Philippines Stock Exchange (PSE) Bull Run 2013

Run Event:  Philippines Stock Exchange (PSE) Bull Run 2013
Race Category: 21k
When/Gun Start: Sun, 01/13/13 5:15 A.M.
Where: 9th Avenue, Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila

My Race Result:

Ranked 1297th in 21k Race Category in PSE Bull Run 2013

My Overall Performance: http://strider.ph/bib/52/7437/
BullRun2013 Results for 21K Category (Overall): http://strider.ph/records/52/4/

My First Half Marathong (21k Race) Experience:

Yes, It's my very first 21k race and I haven't trained for this run because much of my time before the event was spent on holiday vacation, sudden surge of workload in the office and lax in training. But yesterday, the event date, It actually did turn well, I finished the 21 kilometer race!

Saturday of January 12, 2013, the day before the run event - i feel the holiday foods I ate are still on my stomach. I drank a lot of water to detoxify. I even drank a green tea hoping it would normalize my bloated stomach but I think it help a little bit. And because of this I became nervous for the long run on January 13, 2013, I had trouble sleeping that night - thinking I might not finish the tomorrow's run.

Sunday of January 13, 2013, the day came - i went to the race with my mom (my picturegrapher), I think, I had a one and half hours of sleep, well, I'm already here in the venue of the race, there's no turning back!

Dehydration, Headache and Exhaustion:

As far as i remember, I was on 6k mark when I felt the headache and abdominal. I had a headache due to lack of sleep and abdominal pain maybe due to holiday stools still inside my stomach LOL. And i felt minutes and minutes of dehydration though I brought a tumbler containing a warm water which doesn't help me refreshed, It's like sipping a "sabaw ng nilaga na walang lasa". Good thing there's a several hydration station along the way. Their water is cold and it helped me a little refreshed.

With a still condition of having a headache, maybe also due to exhaustion of running (i think I'm at 10k mark at that time) and intense body heat, I manage to recuperate with my cold tumbler containing ice cubes which I asked to the staff of the Hydration Station. I pressed my tumbler to my head and you know what, it actually helps! My headache is dismissing and my body is fighting for more. (i didn't researched this, It just came to my mind - maybe this is what they called survival instinct naks!)

On around 16k - 18k mark, I feel strains to my legs. It feels walking but you kind of don't feel anything on your legs. I told and blame myself, this is bad, this is what I got with no training. I'm already walking at this mark, with slow jog thriving to finish the run. I re-did what I've discovered that makes me refreshed, press the cold tumbler, sipped and walk or run.

Around 19k, I know this route, It's near the finish line! Along this route, near the STI school building, I saw an Ambulance and there's a man laid on the ground assisted by medics. I just snoop thinking he could have just collapsed with this long distant run. In my mind, no one dies with running . . . then something cross my mind, I remember bragging to my cousin that I will be joining a 42k Run in Condura Skyway this coming Feb. 03, 2013 - he doesn't believe what I'm saying thinking he's just not used with my new sport. He told me, there's a case of collapse due to exhaustion, cardiac arrest and brain injury due to falling onto the ground. I didn't mind what he's saying. He's babbling. (fool me)

With perseverance, I fight, I fight my body to run further more, the finish line is almost there. For me not to further injure my legs, I just walk.

That's me, holding the finisher's certificate, wearing the finisher's shirt and the finisher's medal.

After the finish line, my mom told me that there is someone who suffered a cardiac arrest in 21k race category. I can't believe what she's saying. Is the man who I've thought that just collapsed, the man who suffered cardiac arrest?

Victory and a Very Sad News:

We went home, I eat, rest, sleep. Upon awaking on afternoon, I opened my laptop, I checked http://www.pinoyfitness.com/2013/01/pse-bull-run-2013-results-discussion-and-photo-links/ for further news on race result and photos. A sad news is published on page. It confirmed what I saw on race, the man who is laying on ground was Romel F. Defeo, the Sigue Correr Runners (SCR) President, passed away due to  Hypokalemia which caused Cardiac Arrest.

It was such a surprise to me when I read he passed away with the 21k race. I feel very scared, It could happen to me and to anyone.

I'm sending my condolences to the family and love ones of Romel F. Defeo, your run may have ended here but God will reach your hands and your run will continue victoriously on the high heavens.

Thank you and may this serve a lesson to all aspiring runners.