It
was a cold Sunday morning, and everyone may either be still in their bed enjoying
the weather while asleep or already at the streets near UST or Quirino
Grandstand for the papal visit. Me and my sister woke up early for our first
run for 2015. It was the Takbo.ph 20 Miler Run.
The
Takbo.ph 20 Miler Run was the first run of Takbo.ph for 20 Mile or 32
Kilometers. But aside from the 32km there will also be races for 5km, 10km, and
16km (10Miles). The race for the 32km started at 3:30 am while the 16km gun start
is at 5 am followed by the 10km at 5:30 and the 5km at 5:45 am.
We
arrived at the Bonifacio Global City, the venue of the run, at around 3:30 am,
just a few minutes after the 32km started. I decided to go early because I
wanted to have a feel of the weather and to condition myself of the cold that
we will experience while running. I wanted also to have an early warm-up since
this is my first time to run for more than 10km. |
| our race map |
When
our run started, we felt some drizzle of rain just like what was forecasted by television
host and weather forecaster Kim Atienza, who also joined the race. The start of
the race route was also dark and there are times that the only light will come
from the motorcycles and jeepneys from the other side of the road. But it was
not the dark road and the rain that challenged me in
the run, it was the
Kalayaan Flyover. The run and walk that I step at the flyover was very tiring
and hard. Luckily, the hydration station after the flyover was offering Pocari Sweat
that it helped revived some of my strength. Aside from the water and Pocari Sweat
there are also some bread that was being offered along Gil Puyat Avenue. Since
the venue of the race is in Makati and Bonifacio Global City, you will be always
caught in intersection with traffic lights, in which sometimes you have to stop
and give way to passing vehicles. For some it will be irritating especially if
you are after your performance for the run, I think of it as an opportunity to
rest and catch some breath.
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| going up the Kalayaan flyover - going back to BGC |
After
2 hours and 14 minutes of running and walking along the street of Bonifacio
Global City and Makati I was able to reach the finish line, where I was given a
medal. There was a feeling of accomplishment as I received my medal that I finally
surpassed my 10k distance. Everyone who have finished the race will be given a
medal and loot bags while the 16k and 3k runners will also receive a finisher’s
shirt.
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| a runner receiving a medal |
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| runners nearing the finish line |
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| runners lining up for some freebies |
