Running Davao: The Araw Ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon

I am breaking with tradition here. The last marathon I blogged about was number 27, and here I am writing about number 30. But some things can't be postponed. Like the 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebration culminating this week in this premier city of 1.5 million in Mindanao- the city of Davao. Numbers 28 and 29 can, therefore, wait.

I have been to Davao City dozens of times before so I was hardly a visitor this time. I also speak the local dialect Cebuano fluently, not that it is necessary in Davao's cosmopolitan and multi-dialect environment, so I can blend with the locals rather easily. For those who have never been to this city, I dare say it is a must-visit, a must-see for Life is in Davao.

There are many reasons to enjoy Davao aside from the local delicacies such as kinilaw and sinuglaw (a mix of sashimi and broiled pork laced with chili and calamansi) and the spicy vegie Dabaw Express. Among other attractions, the city is home to the Philippine eagle, host to the Kadayawan Festival, and is perhaps the most peaceful in the country.

On this visit, however, I was to run my very first marathon in Davao- the Phoenix Marathon- which, if my memory serves me right, was perhaps one of the first full marathons (excepting ultras) ever to be held in Mindanao. Sponsored by Phoenix Petroleum Foundation, the race was part of the month-long Araw ng Dabaw Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

There were several race events scheduled- a 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, and a 0.5K. About 3,000 runners took part in the different race categories, mostly in the shorter distances. With endurance running still to catch up big-time in the city and in Mindanao island, less than 200 runners lined up for the full marathon whose gun start was at 0400.

The 42K race route started and finished at the city center's Roxas Avenue and took the runners to well-populated districts of the city and to the surrounding countryside. Runners came from various cities of Mindanao, notably Tagum, Gen. Santos, and Cagayan de Oro. But some flew in from Luzon and the Visayas.

For most of the race, the 42K runners were very well spread out and had the roads for the taking. Some ran solo, others with fellow members of running clubs or office-sponsored teams. Even local government units such as Compostela Valley sent out running delegations. The running and fitness bug indeed had spread across the 7,100 islands.

At around the 17K mark, I encountered the lead runners already headed the other way. The men's race would later be won by Arnold Unabia, with a gun time of 2:43:15, followed by Junel Languido who was only five seconds behind. For their heroic efforts, they received 30K and 15K Ph Pesos. Winners of the shorter races also received cash prizes.

Truth to tell, I was not well-trained for this race, just coming back from a tendon injury and only 14 days after running a 50K ultramarathon in big Texas USA. I spent more time walking than I normally would, content with the idea that a finish would be achievement enough. So I was pleased to hit the 22K turnaround point in a little over 2:30.

The return run was mostly downhill as it was earlier uphill. And there was a bonus- a clear, early morning view of Mt. Apo that, at 2,954 meters or 9692 feet, is the tallest mountain in the Philippines. The volcanic crater-adorned peak, often a mountaineer's favorite climbing target, at 40K, is just less than a full marathon distance away.

The fact that Davao City is the 'Fruit Basket of the Philippines' was clearly evident during the run- with mini-plantations of banana along the way. Davao city is one of the world's major producers and exporters of mangoes, pomelos, papayas, and mangosteens. For exotic fruit lovers, the city's supply of durian appear limitless.

For race support and logistics, there were hydration stations offering water and native bananas set up at almost every 2K. As the temperature soared into the mid-30s that morning, the ice water-soaked sponges at aid stations were delightful coolants. Marshals and policemen also guided runners at key intersections.

But the last 6K involved negotiating the now-congested roads of the city. As there were less than 200 runners, it would have been unreasonable to demand special treatment by way of dedicated running lanes and frequent marshals or signs. This turned out to be costly for me- I missed a turn and ran way beyond the required 42.2K!

Nonetheless, overall, the race organizer Vantage Sports Promotions, certainly did a fairly good job in managing the race with no untoward incidents reported. More than the runners, students from five Davao elementary schools were the final event beneficiaries as race proceeds were to be used to purchase badly needed books for their schools.

While not my fastest, the 42K was a landmark run just the same. After all, this was my 30th unique marathon/ultramarathon in 19 different countries/US states/ Canadian or Australian provinces. Not bad for an affair with long-distance running that began less than two years ago. More importantly, this was my 10th unique marathon in a 10th different Philippine city. Now I can say I have ran Davao and, by extension, Mindanao. For what good would it be if one ran around the world but never did so in one's own country?

Happy 75th Araw ng Dabaw!