Aug 25, 2013
It all started on a rainy Saturday evening as the Road Eaters’ service van (used to ride a Nissan Urvan but now a Toyota Grandia for the first time!) difficultly made its way through the traffic, picking up each Road Eater in different areas around the metro.
The weather was dreary, but inside
the van, it was the opposite. As usual, unimaginable noises were created like
noises of high school students inside a chaotic classroom.
When they got out of the metro,
reaching the Summit Ridge in Tagaytay was a breeze. It was in that place where
the participants had to register for the race.
The club’s delegates for the 53K race were Kirk, BJ, Jemai, Marvin, Jerome and Ray.
For the first time, the club introduced the support crew that would assist the runners. Those were none other than Josh, Lyvia, Jessica, MJ and Hanna.
The club’s delegates for the 53K race were Kirk, BJ, Jemai, Marvin, Jerome and Ray.
For the first time, the club introduced the support crew that would assist the runners. Those were none other than Josh, Lyvia, Jessica, MJ and Hanna.
The race started at 11PM in
Tagaytay City. It was the club’s first night run and oh, the first 50K run for
some of them.
Those very brave Road Eaters embarked on this difficult ordeal without enough preparation. Non-stop rains due to the recent Habagat prohibited them to train for the marathon. Buwis-buhay Jerome and Sleep-deprived Marvin only decided to join the race the night before.
Those very brave Road Eaters embarked on this difficult ordeal without enough preparation. Non-stop rains due to the recent Habagat prohibited them to train for the marathon. Buwis-buhay Jerome and Sleep-deprived Marvin only decided to join the race the night before.
5KM stop: Happyness
As soon as the race started, the
support crew immediately moved on to the 5th kilometer stop. They had
to be there before the first Road Eater comes. But hey! Who did they see first?
It was Amos of the Ultra Snail Brotherhood (USB)! Lyvia was extreeeeeemely
happy. Next came Jerome, the first Road Eater to cross the 5th
kilometer. And Lyvia was again extreeeeeeemely happy. Second came Jemai. The
support crew were sending cheers. Third was Marvin. Glad to see him on
barefoot. Fourth were BJ and Ray. Jessica and the gang were happy and
supportive. Lastly, Kirk came. The support crew were happy so see the last but
not the least Road Eater and they can now move to the next stop.
15KM stop: “We’re here.”
The support vehicle honked everytime it passed the running Road Eaters as if it was saying, “The support
crew were here, keep going!”
The crew munched on some foods at
the 5KM stop and they continued munching while waiting at the 15KM stop but
they didn’t forget that there were other Road EATERS in action. Rain poured but
soon, Jerome came in first again, followed by Jemai who needed some knee
support, next came Marvin, who said he wanted to have a power nap then BJ and
Ray and then Kirk. The support crew realized that the runners had different
needs. They devised a different strategy on how they can efficiently assist the
runners.
25KM stop: Pains and Loss
A different story happened at
this stop. The support crew felt the coldness of the night waiting for their
dearest fellow runners. Everything’s ready: water, Gatorade, foods and medical
kit. To combat the boringness of waiting, they let themselves entertained by
hearing the marshall’s command: “Raners! Kip lep! Kip lep! (to the nth power).
However, they were annoyed by the smell of animal poop nearby. While waiting for the first Road Eater, the crew offered water to the other runners. They were worried that Jerome had already passed the 25th kilometer without any support. Good thing, he came. Next was Jemai, who needed Omega pain killer and Josh assisted him.
BJ came after some time, and it was his wife Jessica who attended to his needs.
Ray came next but he didn’t stay long. After Ray, there was no Marvin and no Kirk. Most runners had passed. Until the marshalls left. Darkness and coldness lingered. Still no Marvin and no Kirk. MJ left to look for the two Road Eaters.
Preparing for the search and rescue
Soon, three Road Eaters were nowhere to be found. Assuming MJ was lost, Lyvia said with determination, “Susundan ko siya!” with her eyes glowing and full of emotions.
However, they were annoyed by the smell of animal poop nearby. While waiting for the first Road Eater, the crew offered water to the other runners. They were worried that Jerome had already passed the 25th kilometer without any support. Good thing, he came. Next was Jemai, who needed Omega pain killer and Josh assisted him.
BJ came after some time, and it was his wife Jessica who attended to his needs.
It was at this stop where pains became inevitable.
Ray came next but he didn’t stay long. After Ray, there was no Marvin and no Kirk. Most runners had passed. Until the marshalls left. Darkness and coldness lingered. Still no Marvin and no Kirk. MJ left to look for the two Road Eaters.
Preparing for the search and rescue
Soon, three Road Eaters were nowhere to be found. Assuming MJ was lost, Lyvia said with determination, “Susundan ko siya!” with her eyes glowing and full of emotions.
Upon seeing Kirk, the support
crew immediately rushed to him bringing foods of all kinds.
MJ came back shortly but with a bad news: He didn’t find Marvin and he was told that all runners had already passed. Maybe Marvin outran Jerome. Maybe he didn’t notice that the support crew were at the 25KM stop. Maybe the support crew didn’t notice him pass. They lost him.
MJ came back shortly but with a bad news: He didn’t find Marvin and he was told that all runners had already passed. Maybe Marvin outran Jerome. Maybe he didn’t notice that the support crew were at the 25KM stop. Maybe the support crew didn’t notice him pass. They lost him.
38KM stop: Gamblers of the Road
The support crew moved on without
seeing Marvin. They couldn’t park at the 35KM stop so they tried to find a
parking space until they reached the 38th kilometer. Longer waiting
time was expected and more needs would have to be attended to.
Maybe in the next marathon like this, the support crew would bring playing cards or do hopscotch while waiting. They offered water to all passing runners especially to the handsome ones. Some runners greeted the Road Eaters. This club's getting more and more popular. Jerome came at dawn. Running on a long and predictable track seemed boring for this fastest Road Eater. When Jemai came, he was assisted by Lyvia and Josh.
Kirk seemed lost and called Lyvia on to ask about the description of the place where the support vehicle was. BJ and Ray came, after sunrise. They were still being attended to when Kirk came at last.
Extreme pain was felt by all runners but Josh was always ready to act as a physical therapist.
The runners said the same thing: this stop took so long to reach that they almost lost their hope. They had a choice not continue this punishing occasion but they were determined to finish the race no matter what happens. Before leaving the 38KM stop, BJ told the support crew to push Kirk to finish the race.
Maybe in the next marathon like this, the support crew would bring playing cards or do hopscotch while waiting. They offered water to all passing runners especially to the handsome ones. Some runners greeted the Road Eaters. This club's getting more and more popular. Jerome came at dawn. Running on a long and predictable track seemed boring for this fastest Road Eater. When Jemai came, he was assisted by Lyvia and Josh.
Kirk seemed lost and called Lyvia on to ask about the description of the place where the support vehicle was. BJ and Ray came, after sunrise. They were still being attended to when Kirk came at last.
Extreme pain was felt by all runners but Josh was always ready to act as a physical therapist.
The runners said the same thing: this stop took so long to reach that they almost lost their hope. They had a choice not continue this punishing occasion but they were determined to finish the race no matter what happens. Before leaving the 38KM stop, BJ told the support crew to push Kirk to finish the race.
45KM stop: Divided and Fallen
Fear, curse and pain. That’s how
this stop can be described. When the support crew arrived at this stop, Jerome and
Jemai had already left. Josh and Lyvia had to leave the support vehicle and arrive
at the finish line to look for Jerome and Jemai.
Rain seemed to add a dramatic
touch to the runners in pain. The remaining support crew could feel the anxiety
caused by the situation.
BJ and Ray were the next Road
Eaters who came to this stop. BJ mentioned that he felt sleepy along the road,
but thanks to his GU’s caffeine, it kept him awake. Before leaving, BJ again told
the support crew to push Kirk to finish the race. Kirk came after they left. This
time, he was seriously not in good condition. Blisters on his foot prevented
him to continue to run. He was ready to give up the race even if it was only 8
kilometers left to finish. After he was bombarded with assistance and motivation,
he decided to continue the race, with MJ as his buddy. Now, only Jessica and
Hanna were the only support crew left inside the van.
Jerome and Jemai already finished
the race when Kirk called Jessica on the phone to let the vehicle go back and pick them up.
His decision was final. He couldn’t continue the race.
53KM stop: The Finish Line
Fast forward to the finish line. Jerome had some emotional pain
during the race but he managed to finish the race first among all Road Eaters in 7 hours. Second
to him was Jemai (8 hours) who was always competitive. Next came BJ (9 hours) who made his way
through all pains. Fourth was effortless Ray (9 hours), who needed less assistance and
quietly endured the pain.
After much struggle, Kirk finally
appeared to the waiting finishers and support crew.
At 9AM cutoff, Marvin instantly appeared out of nowhere. He fell asleep during the race on a vacant bench at a sari-sari store but tried to run again.
At 9AM cutoff, Marvin instantly appeared out of nowhere. He fell asleep during the race on a vacant bench at a sari-sari store but tried to run again.
It might not be the best race for
the Road Eaters because of inadequate preparation, but it proved to be one of
the most memorable race they ever encountered. Their passion for this sport
ignited their perseverance to reach the finish line. Thanks to the support
crew, whose roles were unique and very helpful:
Josh – all-around manager turned physical therapist
Lyvia – food delivery
Jessica – organizer
MJ – search and rescue
Hanna – documentation
Off to Kenny Rogers Roasters!
