Running Davao: The Araw Ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon

I am breaking with tradition here. The last marathon I blogged about was number 27, and here I am writing about number 30. But some things can't be postponed. Like the 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebration culminating this week in this premier city of 1.5 million in Mindanao- the city of Davao. Numbers 28 and 29 can, therefore, wait.

I have been to Davao City dozens of times before so I was hardly a visitor this time. I also speak the local dialect Cebuano fluently, not that it is necessary in Davao's cosmopolitan and multi-dialect environment, so I can blend with the locals rather easily. For those who have never been to this city, I dare say it is a must-visit, a must-see for Life is in Davao.

There are many reasons to enjoy Davao aside from the local delicacies such as kinilaw and sinuglaw (a mix of sashimi and broiled pork laced with chili and calamansi) and the spicy vegie Dabaw Express. Among other attractions, the city is home to the Philippine eagle, host to the Kadayawan Festival, and is perhaps the most peaceful in the country.

On this visit, however, I was to run my very first marathon in Davao- the Phoenix Marathon- which, if my memory serves me right, was perhaps one of the first full marathons (excepting ultras) ever to be held in Mindanao. Sponsored by Phoenix Petroleum Foundation, the race was part of the month-long Araw ng Dabaw Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

There were several race events scheduled- a 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, and a 0.5K. About 3,000 runners took part in the different race categories, mostly in the shorter distances. With endurance running still to catch up big-time in the city and in Mindanao island, less than 200 runners lined up for the full marathon whose gun start was at 0400.

The 42K race route started and finished at the city center's Roxas Avenue and took the runners to well-populated districts of the city and to the surrounding countryside. Runners came from various cities of Mindanao, notably Tagum, Gen. Santos, and Cagayan de Oro. But some flew in from Luzon and the Visayas.

For most of the race, the 42K runners were very well spread out and had the roads for the taking. Some ran solo, others with fellow members of running clubs or office-sponsored teams. Even local government units such as Compostela Valley sent out running delegations. The running and fitness bug indeed had spread across the 7,100 islands.

At around the 17K mark, I encountered the lead runners already headed the other way. The men's race would later be won by Arnold Unabia, with a gun time of 2:43:15, followed by Junel Languido who was only five seconds behind. For their heroic efforts, they received 30K and 15K Ph Pesos. Winners of the shorter races also received cash prizes.

Truth to tell, I was not well-trained for this race, just coming back from a tendon injury and only 14 days after running a 50K ultramarathon in big Texas USA. I spent more time walking than I normally would, content with the idea that a finish would be achievement enough. So I was pleased to hit the 22K turnaround point in a little over 2:30.

The return run was mostly downhill as it was earlier uphill. And there was a bonus- a clear, early morning view of Mt. Apo that, at 2,954 meters or 9692 feet, is the tallest mountain in the Philippines. The volcanic crater-adorned peak, often a mountaineer's favorite climbing target, at 40K, is just less than a full marathon distance away.

The fact that Davao City is the 'Fruit Basket of the Philippines' was clearly evident during the run- with mini-plantations of banana along the way. Davao city is one of the world's major producers and exporters of mangoes, pomelos, papayas, and mangosteens. For exotic fruit lovers, the city's supply of durian appear limitless.

For race support and logistics, there were hydration stations offering water and native bananas set up at almost every 2K. As the temperature soared into the mid-30s that morning, the ice water-soaked sponges at aid stations were delightful coolants. Marshals and policemen also guided runners at key intersections.

But the last 6K involved negotiating the now-congested roads of the city. As there were less than 200 runners, it would have been unreasonable to demand special treatment by way of dedicated running lanes and frequent marshals or signs. This turned out to be costly for me- I missed a turn and ran way beyond the required 42.2K!

Nonetheless, overall, the race organizer Vantage Sports Promotions, certainly did a fairly good job in managing the race with no untoward incidents reported. More than the runners, students from five Davao elementary schools were the final event beneficiaries as race proceeds were to be used to purchase badly needed books for their schools.

While not my fastest, the 42K was a landmark run just the same. After all, this was my 30th unique marathon/ultramarathon in 19 different countries/US states/ Canadian or Australian provinces. Not bad for an affair with long-distance running that began less than two years ago. More importantly, this was my 10th unique marathon in a 10th different Philippine city. Now I can say I have ran Davao and, by extension, Mindanao. For what good would it be if one ran around the world but never did so in one's own country?

Happy 75th Araw ng Dabaw!

A Nature Marathon in Subic Bay

The date was 1.22.12. To some, this 1-2 permutation probably had some hidden meaning in numerology. To Chinese Zodiac or Shēngxiào (生肖) believers, it marked the last day of the Year of the Rabbit. To me, it was the day I would run my second marathon for 2012 already- the Subic International Marathon in Subic Bay.

I had registered for this event the very first day registration opened in Metro Manila. While I had been to Subic a few times before, I had gone there only to either attend meetings or commune with nature in this tourist-friendly city. I wanted to add another reason for coming- to run a marathon as close to nature as can be.

With the opening of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) four years ago, travelling to Subic by car from Manila, a 110-km distance, is as short as two hours away. But for a first-time visitor, a leisurely drive on the rolling and winding highway is suggested so as to enjoy the sights especially as one approaches the bay.

When I arrived in Subic the evening before the race, it was dark already. After a quick check in at a hotel situated right at the waterfront boulevard, I immediately went to Remy Field, the race starting point, to familiarize myself with how to get there the next day. I found the stage set but organizers had called it a day.

Scouting for a place to have a pre-race dinner was not that easy. Being a tourist destination and an export processing zone with a large expat presence, Subic has lots of restaurants and cuisine there is a wide variety. Many food joints also have live performers belting out music for the young ones and once young already.

I settled for a Pinoy-style restaurant facing the waterfront, with an impressive female trio performing. The joint was noted for its specialty- carbo rich pancit bihon with matching inihaw na liempo. I reasoned that while the food was not that healthy, I will be burning the calories gained the next day anyway.

Race time for the full marathon was 0430 on a Sunday. There were 10K, 21K, and 42K events. Some 300 runners lined up at the starting line for the 42K. Many came from Metro Manila and surrounding provinces of host Zambales province and Olongapo City. A platoon or two of military cadets even joined, no doubt battle-ready.

There would also be runners from overseas- Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, USA, among other countries. I caught up with Aileen from Singapore, a fellow 5-star ranked Marathon Maniac who I've ran with in the Singapore, Hong Kong, Chiangmai, and Milo marathons. She was on to her 50-something 42K/ultra already.

And when the gun was finally fired after a short course briefing and opening ceremony, just a few minutes after half past four, runners began to run the first few kilometers on a flat, sea-level course- beginning with the rubberized track oval of Remy Field to the Central Business District and to the Subic Freeport Zone.

Then the hill climbs began. Gently at first and then angled more steeply. There would be five major peaks of up to about 140 to 150+ meters to hurdle- at 15K, 17K, 24K, 25K, and 27K. Running mostly in the dark initially, from time to time, a race-provided, generator-powered mobile street lamp would illuminate the way.

As dawn broke, runners witnessed the natural beauty of the Forest Reserve of Subic Bay- a virgin lowland dipterocarp forest covering almost 10,000 hectares of which 3,000 are closed canopy. There, wild animals roam free, including cuddly monkeys. At the Zoobic Safari resort, one can explore the forest via a "Safari Jeepney".

I was happy to have my iPod at this point run out of battery. The chirping of an assortment of birds loudly announcing the conquest of the most tender of preys and the discordant sounds of unknown insects and animals welcoming yet another new day were to me a much more grand and profound musical symphony.

It was downhill to the 21K point near another popular beachfront resort with whale and sea lion shows everyday- the Ocean Adventure, the first water marine theme park in Southeast Asia. With the bay in the background, here I would pose playfully, not knowing that the next 21K would all be uphill for me, figuratively.

For aside from the initially uphill climb on the return back to Remy, my left ankle and calf would bother me the rest of the way. It would have been nicer at this point to have just turned left to Adventure Beach as directed or head on to the Subic Treetop Adventure resort for some trekking and tree walking activities.

But the race I had to finish for I do not give up that easily. It was at this point that I switched from an all-run strategy that allowed me to cover the first 21K  in 2 hours and 15 minutes, despite the photo-taking stops and the course being hilly, to a mostly-walk-and-sometimes-run strategy to lessen the shin pain felt already.

The regularly spaced hydration stations that served both water and Pocari Sweat electrolyte drink, with some stands even offering bananas and saltine crackers, were always a welcome sight on the way. I stopped at almost all of them and, thanks to the race personnel, avoided overheating on a very hot and humid day.

And at the second U-turn slot for the 42K, a few runners told me how pleased they were to have the only photographer of the race at this point in me. I obliged and took a few of their photos. Little did they know though that I had a brand new camera with me that I still did not know how to use correctly.

As the course was a loop, the next few kilometers would be downhill as it was uphill the other way. We would again pass by the forest that is home to 745 plant species. From the signs one surmised that animals also held sway. In fact, hiking the mountains of Zambales is a good way to explore nature's biological diversity.

One popular Subic activity is the Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) camp. Indigenous peoples called Aetas demonstrate techniques on building a fire, cooking rice and viands using twigs and bamboo, and making soap from gugu vines- 'simple living' rules passed on to American soldiers to survive Vietnam's jungles during the 1960s.

A few more kilometers of running and walking and I was back to the sea level altitude of Subic Bay. Near the Subic International Airport, that operates direct flights to Macau and Seoul and a few other local tourist-favorite cities, a fire truck sprayed cold water to runners wanting to cool off their very hot bodies.

The remaining run would be uneventful and would simply take us back to where we started earlier that day. Runners were well dispersed by this point, some hobbling with injuries. Thankfully, policemen assigned to keep the race course orderly continued to hold their ground even if the sun was becoming unbearably unfriendly.

The sight of blue waters with anchored yachts near the Subic harbor meant that I was down to my last few Ks. The deep and natural harbor that opens up to the South China Sea and the surrounding mountain ranges provide excellent shelter to ships moored in the bay. Thus, for 50 years, Subic was a port of call for the US Navy.

The last 100 meters of the marathon involved running half a lap on the rubberized track of Remy field. At this point, no other runners could be seen ahead or behind me. I felt quite pleased just to have survived this year's second marathon, just five weeks after getting the ankle injury at the Fubon Marathon in Taipei.

The reward, waiting at the finish arc, was more than enough to compensate for the hassles experienced that day- a 27th medal for running different marathons in different cities and countries. And as if this was not enough already, thanks to the race organizers eXtribe, I also got my first-ever dog tag emblazoned with a '42K'!

After  having experienced Subic in a vastly different way- close to nature on foot for most of 42K- I drove back to Manila the afternoon of the very same day. A heavy workload was waiting to be finished by Chinese New Year the very next day. No worries. Natural and a thing of beauty, the Subic marathon experience refreshed me immensely and would be remembered truly.

Never mind that it was a whirlwind affair with nature only!

Running Tasmania: The Cadbury Hobart Marathon

It was dubbed as the only marathon in the world that starts and finishes in a chocolate factory. Yes, the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Claremont, Tasmania, some 16 kilometers north of the capital city of Hobart for this southernmost state of Australia. Testimony indeed that marathon running can be sweet, way Down Under! The event was the Cadbury Hobart Marathon.

The road to Hobart started in Melbourne where I was vacationing with family (and resting my sore ankle) since before Christmas. The run itself was going to be my second southernmost below the equator, surpassed only by a leisurely run around the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in New Zealand in 2006, a few years before the marathon mania bug bit me.

Arriving in Hobart and in Tasmania  only for the first time, I was immediately struck by how different life seemed to be in the peninsula as compared to that in mainland Australia- it was relaxed, slow and easy! The streets were still almost deserted at 9 AM even as the sun was way up high. Vehicle and human traffic this late in the downtown area was very light!

As it was a bit too early for hotel check-in, claiming the race packet became the first task for the day. This was to be at the Running Edge on Murray House, just a few blocks from the hotel. A specialist running and walking store, the Running Edge mission is to provide superior products and expert advice to the serious athlete, recreational runner, and social walker.

In line with its motto of Feet First Run Walk or Play, aside from selling products and offering advice, the store also regularly hosts or promotes running events in Tasmania. For January 2012, these were to be the Tassie Trail Run: Tasman Peninsula, Australia's fastest trail 10K, and the marathon year opener for all of Australia- the Cadbury Hobart Marathon.

Race packet claimed and still two days before the marathon, it was time to see some of Hobart's attractions. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony, Hobart is the home port for Australia's operations in Antartica. With only a little over 200,000 residents and a lush environment, the city is rated the 6th most sustainable in Australia. Mt. Wellington dominates Hobart's skyline.

One of the city's chief attractions is the Salamanca Market held at Salamanca Place every Saturday. There one can find anything and everything Tasmanian- from arts and crafts to fresh produce to wine and food, among other native products. They even had varied organic wood-fired pizza recipes to choose from. How about that for carbo-loading of the Tasman kind?

Marathon morning was a bit cold- about 12 degrees Celsius and even lower with the intermittent wind gusts that made me decide to wear a jacket. Runners assembled at 0430 in the Mercure Hobart Hotel where the night before, a race dinner was hosted. For $22, one carbo-loaded on pasta and fresh fruit while bantering with fellow runners.

From the Mercure Hotel, for a $5 fee, a race bus took the marathon runners to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Claremont, a 20-minute or so drive away. Like me, most of those who rode the bus came all the way from mainland Australia just to be able to experience marathon running in good, old Tasmania. The chocolate thing promised to make the experience sweeter.

Arriving at the Cadbury Chocolate Factory as dawn was breaking, Freddo the Frog and Caramello Bear, among others, were already waiting. Thus some marathon runners couldn't help posing! This Cadbury facility in Claremont is the largest chocolate factory in Australia and in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Chocolate lovers felt right at home!

For runners who could not collect their race packets earlier, on-site pick up as well as a bag drop were provided by the organizers. The race packet included a GU gel, the race number, pins, a race t-shirt, and an Ipico timing chip along with instructions. The chip itself had to be returned after the race lest one incurred a $20 fine.

Some 1622 runners were set to join the four events of this year- a full marathon (42K), a half marathon (21K), a Running Edge 5K, and a Caramello Junior 1.25K. It promised to be a sweet affair for the entire family with the money raised from the Caramello 1K to be used for bringing out laughter in children via Clown
Doctors, the official charity!

The 42K route started with two loops around the Cadbury estate then heading off to the Main Road, Brooker Highway, Derwent Entertainment Center and turning at Dowsing Point. Then it was back to Brooker Highway, Main Road, and to the top of Ten Mile Hill. The circuit had to be repeated before going back to the factory.

The full marathon runners numbered a little over 220. From the looks of it, most were veterans and battle tested, some even athletes, with very few in the 'recreational runner' category, or so I guessed. As I lined up with them for the 0600 gun start, I knew most would be home and resting before I would arrive at the finish line.

But no worries. I reminded myself that I wasn't here to compete for the cash prizes offered: $1000 (first), $500 (second), $250 (third), $150 (fourth) and $100 (fifth) plus a $1000 time bonus for breaking the course record of 2:23:39 for men and 2:46:272 for women. I was here to have fun!

And what fun it turned out to be! My left ankle that I thought had healed already began to bother me even as I had yet to log the first 3K. The low running mileage I logged the previous two weeks began to haunt me. Even at that early stage of the race, I knew it was going to be a long, long day.

As I reached Brooker Highway, the lead runners, no doubt pros with a few even coming from other countries, were dashing downhill the other way, on the way back already. The next turnaround point would be on top of Ten Mile Hill, less than 10K away.

As in the Hobart city center, traffic was light at this time of day but policemen were present nonetheless to keep one lane of the Brooker Highway for use by runners only. At the intersections, car drivers yielded to the runners politely.

With the sun already beginning to heat up, drink stations became all the more necessary. And there were three set up on the course, with all being accessible from both directions. They were at Berriedale Park, Derwent Entertainment Centre, and St Virgils College. Each station offered both water and GU Brew electrolytes.

As in some other marathons participated in by pros, a special table was set up to accommodate the even more special and multicolored brews. These drinks were to be handed in on race morning only at the race operations center in Cadbury.

While most full marathon participants were men, more than 70 (or 30%) were women. I of them spoke to me while we were running and told me that she too was a 5-star Marathon Maniac, already on to her 92nd 42K. Bothered by pain in the left ankle and then calves most of the way, most of the women marathoners sped past me.

At the marathon turn around on Dowsing Point, two cheerful and elderly race volunteers in their yellow uniform shirts were waiting. They congratulated me and wished me well and godspeed. I was to see them in that exact same spot again a few hours later that day.

And on the way back to Brooker Highway, I was to encounter the pros in the lead pack already on to their second circuit with the finish line just a little over 10K away. Alex Matthews would emerge the winner with a time of 2:28:07, Scott McTaggart with 2:32:08 would be second and Asheber Germa with 2:34:09 third.

Then the much larger group of 566 half marathon runners, almost with as many women as there were men, I would meet in several packs racing downhill while going for their first 11K. They were to head to the Derwent Entertainment Center and then to Ten Mile Hill before going straight back to the factory.

And there would be interesting folks I would encounter on the course, one of them wearing a Superman-like cape, the Marathon Man. Turns out he would be one of two other Marathon Maniacs who raced that day- Trent M or MM# 3720 from Sydney who already was on to his 54th marathon that day.

Reaching the U-turn slot on the top of Ten Mile Hill was not that easy as it was uphill all the way. This was probably the highest elevation for the entire course. Two race marshals were waiting and I had no idea it would be my last time to see them that day. I felt happy having reached this point though as it meant I was halfway done already.

On the way downhill to begin my second circuit, I encountered the pros leading the half marathon runners racing neck to neck at breakneck pace for their last 5K. Dave Thomas would capture first place with of time of 1:07:30 while Wondwosen Geleta would come in second at 1:07:59.

There would be spectators along the route that offered cheers to the runners. But there were very few and in only a few places- at the starting point and the Main Road. After all, this was Hobart where life as mentioned was supposed to be relaxed and easy. Moreover, it was still early morning on a Sunday.

From time to time, serious and recreational bikers would share the route with the runners that, halfway on to my second circuit, were already few and far in between. The shade provided by the trees along the highway made running under the southern sun and unforgiving UV rays a bit easy.

For the temperature level had risen already and it was going to be a hot day! Thus, I would hydrate at every water station on both ways. And at the drink station on Berriedale Park I would pleasantly find something to boost my dwindling energies- a box of assorted milk chocolates from Cadbury!

I was forced to run a slow pace with my left leg bothering me. It was slow enough that, in my last 3K, police had already opened the roads and asked those remaining to run on the sidewalks. By the time I reached the U turn slot on the top of Ten Mile Hill for the second time, the race marshals had packed up and gone already.

Racing back to the factory after completing my second loop, it was a most pleasing sight to see these two signs, one pointing me to the Cadbury facility and the other telling me it was just only one more K. It was an uphill and winding climb, the few hundred meters to the factory.

And as I approached the finish arc, the barbecue party, the running gear specials, and most of the runners were nowhere to be found already. But not this amazing 3-year old kid named Enzo who earlier that day finished the Caramello Junior 1.25K. He was patiently waiting and immediately dashed to meet me. With the crowd cheering, together to the finish we ran happy!

Like the race t-shirt given to the marathon and half marathon runners said, 'I started 2012 by running the Cadbury Marathon'. I would just add 'slowly but happily'. Just as expected, running the Hobart Marathon way down under would be as sweet as candy and give the best value for the money.

This 26th marathon finish, the first for 2012, while being the slowest and most pain-ridden for a 42K, was one I enjoyed tremendously. Not because of Cadbury, but because I would finish the race with family! May the rest of running year 2012 be not as slow but just as or even more happy!

Interested to run next year's race already? The 30th Cadbury Marathon will still be held on a Sunday, on the 13th of January.

Way to go indeed Tasmania and Cadbury!