Botak 42K: Matira Matibay

A few weeks ago, Bards texted me if I wanted to do a 42K long run in the Botak Paa-tibayan marathon. I thought it was a crazy idea since I had just then started my 16-week training program for the July Milo marathon and I felt I wouldn’t be ready. Just when I convinced myself to give it a try, I realized that the run would fall on a Mother’s Day and I would have to be in Pampanga for a Mother’s Day lunch. I checked my training schedule and my Smart Coach said I was to do a 20 mile run that day anyway and so I planned at least that distance for that morning and end my run at Rockwell.

At 4:32AM, runners were still assembling and there was no sign of any starting program whatsoever. No music from the loudspeakers, no announcer to signal the start of the race, nothing. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that the emcee came up on stage to introduce the race organizer who described the route for us. Up this point I had my doubts about the kind of water support and marshals for the race since the route had a lot of turns, but the organizer promised water stations every 2 kms for the first 25 kms and every 1 km thereafter. He also promised a lot of marshals and enumerated a long list of organizations that were supporting the race, including the MMDA, Makati Police and several other volunteer groups. The starting gun was finally fired at 4:58AM.

Starting Line

I kept pace with Bards and Ria throughout the whole run, except a section where minutes after taking 2 bites of my Snickers bar, I felt stomach cramps and I had to find a bathroom super fast. It was a good thing that my support car was nearby and I had to ride the car up to McKinley Hill to find the nearest fastfood store. Before riding the car though, I took off my race bib should anyone spot me and report me as a “cheater”. After relieving myself of my tension, I spotted Bards and Ria again coming up Lawton and we ran together again.

Tight group after the first 5k

Around km. 25 along Buendia, we came across a “36 km” sign and the guy manning the spot insisted it really was 36km. The funny thing is less than a kilometer after that was the 26km turnaround point at the intersection of Pasong Tamo. We expected we should’ve turned right towards Ayala Ave. towards Makati Ave., as printed on the race map but instead, we were directed to turn left to Ayala Ave. extension instead and towards South Ave. then right to Kalayaan Ave. heading to Rockwell. The last water station we encountered was at Buendia and there were no cups at that point. Fortunately, the support vehicle of the Fort Striders offered water and ice to all the runners along Kalayaan Ave. and they were a huge lifesaver as many had been without water for several kilometers already and it was already quite hot.

Energetic Bards at around km. 22

When we finally got to Rockwell, it was already well beyond my personal cut-off time of 8:30AM since I had to get home and get ready for a Mother’s Day lunch at Pampanga. With the 32km reading on my Garmin, I decided to call it a day. I actually was disappointed that I didn’t have time to run anymore since I noticed that I didn’t feel as tired as I usually would when I’d run close to this distance in the past. That must be a sign that my training is starting to pay off. However, I will need to experiment with different foods on a run to find a type that won’t give me stomach cramps. Anyhow, I’ve got another 20-miler in my schedule 2 weeks from now and I can’t wait to get out on the road again.

Special thanks to Bards and the T2 gang especially Harry and Vince for sharing their vehicles for the support crew. It would have been next to impossible to run that distance without you guys.

Congratulations also to Bards for beating her Singapore marathon time by close to an hour! Way to go Bards, ang tibay mo!

What I liked:
- Good quality personalized singlet, although I didn’t get to claim mine at R.O.X. and unfortunately I will never wear it since I didn’t finish the race.

What could be improved:
- Start on time
- A clearer and more detailed race map, given the many turns
- Deliver on the basics: Water stations with cups and water and marshals to guide runners
- A route that doesn’t pass through a busy highway like C-5