My 6th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Siargao Marathon 2025

Filipino Marathon Slow Runner Solo Joiner 04-May-2025 Sunday in Siargao Island, Philippines

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

This Fun Run served as my Sixth FULL-MARATHON 42.2KM as a Solo Joiner, following the Clark Animo Marathon last Mar. 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.

This main adventure is part of my 8 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Siargao (Marathon, Chill Walk).

Race Name: SIARGAO MARATHON 2025     Distance Joined: FULL MARATHON (42.2KM)

Registration / Inclusion: PHP 2,830 (early bird) / singlet, finisher medal/shirt, race bib

Location: GEN. LUNA ROUTE (return loop)     Cut-off Time: 04-May-2025 Sun 0100H-0900H (8 hours)

Finished: YES               Time: 06:11:44               Pace: 08:47     

New PR: NO               Elevation Gain: 116m               Rank: 74.77% (246th of 329)

Route difficulty: Average return route, good for beginners. Using headlamp is important as some areas of the route is pitch black. 

Remarks (My rating: 4 of 5 stars): (1) Full Marathon return route is awesome; from Kanaloa passing through General Luna and Baranggays Catangnan up to Corazon. (2) Organized, started on time. Lots of refreshments in the water stops. Only the post-race meal not received (3) 42km Singlet/Finisher shirt design is good. (4) Registration fee includes sunglasses and collapsible cup

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? No (expensive cost of local tourist living)

My 6th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Siargao Marathon 2025

8 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Siargao (Marathon, Chill Walk)

Chill Summer Adventure in Siargao Island of Surigao del Norte, Philippines Apr 29 to May 07, 2025

My First Visit to Siargao Island Budget Solo Trip (2012)

This trip served as my 2nd visit to the famous island of Mindanao Archipelago. Also, the main reason why I came back is because of my 6th Full Marathon Solo Joiner Adventure.

Siargao Island is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte, northeastern Mindanao. It is well known as "the surfing capital of the Philippines" with a reputation among surfers within the Philippines and the International scene. Several coral reefs, offshore islands, and sand bars are also found. It contains the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, at Del Carmen town. Siargao is a beautiful island with nice beaches and clear blue waters. It`s one of the most popular destinations for filipinos and foreigner tourist. The island is well known for its surf spots, especially Cloud 9 where there`s a big international surf contest every year, but besides that, you can kite surf, in a particular period of the year like December to March, or wakeboarding , island hopping, and many other activities. Siargao is known also for its party atmosphere, friendly people, good music even if it has expensive restaurants and accommodations.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Siargao

8 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Siargao (Marathon, Chill Walk)

Ultramarathon Trail (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; Altra 50 Bicol 2025

Filipino Ultra Trail Slow Runner Solo Joiner April 13, 2025 Camarinus Sur, Philippines

Ultramarathon Trail (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; VJ100UTC Baguio 2024

This Fun Run served as my Fourth Trail Run and Third ULTRAMARATHON (50KM) as a Solo Joiner, following the Luneta to Tagaytay Ultramarathon (60KM) last Mar. 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: ALTRA BICOL 50 2025     Distance Joined: ULTRA MARATHON TRAIL (50KM)

Registration / Inclusion: PHP 3,040 (early bird) / Race bib, Event Shirt, Finisher's Medal, Post Race Meal

Location: PANICUASON, NAGA CITY (one-loop)     Cut-off Time: 13-Apr-2025 Sun 0200H-2000H (18 hours)

Finished: NO               Time: 09:05:24 (DNF)               Pace: DNF          ITRA: 3 points          UTMB: XXX 

New PR: N/A               Elevation Gain: 3,158m               Rank: DNF 

Qualification: (1) Must be at least 18 years old on race day. (2) Must have completed a 42 Km or higher distance road or trail run between January 2024 and March 2025. (3) Must be physically fit and in good health supported by a medical certificate with a clearly stated “fit to run” not later than six (6) months before the event.

Route difficulty: Difficult one-loop route, not good for beginners. Lots of lost route markers on the 1st 37km, as such, lots of DNFs also. The last 10km final push to Mt. Isarog is brutal, very high total elevation gain of around 1,400m for just 5km distance from base to summit. 

Remarks (My rating: 1 of 5 stars): (1) Lots of lost route markers on the 1st 37km, as such, lots of DNF runners also. (2) Somehow organized, started on time. Minimal refreshments in the water stops. (3) Event shirt and finisher medal design is ok. (4) Food meal after race has no plate, bring you own. (5) decided to DNF due to the burdening inner knee pain, challenging route direction and scorching weather

If given the chance, do I like to join this race again? No (enough for the experience)

Ultramarathon Trail (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; Altra 50 Bicol 2025

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

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

Filipino Marathon Slow Runner Solo Joiner 01-Feb-2025 Saturday in Muntinlupa City, Philippines

My 3rd Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Cebu Marathon 2025

"Never limit where running can take you. I mean that geographically, spiritually, and of course, physically."- Bart Yasso, the "mayor of running"

This Fun Run served as my Fourth FULL-MARATHON 42.2KM as a Solo Joiner and a Post-Birthday adventure, following the Cebu Marathon last Jan. 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.

7-Eleven Run Series is an annual run event held by 7-Eleven Philippines, started in 2015, and takes place in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I think this Fun run with Marathon route has the cheapest registration fee ever for a local marathon though the route is terrible.

 

I've been a Long-distance Fun Run Solo Joiner since Apr. 2024, from 10km joining once, to Half-Marathon joining 4x then 32km once. My main triggering factors to join were the FINISHER SHIRT (show-off entitlement shirt) and the running route location. I was so bored I had nothing to do and no regular hobby (so somehow it was an impulsive, all-of-a-sudden decision). My very first Full Marathon was MANILA MARATHON last Oct. 2024. Followed by Asics Rock N' Roll Manila last Nov. 2024. 

Race Name: 7-ELEVEN RUN SERIES 2025     Distance Joined: FULL MARATHON (42.2KM)

Registration / Inclusion: PHP 1,600 (early bird) / singlet, finisher medal/shirt, race bib

Location: FILINVEST ROUTE (4 loops)     Cut-off Time: 01-Feb-2025 Sat 2300H-0600H (7 hours)

Finished: YES               Time: 06:15:56 (SUB6:30)               Pace: 08:55     

New PR: NO               Elevation Gain: 241m               Rank: 79.52% (396th of 498)

Route difficulty: Four repeated loops is not good/boring for a full marathon. Average route, good for beginners. This race is just for experience only because 7-Eleven run series is known to have a repeated loops for their full marathon route though the cheapest registration fee is enticing.

Remarks (My rating: 1 of 5 stars): (1) Full Marathon route is bad, creating 4 loops is boring. (2) Not so organized but started on time. Lots of refreshments in the water stops. (3) Singlet/Finisher shirt/medal is terrible (dugyot ng quality at design). Shirt size is not even accurate. (4) The cheapest Registration fee for a local Marathon, given item #3, and lots of sponsors that's why this is called a "Loot Run" (5) Not a single portalet is available on any part of the route to think it is repeated 4 times and there's a lot of runners (from 711m participants to Marathoners)

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? Definitely No (repeated loops/finisher kit is horrible)

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