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

Race Day Sunday at De La Salle Zobel

Feeling good! That's how it was this morning at the 1st Run Green Marathon of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. I estimated the number of people to be about 300-400. It was quite a small crowd mixed with students, alumni, PNP cadets, and outsiders (like me! haha).

This race was a 5k warm up race for the upcoming Condura run on February 7, since I will be doing my first 10k there. My main goal for this race was just to run it at what ever pace I felt like and just enjoy it, no pressure, no time, no whatever. Just RUN! =)

This race was also quite better cause my brother Rex also joined me for this one. Even though we both ran on different paces it was still good, its just different finishing the race with another person you know. You know?

insert ----> (Vit Water! You know?)

The route of the run went around mostly the major roads of Ayala Alabang. It went from University Ave, to Acacia, then to Madrigal, and went back around. The road was quite tough at time since there were "sneaky" inclines that you didn't really notice until you were there. It was both challenging and still very fun.

My final time are as follows:

My watch: 23:52

Organizer's Stopwatch: 23:48

My Original Finish Line Photo

I had to take another one though cause my sister told me I didn't look "serious" enough haha well soreehh!! I kinda like looking goofy while running lol

Overall it was a really good race, I was a little bothered though by the time. Don't get me wrong I am very happy with my time but the first time I ran a 5k I finished at 29:34 and this time around I finished at the 23 minute mark.. I duno, I just feel like course wasn't a full 5k? I'm really not sure.. Or maybe I already got faster? arrrghhh.. Well whatever, I'm happy both ways