Life Runner

Why?

2010-09-15T19:26:00.001+08:00

Why do you do it?

Why do you put yourself through such pain?

A bike ride in the middle of the day, are you CRAZY?

Doesn't it get boring?

Why are you pushing yourself so hard? For what?

I've been asked these questions quite a lot lately and to tell you the truth, I haven't really given it much thought until now. Well, for those who don't really know me, I try and train about six times per week with a rest day during Thursdays. I usually sneak in short mileages through out the weekdays and do my long runs/rides/swims during the weekends.

I've felt that I have dedicated my life into this so much that I can't seem to see myself doing anything but it. It has basically taken over my life (I hope that's a good thing).

Going back to the question, WHY? How can you do this, day in and day out, but still be able to get back the next day and do it all over again? To tell you the truth, I've found the answer through my past.

I was never really an achiever during my early days. To put it quite bluntly, I was one of those kids who you wouldn't want your own sons or daughters hanging around with. Nor was I one of those guys who the professor was clearly fond off. I was an early smoker at the age of 14, around second year high school and was also into a lot of other mischief in relation with that. A year later I got booted out of school and had to move. In my later years, it didn't get any better. I was clearly unprepared for college and basically only took two entrance exams (where in I was drunk in both instances) which I obviously failed.

In a nutshell, I've had a lot of mistakes. I've also had a lot of people give up on me. I know each one of them, I saw how they looked at me with that face, thinking I will never amount to anything. Not one of them even tried to talk to me and lead me properly. Basically they just assumed I would grow up to be that way.

Well today I am not that person, I've believe I have grown as a better man. Not realizing it till now, I think the sport is what has brought me to be that person. The sport has taught me how to be patient, work hard, and to always believe in yourself with the work you do, cause it will pay off.

So, why do I do this?

Well its for that person who takes his first step in changing his life, its for all the people who gave up on me, its for the people who believed in me, its for the ones who push themselves farther to find out who they really are, its for that person who dreams, and its for love of the sport.

If ever I were sent to one of those group therapy sessions, well these guys would be my support group

Triple A Cup (Aquathlon) Results

2010-09-14T13:58:00.003+08:00

Race Results
Event: Triple A Cup
Date: Sunday, September 12, 2010
Location : The Palms

Triple A Result Category

Triple A Results Overall

Taking the next step in this love affair

2010-06-28T10:51:00.001+08:00

When I first met her, I didn't even know if we were meant to be. I still gave it a try though. We usually meet every morning at the same place, at the same time. But, as time grew more of a constraint, we would have to make do with spontaneous moments we could find. Still, we made it work. Through thick and thin we were together, and that is what I believe has kept us going. Everyday she pushes me to work harder and I'm thankful for that. I have become a better man because of it.

Marking today, it has been a total of ten months since we've been together and I believe I am ready. I'm ready to give it to her and take our relationship to the next step. I know this won't be a mistake and I'm ready to take all the sacrifices to make this happen. Oh Runi I'm ready to do it.

I'm ready to run my first Marathon

But, just like the movies I want it to be special. I want it to be in a scenic route where I can always look back at and say, I ran that! I want memories of experiences through out the run to be embedded in my brain. I want it to be purely magical.

I'm not in that much of a hurry. But I need to know which marathon I will be joining next year so that I can make preparations. As of now, I'm internally debating between two events. These are Condura 2011 and the The Bull Runner Dream Marathon. If I could I would join both, but I need to set realistic goals. They both have good things to offer and I don't know which one to choose. Here are my thoughts on each one:

Condura 2011

its the skyway! Come on!! Need I say more?
the event is to die for, my first 10k was here and they had the best pre-race opening ever
the organizer Mr. Concepcion aka Running Shield is a runner himself, so I'm pretty sure most of the things runners have problems with are covered
again, its the SKYWAY!!!!

The Bull Runner Dream Marathon

I heard the dreamers here were pampered, really pampered!
I saw that they had great support and also there were seminars on attacking your first marathon
My turn off for this one is the route, it isn't as great

I actually don't have the full details on each one but I would really love to get your ideas and feedbacks on which would be the best event to have your first marathon in.

Please vote using the polls that I have attached or if you have other suggestions of better races, please do feel free to leave your comments. Thanks! =)

Disclaimer: Runi is a non-realistic, fictional character and I am not dating anyone. So yes girls, please do leave your cell-numbers at the comment box bellow. Thank you. =)

Down and Dirty at the New Balance Trail Run

2010-06-21T18:14:00.000+08:00

I remember celebrating Valentine's day here at Nuvali earlier this year, and here I was back again on Father's day running the trails once more.

This would be my second time doing a trail run and I have never been more excited. The idea of running through a forest of trees, methodically maneuvering through slippery rocks, and of course running through a river is my kind of FUN.

Coming into the race, I was very eager to get it started. I think I was excited being back with nature again. It's very different running the trails. The pavement is softer, the air is cleaner, the environment cooler, it kinda makes me think why we don't run here more often?

While warming up I noticed a few personalities in the crowd. One of them was the "afro man" himself (although I think he's been trimming it lately, not as poofy as it used to be) coach Rio, there were also a few kenyans who go into it (kenyans on trail runs too?? Wuhow!) and of course the ANR Alabang peeps.

As the race started, we were shocked cause all of us were facing north when the race route was actually to the south! It was the funniest thing ever since people started running one way and we were in awe that it was starting already.

The route we had was a very enjoyable one to say the least. It was filled with dirt tracks, steep descents, river crossings, and grass lands. If trail was what you wanted, trail is what you get! I even slipped on the descent to the river, but none the less I made sure I slipped in the "coolest" way possible. "Para astig parin, diba?" lol

Overall I would say that the experience of this race was a big 5/5. But in terms of event management I felt that a few other things should have been taken cared of:

colder post race refreshments
at least one more water station (they only had 2 all through out the 15km route)
lack of ample size of finisher shirts

But hey why let that ruin your day right? I was still all good vibes after the race cause the endorphins kept kicking my brain cells into overdrive. So thanks again to New Balance and Nuvali for providing us with such a great event!

Oh and here's a shout to all the gaurds and race marshals through out the trail, the nicest people I have ever met! Almost everyone of them greets you a gooooood morning!!

A breath of inspiration, the Animo Sprint Triathlon

2010-06-16T12:56:00.007+08:00

My eyes blew open as we entered the De La Salle Santiago Zobel swimming area last Sunday. Maybe it was just me, but I never saw a pool this wide and big, added to the fact that there were a lot of tri-athletes doing warm ups, my heart just blew open with excitement (which eventually led me to forget I was hungry).

I was here in the event with my brother and a couple of friends from ANR Alabang to act as support for sir John. We even had a banner for him and all!

As the race started I couldn't help but watch the athletes like a preying vulture, looking and dissecting each movement in search for techniques they had in their arsenal. The first part was the swimming leg. I enjoyed this portion the most, not only because this is the discipline I'm working on now; but since this is the only part of the race you can see from start to finish.

There was one athlete that day at the 40 and above age group who's swimming speed amazed me! From the start of the whistle you see him zoom past his competition. At the end of lane 1 he must have already opened up about a 25 meter gap and it just kept growing from there. Man was he fast! I didn't get his time but when he finished, I ran out with him to the transition area where he was getting ready to get on his bike. I was so glued on to him I felt like a stalker. lol

Over at the transition area, it was a heavenly sight. So many tri-bikes, road bikes, and a few mountain bikes shinning (at least in my eyes) under the sun. Oh the beauty, haaay..

I even saw my dream bike that day!

It's the Argon E-114.

(I hear angel's singing every time I see it)

*SNAP!*

Back on planet earth, the race was still going on and the bikers started the second leg of the race. We couldn't watch this part of the race so we hung around the finish line instead and snacked on the free hot dogs! (I'm sorry, I forgot the name of the company that sponsored them)

After a couple of hot dogs, well actually 5 hot dogs, the bikers started pouring in. And it was at this time that I learned the best way to stop a tri-athlete on his tracks. Here's the secret, you stand in front of him, bend your legs a little bit, raise up your arms in front of him and say:

STOP!

DISMOUNT!

I promise you, it works every time! lol

After dismounting, it was the last leg. RUN RUN RUN RUN!! Although I didn't really get to watch this part anymore cause my body finally realized that it needed to sleep. I was already looming into the dark side of my head and finally I was on auto-pilot. In my last fight to stay up, I realized that sir John was coming and spirits finally came back up. We were on full cheer mode as he made his way to the finish line.

Overall I really enjoyed this triathlon event. It opened my eyes to the things that need to be done to achieve feats like what these people did that day.

Some people call runners crazy for running such long distances, what are tri-athletes then? Lunatics? Well, if being a lunatic is what it takes, then lets get started!

*A special thanks goes out to Ms. Nao and Ms. Samantha for the photos from the event =)

A Newbie helping out the Newbie

2010-06-07T14:11:00.006+08:00

Questions, I think these are one of the things that we newbies have in common to the sport. Just like a four year old child, we are grasping all the concepts and ideas that running has to offer. Ideas that question everything ranging from shoes, running form, nutrition, and what not. I have been running for about 10 months and right about now, I would like to share some of my experiences so that they can be able to help out those who are just starting to get into the sport.

How do I start running?

You get out of your house and run! DOI! haha Kidding aside. The first step I believe is setting your mind right. Running is a very enjoyable sport, but I believe you should look to the future even before starting. A lot of people get caught up in what they call "Ningas Kugon" and this is what stops a jogger from becoming a runner. Running can be somewhat of a time and physically demanding sport, so you need something to hold on to while your out there. Imagine doing this three times a week every morning or after work, it can get pretty hard out there. So you need to have a deeper reason for this, cause if you will be running with no goals, it would be hard to see where you are going.

Have a goal in mind, take a look at what you want to seek out. A few possible goals could be:

Run your first 5k race
Lose Weight
Quit Smoking
Do the Marathon in the future
Total Lifestyle Change
Look better than your EX haha

What ever your reason may be, make sure it is something you want to do. Your the one making the choice to run anyways so its best to find your own reason for all this.

Now its time to run!!!

Depending on your fitness level, you first have to create a base for running. When I started running, the idea of continously running for 15-20 minutes sounded like an eternity in which I would already be crawling by the end of it. What I suggest is getting down to the basics with walk/run intervals. It isn't as glamorous as the other runners in the track, but don't worry cause they too most likely started this way.

Bellow I have put up a link on two different programs that are popularly used when starting out with your training.

The Couch-to-5K Running Plan Training for your first 5-K

If you want to start with something lighter, here is the most basic program I could find. I took it off completerunning.com. Workouts should be done, three times a week.

Stage One

Takes you from ground zero to running 45 minutes using a one minute walk, 10 minute run program.
Week	Walk Minutes	Run Minutes	Repetitions	Total Minutes
1	1	1	7	14
2	1	2	5	15
3	1	3	4	16
4	1	4	4	20
5	1	5	4	24
6	1	6	4	28
7	1	7	4	32
8	1	8	4	36
9	1	9	4	40
10	1	10	4	44

Stage Two

Gradually weans you off walk breaks so you can comfortably run 60 minutes without stopping.
Week	Walk Minutes	Run Minutes	Repetitions	Total Minutes
1	1	15	3	48
2	1	15	3	48
3	1	20	3	63
4	1	20	3	63
5	1	30	2	62
6	1	30	2	62
7	walk 1, run 40, walk 1, run 18 (total=60 minutes)
8	walk 1, run 45, walk 1, run 13 (total=60 minutes)
9	walk 1, run 50, walk 1, run 8 (total=60 minutes)
10	run 60 minutes continuously!

What sort of gear do I need in running?

It's a little confusing and honestly quite tempting (especially if you've been bitten by the running bug) to go out and get all these different running gear being sold in the market today.

There is a wide range of choices like singlets, shorts, skins, caps, heart rate monitors, gps tracking watches, energy belts, shades, etc. WOW!! Ease up on there. Here is my general rule, if you can run without it and it doesn't affect your training efficiency in any way, think twice before buying it.

Although, there is one gear you MUST get before running, these would be running shoes. I highly recommend on investing on running shoes before you start the sport. For one it will help motivate you to keep running, but the more important benefit here is how much more you will be able to enjoy and stay injury free through out the sport. Running can take its tole on your muscles and especially your knees. Having proper shoes for the sport can help lessen the chances of injury.

What sort of running shoes do I need?

Typically speaking there are three types of shoes. These are trail running shoes, your "normal" running shoe, and racing flats.

For simplicity sake I will focus on the "normal" running shoe in this entry. There are three sub types of shoes which are neutral, cushioning, and stability shoes. Which one you will be using will highly depend on what type of pronator you are.

While we run, our feet land differently from each other and that causes us to have varying "needs" when it comes to running.

Neutral = Neutral Shoes

Overpronator = Motion Control or Stability Shoes

Underpronator = Cushioning Shoes

To find out which type you are, you will need to get your gait checked. There are two stores in the metro that can do that for you. These are RUNR and Second Wind. Here they well let you run on their treadmill, then a video analysis will help check the angle of your landing and from there they can easily advice you on what type of runner you are.

After knowing your gait, you can now browse that certain type of shoe and then buy your first pair of running shoes. YAY!!!!

What is the proper running form?

Now in this issue there is a lot of debate going on from Chi Running, Barefoot Running, and what not. So there is basically a mix of different running techniques right about now. Here though is a video that I found, which has the basics of each running style and which I believe is at least the fundamentals of running forms.

What should I be eating before my runs?
Most people, especially those who want to lose weight think that not eating before your run is the fastest way to lose that gut. That is actually a false myth which will leave you with adverse effects more than anything. Eating before any workout is a must (especially in the morning) since you will be expending energy. How can you finish your workouts if you have no energy to use? Pretty much makes sense right?

Next question is, what should we eat? Well after watching the seminar "The Science of Traithlon" I learned two things.

1. We should be eating 200-300 calories two hours before working out. The food should generally be low in fiber since the fiber leads to that pain in our stomach while we exercise. In the last hour before our workout, it should only be water.

2. We should be eating high-glycemic food about 10 minutes before working out. Generally this would be "sugary" things so that it will help send a spike through out our body and give us an energy boost.

What should I do if something begins to hurt in my body?
When something hurts, generally that means that a certain muscle is being overworked or it could be due to improper form. The medication I usually do for this is ice, stretch, and rest. What I like to do is visit the Runner's Body over at Runner's World and I try to find out what muscle hurts. From there I research on how to stretch and strengthen that certain muscle.

What sort of warm up should I do and what stretches?
I preach the warm up before stretching routine. I like to do dynamic stretches before a workout. Examples of these are doing lunges, squats, arm circles, push ups, or what not. These are all done with no weights. Why is that? Well, I remember reading how static stretching is used to relax our muscles and help it loosen its stiffness. It's kinda like the "off" button somehow in terms of our muscle. Doing the dynamics stretches on the other hand gets it ready to do more. The dynamic stretch is somehow the prequel to the main workout. So in short I do dynamic stretches at the start of the workout and static stretches at the end.

I hope I covered most of the questions you would have had. I am not saying that these are the right and only way of doing things but, this is what has worked for me and I hope they could help you too.

Setting New Limits (21k Nature Valley Run)

2010-05-31T11:09:00.009+08:00

The half marathon.
I finally did it.

It hasn't dawned upon me -until now while I type this blog- that I have finally ran this race distance. I'm half way to my dream marathon. Wow. (That just made me smile there lol)

Event: Nature Valley Run (RunRio Trilogy Leg 2)
Date: May 30, 2010
Location: The Fort, Taguig
Time: 4:30 AM

Laid back was how I felt that morning as I began lining up with the 21k participants. The whole week I've been trying to get pumped for the race but nothing really seemed to spark. Probably it never sunk in that I was running the distance.

There were more than the usual number of 21k runners that day, this was very nice since it just shows how much the sport has been growing stronger and how its participants are continually improving in their discipline.

The race route that day is as follows:

The start of the race went very well for me. I was averaging about 5:07/km for the first 9km and my spirit towards the race was very high. But once we got back to the Buendia overpass, my body and mind started to have worlds of their own. I was struggling to keep my pace so I had to make do with hitting at least 6:00/km to have a fighting pace. This went on quite well for the next few kms until I came to McKinley Hills which spanned through Lawton till Bayani Road.

Up till now I still don't know how I managed to go through that crazy route. The roads were as hilly as they can be and I struggled all through out it. The course reaching to the turn around point felt like forever. I managed to keep running, but I had to stop for walking breaks to catch my breath. By the time I got to the turn around mark, I felt a feeling of accomplishment sweep through my body, but I knew this was far from over.

Downhills=Uphills

It's a pretty basic equation isn't it?

So basically I just went through that hell in Mckinley Hills one more time on my way back. This time around though I was exhausted. I was finito, done, all my strength was gone. I was taking walking breaks every 2 minutes and my running pace was shall we call it "KALAT!". Three times I just stood there, bent knees gasping for air, thinking if I could finish still finish this race. Certain questions boggled my mind:

Am I meant for this running thing?

Should I just sit down now and give up?

I can't even do this properly, how can I ever be a triathlete.

This was the hardest I have ever gone in a race and I've never felt as exhausted as I did. But what kept me going was the strength of finishing what I have started. I have failed and given up in a lot of different things, and having big accomplishments isn't really one of my strong points. But, I told myself: "Not this. I will NOT GIVE UP on this. I won't fail this time."

As lanky and feeble as I looked in those last 4kms, I gave it my all. I would still need to run/walk through it all but I struggled on to keep pushing. In the last 800m I was again spent, but a voice shouted out from the sideline "Elmer! Malapit na!!". It was Jai, from our Alabang Adination Running Club. Man, did that give me a boost! I pushed and ran as fast as I physically can in those last few meters, my lungs were burning, muscles stiffening, and that idea of stopping again just felt so good, but no I will run I said! Just a few more meters, and WOW! I made it.

Those were the words that I kept hearing in my mind. I made it. I didn't care if there was a medal, I didn't care about my time, all that matters was that I made it.

Although I did care about the Hagendaz! haha

Finishing a race was never so sweet! A free pint of Hagendaz was given to the 21k finishers, man was it good!

My offical finish time was 2hr 16min 16sec

My next goal is to run the half-marathon again, but this time at better and stronger pace than ever. Next stop, Camsur!!

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and Sub-2:12 marathoner

2 Races, 1 weekend.. A Life Lesson

2010-05-02T16:15:00.003+08:00

It was back to back races this weekend for me. The first was a 5km run for "Takbo para kay Kristo" and a 16km run for "RUNew" I will do away with the usual race analysis and instead I'll focus on how these runs have helped me learn new lessons and grow stronger as a runner and as a person.

Competitiveness 

This was something I have never felt with any other sport, until I found running. I have never seen myself want to push harder so that I can always come up on top as better. This is where I learned that hard work does pay off.

Discipline
I would say that I have never been anymore disciplined in a certain area of my life until running came around. From waking up at 5am to get ready for a run, to having to squeeze in an afternoon strength workout before dinner, I am ready to do it all now.

Perseverance
Running is so much of a learning process that sometimes it catches you by surprise. At one point you may feel like your on top of the world being able to conquer 15km runs while on other days a 5k run will feel like HELL. Running has taught me that you just gotta keep going at it, again and again. Give up now and you'll give up forever.

Dreaming
Aspirations are what keep us on track. These are long term goals that we strive to reach. Running has made me start dreaming again, it has made me believe that anything can be possible and you can achieve anything as long as you start now. My dream? Run the Boston Marathon.

Here are pictures from the events during the weekend:

Takbo Para Kay Kristo 2010 Pictures

RUNew 2010 Pictures

Running faster, longer, and smarter

2010-04-22T14:53:00.004+08:00

40hours 43min 25seconds

That is how much time I have spent on running, to date. Over that span of time I have covered exactly 393.25km, which is about Manila to Vigan.

At this point, I am faced with the strong urge to improve. If I will keep on running, I know that I need to run smarter.

What do I mean when I say run smarter? Well, I need to learn the proper form. Ever since I started running I have always been reading articles regarding proper form. Some say to land on your mid-foot, lean forward, do a higher stride rate, etc. But, who am I to say oh this is right or that is right? It all just confused me. So back then I just let it be.

Now though things need improvement. I have noticed that I have not been able to run any faster nor last longer on long runs. I know I have put in the training, but somehow things don't mesh together. So, I set on a small adventure to find the reasons behind my impediment.

My first step was to look for a running clinic and lucky enough I found one and was able to attend it.

Frunk Training System

(clink link to visit site)

This was a free running clinic being given by Coach Frank from Bacolod. It was a very informative clinic to say the least. We started off with a warm up where in he looked at each of our running forms and distinguished which movements were in-efficient. He then shifted to explaining how certain body parts are suppose to be moving. One example is the arm swing, which he said has to be 90 degrees and must not cross your center of gravity.

One of the most important tips I feel that he gave was regarding stride rate. He mentioned that in one minute we should have a stride rate of 90 per leg, which all in all is around 180 strides. This was very important since it helped me in not over striding (which leads to heel strike), lessened impact on my legs, and actually made me faster.

Here is a tip: I was able to do the 180 strides per minute by listening to a metronome that ran on 180bpm and followed it. I've uploaded it for you guys, just download it and upload it to your Ipod then take it for a run. It goes 1-2-3-4 right-left-right-left.

http://www.filedropper.com/180bpm4-4_1

Here is the data that I got from my Nike plus after doing a 5km run

Those certain key points you see on top is not my time per km. This was my average pace per km.

At first the techniques given by coach Frank felt very awkward. The mid foot - fore foot running felt like I was "tiptoeing". Also, my calves felt like HELL after wards. But overall, these are the only complaints I have. He said though that it takes time to adjust, he explained that we are changing the way we run and it does not happen overnight.

On the other hand the improvements that I have seen far outweighs everything.

1. Speed seemed to come naturally. The last time I would run at a pace of 4:23/km I was huffing and puffing and my lungs felt like they were going to explode. This time around I didn't even feel a thing, no joke. I was actually stunned seeing my pace after the 5km run cause I actually thought I was going quite slow.

2. Cardio feels lighter. Along with the speed, I actually feel like I have more energy throughout the run. It feels like not much of my energy is expended in my runs. Feels very nice.

Overall I highly recommend Coach Frank's clinics. I myself am already considering on getting some personal training from him, to be able to help me reach my goal of qualifying for Boston one day. I believe that not only will he be able to improve my running but also help me reach my full potential. It's only now that I really see and feel the importance of having a coach. Thanks coach Frank!

So now, that's that. I've got my answers and its time to run!

15km Mizuno Infinity Run - Winning a Race Against Myself

2010-04-11T14:26:00.004+08:00

Races and even running is always said to be a fight against yourself. You are not running against other runners, not your friends, nor your family, but your running against the man in the mirror.

This was the main idea behind the race presented by Mizuno Infinity Run "beat your time". It was an annual event and runners were challenged to beat their old time from the past year and showcase how much better they have become.

This event not only tests the physical capacity of a runner, but also his mental discipline. The mental aspect of running for me is the harder discipline to overcome because self-doubt always gets the best of me. I'm a firm believer that the mind controls everything, so if the mind is willing then the body will follow. Although, I may have the words down, but I still need more experience and practice to live this saying.

On to the race.

Gun start for the 15km race changed from 6:00am to 5:30 am. I honestly did not know there was a change til last night when a good soul posted it on facebook. If it were not for him I would have been late for the race. I think that the organizers should have found a better way to inform runners that there was a change in time. It wasn't even posted on the Mizuno website or anything, tsk tsk..

The race route for this run started at "The Fort" and made its way through Makati and all the way past SLEX. Then the turn around is in the middle of Buendia Ave in Manila. The route was fairly easier compared to the 15km route in Globe since this was mostly flat.

My goal for this run was to beat my old time of 1hr 26min 32sec

As the race started, I ran my heart out for the first 1km and finally paced myself after. I sometimes ask myself if there is some sort of strategy to this running thing. Do I pace for the first few km and then run my heart out? What is it? Well, I actually had no idea. My only rule was, keep on running! =)

-later though my therapist told me about doing tempo in the first 10km and then doing intervals to finish it off, *bwaaahahahaha!* im excited to try that next time-

Too bad I didn't know about it earlier cause I could have used this for the hell I just went through in this race.

The first 7km were no good. No good at all. I was huffing and puffing through the route. I was barely in that "zone" you get when you run. Everything was heavy and my feet were acting up with some sort of "hot" pain.

After this I felt it again. That need to walk. I couldn't help but sneak in a few 10-15 second walk breaks to ease the pain and let my lungs take a deeper breath. Thankfully they helped better this time and I was able to easily come back to my pace and keep running.

Everything was going fine until I hit 14km into the race. So near but yet so far right? Well, it doesn't get anymore ironic than that. I suddenly felt pain on the side of my stomach which made it hard to breath. I wanted to keep running but the pain kept pulling me back. At this point I put one arm to squeeze it while I kept on going. I managed to ease the pain for about a few meters but the pain kept coming back.

I was barely 500 meters from the finish line. At this point I prayed, I asked God to help me. And well believe it or not in that instant the pain left me. Not only that I felt lighter and I was able to pick my pace back up. On my way to the finish line, I must have passed 10 runners in that short distance. It was one miracle which came in the perfect time.

I finished the race in 1hr 19min 16sec

So am I happy? Hell yeah I'm happy! But not contented. I still know I can do better. I know there is still a lot of room to improve on and I will work even harder to get those improvements ready for the next 15km race. Til next time, later!

Pictures from the Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 can be viewed here:

Life Runner - Multiply

Botak Paabilisan 2010 at Baguio

2010-03-31T14:52:00.054+08:00

Botak is a sports shop in Quezon City which makes jersey's, shorts, and other sporting apparel.

Every year they hold an event called the "Botak Paa-bilisan Road Race Series" in Baguio. This year I was one of the lucky ones to be joining the race.

This is a pretty special race because it will be the first race that I will be doing out of town. I always thought my first out of town race would be somewhere in Tagaytay or Batangas. Oh well, this is way out of town and that's whats makes it more special.

We were a whole bunch that day. My cousins came along for the run and I'm very happy that they too have really been getting into running. Ever since I started, it was quite lonely. I did my first race alone, but then as it progressed more and more, people came with me to run. Maybe next time there we will be even more of us!

I was doing the 10k race in this event. Honestly, I was scared. Very scared. One week prior to this, I ran the 15k Globe Run for Home, and in this run I realized that hills are my biggest challenge. I gave out on the hills at Fort and the flyover at Buendia, it was too much for me. Now I am in Baguio, which is obviously notorious for having HILLS HILLS HILLS!!

Race started at 6:30 a.m. and it was freezing!! It took a while to get warmed up, but eventually I was ready to run!

As my brother and I started to line up, we noticed that there actually weren't a lot of runners. I would estimate the participants to be only around 80 maybe. To tell you the truth this actually felt good, for the first time the starting line wasn't all squishy and tight.

As the race started, I quietly paced myself at the back. Most of the runners passed me and I thought nothing of it. The hills were my enemy here and not them.

The race route was about 85% hills. The first few hills were challenging, but as you go on, you actually get used to them. I remember how I would dread the sight of the hills last week, but that day my mind just kept saying "bring it on!".

The view of the race route was majestic. It was trees all around you, the cool air, and the sight of runners making their way through the roads. This race was one for the books.

I finished with a time of

56min 16sec

I was very happy with the result of this race. A sub 60 was my goal here and I did it! I also feel that I have finally conquered the hills. I promise though, when I get back to training I'm going to integrate hill runs into my weekly routine.

After the race we had a few more photo shoots as usual haha

What better way to end a race then to eat back all the calories you just burned!

These steaks were the best 250 pesos ever spent.

Botak Paabilisan Experience: 4/5

Other pictures for the event can be found here:

Life Runner Multiply Account

Globe Run for Home 2010 Pictures

2010-03-25T15:09:00.000+08:00

I have a few photos of some runners from the event. Maybe on of them is you! Here is the link:

Globe Run for Home

Globe Run for Home 15km

2010-03-21T14:34:00.001+08:00

The Globe Run for Home was my first 15km race. I have been training for it for the last few months since it was a pit stop on my way to the first 21km race which I will be doing on May 30.

We were there early at 4 a.m. since we didn't want parking to be an issue for us. I was running this race with my brother Rex and my sister in law Pam.

My plan for this race was simple. Just RUN IT! I've recently come off an injury and have just been cleared to run. My therapist though told me to take it easy on this one, so I did.

The 15km race started at exactly 5:30 A.M. Honestly I was barely even pumped to do the run. I was still yawning and I didn't feel that fire I usually have, especially on a race. Oh well, here we go!

The run started out quite alright. I started in the middle pack so that I wouldn't be tempted to run fast. The route started at Ayala Ave and made its way towards The Fort. The first 5km went by fine. There wasn't any pain, my pacing was good, and my endurance felt sky high.

Once we reached Fort it became HELL for me. Fort is a very hilly place, especially the route we had onto the cemetery. If I would have one weakness, hills would be it. I barely get to train on them so once I see them on the race it just gives a total shock to my body.

Right up til 10km my body was able to push through. But after that, it went all haywire on me. I felt like a big weight was put on me. My legs were heavy, my shoulders were shrugging, and I couldn't stop looking at my watch to see how much further.

It was as if, my body had given up. It didn't want to run anymore, it was telling me stop but I told him we gotta do this and we gotta do this now. I kept pushing as far as I could, but the finish line doesn't seem to get any closer.

Finally, at 11km I gave out. I had to walk. Arrrr.... Crap I can't believe that happen, but it did.

"Ok, I have this one rule, and its

NEVER WALK IN RACE."

I always had this rule ever since my first race. I just never wanted to. It feels weird and it feels like that just means you shouldn't be running that mileage if you can't handle it. Well that's just me.

Going back, after about 10 seconds I started running again and was able to do another km before I had to stop and walk again for another few seconds. It was really weird, it seemed my body was doing everything to make me stop running. It even gave me cramps on my jaw! I couldn't open my mouth for a while cause when ever I do, it cramps up.

I finished with a time of 1hr 26min 32sec

This actually isn't that bad a time, and well this was my first 15km. I just knew though I could have done better. After pondering for a while, I've actually come up with the conclusion that the reasons why all this happen to me today was because I was very unprepared days before the race.

- I didn't "carbo load" even just a little for the past 3 days. Yesterday I didn't eat for 6 hours straight, there is barely any thing left in me
- No proper mileage run this week due to my injury
- Inadequate sleep

Honestly, at first I actually felt bad cause not walking was something that I felt defined me. That was my "forever goal" in any race, and well now I failed.

Now though I realized this is a learning process, running is a very long journey and I have yet to even chip the tip of iceberg. Both success and failure will come, what defines us is how we respond to these things.

Now I have a new goal! "never walk, AGAIN" =)

Globe Run for Home Experience: 4/5

My Doctor says Hi! I say, Good Bye!

2010-03-11T07:25:00.000+08:00

It's always a pleasure and a pain to visit my physical therapist. For one, I love chatting with him for hours about running cause he too is a runner. But each time we see each other, in most instances I'm injured; and this was one of those instances.

I have two injuries, one was that I was feeling pain in my tibialis anterior tendon when ever I was walking

the other was on my soleus when I bended a certain way

It all pretty much started when I tried correcting my form. At first I thought it was just one of those aches when your muscles are trying to adjust to something new. But, it went on for about a week so right after the Unilab Race I told myself this might be something serious.

So once I got it diagnosed my doctor indicated that it was getting overused and I need to dial it down a little. In an instant I asked "So, no Running??" He said "Well kinda of, you can run in the pool if you want to"

Arrr.. No choice I guess. So right after diagnosing, we went down to business.

We started off by heating the injured parts for about 20 minutes

After we went on to do ultra sound which heats up the muscles inside.

Then lastly we moved on to some exercises which honestly boggled my mind. At first I thought it was a joke, but I think back now and they really work!!

Here is a video of the exercise I had to do for my left foot, I had to draw the ABC with that foot haha

Before the doctor discharged me he mentioned that I first get clearance with him before running my next race which is the 15k for Globe. As of now though, the pain has already subsided or maybe its the pain killers he gave me? haha Well either way I think one more therapy session should do the trick =)

The 5k Unilab "feeling Kenyan" Run

2010-03-09T11:15:00.014+08:00

The 5k Unilab Run was a memorable run for me cause it was the first time I ran with friends and other family members. Let's do a roll call!!

1. Elmer Ching 5k                        6. Jeremiah Lee 5k
2. Rexton Ching 21k                    7. Sarah Legazpi 3k
3. Youma Shiozawa 5k                 8. Pamela Ching 3k
4. Alyssa Apostol 5k                    9. Ashley Legazpi 500m
5. Ryan Rotor 5k

Yes there were a lot of us spread through out the run. Initially I joined this race for my cousin so I can accompany her in the 5k run, (which actually had a pretty funny story, more on that later) but as I started telling others it just spread like wild fire and people began signing up.

We arrived at Bonifacio High Street at about 4:30 am. We got there really early to make sure that we got parking -the Superbods experience still haunts me after finding out people didn't get to park which led them to not being able to run- and were able to do our pre-race rituals.

At about 5:30 am we all found each other except for my one cousin. I was getting a little scared that she might not make it on time.

I promised her that I would run with her, but I can't miss gun start. 5:45 came and still she was no where in sight. I then told myself "I guess I'm gonna try for a PR then" hahaha

I instantly rushed to the front of the race line since it was already about to start. Man was it a challenge! Squeezing through all those people was a race in itself.

Once I made it up front and as the countdown started it was go time for me.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.. RUN!!!!

I did not pace myself at all in the start of the race, I did my best to blast away from the pack as much as possible. It was not until 2km into the race that I was finally left with only a few runners, at this point all that was was going through my mind was to pace myself but not so much that people from behind can already begin to catch up.

Honestly the race was fairly short and I was actually shocked when all of a sudden, WHOOP! it was already the turn around. Oh well, good for me I right? At that turn around I then started to pick up the pace.

Once I started to make my way back, the main pack of runners just started to come into the first turn and well at this point I felt like a Kenyan (let me be!!! hahaha). Most people who have been running races know that exact feeling. It's when you see that the Kenyans are actually on their way back already while your still on the way to the turn around. Yes! for once I was one of those few people who were on their way back. hahaha

Over all I finished the race with a time of 22:32 and placed in 9th place overall. Wuhooo!!!

And as I always I feel that I could have never accomplished this without God who has always been blessing me in my runs.

Question: Since the 3rd and 4th were DQ, does that make me 7th? hahaha

As I crossed the finish line I went straight to Honda which was our meeting point. I was there for a few minutes stretching and cooling down when all of a sudden, WUHOW!! My cousin appeared, apparently she overslept and actually just arrived. I then told her, lets go run sayang naman binyad mo eh. And we did, so I actually did a 10k on that day. lol

The second run I did was actually pretty fun. There were no more runners left on the road except for the 21k runners. It was nice and peaceful. This was the run I was looking forward to. Usually I always get to engrossed in the race that I don't have time to breath in the view and enjoy the run I am doing. This felt like the real run for me.

By the time we got back all our friends and family were there too.

In all I want to congratulate all my friends who finally did their first race and I hope this will be the start of many more races to come, yes?

My Unilab Experience gets a 4/5 =)

Whats the plan Stan?

2010-02-24T17:58:00.006+08:00

Before the end of this month it will officially be 5 months since I made the decision to start running. I can still remember back in September 2009, I started at the weight of 165 pounds... Ooof! Such a big big boy haha Here is a small preview of the before and after..

I recently finished my second 10k race and I've began to contemplate on what is next for me. My goal since I started running was only to finish the 5k race without walking.

After that things kinda just happen. I started running more, increasing mileage and next thing I know, a month later I did my first 10k race. So as of right now I want to plot it somehow and have a short term , a long term and a "dream goal".

Lately, I've been toying around the idea of doing the marathon next year. I'm particularly eying the Condura Marathon 2011. I know I have a lot of mileage to do for this but I think God willingly that I can make it by that time. My only goal for the marathon, heck my only goal for any race is that I will be able to run it all throughout. I never liked the idea of walking in a race, its just not right for me.

I have decided that I will use races to help motivate me to get the mileage. They will be my check points through out the year. Thanks to the list at takbo.ph I have chosen specific races to get me ready for the 42k next year. Here is my list:

Globe Run for Home - 15k - March 21, 2010
Mizuno Infinity Run - 15k - April 11, 2010
Run Rio Trilogy Leg 2 - 21k - May 30, 2010
Camsur Marathon - 21k - September 26, 2010
Run Rio Trilogy Leg 3 - 32k -Nov 21, 2010

So far these will be the races that I should be ready for. Most likely I will still be joining other races in the middle of all this, but these are the majors ones that I am going to be putting on top of my list.

If all goes well, I think I'm going to be ready by then to do the 42k on February 6, 2011. Yes it's already on my calendar! haha

As for my "dream goal" well I came up with it right after watching the movie "Spirit of the Marathon". All of you guys who watched it know what I'm going to say next don't you?

Well here goes, my "dream goal" is to

run the Boston Marathon one day.

The way I want to get in is by being able to qualify for it. I really don't know if I can make it, who knows maybe I never will. But, lately I keep it in my mind and in my heart. I use it to fuel me stronger when I train and I keep it up there as something I want to achieve for myself. If I ever do, that will be my mecca of running.

My journey starts now.

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." -Doug Larson

10k Century Tuna Superbods Run

2010-02-22T08:32:00.003+08:00

HUWWWWAAAAWW!

That was the first reaction I instantly got when I arrived at Bonifacio High Street that morning. It was the coolest and most sophisticated starting line I had ever seen. I felt like Optimus Prime had transformed into it.

I stared with my usual pre-race ritual which was a warm up run going away from the race site and breathing in the atmosphere that I was about to submerege myself into. By doing this, I always feel that I take away the pre-race jitters and get more relaxed.

On to the race! My distance for this one was 10km and I was looking to do my run and do it as I always do. If I break my PR then yay and if not, its all good. It was a no pressure run for me.

We were sent off at about 5:35am and it was game on! The race route pretty much went around the fort, there were a lot of turns which honestly made me a little confused cause you don't know your suppose to turn until your there. Add this to the fact that there were some parts thats were not well lit, so your pretty much running blind.

Through the run, I was actually shocked cause I caught up with the 21k runners and that actually complicated a few things for me. Since it was dark, I was basing my turns and what not on the person in front of me which I expected to be 10k runners. But lo and behold, now it gets confusing cause I was mixed with 21k runners and of course we don't have the same route.

Thankfully though, I came out of it alright and I was on my way back to the finish line. At that point I was thinking that everything was going to be alright. But it was very far from it. I was about 1km away from the finish line and then I got mixed up with the 3k runners and some 5k runners. ARRRRR....

This was not just a few runners, this was the late pack of runners so it was a sea of runners again that I had to dodge through. It was honestly quite stressful, added to this was that I was guessing my way back to the finish line. I actually had to start looking for other 10k runners and ask them where is the way back..

On the final stretch to the finish line there were actually a few people who stop way before the line and take pictures. Forgive me for the profanity now but F* YOU! Damn it! There are other runners behind you!! That's the final lane to the finish line, so you DO NOT STOP right there. I actually had to run from side to side, jump over this mini baricade just so that I don't wont need to stop.. arrrr....

Wusaaaaaaaaa...... WOOOOOOOOOOOSaaaaaaa....

I finished the race with a time of 49:43.Yes, this was a new PR for me but in my head I knew I could have done better if things were a little more organized. But none the less I am very happy with what I have.

Well, I'm not going to go on anymore rambling about this and that. All I can say is, it could have been better. It was a pretty big race holding about 12,000 runners and probably it was bit overwhelming for the organizers.

I've also read the apology that coach Rio already posted and I'm quite confident that on the second leg of the run rio trilogy things will turn out way much more better.

On an added not, the updated results of the 10k run came out, and I finally found name. I'm a little confused and shocked honestly, really? hmmm... I duno, I smell something fishy here.. I'm still sticking to my watch time of 49:43. That time up there maybe true, it also may not. But I honestly believe I don't deserve that, its just WHAT!? Can someone help me confirm this? It would be of great help, thanks =)

Valentines at Nuvali

2010-02-15T10:43:00.002+08:00

It was a nature trail. The sweet breeze of the air, the lovely tall trees all around you, and the beautiful sound of the river flowing down the stream. Oh what a place to take a nice stroll down with your special someone.. Awwwww...

This was the setting for the North Face Thrill of the Trail Run at Nuvali last Sunday. They had two different distances for the race. They had a 11km and 22km run and it was divided into two, one for singles and one for couples.

I joined the 11km singles run, maybe next year I can do couples? *wink wink hahaha Moving on, this was my first trail run and I honestly did not know what to expect out of it. I have been looking at pictures of the trail prior to the race, but then I don't think the pictures really did justice to what I was to face that day.

Gun start was at 5:45 am and we were there as early as 5:00 am. My goal for this race was just to make it to the top 100 cause they get free finisher shirts! Wuhoooo!!

As the countdown started, I was pumping myself up to get ready to run the unknown. And in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 we were off!

(Please be informed if you are bellow 18, please stop reading now cause the entry bellow will be filled with so much profanity that my momma will smack me from here to Antarctica)

The start of the run was on the road and I easily whisked through the crowd. At about 400m later it was the start of the trail and my friends let me say this out loud now "SHHHHHIIIIIITTTT!!!!!"

Thing is, I have NEVER ran a trail and for one those rocks are "BITCHES!" They feel weird under your foot, its like their trying to annoy you or something.

The picture here to your right is the first "dirt road" we ran and this was barely anything compared to what was to follow.

After the dirt road, the trail started to turn grassy and the surface became uneven. This is where HELL started for me.

The uneven surface forced me to look down since I had to know at which parts I'm going to be running in. Aside from this, there were ditches that you had to jump over, it was way too overwhelming for me at the start of the race and I was honestly getting a little dis-heartened to keep running at this point. But, I knew this was a challenge and I should never back down.

I then closed my eyes and prayed to God who always gives me strength to push further than I think I can. I asked him to help me push through as he always does so that I can glorify him with the gift that he has given me.

Going through the trail we moved our way down and to a small river side. It was pretty small but it was filled with rocks, both enormous and dinky. The challenge at this part was navigating your way through the rocks and the water to find the best possible path.

The surface here was extremely wet & soft. It was sandy on some parts, so at times you sink with out noticing it. The rocks were a scary sight too cause you would have to jump on them & pray that you don't slip.

Past the river we made our way back up the mountain. (It was easier said than done, imagine running up a mountain. Yes that is exactly what we did. EXACTLY OK!)

The trail at that part was the grassy type and at that point of the race, that kind of trail was my best friend. It was about another 6km of that surface til we made it back on the road towards the finish line.

I finished at a time of 1hr 9min 38sec

It was a love-hate relationship that day. I really love nature, but having it mixed with running is just not my thing. I have great respect to the people who do this. This was INTENSE!

There is another upcoming trail run in a few months and it will be in Baguio if I'm not mistaken. So if you will ask me if I will do it again. The answer will be a big HELL NO! haha Maybe next year, but as of now I would rather stick to the road.

Oh and yeah, if you were wondering did I make it to the first 100?

I sure did! I came in at 21st place! WUHOOOOO!!!! Quite ironic isn't it? Oh well... I got the free shirt and that's all I was gunning for. =)

My shoes after the trail run. I cant believe I was contemplating on wearing my Nike Lunar for this. I would be crying right this moment if I did.

The Simple Life

2010-02-10T10:11:00.000+08:00

I have always though about how people from the olden times like the stone age, medieval, roman times, etc. always looks so ripped and buffed. I mean think about it, about 90% of them were all very healthy, lean, and quite strong. Pictures and paintings always represented them this way.

But, comparing today and before, we have all these things like exercise machines, dumbbells, protein shakes, gatorade, diet pills, and what not, yet still we have a much harder time keeping ourselves in shape. They who had a little or even none of these things were in the greatest shape of their lives. Why is that?

Well probably because, today we aren't NATURAL anymore. Most of the things that we eat or do are all somehow "pre-made". Just take a look around us, when was the last time we ate natural good old cooked food? Almost all the things around us are made in factories just like our canned food, dairy products, and canned vegetables which are all bombarded with preservatives.

Even in terms of exercise, there are a lot of things that we make our bodies do that it wasn't really made for. Although, with running I've always felt a connection with it. I've always felt that this was something that we should really be doing. I mean think about it, what comes more natural than any other sport than running? Compare it to sports like soccer, weightlifting, badminton, etc. they are all somehow rooted from running.

This is why I love running, cause its real and it is what it is. Running is... Running, no more, no less =)

Condura Run 2010 Pictures

2010-02-10T09:33:00.000+08:00

I have about 200+ pictures of runners during the Condura Race last Sunday, feel free to browse them maybe you will find a picture of yourself =) Just click the link bellow

Condura 2010

P.S.
Most of these are 10k Runners

10k Condura Race aka Debut of the Sexy Running Shorts

2010-02-08T12:30:00.002+08:00

In describing the Condura Race 2010, this is all I can say:

I haven't attended a lot of races, heck I've only done three so far. But, if I were to have my standards set, this would be the race that sets the bar. Everything wasn't perfect, but everything that really mattered was. The race kit pick up, race day, water stations, etc. were all thought off and carefully planed, and they were executed beautifully.

Let's look at why it was such a memorable run for me, shall we?

The night before race day I went to bed at about 7:30pm, but I was tossing and turning for 2 hours till I finally fell asleep. I am guessing the excitement really got to me. I then woke up at about 3:00am, got my things ready and finally made my way to Fort Bonifacio

The start of the race was at 28th street, so we rushed there as soon as we parked our car. Upon reaching the starting line, we saw that the 21k runners were about to start so I went straight ahead and warmed up. A few minutes later it was the 10k's turn to start and I finally made my way to the starting line where I situated myself at the middle of the pack.

While waiting for the race to start, the organizers had something special for the racers. At about two minutes before gun start they had fireworks shooting up into the sky while some dancers were dancing to the song "I Got a Feeling by Black Eyed Peas". It was a great pump up for everyone.

When the staring gun was finally fired, WUHOOO!! It was time to RUN

The race route was from Bonifacio Highstreet going to Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati.

The start of the race wasn't so good for me, I started out too fast compared to my normal pace and at the 1km mark I felt dry and heavy. Good thing there was already a water station early on, so I drank a little water and got myself back on track.

Moving to the 2nd and 3rd km I was still feeling a little of the sluggishness and was scared for the rest of the race. At that point I prayed, I prayed to God asking Him to give this to me and bless me with the strength to move past this and finish the race strong.

In the end, my time are as follows:

52:18 - My watch
52:33 - Condura's Official Time

I am very very happy with my time, it was my goal at the start of this year to run a 10k on a sub 1hour and I did it!! Yay!!! Although can someone explain this to me, does this mean I came in 73rd place? hahaha I got this off the Condura Website

I can say that this was a good debut for both my first 10k and the sexy running shorts

Here are the highs and the lows of the race as I have experienced

The High

Well placed water stations
Very good touch on the pump up program at the start of the race
Lots of sponsors and lots of goodies
Organized traffic of runners
The very funny cheering squad which actually reminded me of this video

The Low

It was very dark at the buendia flyover *PITCH BLACK

So as I said earlier, this really was THE RACE for me. I would like to thank the organizers for everything, I know it must have been a whole lot of work to pull this off.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! =)

Here are some additional pictures of some of the personalities that found its way into my camera:

Race Kit Pick Ups

2010-02-05T20:51:00.005+08:00

Today was a special day because I snuck away from work to pick up three race kits over at Bonifacio Highstreet. haha They were all there so it was a perfect time to do it! Here are the kits I wanted to pick up today:

Condura Race
TNF Race (North Face)
Unilab Race

Well out of the three, I only got two because, apparently the singlets for the TNF aren't printed yet. Quite a hassle 'cause they said it would be ready by February and I came all the way from Laguna to get them. arrrgh!! Oh well, at least I got my two other race kits.

The Condura Race Kit had:

1.Race Bib
2.Race Shirt
3.Feminine Wash
4. Editable Race Bib
5. The Glow in the dark thing
6.Nutri Bar

I was one of the first for the Condura pick up and I think all those that were there had one thing to say, ANG INET!!! Yes, we stood there in the midst of the torching heat to pick up our race kits. But, it didn't matter because in the end we still all came out as happy boys and girls. haha

Looking at the race kit I said.. "Wow! No singlet?" Then I read it again, I misunderstood race bib as being a singlet. Damn.. that actually got me a little depressed cause I was expecting to have a new singlet from this. Oh well, a few moments later I got something to cheer me up! Scroll down a little more to see =p

The Unilab Race Kit had a little more goodies inside:

1. I'm not going to name each one, but there were a whole bunch of medicines ranging from enervon to cold ease and what not.
2. Race Singlet
3. Race Bib
4. The bag

My First SEXY Running Shorts

Apart from Condura being my first 10k race, this will be the debut of my first sexy running shorts! These are the really shorts ones and I bought them on sale at Nike for only 800 pesos. Wuhoo!! Condura here I come!!

The bicycle makeover challenge!

2010-01-27T09:25:00.002+08:00

Lately I have decided that I want to cross train running with cycling. Two problems though occurred as I made this decision:

I don't have a bicycle
I don't know how to ride a bicycle

Yes yes, I a am 21 year old man who still doesn't know how to ride a bicycle, but I have a feeling I am not alone!

So, I started talking with my friends and siblings and they suggested that I buy one of those cheap bikes first so that I can practice and later on move to those high-tech shinny ones if I would like. So, that was the plan!

A few days later, my one friend Mr. Youma Shiozawa brought me the body of his old bike. It was a great off-road bike, he told me I can have it and I would just need to bring new life to it.

Challenge accepted!!

I went straight to the bike shop near our house to find out how much it would cost to go Frankenstein on this bike and well it ranged from about 5k-6k. A little bit of a whopper right? Well, I promise this bike will live again! Check back in a few months, I'll update it with the modifications that I add each time.

Race Day Sunday at De La Salle Zobel

2010-01-24T10:33:00.007+08:00

Feeling good! That's how it was this morning at the 1st Run Green Marathon of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. I estimated the number of people to be about 300-400. It was quite a small crowd mixed with students, alumni, PNP cadets, and outsiders (like me! haha).

This race was a 5k warm up race for the upcoming Condura run on February 7, since I will be doing my first 10k there. My main goal for this race was just to run it at what ever pace I felt like and just enjoy it, no pressure, no time, no whatever. Just RUN! =)

This race was also quite better cause my brother Rex also joined me for this one. Even though we both ran on different paces it was still good, its just different finishing the race with another person you know. You know?

insert ----> (Vit Water! You know?)

The route of the run went around mostly the major roads of Ayala Alabang. It went from University Ave, to Acacia, then to Madrigal, and went back around. The road was quite tough at time since there were "sneaky" inclines that you didn't really notice until you were there. It was both challenging and still very fun.

My final time are as follows:

My watch: 23:52

Organizer's Stopwatch: 23:48

My Original Finish Line Photo

I had to take another one though cause my sister told me I didn't look "serious" enough haha well soreehh!! I kinda like looking goofy while running lol

Overall it was a really good race, I was a little bothered though by the time. Don't get me wrong I am very happy with my time but the first time I ran a 5k I finished at 29:34 and this time around I finished at the 23 minute mark.. I duno, I just feel like course wasn't a full 5k? I'm really not sure.. Or maybe I already got faster? arrrghhh.. Well whatever, I'm happy both ways

Run Fat Boy, Run!

2010-01-20T13:08:00.009+08:00

Run Fat Boy, Run is a story about Dennis Doyle who runs away from his pregnant fiancé on their wedding day and after 5 years realizes what a mistake he has done. So he tries to win her back from her new boyfriend by running a 42km full marathon to show how much he has changed.

Through out the story he is trained by his friend Gordon and his land lord Mr. Goshdashtidar. His sole inspiration for this run was his 5 year old son Jake, to be able to show him that his father is not a loser and that he can and will achieve what he set his mind to do.

Well, the story line isn't very good and you can practically see whats coming, but the comedy and the enjoyment surrounding the story is what gives it its edge.

Would I say its an inspiring story? Well hmmm.. not really so, but it would be something that a runner should definitely watch! It reminds us of why we run, which I believe is a core element in every runners life.

The Nike Mini Me

2010-01-18T15:06:00.002+08:00

This is the Nike Mini me, he hops and jumps and does all kinds of things.. That is if I keep running, once I stop he gets all grumpy lol

My life and running so far

2010-01-14T14:20:00.000+08:00

I've began to notice that running has been playing a major role on how my day will most likely go. I am usually in a much better mood on days that I am able to run in the morning, and if not I just get draggy for the rest of the day.

I feel all weak, bored, sad, and just plain out of it. Most of the time I make myself happy by eating on these days and well even though it sometimes compensates, nothing still can replace the feeling of running. It just can't.

Running is becoming more and more a very important part of my life and well so far lets just keep it that way. So I hope to stay injury free for the rest of the year and to keep run run running for the days to come!

TRAIL RUN!!!!!!

2010-01-14T14:05:00.003+08:00

I've always wanted to try a trail run after seeing Ryan Hall do his training on those "dirt road" tracks. It always seemed so cool sice it was closer to nature that way, the clean air, the trees, and all that jazz. Also this time we can really get down and dirty with the MUD!!! oh yeah!!

Well the run I'm planning to take part of is the 11k, I actually wanted a much shorter route like a 5k since I will just be coming off my first 10k race the week before. Oh well, I doesn't really matter since I'm doing this run purely just to enjoy it, no pressure on time, no pressure on pace, no nothing. Just good pure running!

One problem though I came about was that I had no trail shoes! I was initially planning on just doing it with my Nike Lunar Glide, good thing though the peeps at takbo.ph gave me a heads up to use my old shoes instead cause I may end up crying after the race lol

So just a wrap up:
Date: Feb 14, 2009

Location: Nuvali

Start: 5:00 am

See you there!!!!!!!!

The little voice that says stop or go

2010-01-07T15:59:00.002+08:00

Have you heard him? I do! I hear him every time , he sometimes tells me to keep going but on most occasions he begs me to stop. All I know is that his always there, trying to control me, to do what he bids. He speaks of laziness, being tired, giving up, and does everything just to make you stop. But I have began to realize that if you don't listen, that is when the greatness of you comes out.

Did you ever here of the saying that most people give up too early not knowing how close they were to achieving their goal? Well here is a simple story I recently went through. I was doing a run (race pace) one morning with a 5k distance. I started out my run pretty good until I hit about the 1.5k mark. From this point my mind kept talking to me, telling me to just stop cause I was too tired and making excuses like my legs hurt and all that but I didn't mind that voice and just went on. Later on he came back at my turn around at the 2.5k mark saying the same damn things, making me want to quit. But, I did it again and made him shut up by drowning him out with other thoughts.

Later again at about only 1k left to go he came back and at this period I just began to laugh inside, since I then realized that if I gave into him and believed him back then in my first 1.5k I wouldn't be where I am now, and so goes the same back at the 2.5k mark. Apparently there is more to me than I thought, and I firmly believe the same goes the same for everyone too.

Everyday we can quit on doing something that seems to hard, quit because you just can't do it anymore, or maybe even quit since its taking too long.. But the thing is, what if we don't quit? What happens then?

Well for me at least, what happen was at the end of the run I actually set a new PR which was 28:38 on a 5k distance, I beat my old record which was 29:43. So well yeah, whats stopping us now?

100 Push Up Goal

2010-01-03T14:27:00.004+08:00

I am one of those runners who believe that improvement in running can also be done off the track. One of the key activities I do is support my running with a solid strength program at the gym. I consider this as an integral part not only for improvement but also as a way to keep myself less prone to injury.

Recently I chanced upon a website called "hundredpushups.com". This website gives you a 6 week strength training program specifically for the improvement of your pushups and promises you to be able to do a 100 push ups by the end of the of it all. This website caters to people of different strength levels, from those people who can only belch out 5 push ups to the elite ones who can do a 100 and above. It's basically for everyone!

Right about now though, some of you maybe thinking. A push up? Really? But why I'm a runner, so I only basically use my legs during my runs. I dont need that! Screw you Life Runner!!!

Well my friend I would say your as wrong as two guys sipping out Coke from the same straw. Running is very much a whole body exercise like any other sport. We use muscles from our shoulders, arms, abdominal, and so forth during our runs. So these are muscles that we also need strengthen, that way they don't fatigue as fast and also so there is more power in them.

And come one how cool will it be to do a 100 push ups? So get up and try it guys! See you in 6 weeks!

Running Goals for 2010

2010-01-01T09:00:00.002+08:00

The year has just started and what better way to start it right then by having a list of goals to be achieved before the end of the year. They always did say aim high, so I'm going to try and shoot for the galaxies! =)

Log in an accumulated 100 Miles
Run a 20k or above race
Finish a 10k race in under 60 minutes
Finish a 5k race in under 25 minutes
Run a 10k Race
Run in a destination out of town
Run at least one race per month

I'm pretty excited for this, lets go! RUN!!!

"I'm very determined and stubborn. There's a desire in me that makes me want to do more and more, and to do it right. Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it." - Mary Lou Retton

Motivational Video

2009-12-28T20:16:00.000+08:00

Nike Plus Sport Band Review

2009-12-28T08:24:00.001+08:00

The Nike Plus Sport Band is a device which is able to track your distance, pace, and calories burned. It uses a sensor that is attached to your shoe to calculate the strides that your foot makes to be able to measure the distance that you ran.

I bought myself a pair last week and since then I've logged about 8 different runs into it. Here are the pros and cons that I have experienced:

Pros:

Accuracy - most people talk about how inaccurate the device is and even after calibration it still goes hay wire, well in my runs the sport band was nothing less than very accurate. In my first run, the track I was at was 800 meters and the sport band registered just that (I didn't even calibrate it yet).

Price - I got this for about 3,295 pesos. At first look you would already shout out the word pricey, but for a device like this this already cheap. Other devices that would do the same thing would be costing around 10k-15k.

Cons:

Uploading Runs - Nike set up this program which is suppose to upload to your runs to their nike website and then this is where all your runs will be stored. Well, hmm.. how do I put this. Its been CRAP, ever since my first run not a single one of my runs have been saved into their website. Ive been going at it over and over again and nothing seems to work. Plus there hasn't been any help what so ever from the Nike customer service, damn.

Darkness - Hello? Mr. Nike have you heard of the device called a backlight? Yes sir, if it is pitch black you can not see a single thing on your sport band. This is quite a hassle for me especially because I run early in the morning, I actually have to pray that I see a lamp post soon that way I can get a glimpse of the data on the watch.

Screen is too small - The screen is more or less about .5 inches and well its perfect if you just just want to see one data at a time, but then you have to shift through the buttons one at a time to see the different data that you need. All much too hassle when your running.

Overall

Taking all things into consideration, if you just want a device that will be able to help you know how far you are running this is already good buy. But if you are expecting a little more like heart rate, time splits, etc. I suggest you invest on those big boy watches like the Garmin.

Plain and simply the nike sport band is perfect for those people who don't have a measured track to run on and still want to know how far they have ran.

Merry Nike Christmas

2009-12-24T14:59:00.003+08:00

Buying a new shoe for myself was on top of my wish list for this Christmas. I was initially drooling over the those Newton shoes but my budget didn't quite make it, but no less I was able to buy myself the Nike Lunar Glide.

This is the first shoe I have ever bought with my own money so I'm quite happy with this one. I got them for 5,500 pesos over at Olympic Village in Alabang Town Center,but I have yet to test them. I've got to say though, when I was fitting it, I was overwhelmed at the comfort I felt when i put my foot in and the response it had when I tried jogging with them in the store.

Apart from this I also added the Nike Plus Sport Band into my shopping bag, it was too irresistible. As I am always OC about my runs, I hope the sport band will be a great tool that would be able to help me improve myself even more.

Also I always wanted to just go running freely in the streets without worrying how far I've ran, I find that this would be more enjoyable then running in the oval that I usually train at.

If my story ended here it would have already been a pretty good one right? I myself would say so, but it gets better! My older brother who has been quite aware with my new fascination to running wanted to give me new running shoe as a Christmas gift and who was I say to say no to a blessing like this right? And thus my second shoe was born!

This time around I didn't get a training shoes anymore, I already opted to get racing flats instead cause what would I be doing with so many training shoes right?

So being the Nike addict I am, I got myself a pair of Nike Lunar Racers. Quite funny no? Yes yes, I am a Lunar addict and nobody can stop me!

I was honestly shocked at how light these shoes were, they made the Nike Lunar Glide feel like two bowling balls on my feet! Ok, I'm exaggerating here but they were much much lighter. But I think their still heavy as racing flats. Oh well, I still can't wait to test it out too.

Quite the irony though, I have so much new running gear but I have yet to test them cause I've been too busy with the Christmas happenings and all that. Next week will be a pure running week, yahoo!!

Merry Christmas everyone! =)

10k Training Program

2009-12-24T08:47:00.003+08:00

My next goal is to be able to run the 10k Condura Race this coming February 2010. I have just come off my first 5k during the Phil Star Celebrity Run and will be participating on two others this January. But as of right now im getting geared up to start training for the 10k, that way I can at least be able to run it quite comfortably. Finishing the race comfortably is my goal here.
After some research and much deliberation with myself, here is the 6 week training program that I will be using as preparation for the race.

Mondays and Fridays: Rest days.

Tuesdays and Saturdays: Run at a comfortable pace for the designated mileage.

Wednesdays: Cross Training, I will be doing strength training at the gym

Thursdays: Distance to be ran at 10K race pace.

Sundays: Sundays are active recovery days. Run at an easy (EZ), comfortable pace to help loosen up your muscles a run/walk combination

Sun                  Mon          Tue          Wed           Thu          Fri            Sat
35-40 EZ Run   Rest        3.5M Run     CT         3.5M Run     Rest       4M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
35-40 EZ Run   Rest        4 M Run       CT         3.5M Run    Rest       4.5M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3 M Run       CT         4M Run          Rest      5M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3.5 M Run     CT        3.5 M Run    Rest      6M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        4 M Run       CT         4M Run          Rest      7M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3 M Run       CT         3M Run          Rest      Rest
                                                                    (race pace)
10k! Race

Running Playlist

2009-12-22T09:02:00.006+08:00

I am one of those runners who just can't run without any music. I personally enjoy jazz, r&b, and latin music but when it comes to running those just wont hit the spot. So here a few of my guilty pleasures songs that works perfectly in my run and gives me that extra push to work harder. Some of these songs I wouldn't even be caught dead listening to out loud haha

The first four songs are for my warm up before I do my actual running.Then I like starting my pre run getting pumped to the intro of the Linkin Park song, works perfectly. Give it a try guys!

Whats your playlist?

The Next Run

2009-12-21T13:13:00.011+08:00

Even before finishing my first race I was already scouting for the next race I wanted to join. So far I have two lined up for next year.

The first is "Takbo Para sa Kolehiyo" which was organized by the Kamanggagawa Foundation. They are giving free college education programs, which include free tuition, free food, free books, and basically everything that the student will ever need through out his college years. Its a pretty good cause and I will be more than happy to help out how ever I can for this one.

Isang araw lang, Takbo Para Sa Libreng Kolehiyo

SM Mall of Asia

January 12, 2010

The other one which I'm especially more excited for this the Condura run which will be the first and only race that goes over and up the skyway. Although I won't be reaching that far, I'm still pretty hyped up for this one cause I've been hearing that this is on of THE races that runners always join. This run is also advocating saving the dolphins so P50 pesos from the race fee shall go to help save the Dolphins of Bohol, pretty cool right? And to top it off they also have medals for everyone who finishes! Wuhow, right? who can beat that?

Condura Run 2010

Fort Bonifacio 28th St.

February 7, 2010

The Phil Star Celebrity Fun Run 2009

2009-12-21T09:03:00.001+08:00

Talk about being excited.. The night before I couldn't get myself to fall asleep, tossing and turning for about an hour or so. When I finally did get to sleep, I kept waking up every hour to check what time it was and even got up at 3:30 in the morning thinking it was already 4:00. Damn..

I arrived at the Fort at about 5:00 am and was quite scared, actually it was more like VERY scared. You know how they talk about butterflies and feeling like you want to puke, well for the first time in my life I felt that. It's not that I was setting my sights on winning, I guess I just wanted to set the bar high on the time I will get for this race.

Race started at 5:55 am, my warm up was pretty good. I psyched myself up thinking to just run and have fun, I kept telling myself that

"This will be the run from which we will improve on"

At the start of the race, I felt my adrenaline getting the best of me and was running at too fast of a pace. I then remembered to keep my pace and not wear myself out since this is a 5k distance whatever happens. At first it felt awkward going slower than everybody else, but by the half way point onwards I could see that pacing was the best way to go since by doing I it, I had much more conserved energy and did not need to stop to walk nor to drink any water.

I finished the race at at time of 29:34, not what I initially targeted cause I was seeking for a 25:00-27:00 but its all good. Now I see a lot of room that I can look to improve on.

I know I'm pretty new to the sport and shouldn't really be worried about all these times and what not, but I never really see anything wrong with pushing yourself and being able to reach a goal that you always wanted to achieve, yes? Yes! haha

Till the next run! Now its time to pig out for the Christmas season. Merry Christmas! =)

2009-12-14T15:21:00.001+08:00

Running not allowed

2009-12-11T09:59:00.000+08:00

I feel like a little boy who is being punished for doing something bad. Its weakening, depressing, and just flat out annoying. Well, I have been training for the last few four months for my first 5k race and ever since last week I have noticed my performance dropping.

My pace went down from an average of 8:26 per mile to a disheartening 9:02 per mile. My runs started feeling sluggish, heavy, and I didn't feel so happy from doing it anymore. The same thing also happened to my strength training routine when I could barely finish off my reps and my warm ups were becoming a chore themselves.

So, after some research and feedback from the people at takbo.ph, we have come to the conclusion that I have been over training and I have to dial it down a little bit. Well, I guess I've just been feeling quite sad today cause I wasn't able to do my routine run today. It feels different not being able to run when you want to, I know that I want to, but running will just do more harm then good at this point in my training. I just gotta suck it up right now.

Next week.. Im looking forward to coming back to training =)

"Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones." -Pat Teske

Your first will never be forgotten

2009-12-09T14:30:00.001+08:00

Phil Star Celebrity Run 2009
My first run will be this December 20 at the Fort. It is the Phil Star Celebrity Run, it was first scheduled to be done back September this year but due to the typhoons its set this coming December. I'm quite excited for this race, I have been training for my 5k run for the past 3 months. I'm coming straight of from the newbie arena so this will be a good way to set the tempo for the next coming races. 10 days to go!!!

“Frustration is the first step towards improvement. I have no incentive to improve if I’m content with what I can do and if I’m completely satisfied with my pace, distance and form as a runner. It’s only when I face frustration and use it to fuel my dedication that I feel myself moving forwards" -John Bingham