Rizal Day Run - Wrapping up the year with a 32k

This was the first event I joined officially since I DNF’d on PIM. Well, I bandited on a couple of half marathons, NB power race and Philstar Celebrity , so those don’t count. Part of the reason I bandited was to avoid paying pricey entry fees for the course that I have ran a few times before.

The Rizal Day Run would definitely be something different for me. A lot of firsts for this as well… a first 32k. a first in Camp Aguinaldo, first time to go there also so I had to seek help from wikimaps for directions. More importantly, reg fee was affordable considering the distance. Well, actually I considered banditing this one as well but I came to my senses in time. Thinking that a military general is the race organizer inside a military facility as the race course… got the point?… hehe

I initially thought that the course would be a bit boring. Running the same course 4x was not very appealing. But On the contrary, the run was not that bad after all, infact it was quite enjoyable. I guess because of the varying backdrops each loop. First loop at pitch darkness, 2nd just as dawn was breaking, on the 3rd, the sun as up but the tree lines provided shade throughout the course and the breeze was still cool the 4th loop, the sun was up and there were already unshaded portions along the course.

One advantage of a multiloop course is you can take notes on where the difficult and easy terrains are and use that to your advantage on the succeeding loops; and you’d also know where the next water station will be and strategically increase your pace as you anticipate the next one.

I did not really do my best effort on this run. Haven’t run my race pace (6min/km haha!)for quite a while, so I thought I would risk bonking if I do one on a considerably longer distance than a half marathon. So again I paced along with Isko who was doing his ultramarathon training applying his strategy of getting walk breaks every 30mins.

Isko and I finished still a bit fresh @ 3hrs14mins. A great year-ender for my 2009 running season.

I guess at this rate covering whether a 32k or just a 30k, my sub 5hr target for Condura Marathon is within reach.

For the year 2009. I have covered a total of 1308kms.. with the Q109 with the highest mileage rgistered but dwindled there after. This was because of the swim and bike training that I gradually incorporated with my training.


Hoping for a better 2010 running season. Hope to do an ultramarathon by next year. BDM is a bit too early for me though. Happy New Year! See on the road next year!