better be more careful.
Running my way down from the summit to AS2, I dived hard again. This time it hit my right knee and elbow. Haha. Should I be a TV actor, I’d make a good action star, I swear. At that time instead of bursting into tears I just laughed and shouted, “Go! Go! Go!” “Push! Push! Push!” Then… Awchness!!! What was that pain? It seemed like cutting my back. Did I break a rib? Nada! Nada! Discomfort Lang yan. Block the pain! Block the pain! Ok, block the pain. I looked at my skin. From my shoulders down to my legs, it was purplish. That must have been caused by the coldness. I stood up. Now I could feel the discomfort all over my body. Seriously?!? Quota na ‘to Uh. But no!
Push! Hanggat walang butong lumalabas, Go! Pick and roll. At puro na ako galos kaka dulas at gulong sa daan. Kebs!
Mahirap talagang maging babae. Buti pa yung boys tatalikod lang solved na. Kami kailangan pang humanap ng safe spot para makawiwi. Haaay. I urinated four times out of coldness and that wasn’t easy, you know. Haha. Bilis-bilisan moves while hiding in the shadows, lol. But that experience was fun ’cause it was too challenging.
Ten kilometers more, finally I got to AS1. I was hungry I could eat them all alive. Joke (Halfmeant ’cause they all looked like chocolates on candy clouds) haha. I forgot about asking the name of that man who filled my hydration bottle and who was also about to aid my wounds. With so little time, I did not linger. I’ve got to save it up for my sub-time goal. Though it’s not feasible in less than an hour I thought, “You made it this far, why give up now? Just push and see for yourself, Lady.”
From that point to FL, I ran as fast as I can. I failed for my goal, but it was cool. I actually felt good because that’s a PR for me – 7hrs and 3mins, my best pace so far. Even faster than my only road marathon record. Best effort. I’m fine with it. ☺️
And oh, Baby girl got a strong finish too. Congrats Klaudette. Pumayat ka talaga. Achuchu!
To Sir Jonel, thank you for that tough route and very comprehensive orientation. Nakinig ako, promise. Haha. I love the chill it brought in and out of my being. See you next leg, Sir… Four Lakes 100 up to P1?!? Or…. Hehe
To the race marshals, locals and volunteers. Salamat sa ngiti, nakaka enlighten.
Sa mga tropang lokal na nakasama ko sa videoke night haha, duet ulit tayo ‘pag balik namin.
Sa kuyang masahista, babalikan kita. May atraso pa ako sayo. May bayad pala iyon. Hindi ka naman nagsasabi. Hayaan mo Kuya magkikita tayo sa second leg. Sorry naman po. ☺️
And of course, to my friend… Rain hahaha andami kong tawa. Oh masaya ka naman na siguro. Natupag ko ang misyon. Ok na?!? Hahaha. Pagaling ka ng maayos. Marami pa tayong tatakbuhin at po-podium ka pa diba? Hihi
Reflections:
1. “This is just a race. Come on.”
-Atty. J. Lacanlale
Three things:
a.) This is just a race. It’s not everything. Don’t risk your life for it. Just enjoy and be safe. Marami ka pang tatakbuhang laro.
b.) This is just a race. Wag mong dibdibin yung sakit, tumayo ka.
c.) Eh ano kung tumigil ang Oras ko sa pagtulong sa’yo. Hindi ko nanaising magpatiuna, na daraanan ka lang at hahayaang sugatan because this is just a race and you are my fellow runner.
2. There are two kinds of runners, the fast and the strong. You could be one or both but that is your choice.
3. Run every opportunity. Don’t take it for granted.
4. There will always be these options: a. To Win or
b. To Lose
All the glory be to God ☺️
Next stop… PDL42km
P.S.
Thank you Rosa, para sa pagiging ultimate support namin forever, from online chat to live action anjan kA palagi. I love you a lot. Xoxoxoxoxoxo unli
Mulatto Mountain Chef 