The 1st of June, 2013, Saturday. Stockholm, Sweden. The weather forecast wasn't good but, when my friends and I stepped outside, we were still hopeful that the sky would clear. One of my friends wore shorts and didn't even bother to take an umbrella. Big mistake. As we stopped to watch the runners of the Stockholm marathon go by, the rains got steadily worse. We nixed our plans for the day and sought shelter at the first place we found with outdoor seating and beer, and watched the race instead.
The view from our table in Odenplan, at what turned out to be an Indian cafe. (Guru, Odengatan 87, 113 22 Stockholm, Tel 08-301718.)
I knew that a friend of mine from Manila, Leana Farrales, had flown in just for the race. I got in touch with her friend in Stockholm, gave her our location and asked if she knew if Leana had already passed us by. It turned out that we were closer to the finish line than she was and she estimated that Leana would be by us in an hour. She sent photos of Leana at the race to help me spot her.
(One of the photos sent to my iPhone by Pearl Jacob.)
As we sipped our beers and snacked on naan, the weather grew bleaker by the minute. Even with the cafe's outdoor heating and blankets, my friends and I still shivered from the cold.
(Photo c/o Pontus Krook.)
The runners looked totally ruined. Quite a few had to stop because of cramps. One women was carried to a nearby first-aid tent on a stretcher. I could only imagine what Leana was going through.
Which was why I asked for this interview. To finally have the answers to the questions churning in my head at that time.
Leana is the first woman interviewee on "Desperate Measures". Because of her, I've veered away from my sleazily titled all-male "If I Told You You Had A Great Body..." series and begun a new section called "When I Grow Up... (People Who Inspire Me)".
Thank you for agreeing to do this, Leana, and for being such an inspiration!
***
Q. When did you start running and why? I mean, WHY RUNNING? Because I don't get running. Well, I do, sometimes, for a little bit. But certainly not to the point where I would say to myself, "Gee, I'd like to run 42,195 meters now." That's just mad! Did you start running with the end goal of running a marathon or were you already in the habit of running before you decided to join a marathon?
A. Good question. I never liked running. I was always into fitness – gym, all kinds of sports – but I dreaded anything that had to do with cardio workouts. Running, for me, started as a dare with [mutual friend, and owner of El Cirkulo], Malu Gamboa. We agreed to do a 5k run during the first Condura Run five years ago. It seemed like a long distance but, 45 minutes later, it was over for us and it didn’t feel all that bad. In fact, crossing the finish line brought a wave of exhilaration. Maybe it was a rush from all the endorphins. I was hooked.
Q. The Stockholm Marathon wasn't your first marathon. Where else have you run and did you finish them all? What was your best time?
A. I’ve run four marathons already. The first one was never supposed to be. It was the Pasig River Marathon and it was on the weekend after MY wedding. It was meant to be a long training run but I succumbed to friends egging me on to finish. I was, obviously, not sufficiently trained at that point, and exhausted from the wedding activities, probably still with a blood alcohol level beyond legal limits. Pretty dumb of me to do all 42.2 kms. The flip side is that I saw the city I lived in all my life in a very different way. As we crossed the Pasig River through ten different bridges, it was like running through my history classes. I was amazed by the experience. You never see this when you’re in a car.
From then on, I decided to run marathons to see my favorite cities around the world. Since that time, I’ve done Singapore (HOT!), Paris (enthralling), now Stockholm. I was signed up for Rome, Berlin and Tokyo and, for one reason or another, didn't make it to the starting line.
Getting to the starting line is half the battle. Finishing is the cherry on the sundae!
The starting line just outside the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. Although 21,736 from 81 countries registered, the actual number of runners was much lower. The precise figure is no longer available on the Stockholm Marathon offical website. (Photo c/o Tommy Berlin.)
I’m not really the type to chase PBs (personal bests) so I don’t remember the exact times I finished each race. I usually finish between 4:30 and 5:00 hours.
Q. The Stockholm Marathon website read: "The average temperature in Stockholm at this time of the year is 18 degrees C or 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather might however be much warmer. In case of sunshine and high temperatures be sure to drink enough before, during and after the race. The effects of dehydration are magnified on a hot day!"
And we now know that that was probably the worst weather Stockholm had that entire month. Were those the worst conditions you had ever run under? Was that your worst race? What was the worst thing that ever happened to you in a race?
A. It was my first time to experience extreme conditions in one race. The day started nice and there was no reason to believe that the beautiful weather of the days prior to the marathon wouldn’t extend to race day. Unfortunately, an hour into the race, it started to drizzle and that quickly became rain and wind. It was tough because my feet were wet from the rain and, running through puddles, I developed huge blisters which made the run really painful. The cold was biting and I was shivering. I think it really saps your energy. My last 21k was so much slower than the first half as the conditions became brutal.
In the past, it was the heat that was tough, including the funky odors of some runners. I thought Paris would be nice and cool as it’s held during spring. Unfortunately, it was the hottest day of the year during the marathon. There were no electrolyte drinks on the course so cramping became an issue. There was wine though.
Q. Is there a point in every marathon when you regret joining the race? When you want to smack yourself and scream, "Why am I doing this to myself?! I could be having a cocktail!" Especially when you've done it before and don't really have anything to prove. Around when would you say this happens? An hour into the race? Two hours? When did it happen during the Stockholm Marathon?
A. Hahaha! You’re reading my mind! All those thoughts cross my head while on the course. It usually hits me after the halfway point. You’re like, “Gotta do this all over again?! [curses]” I always believe that the last half is five times harder than the first 21k.
At Stockholm, it hit me after the first loop around the city. The course brings you to a park with a castle and a forest. I saw a beeline of runners running towards a distance that seemed to never end. My heart sank. I knew that this part wouldn't be my happy sightseeing route, but a grind. That was 8k of windy, rainy, trail-like conditions. In hindsight, it was actually pretty.
Q. What keeps you going?
Goals. If I didn’t have a marathon or triathlon to train for, I’d be a couch potato and probably be very fat.
Friends. Training with friends towards a single or similar goal is the best part of the journey. Travelling together to the starting line, then crossing the finish line with each other’s war stories is precious.
Q. But what keeps you going on with the race even after you hear that voice that tells you to quit?
A. A good training program for a marathon usually begins four months before actual race day. It's a very strenuous program that includes several long runs with distances of 20 to 32 km. Not exactly the kind of Sunday early morning activity normal people dream of. That, of course, means giving up on a whole lot of Saturday night events.
Once you're done with the training, damn if I'm going to quit and walk away from the bragging rights of being a finisher! Not unless I get debilitating cramps or some stomach bug that locks my knees permanently in place, I will walk or crawl to the finish line!
But, yes, the thought of quitting crosses your mind very, very often.
There's actually a scientific explanation for it. Goes with the fight or flight instinct and it's controlled by the frontal lobe of your brain. Once we experience pain or an extended amount of pain, the brain's defenses will force you to quit and stop the source of the pain. It's willpower and familiarity of the experience through training that makes you go on to the finish line.
Q. And what keeps you coming back?
A. Every time I’m running, I’m like, “This is the last time ever!” Every time I cross the finish line and the wave of exhilaration from the accomplishment hits me, I’m thinking, “Where’s the next one?” For me, it’s never about the records. I accept that I’m getting older and my best days are probably behind me now. I love seeing places by running through it. It’s like the city is revealing its little secrets to those who work hard for it.
Q. It never occurred to me that runners could, so to speak, stop and smell the roses. If that were me - and this is one of the ten billion and one reasons why I would never run a marathon - I would be focused on the ground in front of me, hoping to god I don't trip. Scenery? What scenery?
I did notice that you ran without any music, but that others did. Isn't it better to run with music? I find that it distracts me from the pain.
A. I always run with music and I choose my play list carefully. Unfortunately, the rain and sweat drowned my iPod shuffle midway through the marathon. It’s the fifth one I killed.
What's yours?
Q. Tell us what it was like out there. What was going on in your head? What demons were lurking about?
A. It was very tough for me. Running alone, without friends, made my personal demons run wild! I tried to quit several times. My most serious attempt was on km. 30, when I saw Charlie [Leana's husband] and Pearl [her high school friend who now lives in Stockholm]. I couldn’t bear the pain from my blisters and there were 12k still to go. Problem was that it was so cold. I was soaked and without a jacket. The Metro was quite far and, since the city was closed to transportation, there were no taxis. The only option was to continue running to the finish line, where my jacket was waiting for me.
Q. When I finally saw you and called out your name on the street, I noticed how instantly relieved you looked. I was actually surprised that you stopped for a chat. If that were me, I'd just want to finish because, if I stopped, I might just lie down and die. After that, I paid more attention to individual runners and found them to be very responsive. How important are the spectators in an endurance race like this?
A. Seeing you was like seeing an angel. My spirit was probably at its lowest and to hear my name called in a familiar Pinoy accent was Godsend! I am truly grateful that you were there. It was that last push that I needed to get home.
As for spectators, yes, they are important. They contribute a lot to the ambiance of a race. However, there’s nothing like seeing friends and people you love on the sidelines, cheering you on.
I thought that I had surely missed her and that she had gone by when I wasn't looking or paying attention. And then, as I peered over my beer glass, there she was, almost past us. I jumped up, nearly knocking over the table, and ran after her. When I called out her name, she looked dazed and ran towards me. I held her hand and encouraged her to keep running. I tried to run a little with her, but she insisted on stopping. She cussed in Tagalog and told me that she was in a lot of pain and had blisters everywhere. But, like the trooper that she is, she put on a bright smile when I told her that I had to take photos. And then she went on and finished the race.
Q. Tell us what happens at the end of the race. What it's like to finish. And please go into detail about the physical aftermath, including how long it takes to recover. Is there still a runner's high after 42 km? Do you have renewed energy to party or are you completely wiped out? I see that there were massages available after the run. Did you really get a Swedish massage in Sweden?
A. Oh, yeah! Party on after the race! It’s super nice to have a cold beer after the race.
I ended up having lots of rosé and whatever else until midnight. It’s the delayed onset muscle ache that’s the bitch. I was walking like an old lady for days after. You know how that feels after a crazy CrossFit workout!
Q. So when's the next race? How do you choose which marathons to join? Which factors do you consider?
A. Next race? I told Charlie that Stockholm would be the last one. However… I still have London, Tokyo, and New York on my bucket list. My only factor is that it has to be a city I like. One that has special memories for me.
Q. I know that you play golf. What else do you do to keep fit? Do you follow any special diets?
I work out to be “race ready” for any triathlon competition. That means: Two times a week of weight/core training. Three times a week of running, consisting of intervals, tempos/hills, and a long distance run. And biking twice a week. Some days will be a brick where you combine a bike workout with a run. I take a rest day once a week.
My diet is pretty textbook healthy. I have consulted nutritionists in the past and their prescriptions are somewhat ingrained in my eating routine. It’s the alcohol I can’t keep away from. I need my “happy hour”!
Q. Lastly, how does one train for a marathon and what advice could you give to someone aspiring to run one day? What advice do you have for someone running their first marathon?
A. Anyone can run. To be able to run a marathon from scratch, I would say start with short distances first - three or five kilometers, which you do by running and walking. No need to go fast. More importantly, establish a routine and stick to it. Your body will need to get used to the increased activity so make sure to cross train to avoid injury.
I believe that getting to the starting line is far more important than finishing it. It takes a lot of sacrifice and discipline to be on that path.