Condura in my Mind

The Condura Run is special for me for the memories it evokes and the milestones I associate with it.

The 2009 edition for me was extra special. Before then, there were not many half-marathons and longer distances. I could only remember the Adidas KOTR 21K, Milo Marathon and New Balance 25K as the races for those who run long. The running boom was manifesting signs, but it was still not quite there. Condura was the tipping point. The Concepcions pointed to the Skyway as some lofty ideal, and the runners responded.

But the beautiful story for me is how runners helped one another in the run-up towards the race. A handful of runners from takbo.ph - new acquaintenances but all eager runners - rocked their brains out on how to encourage the runners to try the then formidable distance that is 21K. Jinoe and Que Gavan, Lyndon Cosico, Nathaniel Garcia, Cathy Daza and myself met many times to plan that fateful March 8 LSD when security guards in BHS were surprised by the turn-out at dawn by about sixty runners.

At at time when the only carbo-loading one can hear about is that for Milo Marathon finalists, takbo.ph came up with a CLP that is an attempt to put runners and bloggers in one roof. The CLP was also a meeting place to discuss a support station that shall eradicate the concerns about hydration and nutrition then. That support station would be emulated in many marathons and ultramarathons that followed.

I missed running the 2010 version, but I trained with friends and booked the first flight to Manila to catch them finish their first marathon. The Galloway method that a handful of us experimented in 2009 was brought to fore when many converts and advocates finished their maiden marathon infury-free and strong. The 2010 Condura Marathon was a milestone not only for many first time marathoners, but also for attracting the largest number of marathoners in a single local race I believe.

For the 2011 edition, my friends are either gunning for marathon PRs, using the race as training run for ultramarathon, or running or doing support in silent tribute to the race thay they once loved and hope to continue loving. I am part of this last group.

I shall be there in the Skyway in my black takbo.ph singlet, launched in the 2009 unofficial Condura CLP and worn with pride during the first running foray onto the Skyway. I am a founder and member of Endure Multi-sports team, but on that fateful day I am an ordinary runner submitting himself to the greater good of the running community. In the current sea of running clubs and teams, I pay tribute to the values that made Condura Run, takbo.ph, and maybe even the running boom today:  self-actualization done in the spirit of collective support and fun.

On Sunday, amidst the sea of colors, may we all realize that we are runners all sharing the same road. Godspeed everyone!