After
a long wait, the Skyway was again filled today with runners, running for a good
cause. The Condura Skyway Marathon – Run for a Hero 2015 happened today, after
the event was cancelled last year to be one in solemnity for the victims of Typhoon
Yolanda. For this year the Condura Skyway Marathon will be donating the
proceeds of the run to Hero Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization helping
the families of our fallen soldiers.
I
have been waiting for this run since my first time to join the event last 2013
for Run for the Mangroves. For me running at the Skyway was such a wonderful
experience. It will really test your strength and stamina, especially the climb
going up the Skyway. While running at the skyway, you also have the chance to
see the beautiful sunrise.
The
marathon starts at 12 midnight for the 42K runners, while the 21K starts at 3:30am, the 10K run starts at 5:00 am and the
6K runners at 6:30 am. We arrived early at the venue since we know that the
place will be jam-packed immediately and also to get some early freebies based
from my last experience you can get freebies as early as 5am. But when we
arrived at the race venues there were few people and most of the booths are
still closed and have not started giving freebies. There were stalls that are
selling foods and some shirts and running merchandise but there are no booths
giving out free items.
Before
the start of the race tributes were given to the 44 PNP SAF that have fallen
recently at Maguindanao. Prayer and a moment of silence was given to the
soldiers, and to commemorate them upon crossing the starting line there are
soldiers aligned holding pictures of the 44 soldiers. Runners were asked to
give a salute as they ran past the pictures of the 44 new heroes. It is such a
big coincidence that this tragedy happened before the Condura Skyway Marathon
that aimed to help the families of our fallen heroes.
But
I have also some concerns during my race. Running uphill the Skyway is very tenuous
and adding the cold weather, one could feel dehydrated easily, I expected the
first hydration station at the 2km mark but you have to wait until the 3km for
the hydration station. Unlike my first experience running the Skyway, this run
is so crowded especially after the U-turn for the 10km runners. You cannot gain
momentum or run at your pace due to the crowded lane. I find it also hard to overtake other runners that are walking because they are scattered along the
lanes, some are even at the center. From the other runs that I have
joined, participants that have opted to walk should be at least at the
sides and not block the center to give way to the other runners. Hopefully
these concerns will be given attention for next year run
As
I said, it was really a wonderful experience running at the Skyway, challenging
at the start and fulfilling once you have crossed the finish line.
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