See You in 2011!

I'm trying to recall when I had my last running race. Was it the 15k Amazing Kidney Run in UP? That was like months ago- March 7, 2010 to be exact. And since then, no more as another conflicting aim came up: project baby.

It had to take one miscarriage for me to realize that I tend to have delicate pregnancies. Unlike others, I cannot possibly do brisk walking or light running without jeopardizing my baby (babies this time as I am having twins).

And so, it is goodbye running for now. I will see you sometime in June 2011. I'm still dreaming of doing a marathon. Who knows, I might even try to push my twins along on my first try. Ok, maybe not for the whole stretch :-) Just for pictorials. Hehehe.

To my running friends, enjoy it while you can! I will have to content myself with egging my husband to run for me instead.

I will definitely be back!

From 0 to 5- hopefully not back to zilch again!

MPG reunion run @ Hataw Pilipinas Run

After 3 months of zilch running, crazy work hours and tight weekends, I got back on the road again to do a 5km run with MPG pals. This was the Hataw Pilipinas Run at the UP Acad Oval a couple of weeks back.

It felt good to be breathing race air again! Didn't take too long to relive some distant memory of bubbly pre-race chit-chats, and drooling at the longer distance race bibs. On that last bit, I could actually hear my old running self shouting, "Huwaat?! I'm doing 5km?? Should be in the 10km category at least!" *gulp*gulp*

race = practice
And here we go again. The usual no-running-homework-made-before-the-race story. Well, this was just5km anyway. Promised myself to run at an easy pace. Plus, it's UP. No surprise uphill challenge or anything.

After the first 2 kms, I could already feel the additional 10lbs I've put on weighing down on me... plus the heavy calves and all.

That brought me to my normal gameplan: whatever you lack from inadequate practice, you make up for with sheer will (no pun intended on Mr Sheer Will!). JUST DO IT! Sabi nga ng Nike. Kaso nag-switch nako sa Mizuno. Ano nga ulit ang tag line ng Mizuno? May tag line nga ba sila? At bakit sabi ni Julius of Runnr, mas bagay daw ang Wave Creation 10 sa "heavyweights"? Does my pair not work for me?

My thoughts have obviously drifted now like they always do whenever I run. Not really a fan of towing in music when running to keep my head preoccupied. With my body wanting to stop already, apart from thinking about my shoes, I tried to focus on the trees, runners to outrun (hehehe), and counting the not-so-few racers who decided to walk in the middle of the road! tsk, tsk... sana maalala nilang tumabi, noh? Did not remember how many I counted though. Must mean it's no big deal really- just trying to make an issue here! haha.

so-so run, but happy nonetheless
In the end, I did get to finish line with an unglamorous time of roughly 40 mins for the almost 5.5 km route. But hey, I was still ahead of the MPG pack :-) We were all run-less for the past months though- even Cathletic herself succumbed to busyness.

The juicy part of the race was- of course- after the race! It was a despedida run aferall for Ms. Bandana Runner who is exchanging the Manila races for Boston's :-( And now we have to keep up and save for it, too (per Ms Prezzie's order)! All the best for you, Carla! You will be missed...

with Bandana Runner

Then there was my honey's birthday breakfast blowout at Something Fishy. Too bad, couldn't maximize the bottomless breakfast as I had to rush off to my 8.30am church service.

It was a happy run despite the organizers' glitches, which I'd rather not mention. Cha and Pao, thanks much for registering us in. To the MPG barkada, what would running races be like without you guys? Awww...

mandatory jump shot of the MPG ladies

Back to reality racing. I gotta find a way out of this crazy work sched. I cannot be dragging my gym bag to work every other day only to be bringing it home with the contents untouched...

Neutral, Heel Striker

After walking and running in the rain with me, pressing in the crowd and climbing a truck just to get a glimpse of President Cory's remains as it passed by Nichols, my honey's Nike running shoes finally gave up on him.

And that is how we ended up in Runnr, a newly-opened running shop at the Fort.

Quick scan of the items: pricey!

BUT BUT, they do have seasoned-runner consultants and free(!) running gait and foot analysis. Ryan had his first and was advised to buy a yellow Nike stability shoes (I forgot the exact model).

Then it was my turn. The judgment? Neutral gait, but with too much heel strike. I used to be an underpronator so in that aspect, my Wave Creation seemed to have helped me become neutral. As for the heel strikes, I will have to consciously work on shifting to midfoot. Any suggestions on drills that could help?

One comment from the shop's ultramarathoner-consultant that really got me thinking is that my shoes are supposedly designed for heavy people. And since I am not heavy enough (at least NOT YET!), the heel support built into the shoes is not fully maximized.

Hhhmmm... should I be happy that at least I am not that heavy yet to need my pair's heel support or should I be sad that I'm not maximizing my shoes? Hmmmm....

Trail Running at the Camaya Coast Aquathlon Challenge

The 10th and most difficult

My initiation into trail running came with a scenic view sugarcoating a MEAN route. Picture a sunny beach day set against a hilly green backdrop. Absolutely perfect for suntanning, isn't it? But definitely not so for running! Especially if sandwiched in between scorching beach runs is a rough uphill terrain with an uneven ride down.

This was my 10th official run race, and my first on surfaces other than concrete and asphalt. Before this, the most difficult race I ever encountered was the 10km Makiling Challenge. Second to that would be the 21-km Condura Run.


Almost DNF
It certainly did not help that I favor running in the rain more than under the sun, and my training runs tend to be scheduled in the evenings. Nothing in my running history came close to something like sweating it out under a blazing-hot mid-morning beach sun. No wonder, just before reaching the uphill turnaround of the first loop (there were three), I found myself alternating between praying for God to give me a push and talking to myself to give it a go.

I just felt WEAK. The heat was sapping my energy. I've had heavy legs before- knee pains even. I know hot it feels to run short of breath or hear my pulse throb wildly. But I have never felt WEAK in any of my runs. Almost thought of dropping out...


Lost and outrun
It helped that after the turnaround on the first loop, it was mostly downhill runs. That was not yet the end of my troubles though. I took a wrong turn and was poised to stray further had one of the marshals and Cathy not spotted me. She gained an advantage there and sped off while I scrambled back. Was this the race where I would be outrun by Cathy?I could almost imagine her blog screaming with this headline: "Cathletic finally outran Jihan!"

I must have prayed hard enough- alas, it was not yet to be :-)


Major blooper!
Part of the race instructions was for each participant to shout, "I love Camaya Coast!" whenever we pass by the pavilion. When it was my turn, I mindlessly shouted, "I love...Anvaya Coast!" The organizers were stunned. Realizing my very grave blunder, I stammered, "Sorry, I'm just out of my mind". Where is the eject button when it is most needed? Or rewind perhaps?

On the 2nd and 3rd loop of the run, my body seemed to have adjusted. I quickly mastered the technique of cooling myself best: simply pour water on the head, face, nape, arms and legs. I also started paying attention to how I fared within my gender category. On the 3rd loop, I kind of figured that I might make it to 2nd place :-) As for Cathy, she did very well, too, and finished on the 3rd spot.

Jihan, Ziggy and Cathy at the awarding

One cool gang for company in one cool place

Jihan, Ziggy, Rico, Bong, Ian, Cathy & Ellen

The better part of the Camaya Coast experience was enjoying it with fellow MPGer Cathy and Takbo.Ph pips who did the aquathlon challenge. Ziggy made history by placing first in his age group, Rico was a hit at giving kayaking lessons to me and Cathy, while Ian was kind enough to let another blunder of mine slip. I confused him with another blogger from Takbo- and I had the gall to actually ask, "Umm, are you **runner?". He mildly replied with something like, "No, I'm Seabiskwit". To think that I was actually reading his blogs and occasionally commenting, too!

Bong was the cool dude whose ears pricked up when he was being addressed with a polite "po" (Wehehe!), and Ellen, of course, was our star photographer! Ron, another MPGer, was also there to conquer the trail run with us.


My ultimate takeaway?
Nope, it's not my 2nd place finish. Or the Speedo shirt (my brother claimed it right away as soon as he laid his eyes on it). I have always loved to swim but have not pursued it... I was certainly inspired by the aquathloners...perhaps I can take it up, too, in a few months.... :-)

We will see.


**********
I must say the event was decently organized. Thanks much to the sponsors/organizers who put it together. Can't wait for the next one!

Holy Week Running Resolution

Last Black Saturday, I had the "mistake" of checking out the titles in BookSale, SM Baguio. My eyes fell on this book: "Marathon: the Ultimate Training & Racing Guide". Instinctively I muttered, "No, not yet". But the more adventurous side of me came up with a reply. "Well, no harm in reading right? You might even get a couple of of sound tips to improve your current PRs".

That seemed to make more sense so off I went with it. After reading a few pages, my Holy Week ended up as not only a time for spiritual reflection, but also for contemplation on my running plans/goals for the year.

Looking at my race performances, the finish times were more or less close to that of average runners. However, my training log looked miserable. I had less than 15 running sessions since January- with the PSE Bull Run & Condura Run races already thrown in- and barely 100kms of total mileage for 3.5 months (!) Plus, I rarely do speedwork and often ignore tapering before a race. My friend Dree puts it rather more accurately: "[for Jihan] race = practice!" Hah, I might have relied too much on talent (indulge me on this one, ok?)!

If I am to incorporate running in my lifestyle, the training discipline will obviously need a major upgrade. And as with any endeavor, it is always good to have some goals. Here is my list for 2009, coupled with a big dream...

GOAL 1: Aim for a weekly mileage starting at 25-30kms and eventually increase to 50kms
GOAL 2: Beat my 5km PR of 27mins
PR made in the Davies 5km Unity Run, Aug 2008
GOAL 3: Finish 10km in at most 60mins
current PR is 63mins in the '09 PSE Bull Run
GOAL 4: Do a 2nd Half-M at 2:15-2:20
1st half-M was finished at 2:29 in the Condura Run last month

DREAM: Have my first marathon before I get married (i.e. before 01-23-10)!

Hopefully, if I am able to achieve Goal 1, this dream should become a reality by October 2009 ;-)

I Finally Found the One!

While I may have already found the man for me and will be settling down with him soon, I have yet to find my running shoe match..until last week. After an evening run around the Bonifacio High Street area, I did a cool-down stroll and found myself in front of Mizuno. It was already CLOSED, but I could still see the store staff doing some last-minute tasks. I put on the sweetest smile and most desperate look I could muster and signaled to one of the lady staff if I may come in still.

Luckily, she was extra kind and agreed to let me. I read somewhere that Mizuno does foot arch analysis. After that knee pain in the Condura 21k run, I badly needed to get some clues on why I had it again (the last time the knee monster struck was three months ago at the Ictus Centennial Run in UP).

I was graciously led to stand on top of a box with a 45-degree mirror inside. While I stood there, a staff held another mirror and showed me how my feet touched the box top. To my surprise, they looked high-arched! All this time I was really convinced that I was flat-footed, thanks to a rock climbing instructor who once made that judgment after observing me climb. Hmm, here is now a prime suspect for all my knee pains. Haha! Convenient scapegoat! My current pair is obviously not suited for high-arched running feet and so I tried on Mizuno Wave Creation 10. They felt good on my feet and looked nice, too. I think I can run better with this pair on.

my dream running shoes for now

I didn't buy right away though. I remembered that Ryan (my fiance) has yet to come up with a pasalubong idea for me from his 1-month US trip. Guess where the sweet smile and desperate look will be employed next? ;-p

Hopefully by May, I will be running with Mizuno Wave Creation 10. Yipee!

Caffeine Substitute

I know I should be in bed now, but thanks to my 8.30-9.30pm recovery run, I'm still very much awake! It never fails-

a run in the evening = usual bedtime + 2-3 hrs of being unable to sleep

It's almost like drinking coffee except that you're wide awake AND energetic! Caffeine certainly can't do that to me. There are times when I still feel sleepy even after two cups of brewed coffee (nope, not yet a coffee addict ;-p).

As for this evening's recovery run, surprise, surprise, it's still for the half marathon last Sunday. Technically it should not be called that anymore, being done so late in the week. Can't think of a fancier term though for my first training run after the Condura race. Ehehe. Forgive my vanity.

Just did a slow 8km interrupted by a 1km sprint with a pace of about 5min/km. Not sure if you'd call it a sprint but that pace is already fast for me. My, I was literally panting for breath! Only shows I need to do more on the speed training space.

My fiance was supposed to run with me but he got tied up in a depressing meeting and had problems with his car muffler. Quite sad :-( On the brighter side, I had ample time to cool down and window shop at Bonifacio High Street. As it turned out, the window shopping led to a great discovery.... Mizuno Creation 10 :-)

More on that in my next entry, and on my first half marathon in another one... It's now 2.49am... still not feeling sleepy. Tsk Tsk.