Thank God I'm Vain!--- My Botak 42K Run

>
Last Sunday, I joined my first Full Marathon and grabbed my first Marathon Finisher's Medal. I must admit, I'm happy,,, well, not really...I'm feeling rapturous! :)


Will this mean more marathons for me?....that, I'll have to think about. :) Certainly this won't be the last, the only question is "when" :) I told myself yesterday, because of some execrable pain I'm going through, I might not join another one until the Singapore Marathon. However, now that I'm feeling better, I am eager to join another one hopefully before my first international full-mary in the land of the Merlion. I just want to be sure how long it will take me to finish 42.something kms.

"I'm Almost a Marathoner"

Why "almost"? Because I didn't get to complete the entire course, not because I can't, but because I got lost!!!....silly me! After reviewing the map, I missed a good 5 kilometers. At least now I know, without pressuring myself too much with time, I can finish a full marathon.

I can't wait to be a full pledged Marathoner

Pacing with my Takbo.ph fellas during the first half of the run, Sir Poj and Doc Roy (who finished the entire course...congratulations!), really helped a lot. Taking it nice and slow during the first half is the key. In long runs such as this, I think it's always good to start slow rather than firing up immediately after the gunshot and end up drained in the middle of the course.

There are some shortcomings in terms of how the race was organized, from water stations to water cups, uninformed race marshals (the reason why I got lost in the first place :) ), late start, etc. In spite of these, I must say that it was a good experience. At least I get to acquaint myself with dire situations that I may encounter in future runs. If there's one thing I'd have to learn how to endure, it's how uncomfortable it is to run under extreme heat...except the fact that I got a nice tan (minus the "singlet line" :)) - Thank God I'm vain!

Add'l Photos by Dr. Roy L. Tan

The Impulsive "Race Shopper" -Botak 42K -"huwhaaaat!!!!"

I passed by ROX early this evening and decided to register for Botak's Marathon this coming May 10 (this happens when you are an impulsive shopper...it applies even on races). I just told myself..."ayt! no pressure" (just like what I said when I joined the Condura Half-mary..feeling terribly pressured a couple of days before the race, worried of not finishing it), but this time....really, noooooo pressure! uuuuggggh!
Seriously (stand all! this doesn't happen often), I am joining this race to test my "current" limits (hoping to improve, ofcourse). I want to know how far can my body really take me. If it can take me to the finish line, it doesn't mean I am willing to go further such as joining a 100km run...not until Otto Blathy or Nikola Tesla gets to invent some sort of a "fine-tuning" device that will be able to regulate the Sun's heat. The problem is they're both dead! Maybe after this "testing" thing...I'll begin to work on my speed (I have actually been working on it for the longest time hahaha! )
I will also be taking this race as my "Personal Qualifying Race" for the upcoming Singapore Marathon this December. If I finish the full marathon, then I'll sign up for the same in Singapore and if I don't, then half-mary it is. I just want something to help me decide because it will be my first run abroad and I want to make the most out of it. I have to decide between having to run a full marathon to maximize the event or just run 21 kilometers to make sure that I'll hit the finish line because not finishing a race, short or long distance, is sometimes distressing.