Some people love to go bunjie-jumping, skydiving, or parasailing just for the fun of it. Some adrenaline junkies do other more daring sports to get a certain high.
Together with Dr. Vivian Sy, Engr. Geronica Sinco-Martinez, Joyce Catacutan-Solomon, and Dr. Sheila Loo-Flores, I eagerly signed up for what was to be the world’s 1st All-Women Ultra Marathon (as confirmed by the International Ultra Runners Association).
It was a 50-kilometer race that started from Ayala Center Cebu at 10 in the evening of March 10 until 8 in the morning the next day. The finish line was at Karancho Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City, in the neighboring island of Mactan.
Having completed the 42k before the seven-hour limit in the Cebu City Marathon on Jan. 9, my fellow women-runners and I were confident in joining the ultra. We were thinking, “After the 42K, what’s 8K more? How hard could it get?” We were pretty sure we could finish well within the 10-hour cut-off time.
Each of the five us had our personal reasons in wanting to do the ultra. I commemorated my Dad’s 10th death anniversary. As a breast cancer victor, Sheila wanted to test her limits. Gengen wanted to run while she still can, Joyce joined because she is all- woman, and Vivian was prompted by her little daughter to “go live your dream!”
We had two months yo train. Cebu-based ultramarathoner Richie Al Villagante a.k.a. Kuya Katol provided us with a training program which we religiously followed each day and week’s mileage. We took advantage of the regular runs of the Dumaguete Amateur Runners & Striders (DARS), and did hill repeats at Tierra Alta in Valencia, at an elevation of over 750 feet.
D-Day. The night of the race in Cebu was started with a mass celebrated by a priest who had completed three full marathons. It was attended by the organizers, fellow running enthusiasts, supporters, and the 181 lady runners — 70 of us whom were ultra newbies like us.
It was a delight to see our running idols and celebrities in the same building like Atty. Haide Acuna, Nap dela Torre, and Twinkle Gonzalez. We made sure we wouldn’t miss the photo-ops with them. The hype was so intense, we could hardly contain our joy and the jitters.
10 pm. A few minutes before 10pm at the starting line, we were all wearing our widest grins, and were shouting to release any anxiety, just eager to take that first step at gunstart. We simply felt sheer excitement and exhilaration in anticipation of the long journey to the neighboring island.
From gunstart, everything was going smoothly, until I started to have cramps in both calves at Km.15. A little farther down the road, I tripped so bad I almost fell. I prayed hard my left ankle would not hurt and swell. I still had a long way to go.
Lucky for us women runners, we were treated like royalty. There were massages, energy drinks, candies, eggs, bananas, ice cream, beer, ice cold sponges, even lechon at the water stations located every 2.5 kilometers of the route.
Those freebies surely took away the pain and exhaustion. Cheerers and marshals along the way encouraged us to press on.
3 high bridges. Part of the route was to run on Marcelo Fernan Bridge, then the Old Bridge, then Cansaga Bridge, then back, then run on Fernan Bridge a second time.
We knew we were going to run up and down these bridges but twice on the long Fernan bridge? And right at the 40K stretch? It was unthinkable.
On the way to my second run on Fernan Bridge, I thought I was doing the Galloway Method fast enough. Until I turned my back, and saw Vivian just right behind me. Astounded, I shouted at her in jest, “I’m gonna run as fast as I can coz I don’t want you to outrun me!”
And so with all the strength I had left, I ran the 1,237 meter stretch of Fernan Bridge and beyond, making sure Vivian was out of sight. Thanks to her, I picked up speed.
As they say, “Bahala’g matuhog sa uban, basta di lang sa kauban.” Funny but true.
Finally, I reached the Km. 45 water station manned by the TG-Lasang-Luba Rinnan Runners of Cebu. It was the only station where the DARS tarpauline was hanging (again, thanks to Kuya Katol).
In the Km.45 station was also a full-length mirror, and red lipstick for a quick retouch. According to Cebu support crew, we had to look fabulous at the finish line.
The last 5K seemed the longest and the farthest for me. I just felt that the finish line was so close, yet so far. At that point, I had also already consumed all my GU gels and Chomps. I was just exhausted and my vision was starting to get blurry. My legs were painful, and my feet were sore. After all, I had been running for more than six hours; it was already past four in the early morning.
Several thoughts were racing through my mind: “This is just too much!” “Why did I ever join an ultra?” “Why did I ever think this was easy to do?” I just felt like crying.
But despite my protestations, I just pushed myself harder. I was confident enough with my training. I knew I could do it. I had to do it.
After running 7 hours-24 minutes-56 seconds in the dead of night starting at 10pm, I gleefully wore the precious All-Women Ultramarathon medal around my neck.
Shortly after, Vivian, Gengen, and Joyce arrived. We were ecstatic!
At 8:15 into the race, Dr. Sheila Flores arrived. We were teary-eyed because she ran against her own doctor’s advice. We were so relieved to see her okay, inspite of her disc herniation, and not wearing lumbar support during the 50K run. “I thank God my back did not ache during the run, and what’s more, I’ve never felt any pain anymore since the run!” said Sheila.
Her determination is truly inspiring. We jumped with tears of joy, extremely proud to have completed the race earlier than our targeted times.
The five of us from DARS group-hugged at the finish line, just thankful to God we all finished safe and strong.
Sheila bagged the Ultra Friendly award but prizes were not monetary. Instead, the winners and other awardees were given scepters, capes, sashes, and gift certificates.
The feeling of having accomplished a 50k race is beyond words. We were humbled to accept our beautiful golden medals. The ultimate prize was conquering one of the most arduous challenges in our lives.
As a woman, there were some things I have learned and realized while I struggled to finish the last kilometer of the race: To persevere despite the hurdles that come my way, to push through whatever it takes, to give the best that I can, to live up to expectations, and to always to call on God for guidance and endurance.
It was our first ever ultramarathon, and surely, not our last.
In fact, just before midnight of Saturday, April 28, we will join the ONe Ultramarathon from Km. 0 at the Capitol in Dumaguete City upto Sunday, April 29 at Km. 50 in Siaton.
And just like what we accomplished in Cebu, we hope to beat the sunrise in Siaton. (Dulce “Honey” Flores-Chandiramani)
