The finishers’ medal should have read 23 and not 21 kilometers. (photo by P. Oga)
PASAY CITY – It was worth the long wait as the Rexona Run 2012 finally got underway last September 23 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. Mother Nature cooperated by blessing the thousands of participants aiming to outrun themselves with good weather throughout the entire event.
Originally scheduled for August 12, the event was moved due to the inclement weather and subsequent flooding that beset Metro Manila. That alone was already a test of the runners’ spirits – how would the new schedule affect their game plan?
On my end, the new schedule was sandwiched between two other runs. The date was supposed to be left vacant in order to recover from last September 16’s race, a 32-kilometer challenge, and at the same time fine tune preparations for a 16.8-kilometer run at the end of the month.
The secondary market was abuzz with a lot of runners putting up their Rexona kits for sale, majority at a discount via online sites. However, I firmly resolved to continue and take up the challenge to “Outrun Yourself”.
In last year’s Rexona Run, I registered a time of 2:26:50 in the 21-kilometer category. To add spice to the 2012 edition, organizers challenged runners to crack the two-hour barrier and receive a special keychain aside from the traditional post-race prizes.
Coming off a grueling 32-kilometer race the week before, my coaches advised to take it easy and just aim to at least better last year’s time. Sad to say, the word “relax” is not in my running vocabulary as I give it my all regardless of the situation.
Based on my performance last week, I was able to shave off 20 minutes from my personal record for the 32-kilometer distance therefore the positive momentum points to a good performance. I was able to put in two group workouts plus a couple of solo workouts in the week between races.
As the starter gun fired, the platoon of Kenyan runners in front of us zoomed ahead towards Macapagal Boulevard and the Buendia Flyover. It was fun matching the Kenyans step for step even if it lasted for a few meters, a fun run indeed until “disaster” struck.
A miscommunication with a marshal caused me to do an extra lap up and down the Buendia Flyover! Hence, the race would definitely be more than 21 kilometers as I realized the mistake by the second u-turn near the Cuneta Astrodome, roughly an additional two kilometers give or take a few meters.
Prior to the blunder, I recall checking my watch and it indicated bettering 2011’s time and a possible new personal mark for 21 kilometers and even a slight chance of getting the keychain. Obviously, all chances at any record were wiped out.
Instead of sulking, I took it as a challenge and salvage whatever could be salvaged. Step One was to try to pass as many runners as possible.
The frenetic pace to make up for lost time and ground was good at first but it veered away from the usual strategy and pacing for a long distance race. By the time the group returned to MOA and proceeded towards the Coastal Road, playing catch up was too much to bear already.
From there, the new battle cry was to get back to MOA and simply finish in one piece, saving enough strength and bravado for the final sprint down Seaside Boulevard towards the finish line. If only they could re-engrave the finishers’ medal with 23 instead of 21 kilometers!
The official time of 2:44:47 was good for 1,671st place among 2,810 finishers, one of the rare times I went beyond 2:30:00. Unless one reads this story, they will never know the real score on why the time was so slow.
Still, I can find consolation in the fact that on that given Sunday, I may have not been the fastest runner but I surely was the runner who covered the most kilometers – definitely outrunning one’s self!
More importantly, the Rexona Run 2012 was able to raise funds for the sports development program for the youth of Smokey Mountain. Unilever Philippines continues its partnership with the Junior Chamber of Commerce International (JCI) Manila chapter and Gawad Kalinga as they seek to inspire and transform the lives of the kids through building facilities like a multipurpose field that may be used for baseball, football and athletics.
This early, the experiences and lessons of 2012 will more than fuel the desire for redemption at the Rexona Run 2013. Just like Rexona, I won’t let you down.
Thank you to Gilbert Simpao and Mara Llanera of Unilever Philippines for making our participation in the Rexona Run 2012 possible.
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