A Week To The Marathon | My New York City Marathon Adventure
It’s exactly a week to go before my biggest race of the year! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gatorade Philippines for this once in a lifetime shot! It’s every runners dream to run the New York City Marathon and I’m super thankful I got chosen to represent the best sports drink in the planet to run the best marathon in the world!
Before we go any further, here’s a contest for everyone! Guess my New York City Marathon finish time and win cool stuff from Gatorade Philippines and SBR.ph! :)
Also, check out this story of how I got the spot, why I’m doing it, and what I’m looking forward to do after the race!
The Gear
It’s all about being comfortable for me when it comes to my New York City Marathon gear. In a nutshell, I’ll be using the gear that used in my past 4 Ironmans. Hey, if it worked there, no reason why it shouldn’t here right? I hope! With a super storm coming up, no one can predict just how cold (or wild!), the race will be. Good thing about pinoys is, put us in any situation and we’ll adapt! We’re ready for everything! I have ABSOLUTELY no idea just how cold it will be in New York as I’ve never been there. So unless I train in Tagaytay or Baguio with just my swimming trunks, there’s no way that I can train for it!
Here’s my gear list for the New York City Marathon
- SBR.ph Cycling Jersey / SBR.ph Tri Shorts
- TIMEX Visor
- TIMEX Ironman Watch
- SLS3 Quad Sleeves
- SLS3 Compression Socks
I’ll use the SBR.ph cycling jersey instead of the tri top for added insulation. Also, since I’m very prone to cramping, SLS3 Compression Gear is a must! I’m hoping this will be enough to take me to the finish line in one piece!
The Training
Overcoming anemia is a pain in the a*s, but trying to battle and get rid of plantar fasciitis is another thing! I had a tough time battling injuries this 2012 season and the previous year. I made a rookie mistake of trying too much too soon after I got the call from Ton Gatmaitan of Gatorade Philippines to do the New York City Marathon. It’s less than a week before the big dance and here I am in front of the computer rolling my foot on a frozen water bottle. I’m hoping the wonder hands of my therapist Butch Ong of Sante Medical Clinic and the magic of Rock Tape of Doc Martin Camara is enough to do the trick! There’s no way I’ll let this thing stop me from realizing my dream. So unless they cut my foot off, they’d have to drag me off the street before I get a DNF.
Training for the NYC Marathon with Plantar Fasciitis is tricky. Common knowledge says that there’s only one cure for it which is rest. How can I rest if I have to train?
For this, I just tried to get as much mileage as I can. I’ve been running for about an hour everyday for the past few weeks. All within a 10k pace and sometimes, if my body feels great after 30 mins, I try to up the tempo a bit. Forget speedwork. Speedwork is icing on the cake I don’t have it yet.
Here’s a trivia. Training for the NYC Marathon, I’ve never run for more than 1 1/2 hours. :) Why? Because if I run for more than that, my plantar fasciitis will start to fire up.
Suicide? We’ll see. :)
The Game Plan
In an Ironman, you run the marathon after doing a 3.8km swim and a 180km bike ride. So just like what I did in my previous Ironman’s, I’ll be doing the same marathon game plan. I’m not looking forward to set a P.R. with this race. I just want to enjoy it to the fullest and make sure I cross the finish line!
1. Break down the race into eight 5k’s (and then some) –
There’s nothing more daunting than looking at a marathon as a 1 big running sufferfest. Breaking the race into smaller distances helps trick the mind to know that realistically, you’re only doing eight 5km kilometer races. When you think about it that way, how hard could it be right? Also, I find that breaking the race down helps you mentally as it keeps your mind fresh which keep you from getting bored. In an Ironman, walking at every aid station also allowed my body reset and get my form back in tip top shape, so I’ll be doing a lot of that as well. If there’s one thing I learned, there’s absolutely no shame in walking during a marathon.
2. Don’t do anything silly until the 30k wall –
Ask any marathoner who bonked and they will most likely tell you that they bonked on the 30k mark of the race. In my previous marathons, I usually just run at a leisurely, moderately-uncomfortable pace up to the 30k distance. If I still feel good after that, that’s when I go for it and decide if I can get a P.R. or not. If I’m already starting to suffer, that’s when I thank the Lord that I had the discipline to stick to my game plan and not to push prior to 30k! Because if I did, like what I always say, sa kangkungan na ako pupulitin non. =P
3. Grow fur! –
To combat the cold weather, I’ll use the best free insulation on earth. HAIR! It’s time to drop the shaver and let my beard grow up to never land! Hopefully I won’t look like big foot!
4. Sip, Refuel, and ICE! The nutrition plan –
Here’s where it gets tricky. Why? Because everybody is different when it comes to nutrition. What works for me may not work for you at all so take everything I say here with a grain of salt.
For the NYC Marathon, my nutrition plan is to take 5 gels during the course of the run (still undecided on what brand, but most likely I’ll go for SHOTZ or Powergel). 6 in total if you count the one that I’ll take before the race. I’ll take one every 45 mins or so and pop a salt stick before I take the gel. That should be enough to power me all throught the run. I’ll also be using a high concentrate mix of my favorite Gatorade drink, the G-Series Pro 02 Perform which I’ll sip every 15mins or so. I’ll be using the on-course nutrition a lot as well but mostly for my cramp busting needs. Also to pour water on me to cool me down. If I start to cramp, I find that putting ice inside your tri shorts (in the legs area not on the crotch!) works for me a lot. It can be different for the NYC Marathon though as the weather is 999999999999999x cooler.
Another tricky thing here is that my wave will be released at 10:55 a.m.! I’ve never done a race that late before so pre-race breakfast is key. I have to be at the start line by 7am so that’s almost 4 hours of waiting time!
I’ll probably just do what tourists do best while I’m waiting. Take pictures!
All in all –
I’ll take what the race gives me. A marathon is a long race and anything can happen. Though I’m fairly confident that I can finish this race, I must give it the respect that it deserves. Appropriate fear is what I like to call it :). I dunno if my body is up to it, but mentally, I am 100% ready. I am looking forward to the suffering and running in a city that never sleeps!
They say New York is a concrete jungle where dreams are made of, it’s time for me to make mine a reality. :)
I will finish this race for SBR.ph, for those trying to back in training after recovering from a serious illness, and for the trust that Gatorade Philippines gave me. But still, I hope that you guys can pray for me. I’ll be needing all the help I can get. :)
