MANILA, Philippines - Today is race day! I?m half a world away running in the ING New York Marathon, after over a year of training and absorbing running tips from so many helpful fellow athletes.

Over 40,000 runners are entered in this 39th edition of one of the most prominent marathons in the world, with about 20 of us flying our country?s colors. Among the Pinoys are my cousins, the Carpo sisters Leica, Amanda, newlywed Chesca Dionisio and Margaret Salazar, and the Rufino siblings, Jon-jon, Vicente and Carissa Mijares-Chandler.

Our contingent also includes Sen. Pia Cayetano, my yoga buddy Rosan Cruz, Jay-jay and Ana de Ocampo, Bea Locsin, Gem Padilla and Leah Caringal. They are just a fraction of the multitude of friends that have come with loads of encouragement and prayers for divine intervention.

In preparation for this 42-km race, I had to complete several long runs. I finished the Manila Half Marathon in just over two hours and finished the 30K run leg of the ITU Asian O3 Triathlon as well.

The O3, held in Subic Bay just last August, was a family-bonding event as well. Since a triathlon consists of swim, bike and run legs, I enlisted my husband, Dennis, to do the 4K swim and his brother Robin, to do the 120K bike.

Robin is an exceptional biker. Early on, we knew he would have no issues completing his leg. He did give us a scare when, the weekend before the race, he ran into a jeep while training in Tagaytay and bruised his ribs. He is a plucky brother, though, and the mishap didn?t deter him. He still finished his bike leg in great time.

Support group

Dennis had to start training for long-distance swimming a month before the O3, saddled with Robin?s jibe that if he didn?t finish the swim leg, we wouldn?t even be able to start ours.

Luckily, he plays underwater hockey regularly and takes to water like fish. His underwater hockey group has been playing for almost three decades and is the defending champion of the Asian Underwater Hockey Championships, which will be held in Manila this November.

Their third brother, David, was there for us as well. With all long-distance races, a support group is key to finishing. Dave?s presence, along with Robin?s wife, Mona, and all our kids were super in helping us do well.

I?d also like to acknowledge Erick Olonan of Subic Holiday Villas, who sponsored our rooms for the O3. Erick also completed the O3, so he is a fellow athlete. Subic Holiday Villas just opened up a PAGCOR e-Games Café, so if you?re in Subic and looking for some entertainment, check them out.

As it turned out, Team Valdes was unstoppable! We finished in third place among the relay teams, truly one for our family highlight reel. Of course, we recognize that our podium finish was only among five teams, but hey, we?ll take any medal! Many thanks to TRAP, the event organizers and also the sponsors of Team Valdes!

Unbeatable

The first-place PowerAde Team was unbeatable. They had the Philippine Long Distance swimming champion, followed by a Tour of Luzon biker and finally a champion marathoner.

Their total time of 6:05 was so fast that they caught up with the overall winner, Mathieu O?Halloran, who was flagged off 30 minutes ahead of the relay and finished all on his own in 6:36.

The second-place team was an all-male group from Ocean Adventure, the Subic water park that showcases dolphins and false killer whales. Completing the relay teams were the Cagayan de Oro and Happy Feet Teams. Although we were all competitors, we felt the camaraderie that all athletic events bring out among the entrants.

In all, we finished the O3 Triathlon in an official time of nine hours and eight minutes, 1:21 in the swim leg, 4:15 in the bike and 3:31 for the run. We were ecstatic! Win or lose, we all had loads of fun.

Although the run was flat compared to the tough and hilly bike leg, I was getting a bit tired around the 20K mark. Thankfully, it was a cloudy day, which helped the runners because it would have been potentially too hot and grueling.

In long-distance running, it is beneficial to have a pacer to get you into a steady rhythm. Luckily, for both the Manila Half Marathon and the O3, I had ?pacers? who ran alongside me while completing their own races.

For the O3, Australian Paul Thompson happened to be finishing his full triathlon when I was just beginning my run. These triathletes are not only made of muscles and steel but of great heart as well, as he offered to pace with me for much of the distance. Thanks to Paul, I finished strong, while he himself placed third in his age group.

Sports photography

Exceptional photographer Jun de Leon wanted to try sports photography, so he stationed a photo booth at the finish line and officially covered the first-ever O3 Long Distance Triathlon in Asia. With a team composed of several photographers, including Leo Castillo and Jed Santos, they did a long, grueling, 14-hour shoot that they said was all worth it. You can see more of Leo Castillo?s O3 photos on his Multiply website, http://leocast.multiply.com.

At the finish, Sen. Pia Cayetano, my running coach Ani de Leon, who finished second overall among all the women entrants, and I all posed for a Charlie?s Angels photo for Jun.

If there is one person I have to thank for my running physique, it?s my coach, Ani, the first registered Filipino man or woman to enter the Kona Ironman triathlon, the most prestigious Ironman race ever. Ani just completed Kona this October 11th.

As she crossed the finish line, carrying the Philippine flag, Ani was in tears of joy after completing the tough race in just 12 hours! Hawaiian Air sponsored her trip and Adidas clad her feet, and a whole lot of prayers, love and support came from the entire Pinoy tri community, who were with her in spirit every step of the way.

Knowing that Ani completed a full, 42K marathon after swimming 3.8K and biking 180K, I feel that I want to make her, my friends and my whole family proud by finishing this 42K New York Marathon today. And if you?re reading this, say a little prayer for me!

Now, the real challenge is to figure out how to run with a wig, feathers and false eyelashes!

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph