Running Blog #61: 2012 Race and Training or vice versa

I have no company as of this writing....that's why for the longest period of time...here I am blogging.
          "Kiddos and hubby went out to watch the sound of music musicale, a production from their school."

So I better blog fast because before I knew it they're probably home and there's not much time left.

Funny, running blog #61- seems like it's my 61st run....well, I used to blog about my training and races because I express better in this blog. Talking about running to non-running people is kinda difficult. So I ended up blogging about it.

Things have changed....this year on December will marked my 5th year as a runner or jogger as other preferred to be called. I have evolved into a snail runner. I don't regret failing to train, not getting to the starting line and sometimes well I admit it not training at all.
There are a lot of things to do. I thought when the kids started going to school, I'll have my free time. I'll get better training times, I'll get good PRs.
Sigh, but I was wrong....totally wrong. Because as they grew up, list of things to do just pile up.
Plus they have their own interest to pursue.
My little lady is into singing and my little handsome young man is into swimming and sometimes acting.
These children are so precious that I realized....my world revolves around them. Good thing I still have a job on the side.
But even if I'm working, they're still there at the back of my mind.....just like my old computer. where a program is working while inactive...it's just behind the active stuff.

Did I say that this is running blog #61?
Oh yeah! So the good news is...even if me is too busy with juggling a day time job as salary person and mothering...I still get my steals...yes (drum roll please!)I steal training time.
I was able to decipher patterns when the kids would likely to have a quiz or assignments.
And when they do have assignments or quizzes....I steal a RuNCH....you heard it right. I run during lunch time. And I don't care if I'm a sweaty smellin' mammal after that. But I need to snatch that 30 minutes running time at the treadmill or outside.
Well there are days that I don't run lunch...but do pre-dinner run lol! When the kids can manage their assignment which I try to convince over the phone, me & hubby get to a pre-dinner run.
And on weekends when we don't get to wake up early....we run just anytime of the day.

The results are pretty much okay...we were not able to gun any PR. But were able to sustain a long run.
This year our first race for the year is the 16km Timex run (oh! with the so papable Piolo!) and today I am blessed with a pretty strong finish for the 21K with condura skyway marathon.
   Plus, not so running related,  I am out with my maintenance medication. The doctor agreed to take out some.
   Life is great...you just have to whine sometimes and later, think about how to resolve a problem...just like any math problems lol! There's always a solution.

Isn't it great! I am often running....literally running for everything the kids schedule, family thing, oh domestic work is just amplified with so much details that it's comparable to running a business. Just thinking about it makes me tired.

I can't have a nice well planned training but get to squeezed in some action in my boring life.
Now I know why some people don't get married and doesn't want a child.....because it's a never ending responsibility. iPity them....iPity myself sometimes.
But the truth is my children and my husband are what matters most in my life.
They are so precious that I try to make myself a better me.
We all do have options, try to look at it in a different perspective (it happens too with photography hahaha composition 101).

I realized I missed blogging....maybe I should steal some blogging time too.

This year's race pix

Hubby's souvenir pose during Timex Run, we were in a  hurry to go home

My souvenir pix with Time Run

Rovilson & Hubby-we were behind him at the 21k redemption booth for the medals

The medal for 21k runners

Photo ops with Rovilson- I was a little shy to ask him lol!

Hubby's doodle on the condura's mangrove wall (something we didn't do last year) 

Post script: (Quite a length I know!)
Well, suddenly I remember last year condura marathon. I did 42Km. I did it even if I have a fever, I ended up lethargic and injured with ITBS. Two weeks before the race I had flu, I cannot forego a marathon. The rest is history. For some reason, that story stayed in my draft box for more than a year now lol!

Here are some of my condura run last 2011. Photos I grabbed from marathon-photos.com

Today's race was great. I salute the Concepcion brothers for making this race possible.
But I missed Takbo.ph booth- since 2010 (my first taste of skyway run), they have a booth at Buendia before runners get to skyway (both 21k & 42k runners passes in this station). I don't know if they still have the support booth for 42k runners. It's just that I missed them. It's different passing that booth....you get a dose of motivation, banana, water and electorlytes and even free spray of efficascent oil lol! for those cramps.

Change is just probably inevitable. Congratulations to all the finishers and see you on the road!

Condura 2010 Run for the Dolphins

This is my official first race for the year....21K-Run for the Dolphins.


I was having anxiety before the D day because five days before the race I was having a sore calf muscle. Maybe something to do with less training runs. So from Wednesday to Saturday I decided to have a rest and telling myself occasionally to let my body do the strategy....and with God's grace perhaps I will be able to do justice to my very first half marathon.


Saturday night I decided to wear my CWX tights- I know the cold breeze in the morning might cause some cramps so I think the CWX will help support the aching muscles. I don't have medical explanation yet why the nerves respond that way. So just to be sure nothing gets wrong I decided I'll wear it.



Come Sunday- D day! We woke up late. Sigh! Were really not good in this thing, we always had a hard time waking up early, we planned to wake up 3:00 AM and leave home by 3:30. Whew! So everything has to be done quickly and we were able to leave home by 4 AM. By the time we were at Mc Kinley Rd (this one is right after we took the right turn from EDSA)- all 42K runners were passing...hmmm were doomed late.


But God is good- we easily find our parking slot and then we just have to run fast to the starting corral to join other 21K runners who were already speeding off. Though, we were still able to witness the last streaks of the fireworks and then hubby and I parted ways. I ran according to my pace...I did not allow the rush of the crowd to move me ...I was pacing based on my body's will...I was not worried of anything.... even the darkness I did not fear. I was praying a lot- my worst fear is to have cramps while running. Honestly, I have not experienced this yet and I don't want to experience this while running because my memories of having leg muscle cramps way back on my pregnancy days is the most painful (more painful than delivering a child hehehe because I was on CS). I feel like dying. So to ease my mind of the negative vibes, I populate my mind with a lot of prayers, with a lot of good things happening in my life and how much running gave me...how can I not sing praises. Even the songs in my shuffle does not intervene my thoughts....it was just a background music where the beat just sync with my feet.


As I pass by the Kalayaan flyover, I did not noticed the elevation because of darkness. But the light coming from the approaching vehicle almost blind me- my visor can't shield me from the glare. The run was almost perfect that I have a continuous run until I passed by Takbo.ph and Reiner Pacific aide station and was happy to strike a pose while running. I think by that time, I was already confused if I had counted already three or four bands playing festive trance. Then the way to Buendia and the skyway was a mixture of speeding and and slowing down to baby steps on the elevation but no walk breaks...I swear...boy! it was fun running the skyway- I asked myself why did I lost to oversleeping last year (because last year I also registered for run for the whale shark).


The km markers seemed insufficient or maybe I have not noticed much- but I think nobody gets lost because there were swarms of runners...there were 1500 of us for 21K. I also enjoyed reading the inspirational notes along the way (the one that strikes me is "I found my hero and He was me" I guess this was on my way back). And as I was approaching to take my U turn - I saw the fast runners ahead of me...recognized their faces....I felt so happy that they get there already....and as I took my turns to get my badge whoa! I felt relief. Then run again....and wave to some other runners approaching the u-turn....wow everybody gets to their destination it doesn't matter what time its about scaling the distance and doing it without shortcuts.


As I passed by the portalet I feel a sudden urge to pee, but there were several runners on the line so I decided to continue running. Running down to buendia and seeing the SM Hypermart reminded me it would be a few more kms to get to the finishline-wow! Then I was back to the happiest aide station-Takbo.ph and Reiner Pacific....the peeps out there were just so cheerful. Real runners know how to cheer up and give support to fellow runners- there were bananas, water, sports drink, sprayed liniments and band that was playing really loud and festive sound, ....but the most that I cherished were the cheerful peeps saying encouraging words to the runners- their generosity was superbly appreciated. I also got a chance to see Sir Amado upclose- he was there cheerful to all the runners- he was like a father encouraging his children to believe in themselves and achieve their goal.
If I will remember the Condura run my first half marathon- this one is the sweetest....I was all alone-no pacer, almost giving up to walk breaks but then there were happy people encouraging me-whoa! it fueled me to get more kms.

Finally, I give up as I see the portalet, I give up to the urged to pee...boy! I didn't know that this is one set back in wearing tights, its difficult to take off when you wanted it immediately- took me more than 3 min. One thing I noticed that the race was indeed well thought of- guess what there were rolls of tissue paper in the portalet- it was a welcome relief for female runners. Cheers to that.



My way back to the kalayaan flyover was almost difficult, stopping for a while....means my legs felt it was good to slow down. In my mind I wanted to run more....then suddenly I become technical....maybe am feeling this because I have not followed my training plan to the letter- this is some sort of punishment....growl growl growl....then suddenly there is side stitch as I approach the flyover elevation sigh! I moved to the side and had my walk breaks. After some 10 m started to run again and bumped into one of my colleague....I decided to run the last 1 km smoothly, I don't want to push too much I want to savor every step of the last 1km -and then I witness one of the sweetest family in the running community they were spectators with banners written on it "You can do it dad!"- the kids were there cheering their father...he was ahead of me by a few meters and I saw his son run with him in a few steps....I can't help but remember my toddlers-who were probably still asleep by that time. The scene that I have witness were wonderful so savoring every step of my last 500m felt great because this is my first race for this category- they call it half marathon for a whooping 21.095kms and before I knew it....my feet feats clocked to garmin at 2:26:11 but my official time is 2:27:22. My husband was waiting on the finishline- already rested with an official clock of 2:17 (see race result here). Wow! I wish someday we could run side by side hmmmm I guess it will happen soon in Nuvali hehehe (I mean competitive that I can keep up with him, not that he waits for me hehehe).


I would like to congratulate all the runners and finishers who conquered the skyway.


But most of all my sincerest thanks to the organizers the famous running Concepcion brothers and the volunteers for their sincere dedication to make this event a happy memory to all those who dream to conquer, survive and win the race.

These are the only photos from my celphone- I wish I have a photo in action, I dunno if there were photographers who saved mine hehehe because most of them doesn't really know me.


Photo ops with fellow "uragon" hehehe Coach Rio- he is also a bicolano, were so proud of him.
I learned that he is also organizing the camsur marathon on Sept 26.
Thank you Coach for bringing home the running fever!

Run for the dolphins

Thanks to thebullrunner and Takbo.ph for posting the update of Condura Run 2010.



Last year I was suppose to run for the whale sharks --> but over sleeping is really my problem during race day. I didn't make it.


So far, I have already improved in waking up early- in fact the last few races I had - I was already on time ( I mean not on time for a gunstart but on time to allow some stretching and bladder break).


For details of this exciting event click here for the official site.



To make sure that my 21K debut will earn decent enough finish time- I consulted runners world for the quick 8-week training plan (I used my NB result as baseline).

Good luck to all the runners and Merry Christmas!

Running Blog #21: Didn't make it to Condura Run

Sigh!.....I feel like I am not in a good shape as runner.

I can't keep commitment(s)...or I'd say I commit half-heartedly.

Yes. That is what happened to the suppose single fun run I intend to join this March 09- The condura run which took place this morning, 6 AM at the Fort.



But what can I do....yesterday was fun filled activity for my kids.

Yesterday morning was their recognition ceremony (was reschedule from Mar 20 to Mar 21, notification was given a week after I decided to register for condura).

Then in the afternoon we took a time to socialize at my husband's work....it was their employees day.



Ok -one body can't have everything. That is what happened to me today...we went home around 1 AM- then I woke up 8:30 AM- I SMS smartkid and sforty- smartkid responded that he was still running while sforty was soooo excited as he took the half marathon at 2 hrs and 21 minutes- hmmm sub 3.

That was great! While I took a great slumber.....I'm sure I missed a lot including TBR's magazine launching, the custome parade/contest and of course the fiesta mania of a fun run.....I am missing this type of event, the last fun run I had was the Happy Run.



As I have said awhile ago, one can't have everything.....the trade off on the otherhand was equally important. My daughter was the first honor in their class and she's got a lot of awards too and she sings too- her rendition of "Just one little candle".

The employees day was funfilled treat to the kids, they had so much fun on the carnival rides.

My hubby took on a little surprise on us- my running avatar, which he photographed last Oct 08- was part of their photo exhibit hehehe.

I rest my case now....just did some photo collage to neutralize my anxiety. =)