New Balance Power Race - Day 2

The 25KM New Balance Power Race will be the farthest I have ever run. So there is a fear on whether I can finish this at a good time or suffer in the race like I did at my first half marathon experience in Borneo a month ago. Joining me in this journey will be Janine+ in her first 25KM run too. In the 10Km category will be Per and Jeanne.

We got here about 5:15AM and had enough time for the 25KM race which had a minor delay and started around 5:45AM. 10KM runners started their race about 10 minutes after the 25KM race.

It was raining a little bit when we got to the starting point so there were some questions on whether we should wear our IPODS and Nike+ Sportsband for this race given their non- water proof qualities. We decided to still wear them and good thing too as rain was light enough and didn't last that long. The weather was quite good and cool all the way so that helped a lot for the first timers (read: me) doing a run here.

Every 2KM or so, there is a water station and bottles are handed out to each runner. No fear of dehydration whatsoever. The KM markers are put in correctly with pretty cool slogans from New Balance such as: XOXO Running, Running is your Best Friend with Benefits, Love/Hate Running, Running Misses you, etc. so that was a welcome distraction from torture of running. Hehe.

The landscape at Clark was pretty awesome too as we went through a lot of green fields (with carabaos), outside Fontana Resort and our course was covered with trees for the shade we crave. There were some uphill climbs as well but manageable as not too inclined.

For my own run, I started really slow. I was at the end of the pack when the race began but didn't really care because of the chip timer and didn't want to tire myself out at the first half. As I headed to the 12.5km marker, I saw a lot of runners heading back already. Vener was there and gave me a thumbs up, Runner Jun who was saying not to run too fast as there will be uphill climbs going back, Rio who gave me a high five, Baldrunner and Bullrunner with their running groups and Jinoe of Takbo.ph who seems to be having a good time as he was smiling when I saw him.

It was a slow jog up to the halfway mark to which I started running faster a little bit. I was quite happy in that the only times I stopped to walk were at the water stations. This being my first 25km run, it automatically becomes a Personal Record so I didn't focus on the fast race mode and just concentrated on finishing this race.

My target time was at 3 hour 15 minutes so I was happy that I finished at 3:03:26 (according to my Garmin) with distance of 25.13 km. What really made my day was that I did not feel tired at all so I was smiling once I neared the finish line. It was also the first time I took a Powergel at mid-point (courtesy of my sister) so that must have helped as well.

No blisters and chafing for me post-race but my shoulders were in pain after surpassing the 12.5km. Problem could have been my running form and I hope to get more information on this in the Nike Training programs to which I registered for.

Janine, Per, Gigay and Jeanne all did well in their respective runs. Unfortunately, Kervin who registered for the 10km race couldn't join due to a small ankle sprain. But he was still game to wake up early and join us as our unofficial photographer and his pictures (see below) are FANTASTIC! Big Thanks Kerv! Our best running photos yet!!!

New Balance Power Race - Day 1

November 15-16, 2008 will go down in our memories as a very busy weekend due to the sport of running. There were three different races to be held on these two days. First was the 5km race on November 15 at 4:00PM and then the 10km and 25km events to be held the next day.

There were 14 of us in the group for this out of town trip. Out of the 14 people, 8 will do the 5km run (most of them their first time), 2 will do the 10km run, and 2 will do the 25km run. We used 3 cars to go here and there was hardly any traffic as we left Metro Manila around 10am. With me in the car are Janine, Per, Kervin and Jeanne and our I.T for that day were as follows:

9:50AM - leave for Manila to Clark
11:30AM - head for SM Clark for lunch (ended up at Gerry's Grill and did some carbo loading)
12:40PM - Watch Madagascar 2! Its theme song "I like to Move It" makes for a great running song, don't you think?
2:30PM - head for Pure Gold Duty Free for some food shopping
3:30PM - check in at Clarkton Hotel
4:20PM - meet the rest of the group at Clark Parade Ground for their 5km race.

Due to lack of time, we weren't able to go to Clarkton Hotel and went directly to Parade Grounds from Duty Free. At that time, we expected the race to end (as start time was scheduled at 4:00PM) but it hadn't even begun yet. Delay had something to do with the big red START balloon needing more air. At least we got to see our friends at starting point as race started around 4:30 - 4:40PM.

I also met Vener here who was supporting his wife Christy as she does her 5km race.

While waiting for the 5km runners to finish, Janine, Vener and I went to the registration office to get our timing chips for our own race the next day. No lines here and they were quite fast in giving us the chips which were attached to ankle wraps.

For the first time, I was part of the cheering group and had a great time watching my friends as they head over to the finish line. Too bad most of the pictures I took were blurred but it was nice to shout my friends' names and to cheer them on. All of them had a good time and they got a lot of freebies from the race which includes chocolate bars, bananas, magazines, and a New Balance yellow band.


The 5km cheering squad! We have our own races the next day too..

Running ahead of the 5km runners. Will go for the gold medal! Haha

The Running Banana in his running shoes.

Blanche was the first to finish in our group for her first 5km race.

Nikki followed by Minerva as they head to the finish line.

5km runners group picture

The complete 5km runners group picture! Good job guys! Hope to see you in future runs.

Go Slow (VSO Bahaginan Run - Nov 9, 2008)

"Go Slow", "Slower than slow", "Turtle slow" were my mantras all throughout this race.

Previous to this race, my only trainings were two runs that I did at the treadmill with a distance of 5km and 6km respectively. I had a hard time finishing these workouts. Took a long time too! So there was a genuine fear on whether I can finish this 15km race given my poor performance at the gym.

As the race started around 5:50AM, I did a leisurely jog as didn't want to "hit the wall" so early in the run. Not reaching the 2km mark yet, I was already looking for water and my calves were starting to ache. Definitely, not a good sign!!


So I ran slower using my mantras above. And it seemed to work. As I head into Heritage Park, I felt fine. The pain in my calves disappeared and I wasn't tired yet. In the previous two 15km races that I joined (that had the same route as this one), I was walking parts of Heritage Park so it was a nice rewarding feeling to know that I didn't do that here. The good weather was helpful too.

The next challenge was McKinley Hill and I know that I will do some walking here with its steep uphill course. As I headed down this road, I saw Wayne (SFRunner), Benny (my running partner in Kota Kinabalu), and Jaymie (Bullrunner) heading up already. I did walk but just for a very short period and near the exit point of this area. I am quite happy that I wasn't as exhausted as I expected myself to be and increased my pace in the last 3km of the race as I headed towards the finish line.

Near the finish line, I saw Vener (Run Unlimited) with his wife, cheering me on. Thanks for that guys!! I crossed the finish line at a time of 1:38:45 based on my Garmin watch with distance of 15.06 km. Official results show that my time was 1:39:28. Either way, I am quite ecstatic at my good time as expected to suffer in this race. No PR for this race but I wasn't looking for one anyway. Besides, I was just 2 minutes away from it and I even beat the last 15km race I did.

At finish line, met Blogger Nora the Golden Girl and had nice chat with her too.

All in all, it was a pretty good day for me.

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booth of Bahaginan

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I want to steal this Rush bottle!
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Runners Wawie and Gigay


Nearing the finish line. Photo courtesy of blogger Brother J. Thanks for this one.

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Yes! I did it!





15km Finishers!!! One long race down and one to go....

The Numbers Game

1 year of running and I kept some of my race bibs.

How many of these races have you joined?

I first saw a picture of this at SFRunner's Blog:

http://sfrunner.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/2146-5k-time-trial
Take a look there to see some of the races he joined in the USA.

As for me, this will just be my one year of running and had some personal achievements:



GO FAST!
Fastest time for 3 mile: 26 minutes, 25 seconds at Pringles Run (May)

Fastest time for 10km: 58 minutes, 27 seconds at Dasma-Forbes Annual Run (June)

Fastest and only time for 11KM: 1 hour, 9 minutes, 17 seconds at Champion Marikina Run (May) dddd

Fastest and only time for 12KM (trail run): 1 hour, 23 minutes, 27 seconds at Menshealth All Terrain Race (June)

GO FAR!

Fastest time for 15KM: 1 hour, 36 minutes, 46 seconds at Mizuno Run (Mar)

Fastest and only time for 16KM: 1 hour 38 minutes 10 seconds at La Salle Run (July)

Fastest and only time for 21KM: 2 hours 29 minutes 34 seconds at Borneo Run (October)



GO WILD! - my most unforgettable top 10 races

10. Run Along the River, Marikina: a definite change of scenery but doesn't make it easier as quite hot here when we ran. Still, it was nice to see some animal statues, the giant red shoe on the river, and a statue of Marikina here.

9. Takbo Breast Friend AND Exodus Run: mentioned this as always find ULTRA route the hardest of them all given the steep incline here. On a good side, it is just 10 minute drive from my place and given enough training here, you should be able to get a good finish time in the races at Fort Bonifacio or Luneta...

8. Milo Race: big crowd = bad finish time. Still, it was a fun run and great to be part of something you've always known but never imagined partaking.

7. Men's Health All- Terrain Race: running on rocky paths uphill and slippery grassy plains downhill was difficult but it was still a change of view that I liked. There should be more terrain running for a more outdoor-sy feeling.

6. Condura Race: First race I felt pampered as got a lot of goodies here. Love the freebies and shirt design was awesome! Lots and lots of water and sports drinks as well from what I remember. A very well organized race.

5. La Salle's Animo Run 10k: Animo La Salle! This was done in Mall of Asia grounds on a relatively flat course. I also did the La Salle 16km run in Fort Bonifacio with a good time (rain there helped remove the fatigue) and both races gave out very nice and comfortable singlets..

What set this 10km race apart from the 16km race were the Pep Squad Cheerleaders. The beating of the drums to the familiar tune of La Salle songs made me want to run faster and harder and gave me all the motivation I needed to finish the race. For the first time, they were cheering for us and it felt good to be on the receiving end of the cheer.


4. Men's Health Urbanathon 10k: The race that started the running addiction and pretty challenging too as had to do some obstacles before crossing the finish line. Never trained for anything as hard as I did for this race! I had to do some weight training as dreaded the 8 foot WALL! The souvenir photo c/o Timex was also awesome and to this day, it is put in my car's visor as a reminder of that day's run.


3. Borneo Half Marathon: My first half marathon (and farthest run) and only race outside the Philippines! Unfortunately, it was also the first time I "hit the wall" as suffered from heat in this country. Still, I was able to finish this race and get my first finisher medal. Singlet given out was one of my favorites. Buffet breakfast at hotel, relaxing at the pool and foot massages post-race don't hurt as well.


2. Nike+ Human Race: Fantastic as part of the biggest run in the world and liked it for all the goodies given out by Nike (Finisher Bracelet, magazine, Nike socks just to name a few). Best of all is that registration is free! So hyped up for this race that 4 of us even ordered the Official Race Shirt online!! Too bad, I can't join next year's race as my Nike+ sports band has gone to the graveyard..

1. PMI Proudly 60 Race: A race in U.P. with ample water, and singlet given out at the registration. What makes this run memorable was on a personal level: it was the first 10k race that Per and I finished together by running side by side all throughout the race.

What made it even more special is a change of status quo for both of us just 24 hours prior to said race.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 265 KM is the magic number for all the races I have joined in a span on one year. This does not include the training at the gym or the jogging outdoors. Looking to run faster, further, and wilder as I go on my second year of running...

Pictures from Sydney jog

Saw these parked ships at the harbour.

Road to Sydney's Botanical Garden.

Heading to the bridge. Nice view from harbour and lots of joggers here.

Sydney Opera House. Will go pass it to head for the Harbour Bridge.

Some morning runners at the pedestrian lane of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Different shot of same bridge.

View from the bridge. Lots of morning ferries already..

The other side of the bridge. My Turning point back to the apartment once I reached the bottom stairs. Yea!

Running back now. Felt some soreness in the knees but weather awesome as still pretty cool at about 8:30AM.

Lots of security cameras here.

Passed by Museum of Arts near Circular Quay as I head back home.

Nice big red tourist bus. One of my favorite shots in this run..

City View

Sydney's Iconic landmarks

Got a shot too care of some tourists here. Of course, I also took a picture of them. :)

Couldn't resist stopping by Harry' Cafe on Wheels for some of their Specialty meat pies. Good thing I stored some cash in my shoe wallet.

Heavy Breakfast of green peas, bread, mash potato and meat!
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I loved the view so much that I was hoping to do a repeat of it but that didn't happen anymore. I did do a 9km run in Tasmania with my sister and brother in law for about an hour or so. Still, I had hoped I had done some more runs here. It is just sooooo hard to wake up early in the morning when you are in vacation mode. Oh well, at least I did fulfill my wish to run on the Sydney Harbour Bridge so that should be a good thing.

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With only two run work outs in a span of two weeks, I dread how I am going to do in this Sunday's 15km run at Fort Bonifacio. Much worse will be the 25km run in Clark the following Sunday. Has this Running Fat Boy bitten off more than he can chew or will all these unused energy help save him on the long races??? We shall know soon enough....