What can I say? It’s a miracle! But this is a product of hardwork, commitment, patience, and discipline!

After a warm-up and the usual stretching, I met the “Hardcore Group” who planned to have a “fun run” (not as “bandits”) at the pre-designated place and we wished each other good luck. And we some photo-ops as Jonel aka Bugobugo85 was the overall planner of this event. Jonel aka Bugobugo85, Dr Joe aka The Loony Runner, Jerry aka High Altitude, Philip aka Foreign Runner, Jay aka Prometheus Cometh, Lester, George, and Nico were there.

The Hardcore Group turned their backs at the camera before the start but they earned their PR times and 42K Finisher’s Medal. These guys are really “funny & crazy”!

The race started at 4:27 AM and we joined the other Finalists for this MILO Nationas 42K. I had a brief “pep talk” to the runners of Team Bald Runner to include the defending champion, Cris Sabal, minutes before the start of the race. As the street was still dark, I just maintained my easy pace which I practiced on the oval track of about 5:30 mins/km and maintained such pace up to the finish line.

At Lawton Avenue going to Bayani Road…

The whole marathon was just an easy run for me without much pain with my leg muscles. I could not believe that I did not have any trouble along the way. I decided to run the race as light as possible—I did not bring my Nathan Water Belt; I used my NIKE Lunaracer with lightest socks that I have; and my first time to use my new “customized” Oakley glasses which I ordered from my family in California. For the first ten kilometers, I drank my water from the water stations and those hydration gave me the much needed water at the start of the race. Once I entered The Fort, my support staff was already there ready to give me bottled water and Gatorade drinks I needed. After coming from the Heritage Park and about to reach Lawton Avenue on my way back to the Finish, I asked my staff to hand me the oatmeal that instructed them to prepare. I ate the oatmeal on a styro cup, while running, and that gave me my much-needed source of energy for the last 11-12 kilometers!

Philip aka Foreign Runner was the 1st member of the Hardcore Group to reach the Finish Line!

Jerry aka High Altitude got also a sub-4 hr PR finish time on this MILO Marathon, his 2nd Marathon race!

Jonel aka Bugobugo85 and George of the Hardcore Group along Bayani Road. They got also their PR.

This guy was tailing me from The Fort up to Roxas Blvd but he was not able to overtake me up to the finish line. He had all those motorcycle escorts and cameraman beside and infront of him. He must be a VIP of MILO Philippines.

As I reached Roxas Blvd from Buendia Ave, my GF 302 registered a time of 3:20+ hours and Capt Espejo was there telling me that I could finish in sub-4 hours as the distance was only 4+ kilometers to the finish line. I just maintained my pace, reminding myself to run “on a straight line”; to be “light” on my midfoot strike; and stay relaxed. And these are the things that we are telling to our students in our speed training for the past two weeks!

Finally, the finish line was there! The digital clock at the Finish Line registered a time of 3:48:30 hrs but my GF 305 registered an additional time of 2 seconds. Later, I found out that I had an average pace of 5:29 mins/km for the whole race with a distance of 42.1 Kms.

The Hardcore Group; Capt Ferdie Espejo; Coach Satur Salazar; Team Bald Runner—Cris Sabal who won 1st Runner-Up Overall & Marecil Maquilan who won also 1st Runner-Up Overall. Each runner got a cash prize of P50,000.00

It was a nice run and a fulfilling one to end my 2008 running season.

I would like to mention my thanks to the female runner, Bib # F 164, who paced with me for the first 15 kilometers. You are really a strong runner!

To the Hardcore Group, they all have also their PR times for this marathon race and you will read their experiences and pictures in their respective blogs.

To those who will be going to Singapore for the Marathon this coming Sunday, beat my time and you will earn a 2009 Wall Calendar from Bald Runner! Good luck and have a safe trip!