"on a shoestring"

This back-to-back weekend has been a roller-coaster ride for most ultramarathon runners in the Philippines. Last week, I was wide awake in the wee hours of the morning just to see updates from Twitter and Facebook regarding the developments of the longest race so far in the Philppines- the Bataan Death March 160 kilometer.

Tomorrow will be a different story as 102K warriors will test their strength physically and mentally for a grueling BDM 102K.

This got me into researching of what really happened during the "real" Bataan Death March 7 decades ago.

Photo credit: APHistory

Before…

The picture above vividly describes the brutality that both Filipino and American POW soldiers experienced in the hands of the Japanese soldiers. I can’t just imagine the heavy boots treading the heat for 3 long days, sickness and fatigue overcame the weak and the lagging behinds are put to death by the bayonets. I can’t imagine the stench of blood and pus from wounds of the more than 70,000 marchers. Maybe at the  back of their minds, they constantly say, "Are we there yet?"

If one is seen to stop to fill his canteen, that would be death either by bayonet or a gunshot. According to the stories of veterans, some would intentionally soak their boots into the ditches along the way so as to wet their socks, this would serve as their hydration for the rest of the march. This is what we historically know as the BATAAN DEATH MARCH, happened the 9th of April, 1942. About 18,000 soldiers died of either fatigue, dehydration, starvation or murder making it one of the most grueling events in the history of wars.

Fast forward…

Almost seven decades after this toilsome march, Sir Jovie aka Bald Runner is staging the Bataan Death March 102 in honor of the soldiers that protected our country from foreign rule. This makes me salute the new warriors, the heroes of today.

The soldiers are wearing heavy boots before, the warriors are wearing their tested running shoes today.

The soldiers are dehydrated and denied of food, the warriors today have their own support crew, complete with hydration and food requirements.

The soldiers are wearing heavy pants, long-sleeved shirts, the warriors today are given the option to wear dri-fit shirts and caps/visor that will protect them form heat.

The soldiers who stopped or are seen lagging behind are murdered, the warriors who stops are given water or linament or massage for tired muscles.

I can enumerate a lot more to encourage the ultrarunners tomorrow. This is me hoping and praying for everyone’s safety, may you run your race well, run smart, run with your heart and come back with those 2 markers on hand. Stick to the plan, warriors! My salute to everyone of you on the starting line and at the finish line!

Photo credit: Dennis of RunningPinoy

Let me end this with a couple of quotes from Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man…

“Don’t run with your legs. Run with your heart.”

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. "