34th National Milo Marathon Race Results and Photovendo

My first half marathon came in unexpected. I plan to run my first half marathon next year in Condura’s run. But when I saw my friend registering for Milo Marathon finals, I said that I will join for 10k. While waiting for my turn in Runnr to fill out the registration form and pay P500, I realized that I am better off joining 21k run because the registration fee for 21k is also at P500 and I have a chance to have my first medal. 🙂 (Whew! I did my cost-benefit analysis! What the!) I hate being a financial analyst sometimes, over-analyzing, over computing, doing cost benefit analysis even for running events! So I ended up registering for 21k in Milo Marathon.

The following week, I met an accident because as I unload the jeep, it suddenly moved and I fell to my knees. Yes my knees are so swollen, had bruises and was bleeding when I fell to the ground. I was on my way to office, thus I continued to walk and hail another jeepney. Since this incident, I was not able to practice for my 21k run. My left knee always hurts everytime I run. I can only run for 3k without pain. Thus I decided to rest my knees for two weeks. On the week of the run, I was only able to run for 5k and 7k on two consecutive days. I just cross-trained and did some yoga to prep-up. I can’t risk my knee because I know deep inside, it hasn’t fully healed yet.

Dec 12 came, I was ready mentally :). I inculcated in my mind that I will finish the run by 8am (gunstart was at 5:30am). Everything is well until the 10th kilometer where my left knee is starting to hurt. And yes, it was mind over matter, I just think of “happy thoughts” and ignore the pain in my left knee. I continued to run and run and run, until I sprinted to the finish line. The time is at 2 hrs 32 mins when I cross the finish line, but I suppose my chip time is minus 1 or 2 minutes. I already knew that i will not get a finishers’ medal because I was over by 2 mins. But hey, they gave me my certificate and medal just after I crossed the finished line. I really thanked them because I never expected to receive the medal. Right after I grabbed my gatorade and water, my knees are burning in paint and cramps settled in my left hamstring. Thank God! All of this happened right after I crossed the finished line!

I am so proud of my performance earlier. Yes I am aching until now, and have 6 dead toe nails, but what the heck! I don’t care! I never felt so happy and fulfilled! Below are some of my pictures during and after the run!