Hello 2011

This write up is a little too late for welcoming 2011.
But then, it has stayed in my draft for so long.
We have been very busy since the nanny ran away....it almost cost me to losing a job, etc.....
The good  news is I found a new one....a better one and as usual were starting a relationship ....i just hope she stayed with us because the kids liked her and that is so important.
Whew! God has it's way to give you pleasant surprises....and that is how I try to look what is in store for me this 2011.

2010 looks like a wonderful running year.
This is the year I celebrated my 3rd year in running.
I am so proud I did a couple of marathon, several half marathon, some 10k, 5k and 3K.
I finished my first 1000 km after more than a year of trying.
And yet I feel guilty...because I know I logged a little less compared on my first year in running.
I missed those days when I just laced up and run...run nonstop, run fast and careless about the time.
I guess when were getting old....time is the most precious resource that we have.
Well, I guess I'm jaded and growing old.

To summarize the learnings I had:

1. Quality over quantity. I know that long distance run and piling mileage helps on the endurance of any runner....but then my 2010 runs prove otherwise. I ran at lesser mileage yet I managed to run a marathon. I guess the key is the quality of my training runs.
2. Running just like learning is a continuous process. Not because I ran a marathon makes me a guru or a better runner to the other gals or guys....I have to train further and get to know myself better. It is through training run that you will get to know yourself better....quantity over quality.....make every training run a session to learn something- about your body, about your needs, the clothes you wear and your responses to weather.And it requires training to become a competent coach or a resource person (on the subject matter).
3. Running is such a selfish sport....if you run fast  and then failed to train in two weeks....you cannot replicate your previous performance. You have to continuously train aerobically or anaerobically to keep fit. I noticed, I always put that as a note on my dailymile. However, we cannot deny that there is a different kind of vigor when you resumed training after days of rest. 
4. Our human body is very powerful....it can adopt to a certain level of stresses. The key is to introduce it progressively.
5. I read it several times that the bladder shutdowns when you start running. But it's not true for everyone.....perhaps specially for women with children. Sigh! my QCIM result could have been better if I give in to my urged :D At least, now I know what it's like...so chances are I'll never wait on that next station.
6. Trying on men shoes because your size is not available on the women's is such a bad idea. I remember I wanted an Adizero tempo but the largest size for women is 9 (I am typically size 10 for running shoes). The sales guys lured me to get men's size 8 (which according to him is equivalent to women's size 10)....I regret it the whole year....I  gave it a chance but is always a disaster. Lesson learned:Never let the sales guys sweet talk you that there is no difference. Well, there is....now I know that women have narrower heel than men.
7. My shoe size is 10....I tried 9.5 because I love the color of that shoes. I actually survived it with dead toenails :D Lesson, stick on size 10.
8. In running, men and women becomes equal......it does not necessarily mean that the last finisher always comes from our gender :D
9. There are fewer jerks in the running community :D we are such a happy group of people....perhaps because of runner's high.
10. Running is the best way to combat stress....yeah, there were days that we are mocked. Hmmm but heres what goes to my mind when I catch them....those who mocked at me intakes a lot of gas in their belly such a fart idea hehehe.

Moving forward.... here are some of my 2011 outlook:

1. Practice a little about barefoot running....assess what it's like. Besides our ancestors ran barefoot during their time....why should I shy away from this?
2. Buy only what is essential. I admit I was disappointed with my GF405 and I do not intend to replace it with any other GPS watch (or as I call it disposable watch). Instead, I am now looking for a solar watch that could record my run time. The GF405 was expensive for a 17 months usage....not to mention the effects to environment. Our gadget should be durable enough to prevent waste. There is just too much garbage in this world....and adding our throw away gadget won't help....someday it would be very difficult to run if our world is too polluted.
3. I am still perplexed with my blood chemistry. Anyways, despite disappointing results I will continue my choice of diet- complex carbo, high fiber, lean and white meat for protein. To explain a little my total cholesterol is elevated sigh! and to think my weight is 118 lbs.
4. See a doctor....work up with an endocrinologists to find answer on the perplexing blood chemistry.
5. Embrace ageing....I am turning 34 this June....feeling oldie because the kids are growing so fast. But getting stronger like a teenager. Yes, I want to cope up with my kids hyperactivity :D

I was surprised to see this in my inbox today.....see I ran less managed to finish a marathon. I'm sure a lot of you can do better.

Running blog #2: 111908 Practice Run

It's been two weeks since I purchased my new running buddy- Mizuno running shoes.
Yesterday's practice run didn't earn me my much needed mileage. Since I switched to my new shoes I have been feeling certain pain on my lower leg, is it the so called shin splint?
I could not figure out what's causing the pain -is it the shoes or my increasing intensity....By the way, since the new shoes I have been running ~ 7-8 K around ADGT (two weeks now or a total of 4 practice run). The designated route for my practice run in Gateway Business Park (GBP)usually start in front of the BDO Bank, then passing Unilever 1st gate, JAE, right turn towards Metrolab where the sudden ascent start, Haeus, Steinel, PEZA, EPSON, Sanyo now Telford, Enomoto, Maxim, right turn to WDC, back to JAE/Unilever and cool down at the BDO front facade then a slow jog arround ADGT perimeter. Someday if I have time I'll check out google earth for the approximate distance....the 7-8K distance is just a deductive approximation. Maybe I can also post the map of GBP my run route.

Yesterday's practice run was fun....I really thought its not gonna happen because it was raining the whole afternoon. There were drizzles at 5:15PM, my running peers' and I decided to go ahead after our nice stretch....we needed it after a heavy lunch-courtesy of farewell blowout for Flor (imagine we ate 3Kg of Calamares- and we were all but 8 person nyahahaha).

Running with peers' really cool. There was macho (dave) on the leading pace, eric, al and myself. We started infront of BDO, Wilkins, Unilever, JAE, Metrolab, then we felt that its really gonna rain so we decided a right turn passing Wilkins back to BDO then ADGT SRC. That was a whooping 10 minutes for 1.5K, that is approximately 6:46 pace.

After the run we headed back to the gym, I really felt the run wasn't enough...I needed mileage....I was muteering my prayers....asking God to help me with the weather....I have to commune with the earth by running. After 2 sets of abs crunching I ask my peers if still willing to have a practice run outside- seems the rain ebbed away...they gladly agreed. Well who wouldn't, It's like our "Takbo para kay Flor" that didn't materialize few weeks back. So everyone is just game about the idea. Hmmmm besides Al is with us.

We took the ADGT SRC gate as the starting point, then ADGT front, WDC, turn left to Maxim, turn left again to EPSON then we were suppose to turn left back to SRC but the guys decided to proceed with the Metrolab direction, JAE then back to SRC....approximately that is 2.5K....we totalled approximately 4K practice run vs my 8-10K target. Well that's good enough than not running at all. We lost track of the time- we didn't know how well we did it or what is our pace. But we ended fine. I did some leg work out, leg curl, leg extension, ham string extension etc. for my cool down...and some silly discussion with the usual crowd of ADGT SRC gym...my work out ended by 18:45H. It was great! My total time investment, 1 hr & 45 min- enough to suck out all my stress.