Running in Sacramento CA

Last May 1, 2009 I was able to run the 3rd American River Parkway Half Marathon in Sacramento CA with a not so good result but enjoyed it just the same as it was a different experience, the cold weather, it was drizzling the whole time and got my first cramps (during a half) in both legs right after the finish, for a moment, I froze in my tracks as my legs felt like two bricks and nearly fell on all fours if not for the fence nearby where I was able to walk like a robot. Probably it was the weather, or the new Saucony shoes that I wore or the Balega super thin socks that did me in as I felt my soles was slipping during the run.    Anyway here are some pics during the run…

Memorable Year for Running

I’m not much of a techie so posting blogs and uploading pictures has always been a struggle but since it’s the start of the year, I’ll try to remember some of the memorable runs I have made.   The reason why I sticked to running is because I always believed that it’s the cheapest sport to take up since all you need is a good running shoes and you’re off.  After probably 10 years of running only on Sunday mornings in UP and joining some races like Runnex, Yakult, and Adidas, that was it, I didn’t really bother on things like mileage, running gears and the like so it was last year when I finally started making a “career” on running. (Meaning I started spending on gears I have never even thought of before)

Last year was a year of firsts for me, for the past 10 years, my longest run has always been the Yakult 10miler and I was smoking like hell the following week followed by bouts of drinking every Friday or Saturday so  nursing a hangover during 10K runs is normal for me.  I just maintain my time of 60 -62 mins every run and I’m okay, but after reading some of the blogs last year, I suddenly realized that I’m really missing a lot!

For one,  joining the Standard chartered marathon became my inspiration to stop smoking last Sept. 2, 2008 as I know I won’t be able to finish with this habit.  I normally run during my local trips as my running gear is considered  standard bag content but running abroad even on practice runs is a treat.  I’ve tried running already in France, Amsterdam, Lithuania, and lately Italy and Madrid and it was an exhilirating experience to say the least.  Last May 1, I also joined the American River Parkway Half Marathon in Sacramento, CA but bonked out due to the cold weather (it was raining the whole time and that gave me cramps on both legs).  I had my 2nd Botak 42 last May, 5 days after arriving from Florida and SFO where I had my 10k runs of course but with disastrous result although I improved my time by around 15 minutes compared to SCM 42.

Anyway with my roller coaster training for the QCIM 42, I just hope to break the 5hour barrier as work keeps getting in the way.  During my last trip, I managed to sneak in 10k’s in Florence and Venice, Italy and another in Madrid, Spain last Sept. 4, 2009.

Oh well…

Running in Tagaytay Highlands

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In Corona, CA

Hyatt hotel lobby after 10k in Sarasota Florida

In Rotorua and Auckland NZ

 

Honolulu Hawaii

In Istanbul, Turkey

Misibis Bay, Albay

Batanes

Standard Chartered 42 with the wife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singapore Conquered!

Finally, after a short 4 months training, I was able to finish my first marathon with an official time of 5:45.01 (my Garmin clocked in at 5:36).  Now I know how it feels and it’s great to follow lots of tips (especially from BR) which I experienced personally before and after the race. Initially my goal time was 5:30 (that was what I submitted) as I know the training would be short, I just tell friends that I’ll try my best to cross the line before 6hours.  But deep in my mind, doing 5:oo or lower would be a big bonus for me but since I’m not breaking any PR here, I just ran my pace and made sure that I finish the race with aplomb. Here’s some snippets on my run:

Woke up at 3:00 am and ate 1 Granola bar, 1 Powerbar chocolate, 1 boiled egg and 1 banana which I brought from Manila on Friday. At 5:00 am, me and R started our trek to the starting line eventually linking up with hundreds of runners walking to the starting line. 

While at the pen, I was actually savoring the excitement in the air and thinking hard if  I’m doing the right thing but when the DJ said that finishing the race is not the “Miracle” but the Miracle is actually why we started the race at all.

I got my inspiration from this and suddenly we were off, at Km 11-12, I stopped at the heating station and smothered my legs with Mentholatum as I was already feeling the heat.  At the turn-around, I finally saw Bards and Monica (my officemate) as we were closely bunched together.  When I tried stetching somewhere at Km 22-23, I suddenly felt cramps behind my right leg which made me pray aloud as I was only halfway so I started to walk and try to feel the leg.  Fortunately, the walk-run sequence neutralized the cramps and I was back in the race.

At Km 30-31, I started my mantra by repeating ” I did not go to Singapore to quit” since I was already feeling the heat and my feet was actually the one bothering me.  I stopped and tightened the shoelaces and this worked since It somewhat lessened the pain .

The last 2 kms gave me an added boost just thinking of finishing the race and suddenly after turning right at Andrews St, I can see the signs like last 150 meters, then 75 then the finish line itself where I belted out the loudest shout of joy and victory.  While getting the medal and shirt, I really felt a lot of things going on inside me, I felt dizzy and want to throw up, then my legs were buckling as I exited the pen, where the wife gave me a big kiss!  I went to the massage area where I had my 10 mins massage as I felt I couldn’t walk anymore, I tried telling R that we just take a cab going back to the hotel and just order lunch for me, but my sis-in-law told me the roads are still closed so, I have to use the wife as my crutch going to the hotel but not before taking our lunch first at Raffles Place . After that hearty lunch,  I immediately took a shower and guess what, I went out of the room (and the bed) the following day already as I just concentrated on rehydrating myself, and my muscles were really sore at this point, but the thought of actually finishing the race was so overwhelming that I managed to sleep for short periods only. 

Oh well, it’s back to work for me but I will always treasure the feeling of finishing my very first marathon!

Sleepless in Singapore

With Mesh and Bards at the expo, two of my fave runners

At the entrance to the race packet collection

Arrived here yesterday noontime and after having lunch with the wife and Sis-in-law with her 1 month old baby who is based here, we headed to the Singapore Expo to claim my race packet.  The system was very orderly as there were separate chutes for the different distances and got mine in a breeze, then went straight to the expo where I was able to buy (all on sale ) Powerbars, Adidas running shorts, and a race number belt (Nathan).

Was able to meet Bards and Mesh window shopping and after some photo ops, went on our separate ways.  I also spotted Coach Rio and Doray, my officemate Monica who’s also doing the 42 as well as the guys from Sta.Lucia (Engr as I call him).

Had my carbo loading last night at Suntec, where I ordered Steak and Salmon with eat all you can pasta grabe!( the place is called Sizzlers)  My brod in law treated us as he just had his birthday last Dec. 2 that’s why ang sarap ng kain ko kasi libre ha ha!

To all Singapore Runners, good luck to all of us!

More pics in France

I don’t know what happened but some of the pictures I posted did not see print, here it is again

Paris weatherOur 2nd day of rains in Paris at 7COur hotel in Nice at 8:15 am, preparing for breakfast after 12KA nice house in Amsterdam before another failed run

Running in Nice, Paris, & Amsterdam

Just got back from a ten day business tour and as planned (but not exactly implemented), I’m supposed to have 2 runs in Nice, France where the weather is quite good, 16-18C but just managed to have a 12K due to fatigue caused by too much walking during the day.  After visiting Lourdes for our pilgrimage, the wife and I headed towards Paris where, promise, I really tried but as shown on the picture, it was 7C that morning, I was freezing when she took my picture so I decided to go back after 5 mins. But when we were heading back to the hotel, a runner suddenly passed by wearing a dri-fit shirt and shorts, pero kayang kaya.

In Amsterdam, our last day was quite good as it was 11C but managed to run for 10 mins only as I was not able to buy any jogging pants in Paris, I tried looking at the Adidas store in Champs Elysees but the price is ridiculous, Euro 120 equivalent to almost 8K!  Wow.  Anyway, even my wife was shaking from the wintry weather which as the locals say is not a good time to visit so I decided to make up upon arriving last Monday. I managed to sneak a 10K with my colleague from Davao last Wednesday at  ULTRA before our seminar at Crowne Plaza. 

Bad move since for the last 2 days, my eyes were so heavy probably due to jet lag and lack of sleep as I was juggling my time between work (meetings, meetings, and meetings), my Ateneo MBA class at Rockwell, and a 3 day seminar by the company. This does not include our weekly Marriage Encounter prayer meetings at Fort Bonifacio, Whew! 

Just hoping I can still catch up with my mileage in time for the Standard chartered Marathon in December, what a week…

The view of Promenade des Anglais at Nice before my run at 7:00 am (still dark)My hotel is about 15 steps from their local baywalk, preparing for breakfast after a 12 K runMy failed try in Paris, check the weather update in background - 7C so cold..About 100 meters from my hotel -the Mercure, i went back as fast as I can brrr

Running in the rain

Got up quite early this morning for my planned long run from our house in Pasig to Makati CBD to pick up some papers somewhere in Legaspi and Greenbelt.  But the light drizzle gave me second thoughts on whether I’ll just bring the car up to BHS or proceed as planned, but then, my mind was already set the night before.  Since it’s my first time to do this, I have no plans going back on foot but the wife will pick me up in BHS as soon as I get back. 

As I started walking to the main gate, at 5:20 am, the rains started pouring slightly and after greeting the guard,  I was off at 5:30 am onto Ortigas Ave and got my first uphill climb on Rosario Floodway.  I noticed 4 or 5 runners so I felt I was not alone & crazy enough in running under the rain.  As i breezed thru C-5, I planned to take the C-5 bridge but as soon as I entered the railing going up, a truck suddenly zoomed beside me making me decide immediately to just take the main road which has sidewalks pa.  I reached BHS in 1 hour and made my way to Mckinley going to Ayala where I met 2 runners (I’m sure they’re bloggers but can’t recall their names) one of whom greeted me with a wave.  Upon reaching Ayala, I remembered Prom Cometh in his post that he didn’t use the overpass but instead just crossed Edsa when he went to MOA which I also did (just for the experience) with buses and taxis zooming nearby.  I thought there was an ongoing Octoberfest party at the corner of Ayala and Paseo with the sound system blaring boogie and chacha music but was surprised that It was the “Walk for Life” of the NCR Senior Citizens from different cities but the poor lolo’s and lola’s were walking under the rain (with umbrellas of course). After getting some papers in Legaspi, I made my way back via Greenbelt and Makati Shang but now I decided to use the overpass for safety reasons, I called the wife while under the roof to meet me at ROX since I was already feeling something in my legs (2:00 hrs already) and the thought of a good breakfast spurred me to increase my pace along Mckinley, I reached BHS in 2:28 which is around 21K for me (Garmin hasn’t arrived yet)  with the wife bringing fresh clothes, 2 bananas, hot pandesal and Gatorade.   Grabe sarap!

I’ll be writing my experience with my Adidas Supernova Sequence in my next post.

Seriously now…

Now or never

 

 

Oh man.. I’m now into the “point of no return” attitude and into  panic mode of training with almost 3 months to go.  After getting rid of that bad habit, I promised myself that I’ll finish my first marathon even if I have to crawl.  It’s now or never!