2024 RICE TERRACES MARATHON: Handful of Firsts deserves a First

"The first time you do a thing is always exciting."

One of those immortal words from the Queen of Mystery, the famed British novelist Agatha Christie,  jumped to mind as the Bicolano Penguin (BP) went on one of his bucket list running escapades in the provinces last July.  This time the target destination is Ifugao province up there in the clouds of the Cordilleras.  If (a big IF)   successful in finishing a marathon in said province, Ifugao will be the 29th province where  the BP has conquered a full mary.  

Philippine map showing the provinces (marked yellow) that the BP has ran a marathon or ultra. The number currenly stands at 29 provinces.  

The target marathon is the 2024 Rice Terraces Marathon (RTM)  set in the world-famous Hungduan Rice Terraces. The race is organized by Team Malaya on  July 21.

Certainly, there is quite a handful of  FIRSTs for the BP  in the RTM. Let us count them:

1.  First time to run a full trail marathon. 

42 km route map of the 2024 Rice Terraces Marathon

2.  First time to run in the mountainous Cordillera region. 

An Ifugao dance ritual during the RTM race briefing. 

3.  First time to run in a World Heritage Site. 

The Hungduan Rice Terraces is a UNESCO Heritage Site.  

4.  First time to race again after a DNF in the Batanes Marathon.

My Ateneo de Naga high school classmate Bob Castilla and La Consolacion College grade school classmate Ruvill Villagomez joined me in the RTM to boost my confidence after that DNF in the Batanes 360 Marathon last June 15.  

5.  First time for the fledgling First Balfour Marathon Club to join a half marathon and full marathon.

The First Balfour Marathon Club had runners joining the 10km, 21km and 42km races of the 2024 Rice Terraces Marathon.  

Running the Rice Terraces Marathon (RTM) was not easy for the BP and friends, despite what the veteran Race Director Stephen Lopez Felices  said in the race briefing the day before the actual marathon. While it may have been easy for veteran trail runners as well runners based in the Cordilleras, the RTM was very difficult for a lowlander like the BP.  

The RTM certainly delivered on its promise of providing breathtaking picturesque scene that only the Cordilleras can offer.  Noneheless, the downside was that the runners were running on trails up there in the hills and mountains. The BP struggled because of my fear of heights.   A misstep along the footpath of the rice terraces can certainly end up in a runner being seriously injured, or worse, dead from a fall down the ravines and raging rivers. Thank God, the BP and his running companies did not encounter any serious accidents although a few  times, the BP went down in the mud of the rice terraces. Thankfully too, the Team Malaya organizers made sure to have sweepers and guide along the route.  If not for the sweeper, we would have gotten lost in the trails. 

RTM runners had to cross this hanging bridge right after Aid Station 1. 

Passing a waterfalls between Aid Stations 2 & 3.  

My running companions almost the whole 42 kms:  Ruvill, Bob & a lady runner from Laguna.  

Our sweeper was with us the whole length of the trail portion of the RTM. Never left us until we were back on the road. 

Smiling as the BP nears the road before the darkness sets in. 

For the record, the BP and his running companions (we were 4 in a group) crossed the finish line before 7pm after starting the race around 5:30am on the same day. Certainly, more than 13 hours.  Guessing that we established the record for the longest finish time in the RTM.  It may not be broken in a long long time.  We were soooo late in finishing the full marathon that by the time we reached the finish line at the municipal hall of Hungduan, the race organizers were not anymore present. Two hours earlier, the race organizers packed their things and left Hungduan for Baguio.  Bless their hearts for at least they left with my son our finisher medals.  It was up to my son Marcel to wait for us in the finish line and give us our finisher medals.

My son placing the hard-won RTM Finisher Medal on the BP.  

Marcel with Bob at the Finish Line.   

Ruvill at the finish line.

Speaking of finisher medals, its been written by running experts in Run Society  and Runner's World that finisher medals are the most rewarding part once you crossed the finish line.  After the training for months and years, one will get a sense of achievement when the finisher medal is in one's hand.  It serves as a memento of the huge accomplishment in one's running journey.  It is actually more than a medal,  but the story behind it. 

Here in the Philippines, finishers of marathons, half marathons and even the 5km fun runs received a finisher medal.  For the tireless  finishers of ultra marathons (distances of 50kms and above), they received a finisher trophy.  And for the ever more intrepid finishers of longer ultra marathons like the 160km Bataan Death March, they get a finisher belt buckle, usually made of silver.  Having this in mind,  the BP felt that need to have a finisher memento that encapsulates the story of 13-hr struggle to finish the Rice Terraces Marathon. Also, a memento that captures the beauty and uniqueness of the rice terraces.  

How about finisher blade? The BP got the inspiration from the warriors bolo that the Ifugao men carried with them during the Punnuk Festival which we witnessed a day before the RTM.  For the Ifugao warriors, they have 2 main types of bolos:  the double-bladed Hinalung and the single-bladed Pinahig Pinahig.  Both bolos are typically placed in an open-faced scabbard called "hikot."   The one the BP  purchased at the souvenir store before leaving Ifugao province is a Pinahig.    

The BP have a photo with one of the Ifugao warriors joining the Punnuk Festival. 

The tug of war on the river during the Punnuk Festival.  One of the Ifugao warriors is seen with a  bolo. 

Upon reaching Metro Manila, the BP had the Pinahig bolo  framed in Quiapo, the framing capital of the Philippines.  The result is an astonishing  work worthy of a facebook remark even from the RTM organizer itself - Team Malaya. 

Team Malaya shared the BP' facebook post on the RTM Finisher Blade. In sharing, Team Malaya commented "Ten years ago, I had the same idea of giving away finisher blades as trophies.  Totohanin na ba natin?"

The RTM Finisher Blade on display in my office. 

The RTM Finisher Blade is currently on display in my office room together with other memorabilia from the BP's running adventure all over the Philippine archipelago.  It is placed  literally and figuratively   on top of the others as it holds a special place in my running heart.  

Clearly, the handful of firsts for the RTM deserves a first.  The BP's first Finisher Blade.