Botak Paabilisan 2010 at Baguio

Botak is a sports shop in Quezon City which makes jersey's, shorts, and other sporting apparel.

Every year they hold an event called the "Botak Paa-bilisan Road Race Series" in Baguio. This year I was one of the lucky ones to be joining the race.

This is a pretty special race because it will be the first race that I will be doing out of town. I always thought my first out of town race would be somewhere in Tagaytay or Batangas. Oh well, this is way out of town and that's whats makes it more special.

We were a whole bunch that day. My cousins came along for the run and I'm very happy that they too have really been getting into running. Ever since I started, it was quite lonely. I did my first race alone, but then as it progressed more and more, people came with me to run. Maybe next time there we will be even more of us!

I was doing the 10k race in this event. Honestly, I was scared. Very scared. One week prior to this, I ran the 15k Globe Run for Home, and in this run I realized that hills are my biggest challenge. I gave out on the hills at Fort and the flyover at Buendia, it was too much for me. Now I am in Baguio, which is obviously notorious for having HILLS HILLS HILLS!!

Race started at 6:30 a.m. and it was freezing!! It took a while to get warmed up, but eventually I was ready to run!

As my brother and I started to line up, we noticed that there actually weren't a lot of runners. I would estimate the participants to be only around 80 maybe. To tell you the truth this actually felt good, for the first time the starting line wasn't all squishy and tight.

As the race started, I quietly paced myself at the back. Most of the runners passed me and I thought nothing of it. The hills were my enemy here and not them.

The race route was about 85% hills. The first few hills were challenging, but as you go on, you actually get used to them. I remember how I would dread the sight of the hills last week, but that day my mind just kept saying "bring it on!".

The view of the race route was majestic. It was trees all around you, the cool air, and the sight of runners making their way through the roads. This race was one for the books.

I finished with a time of

56min 16sec

I was very happy with the result of this race. A sub 60 was my goal here and I did it! I also feel that I have finally conquered the hills. I promise though, when I get back to training I'm going to integrate hill runs into my weekly routine.

After the race we had a few more photo shoots as usual haha

What better way to end a race then to eat back all the calories you just burned!

These steaks were the best 250 pesos ever spent.

Botak Paabilisan Experience: 4/5

Other pictures for the event can be found here:

Life Runner Multiply Account

10k Century Tuna Superbods Run

HUWWWWAAAAWW!

That was the first reaction I instantly got when I arrived at Bonifacio High Street that morning. It was the coolest and most sophisticated starting line I had ever seen. I felt like Optimus Prime had transformed into it.

I stared with my usual pre-race ritual which was a warm up run going away from the race site and breathing in the atmosphere that I was about to submerege myself into. By doing this, I always feel that I take away the pre-race jitters and get more relaxed.

On to the race! My distance for this one was 10km and I was looking to do my run and do it as I always do. If I break my PR then yay and if not, its all good. It was a no pressure run for me.

We were sent off at about 5:35am and it was game on! The race route pretty much went around the fort, there were a lot of turns which honestly made me a little confused cause you don't know your suppose to turn until your there. Add this to the fact that there were some parts thats were not well lit, so your pretty much running blind.

Through the run, I was actually shocked cause I caught up with the 21k runners and that actually complicated a few things for me. Since it was dark, I was basing my turns and what not on the person in front of me which I expected to be 10k runners. But lo and behold, now it gets confusing cause I was mixed with 21k runners and of course we don't have the same route.

Thankfully though, I came out of it alright and I was on my way back to the finish line. At that point I was thinking that everything was going to be alright. But it was very far from it. I was about 1km away from the finish line and then I got mixed up with the 3k runners and some 5k runners. ARRRRR....

This was not just a few runners, this was the late pack of runners so it was a sea of runners again that I had to dodge through. It was honestly quite stressful, added to this was that I was guessing my way back to the finish line. I actually had to start looking for other 10k runners and ask them where is the way back..

On the final stretch to the finish line there were actually a few people who stop way before the line and take pictures. Forgive me for the profanity now but F* YOU! Damn it! There are other runners behind you!! That's the final lane to the finish line, so you DO NOT STOP right there. I actually had to run from side to side, jump over this mini baricade just so that I don't wont need to stop.. arrrr....

Wusaaaaaaaaa...... WOOOOOOOOOOOSaaaaaaa....

I finished the race with a time of 49:43.Yes, this was a new PR for me but in my head I knew I could have done better if things were a little more organized. But none the less I am very happy with what I have.

Well, I'm not going to go on anymore rambling about this and that. All I can say is, it could have been better. It was a pretty big race holding about 12,000 runners and probably it was bit overwhelming for the organizers.

I've also read the apology that coach Rio already posted and I'm quite confident that on the second leg of the run rio trilogy things will turn out way much more better.

On an added not, the updated results of the 10k run came out, and I finally found name. I'm a little confused and shocked honestly, really? hmmm... I duno, I smell something fishy here.. I'm still sticking to my watch time of 49:43. That time up there maybe true, it also may not. But I honestly believe I don't deserve that, its just WHAT!? Can someone help me confirm this? It would be of great help, thanks =)

10k Condura Race aka Debut of the Sexy Running Shorts

In describing the Condura Race 2010, this is all I can say:

I haven't attended a lot of races, heck I've only done three so far. But, if I were to have my standards set, this would be the race that sets the bar. Everything wasn't perfect, but everything that really mattered was. The race kit pick up, race day, water stations, etc. were all thought off and carefully planed, and they were executed beautifully.

Let's look at why it was such a memorable run for me, shall we?

The night before race day I went to bed at about 7:30pm, but I was tossing and turning for 2 hours till I finally fell asleep. I am guessing the excitement really got to me. I  then woke up at about 3:00am, got my things ready and finally made my way to Fort Bonifacio

The start of the race was at 28th street, so we rushed there as soon as we parked our car. Upon reaching the starting line, we saw that the 21k runners were about to start so I went straight ahead and warmed up. A few minutes later it was the 10k's turn to start and I finally made my way to the starting line where I situated myself at the middle of the pack.

While waiting for the race to start, the organizers had something special for the racers. At about two minutes before gun start they had fireworks shooting up into the sky while some dancers were dancing to the song "I Got a Feeling by Black Eyed Peas". It was a great pump up for everyone.

When the staring gun was finally fired, WUHOOO!! It was time to RUN

The race route was from Bonifacio Highstreet going to Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati.

The start of the race wasn't so good for me, I started out too fast compared to my normal pace and at the 1km mark I felt dry and heavy. Good thing there was already a water station early on, so I drank a little water and got myself back on track. 

Moving to the 2nd and 3rd km I was still feeling a little of the sluggishness and was scared for the rest of the race. At that point I prayed, I prayed to God asking Him to give this to me and bless me with the strength to move past this and finish the race strong.

In the end, my time are as follows:

52:18 - My watch
52:33 - Condura's Official Time

I am very very happy with my time, it was my goal at the start of this year to run a 10k on a sub 1hour and I did it!! Yay!!! Although can someone explain this to me, does this mean I came in 73rd place? hahaha I got this off the Condura Website

I can say that this was a good debut for both my first 10k and the sexy running shorts

 

 Here are the highs and the lows of the race as I have experienced

The High

1. Well placed water stations
2. Very good touch on the pump up program at the start of the race
3. Lots of sponsors and lots of goodies
4. Organized traffic of runners
5. The very funny cheering squad which actually reminded me of this video 

The Low

1. It was very dark at the buendia flyover *PITCH BLACK

So as I said earlier, this really was THE RACE for me. I would like to thank the organizers for everything, I know it must have been a whole lot of work to pull this off.

  

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! =)

Here are some additional pictures of some of the personalities that found its way into my camera:

10k Training Program

 My next goal is to be able to run the 10k Condura Race this coming February 2010. I have just come off my first 5k during the Phil Star Celebrity Run and will be participating on two others this January. But as of right now im getting geared up to start training for the 10k, that way I can at least be able to run it quite comfortably. Finishing the race comfortably is my goal here.
After some research and much deliberation with myself, here is the 6 week training program that I will be using as preparation for the race.

Mondays and Fridays: Rest days.  

Tuesdays and Saturdays: Run at a comfortable pace for the designated mileage.

Wednesdays: Cross Training, I will be doing strength training at the gym

Thursdays: Distance to be ran at 10K race pace.

Sundays: Sundays are active recovery days. Run at an easy (EZ), comfortable pace to help loosen up your muscles a run/walk combination  

Sun                  Mon          Tue          Wed           Thu          Fri            Sat
35-40 EZ Run   Rest        3.5M Run     CT         3.5M Run     Rest       4M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
35-40 EZ Run   Rest        4 M Run       CT         3.5M Run      Rest       4.5M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3 M Run       CT         4M Run          Rest      5M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3.5 M Run     CT        3.5 M Run      Rest      6M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        4 M Run       CT         4M Run          Rest      7M Run
                                                                    (race pace)
40-45 EZ Run   Rest        3 M Run       CT         3M Run          Rest      Rest
                                                                    (race pace)
10k! Race