Running Clinic Session 11
The boys of the Road Eaters Running Club during their first training session at UP Diliman for 2014.
Tag :
Running Clinic,
UP Diliman,
Long Slow Distance Run: Tagaytay
Brrrrrrr!!!! If it's hard to wake up early and motivate yourself to train, how much more if you have to train on an early morn' of chilly January in one of the coldest places in Luzon? Mind you, there are those who are willing to do such difficult task. A first for 2014. That's a Road Eater!
Fat Ass 2014
January 4-5, 2014
Impulsively,
the Road Eaters Running Club joined Fat Ass 2014. Some of its members became
interested because it's free (but with limited slots) and the concept was one-of-a-kind.
There were
three categories to choose from: 24 hrs, 12 hrs,
and 6 hrs. All registered Road Eaters chose the longest! Kirk, BJ, Jemai,
Jerome, Marvin and Don took the challenge. Josh also was tagged along as
support.
The 24-hour race category’s schedule was from
January 4, 6AM Saturday up to January 5, 6AM Sunday.
2:30 AM was
the call time at SM North Edsa. BJ’s Vehicle was used as transportation. Don
took charge as driver.
Along their way, they passed through a long
bridge. Kirk asked a trivia: What bridge is exactly as the same length as the
bridge they are passing through right now? Everybody made a wild guess. Some
answered San Juanico Bridge. Some answered Macapagal Bridge. But all of it was
wrong! The right answer was mentioned by Jemai. It was... the opposite side of
the bridge! Haha! Quack quackquack!
The car’s tire also needed to be replenished
with air from time to time. So they stopped by a gasoline station whenever they
got a chance.
On their way, they were undecided if they were going to exit at Dau
or would they take
SCTEx. They were not confident on either ways but they agreed to take SCTEx.
At SCTEx, they got lost going to the Freeport
Zone because they have passed by the Clark Exit.Good thing that the U-turn slot
was near or else they will go to Porac!
At 6:00 AM, they set up their tent courtesy of
Marvin. They also arranged their cooler courtesy of Kirk so that they can keep
the coldness of their hydration and other supplies. They started gearing upand
stretching while waiting for gun start.
Runners, around 40-60, headed to the starting point and waited for the signal of Atty. Jon, the race organizer.
The circumference of the Clark Parade Grounds (CPG)was 2.2 kilometres short. Within 24 hours, runners have to run as my loops as they can. The one who gets the most number of loops would be crowned as Fat Ass King.
Runners, around 40-60, headed to the starting point and waited for the signal of Atty. Jon, the race organizer.
The circumference of the Clark Parade Grounds (CPG)was 2.2 kilometres short. Within 24 hours, runners have to run as my loops as they can. The one who gets the most number of loops would be crowned as Fat Ass King.
Each Road Eater’s goal was not to be King but
to finishas many loops as they can in 24 hours. Runners can eat, drink, sleep,
rest or go anywhere anytime as long as we take records of our loops and start
from our last position. http://jon-ultra.blogspot.com/2013/12/2014-fat-ass-guidelines_10.html
The sun was already up, at exactly 6:30 AM, the “ultra fun run” began.
The team managed to run a few laps and took photos, except for Josh who was sleeping in the car. They had many running shots (as well as jump shots) taken through Jemai’s SLR.
The sun was already up, at exactly 6:30 AM, the “ultra fun run” began.
The team managed to run a few laps and took photos, except for Josh who was sleeping in the car. They had many running shots (as well as jump shots) taken through Jemai’s SLR.
At 8:00 AM, BJ needed to go back to Manila because he had work left in the office.
After accompanying BJ to the terminal, the team decided to have a power nap
because everyone had
lack of sleep. Besides, the sun was up so they protected
their skin from harmful UV rays.
They woke up at around 11 am. They got hungry they went out
the CPG to eat somewhere. They headed to SM Clark and devoured some food there.
It was almost 1PM when they got back to the CPG. The sun was scorching hot but the team decided to run since many runners were ahead of them. Josh also decided to have a short run with the team even if he’s not registered.
It was almost 1PM when they got back to the CPG. The sun was scorching hot but the team decided to run since many runners were ahead of them. Josh also decided to have a short run with the team even if he’s not registered.
Enduring the heat of the sun was hard but the
team considered it as part of their simulation training for the next races.
From noon until dusk they
kept running, did power walking and appreciated the place as much as they can.
Running on the same road again and again can feel boring. So instead they
shared different stories to keep themselves entertained. Josh also offered massage to Don and Kirk.
Around 8:00 PM, they decided to rest for a
while and have dinner. BJ was also on his way back to Clark so the timing was just fine. Marvin
decided not to join the dinner, instead he started to sleep inside the tent.
The team was undecided about where would they go to have their dinner.
They enumerated fast foods. Along their way to Mabalacat Proper, they have
passed by 5 Jollibee
Stores! Too many Jollibee branches! They searched for restos that have a homey ambience such as Mang
Inasal but they failed to find one. So they end up at Chowking near the
bus terminal.
After dinner, BJ came and so they went back to CPG. Along their way, they bought some items like chips,
hydration, and some pain killers.
Upon arrival, the team went back to the race. They only have more
than 6 hours to make additional
loops at CPG.
A couple of minutes after, Jerome notified that he was already at the bus terminal. BJ and Josh fetched him. As soon as they got back to CPG, Jerome joined the team in running the loops. BJ and Jerome ran on barefoot. While Josh decided to sleep in the car.
Around 3:00 AM, Kirk, BJ, Jemai and Jerome concluded their run. They took shower and slept. Josh woke up so that BJ, Kirk and Jemai could sleep in the car. While Jerome slept with Marvin in the tent.
A couple of minutes after, Jerome notified that he was already at the bus terminal. BJ and Josh fetched him. As soon as they got back to CPG, Jerome joined the team in running the loops. BJ and Jerome ran on barefoot. While Josh decided to sleep in the car.
Around 3:00 AM, Kirk, BJ, Jemai and Jerome concluded their run. They took shower and slept. Josh woke up so that BJ, Kirk and Jemai could sleep in the car. While Jerome slept with Marvin in the tent.
Don was the last man standing on the team. He
had his shirt off and wore his artificial garland. Josh assisted Don on his
needs. Only a few
runners continued to run that morning.
In the last 20 minutes of the
24-hour category, Don made his last loop in barefoot.
The sun was up, the race was finished. Atty. Jon called the attention of all runners. The Road Eaters got up.
They took
photo ops with other runners, with the race organizers.
On their way
home, the club had their lunch at Jemai’s residence in Baliuag.
Fat Ass 2014 was such a wonderful and grateful experience.
These are some quotes posted on the shirts and
tarps of the other runners:
"Running is never boring."
"If your legs are tired of running, run
with your heart."
Writer/Contributor: Don Santillan
Writer/Contributor: Don Santillan
