Knowing how bad the weather would be , I decided to arrive early for this road race. I arrived at  around 4:45 am.  When I got there,  it was announced that the race was moved to 5:30 am due to the rain. There was a warm-up exercise before the start of the 21k event,  I entered the coral  as the said exercise was about to end. I saw some runner friends and had a chat with them – and then it happened, the gun was fired and off we went. For me, this was a well-organized race.  There were adequate water and gatorade stations along the route, plus …  I was able to run in the Glorietta area even though it was raining very hard I finsihed the race at 2:24 (unofficial), just a few more minutes and i’ll be able to beat my personal best at 2:18. It’s timely though, that it was raining during a run dedicated to saving Mother...

      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. Kenny’s Open 2009 Urbanite Run   A light moment with NandN after the race 😀  ...

  4:17 AM – This can’t be right,  the last thing I remember was hitting the snooze button of my mobile phone’s alarm clock about an hour ago! So off I hurriedly went to the starting line of Globe’s Run for Home  at the NBC tent. I thought that I wouldn’t make it on time because of the long queue towards the parking area behind ROX which was reserved for VIPs. It’s a good thing though that I have already installed the champion chip on my shoe the night before.           The Preparation This part I like the most, like an obedient running student, I did my best  to consume a lot of carbs after getting my race packet from BHS last Friday.         I also ate more the night before :       You know, I think that I did this part so well that I have loaded enough carbs for an Ultramarathon. Ha! Hmm … does it say in the manual that I really have to run in order to prepare for a half-marathon ?   Barely Making It I can still remember running towards the starting line when the voice over the PA system is  telling the 21k runners  that the race is about to start in 45 seconds. I was able to make it about 5 seconds before I heard the gun. It was about this time when I started my stretching routine. There were a lot of participants in this race that it really took time to dash from the starting line up to the entrance of the corral. For a minute there, I thought that this was the 5k race   Paligsahan ng Palakasan ng Busina  What can I say...

My first run was with Joanne, Ava, and Irene in the PSE Bull Run back in January 2008. Never really trained for it…just woke up one day, went to the race and tried to finish it. Haha. Gotta work on discipline tho, cos until now it seems that I’ve never really stopped doing that for a race. Ugh. The trend in 2008 to present: running era with my ladies -> work-indulgence -> running-after-working-hours -> foot operation -> lsd-ing with my brother and his friends -> and yes, work indulgence again -> hospitalization a little more than a couple of weeks ago. My training? Sleep whenever I can, and some positivity. Tomorrow (or later…in a matter of minutes) would definitely be a reunion. The ladies will be there, some of my batchmates from college, my officemates, and my brother and his friends. Everyone will be joining in on the “chip” fun. Quite a hectic schedule for me too. After the run, I’ll be meeting up with some of my friends back in college (whose wedding we’re currently coordinating), the son of my cousin’s birthday party in KFC (woot!), and head down south to watch Wanders (thanks to Miss AJZ and Mr. GV for the passes–yes, they gotta be in codes)!     I don’t mind if it rains tomorrow because I’ll be running again so tonight is with feel-good vibes, and I’ve been listening to Jamiroquai’s “Corner of the Earth”: “Little darlin’ don’t you see the sun is shining just for you, only today. If you hurry you can get a ray on you…” Tomorrow is a long day, so I’ll start heading home now: to the direction of the bed for a little bit of sleep, and making sure all the alarms go off...

  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...