New Balance 09 race recap

I know this posting was very much delayed but for the purpose of having our races chronicled please bear with me. This race was sort of a birthday run for Swthrt, having celebrated her natal day the day before the race. Her siblings with their families visited us at our new home.

On race day
We woke up early for the race. Ed, Swhrt’s brother who usually join us in our run in Batangas came along with us to watch the race. We arrived at the assembly area a few minutes before 5:00am. We saw Vener and Xty who generously gave me some safety pins for my race bib. Swthrt and I had a couple of rounds at BHS for our warm up before stretching. Though it was necessary, we seldom do it in a race because of lack of time. But for this race, we really have to warm up since it will be a 21k run. After a very short opening remarks from the organizer we heard the horn that marks the start of the 21k race. Swthrt and I had a very good start. Though the place was quite familiar to us, it was a new race route for us. Swthrt was running consistently covering the part of the route from the starting line all the way to SPD station wherein we took the GU espresso flavour that I bought the day before the race. It was our first time to try and I’m hoping to get a positive effect. But honestly, I don’t feel any significant change on my energy level. I was actually experimenting on it in preparation for a greater challenge in the future. Swthrt continued to run consistently at a comfortably hard pace for her going to Bayani Road. When we reached halfway of Bayani Road near the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” our pace slowed down a bit. The heat of the sun was draining us and was sort of taking our energy. It was a good thing that there was a sufficient supply of water and sports drink along the way. We actually did not consume all the vit-water we have on our hydration belt. After taking the turn at the Bayani-C5 U-turn point we started to have walk breaks along the way especially at areas having steep slopes. As we turned right to McKinley Hills, we prepared for the worst. True enough this part of the course was the toughest, the latter part of the course. It was really the determination to finish that kept us running. After conquering the hills and returned to Lawton Ave, the worst is over. We crossed the finish line happy and contented with our run. It may not be a PR for Swthrt but it was her first time to receive a finisher medal for a half marathon race. In her first two half marathon races, the Globe Run and Adidas KOTR, only certificates were given to the finishers. We let go of going around the different booths set-up near the stage and left early since we have guests at home. It was a great birthday run for Swthrt!

Some thoughts
It was a well-organized race. Sufficient supplies of water and sports drink, medal and freebies were given right after crossing the finish line. Swthrt even got a free NB socks since she was wearing an NB shoes. Enough marshals especially on the early part of the race. One thing though, vehicles were allowed inside the cone marker along Lawton Avenue at the latter part of the race posting danger to slower runners still traversing this road. To make things worse, runners were running with the traffic flow. I have to run behind Swthrt and kept on reminding her to stay near the sidewalk to avoid being hit by cars. Other than this, it was a good race.

Congratulations to the New Balance race organizer!