WEST COAST 200K ULTRA: An 83nean at 4th Place

"I’m like a fine wine.  I get better with age. The best is yet to come."

These words from the American fantasy author, Richelle Mead can best describe our Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 classmate Bob Castilla. And why not?  Last January, he finished 14^th among 74 finishers of the brutal Bataan Death March 160Km Ultra. He celebrated his 46^th birthday in April. Then, on the long All Souls weekend in early November, Bob joined 32 extreme ultrarunners in the  multi-day  endurance adventure that is the West Coast 200Km Ultramarathon. He not only finished the equivalent of 3 ultramarathons in less than 4 days, despite no dedicated support vehicle and decent sleep,  but placed 4^th overall among the 29 survivors.  

He is truly getting better with age, just like the fine red wine he cherishes.

Bob receiving his 4^th place medal (photo courtesy of The Bald Runner)

The official results (posted at http://baldrunner.com/) of this PAU-sanctioned event tell the tale, seemingly tall yet true:

1st WEST COAST 200K Ultramarathon Race/First Day

5:00 AM-5:00 PM November 1, 2012

Start: Remy Field Oval Track, Subic Freeport, Olongapo City

Finish: Municipal Plaza/Park, Botolan, Zambales

Distance: 72 Kilometers

Number of Starters: 33

Number of Finishers: 32

RANK	N  A    M  E	TIME (HRS)
1	Marcelo Bautista	7:03:26
2	Alfred Delos Reyes	8:23:14
3	Henry Laron	8:29:50
4	Don Gutierrez	9:15:33
5	Bob Castilla	9:18:03

Group picture at the start last Nov  1 (photo courtesy of The Bald Runner)

The start at Subic

1st WEST COAST 200K Ultramarathon Race/Second Day

5:00 AM-7:00 PM November 2, 2012

Start: Municipal Park/Plaza, Botolan, Zambales

Finish: Municipal Plaza/Park, Infanta, Pangasinan

Distance: 72.5 Kilometers

Number of Starters: 32

Number of Finishers: 30

RANK	NAME	TIME(HRS)
1	Marcelo Bautista	7:14:02
2	Alfred Delos Reyes	8:57:29
3	Henry Laron	9:07:41
4	Graciano Santos	9:58:48
5	Bob Castilla	10:09:56

1st WEST COAST 200K Ultramarathon Race/ 3rd & Last Day
8:00 PM November 3, 2012-6:00 AM November 4, 2012
Start: Municipal Plaza/Park, Infanta, Pangasinan
Finish: Barangay Lucap Port, Alaminos, Pangasinan

Distance: 56.6 kms

Starters: 30

Finishers: 29

RANK	NAME	TIME(HRS)
1	Marcelo Bautista	5:15:01
2	Alfred Delos Reyes	6:46:33
3	Henry Laron	7:03:52
4	Graciano Santos	7:04:47
5	Bob Castilla	7:05:04

1st WEST COAST 200K Ultramarathon Race

5:00 AM November 1, 2012-6:00 AM November 4, 2012

Remy Field Oval Track, Subic Freeport (Olongapo City) to Barangay Lucap Port, Alaminos, Pangasinan

Starters: 33 Runners

Finishers: 29 Runners

Total Cut-Off Time: 36 Hours

RANK     NAME    TIME(HRS)

1	Marcelo Bautista (Champion, CR)	19:32:29
2	Alfred Delos Reyes (1st Runner-Up)	24:07:16
3	Henry Laron (2nd Runner-Up)	4:41:23
4	Bob Castilla	26:33:02
5	Reylynne Dela Paz (Champion, Female)	27:28:48

Group picture at the finish last Nov 4 (photo courtesy of The Bald Runner)

Given the silent nature of Bob, it is hard to get a complete feel of what motivates him to persevere and ultimately conquer these ultra-endurance challenges. I am reminded of the  words of Ultra running superstar Dean Karnazes when he wrote "Endurance is a relative term. Some might think a marathon, at 26.2 miles, with its two to five hours of continuous pounding to the body, is the ultimate test of human endurance...For an ultra-elite group of athletes, however, a single marathon is child’s play. The challenges these individuals seek are beyond comprehension, bordering on psychotic."

Bob did share with me a text when he decided to join the West Coast 200Km Ultra.  He said that he is participating to make sure there is a representative from our Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 (the 83neans). To him, it was,  is and will be  por da lab of the batch.

Pouring it on por da lab

Perhaps in his explanation lies a part of his secret of success in the ultra challenges. It is less hard for him because he does not only do it for himself but for others.  

Truly, a running man for others.

CONGRATULATIONS, BOB!