My 5th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Clark Animo Marathon 2025

Filipino Marathon Slow Runner Solo Joiner 09-Mar-2025 Sunday in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines

My 4th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; 7-Eleven Marathon 2025

This Fun Run served as my fifth FULL-MARATHON 42.2KM as a Solo Joiner, following the 7-Eleven Run last Feb. 2025, which started my running enthusiasm last Apr. 2024. My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

TCS Clark Animo International Marathon (TCS-CAIM) is an annual non-profit running event held in Clark Pampanga, Philippines since 2009 (started as Clark Animo Fun Run). It features a PR-friendly WORLD ATHLETICS® certified (formerly IAAF-AIMS) 42.195km full marathon traversing through the heart of the freeport zone. The accredited TCS-CAIM marathon means your recorded time will be recognized by other prestigious WORLD ATHLETICS (WA) marathon around the globe having passed the rigorous process of accurate course measurement undertaken by WORLD ATHLETICS (i.e. TCS-NYC marathon, TCS-LONDON marathon, BERLIN marathon and others).

Race Name: TCS CLARK ANIMO INT'L MARATHON 2025     Distance Joined: FULL MARATHON (42.2KM)

Registration / Inclusion: PHP 2,700 (early bird) / singlet, finisher medal/shirt, loot bag, shipment fee

Location: CLARK FREEPORT ZONE ROUTE two loops)     Cut-off Time: 09-Mar-2025 Sun 0230H-0930H (7 hours)

Finished: YES               Time: 05:50:11 (SUB6)               Pace: 08:18     

New PR: NO               Elevation Gain: 211m               Rank: 81.02% (363rd of 448)

Route difficulty: Full Marathon route with two loos and high total elevation gain of 241m (obviously a not PR-friendly route). Started/Finished in Clark Global City passing through Roxas Highway, Creek's Road, 

Remarks (My rating: 2 of 5 stars): (1) Full Marathon route with two loops and high total elevation gain of 211m. (2) Somehow organized, started on time. Lots of refreshments in the water stops. (3) 42km Event/Finisher shirt design is somehow good. Medal design is awesome. (4) 2:30am was a bad start time as the last hours dropped to scorching sun exposure (5) 7 hours cut-off time is short with 2-loops high elevation gain route.

If given the chance, do I like to join this race again? No (repeated loop with high elevation gain)

My 5th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Clark Animo Marathon 2025

My 2nd Ultramarathon (60KM) Solo Joiner; Luneta to Tagaytay 2025

Filipino Ultra Marathon Solo Joiner 01-Mar-2025 Sunday in Rizal Park, Philippines

My 1st Ultramarathon (50KM) Solo Joiner; Pampanga to Bulacan 2025

"I’ve learned that it’s what you do with the miles, rather than how many you’ve run' - Rod DeHaven, Track & Field Coach

This Fun Run served as my Second ULTRAMARATHON (60KM) as a Solo Joiner and the longest run distance I have, following the Pampanga to Bulacan Ultramarathon (50KM) last Jan. 2025. My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

Race Name: LUNETA TO TAGAYTAY ULTRA 2025     Distance Joined: ULTRAMARATHON (60KM)

Registration / Inclusion: PHP 2,500 / Bib w/o timing chip, Finisher's Medal/Shirt/trophy, post race meal

Location: LUNETA TO TAGAYTAY ROUTE     Cut-off Time: 01-Mar-2025 Sat 2300H-1300H (14 hours)

Finished: YES               Time: 13:21:03               Pace: 13:00           

New PR: YES               Elevation Gain: 834m               Rank: last finishers 

Route difficulty: Point to point route was provided starting from Kilometer Zero, Rizal Park, Manila, passing through Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang, and then ends in People's Park, Tagaytay. Total distance of more than 63 kilometers with a continuously ascending route (834m total altitude gain) which is challenging for Ultramarathon beginners. 

This race has a distance of around 64km and has only 4 aid stations every 10km on the first 40km only. The initial plan was to have AS every 5km after 40km, but no AS provided until the finish line. With very hot and humid weather, it is very disappointing/frustrating especially no finisher medal received for us last finishers slow runners to think we paid for it and I'm one of those who availed the early bird promo. The Organizer didn't care at all, there's NO official start/finish time recorded and NO list of official finishers. The excitement of finishing my longest distance faded away on the bare minimum expectation I have as a Slow Runner. 

Remarks (My rating: 0 of 5 stars): (1) Not beginner-friendly point-to-point route with gradually increasing high elevation gain. (2) NO FINISHER MEDAL RECEIVED to think that we paid for it for slow runners last finishers (3) Not organized, parang nagpatakbo lang ng mga tambay sa kanto (one-hour delayed start time, magulo ang start race area, no Marshals/markers on the route, magulo din ang finish race area, all last finishers didn't have the finisher medal) (4) no official start/finish time recorded, as in just run within cut-off time (Organizer told whatever recorded on my wrist watch) and no official list of finishers also (5) Very minimal aid station, every 10km of 1st 40km route only to think that the last hours was continuously ascending under scorching weather (RD posted plan was AS on every 5km after 40km) 

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? No (not beginner-friendly, not organized)

My 2nd Ultramarathon (60KM) Solo Joiner; Luneta to Tagaytay 2025