The 5k Unilab "feeling Kenyan" Run

The 5k Unilab Run was a memorable run for me cause it was the first time I ran with friends and other family members. Let's do a roll call!!

1. Elmer Ching 5k                        6. Jeremiah Lee 5k
2. Rexton Ching 21k                    7. Sarah Legazpi 3k
3. Youma Shiozawa 5k                 8. Pamela Ching 3k
4. Alyssa Apostol 5k                    9. Ashley Legazpi 500m
5. Ryan Rotor 5k

Yes there were a lot of us spread through out the run. Initially I joined this race for my cousin so I can accompany her in the 5k run, (which actually had a pretty funny story, more on that later) but as I started telling others it just spread like wild fire and people began signing up.

We arrived at Bonifacio High Street at about 4:30 am. We got there really early to make sure that we got parking -the Superbods experience still haunts me after finding out people didn't get to park which led them to not being able to run- and were able to do our pre-race rituals.

At about 5:30 am we all found each other except for my one cousin. I was getting a little scared that she might not make it on time.

I promised her that I would run with her, but I can't miss gun start. 5:45 came and still she was no where in sight. I then told myself "I guess I'm gonna try for a PR then" hahaha

I instantly rushed to the front of the race line since it was already about to start. Man was it a challenge! Squeezing through all those people was a race in itself.

Once I made it up front and as the countdown started it was go time for me.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.. RUN!!!!

I did not pace myself at all in the start of the race, I did my best to blast away from the pack as much as possible. It was not until 2km into the race that I was finally left with only a few runners, at this point all that was was going through my mind was to pace myself but not so much that people from behind can already begin to catch up.

Honestly the race was fairly short and I was actually shocked when all of a sudden, WHOOP! it was already the turn around. Oh well, good for me I right? At that turn around I then started to pick up the pace.

Once I started to make my way back, the main pack of runners just started to come into the first turn and well at this point I felt like a Kenyan (let me be!!! hahaha). Most people who have been running races know that exact feeling. It's when you see that the Kenyans are actually on their way back already while your still on the way to the turn around. Yes! for once I was one of those few people who were on their way back. hahaha

Over all I finished the race with a time of 22:32 and placed in 9th place overall. Wuhooo!!!

And as I always I feel that I could have never accomplished this without God who has always been blessing me in my runs.

Question: Since the 3rd and 4th were DQ, does that make me 7th? hahaha

As I crossed the finish line I went straight to Honda which was our meeting point. I was there for a few minutes stretching and cooling down when all of a sudden, WUHOW!! My cousin appeared, apparently she overslept and actually just arrived. I then told her, lets go run sayang naman binyad mo eh. And we did, so I actually did a 10k on that day. lol

The second run I did was actually pretty fun. There were no more runners left on the road except for the 21k runners. It was nice and peaceful. This was the run I was looking forward to. Usually I always get to engrossed in the race that I don't have time to breath in the view and enjoy the run I am doing. This felt like the real run for me. 

By the time we got back all our friends and family were there too.

In all I want to congratulate all my friends who finally did their first race and I hope this will be the start of many more races to come, yes? 

My Unilab Experience gets a 4/5 =)

Whats the plan Stan?

Before the end of this month it will officially be 5 months since I made the decision to start running. I can still remember back in September 2009, I started at the weight of 165 pounds... Ooof! Such a big big boy haha Here is a small preview of the before and after..

I recently finished my second 10k race and I've began to contemplate on what is next for me. My goal since I started running was only to finish the 5k race without walking. 

After that things kinda just happen. I started running more, increasing mileage and next thing I know, a month later I did my first 10k race. So as of right now I want to plot it somehow and have a short term , a long term and a "dream goal". 

Lately, I've been toying around the idea of doing the marathon next year. I'm particularly eying the Condura Marathon 2011. I know I have a lot of mileage to do for this but I think God willingly that I can make it by that time. My only goal for the marathon, heck my only goal for any race is that I will be able to run it all throughout. I never liked the idea of walking in a race, its just not right for me.

I have decided that I will use races to help motivate me to get the mileage. They will be my check points through out the year. Thanks to the list at takbo.ph I have chosen specific races to get me ready for the 42k next year. Here is my list:

• Globe Run for Home - 15k - March 21, 2010
• Mizuno Infinity Run - 15k  - April 11, 2010
• Run Rio Trilogy Leg 2 - 21k - May 30, 2010
• Camsur Marathon - 21k - September 26, 2010
• Run Rio Trilogy Leg 3 - 32k -Nov 21, 2010

So far these will be the races that I should be ready for. Most likely I will still be joining other races in the middle of all this, but these are the majors ones that I am going to be putting on top of my list. 

If all goes well, I think I'm going to be ready by then to do the 42k on February 6, 2011. Yes it's already on my calendar! haha

As for my "dream goal" well I came up with it right after watching the movie "Spirit of the Marathon". All of you guys who watched it know what I'm going to say next don't you? 

Well here goes, my "dream goal" is to 

run the Boston Marathon one day. 

The way I want to get in is by being able to qualify for it. I really don't know if I can make it, who knows maybe I never will. But, lately I keep it in my mind and in my heart. I use it to fuel me stronger when I train and I keep it up there as something I want to achieve for myself. If I ever do, that will be my mecca of running. 

My journey starts now.

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." -Doug Larson 

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 =)

Valentines at Nuvali

It was a nature trail. The sweet breeze of the air, the lovely tall trees all around you, and the beautiful sound of the river flowing down the stream. Oh what a place to take a nice stroll down with your special someone.. Awwwww...

This was the setting for the North Face Thrill of the Trail Run at Nuvali last Sunday. They had two different distances for the race. They had a 11km and 22km run and it was divided into two, one for singles and one for couples.

I joined the 11km singles run, maybe next year I can do couples? *wink wink hahaha Moving on, this was my first trail run and I honestly did not know what to expect out of it. I have been looking at pictures of the trail prior to the race, but then I don't think the pictures really did justice to what I was to face that day.

Gun start was at 5:45 am and we were there as early as 5:00 am. My goal for this race was just to make it to  the top 100 cause they get free finisher shirts! Wuhoooo!!

As the countdown started, I was pumping myself up to get ready to run the unknown. And in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 we were off!

(Please be informed if you are bellow 18, please stop reading now cause the entry bellow will be filled with so much profanity that my momma will smack me from here to Antarctica)

The start of the run was on the road and I easily whisked through the crowd. At about 400m later it was the start of the trail and my friends let me say this out loud now "SHHHHHIIIIIITTTT!!!!!"

Thing is, I have NEVER ran a trail and for one those rocks are "BITCHES!" They feel weird under your foot, its like their trying to annoy you or something.

The picture here to your right is the first "dirt road" we ran and this was barely anything compared to what was to follow.

After the dirt road, the trail started to turn grassy and the surface became uneven. This is where HELL started for me.

The uneven surface forced me to look down since I had to know at which parts I'm going to be running in. Aside from this, there were ditches that you had to jump over, it was way too overwhelming for me at the start of the race and I was honestly getting a little dis-heartened to keep running at this point. But, I knew this was a challenge and I should never back down.

I then closed my eyes and prayed to God who always gives me strength to push further than I think I can. I asked him to help me push through as he always does so that I can glorify him with the gift that he has given me.

Going through the trail we moved our way down and to a small river side. It was pretty small but it was filled with rocks, both enormous and dinky. The challenge at this part was navigating your way through the rocks and the water to find the best possible path.

The surface here was extremely wet & soft. It was sandy on some parts, so at times you sink with out noticing it. The rocks were a scary sight too cause you would have to jump on them & pray that you don't slip.

Past the river we made our way back up the mountain. (It was easier said than done, imagine running up a mountain. Yes that is exactly what we did. EXACTLY OK!)

The trail at that part was the grassy type and at that point of the race, that kind of trail was my best friend. It was about another 6km of that surface til we made it back on the road towards the finish line.

I finished at a time of 1hr 9min 38sec

It was a love-hate relationship that day. I really love nature, but having it mixed with running is just not my thing. I have great respect to the people who do this. This was INTENSE!

There is another upcoming trail run in a few months and it will be in Baguio if I'm not mistaken. So if you will ask me if I will do it again. The answer will be a big HELL NO! haha Maybe next year, but as of now I would rather stick to the road.

Oh and yeah, if you were wondering did I make it to the first 100?

I sure did! I came in at 21st place! WUHOOOOO!!!! Quite ironic isn't it? Oh well... I got the free shirt and that's all I was gunning for. =)

My shoes after the trail run. I cant believe I was contemplating on wearing my Nike Lunar for this. I would be crying right this moment if I did.