New Balance Power Run: Another Longest Run Ever

Two weeks after I did my longest run ever (KOTR), I was to do an even longer run at the NB Power Run. 25K sounded doable when I signed up two months before but as it was fast approaching, it seemed impossible. Oh well, I was already paid and since the longer distances were a bit more expensive than the usual 10K’s, I decided to give it a go and just hope to finish within the three hour forty five minute cut-off.

I was filled with anxiety the night before since it was pouring since early afternoon. It was the type of downpour that would usually cancel races but not this one. 3am came and it was still pouring but decided to give it a go.

As soon as we entered the Start area, we were drenched. Yet, the hosts pretended it was a bright sunny day and we were sent off with the usual Runrio music playing in the background. Incidentally, this music played in my head throughout the run since my MP3 decided to take a day-off after getting soaked in the rain.

The race took us through the usual 10K routes around BGC and over the Buendia-Kalayaan flyover. Buendia went all the way past South Superhighway and U-turned at the Makati-Pasay border. We got back to BGC and went around the American Cemetery and back to the usual Finish.

As I crossed the Finish, I was just glad that I beat the cut-off (barely). It felt like days had passed since I started the race. In real time, it took me longer to finish this race than my monthly drive to Bataan.

Overall, the run was very well organized. Hydration stations were enough to keep us going from Start to Finish. Big plus was the chance to win a brand new Chevy Cruze (completely tax free).

KOTR 2011: My AnniversaRun

Adidas KOTR 2011 was my first official race and of course, first PR for 5K. A year after, it was time to set another one at the KOTR 2011. This time, the PR will likely stay for a long time as this year’s version feature an unusual distance of 16.8 kilometers. Either way, this was not only a time record for me but the longest distance I was to conquer.

Off we went with the 5:30 gun start and as I had read somewhere (Jeff Galloway’s Half Marathon book I think), I was to take the first 10K easily and not try to race it. Leisure 10K it was I decided.

Since the event was organizrd by Runrio, we went through the usual route (IS, CVC Law, Japanese School, Lexus, New road to Kalayaan and back) for the first 7K. As we headed back to Jollibee corner, I got a big surprise. I thought all along (or saw in race primers) that we would be heading back to the Lawton/Heritage area, a route I was to take for the first. Yet, we were told to to forward and take the Kalayaan flyover to Buendia. I wasn’t mentally prepared to take on this nemesis of mine but guess I had no choice.

Buendia took us all the way to Ayala Avenue and back where I decided it was time to race it. At least that’s what my mind told me. My Garmin told me it was still leisure pace all the way back.

Not-so-fast-forward to the street of the Finish Line, never had I been so glad to see the end of the race so near yet so far.

KOTR 2011 was a world of difference from the year before. No more congestion. All runners got medals. Would i run it again? Definitely. I may have sentimental bias to KOTR but that has nothing to do with it. It was a great run overall. Just hope there would be no price increase next year.

TBR DM Bull Session 1: Learning How To Walk

And here I was thinking I learned to walk at 1…

Very early Saturday morning. If were still playing golf, the 4:30 alarm would have been normal. Nowadays, my body clock permits that only on Sundays when the races are usually scheduled. Nevertheless, I got up and going excited as I was for the first of a series of Bull Sessions heading up to TBR DM 2012.

The session was led by TBR DM Head Coach Lit Onrubia who taught us all about walking. Yes, walking. Very informative though as he told us all about the proper stride length, form and forward lean (following the principle of Chi Walking/Running taught by Danny Dreyer in what I consider the Running Bible). That’s when I realized that although I had been “walking” all these years, I had been doing it wrong. It was only then that I learned to walk.

Coach Lit also taught us the importance of walking in every run. This followed the Run-Walk-Run principle advocated by Jeff Galloway (which I adopted as I graduated to doing 10K’s early this year). Integrating the proper walk to this principle, I think this helped me the next day in the KOTR where I finished my longest run to date.

After the talk, we took to the streets for our driving test. What was supposed to be a 45-minute run-walk-run was cut short for me as I thought it was over when we got back to our assembly point. Took a break and soon as I recovered my wits realized that the congregation went on. Oh well, enough for me as I had the longest run of my life (so far) the next day.

Saw a few familiar faces during the session (including my third year high school professor) and glad to have met some of the TBR DM 2012 batchmates. Looking forward to the next Bull Sessions.

Bull Session 1: Present!

STOMP: “1 Hour and 40 Minutes of Noise”

Never really heard of Stomp until I saw ads on the paper and a huge billboard on the road. The only thing I was told was they were the group that appeared in the Dolby Digital trailers in select cinemas before the actual movie. That got me curious and excited.

We chose Wednesday (2nd day of its one week run) to see the show and aside from the traffic and parking hassles of a CCP show, it was a great night as the “noise” made all the difference. The “1 hour and 40 minutes of noise” (as described by the press release) was fun from start to finish. No dull moment as the cast kept the crowd entertained the whole time.

The show opened with brooms (or scrubbers with sticks) and went on with all sorts of trademark “instruments” that made pleasant noise. Perhaps an underrated (or not much discussed) aspect of the show was the choreography of their movements. Not really dance but rather movement from one place to another while playing with the “instruments”. There were even a few juggling acts that were just amazing.

No money wasted on this show. Highly recommended. Catch it before the run ends tomorrow.

Made it to TBR DM 2012. Woohoo!

Since I first heard of The Bull Runner Dream Marathon (TBRDM), I totally embraced the concept and made it my own dream to be part of it someday. I’ve been a follower of The Bull Runner blog and learned more about TBRDM and its life-changing stories. I wanted to be part of it and write my own.

Fast forward to day before typhoon “Pedring” and there came my chance. Reservation for 500 slots to TBRDM 2012 was officially opened. I quickly entered my personal info on the online reservation form and realized I was much faster at typing than running. When I sent my form, anxiety took over me. Did I make it or not? Tick, tock, tick, tock…

While typhoon “Pedring” blew his fury and killed my cable connection, anxiety gave way to fear when I saw that TBRDM Reserved Runners list was already posted online. Bar results day all over again and I had to browse through the list in search of my shortened name. When I found it, I had to finally get out of bed (about 8pm) and take it all in. Woohoo!

It was after all the excitement and anxiety I found out that a sponsor could get me the slot if I missed the reservation cut-off. Oh well, at least I can give credit to my fast typing skills.

Next step for me is to officially register and claim my “reserved” slot. That’s probabaly the easiest part of the road to TBRDM 2012 since training comes right after. That’s gonna be tough. Good luck to me and all my batchmates!

AXN @ AXN Runs Philippines 2011

With some last minute help from Coach Mario, I was able to sign up for the AXN run. Didn’t expect they’d be closing registration more than a week before race day. Anyway, just glad I was able to secure my spot at the 10K.

Gun time was 5:45 (a bit later than the usual 5:30) but since the race was at Ortigas, was on the road at our usual 5:00 a.m. departure time.  It was my first time to run Ortigas and “tough” should always be in any description of that route.

Starting line was a bit tight since they used only one side of F. Ortigas, Jr. Ave. while the other side was the finish line. Being at our usual spot in the back, we had to squeeze our way through and get past the 5K runners who were prematurely forming their own starting line (I don’t get why they do that when their starting time is still fifteen minutes away).

First 1K was quick since I let gravity do the work down Julia Vargas Ave.. Then we hit C-5 and that’s where everything turned around. First trip up the C-5 Ortigas flyover was slow (and I mean slooooowww) jog and steady walk as I neared the top. Rolling down was likewise tough as I had to defy gravity lest I do unintentional somersaults on my way down. It didn’t help that traffic on the other side meant we were running and puffing smoke at the same time. Reaching the Eastwood turnaround, I realized that I had to do that ll over again. Phew!

Past the 9K mark, it was gonna be the toughest last K as we had to get back up Julia Vargas. That was it. I was gonna walk it. It was only when I got to the top with about 250 meters to go that I decided I was gonna finish looking like a runner. When I checked my Garmin at the end, I posted my 3rd worst finish out of my 10 10K’s. Not good but not too bad considering this was the toughest route I’ve done so far.

As this was my first time to run an event by FinishLine, I’d have to give them the benefit of the doubt and say I was satisfied (not impressed) by the race organization. I particularly liked heir timing device that you strap around your ankle. Hydration stations were well-placed but could have stacked up a little more. Three tables is not enough and there were some in the later stages that ran out of filled glasses (which meant you had to wait for them to fill your glass). Traffic was manageable as there were not too many 10K runners (still, good job marshals, including Coach Mario). Free drink at the end was the usual water and 100 Plus but would’ve been better if they were cold and not fresh from the box. Would I run it again? Perhaps if they changed venue.

Hello world!

Figured everyone who first use this “blog-tool” gets this title as soon as they start their blog. Might as well keep it here for all eternity. That’s how long I hope this blog will last. On my part for the nth time.

This isn’t my first venture in this world of blogging. Tried it before, several times in fact, but keeping them up and active longer than one month was invariably an epic fail.

This time, yes, this time, this venture will last for all eternity I hope. Wish me luck. “Hello world!”