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Interview: Francis Randy Hortelano, Ultramarathon runner, part 1 of 2

Francis at KM00 for BDM102

FitandRun (FaR): Can you give a short background of yourself?

Francis Randy Hortaleza (FRH): I am a courageous soul who loves to learn by experimenting through the outdoors, like traveling and lately running. I may not be the fastest learner but good enough to unwillingly merit monikers from people who care and care less: Flash, Northstar, Dalai, Bro and FR. I can be a meticulous planner but likewise surrender to fate when things don’t materialize as I wanted.  That would explain why I can also be a sign person. A newbie mountaineer but running took a front stage after my induction with AMCI (FaR: AMCI Mountaineering Club, Inc).

By the way, more than anything else, I am more remembered by people with my plant-based food and baons wherever I go. They can have amnesia of everything about me but never what’s on my plate.

How can you run with such? Where do you get your protein? Ha? Are you afraid of getting hungry, why all the food in your bag? I’d like you to meet, hmmm….uhmmmm… my colleague who only eats fruits and veggies.

There you go.

FaR: How is it being a vegetarian runner? Does being one make a difference? Advantages and limitations?

FRH: I may not be in the pink of health all the time and my endurance level may not be consistently high, even then, my fitness level could have been worse if I am not a lacto-vegetarian for almost two decades now. To some, bringing baon is a monstrous hassle. Once it becomes natural though, no big deal at all. I believe that each individual is accountable to their health and happiness. I feel fit and happy with this meal. I will only quit otherwise. I am comfortable with what I eat and equally comfortable with others’ choices. Since as a kid, respect has been emphasized by my elders. If it can’t really be avoided, the dining table must not be a battleground between the consumers of veggies and the other living species.

What I only wish to demystify is the notion that veggie runners can’t do hard-core activities such as the BDM, mountaineering or other strenous endevors. I am no elephant, carabao or horse. Our common denominator is not speed, patience or endurance. It is just in eating leaves.

FaR: Have you always been active? Why running? Can you give a brief background of your running history?

FRH: Hahah. Nice question. The scars all over my body are loud proof of how active I am from mountain climbing, spelunking, biking, skating, among others. Include my visits to sports doctors and subsequent therapy sessions!

Why running? I had been passionately playing some racquet sports but when I had rotator cuff tendinities, my range of motion was limited. I had therapy for some time but never got back to my best shots. I ended up feeling frustrated and wasn’t enjoying my games. So I took it as a sign to move to another sport, mountaineering!  I passed by a mountaineering shop one day and saw an open-climb poster. I got curious, asked and then joined. That climb got me bruises but I vowed to properly prepare for future treks.

I enrolled in a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) that required trainees to pass a 15-KM run in two hours (or 8 minutes per KM). That was  over 8 months ago and did my first kilometer at Ultra. I was such a loser and finished it at around 14 minutes. But our training program was designed in such a way that even non-runners can eventually make it. In my batch, all of us  eventually passed the 15-KM test.

FaR: Does running complement being a mountaineer or the other way around?

FRH: Oh yes, a lot! Running provides the endurance that mountaineers need and the other way around. Without an enduring spirit, one will only have endless struggle along running courses and mountain trails.

FaR: Why did you join the BDM102 Ultramarthon?

FRH: After the BDM, a non-runner friend cornered me and whispered,

I heard that you ran 102 KMs. I am your friend. Do you have any problem? Why are you committing suicide?

My friend was so concerned and I knew it wasn’t a joking remark. I quipped,

there are battles that only I could figure out. BDM is one of them.

And assured that I am mentally sane. When we parted, I had the best laugh of my life.

Running the BDM to the uninitiated is just too terrifying. Mind blowing. Incomprehensible. Why? Why not? It can be done by sane humans. If it can’t be, then there should be no ultras at all. There are a few who dare try.

I am one of those who merely wanted to experiment, simply needed some affirmation to test my limits. I deliberately sought to break my comfort zones and needed some shaking to break some self-imposed barriers. In short, I just wanted to see what is beyond me– the usual, already complacent self. I wanted to shatter the ugly internal sounds of: I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.

Seriously though, I must be thirsty for some sense of achievement. My life may have plateaued to a great extent and was in dire need for an interesting experience. The been-there-done-that psyche has not been helping me at all. I took it as a sign to explore. I don’t sulk in an empty corner who will just allow things to happen. Oh yes, I am always the explorer for answers. The BDM came as a timely solution to my waning enthusiasm.

The runner early morning at the Bataan leg of BDM102

FRH: It is never easy but definitely making it is possible. As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, then everything seemingly impossible becomes possible. Looking back now, the real ultra battle is in the mind. No matter how you train and supported properly, if determination is weak, you will  surrender to the sun, the sand, the gravels, the ascents, the cars, the smoke, the body.

I joined the 50-KM test run in January with the sheer joy of experimenting. Like a little child escaping from his parents, I sneaked through Mariveles, Bataan on a bus with some few cash, an ID, fuel belt and tons of courage. I aimed to just try and if I can’t, I planned to quickly hop on the bus back to Manila. My mediocre aim wasn’t granted. I later found myself pushing to the finish line. No pain, no real gain. I had my shares of walks and runs, of aches and low spirits but mentally-focused on every stride. With much patience, every step and every breath were valued. With the big hearts of fellow runners and support crew who were all strangers to me, I reached the finish line. Briefly, I could hardly walk but I understood that my muscles were slowly adjusting to the new distance. This also made me realize that I should not have ran the uphill climb. I dearly paid for my speed tendencies. (FaR: kilometer 4 – 7 is an uphill climb).

I joined the Condura full marathon soon after. Again, I was conditioning my muscles to run slowly on a steady pace but somewhere along the way, the stubborn tendencies (of speed) appeared almost automatically. Again, I paid for it. I had my shares of all sorts of bodily aches and pains. O ano, you ran again?, would be a casual comment of the therapists when they treat me. But like the supportive sports doc, they could only provide much needed help. Hahah. I also did the half-mary in the Century-run.

Read Part 2

Similar Posts:

• Interview: Francis Randy Hortelano, Ultramarathon runner, part 2 of 2
• Experiencing Hell in Heaven: Francis Hortelano’s TNF100 2010 experience, Part 1 of 2
• I want to run, seriously
• Runner Interview: Blas Tiangco, Part 1 of 2
• Francis Hortelano’s 10 life lessons from the BDM102 ultramarathon

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger, freelance photographer and a newbie runner based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.

Tags: Interview, runner

15 April 2010 | Interview, Runners | .