Bataan Bataan Ka Part 4

Maging tunay na malaya sang katangi-tanging bata

PAMPABUSOG

Ano yung daladala ko sa takbo? Ipapataba ko yung mga nagamit ko

• Pantakbo: Asics GT-2000 3, Nike Shorts Ordinary, Nike Shorts Royal Blue, Adidas Shorts Orange, Adidas Duramo 6, Nike Lunar Glide 5, Sandugo Sandals, PAF Singlet, Adidas 2009 KOTR Singlet, Ateneo Singlet, UP ROTC Singlet, QCIM 2010 Singlet, RUNNR Elite Socks, RUNNR Fusion Socks, Nike Socks x2, Nike Cushioned Socks, Puma Long Socks, Puma Short Socks, ASMPH Track and Field Warmer, Kix Taekwondo Pants, LP Ankle Brace x2, Energizer Headlight x2, Ace Hardware Reflectorized Vests, Nathan Hydration Belt, Adidas 3-bottle Hydration Belt, Run United 3 Visor, Adidas Visor, Face towels, Bath towel
• Pagkain: GU Gels Caffeinated 10+, GU Gels Non Caffeinated 5+, SaltStick Capsules Decaff, Fitbar Peanut Butter x10, Dewberry Blueberry, RICOA Flat Tops, Bananas, Oranges, Moniegold Candies, Profoods Dried Mangoes, Gardenia Loaf, Lady's Choice Peanut Butter Creamy, Salt, Sugar
• Pamatid-uhaw: Absolute 6L, Gatorade assored 3L, Mountain Dew, Coke, Chuckie, Nestle Milk, Nescafe Espresso Roast, Koinz Ice tubes
• Gamot and Iba pa: Petrolleum Jelly (LIFE SAVING PRODUCT), Sunblock, Salonpas Gel, Celecoxib, 1 cc syringe x2, Mediplast strips, Scotch Brite Sponges x2, Weighing Scale, Omron BP Device, 3M Littmann Stethoscope, Cleene 70% Ethyl Alcohol

Halata na sa kahit anong paglalakbay, sobra sobra ako magdala ng gamit. Madalas na maraming hindi nagagamit, isa sa panahong iyon ay ang unang ultramarathon ko. 

Ito ang baon ko bago tumakbo. 

Bago pa man dumating ang linggo ng aking takbo, sobrang daming bati yung natanggap ko mula sa mga kamag-aral ko sa UP at ASMPH, at sa  mga kapatid ko sa UP Vanguard. Labis akong natuwa sa ginawa ng Transcription Group ko sa Ateneo, 7eleven! Pauwi ako mula sa HIMa class ko nung Biyernes na yon, at sa bus ko binasa ang bawat liham (na nakapost it) ng bawat kaklase ko sa ASMPH 2019 #walangi19. Hindi ko rin malilimutan ang mas naunang liham ng mga kasama ko sa palakasan na Track and Field. Ito yung nagpagana sakin, kasama ng mga last minute na SMS!

Pinakamalakas na laman ng bawat liham ay ito: "Kayang kaya mo, kasi alam namin." Ibang klaseng lakas yung makukuha mo sa bawat linya, sa bawat taong nais magbatid ng ligtas at matagumpay na takbo. At habang ako'y tumatakbo, tila naging maintenance dose ko ng morphine ang mga ito.

-CAT-

 I share my victory with my support crew. In this race, each runner was required to have a support crew mounted on a four-wheeled vehicle. The job is self-explanatory, but the roles may vary from simple handing off of drinks to coaching about the race plan. Vehicles are directed to go ahead of their runners, never trailing the runner or pacing the runner. So it was essential to running the course which didn't have any aid stations that would normally be seen in city races.

The Vanguard family goes to Bataan! My parents were my primary support in this race. Kudos to them who were awake and alert for most of the fifteen hours of my race. My dad served as the driver, coach, the guy with the cold drinks and towel and the veteran in the crew! My mom on the other hand, tended to my aching feet and was my main contact while I was running. Everything I wanted and needed, POOF!!!

My main support crew!

 I also drew strength and aid from three of my batchmates! These folks were my running buddies even before plans for BDM were set in stone. It was difficult for us to commit to this weekend run, because we had an exam on the first day of the week. Luckily, Ateneo celebrated the birthday of Fr. Jett, hence President's Day! They did their magic by taking note of my progress in kilometers and in time, by handing out my food and drinks, and by lifting my spirit after every pit stop. Often, they would insert some exam questions to test my mental status, a.k.a my sanity. Their presence also made me felt secure! Who wouldn't want medical professionals in their team? I look forward TO SUPPORTING THEM WHEN THEY RUN THEIR OWN ULTRA :))) IF YOU GUYS ARE READING THIS. hehe

My medschool classmates, full time support crew! Wet Shorts Running Club represent!!!

I wouldn't have reached the finish line without them!

As much as my own team helped me, other support crews played a big role too! I have never felt so spirited whenever I pass by these teams. It's in the running culture to aid one another, and in this kind of run, I tell you, you can really feel the love. They would gladly offer to refill your bottle with ice cold water, share trail food such as chips and watermelon slices! The best part was the ice cold mist from their pressured spray botles, THE BESTTT!!! There was even one team that poured a dipper of ice cold water over my body during the hotter part of the day. As I ran the course, they would also cheer for me and I guess were amazed too on how fast and young I was compared to the other runners.

Shoutout to those teams, sayang hindi ko nakuha team name and runner's nila! You make running ultramarathons less burdensome. I was with overwhelming gratitude post-race :)

Bataan Bataan Ka Part 3

Nagkakamali ka kung akala mo na ang buhay
ay isang mumunting paraiso lamang.

PAG-AALAY

Para sa lahat ng mga naging bahagi ng buhay ko!
Mahirap sabihin na "I dedicate this run to this person or that". Masaya lang ako na naging bahagi ang bawat isang tao sa aking takbo. Malay ba natin na iba ang takbo ng buhay ko kung hindi ko nakilala si ganito, o hindi kami nagkausap ni ganiyan. 

Isa pa, ibinigay ko ang sarili ko para sa sarili ko. 

Dumako naman tayo sa dahilan. Bakit ko tinakbo ang Bataan Death March?
Tadtarin ko nalang para madaling daanan.

• Para patunayan na kaya ko tumakbo ng malayo, higit na malayo sa karaniwan
• Para makamit ang matagal nang pangarap
• Para malaman kung gaano kahirap ang mahirap na lakbay ng mga sundalo noon
• Para maglakbay
• Para mas makilala ko ang aking sarili, sa panahon ng kaginhawaan, at panahon ng kahirapan, kagipitan at kasawian. Para makilala ko ang sarili ko matapos ang lahat
• Para ibukas ang pinto sa higit na malayong takbo
• Para mapansin mo ako... Oppps, time out.

Pag-usapan natin yung isa:

Napakatatag ng mga sundalo na lumakbay, sa ilalim ng patalim at tulak ng bala. Pumapatak sa isip ko ang kapatagan, mga hanay ng naghihingalo at nananalig. Sa tabi ay kalaban, at sa kabila ay ang papuslit-puslit na tulong ng kapwa. Sa itaas ay pinto ng langit na maharot sa tag-init. Ang daang tinahak ko ay matindi, sa lagay ko na tinutulungan na at may lakas pa. Puro paakyat, at hindi maganda ang daan. Bilib ako sa lahat, lalo na sa mga nabuhay.

Ito ang pahina na nagbigay ng pahapyaw sa kasaysayan ng Bataan Death March at ng takbong BDM. http://baldrunner.com/2010/10/11/bdm-102-lecture-1-history-honesty/

Bataan Bataan Ka Part 2

"Sariling pagraranas ang aking pamamagitan"




PANULAK

My attempt to continue running during medical school was successful. There was a time when I stopped because I encountered the most difficult subject cluster of my first year. The sem break saved me, and from there the relentless pursuit for more mileage began.

As far as I can remember, and without looking through my dailymile, my plans leading up to BDM 2016 was this.

Manila Marathon 42K
Milo Marathon Qualifiers 21K
Run United Philippine Marathon 42K
Naic to Nasugbu Ultramarathon 50K


Only the third planned run took place.

So my dedicated preparation began as soon as I got the approval on May 04, 2015.

Prior the extended summer as a result of academic calendar shifting, my long distance runs were really spontaneous. I would wake up, and just then and there decide where my destination would be. Some of my runs revolved around my journey to visit each NCR city hall. That was a great achievement!

It was easy to run during the summer. I was blessed enough to have that much time to spend on the road. Most of my runs extended to the heat of late mornings and would often involve time on feet (time I spent standing, walking or running). I needed the much needed heat training to test my adaptability to the intense heat of the metro, that I assume would be similar or worse i Bataan. It also trained me to maintain a strong mind to get through the run.

Another kind of training that I involved myself in was the sanity and boredom loops. I would often run short and similar loops. For most runners, this kind of run is boring. No sights, nothing new. For me, it was another mental challenge that I think would definitely help me in focusing on at most 18 hours on foot in Bataan. I'd imagine plain rice fields, the scorching waves bending your vision of the road, and your local vulture circling the running carcass.

The trickiest part came when I entered my second year in school! Year Level 6 took away my weekdays and weekends (especially the weekends). To add to the mayhem, I enlisted myself into two sports that were in the opposite spectrum of long distance endurance running - ultimate frisbee and track & field sprints. Mixing med school life and all these physical activity endeavors wasn't the best way to start and go along with the most dreaded year in basic medical education.

ASMPH 2016 Ultimate Frisbee Team

Most of the time it all boils down to discipline and commitment. Here's the rundown on how I look at a day.

• Do your routine and stick to the time as much as possible 
• Cut all essentials to the shortest time (mostly bathing, eating, watching, etc.) 
• Do your best to stay awake in class and use free time to sleep 
• Do your best to study during free time and study before bed time 
• Focus on trainings and get home quick 

More or less that's how a week goes through in my mind and in my world (excluding all other interactions that take a lot of time too). Let's do it again:

• Monday: Exams 
• Tuesday: Frisbee 
• Wed: Rest 
• Thursday: Track 
• Friday: Weights (end of 2015) 
• Saturday: Frisbee 
• Sunday: Long Run and Study 

ASMPH 2016 Track and Field Team

The only day truly dedicated to preparing for BDM was my long run during Sunday. Rarely we would Independent Study Times in school, and that was an automatic signal to go home and use it to run. Holidays meant the same thing, especially when it was a long weekend!

The hardest run during my training was my third full marathon. The things I learned from this great run gave me enough information on how to run an ultramarathon. From this run, I knew that I could easily get cramps at 17k and that it was easy for me to control the pace after such injury. It was also in this race that I knew my spirit would fight until the last kilometer of any race! This was last October 2015.

Palarong Medisina came in quick. As I mentioned, all sports were located in different extremes of the athletic world. You have two sports that rely on explosive power, different anatomy and physiology. I wouldn't even fail to mention the equipment that I had to invest in, funds that I could have spent on my running paraphernalia. I did my best to sink in some distance running, most of the time they were a day before exams. Once the games were over (and thankfully on a high note), my last training focused on "converting" my legs back to distance running. It wasn't easy because I carried over shin splints on both legs and had a history of multiple ankle sprains. Simultaneously, I also did my test runs on equipment and nutrition, while I observed all my physiologic limits such as thirst and tolerance to pain and heat. Finally, I did last minute research on nutrition and tips for ultra running. The last training period span two weeks.

My thoughts and assessment after my training?

- I trained enough to cross the line
- I will survive 60k, but I need to get past 70k
- It'll take a lot for me to give up
- In the back of my mind, I didn't train enough to achieve a good time
- I really don't wanna die :))

Bataan Bataan Ka Pa

Nais ko sanang malaman ang mali sa katotohanan
Sariling pagraranas ang aking pamamagitan
Imulat ang isipan sa mga kulay ng buhay
Maging tunay na malaya sa katangi-tanging bata

BATANG-BATA
By: Apo Hiking Society


Sa pagkahaba-haba ng tinakbo, nararapat din na mahaba ang kwento. Himayin ko para hindi tayo mabaliw matapos basahin ito.

PAMPAGANA (Mga pamagat na hango sa isa sa pinakapaboritong kong libro, "Ikaw at ang Kawili-wiling Wika" ni Mr. Capinding)

Lahat ng kabaliwan, may sinumulang pag-iisip na tuwid. Maaring pinili o napilit ang utak na tumawid sa dako ng 'di pangkaraniwan. Maituturing na ganito ang nangyari sa katatapos na takbo ko, ang 8th Bataan Death March 102 KM (BDM) Ultramarathon.

Maaring nabanggit ko na ang kasaysayan ko sa pagtatakbo ("kasalanan" ng tatay ko). Kaya, lumaktaw tayo sa araw na nakilala ko ang Race Director na si Ret MGen Jovenal Narcise, na mas kilala sa tawag na Baldrunner o BR. Isa sa mga unang araw ng ROTC training na kung saan pinakilala ng aming komandante (na mahilig din sa takbo, runner) si BR at ang mga kasama nyang mga ultra runners. Sa araw din na iyon, natutunan ko ang mas akmang porma at galaw ng katawan sa pagtakbo. Kay BR ko rin nakuha ang link ng dailymile, na marahil ay umay na umay na kayo sa araw-araw na pagpapaskil ko. Hehe.

Dito nabuo ang pangarap. Tandaan, pangarap pa lamang ito at hindi kahibangan.



Ito ang dalawang pangarap ko nung nagsimula ako tumakbo. Nauna kong nakamit ang pagtapos ng unang Full Marathon (42Km) sa 2010 Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM). Binaybay ko ang Commonwealth Ave hanggang La Mesa, at pabalik.

Ang pinakamatindi ay ang BDM. Katatapos lang ng aking ama na takbuhin ang 2nd BDM noong Marso 2010. Kaya't doon pa lang, ang itsura ng aking ama pag-uwi, tumaas ang tingin ko sa ultramarathon, higit sa lahat ang BDM.

Hindi lahat napipili o natatangap na lumahok sa BDM. Ang runner ay dapat malusog, nakapagtapos ng isang Full at may edad na hindi baba sa 18. Sakto ang lahat, pasok ako sa batayan kung tutuusin. Agad-agad nagpadala ng email kay BR. Matapos ang ilang linggo, ako'y tinanggap na sumali sa 2011 BDM. Akalain mo yun, maaring isa sa pinakabatang runner na makadaranas at makadaan sa rutang tinahak ng kapwa kong mga Pilipino sa panahon ng digma. Kinalat ko ang balitang ito, at nagsimulang mangalap ng kaalaman para paghandaan ito. Sinimulan ko ang pageensayo para sa QCIM at ang susunod na BDM.

...subalit hindi natuloy ang balak. Inaalala ko talaga sa ngayon kung bakit hindi, pero ang lumulutang lang ay hindi ako nakabayad ng registration fee. Muli akong nagpadala ng pagnanais(?) na lumahok sa 2012. Natanggap, pero hindi ulit ito natuloy.