…one tnf water bottle

…two litters of water and one bottle of rush in my hydration bag

…three times experiencing cramps on my legs. About 10-15 minutes the ambulance vehicle was following and monitoring me after my second cramps.

…belongs to bandit runners

…second marathon race

NEW PERSONAL RECORD: 3HOURS55MINUTES!!!

First of all, i don’t have a plan to join this marathon. I’m just not ready to run this 42.195km for several reasons. First, I didn’t join the qualification marathon last August 3 and I didn’t log enough miles since the past two weeks. However, during the speed training Team BaldRunner with the hardcore and ash-kicker runners, Jonel aka bugobugo85, one of the leading runners of that group, invite me to join them in participating the 32nd Milo Final Elimination as bandit runner.

You may read the full recap of the marathon from BaldRunner and bugobugo85.

I don’t have a specific strategy on how to finish this marathon. All i have in my mind was just a fun run with the bandits to the finish line. I brought with me two tnf water bottle and tnf hydration bag that i would bring along during the race. I know this is not a good idea to bring those stuffs. It will just slow me down in running since it will add some more weights. I decided to carry all those stuffs because i think i’m not deserve to drink their water since i’m not register.

So here we are, the chosen 8 unqualified runners who has a strong conviction in their hearts that they are qualified for full marathon. According to Jonel, for security and other obvious reasons, our identity couldn’t be divulge or else the race director will run after us All of us has our own BIB #, not for 42k but 10k. Phillips and I were the only foreign runners among this group, and we were justifying ourself if ever the organizer would ask us why we join the full marathon when our bib is for 10k, we would just answer them that we don’t know, we don’t understand much the language, and we got lost and run with the 42k runners

The bandits and the President of Hardcore Runners Association

As pointed out by Jonel in his blog, we didn’t stand in the starting area. We stood by the sidewalk, about 15meters from the starting area, waiting all the 42k runners passed by and the bandits will follow. I decided to just carry one tnf water bottle with me and left the other one in Jonel’s car. Thanks for Jonel’s wife and ann who support us from the beginning of the race.

At Lawton Avenue, I took off my hydration bag and the water bottle and gave it to Captain Coach Espejo. All the team support of BaldRunner were there ready to help the hardcore runners which is also students of the speed training of Team BaldRunner. I felt lighter. By this time Phillips was way ahead of me. He is really a strong and hardcore runner.

On the km 30, i felt something wrong in left foot. Cramps is going to occur. So i decided to slow down. Few minutes later, just after i fell down, BaldRunner overtook me. Later on, as i kneel down on the road, try not to scream, feeling the pain on my upper knee, some people from the nearest water station came over and assist me. In few seconds later, some marshals took over and give a little massage. I couldn’t remember how long I was there, but long enough for them to give me massage in order for me to recover from the cramp. After I recovered from the cramps, i found myself running again try to catch BaldRunner but soon after that, I got cramp again on the same spot. By this time, as i continue running after recovered, the ambulance vehicle was following and monitoring me. Approaching the manila bay, i got the last cramp and this is worst because it happen to both of my legs. The same marshals assisted me and one spectator who was standing by the road who saw me first when i fell down gave me massage. Another biker also came by and try to give a help. I noticed also there were two 42k runners were trying to give an ointment while giving a massage. It was a little crowd that morning. On that moment, i was really praying to God, begging Him that i want to finish sub 4hours. I want to break my PR. And yes, He granted my request…

Despite of all the cramps, the additional weights and the bandits issue I cross the finish line in 3hours55minutes. A NEW PR…!

… and this is the very interesting part of the race that morning. The moment i crossed the finish line, they gave me a finisher certificate, a finisher medal and a bag full of Milo product stuffs too Vener and his wife was there too to be the first to welcome me. Thanks a lot bro…

Thanks to Jonel who make the finisher medal possible for me. Thanks to those who assist me on the road while i got cramps. Thanks to all the team support of Team Baldrunner, Vic Villar, Fred Luis, Madame Rowena, Gie and Captain Coach Espejo. I could still heard the “Go…Go…Jerry” that you guys always shout at me as a motivational words to keep on running. I could still heard the voices of Captain Coach Espejo and Coach Salazar, “straight line”, “faster”, “use midfoot for landing” during the run. For the banana, the water and the photo taken by Fred Luis, thank you so much…

ps. I think I’m obliged to donate my shoe to Project Donate A Shoe of BaldRunner…

At Bayani road. Vic Villar from team support of Team BaldRunner was giving me a bottle of water. Photo taken by Fred Luis, also belongs to the team support of Team BaldRunner.

A moment after crossing the finish line with Vener and Gene. Photo taken by Christy, Vener’s wife

The Bandits “unmasked”

The Hardcore Group; Capt Ferdie Espejo; Coach Satur Salazar; Team Bald Runner—Cris Sabal who won 1st Runner-Up Overall & Marecil Maquilan who won also 1st Runner-Up Overall.