PTAA Charity Run - Running with a Bud

What I like most about running is that it's an individual sport. I can do it alone. When you've been tied up with work for a number of years (like 14 years! :) and taking care of a kiddo single-handedly , you rarely have time to mingle with friends ... and so little by little you step out of that social circle and realize after awhile that you don't get invited to parties and get togethers anymore... haha.. I've been trying to encourage my colleagues to run with me but wala pa eh.. Too busy with work and family .. I understand completely... Felt the same way.. It takes a lot of willpower to allot more than an hour to run... I always tell them though that once they start, they will get hooked because the possibilities are endless. The distance range goes on and on and on..........

Running alone though is always worth it but running with a buddy ........ now that's different... It's a different kind of fun... I was lucky enough to have a running buddy during the PTAA Charity Run in UP. He had to sacrifice his time though to pace with me. And true enough, he got his PR for his slowest 10K :) while I did better at 1:19:07.. Hahaha... But, I kind of felt dependent on him because I knew he runs a lot faster than me and has a lot more experience... I had this feeling that at any point in time I have somebody to get encouragement from because I'm sure he will always be running strong even if I'm feeling wary already... But the reality is you don't always get to run with a buddy right? New as I am to running (4 months) I don't really know if it's better to self-train or run with a group/with a buddy... hmmmm

My First 10K

Running is really a test of your PHYSICAL and MENTAL stamina... When the physical wavers you have to rely on your mental stamina... Ergo both must be strong to endure a long distance run..

Mizuno run was my first 10K official race... I went into it nervous, excited, nervous, nervous, nervous... I had to say a prayer before the gun went off. First, I'm running not because it's a fad or anything.. I run because I have to... My BP is always a concern and a 10k run is not a joke... I know how far it is and how it can take its toll on me.. I'm not a weekend warrior... I self-train.. Prior to this I ran in the gym twice.. 7.5k and 10K... Boy, the 10K practice run on the Treadmill was tough.. Felt my legs were about to give up. Good thing about the gym is that the machine has a railing and there are people close by who can easily help.. the hospital is near so I worry less... But a 10K road run!!!! Yikes! Funny thing, I was ready for the worse. I had a small bag where I placed my celphone and cash. In case I feel faint or dizzy, I will call my dad to pick me up or flag down a taxi to bring me to The Fort. Not to mention that I know there's an ambulance who will roam the route. I had my bottle of Gatorade... I memorized the route... Again praning is what you call it..

My first 5K went pretty well... including the Kalayaan flyover run... I've realized that when running uphill and you push your body slightly forward, it makes it a lot easier and you run faster than you expect. I read about this in various blogs but haven't really tried it.. It really works!! Cool... My next 2k was slower but still ok.. My heart was beating normally and my legs were getting tired but bearable... I think the challenge started along the Kalayaan flyover going back... it was to0 "uphill" for me.. I tried to slow run it but then I felt I will really get tired that I might not have any strength for the last 3k stretch so I decided to walk the first half of the flyover. Worse, the sun was up already so I felt the heat starting to burn my back...

As soon as the flyover started to flatten, I resumed my running pace. At the next water station, I had to pour water over my back because I was feeling very hot.. I did the last 2K at a slow running pace... I can feel my legs starting to feel really wasted at the last 1 km... So I had to rely on my will to finish. And I did.. the thing that gave me a boost was my son who I saw at the last 500 meters ... Seeing him made me run the last 500 meters relatively fast and strong.. He was running too to meet me at the finish line...

I finished at 1 hour and 22 minutes (exact).. The same running time I had in the gym last Thursday... My mom and dad told me that my son was worried from the start because he knows that 10k is far... But I DID IT AND I WILL DO IT AGAIN... My son is as praning as me... hehe... The adrenalin of running is just too strong to ignore. Now I'm thinking of upping the pace and eventually going for 15k... Dream on girl.. :)

The good part about the run is meeting the Southern Runners of Takbo.ph and the others too. It was great putting faces with the names at the forum. :) Where's the next race? :)

Missing IE8

I missed the IE8 run last Sunday. I was registered for the 4 mile. I flew to Occidental Mindoro last Friday and supposedly be back in Manila Saturday night. The weather there was soooo uncooperative. My flight got cancelled, rebooked the following day early morning only to get cancelled again.

I was in San Jose Airport as early as 5:45 am. The one thing that was running through my mind was the IE8 run dahil sobrang naiinggit ako sa mga tatakbo. I was irritated and frustrated with the airline and the weather. Of course I was just being irrational because I so wanted to run. I thought I should have brought my running gears with me so I can run the beach in front of the airport. Makatakbo man lang. To top it all, my family ran!!! I asked my dad to run my number. He exchanged it for a 2-mile distance with his name dahil magiging kulelat daw ako if he runs the 4-mile. Hehe. My ten-year old son registered for the 2-mile and he enjoyed it too. My sister, mom and brother in law all ran as well. They all said it was a very very very nice race. A lot of freebies, good weather etc... Tapos ako yung wala!!! Grrrrrrr..........?Grrrrr............ Grrrrrr talaga...

My mom even made me listen to the countdown of the race. I was stuck in the airport and they were waiting for the countdown. I can hear the runners and it sounded like everybody was excited just like all other races. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy............ Kung pwede lang magpaka-superwoman yesterday ginawa ko na... Di bale bawi na lang sa Sunday Mizuno Run. I'm running my first 10k by the way. This time I will make sure that I'm in Manila the entire week. No provincial trips. Mahirap na... Lulungkot na ko nang sobra... :)

Auto Review - May 24, 2009

I've been running in weekly races consecutively for the month of May. The reason why I chose to run in this race is because I knew that the route is going to be challenging.. McKinley Hill kaya... The route didn't disappoint me :)

I was very excited pero mukhang hindi because I was kind of late meaning not enough lead time before the start of the race.. I almost jumped from the car because I really thought late na ako... Good thing they had calisthenics before the race... hehe... cute yon ha...

I rushed my stretching somewhere in the grassy part of the starting area.. I was so intent on my stretching exercises that I didn't notice that red ants were crawling up my shoes.. until one bit me.. I was shocked because my entire left shoe was almost filled with red ants.. Siyempre.. panic ako I screeched I think and ran to the sidewalk pounding my feet incessantly... Kainis!!! Sakit kaya nung kagat ng langgam... buti isa lang... good thing my son wasn't bitten by them kundi lalo pa akong maiinis!!

I liked this race because of the varied participants... The first 2.5 km was mostly uphill.. My heart was pounding so hard after the 500 meters that I doubted if I can finish the route within a decent time... Then I thought, I've been running 8Ks in the gym... Surely I can finish this within 40 minutes...

My running pace improved a lot after the 2.5km mark.. Most of the runners ahead of me stopped at the water station to drink.. I didn't do that because I always make it a point to bring a bottle of Gatorade during a run.. kahit 5k lang hehehe... They gave out rubber bands for the mark which is good kasi I can use it after :) Talking of frugality huh..... I was running and breathing steadily..... No pains at all .. my legs felt really good... In the end I finished the race in 36 minutes... Personal record for me.. Sana accurate ito .. I'm still using my son's Php250 watch eh...
(My sister in Singapore was kind enough to buy me a Garmin 305... arriving in 10 days... Can't wait.. Thank you Tita Lerie)...:)

I wrote my name on the finisher's wall. I felt really good..I hope that I'll be able to write my name on more walls.. in more races in the next 20 more years....

Breaching the 8K

I breached the 8k yesterday at the gym.... :) I ran 8.50 Km gearing up for the 10K. Sad though that on the 31st there's no 10K run.. All are above 10K. Maybe I'd sign up for the IE8 for the 4-miler for the meantime. Good thing I used the reliable Treadmill in the gym... there are machines there that stop at 7.5km. Bad trip yon... :)

I was pretty sore the whole day yesterday. And, when I sit for a long time and stand up I hear my knees click.. wonder why? Hmmm..

My goal is to start running 10k starting Tuesday next week. The biggest challenge there is to wake up early so I can be in the gym at exactly 6:00 am... Then I'd be finished by 7:00 am or 7:30 am which gives me time to the have the gym's coffee which I really like (I'm not into coffee that much anymore).

Maybe I should likewise start using the gym's steam bath??? I forgot all about that na.. It's been a long time and long overdue I suppose. Yehey..

Power Mile - The Fort (May 17, 2009)

Kudos to the organizers of Power Mile. I have never attended a race as well organized as this one. Actually, I emailed the organizers to tell them that I'm expecting lots of water during the race. They answered me back to say that they will make sure of that and make sure they did... I think the runners were all amply hydrated during the race which is very very good. And the water was very cold ergo thirst-quenching...

I went to the race prepared. It was my first 8K. I trained for 8ks the entire week in the gym so I know what to expect in terms of distance. The race started at exactly 5:45 am. It was kind of intimidating to join a longer distance because I felt that the runners were essentially "experienced" runners. But in any case, I wasn't in it to win. It's for personal fulfillment.

As usual I started the race with my normal pacing probably 8 minutes per km. I targeted this one girl who looks experienced that I hope I can pace with. She had a garmin and hydration belt so medyo wrong target which I soon learned. She had a pretty fast pace. I on the other hand made a mistake of wearing a patella band around my left knee hoping that it will help support my knee. However, within 2 km of the race, the band fell of my knee because of the sweat. So I had to go to the side to take it off... Lost seconds for me...

Sometimes it amazes me how an 8km in the gym feels so long outside... That route was quite difficult for me. For one, it was hilly.. Going to McKinley was already hilly, along the S&R was a little hilly as well.. even the stretch along the British school was also uphill... my pacing went from 8 mins to 9 mins per km. Along the S&R stretch I was pacing with this American who I think is about 55 years old or more. We were really running side by side until he went ahead of me and I think finished 5 minutes ahead of me.. Oh well, I'm only 5 while he's 5'10 I think. But still, I hope I can be like him one day... strong and steady....

When I saw the finish line turning right from 5th avenue, I felt so relieved that it was the end. But again, I was confident so I finished strong. I didn't walk anywhere along the route except for quick stops to drink water. I have yet to master drinking while running. Nabibilaukan talaga ako kaya I have to walk while doing it. I finished in 1 hour and 15 minutes based on my Php250 stopwatch.. Haha.. yun ang gamit ko. It's a watch I bought in one of the tiangges in Singapore for my son Rafael na hindi niya ginagamit. I go rather than buy a Garmin I will use this one first kasi newbie pa naman ako... may stopwatch din naman ... haha... (Note: Official time 1 hour and 7 minutes... not bad....)

Running the 8k gave me new confidence that I can do the 10K. Hindi ako humahagod kanina. In fact, I was able to converse agad with my sister at the finish line. By the way, my sister entered the 2 mile and finished in 35 minutes. I'm very proud of her. Way to go...

So the hard part now is which race to run on Sunday... So many races to choose from but I want to be careful with what to pick in terms of route, distance and organizer. Takot ako sa injury that's why I painstakingly assess each. I don't want to overdo myself.. I stretch a lot... I drink ample amounts of water... I don't eat much before a race... I get enough sleep ... I do my after race stretching... Ang tawag dito PRANING!!! Haha.... Di bale na... safe naman....

Botak Paabilisan May 10, 2009

The Botak Run started at 6:00 am and yet I was in the venue as early as 4:30 am!! Lesson learned, check out the exact schedule of your run. Yung 4:30 am pala are for the 42kers... Asa pa ako. So I had time to stretch and do one whole round of slow and relaxed running around high street.

The run for the 5kers started at exactly 6:00 am. Pretty good turnout of participants. The route was again not flat. The 5k is really starting to get easier so I guess it's really time to move up to 8k or 10k. I do my run at consistent pacing for the first 4k then try to increase the pace at the stretch. I felt really happy that I still felt very strong when I reached the finish line. I clocked in at 44 minutes....

My kumpare ran as well today and I'm impressed. He ran the 10k and clocked in at 53 minutes. He's the ninong of my son who's also going to be a priest soon... Kaya pala fit na fit eh kabayo pala tumakbo... :) We all had breakfast at Seattle's Best after with Rafael, my sister, her husband and my niece...

I had the chance to see my form through a short video that my son took of me.. Not bad.. So, in order to keep the challenge up.. I registered immediately for the 8k this coming 17th also in The Fort... The route map looks great. I was able to encourage my family to run the 2-mile as well. Can't wait...

While going around Serendra at 12:00pm, we saw 42kers still walking towards the finish line. They started at 5:00 am.. It must be excruciating to be under the sun for 7 hours running or walking for that matter. I am amazed at their will power. I hope someday I can do that. I will work towards that goal.