Back to Basics

Lately when some of my non-running friends or colleague approached me and tell me like something any of these lines:
"You are amazing! You live such an active life."
Or "How did you finished the hurdles of 42 km?"
And "How can you keep on running?"

Honestly, those kind of question left me tongue tied.

I feel guilty. Because, the past three months I haven't been running the way I used to. For them I still look like an active runner.

To answer those questions....let me try to analyze and respond appropriately.

•  Active Life- Duh! I guess this one comes naturally if you are a mother of two, a wife, working and juggling this so called "identity" of yours expressed in hobbies. You ought to be constantly on the move, not to mention the endless "chores"- that in itself is an activity and there's a lot of it.
• The full mary- 42.195 km. I finished it once....hmmm I don't know if I can still manage a 16 week training. Or if the performance is repeatable. I still asked myself how did I do it. Perhaps, I'll call myself delusional if there were no evidence I did it.
• Lastly- keep on running? The truth is I can't keep on running....I walk when I feel there's a need to walk. I am not ashamed to do it...yet, I still call myself a runner.

Interestingly, this question when a  newbie or non-runner ask- left me with my mouth wide open. "Any strategy? Tips?"

How will I answer that? I am not so technical- for tips, I would usually refer them to the Bald Runner, who has the collection of technical know how in running specially ultra running, and theres the Bull Runner and takbo.ph. These are really the passionate people whom I consider the Philippine icons in the running community.
      Sometimes, I feel sad because it looks like I cannot contribute to this excited runner or non-runner. But what can I do...I do not have strategy!

I learned running from my kids...if you have children- you can observe them, look at them closely.
They run to their heart's delight....they stopped when in need of drink. They will continue until they are tired or hungry. When they are hungry they will seek food. And when exhausted they keep quite sometimes you won't noticed it- they're asleep or snore in some corner.

One of the greatest lesson I learned from my kids is to just enjoy running. Simple!

Everyday, I remind myself this....and each time....I am becoming wimpy!

If you're grown up- don't do like this boy does, running but doesn't look forward (LOL!)
There is a high chance of bumping other runner or worst structures....this boy got the comfort
of her mom who is just around the corner, watching.

When tired? try walking....there's no harm in doin'- proceed to hydrate....

My feet feats ...

I was out for awhile from running in my favorite playground.
     I remember when I started running in GBP 3X a week when I was still super newbie....my husband was amazed by my improvements whenever we had our weekend runs.....those were some of my fondest memories when I was just starting to run.

Yesterday, after that long 18 days. The weather is nice and hubby is on rest day for his softball game- so I was given the chance to finally get my feet to run. Hongestly, though I wanted to run the past 18 days....something holds off- I don't want to run in my playground....not yet. Because, Hours before my first full marathon - something happened to me that make me feel depressed.
Running the full marathon the following day helps me relieved of some pain....but it didn't go away.....then I decided to do half-marathon the following week after my full, hoping to make me feel better.

Days prior Natures Valley I decided to contact Sir Jovie to claim my 1000km finisher shirt and finally get to meet him. I was hoping that these small achievements in my running life will ease the pain in my heart. All the excitements and happiness seemed temporal.
All those achievements seemed not to help me....but I kept my silence....I cannot write....I cannot visit my FB....I just feel alone and unhappy. This is terrible for me considering it is my birth month....I felt like a loser...and this person who did wrong to me won the game.

While I was running yesterday.....the gift of good hormones finally dawned upon me. I was able to reconcile myself. Become proud of what I have accomplished.....I know mine was just a baby steps perhaps....but it helped me a lot. One surprising article from Sir Jovie of  BaldRunner helped me uplift my spirit.

I realized way back- someone asked from a blog (I can't remember the blogger anymore)....are there lonely runners? Well, I guess there is....I am when I cannot run.

After yesterday's run- I know I was healed. I have forgiven the person. But the act, perhaps I cannot forget. Being victim of discrimination is really very difficult especially because I am a woman. Women are perceived weak....but my inner soul screamed that I am strong, capable and must be treated with equal rights.

Running help me keep my sanity. Running makes me feel that I am strong. I know I am good in this sport- maybe not the best.
My feet feats says....I am a marathoner, though I consider myself newbie but nobody can take it away from me.

Running Blog #58: My first 21K an LSD

One of my wishlist for this season is to be able to do a long distance run.
Obviously a lot of us have difficulty squeezing a run session in the hectic demands of the christmas season....so even if I am keeping my finger cross at the back of mind the conquer corregidor event will be my last run or my last long distance run.
Then allergic pharyngitis hit me just like any other virus would weaken its victim.
After the fun and challenge of Corregidor my weekly mileage wane to an average of 6Km or once a week training =(

Yesterday we went to Panicuason hotspring for an R&R and we discovered that the ascent to Panicuason from San Felipe is fairly simple, easy and perhaps we can do an LSD....so last night we set it a date- LSD in Naga City =)

So this morning we head off at 5:30 AM- it was close to cancellation because I have barely sleep with my nonstop coughing....I am so disturbed by this allergic pharyngitis I feel like am asthmatic.
We did a 10.5K ascent and then go back another 10.5, we started from Bgy San Felipe Zone 6 and headed off to Km 451...I am not sure if it is Panicuason already (I can't wait to download my garmin)- I nearly kissed the kilometer marker as it was so difficult running in a continuous ascent- at km 8 I almost fell to my knees....then at km 10.5 my mantra is...."think positive wag kang aayaw!" yah...good thing I was running with my husband, he keeps me sane and keeps on motivating me to continue and complete the 21K exercise....it would do us good and help find justice in completing my first race for half marathon come February- run for the dolphins.

So on our way back we had pitstop for water. I was wondering why the cough reflex is often turned off while running-maybe next time I'll ask the good doctor how is that possible.
Then at km 18, my husband got hungry - that he bought himself kropek and some more water. Isn't it crazy....I bet the hungry feeling during corregidor race was authentic...it is not side stitch nor hallucination or sort of craving it was pure hunger. I was lucky this morning I was wearing a compression tights my abs even compressed that makes me think that hunger doesn't even come close to my imagination =)
Before we run I only had half banana and some water- the weather is cold so the first 5K was like a walk in the park.....the feeling is too different at km 19 to 21....exhaustion, the sun gets under my skin.

My run today introduce me to the beast of long distance run....I guess they were right as you increase your distance the game is more mental than it is physical. The physical preparedness is given but the mental ability to keep on going and beating the time is different.
I know in 2010 I will be running more distance....I will be more fit but should be more mentally prepared.

Today, I didn't hit the S40's time during the run for whale shark- my magic number should be 2:45 instead I finish roughly 2:49:53....I need to train better. Hello 2010....maybe I am in for more surprise I have 42K left to complete my 700K journey.

My christmas wish

I am a little sluggish today....I feel tired during this morning run at the island cove.

I made a mistake of taking a run in an empty stomach....I thought too much food yesterday would be OK to burn and not adding small amount of food before run (thinking about reserve energy =))- but I was wrong. At km 6, I felt like collapsing- good thing my husband passed by and he got me gatorade and granola bar. Afterwards, I managed to complete my 11K run as planned....but I ended up really sluggish and thirsty all day. Plus, I have this constant nagging pain in my right big toe hrrrr.


This afternoon, after two long years of an expired passport- finally I got myself time for a renewal...I was not in the mood - I feel so thirsty all throughout the course. After the appearance in DFA we headed to RUNNR- I was excited to get myself a tights- yes! the CWX stabilyx....actually I am planning to use this not only for running but for climb as well. To my surprise- they ran out of stocks for my size....waaaah! I was planning to wear it for the Corregidor 10 mile challenge-but it looks like it wont be there. Instead I got my son a running shirt that is to compensate for the gas bwehehehe.



So while waiting for my alarms for the pills and other vitmamins- I decided to hop on the blogsphere.....and what did I found in thebullrunner? LOL! The secondwind christmas registry. Wow! It was a very nice idea- but then I wonder who could be my santa?!? My generous sister is still out of the country and will be home until next year (maybe she'll bring me home some?); My friends- oh! I have barely rich friends and I doubt if they'll even bother hahaha; My husband- I really hate to ask him, but I hope he get to read this (sigh! but he rarely visits).


In between my thoughts- imagining my wonderful gifts, I am also searching about this pain in my big toe.....this link explains it's....Turf Toe. I started having a slight discomfort in my right big toe when I was trying to switch to forefoot strike. Then lately when I started training back with my Mizuno the discomfort became pronounced- I wanted to give Mizuno wave precision a decent retirement....so before it finally put to storage- I want to beat it with training and Corregidor....but now I realized- it is now one year old.....hhmmmm I guess I am back to my wish list.

So here are my wish list.....it just networks with my needs -running and non-running related and maybe I can update later:

1. A new running shoes - to replace good ol' buddy wave precision.
2. A stabilyx- that will take me longer and higher (ehem...means more mountain ranges in the coming year).
3. A maipo- climb shoes....so I can play more with river trek.
4. A new backpack hmmmm
5. A mini notebook-ehem....pink would be nice at least lenovo.
6. A colorful running shorts that comes in yellow, orange, red, pink etc etc
7. A colorful running shirt that matches with wish list #6.
8. A nice abs - a waistline of 25 in would do (whahahaha- this comes with a hard workout! because am not gonna give up my 2 cups of rice)
9. A long distance run...a real one during December (wahahaha despite the party fever every friday!)
10. A nice beach party in December! Maybe...Anawangin- I shall return? Or Atulayan an overnight adventure?
11. A bull market in December so I can spend every winnings in item 1-10!
12. An ill-free and injury-free holiday for my family and the rest of the running community!

What a nice thoughts to cap off the day!
Good night!

Running Blog #45...my video

Yes....I have a running video nyahahaha during the 33rd MILO Marathon-Manila elimination.
This video is courtesy of John - Benet's hubby. Thank you! Tenchu!
By the way, John is also an Adtrek member from batch 1 =)

So can you spot me in this short roll? hehehe

Running Blog #38: Morning Rush Morning Runs

This morning we woke up 4 AM as part of our experiment =)

We are trying to simulate if we can really wake up early for future races hehehe


So this morning, we were the the solemates hehehe running at wee hour of the morning- we probably were the first to hit the pave of island cove it was 4:20 AM when we started our simple stretching....then we just run- we aimed to reach at least 5K before the sun is up- my husband needs to leave 5:30 AM for work.


We finished our workout around 5AM- we did 5.5K for 34 minutes.


The feeling is so refreshing- I felt so alive all day.
I have started to like running everyday....but my husband requested a rest day tomorrow.
So I decided I'll do my hills training in GBP.

Running Blog #26: My new running buddy

I have just started appreciating my garmin forerunner 405.
After 2 weeks in my wrist, it is only today that I had the time to check its PC interface.
The GPS technology amazed me. Imagine, now I have a complete aerial view of my route through google earth.

Yes and I got the chance to see my stats too and I can replay my run- and see my working range in terms of speed and heart rate.

This gadget is really cool, that I call it my personal trainer.

Running blog #4: 112508 Unicef "Walk on a child's side" Race result

Yesterday I received the race result courtesy of Carly one of the running enthusiast in ADI.
Here is the link,
http://runrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/unicef_5k_female.pdf

I can't believe it....I was the 99th finisher on the 5K overall and 15th finisher on women. Wow! I was just amazed by this performance....I just hope this can be replicated on my practice runs.