From the 42K it became the 10K then the 3K. We ended up sprinting to the finish line in the company of President FVR in what was politely termed the "non-competitive fun run"–in other words, the saling pusa run, once around the block (a pretty big block from the looks of it) at Fort Bonifacio amid a very festive Pasig River Heritage Marathon that drew over 2,000 runners of all ages (there should have been more runners, if this television network had not inconsiderately scheduled its race on the same day).
The serious runners, of course, started off from Intramuros at the unholy hour of 4:30, in a route that took them across all twelve bridges that span the Pasig River to the finish line at Fort Bonifacio, the best of them completing the 42 kilometers in two-and-a-half hours. The 10K and 5K runners had their routes marked out around Fort Bonifacio. There were little kids who completed the race with long, graceful strides, and grey-haired men drenched in sweat who nevertheless made it to the finish line.
For the ten of us, I must confess that our greatest achievement was making it there at all, rising before the sun, ready to do our bit for the Pasig River. "A" for effort goes to Lyn Gamboa and Celeste Legaspi of Riverwatch, and the Women in Travel led by president Emmie Aguirre, with Merle Villacorta, Minki Bautista, Mely Sol, Fely Borje, Emma Gaerlan and Susan Ronquillo (only Minki did any serious running). Mother Earth’s Odette Alcantara and Len Berroya overslept, so came late and missed our grand dash to the finish line. But no matter–there was a hoard of photographers recording that historic finish, and I can proudly claim to have crossed the finish line with the President.
The STAR’s assistant sports editor Gerry Carpio, who ran the 5K in what I think was a respectable time, could not believe that I would–or could–join a race...any race, much more a marathon! But I have my race bib to prove my participation, with my official number –2393 (I was told to make taya that number in the four-digit lotto)–and the official Pasig River Heritage Marathon singlet.
We must have looked like marathon regulars, or at least looked convincingly like real runners, because we were being recruited to join two other races. Unfortunately, we had to decline, because we only run for the Pasig River.