STRONG is the SEXY: Firsts of Team Davao Runner’s Lone Ultra Heroine

(This is part of series of articles we’re doing for the All Women Ultra Marathon (AWUM) (03/09/2012), Cebu, Philippines. Please join our AWUM slot raffle promo, and women runners’ story, see here >>.)

Katie Villaflor had her first ultra marathon experience in All Women Ultra Marathon 2012. After that, she was unstoppable. This AWUM 2013, she will be back, no longer a virgin, and with a bucketful of 50Ks, 50Ms, and 100+Ks. But before she will arrive in Cebu for AWUM, she will have her first time at Bataan Death March Ultramarathon (BDM) 102.

And, after AWUM will be another first, not only to her but to her running group, Team Davao Runner, which is their TDR 80KM Ultramarathon (TDRU) event. Aside from sharing their love for running through TDRU, the TDR running group will also be sharing a unique (and not easy) tradition of theirs. This TDRU will give you a glimpse of what the members went thru to become a TDR member. (For more information on TDR 80KM, more details at our list here >>.)

Trivia: Katie Villaflor on this poster

Katie gave Davao City its first female ultra runner. Will Davao have their first female champion in BDM 102 and AWUM in her too? With her string of ultra races and TDR’s fierce spirit, it’s not impossible.

Photo from Katie

But champion or not, Katherine “Katie” Villaflor is already more than of a running heroine. She is a heroine in real life. She serves our country as P02 member of PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE in Davao, and is designated as investigator. Having a very demanding work, she has to  make some acrobatic stunt in managing her time just so she could squeeze in some needed training for races.

PO2 Villaflor in action (Photo from Kat Villaflor)

And, time management means having to wake up 2:30am for her long runs so she could be done by 6am so that she would arrive on time in the police station at 8:30am. And, if she’s on a 24-hour duty, she’ll make sure to do a night run on day off. She is not a competitive runner but she makes sure to have a strong finish. The podium is just a “PAKAPIN.”

Though I’m bias with the Cebuanas, but another city getting the AWUM  crown will be nice so as to spread the woman awesomeness!

Let’s get to know the lighter side of Katie Villaflor with her firsts in running:

First memory in running:
I’ve always run since I am a varsity player in badminton at the University of Mindanao, Davao city.

First official race:
2009 Samsung 3k

Spot her 1st Samsung Run? Bib # 532
(Definitely, this race bib collection is not updated.)

First podium:
Phoenix Night Run 21k ( 9th placer)

Photo from Katie’s album

First 21k:
Kadayawan Phoenix Run 2010

First Marathon:
42km Davao Finisher Marathon 2011, (5th placer )

Davao Finisher’s Marathon 2011. Comforted by her TDR mates at the finish line.

First Ultramarathons?
No fun runs in 2012.
1. 50k 1ST AWUM 2012, Cebu

2. 80K BOHOL ULTRA MARATHON, Bohol 2012 (10th placer)

Bohol 50Mile Ultra Marathon 2012

3. 50K INTENSE ULTRA MARATHON TACLOBAN, Leyte 2012

Photo by Reynan Opada

4. 80K DAHILAYAN TRAIL ULTRA MARATHON, Cagayan 2012 (5th placer)

CDO-Dahilayan Ultra Marathon 80KM

5. 100K LEG 2 CUC 2012, Cebu (8th placer)

CUC 100KM Leg 2

6. 110K 1ST UNDRESS ULTRAMARATHON 2012, Davao city, (1st placer)

Undress UItramarathon

First out-of-Davao Race:
Cebu City Marathon (CCM) 2012, Cebu

First international Race:
I’m planning Sundown Singapore.( haha ambisyosa)

First running motto:
“Learn from the past, Manage the present and anticipate the future”

First DNF:
None! I always tell myself, “ Go katie go, sayang ang plane ticket and hotel.” (ahaha)

First Running Habit:
I always have my MP3 with 1500 song with me.

First major injury:
It was just an ITBS last 2010, after my first 21k phoenix run.

First running shoes:
Adidas

First running gadgets:
MP3 with 1500 song

First thing you do in the morning:
I pray to God and Saint Jude for guidance in every practice run I do. And, I text a friend or even miscall.

First frustrating running:
35th Milo Marathon, I got the biggest blister.

First blooper in running:
2nd kitangland International Rugged mountain Race 2012 at Bukidnon. I thought it was just a trail run but it was more than a run. It was more of a climbathon, having to get to a 2899 mASL for the turn-around. I felt going crazy, and almost cried and told to myself, “What the hell is this???” (hahaha)

2nd Kitanglad Rugged Mountain Race, Bukidnon

First memorable running experience:
1st AWUM 2012. I was shocked that somebody offered me a lipstick, a whole body mirror to fix myself, red horse for hydration and a flower. Yeyyy!

All Women Ultra Marathon, make-up retouch station
Photo by Sydney delos Reyes

First running personality crush:
I don’t have a crush but I like someone and he’s not some kind of a running personality but pwede na rin… hahaha

First Love:
hahah It was my best friend and later on we become bf and gf and we broke up in 2011 and ended up in hatred. And that’s why I went into running. The rest is history.

First running group:
I am a member of Team Davao Runners; I was invited by my brother Bhadz Villaflor last 2010 who is also a TDR member to be an aspirant. He introduced me to Jette Roy Sanchez, founder of TDR and Jay Salvaña. I joined practice run every Tuesday and Thursday and long run on weekend more or less two months of joining them.

TDRU’s finish line

The acceptance is you have to run the Eden challenge, which is approximately 26k uphill and downhill at Toril, Davao City. You have to finish it or else you have to do it again. To be a member of our group you must have DEDICATION, ATTITUDE and CHARACTER. TDR now is into ultra running they are few members who did not run 42k, but we encourage them to try even in ultra.

running the 26KM out and back (uphill) is every TDR member had to go thru, and this route will be part of TDRU

I am the only female in TDR who runs ultra and I hope this year “dadami na kami.” (hehe) The TDRU boys always considered me as one of them and sometimes they told me straight to my face, “ Babae jud ba ka Katie?” That’s annoying isn’t it? haha

First Team Davao Runners Event:
Since TDR is in the ultra world, we decided to have our 1st Team Davao Runners Ultra marathon 80k or simply TDRU. Its cut-off time is 18 hours; we made it 18hrs for you to experience the road and scenery of Davao City. We have surprises for the top finishers – TNF Trail ultra race slots.

And, remember.

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Posted by:

Rose Buenconsejo. A runner who runs after runners, and their stories, and her dream to become a NEDBANK.
Promo Girl, runroo.com
View her aktib race calendar >>