Condura mania was really in the air. A total of 6,243 runners registered in this race.
In my previous post, I mentioned my goals for this run. First, to have fun. Second, to beat my Adidas KOTR Personal Record (PR). Third, to reach the finish line. Did I achieve all of them? Definitely, a YES to all!
It was fun, indeed. While running, I was greeted by fellow runners and bloggers. Some shouted my name, said ‘hi’ or ‘hello, Running Diva!’, and others said, ‘go, go, go!’ Truly, you inspired me for this show of support. For those of you who greeted me along the way and never got a response from me, please, don’t feel bad. Honestly, I admired your stamina for saying something while running. Simply put, I couldn’t do it. I tried to recompensate it, though not in words, but by just raising my hand, meaning, I did acknowledge your greeting.
Race route was challenging and totally different. It was the first time half marathon runners ran part of the Skyway. And, what a portion it was! The long stretch of the Skyway was remarkable! One runner, who was really in a high mood, shouted, “Ang ganda dito! Ang luwang-luwang, kasya lahat ang runners!” (It’s so beautiful here. It’s so spacious it can hold all runners!) I just smiled and nodded at him.
As I reached the Skyway, the sun was up and it started to get hot! I had fun when I passed by a fire truck. Was that really a fire truck? I wasn’t so sure. What a way to cool off runners! For me, that was one of the best features of the race.
At a water station at the Skyway, a staff handed me a wet sponge. At least, I now knew its purpose. The first time it was handed to me during the Adidas KOTR, I didn’t know what to do with it that I just threw it away. That was a real blooper!
The water stations were placed strategically. I think I have stopped at every water station to enjoy the walk breaks and get myself hydrated. However, the only drawback, I didn’t do Number 1 until I reached a portalet along Buendia Avenue on my way back. It was an uncomfortable run for me knowing that my kidneys deserved a break. I tried to at a portalet provided at the Skyway but a guy who was not a runner beat me to it! It took him so long to finish that the runner in me decided to run instead. I wanted to beat my previous PR and I didn’t want to waste time. Every second counts!
As I was on my way near Makati Avenue, this was when I felt a cramp on my right thigh which slowly crawled around my butt. I had no choice but to walk and let it subside. After a while, off I ran again.
When I saw the Kalayaan Buendia Flyover, I tried to run at a pace but my feet were tired. So, I did a walk break again. Ahead of me, I saw some runners who were walking already and some were running slowly. I told myself to focus on the run. “Focus.” “Focus.” This was my mantra while running. “A few more kilometers then you’ll be at the Finish Line,” I told myself over and over again.
It was really hot while running at the flyover that I had another leg cramps. I stopped and stretched my aching right leg. This was when I started to check my watch and felt apprehensive whether I could make it or not. I walked a few meters and ran slowly. My body was helping me. Yes, I could still feel the pain but I just kept on running until the pain slowly ebbed away. Now, I was back to my racing pace. One by one, I slowly passed by the runners who were ahead of me. I said a silent prayer for this. As I turn left, 300 meters before finishing, a fellow runner cheered on me and that pushed me to run the last few meters. Then, as I was nearing the 21k chute, fellow Happy Feet Judah, who finished ahead of me, paced with me to the finish line.
Did I beat my Adidas KOTR PR? Yes, I did! I improved not by 13 minutes as previously mentioned but by 6 minutes only. A good improvement considering I had cramps and walked for the first time.
21k or Half Marathon Personal Record
2:27.44 Condura Run for the Whalesharks (2009)
2:33.42 Adidas King of the Road (2008)
Congratulations to all runners, first time runners in any race event, finishers of the half marathon and conquerors of the Skyway. This wouldn’t have been made possible by the leadership of the Concepcion brothers, Ton and Running Shield , race organizer Rudy Biscocho, and the many people who surely made this event a success! It was a great run and a race to look forward to!
With Running Shield and his wife, Mabu
Tiffin and Running Diva
Fast Runners, Cristy and Carmen
Carmen, Running Diva, and Ultra Marathon Runner Mikey
Craig and His Family with Cristy and Run Unlimited
Glad They\’ve Made it! First Time 21k Runners, Mayen and Kulit Runner
Jorge and Renz
Running Shield and Run Unlimited
Mayen, Bobby, and Coach Joar
Our Finishers Medal … With Que
Happy Feet Post Run Breakfast at Chowking
A Pose with Jollibee Mascots
More Group Photos
With takbo.ph Forum Runners
Running Diva PH 
Hi roselle,congrats! i hope i can also run 21k soon…i have to muster a lot of courage pa… take care!
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wooopeee! congrats roselle! sayang i missed seeing you yesterday! are your running for PIA on sunday? 🙂 let\’s meet up k? 🙂 i\’ll only do a short 5k run only tho. 🙂 cheers!
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Congratulations Roselle, you did well again this time. You really are getting stronger, keep it up. Tama yung sabi nung isang runner, ang luwang ng skyway; pero dun pa rin naman nagsisiksikan sa outer lane (ant march kasi). I have had my comfort of running alone and faster at the inner lane on my way back, kaya tuloy ang layo mo when I called you. Goal achieved for you and finished stronger. Rest your weary self and prepare to run again soon. See yah!
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Meek Runner, be patient. Your body will tell you when it\’s high time to run half marathon. I had many 10ks before I mustered to run 2ik last year. And, YOU ARE GETTING THERE! Congratulations, my friend!
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It should be who\’ll congratulate you Banggi. Welcome back! It was nice to know you\’re running again? Hope to see you this Sunday.
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I didn\’t notice you until you call me Run Unlimited. Just too bad I didn\’t get myself a photo while running the Skyway. Well, I\’ll just come back to the Skyway, wear the same running gear and take a shot? hahahaha…. Congratulations to you and Cristy. Your wifey is really fast! Sige ka, pag-totodohin \’yan ni Cristy … ikaw na ang malalampasan. Thank you so much for the support.
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Idol– no wink this time but congratz on your PR!:-)
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Super thanks, Jazzrunner! Congratulations, too, to your great finish! 🙂
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Hi, Congratulations for beating your PR. I can relate to most of the \”pains\” you\’ve mentioned :)….About the pics, you can grab as much as you want, I grabbed them all too, 🙂 I just did some thingys with adobe photoshop. Cheers!
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Thank you, David. Glad to know I wasn\’t alone in experiencing those pains.
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congrats on a PR!thank you so much for your support!i am glad that you enjoyed the runsee you at the next condura!
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Congrats Roselle! After your new 10k PR you have a new 21K PR naman! What\’s coming next? Marathon na!!!
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Thank you Anonymous for visiting my site. I look forward to next year\’s Condura race. Congratulations!
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Hi there Jay! Wow, thanks for visiting here. I really am not sure yet if I\’m ready already for a full marathon. 😀 If you are, go ahead! I\’ll cheer on you! Congrats, too!
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Congrats roselle! Nice to see you after the race!
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It really was nice to see you Bro J. The last time I saw you was last year during the VSOB Kabahagi Fun Run. 🙂 Congrats, too!
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congratulations and thank you for making the race a sucsses. thank you. – patrick concepcion / runningshield
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You\’re welcome, Pat! Great race! Nice finishers medal, too! Congratulations!
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well done on the 13min PB! wow!! I so like your outfit :D!
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Hi Chai, good for you to hop and visit my post. I will visit your blog soon when am done with stuff here. Thanks, Chai. 😀 I only improved by 6 minutes only. It\’s not pretty much as compared to your speed. You\’re still my idol!
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Hi! We\’re gearing up for the Botak 42K and 100k running events this May and June and we\’d like to invite you to our running bloggers meet up sometime in April. If you\’re interested, can you please send me your contact details thru nesa@protege.com.ph so that I could coordinate the schedule with you.Thanks! And I hope to hear from you soon!Nesa Tanyag
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Hello Nesa! I sent you my response to your e-mail. Thank you for the invite. 😀
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Congrats Mam! the next post should be the full na ..
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congratulations on breaking your pr! and i like the outfit.
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Hi there SundayWarrior. I like the name. You\’re braving the races every Sunday, is that it? 🙂 How I wish I could run the full mara. Soon … 😉
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Hi MixedNuts. Thank you so much! 🙂 Did you run the half marathon? If you did, for someone who suffered back pains, that was a brave thing to do. Congratulations, too!
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Roselle, Congrats for your new PR.Thanks for visiting my blog earlier…Nice knowing you.God bless and see you at the finish line.
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Thank you, RunnerforChrist. See you!
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