Urbanite Tales Part 3: I Should Have Worn Knee-High Socks!

I drove to Boni High Street brimming with hope that a sub-60 is still salvageable from my training-weary legs. If I just keep thinking of my Kenny Trilogy, IT can still happen. Even if I fell short, I would still feel good knowing I ran for others.

The usually late me was an hour early this time. A night race obviously goes well with my biorhythm. I picked up friend Cecille who was within 5k distance from race start. Cecille was my running buddy for fun races like Buddy Run and Men’s Health Trail which we did at picture-taking pace. For the Urbanite 10K, Cecille and female friend Tonie would run together and aim for better time, while I chase away my elusive personal goal.

We arrived at the fiesta carnival that was BHS. While Cecille was not so excited about the race on account of mild back pain, I was getting high as I see the huge crowds. I love race crowds, more so when they unexpectedly mill around clad in singlets in a posh gimmick place like BHS.

The plan was I would accompany Cecille to the race start area where she would meet Tonie. I would then do a 500 meter warm-up jog around BHS and meet up with Luis my unofficial pacer after. Luis and I would meet up with fellow PR seekers Sam, Gerard and Jan, would horse around the race corral imbibing all the positive vibe, and would all race together to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But fate had other plans.

Cecille and I could not locate Tonie at the designated meet-up place. In the sea of people, my tension rose as I craned my neck for her familiar face. We spent at least 20 minutes looking for her in vain. In the middle of my mounting concern, I got a text from pacer Luis that he was stuck in traffic. He would later tell that with a 25 minute waiting time at the parking slot, he managed only to enter the back of the race corral just minutes before race start. Unfortunately, he could not jostle himself to the front part where we ought to meet.

I do not exactly remember how I managed to search for an impromptu running buddy/group for Cecille among the takbo.ph people, gate-crash into and take a leak at the Texas Roadhouse CR, tie the chip into my shoe lace, and squeeze some sort of a warm-up in the remaining time before race start. I came across or saw a lot of good friends I wanted to chat with prior to the race, including Jan and Gerard, but I was too high-strung to chat.

Then the race started.

Cheered by a rowdy group of takbo.ph friends at the sidelines, I did my first 500 meters at 5:30 min/km. For a moment I felt more popular than Marc Nelson with all the "Go, Rico" chants. Haha. Thanks guys and gals. Never had I experienced such a fast start. I continued into the second kilometer at about 6min/km pace. For the first time I was running just behind my “Kuya” Lyndon. I wanted to talk to him before the race, but I had to content myself to just trailing him behind. Kept telling myself, “Hang on to Doc.” I did hang on until km3 when suddenly I felt crashing. Holy tornado it was the gel again. In my pre-race anxiety I stupidly gobbled my lone caffeine-infused chocolate GU reserved supposedly for my last 2 kilometers kick. Stupid me also forgot that caffeine actually makes me drowsy!

Like detergent powder hitting water, I slowly melted. Doc Lyndon surge ahead. Even the foxy lady runner in yellow I was clinging onto for added inspiration sped away. Kilometers 3-4 were the hardest for me as I trudged on with a weary mind and legs. There was a brewing battle in my mind: Why the hell are you doing this? Gerard would probably say because one should not take refuge on the next time. But he was racing somewhere out there and could not be found. Luis? I didn’t even know if he managed to start. The thought of DNF even crossed my mind. What? DNF on a 10K!? Did a quick goal review. Primary goal was to do sub-60. That was clearly off the charts given the circumstances. I could still shoot for a PR better than my 1:06:25, but my secondary goal was really to party and have fun. Were my friends actually right in choosing to party instead of PR? Should I have heeded the signs? Very tough route, race pack glitches, missing Tonie, unexpectedly late Luis, and unusually humid night?

I threw in the PR towel at km 5. I wanted this race – my race – to end on a high note. If I could not PR at 60, I would eke out all the fun I could get. So I waited for Cecille at the halfway mark. I was missing my pace group and she was missing her running buddy as well, so we might as well run together. Why did I not think about that earlier? I was so enamored with having a nice chip time and analysis, I forgot to think of the having fun part.

I amused myself by observing runners from the water station. I wanted to help out but I was afraid I would lose sight of passing Cecille in the crowd. Eventually we met up and run together. Cecille is actually a fast newbie runner just needing to develop her endurance. We would run/walk together, but on downhills she would speed up to 5min/km while I gingerly run on hurting right heel. It was in the last 5K that I shouted "Go, Sam", watched in amusement at the glowing bangles dangling from someone's cap or race belt, chuckled at Jixee and Ritchie for wearing knee-high socks, and watched Joyce in her multi-colored tights zoom away to her spectacular 15k finish.

Tired Cecille actually got what she signed up for: a better 10K time and a photo opportunity with Marc Nelson. As for me, my fun lies in the thought that my friends got what they wanted. Doc Lyndon got his night race. Sam zoomed through 10K at 58min. Gerard had his at 61 minutes (totally awesome given the tough course and humidity). Luis’ speed was fast coming back as he clocked 60 minutes without any pain. Jan, we’ll paint the road sub-60 next time, ok? I was happy to indulge on my Urbanite Meal at the end and bring home a loot bag. I also went home with the comforting thought that my speed training - difficult it may be - would actually allow me to bring down my marathon training tempo pace to 6:30min/km from 7min/km.

While my time of 1:20 might have been my career worst, in a sense I did PR. It was a personal record for me not to be beaten by the series of unfortunate events. Frustated or irritated at times, maybe, but not irate. By sheer will I made my Kenny’s Urbanite Run a race to remember. And I shall remember the first one for its fiesta atmosphere and with thoughts of good food, great company, glow sticks and colored knee-high socks.

Sa kakahabol ko ng PR I decided not to wear colored knee-high socks. Kung si Ritchie naka podium finish at si Doc Marvin naka-PR on colored knee-high socks, next year ako rin. Mang Kenny and Ma'am Karen, kung kukunin ninyo akong endorser, I am willing to run with Kenny Rogers knee-high socks. Haha.

Let me end with a quote from good friend Doc Marvin (nuttybunny4):

ay nako... basta ako hapon plng nakatass na ang knee high socks ko! and i'm wearing all my similar socks to all the races i'm joining in the future!

I should have joined the league of Colored Socks!

Photos courtesty of Carlo and Marvin