Nutty thoughts from a special-kind-of-idiot
Who would have thought of the crazy idea of running beyond a full marathon of 42 kilometers? How much more running a second 50-kilometer ultramarathon in less than two months?
Not someone with a sound mind, I guess, but when insanity reigns, dreams become reality.
The idea of attempting to do a 50-Km. Dumaguete to Siaton Challenge came after the Dumaguete Amateur Runners & Striders (DARS) and the MetroDumaguete Roadrunners Club (MDRC) completed a 32km. long-slow-distance run in October 2011 from Dumaguete to Zamboanguita.
It was a tough hurdle then, the farthest distance DARS had ever covered while training for our first full marathon at the Cebu City Marathon in January 2012.
It was then a mere thought; seemed hard. But not impossible.
The first-ever Oriental Negros Ultramarathon: The Siaton 50-kilometer Challenge kicked off on a moonless midnight of Friday, April 27, attracting 52 running enthusiasts from the cities of Talisay in Cebu, Bais, Cebu, Tanjay, Dumaguete, and the towns of Sibulan, Valencia, Dauin, and Siaton.
A mixture of merry excitement and anticipation filled the air as ultramarathon-virgins and veterans from Cebu anxiously gathered at the starting line at Km.0 at the Freedom Park fronting the Provincial Capitol grounds, eagerly waiting for the gunstart.
After all the preliminaries — pictorials taken by professional photographers, Silka promo girls pampering our skin with sunblock, the warm-up exercises amidst the blazing fireworks display, a prayer of safety offered by Rev. Bernadette Morales, the last-minute race reminders by MDRC’s Engr. Deo Salem — the gun was fired a minute short of midnight, sending off 52 runners scampering into the darkness of the night, noisily breaking the peaceful silence of deep slumber, with a happy banter and thumping feet scurrying on the road headed south.
Elite runners speeded up early a few hundred meters after gunstart, and the pack started to thin out.
This epic run took us to a journey down history, as we passed through the main street of Dumaguete, enjoying photo-ops by the 18th century Bell Tower, leaving behind the City streets, and weaving south to the towns of Bacong, birthplace of Philippine hero Pantaleon Villegas, more known by his nom de guerre Gen. Leon Kilat; then on to Dauin, jump-off point to one of the world’s Top 5 dive spots that is Apo Island; then on to the town of Zamboaguita where the Japanese Imperial Forces Command surrendered to the Filipinos during WWII; and up through the winding, hilly slopes of Siaton, the original site chosen by the United States for their air base in the Philippines.
I was running alongside with fellow ultramarathoner Joyce Solomon, and comfortably trying to settle with our pace. The first five kilometers was a joy ride, as we exchanged jokes and stories with Pure Muscle Gym coach Clint Besario, Dr. Franklin Paraiso, and Dr. Don Rene Catada until the first water-aid station. Then our group divided, with Doc Frank and Don Rene running ahead with Irma Faith Pal, and ultramarathoners Honey Chandiramani, Richie Al Villagante, and Antit del Rosario from Cebu.
There is just so much joy in running with no pressure at all, and finding pleasure in simple things along the way. This I discovered while running along the almost-deserted highway to the south.
By that time, Joyce and Clint were starting to experience some knee discomfort, and so they wisely decided to do the run-walk method, while vowing to finish the ultra, no matter what.
The stillness of the night was broken by echoes of laughter from not-so-funny-jokes shared. Walk breaks at every water-food aid station every five kilometers rinsed off tired soles, and lifted the spirits.
Sitting at a waiting shed at Km. 30, Fritz Festejo told me as I passed by that he was just tired, and had yet to see how far his aching gouty feet could carry him.
Alone by the break of dawn, the hilly slopes of Bondo, Siaton beckoned, and it was time for me to shift gear into a 4×4 power-walk, as I passed by Jay Datoy who had changed into fresh running clothes.
Farther down the road, I caught up with Irma and Katol, and together, we ran-walked the slopes towards Cabrera Farms where half-marathoners Atty. Carl & Dr. Nini Cabrera committed buko water and Cobra and water for each tired and thirsty runner. We hydrated ourselves with the sweetness of freshly opened buko juice.
Running downhill, the hills stretched into flat, concrete/asphalted roads where I found company in Doc Franklin and Felix Araula walking at Km. 42.
Then I found myself alone again in my longest five-kilometer stretch ever, where the heat of the early morning summer sun started stinging my back. Even just walking two kilometers was a test of mental power. I think it was Alexzshv Dolumbal and 61-year-old Julieta General I could see ahead of me. And I could also see the huge bold FINISH sign beckoning me. I was tired, thirsty, sleepy, and I thought I was simply lagging behind. With the final strength I could muster, I took off, and ran the last three kilometers to finish strong, happy, and with that signature jump on air.
One runner after the next came in, finishing the race with happy smiles. Interestingly, the final runner to come in, John Domingo from Cebu, logged in 10 hours-10 mins. to proudly finish his first 50k ultramarathon. He had taken on this Siaton Challenge after getting inspiration from his wife who completed the All-Women’s UltraMarathon in Cebu in March.
PS: The runners are extremely grateful for the cheers of encouragement from the ever-reliable mobile medic’s Hummer of Dr. Mark Macias. The Philippine Army, PNP personnel, and barangay tanod personnel stationed strategically along the entire race route were a comforting sight for our safety and security. We are also indebted to Dodong Laro who volunteered to man the food-aid drop-off stations. We likewise found refuge at Km. 27 where we were treated to a sumptuous feast of food generously provided by ultramarathoner Dr. Gogo Tiongson. Gratitude also gos to my personal mobile support/ my husband Dr. Bobbin Sy who not only enjoyed looking after our needs but became one of our official photographers; Flom Datoy who came not only to support husband Jay, but unselfishly offered her haplas to soothe our tired muscles; to Ernan Quiamco for updating us with the happenings upfront; John Gravador for offering us buko juice. And who will forget the sweeper vehicle of IronMan couple Jeremey & Ylang-ylang Jordan. It must have been a sleep-inducing slow drive following us all, but JunJun de Jesus kept the last runner at bay. We are most indebted to the sacrifice and hard work of power couple Paultom & Rose Paras who gave up their ultramarathon to do the technical aspect of this ONeUltra.
And to God Almighty, without whom none of this would have been possible.
(Pictures of the marathon are found in: http://dumaguetemetropost.com/ONe-Ultra-K-Marathon-i30-385.htm)
