Run for a Hero: Condura Skyway Marathon 2015

Started in the year 2008, Condura Skyway Marathon has been a much awaited event for runners. For the past years the run was for the protection of marine life however this year the run is for the Hero Foundation. Since 1988, Hero Foundation has been sending children of fallen soldiers to school. The event has become even timelier because of the death of the 44 SAF soldiers who have fallen on Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The registration for the run was done online. There are two ways to register – first is through credit card via Pay Pal and second is through prepaid card which can be bought from participating Asics branches. The runner’s shirt was also released through Asics.

The starting line of the race is at the Skyway Alabang Tunnel along Alabang-Zapote Road. Since there are a lot of runners and to avoid congestion on the Skyway, each run event was divided into waves. The gun start for the 42K event was at 12AM, for 21K it was at 3:30AM for 10K it was 5AM and for 6K it was at 6:30AM. At around 11PM of January 31, the traffic was so terrible. I guess most people didn’t know that they Skyway will be closed for the event.

A moment of silence was given in honor of the 44 fallen SAF soldiers. There are soldiers lined up at the end of the tunnel holding the pictures of the 44 SAF soldiers. Runners are asked to give a salute while passing by the soldiers.

While running on the Skyway, I cannot help but notice dead animals on the road. I saw two dead cats and two dead birds!

The first hydration was at 3km unlike what they had said in their announcement that it will be at 2km. The run was accompanied by cold wind which somehow can affect the breathing.

At the end of the race, runners are cheered by the people.