The question, in all its cute impertinence, echoed thru the predawn hours of the 3rd of November on the national road leading from Ozamiz City to Oroquieta City. It was a constant refrain addressed by barangay officials and bystanders alike to the Bicolano Penguin (BP) as he lumbered his way to the all-so-far finish line of the Asenso Misamis Occidental Marathon (AMOM).
The BP's answer of course to the question is a big "Yes" with an added line of "Ako po last runner; kaya puwede na po kayong umuwi." To this candid reply, the crowd of onlookers would burst in laughter and cheer.
Comedy aside, the reason for such bombastic laughter from the onlookers could be twofold. First, the crowd were happy to hear that the last runner has passed their area, meaning the marathon spectacle, as far as they are concerned, is over already and they all can go home and enjoy the rest of the Sunday morning. Second, the crowd were flabergasted by such audacious reply from the slowest runner in the race.
Whatever the reason, I am guessing everybody, including the BP, enjoyed the banter. We enjoy with what we have. We enjoy what is in the present. Such is the life of the last man running in a marathon. Such is the Tale from the Tail End of a full mary.
Full marys (42 kms) and its cousins, the ultra marathons (50kms +) are a passion for the BP since 2010. Devotion to long distance running, especially of the local kind. As such, the middle-aged BP has this bucket list of running and finishing a full mary and/or ultra in all 82 provinces of the Philippines. Thus far, prior to the AMOM, the BP has successfully finished a marathon or ultra in 29 provinces from as far north as Ilocos Norte to as far south as South Cotabato.
Now for the BP's 30th province, we have the Misamis Occidental of Region X in Mindanao. It became a province on Nov 2, 1929 by virtue of Philippine Act No. 3537 which divided the Misamis Province into two provinces creating Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental. The province has a rich history as evidenced by the presence of historical landmarks in its major cities. Atty. Jose Ozamiz y Fortich was appointed as its first provincial governor in 1928. Fast forward 95 years later to 2024 and the province has for its 19th governor - Atty. Henry Sevilla Oaminal, Jr. , elected by popular vote in 2022.
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| Misamis Occidental is rich in history. Ozamiz City is home to the Fuerta de la Concepcion y del Triunfo. Also known as Cotta Fort, this was built in 1755 under the leadership of Jesuit priest Fr. Jose Ducos. It was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2002 by the National Historical Commission. |
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| Oroquieta City is home to the Capitolio. The provincial capitol was built in 1935. During World War II, the seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitolio. This is histocially significant because it is the only time in Philippine history when its capital was in Mindanao. |
Under the leadership of Gov. Oaminal, the provincial administration has crafted a vision called Asenso Misamis Occidental . This vision, according to the governor, is grounded in the 5Ms which stands for Misamisnons Magpuyong Malinawon, Malambuon ug Malipayon (Misamisnons to leave peacefully, productively, and joyfully). As such, the Asenso Misamis Occidental development thrust is "an endeavor focused on spotlighting the pursuit of nurturing their tourism destinations and venturing into agricultural and investments hubs that shall be known in the whole island of Mindanao as God-loving, family-centered, and empowering people to live in a safe, secure, and disaster-resilient environment."
In the pursuit of tourism development, Misamis Occidental has the Perangat Festival . The word "Perangat" is a Subanen term that translates to "Asenso" in Tagalog, which means progress. Given that 2024 is the 95th anniversary of the founding of the province, this year's Perangat Festival is grander than ever in its 3-year history with 14 vibrant events focused on culture, tourism and community spirit. One of these 14 events is the AMOM, of course, slated for Nov 3.
According to the press release , the Asenso Misamis Occidental Marathon is the first-ever marathon in Misamis Occidental. It is organized by the Misami Occidental provincial government with cooperation from a local running club - Ozamiz Lifestyle Runners. Having a marathon event included in the celebration of the Perangat Festival is very much aligned with the 5M agenda of Gov. Oaminal as running produces runner's high which is a pure and natural form of joy corresponding to Malipayon (the last M in the 5M). Given its novelty and generous prizes, the AMOM, had many registered runners, as many as 2,500, in the four race categories: 5kms; 10kms; 21kms and 42kms.
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| Generous cash prizes for the Top 10 finishers of the 42km race |
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| Cash prizes for Misamis Occidental runners only. |
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| Special prizes |
Speaking of generous prizes, the 1st prize in the 42km open category is Php 100,000. That is big prize money. Enough reason for many elite runners from all corners of the Philippine archipelago to flock to Misamis Occidental on that Nov 2-3 weekend. It even attracted a bunch of Kenyans to AMOM. In addition to the open category prizes, there were cash prizes for top 5 local finishers (Misamis Occidental residents) and special prizes.
The BP registered for the 42km category. Very much unlike the elite runners registered, I had no illusion whatsoever that the BP had any chance of winning any prize. For me, the objective is to finish the full marathon within the cutoff time of 8 hours. The objective is to survive the race in one piece. In the pursuit of such an objective, I ramped up my training runs the months leading to Nov 3. Had to because I did not want a repeat of BP's DNF in Batanes province less than 5 months ago. In the words of famed marathoner Aaron Douglas Trimble: "It is difficult to train for a marathon, but it is even more difficult to not be able to train for a marathon."
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| Building up the mileage as Nov 3 neared. |
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| Race Bib# 42-196 for the Bicolano Penguin. |
With the primary objective of surviving the race, the BP valiantly joined 218 other runners at the starting line in front of the Ozamiz City Hall on the early morning hours (before 2am) of Nov 3. 42 kilometers away, the finish line waited inside the Misamis Occidental Provincial Athletic Complex (MOPAC) Grandstand in Oroquieta City. In between the 2 major cities are the towns of Clarin, Tudela, Sinacaban, Jimenez, Panaon and Aloran. This is a relatively flat road race along the Ozamiz-Oroquieta National Highway.
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| 42km route map |
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| BP with Law Cabrera of Pampanga in the Ozamiz City Hall area, the start of AMOM. Both are have a bucket list challenge to run a marathon or ultra in all the provinces in the Philippines. |
As was my usual self, the BP lined up at the very rear of the starting group, mindful of the running etiquette dictating that runners line up according to their expected pace, with faster runners at the front and slower runners at the back. At 2am sharp, the AMOM started on time.
With elite runners and good runners showing their true colors and carbon-plated super shoes, the BP immediately find myself trailing the lead pack of runners by more than half a kilometer in the first kilometer of the marathon. That was how fast the Kenyans are and how slow the penguin is. I was sooo slow that even the ambulance designated as the sweeper was in front of the BP by a good 50 meters. Apparently, the ambulance driver was not aware that the last runner (the BP) was behind the ambulance. Lonely is the life at the tail end of a race. So it seems.
Only when I exited the city limits of Ozamiz (Km 5 of the 42km-race) did I find an ambulance tailing me. Pretty soon, a race volunteer on a motorcycle bike came to my left side. Bless his heart as the light from motorbike aided me navigate the dark road and the presence of the motorbike on my left side shielded me from being sideswiped by passing vehicles. Not that there were many motor vehicles on the road in that predawn hours but one can never be too careful in this kind of situation, especially that one can imagine local motorists in these parts are not used to runners on the road in the dark given that it is the first time there is a marathon in the province. A few more kilometers into Clarin municipality and another motorbike joined my sweepers.
A source of comfort and safety the sweepers are. They were a source of race information too as I can hear the crackle of their radio giving updates on the position of the various running participants in the marathon. For example, as I viewed the Kilometer marker saying 1 kilometer to the town center of Clarin, I can hear the motorcycle rider talking that the lead runners of the marathon, including a Philippine Army runner and a Kenyan runner, were already in the municipality of Panaon which was 3 towns away from Clarin where the last runner was currently at. That last runner is me.
Being the last runner in a race can be lonesome and taxing, both physically and emotionally. Nonetheless, the BP soldiers on from Clarin into the next town of Tudela, one kilometer at a time. In those tiresome and lonesome minutes and hours, the BP received a boost from unexpected source.
The boost in the energy level came from the cheering and interaction with the many onlookers lining up the route from Clarin to Tudela to Sinacaban to Jimenez. The onlookers, some of them barangay officials and race volunteers but many of them residents in the area, tended to congregate near the hydration stations which were spaced out 200 meters to 500 meters apart in the AMOM (unlike in other marathons I have participated where it is usually 2kms to 5kms apart). The relatively short distance spacing of the hydration stations was actually very welcome for the BP as it made the route less dark and unsafe in those early morning hours and it tended to make the distance of the 42km marathon less lonesome. Shorter distance between hydration stations meant more hydration stations. More hydration stations, in addition to more hydration and more food, meant more opportunity for human connection with the spectators
The BP's human connection with the spectators lined along the route ranged from a high fives to exuberant clapping to playful banter which would go like this:
Spectator: "Last ka, sir?"
BP: "Yes, ako po last runner."
Spectator: "Talaga, kayo last?"
BP: "Ako po last runner; kaya puwede na kayong umuwi. Uwian na."
Spectators: "Yehey!"
Another repartee is like this:
Spectator: "Nahuli yata kayo, sir ?"
BP: "Akala ko kasi patagalan. Yun pala pabilisan itong marathon."
Spectator: "Ay, kapoy na si sir! Hahaha"
And another one:
BP: "Wala ba kayong mga kamay?"
Spectator: "Para kanino?"
BP: "Para sa Last Man Standing."
Spectators: "Yehey!" (followed by enthusiastic clapping)
Without a doubt, the BP got a lot of energy from the human interaction I had with the spectators. A bounty of runner & spectator shared experience. A marathon can feel endless and those 42 kilometers are monotonous if not for the onlookers who cheer the runners on , especially the slow ones like the BP. And there is science to prove this. Dr. Beth McQuiston, medical director of Diagnostics at Abbott, explained that runners can experience increase in dopamine and serotonin ("feel good" chemicals released in the brain that are known to promote feelings of motivation and confidence), as well as endorphins (another positive chemical signal associated with physical activity). But every brain is different. Some runners may be more anxious throughout the race and could benefit from social connections and the serotonin they typically provide. This means interacting with spectators along the course may provide a welcome boost of mental positivity. For others, especially those battling mental and physical fatigue, a spike in dopamine from the positive reinforcement specators provide might be the key to crossing the finish line. The cheering and human connections provide a lifeline for runners. Reminds us of the great quote from the Greek philosopher Aristotle that describes humans as social creatures who thrive in the presence of others.
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| The Bicolano Penguin is not a beast nor god. Hindi po ako halimaw pag dating sa takbo. |
Much to be thankful for the bountiful runner & spectator share experience with the good people of: Barangays Mialen, Lupagan, Dela Paz, Pan-ay and Tinacla-an of Clarin municipality; Barangays Barra, Taguima, Nailon and Tigdok of Tudela municipality; Barangays Colupan Bajo, Libertad Bajo and Sinonoc of Sinacaban municipality; Barangays Palilan and Tabo-on of Jimenez municipality; and Barangays Villalin and Punta of Panaon municipality. The hundreds of race volunteers and onlookers along those barangays provided a mental lifeline for the BP as he soldiered on alone in the AMOM, one kilometer at a time.
Another lifeline reared its head as the BP was exiting Jimenez and entering Panaon. The lifeline came from nature and in the form of a sudden downpour. The rain was very much welcome for the Bicolano Penguin as it provided some much needed relief from the now increasing heat and humidity as the time exceeded 7am in the morning.
With a boost of mental positivity from the human interactions and boost of energy from the refreshing rain, the BP was able to speeden up a bit its running/walking pace. As I neared the town poblacion of Panaon, the BP spied in the short distance 2 fellow marathoners walking already. A quick jog and the BP was able to overtake the 2 runners. Not after exchanging some good morning pleasantries and quick brief chat. Turns out the two are local runners from Ozamiz City and it is their first time to join a full marathon. They even added that from a 5km fun run, they jumped already to a 42km race (the AMOM), not bothering anymore to tackle a 10km fun run or a half marathon (21 kms). There is something to admire with their bravado.
Overtaking fellow runner(s) in a marathon has a quickening effect. The BP quickens its pace and pretty soon as I was leaving the town limits of Panaon and into the 1st barangay of Alaron, the BP was able to overtake another marathoner. He was a taller runner than me and I found out he is a doctor based in Ozamiz City.
The BP was on a roll. I was thinking to myself at least I will not be the last runner to cross the finish line at Oroquieta City which was roughly 11 kilometers away. 3 runners overtaken and the motorized escort was telling me that there was another marathoner up ahead. He was not telling a lie.
As we passed by the poblacion of Alaron, I saw another marathoner. This time it was a lady runner and she was walking while I was doing my Galloway - Pinoy version (3 electric posts - Run & 1 electric post - Walk). As the BP narrowed the distance with the lady runner, I noticed that she was not wearing running shoes. Instead she was walking with a pair of Crocs. And her walking was not smooth but kind of labored. Could be a running damsel in distress? Only one way to find out. Stop running and start walking and start a conversation with the lady. The shift to running to walking is a welcome respite for the BP as the rain has stopped for half an hour already and the sun was blazing in all its morning glory.
Chating with her, it turns out the lady runner is feeling some discomfort in her feet and had jettisoned her running shoes with her support crew about 10 kms back. She is a nurse from Surigao City and this is her first marathon. Unlike the first 2 runners that I overtook earlier, this lady runner has tackled already a couple of half marathons and done a 30km + race before going for her full mary in the AMOM. Her name is Glecen, and in my opinion, she needed some human company to finish the race.
In the context of the sage words of Aristotle, Glecen is neither beast nor god but a social animal that thrives in the presence of other humans. Clearly she was struggling with the discomfort in her sole. Add to that the growing intensity of the heat under the tropical sun as the hours progress from 8am to 9am. Glecen is human after all. But her being human is a quality in itself as there is such a thing as the power of the human spirit to persevere which is a tenacious quality that can be characterized by a ferocious will and indomitable fortitude. Nurses have it and marathoners have it too. I figured that all the BP have to do to be of help to Glecen at that point (9 kms aways from the finish line) of the marathon is to keep her company. To walk with her and talk to her on the road to Oroquieta City.
So, walk and talk are what we did as we tackled the last remaining kilometers of the full mary. Glecen talked about her taking up nursing in one of the universities in Ozamiz City while the BP regaled her with my track record of being a pacer at the TBR Dream Marathon for more than a decade already with a 100% success rate to boot. Yes, time can fly when one is having a good conversation. And so do the kilometers. The 9kms turn into 8ksm, then to 5kms and now down to less than 2kms away from 42 kms.
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| Glecen with the BP with less than a kilometer from the finish line. Tired but all eyes looking ahead. |
Time flies but we are the pilot. To be able to control time and make it work for us depends on what we want to achieve in life. At that point, what both Glecen and BP wanted to achieve is to finish the freakin marathon. So we soldiered into the city proper of Oroquieta. Crossing the bridge across the Layawan River and then passing the Jollibee store (that ubiquitous symbol of progress in the provinces), we found ourselves just a handful of hundred meters away from the finish line.
Entering the MOPAC grandstand, we were greeted by the sight and sound of the awarding program of the AMOM marathon. With so many awards and prizes to give out, the awarding program tooks hours to finish. Glecen and the BP rounded the modern-looking track oval of the MOPAC and there it was the finish line waiting to be crossed.
We crossed the finish line and the running clock read 7 hrs and 30 mins. What a great feeling to finish within the cut off time of 8 hours. A big success in my book for the BP and Glecen. Success was a bit more malipayon for Glecen as her boyfriend was patiently waiting for her at the finish line.
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| We survived and enjoyed the first ever marathon in Misamis Occidental. |
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| Finish line photo with one of the hardworking and cheerful race volunteers (sweepers) who escorted the BP from Ozamiz City to Oroquieta City. |
Proving a bit of anticlimactic was the fact that the both of us did not receive finisher medals and finisher shirts as the AMOM organizers seemed to ran out of these race entitlements at that point in time. The organizers at the finish line assured us that the said entitlements will be mailed to us. As to when, we dont exactly know. But it is a minor thing judging from the full-bodied smiles we have on as we gingerly stepped out of the finish line into the welcoming shades of the big event tents plentiful in the MOPAC grounds.
Simply put, the Asenso Misamis Occidental Marathon taught me the value of human interaction. It showed to me that true blue marathoners value human interaction with spectators and fellow runners more than a trinket like a finisher medal and a piece of cloth like a finisher shirt.
Already, the BP has successfully finished 53 full marathons and ultras with AMOM being the 53rd. Of these 53, the Bohol International Marathon is the marathon with the most number of lechons (7 lechons and 1 lechon baka) while Mayon 360 is the long distance running event that the BP has ran the most (4 times: 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016). How about the AMOM? It is the marathon with the most number of hydration stations (too many to count) and with that many hydration stations, the most number of opportunity for invaluable runner and spectator shared experience.
In persevering thru all 42 kilometers of the AMOM, I am reminded of the truism of the immortal words of the great novelist and adventurer Ernest Hemingway :
"In our darkest moments, we don't need solutions or advice. What we yearn for is simply human connection - a quiet presence, a gentle touch. These small gestures are the anchors that hold us steady when we feel life feels like too much. "
What a great human experience the Asenso Misamis Occidental Marathon is for us. In connecting us, we are a bit more human.
Congratulations to the organizers, race volunteers and finishers. Kudos to the good people of Misamis Occidental. Daghang salamat!
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