RockenRun: Hooked on Asphalt

…and so being stubborn (from not having enough sleep to still running on race events and LSD-ing with Bolt) had its “fruitful” effect: almost an entire week vacancy from work, spent at the hospital. From splitting headaches, to fluctuating fever, and sudden nausea.

So, after a couple of weeks I decided to attend another 10K race event (yes, without training), which was Globe’s “Run For Home”

… and that’s when I learned two things the hard way: NEVER will I drink 100plus EVER AGAIN because it messed up my stomach …

and I won’t be running for another month or two because it was during this run I realized that I DID get hospitalized and that I needed more rest.

So, it began: a series of no-run weekends and just chilling with some of my people…

and one of the best parts: VIP tickets for Nine Inch Nails – Live in Manila with Arman and Paul! A “spellBLINDING” experience — check out the lights!

…continued hanging out with some of my best buds…

…ordered a huge-ass pizza for my officemates

and celebrated that night with the greatest of friends (pictures I have yet to post here …Mark! Upload already! )

[space for more pictures...yes, this is mandatory ]

After more than a month-long vacation, I realized that I needed to get back on running…too much of no workout and/or exercise is gonna make me “dazed and confused” again! So, tomorrow I got into the list of attendees for the “RUNNR Academy: The Science of RUNNING” and I am just as excited as a little kid waiting for her mom to buy her candies and chocolates when they hit the mall on a sunday-family-day get-together! Woohoo! See y’all tomorrow then! I mean…err, later!

Let the beat rock!

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Training or practice is an important part of any endeavor one chooses, be it in the field of sports or not.

While BOTAK has once again redeemed itself from what happened in last May’s full marathon event, I have done the opposite and have continued on my downhill course.

Since this would be my first time to run in UP, I went to UP at around 5am because I am not familiar with the place, just like Ian, the last time I have been here was when I took the UPCAT a very long time ago.

I didn’t imagine that looking for a parking spot was difficult in UP (or maybe I was too early), I was also surprised that there were a lot of one way streets inside the campus.

Anyway, after a while I was able to find a parking spot and met up with running friends Isko and Ian. Isko told me that he had just ran from Trinoma to UP.

I also saw BDM veteran Jonel (bugobugo85) and Dhenz (runningpinoy).

The race started on time and there I was trying to cope with Isko and Ian’s “slow pace”. I don’t know what happened but after less than 30 minutes, I just suddenly felt weak.

Running, for me suddenly became a Herculean task. It seems that all those sleepless nights in the office is starting to take its toll on me.

The 10 mile race course will require us to run the same route 3 times. – that is ok with me since I was enjoying the large trees that were providing shade to the runners.

The only thing though, was that at the end of every loop, you will have to pass through the starting line where the mood is quite festive – after my 2nd loop I was really considering having my first DNF  so that I could  join the fanfare.

The only thing that pushed me to finish the race (at a slow pace) was this : “sayang yung binayaran ko kung di ko tatapusin” :) – that was my mantra during the entire third loop. I even tried to sprint at the last 200 meters but alas! – di matibay ang paa ko!

I finished my first UP race at 1:46.

16 km, Botak, running 16 km, Botak, running

The urbanite run was indeed unique – in a lot of aspects, champion chip included.

This is my first time to run a night race, and apparently the first time for more than 3000 other runners. It’s a good thing that I decided to arrive at the venue early – because at around 6pm (2 hours before the race), the parking slots were already full – I think this is due to the accumulated mass between the regular shoppers at BHS and those who would be running the evening race.

I thought that since this was a night race, it would be a refreshing and relaxing activity. I was wrong – it was very humid that night; and the proximity of the other runners as well as the spot lights weren’t helping either.

The 15k race started at around 8:15 pm. I was expecting all the streets to be well lit – well, it was, the street lights were doing their job.

You see, I thought that the organizers would be using “extra” lights to make the path “more” visible – but that’s ok; it was still fun.

While we were running the “darker” parts of the cemetery, the only thing that was left to see were the glowing “light sticks” (I don’t know what they are called) which were given to the runners. Most runners have used them either as bracelets or ornaments for their bibs.

Somehow one can’t help but wonder if that is all that one sees in the darkness and not actual spiritual orbs. Hehehe

This is fun – organizers should do it more often.

The Fort running, The Fort

I checked  takbo.ph the day before in order to find out if there was going to be a MOA group run in memory of the late President Aquino, but I didn’t find any – I decided to run anyway.

So at around 6:00 am,  I was already geared up and waiting for the rain to stop or at least for the disturbance to “downgrade” itself to a drizzle – but everytime it does, it comes back again forceful than before.

I texted running friends Isko and Ian wondering if they would also run.

Isko was already running at The Fort with BR and the hardcores, while Ian was rowing.

By the time I decided to run in the rain (it’s difficult to dry your shoes in this weather) Ian texted me that he can join me in my MOA run.  So we parked our cars in Esplanade and off we went to enjoy an easy, relaxing, refreshing albeit wet  12k – a much needed run for both of us; and what is important is that we were able to pay tribute in our own little way to our former leader.

Thank you, President Aquino.

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