Last Sunday, I was contemplating on whether I should join the Men’s Health All Terrain Race or do an easy run along the Metro. I chose the latter.
You see the problem with trail runs is that they are usually held far away. I don’t have enough cash for gas and besides my trail running shoelaces have been damaged during my last trail run. They aren’t ordinary laces (kevlar) so I still have to wait for the replacement set to arrive.
As I was running along Roxas Boulevard, I was suprised to see a water aid station near PICC. Hmm .. could it be that there is a road race which was not announced in Takbo.ph ?
I arrived at the KM 0 marker with no incident and as I was eating my Kit-kat Wafer bar, I have noticed a support vehicle running along Roxas Boulevard followed by a group of runners. It seems that there was indeed a race and it started late (around 6:20 am). I think this is a “special” race because aside from regular runners, I saw people in their wheel chairs joining the race. It was a sight to behold, too bad that I wasn’t able to take pictures of them.
At that time, since I have already depleted my water supply, I thought of running as a bandit with this race but then again, I was too shy to do so. I folowed the runners until I entered the PICC compound.
It was a relaxing run plus I also now know how it feels to be a spectator in a road race.
I have learned a few things from this experience :
Bring cash in small denominations. Since my car is parked in MOA, I wasn’t able to drink water when I needed to. There were Buko vendors along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard, I could’ve had BJ at that time.
One Kit-kat bar is not enough. Hehehe. I don’t know why when I reached KM 0, I suddenly felt very very hungry. Energy gels would have been better but I didn’t bring my “stash“. Hammer Gel is so expensive and I only use them during road races
Since this was a solo run, I didn’t bring an MP3 player with me, although this song would have been a relaxing tune to listen to while running :
It’s been more than a week that I have slept late before the Mizuno Infinity Run 2009 when I read of Mr. Rene Peñas’ passing. The last speech he gave to a crowd of well-off people, recounting what he has done, made the attempt of any urban creature at anything noble, just seemed futile compared to what he has already achieved.
As posted in the link to the particular article I read from GMANews.TV, it states that “In 2007 he led a 1,770-kilometer protest march from Bukidnon to Manila.”
Wow.
How far can a runner go when his principles are at stake and not just a table of Personal Records to beat? Is it possible for a race event to be organized, and make the proceeds go to the farmers he has left orphaned now?
Too many questions, and yet I know: the answers trying to scream out of our souls, will just burn to the ground, turn to ashes and dust…that our feet will continue to pound on.
“Everybody’s got a vision, everybody’s got a plan…” – Diane Birch
“Walang imposible kung manindigan lamang at magkaisa.”
I have experienced pain in both my knees during last week’s Mizuno run so I decided not to join any road race this weekend and instead do a long easy run. Since this is an Independence Day weekend, I decided to run from MOA up to Luneta and back.
I have brought with me a bottle of Gatorade and 2 Milo bars just in case I get hungry.
I arrived at MOA at around 5:30am and started my long slow run from there. I felt ecstatic being able to train again after four months of stress. The stress from work isn’t over yet but I’m glad I was able to take a break today.
I have seen a few runners doing their long runs along the way: I even saw a lady wearing her Mizuno finisher’s singlet.
Let me share with you some pictures I took while running:
Wrong again, said Bolt. It’s long slow distance. Say what?
Since we won’t be able to trail run this weekend (Bolt’s been swamped with his systems analyst job tasks and I, with freelance web design projects), we’ll be running our own route just for kicks. Haha…yes, this is our definition of fun. Har de har har.
Been checking on schedule and postings on Takbo.ph and I think I really need to do some more training if I want to keep up with what’s there. That’s IF my left foot will cooperate and not start to hurt again tomorrow…err, I mean later during the run…which reminds me, I need to rest! I’d literally be seeing diamonds in the sky going around my head if I run tomorrow (okay, I mean later!!!!!!!!) without enough rest and food. Tata!
Something chillaxin to listen to before I go to sleep and what I’d prolly be listening to during the run tomorrow:
350 for 15K Distance of Mizuno's Infinity Run 2009
“Gasping for Air” – That is the first thought that comes into mind whenever I would think of this year’s Mizuno Infinity race. I have unexpectedly went beyond my comfortable pace as I was 2 minutes late and was desperately trying to position myself in the middle pack.
It didn’t also help that I have been doing overtime work for the past 4 months (read: zero training). However, things got slightly better as we descended the Kalayaan flyover on our way to the NAPOLCOM building. I was feeling refreshed, being able to establish my position, I ran at a comfortable pace.
The run was generally safe and hassle free. Law enforcement and the easily identifiable marshals did their job well in holding off the ill-tempered drivers.
I thought that I was going to DNF when I suddenly felt light-headed after we crossed Dian Street. I had to stop running and as what I always read in Sir Jovie’s blog – I listened to my body. I drank some Gatorade from my hand held bottle and took in some Sports Beans. After a minute or so, I started feeling better and decided to jog.
The high point of the race for me was when I realized that we were already at the turn-around point in Bautista Street – ha! just a few more meters from the LRT station and I would be home. =) In fact, I was really tempted to DNF and take the train home were it not for the parked car in BHS.
The idea of having ran half of the race course probably boosted my morale to push myself once more and before I realized it, I was already at the turn-around point of the 10k runners . I particularly had difficulty running through this part of the course since my “momentum” was “blocked” by the slower 10k runners/walkers.
It was at that point that I felt weak again. The feeling persisted from Paseo de Roxas until the foot of the Kalayaan flyover. I have always detested this part of the route. My knees were so weak that I had to walk/jog until we descended towards the Fort.
I regained my will to run again when I thought we would be already making the left turn to the finish line. I was surprised to find out that we still had to go straight and make a U-turn before going to the finish line. I did my best not to walk so I jogged until I reached the last 80 meters or so and sprinted.
I was able to finish at 1:39 in my watch. I was 2 minutes late so the official time should be 1:41 or so I thought – when I checked the race results, it stated that I finished at around 1:44.
At the Finish Line
This wasn’t a strong finish for me as I have just recently finished a 10-mile run at 1:41. This has me worried since it has all been downhill since my Condura half. I have already accepted the fact that I won’t be running my first full marathon with Milo. I would instead settle for another 21k run. The only problem is the 2.5 hours cut-off : at the rate I am going, I’ll probably finish 21k in 3 hours (hehehe) – a far cry from my Condura half.
Falling In Line
And then there it was – the silver lining (I think). The Mizuno surprise was awesome – they would be giving awards for runners who would participate in next year’s Mizuno race and have a significant improvement on their PRs!
Free Starbucks Beverage
The mood at last Sunday’s race was generally festive: free starbucks coffee, a giant Mizuno shoe, lots of photo-ops for various running groups including the SM runners who won a group award, Takbo.ph and the I am Ninoy Runners.
Getting Their Award
I think races should be done this way: singlets should only be given to finishers-just like in the old days.
Wave Creation 9
The only thing that wasn’t good about this race (and I don’t think I would be the only one who would be complaining about this) is the good old fashioned “balde” system.
As I’ve said before – nobody’s perfect. I still consider this as one of the better organized races in the Metro.
More pictures found in RockEnRun’s Flickr Account for this run! Check it out here.
I woke up this morning remembering the last Mizuno run I participated in last year, and realized…haha! I ran 10KM there and I’m still running the same distance today.
I’ve always believed that when you want to do something…the trick is to always believe. That’s what got me going for awhile now, but this time, I know the sequel to that is: consistency is the key.
Race started at around 6:00am and as usual, I got to open the race kit in the car already, after waking up from a 3-hour nap. Yes, a nap. I usually sleep light before a race…and it’s only usually before a race that I do get to sleep.
Mizuno - Infinity Run Time Trials 2009: 10K Race
The killer word: Kalayaan! It never occurred to me that such a liberating word could actually trigger something traumatic from the past. Haha. The first time I joined an event with this route was in Adidas King of The Road in 2008. The words that came out of my mouth after: NEVER AGAIN will I join any race passing through this flyover. Then again, if you’re the type to never check the map online before having yourself registered for a kit…then never say never Botak was the second for me passing through Kalayaan (some of my so-called-rantings can be found somewhere in this so-called-blog har de har har) and my only reaction: I shook my head and wished I’ve put sunblock on.
So I decided to not complain and just finish the race as soon as I can. I got to the turn-around point at about 00:34– beating my personal time for previous 5K races, but a little after that, I think I had what they call a “side stitch”. Yes, I can feel the hard-boiled egg I swallowed at around 0430H trying to be digested and this was the part I wished I brought a sports drink (being the stubborn and youngest of us and not wanting to carry anything while running). I could have screamed at myself for that — but thought better of it because that took a lot of energy. Besides, I wouldn’t wanna amuse people while they see me doing a “monologue” like what my brother, Bolt, is so good at. Haha!
Then came the Kalayaan Flyover…never have I loved Coppertone. Although, like what I’ve been thinking on the last Botak race, I would prefer putting on a nice tanning lotion next time a 10km route was made this way again. At least, I’d have a nice orangey-brown glow without having to go to the beach
I reached the “3KM left” sign, and I looked at my watch and saw that an hour hasn’t passed yet. I actually convinced myself that if I ran the remaining distance, I could bring my PR to somewhere between 1:10 to 1:20. Okay, so that part was a bit delusional, so I just started walking
There was an aid station after the flyover and I don’t remember myself crossing to the other side to get water. I should make it a habit to be “self-contained” … meaning I should really listen to what my brother tells me to do: that includes SLEEP and TRAIN more (yezzur!)
I was walking and jogging for the rest of the distance left to cover and sprinted near the finish line. The only irritating part was when I got to the tight area where the ropes on each side of the walkway could only occupy one runner at a time (a little after the finish line) was that a guy was pleasantly taking his time (yes the redundancy of the words used in this sentence aims to imply just that) in walking to where the girl (who gets the race tags) is. Wow…seriously? What’s wrong with him?
Starbucks Gift Certificate - Ultimate Coffee Break
So by the time I got to the Gatorade station and they had absolutely no bottle to give to us, I was more than infuriated…well, a little. Patience is what I have tons of, but I did not mean to ask the woman in a bit of a raised voice where the water station is, so I apologize for that Gotta love the free Starbucks treat and of course, the overflowing cups of water! Woohoo!
So I said to myself I’m never gonna progress to anything higher than 10k unless I finish it in less than an hour. Wrong, Bolt said. Endurance comes first before speed so if I want to finish fast and finish strong, I should run more than that. Fine, then. Everybody say it with me: never settle
I did not have any music gear this morning cos I thought it was gonna rain but had the song below running through my head! Listen up for all you Coheed and Cambria fans reading this. Enjoy
I am currently in the office right now performing tasks that would make my mediocre job seem well, just that -mediocre. Anyway, as I was browsing takbo.ph , I have noticed that there is another 10k run on July 12.
I was just thinking that maybe due to the popularity of the sport, organizers should organize a long run every week – say 21k (21k is long for me) so that we won’t have to “run” again after we cross the finish line.
You see, my weekend runs are the only source of endorphins that I get because of the sudden additional work (read:stress) that I have to do in the office. I can’t train anymore on weekdays like I used to. As they say, the longer the run … the more endorphins you get.
Now tell me, has my running addiciton affected my mind ?
I remember last year when a runner colleague of mine reported for work with colds. He told me that he got it from participating in a road race the day before. He quipped : “You see the race pushed thru even if it was raining like hell”.
Back then, I couldn’t understand why would someone do such a thing.
Last Sunday, I got my answer.
I woke up at 5:00 am – “I’m gonna be late!” (I thought the race would start at 5:30)
I asked myself, now why would I want to run today ? I have a deadline and I still need to report to work later and it’s raining outside-I would just end up getting wet … then I realized that even if it wasn’t raining , i’d get wet anyway, and besides … I haven’t experienced how it feels to run in the rain yet.
The way I see it, if there will be only a few runners today, then I would have a better chance of winning that laptop. Before I knew it, I was already in the parking area near the starting line of the IE8 race.
This is a well-organized race : THis is the first time that I saw sponges in a short distance race. There were lots of food and even cheer leaders in the aid-station .. talk about feeling like a pro! But wait … that’s not all: they even gave out coke in the last aid-station at the foot of the Kalayaan flyover!
I finished running 13.4Km (I was also suprised at the distance) at 1:23 on my watch. My shoes were wet but what the hell, nothing beats running in the rain!
In a nut-shell, I would give the organizer of this race very high grades!
Hmmm...where?
Too bad tho, I didn’t win the laptop. I wonder when Microsoft will launch IE9 ?
and besides my trail running shoelaces have been damaged during my last trail run. They aren’t ordinary laces (kevlar) so I still have to wait for the replacement set to arrive.
Botak was the second for me passing through Kalayaan (some of my so-called-rantings can be found somewhere in this so-called-blog har de har har) and my only reaction: I shook my head and wished I’ve put sunblock on.
