Iloilo Marathon 2025: My Unspeakable (Tailpiece)

 

When a joke becomes a reality ...

it would surely put you in a trance. 

With Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey P.  Ganzon 

Readers, never in my wildest dreams that I'd be stepping onto the podium as a marathoner. 

With this record, I couldn't believe that I still earned a spot for my age category 50 and above. 

Hence, despite its areas for improvement, Iloilo Marathon 2025 is my unspeakable…my unimaginable. 

This being said, let me key in all the commendable aspects of this event.

They are as follows:

*Enough supply of hydration and food provisions
        
Without my water jug I didn’t worry that I'd be dehydrated. The hydration and food aid stations were strategically located. 

*Framed witty words of encouragement

Positioned at the middle of the Diversion Road, these provided me a reason to pause and ponder. 

*Unique and culture-laden finisher medal
         
It’s my first time to own a finisher medal with a rotating metal image of a runner. Also, the medal design has full of cultural significance which Ilonggos take pride in. 

*Good quality and beautiful design of event and finisher shirts 

I like their design and paper-like weight cloth material. Since I own one, I assume it's similar to the Salt + Fin shirt lycra fabric. 

*Event sticker as bonus souvenir

So far, this is the first marathon which gave out a surprise cute entitlement. 
       
*Accommodating and helpful marshals

I have been a poor navigator. Minus the deployed marshals, I would have lost my way. They were there to assist us cheerfully. Request to be photographed was granted in a jiffy.

Based on my personal observation and opinion the following are the points to work on:

*Run route planning 

I already expressed my sentiments about the two loops in the major narrative of this Iloilo running odyssey. Since this kind of landmark event entails long-range planning, I wonder why the posting of the different routes was very close to the marathon day despite the Messenger administrator's statement on September 18, 2024 that they would be posting their race route SOON.

I believe it's my first time to encounter an inordinately delayed posting of course maps. In addition, I'm having this articulation because of the duplicated loop. If the organizer disclosed it earlier, probably I would have second thoughts about registering. You see, runners have different techniques of motivating themselves while on the road. Our senses are incessantly at work. Ergo, what we see along our way could impact our performance. 

*Absence of distance markers

I was actually looking for markers. These could have been helpful prompts as regards the mileage which a runner had covered and would still cover. Comparing the displayed time on my watch with the official race result made me doubt the accuracy of the measured distance. Or perhaps, my timepiece was unreliable and had to be upgraded. Hahahaha. 

*Other logistic issue 

I mentioned in the overture that I saw new visually appealing backdrops when I returned to Shops at Aria the day after I claimed my race kit. If I did not revisit it, I wouldn't have any idea that they existed. This was the only canvas that was available at the center on January 17, Friday. 

Apologies, but I am not nitpicking if I'd remark about the appearance of the white frame. Madumi po, di ba? Was this haphazardly constructed since the mounted backdrops were not yet available? So those who claimed their race kits on January 16-17 made do of this. I had my photo here, but decided not to include it in my article. I guess this speaks volume. Remember, the marathon carries Mayor Jerry Treñas's name which means the best standard of service and performance must be carried out. 

For clarification, I critique not to look down on people or demoralize them but rather to help, unsolicited it may be, in endeavoring to improve. We runners invest a lot into our passion because this is where we find our fulfillment and joy. Thus, when we join a local or international marathon, we have our high hopes.  

Iloilo Marathon 2025 might have not delivered on all my expectations; however, this event had given me an experience which I would live to tell even beyond the finish line. 

Maayo gid nga salamat! 

Dios Mabalos!