1st back-to-back [run] part 1: bull session at nuvali

As part of the bull university training for the TBR Dream Marathon on February, the TBR team organized several long slow runs for the TBR dreamers called Bull Sessions. The runs were progressive in nature in terms of time and distance, and well-spaced in between the start of the training and marathon itself.  I have missed the first two bull sessions but I was able to join the third one in BGC. Running with the TBR community is  a wonderful experience.  I got to talk to the other dreamers and got inspired by their stories. I also learned a lot for the pacers and the coaches.  That particular bull session was also special because it was converted to One Run: walk/run for the victims of typhoon yolanda (Teachincally, my 7th fun run!). Donations in cash and kind were collected during the event. We got to train and help people at the same time. That is why I promised myself that I would not miss the December bull session set in Nuvali, the actual course of the marathon.

during the 3rd Bull Session at BGC

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

 running with the 1:1 pace group

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

Early this year, Royson, Edward and I were invited by Honorable Lyle to participate in a 42k relay in Tarlac he was organizing.  Hon. Lyle is a friend from college and a veteran runner.  He was actually one of the people who encouraged us to join TBR and run our first marathon.  We said yes to Hon. Lyle to join the 42k relay without consulting our schedule. It turns out, the 42k relay in Tarlac was the day after the Bull Session in Nuvali. Yikes! We couldn't choose which run to prioritize so we decided to run both. Crazy idea! Later on I read in a running blog that running on tired leg is part of a marathoner's training. Running two days back-to-back was not a crazy idea after all.  We realized that this would give us the opportunity to feel what it's like running the latter part of the marathon when all your muscles are already tires and aching.

The Busko Challenge organized by Hon. Lyle and his HS batch

(photo credit: Busko Challenge FB)

Near the race day, Royson begged off because he had to fly to Bacolod for a speaking engagement.  He was replaced by Chris, a fellow TBR dreamer, for the 42k relay.  Chris lives in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Since we would be using their van to transport us to Nuvali and later on to Tarlac, we decided to stay over their house in Cavite the night before the Nuvali run. We left their house at 3AM and arrived at Nuvali a little after 4AM.

4th Bull Session Announcement

(photo credit: The Bull Runner)

By 4:30 Coach Lit assembled the group for briefing and then we were off. During the last bull session I was part of the 1:1 run-walk group.  This time I joined the big 2:1 group.  Quickly, I found myself at the trail end of the group. I couldn't keep up with the rest. No matter, it was still an improvement and by the first hour I got into my groove.

Nuvali is such a challenging route.  I had difficulty with the all the uphill runs and uphill/downhill turns.  But the place was so peaceful and quiet.  It was also well lit. I had no use for the hand-held flashlight that I bought. It's good that I go to experience Nuvali now.  I know what to expect come race day.

By the second hour, I was completely separated from the 2:1 pack.  All I can see were the other 2:1 runners that, like me, were part of the group's trail end.  I also lost all sense of direction. I was confident that by after 120 minutes we were running towards the starting area.  Only when I got to the uphill loop at the end of the route did I realize that I we were running away from the starting area and still had to run back. Haha. Twice, I had to stop to stretch my left gastrocs. It was threatening to cramp on me. Fortunately, I got back to assembly area without incident after 3 hours.  The group were already doing cool-down stretches.  Edward and Chris were already there waiting for me.

According to the other dreamers we talked to, we ran a total of 16 km.  Frankly, I thought we already hit the 20 km mark. All those uphill runs must have messed my judgement. Haha. We went back to Chris' house to rest for a while before traveling to Tarlac for the other run.  Not-so-crazy idea. Haha.

The last bull session will happen in January. That will be the last time we get to practice in Nuvali before the marathon.  Next time I'll be more ready. :)

pace 2:1 doing a group wave for the camera

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

gopher near the start of the wave line

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)