Can’t we all just be happy before, during and after each run or race? We all run for a variety of reasons, but would it possible to have a common denominator which is to be HAPPY? I guess it’s not that hard, or is it? For other people? Maybe…Well… just a thought, sayang kasi ang ENDORPHINS eh… 
Been having problems dozing off lately, will go to bed around 11pm but will fall asleep around 1am thus ending up oversleeping. This morning was different, I was able to wake up at the sound of the alarm clock without repeatedly hitting the snooze button. Finally, I overcame sleepiness to be able to do a run.
Didn’t join a race today as I was somehow trying to rest(?!) my glutes (piriformis syndrome) and was also a bit reluctant to take on my old Valley Golf route in Antipolo. Was toying with the idea of just running inside the village but was afraid that I might end up bored and cut the run short since i’ll be mostly doing loops. My goal was to do around 20kms and by running inside the village, i’m certain that it wouldn’t not be met.
And being the stubborn person that I am, I finally decided to take on the killer hills of the Valley. Will it be good for my aching glutes, certainly not. But what the hell, i’ll just take it slowly and do walk breaks every 15mins or during the ascents/descents to somehow lessen the pressure on my butt muscle. The last time took on this route was in March while me and my friends were in training for the Condura Skyway Half Marathon.
one of the killer hills of this route
The out and back distance of this route is around 14kms, so to be able to achieve my goal, I need to go out of the Valley Golf-Sumulong Hi-way gate and go up towards Padi’s Point or go down towards Masinag/Marcos Hi-way in Marikina. I ended up going down since i’ve already done Padi’s several times before.
taking a break before the ascent
Having walk breaks once in a while was really beneficial since I wasn’t that exhausted compared to the other runs considering that the inclines here are more challenging than the dreaded McKinley Hills. I was also quite surprised that there’s not to much soreness in my glutes after the run. I was surely glad to have had the courage of taking on my old and trusted route once again and was really happy to reach my goal for today. Also, if not for this morning’s run, I wouldn’t have realized how I badly miss running it.
siyempre pagkatapos ng uphill, siguradong may downhill
Running this route before was one of my goals when I started running because it offers a lot of challenges like it’s numerous uphills/downhills. With patience and training, I was able to do it, and by doing so, it definitely made me a better runner by “my standards” hehehe… Just like in life, we are often usually presented with problems/challenges to serve as tests. We should also put in mind that God won’t be giving us what we couldn’t handle, some might just take a little longer to solve than others or some might even put us through a journey to find ways in solving it. But somewhere along the way, how difficult it may seem, we still find ways and means to overcome these problems and end up being better and wiser.
Next week is a different story, will I take on the same route once again? Who knows, I may decide to run another. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed, because by doing so, i might get a different outcome. But I surely hope and pray that no matter which route I take, or the results maybe, it would still help me become a better person or should I say a wiser man.
The recently held Kenny’s Open Urbanite Run 2009 was a complete success! Based on the number of participants (roughly 4k) and the wonderful party atmosphere after the race, it sure was a big hit. Well, except for the pre-race blues wherein a lot of people complained about inefficient race kit distribution. Based on my experience, things like these happen especially for an event of this magnitude. I just hope the organizers will implement stricter measures next time to avoid such hassles.
Now let’s move on. You can sense the excitement of everyone who is at the race venue as they anticipate the start of the first ever night race of the year. Before the gunstart, I hung around with Marga, Raymund, Jaimie, Gigi and Let. All of us will be running the 15k except for Marga, who’s just slowly coming back from an injury.
Jeremy, Marga, Raymund, Jaimie, Let, me & Gigi
My plan for this race was to just do a steady 7min/km pace as I will be observing how my glutes will behave. As you may all know by now, I’ve been having this slight pain in my “butt” for quite sometime now but was never really bothered since it doesn’t affect my stride. I just somehow became a bit conscious about it after reading an article in Runner’s World. Psychological? I think so…well I guess there’s some truth to the saying that “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” hehehe…
Jaimie, Raymund, Let, me & Gigi exchanging spooky stories before the race
The race started out fine, and I conveniently positioned myself at the back of the pack. First few kilometers were ok until we turned left at Bayani Road. The area was dark and it somehow made running difficult as you may step into something that might lead to injury. It is also the part wherein you’ll start to encounter some slight ascents/descents that makes the route more challenging as you’ll start to feel your glutes, hams & quads being tickled hehe…
After the first turn around point near C-5, came the much anticipated part of running inside the Heritage Park. Everyone was talking about this before the race and even shared some spooky stories just so everyone would be more excited or should I say scared. I even told them to watch out for ghosts in “barong” floating around the water stations handing out drinks hahaha…Kidding aside, the run inside the park went well and a bit memorable I should say.
Out of the Heritage Park, and now back onto the inclines of Bayani road. This would be the start of the merge of the 10 & 15k runners. I started to see other friends Tin & Art as I head out back to Lawton and prepare for battle with the dreaded hills of McKinley.
Here also is the part where I made a short walk break and assess how my glutes are doing, so far so good. Then finally, the war started as I turned right to McKinley Hills. I coasted along the downhill portion and ran a bit harder on the uphill wherein I overtook several runners. After the last turn around point. I finally caught up with Vimz who was doing quite well, maintaining her target pace. It was quite a battle as I started to feel a slight pain/numbness on my glutes down to my ham/quads.
I took my 2nd and last walk break after leaving the battle grounds to prepare for the final kick. I checked my watch and it showed that i’m a couple of minutes below my target time so I started to pick up the pace again. The last 2km’s went by as if I was in cruise control , maybe because of the endorphins finally kicking in. Tried to pick up the pace after the final turn towards the finish, here I saw Ben shooting pics & Mikey cheering all the finishers. I crossed the line in (UO) 1:41mins +, not bad as my target time is 1:45mins.
finishline shot courtesy of Photovendo, thanks Ben!
Then came Vimz, who I think had a new PR, Congrats KR! A few minutes later came her best bud Pol and ex-bf Art. This is the part where we missed some of our friends namely Yen (still has ITBS), Joy (now busy with mountaineering), Tin (did the 10k), Aljo & Tolits (who ran 5k) who are usually around for the post race pics.
Art, me & Pol after crossing the finish line
After catching our breath, we proceeded to the activity area to claim our loot bags and KRR healthy meal. We also dropped by the iamninoy runners booth for some post race chit-chat, who btw is also a beneficiary of this run together with Hands on Manila. And after some more photo ops and “chika time” with other friends, we called it a night. It was indeed a great experience to be a part of a fund raising event such as this. This wonderful activity ended with a concert/party hosted by KRR endorsers Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez & Paula Taylor.
Pol, Vimz, Jaymie, Gigi & me having our "healthy meal"
me, Jaimie, Vimz, Gigi & Art
with iamninoy runners Francis, Mayi & Jamike Lopa
Rovilson, Paula & Marc
Thank you Kenny Roger’s Roasters & Finishline for coming up with a nice race and rest assured, we will be looking forward to the next year’s edition of the KENNY’S Open Urbanite Run!
ps. as for my “slight” injury, will just have to rest it for a while i guess. for the meantime, it’s stretching and strengthening exercises for me.
*photos snatched from Vimz’, Jaimie’s & Gigi’s albums. Thanks ladies!
I maybe injured. After reading an article from runner’s world, I finally come to realize that what I’ve been feeling for the past several months might be PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME. All the symptoms that were enumerated were present although it really doesn’t affect my stride/running that much.
One of the main cause of this injury is falling on your butt. I remember several instances before while playing basketball, wherein I fell down hard on my butt after going for a rebound. I’ve already had this type of pain before but i thought it was just muscle spasms because the pain would go away after doing some stretching and warm compress.
Not until earlier this year while training for the Condura Skyway Half Marathon, did the pain resurfaced after a hill run in Antipolo. At first I ignored it, and thought that the pain would just go away after doing some stretching, but after a few more sessions, it’s still there. The pain is not much that it would cause some discomfort while running so somehow I’ve learned how to live with it or should I say, run with it.
I remember talking to a runner-friend about injuries, it’s really hard to admit that you’re injured when it doesn’t affect your running that much. All you have to do is stretch more often and apply cold/hot compress after you run and it would take care of the pain. Being injured means you will have to be away from running for a certain period of time while doing rehab/physical therapy, and it sure is hard to do that especially when you’ve come to love the sport so much that it has become a part of your lifestyle.
So for now, as hard as it may seem, I think I’m really injured, but just “slightly” (hehe..still in denial eh?). As for tomorrow, I will be treating the Urbanite run as a diagnostic run and see how I’d feel after. If the pain worsens, it’s time to see a doctor, and if not and my condition remains the same, I’ll just continue to stretch and do some exercises and hope that everything will turn out fine.
Am I stubborn, I guess we all are. As runners, we’re somehow used to run through pain, exhaustion and dehydration. So for now, it’s still wait and see. Maybe I’ll just cut down on my mileage for the moment and try to do some strengthening exercises and hope once again that this “slight” injury would disappear hehehe…
Being injured is not a good thing. So am I injured? I guess not…well maybe slightly. I think being STUBBORN is more appropriate, see you at the runs/races.
I think i’m at this stage for the past several months now…not really sure of how I feel, or should I say, a bit reluctant to accept reality. I started having this crazy and weird feeling early this year after one of my long runs in Antipolo.
At first, I just thought it was something that would just die down or go away as time goes by. But I guess I was wrong, after several more long runs and a few races after, the feeling is still there. I’m not sure if it affects my running performance, but somehow, as months pass, i’ve learned how to live with it. Sure it nags me pre/post run rather than during, but i guess that’s just how it goes with some of us. It’s really hard to accept reality coz it bites hehehe… Just as long as it’s tolerable or bearable, just let it be.
I remember one friend told me that if you got it while running, just let or allow running heal it for you. It’s really hard to let go of something so important and meaningful, even for just a short period. So for now, i’ll just take it for what it is and hope that everything goes well. One foot after the other, one day at a time. I guess i’ll still be seeing you at the runs/races after all…
was able to do my tribute run in memory of “Tita Cory” yesterday afternoon despite heavy rains. even if i ran alone, i’m sure that the iamninoy runners together with all the other groups who ran in different parts of the metro are with me in sending out our gratitude and deepest sympathy to the family of the former president. HINDI AKO NAG-IISA…to “Tita Cory”, again, thank you for everything that you’ve done and sacrificed for bringing back democracy to our country, you will surely be missed…we love you!
Lately, i’ve been having a hard time convincing myself to do speed training as i’m really starting to enjoy relaxed runs. It’s not that i don’t want to improve speedwise or to have a new pr, it’s just that as of late, i’m not into that nauseus feeling-lung busting-vomit inducing workouts.
I remember having a conversation with some friends regarding this and some of them also enjoy relaxed long runs (10k or more) instead of high intensity 5k’s. I don’t care about pr’s lately, i just focus on having a great time be it a 10, 15 or a 21k run.
So, does it really matter for us runners to be fast? If we don’t break our pr’s? I guess not. I’m sure a lot of you won’t agree with me regarding this since we all want to improve our pr’s right? Well, i think it just boils down to how we define improvement. I’m not a fast runner to begin with. I guess i’m not really destined to be one due to my size hehehe…But as of the moment, it doesn’t really matter to me if i’m fast or slow. I just want to run (be it alone or with friends), feel good and be happy just like everyone else.
p.s. Tomorrow, 5th of August 2009, most of the iamninoy runners here in the metro will be having a group run in memory of our beloved “Tita Cory”. Won’t be able to join them though, but i’ll still be doing my own version, Lonerunner style.
Birth Date: Friday, 17th of July 2009
Time: 6:30 pm
Birth Place: B3 Bonifacio High St., Global City, Taguig
Toby Claudio (3rd from left), "father" of RUNNR with the "ninongs
Last friday, 17th of July 2009, marks the birth of RUNNR, a world class state of the art one stop shop for running. It’s the latest “baby” of Toby Claudio, an avid runner himself and is also the “father” of TOBY’s sports.
shoes, apparel and accessories
With the current running boom in the country today, it is very timely that a store like this was “born” to cater to all our running needs. From top of the line shoes, apparel, hydration accessories, supplements to the state of the art FOOTworx system, a computerized video gait analysis and insole customization system. It a new technology that would enable their staff to properly guide us in getting the correct running shoes and at the same time help us prevent foot, leg and even back injuries.
FOOTworx video gait analysis system
Newton shoes
Here, you can also find popular brands such as Newton running shoes and CW-X conditioning wear which before, are only available abroad or can only be purchased online.
I’m pretty sure that in the months and years to come, RUNNR will continue to bring to us the latest gear and technology that would further enhance our love and passion for running.
For more details and product updates please log on to www.runnr.com.ph
Me and my friends came into this run/race with one thing in mind, “HAVE FUN”. Since most of us wasn’t able to train for this (because of busy work skeds & bad weather…), we’ll just treat it as an LSD (again? ). Started the run with Yen, Vimz, Tanya & Mon. Everybody is excited to hear the beeping sound from the timing chip sensor as we passed thru the starting line.
Tanya, Vimz, me & Yen before the race
The first few kms. were ok because the weather is still a bit cool & windy, we’re doing around 7:30min/km pace. We went through the dreaded Kalayaan flyover with ease, but upon entering Buendia, Yen requested for a walk break to catch her breath,maybe because we went a bit fast at the downhill portion of the bridge. At this point, we saw Vimz’ best bud Pol who later on decided to join us. Before reaching Paseo de Roxas, Tanya & Mon (who obviously got bored with our pace hehehe…) decided to go ahead.
Vimz, Pol, Yen & me along Buendia
So it’s just me, Yen, Vimz & Pol from here. Nearing the corner of Reposo, we already saw the lead pack composed of elite runners on their way back as we, the “pelite” runners continued with our run-walk-run strategy. Vimz was even doing a variation where she would speed up to a certain point, hoping that it would take us a bit longer to catch up so she’ll have more time to rest hehehe…clever huh?
We then turned left at Ayala Ave., it’s where we started to see friends on their way back. We saw ultrarunner Mikey, Vener (who’s pacing his wife Xty but still took the time to take our pic, thanks bro!), and then the power couple of Mark & Tiffin. Along Makati ave., Yen stopped and tried to fix her shoes. I asked her if the laces are coming loose, she told me that it was just a ploy for her to be able to take a breather hahaha…another clever idea…After the turn around point near Edsa, we saw Tin, who despite coming in late, was still able to catch up.
Vimz, me, Yen & Tin w/ Pol at the foreground at the foot of the Kalayaan flyover
It’s still the same old strategy on our way back until our second “meeting” with the Kalayaan flyover, where Tin eventually caught up with us. This is where i tried to push Yen & Vimz literally on the uphill portion of the bridge, Vimz also blurted out “bakit nga ba natin ginagawa ito?”, the usual question runners ask themselves when they are tired. A few hundred meters after, Pol “towed” Vimz and went ahead, a couple of minutes more, Tin followed.
Yen was starting to feel pain on her left knee (ITB) so I decided to stay with her. We would do some stretching every now and then along the flyover hoping that the pain would go away. After turning right at Rizal drive, we stopped again to stretch. At this stage, I asked her if she still wants to finish the race. She said that she wants to since the pain is still tolerable, we’ll just have stop more frequently to stretch and see if it gets any better.
Yen & me along 5th ave. before calling it a day
We then turned right at 5th ave. heading towards Lawton but the downhill portion near the Essensa eventually took it’s toll on her knee so we decided to stop for the last time. Do we still continue? I asked her…a classic case of “the mind is willing, but the flesh is weak”, i also told her that it’s not worth the risk finishing the race with a serious injury. And after a few exchanges, we decided to call it a day. We took off our race bibs, took on a different route and had a leisurely walk back to the finish. We then met up with friends at the RunRadio booth to wait for Vimz, Pol & Tin to finish the race. Congratulations guys!
all smiles @ the Run Radio booth with (clockwise) Pol, Art, Marga, Tin, Vimz & Yen
In everything that we do or if we want to achieve something, there’s always a risk involved. Some are for the taking, while some are not. In this case, I don’t think it would be worth it. We’re not elite runners, we’re not even at a competitive level. We just run because we LOVE to! The bottomline is, it makes us happy and finishing a race with an injury, is certainly not something that me and my friends would be so happy about.
To Yen, i hope your knee feels better soon and to everyone who ran (only, wink…)and finished the race, again, congratulations!
Recent Comments