This morning, I was able to run almost 30 KM. I feel a sense of accomplishment- it has been almost 4 months since I have stopped running due to an ankle injury and work related training during Sundays. The only other long run that I completed before this was running 25km during the Milo half-marathon ( yup, i added loops before heading for the finish line).
It’s also my first time to run that distance alone ; you see running that long by yourself is very difficult. It’s a good thing that I brought my iPod with me to keep me entertained.
I had to take a different route for this run since MOA was filled by the participants of the Rexona Run.
Cones lined along Macapagal Avenue ...
This is the first time I ran this route alone ...
When I reached the Quirino Grandstand, I was looking for the mosaic containing President Cory's pictures but didn't find any ...
This is the distance I have covered upon reaching the Quirino Grandstand according to my GPS watch
It seems that I wasn’t the only one doing a long run this morning – I met Pat of Takbo.ph twice.
Upon reaching the 28th KM I suddenly felt weak,l then I remembered : I didn’t eat breakfast!
Almost 30 KM - I had to stop due to the heat; next week I'll try to start earlier
Lately, I have returned to sedentary-overworked individual mode. There were no regular training runs save for a few like the back to back weekend when I did a 21k on a Saturday and then a day hike in Tarac ridge in Bataan the day after. Should I mention that I slowed everybody down?
Thanks to Jeff for the photo
I took a 2 week break afterwards before running again due to an ankle injury. You see, I wasn’t supposed to run yet but I was able to acquire a GPS watch …..
I used to remember when I complained a lot about not having enough water stations, but after the 2010 edition of Globe’s run for home, I think I should complain about having too many water stations ….. not!
Well, it almost was your typical 21Km run along the Makati – Global City area, except that this race started in Makati and ended in a different street in Makati.
It was fun being able to run under the greenbelt tunnel for the first time – a nice new route which you can’t run on a regular day.
No PR for this 21km run (some say it was 22+km, who cares ? as long as the distance is not less than what we paid for) . I finished it in 2:30 – I am still under the weather but I thought that since I paid for it, I might as well run it, hehehe.
The first time I heard that phrase was when I watched the movie “L change the world” – loosely translated, it means “observe from a vantage point”.
This would be my second time to be a part of ultrarunner Isko Lapira’s (aka David Goggins of the Philippines) support crew. The only difference is that I am the only driver for the entire duration since Ian can’t make it due to an office activity.
This year’s chores weren’t as hard as last year’s, since pacers are no longer allowed- giving me enough time to catch some zs in between check points.
But that was just that, for the second year I am still watching things from a distance. I figured that since I was able to survive this January’s 50k test run plus last year’s BDM pacing experience , I might as well join the same 102km event next year (gulp!) – knowing Isko, he will probably move up to the 145Km category … ang tibay talaga!
These past few Sundays, I have been doing long runs – the last of which was joining my CAMANAVA runner friends Isko and Jomar prepare for the recently concluded 2010 edition of BDM 102. They did 52 Km while i did 30Km only.
It was after that when I realized that my Nike Triax would need replacement soon. After all, it is the only pair I have and after around 600 KM ….
So now, let me introduce you to my little friend (drumroll please) … The Asics Gel-Nimbus 10
I really like Asics GEL Technology
I hope that I can break it in before this Sunday’s Globe run for home
Before I even started running , I have already summited several of our country’s mountains. So whenever there is a trail run on the race calendar, I really try my best to participate in it.
The North Face trail run in Nuvali is one of the best trail runs I have ever joined due to the following :
Cheap registration fee.
Near Metro Manila (no need to bring a tent or get a hotel room)
Shuttle Service was provided (although I didn’t avail of this service)
Nice race distance – although it would’ve been better if they had a 50k category (something to look forward to in TNF Baguio)
Ample water stations
Lots of marshalls
TNF and PUR really did a great job with this one; the trail wasn’t that difficult but it gave people like me who haven’t hit the trail in quite a long time just the right dose of endorphins
Congratulations to TNF and PUR for a job well done.
The 22k starting line. The race started at 5:45 am instead of 5:15.
The Dawn
Blue Skies
(Road) signs of the times
George of Team Hardcore - he covered more than 22KM as he was running back and forth the trail. IDOL!!!
Nice view! Never mind the runner, hehehe
This pair used to be color gray ....
The second river crossing - view from the top
Nice stairs
There were a few of these rock formations along the trail ... I miss trekking
I remembered my first Condura experience when I ran my first half-Mary in the Skyway last year – it was awesome! So, when this year’s edition of the said race was announced, I definitely had to register. You see, the half-mary last year was just that : half of the skyway, so I thought that it was a good idea that the Concepcion brothers included the full marathon event.
It has been a well documented observation in the running community that organizing races has turned into a profitable business with some organizers more interested in making a quick buck rather than satisfying their participants. That is the reason why starting this year, I am choosing the races that I join (and being a bandit with the rest, hehehe). I know that quality has an expensive price tag that goes with it ; so even if I had hesitations in joining this race due to the expensive registration fee , I still joined the 42K event and I’m glad that I did.
Fireworks lit up a seemingly cold and tense morning where the 42K runners were preparing for the end of the countdown that would start the event. This is a refreshing scene compared to the usual Sunday morning race start. Everybody was happy and excited to run!
The challenging but enjoyable part of the race started early on as we ran around the Fort area , claiming one ascent after another before we scaled the Kalayaan flyover towards Buendia – this part of the route was dark since the streets we traversed had no lamp posts on it.
The vertical path which was the Kalayaan flyover as well as the rest of the Makati area was well lit and lively with the presence of various bands along the route – I was particularly energized upon reaching the corner of Buendia and Pasong Tamo when the Philippine Army band played the theme song of the movie The Magnificent Seven – I felt like Yul Brynner riding his horse, hehehe!
Upon entering the skyway, I said to myself – “Finally!” and took the most challenging path of my asphalt loving career. The ambience on the skyway was cool, exciting and bright …. Did I say bright? I thought it was, but somebody turned off the lights! Running the skyway was reminiscent of running Lawton Avenue about an hour ago – dark!
When the sun finally rose, the view from up there was spectacular, it’s different when you’re running it compared to just driving through it.
When we reached the turn around point near the Bicutan exit, I felt a bit sad because this feeling of enlightenment is half-over. It didn’t also help that there were small specks of matter floating in the atmosphere which some runners have inhaled and worse – ingested.
Just as I thought that the challenging part was over comes the most difficult ascent of this race – Condura hill. Well, like what most runners did , I just simply walked this part and enjoyed the view, I even took some pictures while I was at it. The sun was already up at this time as I saw it took its toll on the band that was supposed to perform the lively music for us runners.
Then came the sign at the bottom of the skyway which read “Congratulations, you have conquered the skyway!”. At least now, I can say that I have completely conquered it compared to just half of it last year.
… and there it was , on my return trip I met the generous souls of Takbo.PH and Reinier Pacific. The banana I got from them gave me a boost that I was able to run up to Makati Avenue.
After the short lived energy burst, I jogged /walked until the finish line. I finished the race in 5:46. 12 minutes slower compared to my first marathon.
All in all, this was a fun race : very unique and challenging route , water trucks, long water/hydration tables, sponges , fire works and bands. Did I say it was a race? Oh, I thought it was a party .
Condura Village the day before the race
Along the Magallanes area
Blue skies ...
Condura Hill
Another view of Condura Hill
Near the Bicutan Exit
I don’t usually bring an mp3 player, but it sure would’ve been nice to listen to this while running :
I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to run the 2nd BDM test run even if I am not participating on the race itself. This is my first attempt at an ultra-marathon and I’m glad I tried it.
With the strong CAMANAVA Runners
50K in 7:56:40
When we arrived at the Bataan shrine in Mariveles, it felt quite different, considering that the first time I have been here , it was dark … because the 1st BDM strarted at midnight.
The 1st 7 kilometers were well, very difficult, most runners (me included) walked the up hills. We were very lucky last Saturday that the weather was a bit overcast, because had it been sunny all throughout, I may not have been able to finish the race.
Now I understand what Isko says when he speaks about attitude and mental toughness … having completed a couple of full marathons, I thought that running for 8 more kilometers would be easy – I was wrong!
My easy pace became difficult, my target times – lost … I was worried that after 4 hours, I haven’t even reached the 30 KM mark. In fact, I had doubts that I will be able to complete this daunting task.
Then, it all came to me – the reason why we were all doing this : to pay tribute to those brave souls who marched these same streets of death more than half a century ago.
After all, who am I compared to them? What is running a mere 50 kms compared to the distance our martyrs have traveled? Who am I to complain?
102 kilometers may just be a moment in a poet’s play, but for me this is as real as it gets.
I was able to squeeze in a few runs after the Rizal Day run; but that was just they are – a few. So I decided to run around 10k today and 20k tomorrow.
I was supposed to do a single loop around MOA and then to CCP, knowing that the Black Nazarene was in Quirino grandstand and that there will be a lot of devotees there.
But then again, when I met Ian who was about to start his bike training, I changed my mind and eventually ended up going to the Quirino grandstand anyway.
I have been to the Quirino grandstand a lot of times before, but this is the only time that the atmosphere was so solemn.
Devotees on their way to the Quirino Grandstand - Most of them are barefoot
Mass
After running, I returned to MOA but ended up limping again, this was due to the blister on my left big toe. Since I didn’t anticipate a long distance run, I just used ordinary cotton sports socks when I should have used running socks instead. ( I only use them during races since they are a bit expensive).
The thing about running socks is that it provides proper cushioning (that is why they are left / right foot specific), it wicks away moisture and most importantly, they don’t have extra threads protruding near the toe area. – I think that was what caused the blister on my foot.
Nike Running Socks
Nike Elite Running Socks - No Show
Don’t get me wrong, ordinary cotton sports socks work for me for distances up to 10 miles.
I was about to call it quits after 20km but I ran (pun intended) into Ian (he is running this time, after 60km of bike training) who convinced me to do another 2km. He then treated me to some snacks before we ran our final kilometer together.
It would have been great if I could still accompany him for a few more kilometers but the blister won’t let up
All systems go for tonight's concert at the Mall of Asia
Ne-Yo's Poster at the entrance
Good luck to all the participants of the Cebu Marathon!
