One Tough Nite Race!

The results are out! Click here for yours.

When I signed up for the Kenny 15k, I knew it probably wouldn't be an easy race. With the piling up of work and MBA requirements, plus training for the Camsur Half-IM, which I agreed to swim for as part of a relay team, I really haven't had much time to run. Add to that my knee injury from TNF100, and I knew I was no where near top shape. As you know, running is like a savings account, the more training you put in, the more performance you can get out! If you put nothing in... don't expect spectacular returns.

Not to say that I haven't been able to run at all. Thanks to my friends at the Second Wind shop, I've literally been dragged to a few group runs, speed work, and LSDs. So that plus my 1:45 earlier this year at the Condura Half, I thought a realistic goal would be a 1:20 to 1:25 15k. Early on, I made a conscious decision to push myself a bit during this race. I wanted to see "where" I was in terms of race pace and also I had to finish in front of a certain couple doing the 5k (More on this later).

Since this was the first "serious" night race I ever entered (Izusu's costume run last year not withstanding), I had some time before the race to think about the pros and cons of having a race so late in the day.

PROS:

I had ample time to prepare my gear and put on my CW-X properly. Anyone who owns one of those will tell you that those compression tights need extra care and patience to put on. Also I could Double and Triple check everything; shoes, socks, patella strap, headlight, etc. As opposed to blindly stumbling around at 4 or 5 am, rushing to get all your things and speeding over to the race venue because you grabbed an extra 15 minutes of sleep after your alarm went off at an ungodly hour. So definite PLUS POINTS for that.

CONS:

Parking was a definite hassle, as you didn't just "compete" with fellow runners for spaces, but also with the "party people" out for a night out. But it wasn't really that bad, so NO MINUS POINTS for that.

What was really a problem for me was that racing after a full day of work really left my drained even before the start of the race. This particular day, I had spend a good 6 to 7 hours with my MBA groupmates tackling our Capital Budgeting paper and I can tell you, even taking into account the triathlons and ultramarathons I have done, nothing drains me quite like Finance. I know some people love these numbers, net present values and internal rates of return, but I am not one of them. Definitely MINUS POINTS for a night race then! Hehe

All in all though, I think I was interesting concept to race at night and I was pretty excited about the race as I waited in the starting "corral" with Marga. I remember discussing with her my plan to go slow during the 1st couple of Kms, because I am like a very,very old diesel engine. My legs in particular take very, very long to warm up, but they're usually good for a long while once they get up to temp. If I start too fast before I get a chance to warm up, I usually flame out spectacularly.

Guess what happened when the gun went off?

Yup, I got caught up in the crowded and started way to fast! I should have known better that to start behind Jonel and his HC friends. At this point, I remember thinking that if I was just behind these guys, I was running too fast. But you know, sometimes, you tell yourself that you're feeling good, maybe you can sustain it...

Well, apparently I couldn't. After the 3 or 4km mark, I knew I was in trouble. It started with a slight pain on my shins. Then I really began to feel overheated in the high humidity. It didn't help that I was wearing my I am Ninoy jersey, which though nice, is really quite thick and heavy.

I literally stopped at the second water station to take some fluids and GU. At this point, I was thinking that I screwed up majorly and I could forget my 1:20. All I wanted to do now was finish before a certain 5K couple (Again, more on this later).

The GU helped for a while, but once we hit the dark road (thank god for my headlight) leading to Heritage, I was in trouble again. I slowed to almost a walk in some portions and people overtook me by bunches.

Inside Heritage wasn't any better, as I was consistently slower than everyone around me. I remember thinking at one point during a short ascent that I walked up; "This is it, I'm cooked. Lets just see how far we can go before I explode."

So I took off my heavy Ninoy jersey, luckily I was wearing my Nike Pro underneath to prevent chafing from the material of the jersey (I always wear a Nike Pro with untested jerseys after my painful chafing incident during my 1st 25k 2 years ago. No I will not elaborate :D) and I slow jogged to the next water station.

There I poured 2 glasses of water over my head, rehydrated and took my last GU. I probably also spent a minute or 2 trying to psyche myself up for for the remainder of the race.

Funny thing happened then though. After I started running again. I felt really good, I got my proverbial second wind.I think I made really good time until the turn around point of the 10k runners, when the course got really packed with people. At this point, I ran on the sidewalk just so I could maintain my pace, looking carefully at where I was stepping, as you know are sidewalks are notoriously... well, notorious!

I was feeling good about my run already and I thought maybe I can still make 1:20 or at least 1:25. Of course, I still stopped at every water station to rehydrate and rest a couple of second, but it was still looking good by my watch.

Then... Mckinley Hill happened. Going downhill, I made up alot of time, though at the expense of my knee, the unstrapped one. I began to feel a little pain on it but I choose to ignore it for the time being. I was thinking that "I was so close!", "Dear God, let the pain come in tom! I'll pay for it then, I promise, just let me finish this one well!".

I guess God really listens to our prayers because while the pain never went away, It never got any worse either. And I managed to run (occasionally walk) up Mckinley Hill and even had had a little bit enough in the tank for sprint to the finish!

1:26. Shit! I little bit off. But I'll take it!

Now for the highlight of the evening.

As my friends and I anxiously waited, we scaned the coming finishers for one particular couple. As we waited and no sign of the running couple appeared. We began to get worried. Doomsday scenarios began playing in our heads, though no one would say it out then.

Then suddenly, Marga screamed... "There they are!

There they were... holding hands. Crossing the finish line together. Slightly weighed down by the enormous rock on Tania's hand.

Congratulations, Hector and Tania! Bring on the Bachelor Party!

Second Wind Group Run in La Mesa

We, the regular running group of Second Wind, ran 16kms of wet at muddy trail in the unbelievably scenic La Mesa Watershed. Every time I am there, I'm continually amazed at how a pristine and beautiful nature park can exist within the polluted boundaries of Metro Manila. And its even left than half an hour from the shop!

Though this is the 1st, it definitely won't be the last trail run, as we are already making plans for future runs in places like Batangas, Tagaytay, and of course we'll be back in La Mesa!

If you're interested in running with us, just contact Hector at the shop, We normally run around UP in Wednesday and/or Thursday evenings.

With Mikey this Time

Run with M.E.

After imbibing way to much alcohol the night before, I was not able to make the start of the Globe run which Marga so kindly registered me for.

No worries, I thought, there's always another race these days. True enough, there was a run in Ateneo the following Sunday.

Now, from the relative comfort of my 20th floor office, I look back on the race and start to smile. It was really a comedy and errors. No, not comedy of errors, comedy and errors!

Let me explain.

1st, the errors. Well, I almost didn't make the race start again. A full week of training with the Second Wind guys left me exhausted. Especially the 4 hour Bike-Run-Swim, we did the day before! Suffice to say,my body needed the rest and I almost didn't make the start.

Have you ever woken up at 6am for a 6:30 gun start? Hehe!

Luckily, being a habitual late riser and 4 years of taking my university degree at the ole Blue and White, I knew the route from my house to the Ateneo intimately and made it with more than 5 minutes to spare.

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to register for the run. Oh well, I'll just run along side the guys I thought.

Still wore my race belt though. Sayang yun branding eh.

The Second Wind Crew at Run for M.E.

It was only when I got to Ateneo that I realized my biggest error of the day! Due to the knee injury I sustained earlier in the year, I had been running with a patella strap.

Well, as you probably guessed, in my rush to get to the race, I had left it behind!

I remember thinking a few moments before the start, this was gonna hurt.

Self-fulling prophecy!

As the picture below proved, by the second loop, I was in a bit of hurt. (That's me in the far right with my head askew and my mouth open.) The short downhills and uphill beside the gym really didn't help things. I even walked a bit during the tight uphill section, it was hard to overtake there anyway.

Thankfully, the Hector, Neville, and company were nice enough to keep pace with my struggling self and despite the pain, I was having a good time, I think so anyway. May subconscious maybe blocking out the sad and painful memories.

Then the comedy part. Bouyed by watching the Ironman Triathlon Championships in Second Wind, we were all inspired to practice our ummmm, "finish line antics" (see below for what I mean), just in case we make the start in Kona, hehe.

Here's Pao and Nevs, showing the crowd that they're still strong despite the difficult race. I think they're channeling the Greek God look.

And here's Hector thanking God and me thanking the crowd for their support. I know, running makes people slightly cuckoo.

My favorite part of the race though was a few meters from the finish, when lacking a Philippine flag to play around with, Enzo and Migs came up with the brilliant idea of using a Second Wind jersey. Hehe, Sayang walang picture yun.

All in all, despite the fact that I wasn't an official finisher and I finished at way over 1 hr, I was glad to be "racing" again. Can't wait for the next one and I'll register for it, I promise.

DNF

I was reading an article online titled: DNF: Black Mark or Better than a Bad Time?

Before this year, I would have just read this and moved on. But this time, it struck a cord with me because I had just recently broken a string of DNFs. Well, 2 of them to be exact.

This was the reason why I rather petulantly and abruptly stopped blogging and reduced my training. Normally, I pride myself on being able to suffer through anything and finish, so those DNFs really took the wind out of my sails.

My 1st DNF was in the Nuvali Off Road Duathlon, which was definitely a case of "Better than a bad time."

Coming of the 1st run, I was strongly placed in my age group and going into a MTB portion with some PNP or Army guy who I realized where novices on the saddle, I felt I could have placed well. Sure enough, I had quickly overtaken them in the first few meters on the bike and it was just me and a very strong biker from Xterra (who went on to win our age group).

But disaster struck my race when I we reached a particularly muddy portion. Being that the clearance on my bike between the tires and frame was minimal, I was quickly bogged down and ended up on the side of the trail frantically clearing mud from my bike. Only to stop and do it again a few meters down the road. Long story short, I was quickly passed by alot of my age group and seeing my previously very good race go awry, mentally I just snaped. Frustrated amd thinking" what's the point?", I took my 1st DNF of the year.

Check out the mud!

The second DNF was more of a case of "over confidence and undertraining lead to serious knee injury."

About 20 kms into this years TNF 100, after attempting to run up and down the mountainous route, I started feeling a stabbing pain in my knee. It got so bad to the point that I couldn't run anymore and took over 12 hours to finish my 1st 50k.

When I got back to the start finish area, I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and I should perserve my knee for future races. Still, it bummed me to have to make that decision and for being in a position where I had to make that decision.

Down! (That's Sir Willy)

Up!

Wet

I have to admit, those two DNFs following my disappointment late last year following Carrera Habagat lead to my near disappearance from the running, racing, and bloging world.

But...

I'm ok now. Hehe, I took my lumps and realized I missed the thrill of running, biking, and racing too much. As the song goes, I'm wiser now... Mentally and physically, I hope I am tougher.

And even with my bum knee, I was glad to finally finish last weekend's Ateneo run, though I ran as a bandit (for the 1st time ever) because I woke up too late to register, but that's a story for another day...

BTW. I'd like to belatedly congratulated my good friend and training buddy for finishing his 1st duathlon in trying conditions last Nuvali duathlon.

Congrats to Run Radio!

I'd like to say a heartfelt congratulations to my good friend Marga!

Your baby has finally gone on air!

Great Show!

Catch it live every Friday 9 to 10 PM on NU 107.5

UPDATE: (July 27, 2009) Podcast of 1st Episode is now available!

Lance Armstrong: Iron Man?

Once, while we were watching the 2008 Kona Iron Man in Second Wind. We played around with the idea of getting the best in each discipline, like getting Phelps, Armstrong, and Gebreselassie, and seeing who would win.

Armstrong would top it, I mused, he has tri background anyway. Back then, we figured it would be a long shot to see him try Kona, but considering he now runs marathons for fun, it was possible.

Well, according to cyclingnews.com, Radio Shack, the new team sponsor of LA has said:

"Beginning in 2010, Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France,"

Interesting, we know the man can bike (7 TdF wins and he's good on the TT), he can run (2:46 NYC Marathon), but can he swim? I bet he can.

Team Radio Shack

I've been on blog hiatus for awhile because of school and work. To be honest, I didn't expect to be blogging today, I was waiting for a race report or something interesting to come up... but this is to good to pass up.

When you favorite rider of all time forms a new team for 2010, that is blog worthy news!

www.teamradioshack.com