04-05 April 2009 @ Km 00 Bataan Death March Heroes Park, Mariveles, Bataan
The race started with administrative processing to all the participants to include the signing of Waivers and accounting to find out the presence of the runners. I wanted everything to be simple during the starting ceremony. I finally started the starting ritual by asking all the participants to get inside the Bataan Death March Heroes Park for the simple program and final briefing.
I requested Ronnie De Lara aka Running For Christ to deliver the prayers before the race as he is celebrating his Birthday on the day of the race. It was followed by my final briefing to all the participants and later with a group pictorials at the Km 00 marker post.
The race started at 12:33 AM of April 5, 2009 after a slight drizzle of rain and the elite/faster runners left the Park ahead than those most of us who participated to experience what it takes to run a 102K ultra run with a cut-off time of 18 hours.
Running the first 40 kilometers while it was dark and cold was just a warm-up run in preparation for the next 62 kilometers running with the heat of the sun. It’s true, the actual race started after the 50-Km mark at Abucay, Bataan when it was already 7:30 AM with the sun starting to rise up in the horizon. From this point, it was a battle of the mind, body and the environment. PAGASA made a wrong prediction of a cloudy skies for the day. Instead, it was a typical summer-hot day for the race.
After running for 92 kms, my brother, Samuel met me along the way as I was already walking and trying to switch from one side of the road to the other for the much needed shade. I was glad that I was able to use my power walking practices under the heat of the sun on the last few kilometers of the race. My brother and I took us almost one hour and half to share stories and he informed me of the news story written in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s. So, at the Finish Line, people there were informed that I was reading the newspaper while I was brisk walking at Km Post 97 towards the finish line. Finally, on the last 2 kilometers, I alternately jogged and walked until I finally reached the Finish Line! I finished the race in less than 15 hours, placing # 30 among the survivors!
Out of the 81 brave warriors who started at the Starting Line, 65 Survivors finished the 1st Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race within the cut-off time of 18 hours. More detailed story to follow in my next posts. And more pictures, too!
Once again, my sincerest thanks to all the participants, to the sponsors of this project, my relative and friends who are dependable, and to those unknown runners and non-runners who voluntarily gave their time and resources to make this event a memorable one.
“A Salute To Our Heroes…Run, Endure, and Survive the Bataan Death March”
Bald Runner 
Incredible! Simply incredible…Congratulations BR! I am sure this was one hell of an experience.
All of you guys are heroes — whether you finished in 18 hours or more, or even if you didn’t finish at all…just getting up there and doing it makes you all winners.
Again, congratulations to all of you!
Mel
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Congratulations Sir and to all the brave warriors who run the Ultra, heat and all, even those who were not able to finish you are winners in our book!
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it looks like things went smoothly. congratulations BR … everybody who completed the race set a new PR. Yey!
the journey to the starting line was hard. the 81 who toed the starting line on 5April are heroes and winners already. congratulations!
congrulations to all you BR for a successful event. so what’s next? 😛
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Hi Jovie !
I would like to thank you and all the persons involved in this well organized race , special thanks to the marshall manning the “roving” water and sponge distribution during the loooong stretch. Unfortunately I had to throw the towel at km 87 . The Death March got me .. I shall look forward to finish next year . Again thank you to all
Jerome AKA Mr frenchman
(posted earlier on the wrong page)
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Hello Chairman BR!
Kudos to you! Another addition to your long list of accomplishments 😉
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Sir I was able to read your text right after I went home for I didn’t bring my smart cp telling me if I could lead a short prayer…and I’m so honored to be a part of that historic program…thanks for the opportunity! And yes, this was the best birthday gift, my first ever ultramarathon. Congrats for a very good race and the toughest of them all! You made me a real runner after this race (i thought before that finishing a 42k is the best, and so i did it 3 times, now…who can ever beat the 102k ultramarathon?)
Celebrating my bday on the road is phenomenal, and I never regretted doing it!
Thanks Bataan 102. it revealed the real monster in me that i could still run after 49.125 kms (which is the farthest distance that I covered).
I’m proud to be an ultramarathoner!
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Congratulations Sir Jovie and to the rest of the Bataan warriors. Completing this monumental achievement will definitely change your lives. I’ve been logging several times since yesterday to see any updates and I’m glad for the post BR.
No one can take this victory away. To those DNF, you’ll always be a hero in my book.
Cheers and Mabuhay!!
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Hi BR,
Congratulations to you and your fellow ultramarathoners who finished or participated in the Bataan 102K Ultra! It will be fun reading the blogs of all who participated.
I was happy to see your report. I guess I was like Ben. I like the trophies and the medals with the order of finish inscribed. Very unique indeed!
Now I’m looking forward to part 2. Thank you for the update!
QS
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Pingback: Bataan Death March Tribute 102K Ultra, Update « QuickSilver’s The Serial Athlete
I never imagined in my lifetime that I’ll be part of an ultramarathon and 102km long. My big thanks and eternal gratitude to you BR for giving me this opportunity. Lots of stories to tell, memories to last a lifetime.
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Jovie- Congratulations! Your vision is now a reality and will forever be a part of our local sports. To all the participants, finishers and non-finishers YOU ARE A DIFFERENT BREED. Take a a bow guys!
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Sir Jovie…
Congratulations… Thank you very much for making us part of this historic race. Running without a dedicated support crew is very hard. And I just want to thank your Team Baldrunner and All the people who volunteered for support. I can’t imagine getting to the finish line without their generosity. This race is a race hardcore runners in the Philippines should look forward next year. Thank you very much and more power.
Gene (runner no. 42)
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Sir Jovie,
I salute you for this great event. All participants are really great.
Hoping someday I could also do an ultramarathon…
Kudos to all your efforts….
Thanks,
Mhel
runner45
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Congratulations to all the Finishers! and to those who tried their best. Looking forward to next year’s BIG event! I salute all of you! 🙂
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Sir Jovie!
Bow ako sa inyong lahat – DNF or not. What you guys accomplished is not only incredible, but patriotic (something that is rare nowadays).
God bless you and your future endeavors/projects.
December po ba kamo ang next ultra? =P Hm…
WENCY
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BR,
Baldwin and Lucas started a thread in SG Runners last January about the event. Here’s the link to it http://www.sgrunners.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10505&st=45&gopid=333585&#entry333585
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BR,
Congratulation to you and the rest of the 81 Bataan Warriors! Starting the race alone is already a great milestone in one’s running career!
More power to you. We’ll see you on the road again.
Nolan
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Kudos to sir Jovie for great race. at siyempre, to all of us (finishers and DNFs) who braved the scorching sun on that unforgettable sunday afternoon. salamat din sa support groups of other participants, like: Runnex, PinoyUltra, TeamClark, Team BR and other indie runners. they gave bottles of precious water during those long stretches on the highways’ gravel shoulder, it would have been unbearable running on empty. ahh, no wonder my Adidas’ sole came off (that after 3 ultra marathons), it didnt help that my spare shoe was missing.
hey mr. Frenchman, dont fret. the deathmarch Ultra took its toll on most of us, in certain levels of intensity. target finish times weren’t met, goals of “no-walk” strides, however brief, were broken. ok na yung effort mo, youll definitely ‘up’ it a notch higher next time. di ba yan din ang usapan natin during TNF100?
see you guys on the next Ultra.
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Sir jovie,That is the nicest and most creative trophy I ever saw!!! Congrats to all the winners.:)
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