My CCM 2011 Story

I am jubilant, no—ecstatic! I finished my first 21k! I remember I felt the urge to dance as I approached the finish line but a marathoner beat me to it with a rain dance.

Ahh, it was that savory feeling of facing your fears and overcoming it.

I had been afraid. The panicking started two weeks before the race. To say that I was not prepared for the Cebu City Marathon 2011 is an understatement. And to think I had so much time to train.

At CCM 2010, I was supposed to run my first 21k but had to settle for 5k because of an injury. Back then, I thought that meant more training time for 2011. I aimed not just to finish but for a strong finish, a goal that became too ambitious for someone who has started to make procrastination a habit. Before I knew it, 2010 was almost over. And at a time of Christmas parties, get-togethers, buffets, it was easy to ignore your running shoes.

The last time I laced up and run was early November, a 12k where I got dizzy and took lengthy walk breaks. By late December, the 21k felt so daunting that I thought of quitting. I even had a good excuse like going to the dentist for that long-overdue tooth extraction.

But the running community has its way of letting out the crazy in me. People I run with at work didn't think twice about proceeding with the race, sans preparation. I didn't want to be left behind so I tagged along at race kit-distribution. As I lined up for my kit, I sensed the excitement from race participants--faces beaming, talking incessantly about running.  The level of energy made me want to show off my green race bib to quietly broadcast that I'm part of this amazing, happy community. And just like that, I was far from the scaredy-cat I was.

On race day, I didn't mind the little droplets of rain. I was excited; and as I can observe when the race began, the spectators, street dancers, and fellow runners were, too. It was a huge party and I was having a ball.

There were moments when my legs got too heavy but the festive Sinulog beat pumped me back the energy to plod, jog, and run again. At the last 3km, it felt like each foot was chained to a medieval metal ball. But motivational quotes along the way and a cousin, who suddenly showed up in a motorcycle to encourage me, brought back a spring on my step. Before I knew it, I was propelling towards the finish line! It was exhilarating. Anyone would want to dance for joy at the moment.

I shouldn’t be too happy with an almost 3-hour finish but I am so thrilled for not allowing my fear to overwhelm me. But I know better now. Next time, I will be prepared and continue the goal of a strong finish.

CCM Photos

Bloghopping led me to more photos. Lookie!

• Estan Cabigas' photo gallery (mostly shots of 42k participants)

• Reel Runner's CCM Memoirs

• Cebu Sports Blog' CCM Photo Albums: 1, 2,3

• Giovanni Salahog's FB Album

The Race That Made Us Proud

The Jan. 10, 2010 Cebu City Marathon has left me proud as a peacock, what with all the glowing reviews it gained. I may not be part of the organizing group that worked very hard (Kudos to Cebu Executive Runners Club for a job well done) to make the event a huge success, but I am a Cebuano and we Cebuanos are a proud lot. We take pride in our own, from the various achievements of fellow Sugbuanons to our very own dialect. Cebuanos are proud being Cebuanos.

And so imagine my delight when Jaymie Pizzaro a.k.a. The Bull Runner gave the Cebu Marathon five TBR medals (excellent!).

“[T]he best local race I have ever joined. The organizers of Cebu Marathon got everything right from the carbo loading party to the awarding program,” she said. But my favorite was what she mentioned about us Cebuanos:

The one thing that stood out in this race, which contributed most to its success but didn’t cost a cent, were the people. The warmth and hospitality of the organizers and Cebuano runners were felt all throughout. Spectators lined the roads and cheered enthusiastically. It didn’t feel like another big corporate-sponsored racing event, but a run to celebrate Cebu, its people, and its culture.

Ahhhh, ain’t she sweet?

Aside from TBR, a number of running personalities and runner-bloggers agreed the race wasn’t that bad, to put it mildly.

Bald Runner

[T]he Cebu City Marathon was an outstanding road race that surpassed my expectations. From registration, distribution of race packets, carboloading party, race proper, up to the awarding ceremonies and the immediate posting of the official results, everything was “perfect”.

Amado L. Castro, Jr

[T]he manner the race was held has earned itself the rank right on top of the best if not the very best of any race events in the Philippines.

Drum and Run

It is by far the best road race I have participated in and is now my benchmark for future races to come.

Forefoot

For many points, the Cebu Marathon topped the charts.

Sheer Will

[I]t was a great race. A shoe-in for the Best Philippine Race of 2010 unless others up their ante.

Running Fatboy

Thanks to the organizers for making this a very good event. There were ample marshals, signs, and lots and lots of water. For your first year at doing this race, I can safely say that this was a SUCCESS!!!

Gingerbread Man

[I]t's one of my finest racing experiences ever, and you have got to try it next year.

Ani de Leon

This should totally be an annual event!!!!

Janine

The Cebu Marathon experience was simply awesome!

U-huh, I scoured the web for those plus a little help from Google Alerts.

Speaking of pride, I can't help but boast about my 29.03 in the 5k. A PR after a long running break! Yeba! Now I shouldn't feel a wee bit of a wimp for not taking a stab at the half marathon. There's always the next CCM. ;-)

Next post will be photos from the race.