New Balance Power Race (16-Nov-2008)

This is me cramming.  I started this last November but did not get the chance to finish it because of…um…laziness.  So here goes:

Like most of the runs I’ve joined in 2008, I wanted to see if I improved from 2007.  The New Balance Power Race was a must run for me and the only thing that would stop me from joining this run is if I fractured my leg.  Why? Because in 2007, this was my first 10k run and I really enjoyed it.  Last year,  I joined this race with absolutely no preparation.  At that time, my running was limited on Sundays and the distance was not more than 5k.  Intensity?  What intensity?  It was a light leisurely run hahaahah…  So when I told my family that I’ll bwe running my first 10k, I pretty much had the same reaction from everyone, Kaya mo ba?  Finished it in 1:34 with my back hurting like hell.  I almost gave up at the 8th KM.  It was a miracle I got home. hehehe

Fast track to 2008,  reached Clark an hour before the race, met up with some friends and started to warm up.  At the start, my friends lined up the the front whilst I stayed at my usual position at the back of the pack (hehe).  Since I was familiar with the course, I was able to adjust the pace of my run with ease.  What I did was did I brisk walk on all uphill and started to run on all downhill.  When I hit the turn around mark, my back was not hurting and my legs were still good, at this point I was thinking:  “Hey, I’m going to do better this year”.  When I reached the 8Km (1:10) mark though, my legs started to hurt and I decided to walk.  BIG MISTAKE, cause when I started to run again my legs didn’t feel right so i was switching between walking and running.  I finished the race at 1:30, could have done better if I hadn’t stopped…grrrr…

Overall, I enjoyed the race big time,  The course, water was abundant, friends were supportive.  The New Balance Power Race is one race that I’d look forward doing again and again.  See you in 2009 😀

Happy Run (25-Jan-2009)

How does one measure success in a race?  Is it the time?  Or Finishing the Race with no injury?  Yesterday I did my second 15k in the Happy Run.  I had two goals to finish faster than my first 15k and to finish without injury.  My first 15k was last year (Mizuno 1)  and I finished 2:24 with both of my legs cramping (not to mention I was walking most of the way).  I really wanted to do this run so even without proper training i pushed through.

I was so anxious about this race that I could not sleep.  Woke up at 1:30 and decided to relax and play FIFA 09 rather than force myself to sleep.  I picked up my friend Rivka at around 4:30 and met up with my running buddies (Mayen, Mickey, Joy, Lito, Bobby) at the starting line.  The race started at 5:50 and I tried to keep my run to a comfortable pace.  At the first corner I could sense that we were going to be last at the 15k crowd was starting to thin out.  True enough when we reached the gate of McKinley Hill the 5k runners were not to far behind.  Normally I’d panic and start to pick up the pace but told myself to stay focused and continue with my current pace.  Rivka and I finaly reached at turn around point on c-5 and was about to enter Heritgae Park.  Amazingly my legs were still holding up, at this point I was starting to worry because during Mizuno 1 my legs started to cramp at Heritage Park.  2.5k later I was relieved to exit the park with my legs still intact but it was at this pont that I decided to walk a bit.  My legs were okay, but my lungs were not….McKinley Hill…that dreadful  hilly course….last year both my legs cramped in this area so was very careful when we entered.

I saw Rivka turn towards McKinley Hill, but when I got in she disappeared.  I figured she picked up her pace since it was downhill so i did the same when i reached the bottom still no Rivka, How the heck could she have built a big lead on me so quickly, I told myself.   To my surprise, somebody handed me a banana. Apparenly she stopped by 7-11 to buy one.  Banana on hand…uphill?  Reason fro me to walk hahahaaha. I took my sweet time in finishing my banana and got to the turn around point well rested to i ran back, we finallly got out of McKinley unscathed.

The last stretch of the race i was feeling tightness on my legs and Rivka was experiening pain as well so we decided to take it easy.  We finished the Race 2:30 but I’m happy with results because aside from the normal soreness my legs, back and body didn’t hurt so much.  WOOPEEDOO!!!!

Till the next 15k…. heheeh

My First 5k Run

i’ve been meaning to write or talk about my running experience but never really sat down to do it until…TADA….Today.  Why? I have no idea hehehe…So here goes…

I started running last year when i friend of mine asked me, “Hey do you want to run?”  Since I was super out of shape and had not had any exercise in years, I said “Sure!”  I took the opportunity to finally burn some  calories rather and adding and to do it with a friend, not bad eh?

I was thinking were going to ultra for a leisurely run around the track. My thoughts were since i had gained so much weight this leisurely run would be enough to burn calories and i wouldn’t tire myself out that much.  Guess again…

My friend registered me in one of the races in UP and it was a 5k at that!!!  What the…My first excercise in 8 years…My first run exceeding 3k…My first race outside of the school fun run…How did I do?

hmmm Let me put ti this way, I was happy i made it home.  About 30 seconds into the race my legs were making it’s presence felt.  Had to stop after two mins as I though i was going to faint.  Then srarted walking again.  So after alternating walking and running,  more of the walking mind you i finished in 53 mins.  The things i remember about that race: 1) the pain, oh the pain!!  I think I could not walk properly for a week; 2) how much fun i had running.

The UP Great Run started it all for me because since then I’ve looked forward to Sundays so that I could race.  Plus this was the first time I met Ben, Chaia, Joms. Mon, Pen, Roselle, Smith all members of H@ppy Feet. A running group which helped me with my initial stages of running