Not So Rusty

Running has been one of my passions since the past year. I think I'm officially celebrating my anniversary with the activity this month. In the same light, July seems the most apt month for the said celebration because: July 2009 was when I really got into running when I ended my two-month honeymoon period; July 2010, today, specifically, I broke my record again!

I joined the One Run, One Family, One La Salle 2 (OROFOLS2) Run today. When twice in the past week, I didn't think I could perform better today. The sore left and right legs were still sore, the right ankle still hurt, and my right arch still cramped. Despite all, I gained a new personal best for 5K at 41 minutes! How this happened, I couldn't think of any more reason but this: I just ran. Haha!

It's only sad that I wasn't able to fulfill my goal of running 10K this month. Maybe in September, who knows it could be earlier! :) Ora et labora! I'm attracting the 10K mark, I can do this!

OROFOLS2 was poorly organized, in my opinion. Aside from the problem with their sponsors (as explained here) and the Basyang disturbance that led to the great delay of distribution of race packets, my dissatisfaction didn't end there. After all, those were unforeseen and inevitable situations. I can also point out some disappointments during the race. The water stations were at inconvenient locations; the first one was already too far, good thing I brought a tiny bottle of water because I was sweating and was literally running dry! The second water station ran out of cups. Even worse, runners who already had cups had to pour for themselves! Self service at its finest, yeah? In the end, like finish-line-kind-of-end, there were terrible, almost non-moving queues when one crosses the finish line. And for what, goodie bags. I'm not being ungrateful about the giveaway. I am, really am, but it's not worth the 20-minute wait when you're tired and thirsty.

I had a good run, nonetheless. So that's one thumb up for you, OROFOLS2.

On the lighter side of things... Congratulations, Dani and Nicole for finishing your first 10K run! I'm so proud of you! Even if I had the guts to take on that challenge, I still wouldn't perform and deliver like you! So cheers and kudos to your latest feat!

Hope to run 10K with you soon, run buddies! :)

More photos, if you don't mind?

The irony is that this is the starting line.

My boys! Run buddies for the race, where we never really ran together, so scratch the buddies part. I missed Mommy! My forever run buddy!
Around this part of the race, I thanked Mr. Sun because this is where he normally shines to excruciatingly radiant that my eyes squint and my skin stings.

By this point, less than a kilometer to go before the big finish, my vision was almost as hazy as this. Only it's really hazy when I think about it now. Haha!

Not a flattering picture at all. I just wanted to have a photo like this. I always have, and now that I do, eckh. Bad idea. Haha.

General assembly? No, finish line.

Oh, lookie! It's the Lasallian Youth Orchestra! Hi, Machuchang, Ria, Korina, Ella! And everybody else! :) CAO REPRIZINT!

And look, another CAO REPRIZINT! La Salle Dance Company - Street! RJ Ledesma kept saying "La Salle Dance Street" :| Almost there, sir, but not quite! Anyway, I didn't know most of them! Newbies! :)

Uh, we were supposed to be showing off the new Reebok ZigTech shoes that we were wearing, and to be dissing my trusty New Balance set. Thanks, Mr. Camera Guy, mission accomplished. NOT. :( But the shoes were awesome. I waaant ZigTech! :)

Until then, I must post scarcely now. Chores, chores, chores. I wish Mommy would come home soon. Like, now.

Dad Lives the Dream

Three weeks ago, my family and I went to Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for my dad's training for his first 42-kilometer run. After sixteen weeks of training, proper diet, and rigid self-discipline, I think Dad was more than ready for The Bull Runner Dream Marathon. Today, he lived that dream!

Starting at an ungodly hour of 2:00 AM... (sorry, bad lighting!)
...Dad finished all 42 kilometers in 5 hours and 18 minutes! (See that victorious man cross the pink ribbon!) I do think, though, that his mini support system worked wonders. Haha! See photos below.
Nice touch with the art materials for cheering! Anyway, my dad's name is not Jack. We call him such in reference to Jack Bauer of that awesome TV series, 24. Haha. Okay, TMI.
Imagine how many people in this world can complete a full marathon. Need I present statistics? Hah! I'm so proud of my dad!

More photos:Dad poses again at the photo wall, now with The Bull Runner Dream Marathon organizer, The Bull Runner herself, Jaymie Pizarro! Congrats, TBR, for a very successful event! Next year again? :)
And here is Dad with Coach Jim Lafferty. Coach Jim's techniques are way beyond awesome! I've tried incorporating them into my daily timetable, but school, among others, gets in the way. Soon, soon.
Matadors greet the The Bull Runner Dream Marathoners with a medal upon crossing the finish line. Bull Runner, matadors... Hah! Very clever. ;)
Daddy and the (very) few, the loud, and the proud Team Running Jack! Hahaha! We adjusted body clocks, meal times, mindsets. We stood strong amidst millions of yawns at dawn; amidst the heat on that sunny day... Anything for Dad!
(L-R) Drew Arellano, Iya Villania, me, my brother Gabe. (Like, duh, did I really have to have that caption? Hahahaha.)
Me, TBR and TBR Jr. :) To be treasured! Haha! My blog is graced by The Bull Runner's presence. *DANCE* Hahaha.

Since I am yet to run 42K, here's a manipulated photo of the photo wall from today. Haha!
And soon (say, a year? Haha), I will run my own 42K! After I'm done with all the school requirements I'm expected to finish to get that diploma, I can focus my time on training so I can live my dream marathon, too. Perhaps in a year or two? ;)

A Day of Sorts

MOST AWESOME FAMILY BONDING WEEKEND YET!

We all woke up at the ungodly hour of 3AM because we headed to Nuvali in Laguna for the Bull Session 3. No, I didn't participate in it (wish I did, though), but Daddy did! And yes, the whole family was there to support. Haha. :)
The Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizarro, giving out instructions on groupings.

If I'm not mistaken, that's The Bull Runner's group doing a 5 minute run, 1 minute walk.
I think 5:27 AM is pretty late starting time for a long run. By long, I mean marathon long. It'll be too hot by the time runners cross the finish line. Then again, that's just my musing.
Mom, brother, and I ran our own route. I disappointed myself with my performance today. My mind, lungs, and legs weren't in harmony. I lack practice! I've been a bum for three weeks now. But can you really blame me for bumming and pigging out after the finals week of my third term for junior year? Haha.
Hi-ho, hi-ho! Laborers on their way to work on a bright Sunday morning. Two more and they'd pass up as the Seven Dwarfs. Heehee.
With these signs, Nuvali seems like a very friendly place. I like it there!

While we were running back to Solenad, we decided to quit so we could take in the scenic surroundings. They may be man-made but it's almost unnatural to not be awed.
So yes, we had to stop for photo-op. Haha! :P
And so after we cleaned up, we fed millions of Koi fishes! They're gross when they crowd and go crazy over tiny fish food pellets. It's fun, none the less. :D
The taxi boat ride was just too tempting to let it pass up. Haha, such dorks. Besides, Daddy was still running then. Haha, excuses!
Speaking of Daddy, spot Dad run! In case you can't zoom in, he's making a funny pretend-binoculars gesture with his hands against his eyes; and I wonder why I get too goofy at times. Haha!
Yay, fun boat ride! Dorks 101.
I am not ashamed to say why this photo looks pathetic: I'm such a chicken for not going up to Jaymie Pizarro (The Bull Runner). All I wanted was to take a photo with her but I don't know what got to me. Hey, don't judge me for being pathetic, okay. We have our days. Haha.
So... Here's Daddy, with really bad tan lines. No, it's brown lines. It doesn't show how burnt his arms and legs were, though. Anyway, it got too hot that morning. Point is, it's a summer morning. I hope the TBR Dream Marathon starts earlier so each first time marathoner can finish the run sans injury and heatstroke! Haha. I'm excited for my dad! Someday, I will run my first marathon. Someday!

We were exhausted! It wasn't from running, I'm sure about that. Say, the Koi fish feeding? Or the boat ride? Oh, it's the heat! We were too tired that after an Italianni's lunch, we weren't so interested in shopping at Paseo. There wasn't much to see anyway. Too lazy to have taken photos on this part of the day as well. We all collapsed onto our beds and woke up hours later. After hearing mass, hello, Selecta Ice Cream Land!
Selecta Ice Cream Feast at the South Parking of the SM Mall of Asia! For only P50, you get a free ice cream on a cone, and once inside, line up all you want and get high on unlimited ice cream! Well, it got limited when they ran out. Haha. I had a cone and three cups. Ow, my tummy. I know.
The ride wasn't THAT great. It wasn't too shabby, too. But I. Was. In. A major screamfest! HAHAHA. I blame my brother for pushing me to experience "Underworld" on the X-Rider. Haha. The lady at the counter sheepishly nodded when I asked if my screams were too loud. Dammit. Hahaha.

I look forward to more days like this. It's hella tiring but it's great to get to spend time with folks despite my unfair summer schedule. :)

Mizuno Infinity Run 2010

Today's run had its pros and cons:

• CALL TIME / GUN START - The first thing I liked about today's run was that it didn't demand a really early gun start. The race kit said: 4AM - Assembly time, 6:30AM - 5K gun start. What I didn't like about it, though, is that the sun will be too scorching by that time. However, it did start early. My dad was late for his 15K run by almost 20 minutes, and good thing I checked in at least 15 minutes before the 6AM gun start. I have three friends who didn't make the 6AM start because the race kit indicated 6:30. Boo for poor organizing!

Here comes the sun, too-do-do-doo! [5:20 AM]

• THE ROUTE (Part 1) - It wasn't very new to me so I enjoyed it, at least. But arriving and checking in late left me (and my mom) thisclose to the end of the 5K pack! Being amongst the tail is really frustrating, see. It brings out the competitive tiger in me and it leaves me tired and frustrated. Haha.
  

Yes, that's 26th Street, the second turn after the starting line. And yes, those are all 5K runners in front of me. Haha. See, frustrating! [6:03 AM]

• WATER STATIONS - No complaints here. I loved how the water stations were evenly distributed throughout the route. The moment I felt my throat go dry, hello, water station. Thanks, Gatorade! :) Another plus, photo booth! Hahaha! I know, it wasn't necessary at all. I didn't like how it interrupted my run, but I really liked the idea, generally. Haha, mom and I are cam-whores! In the end, we had to take five minutes off our run time to compensate for the lost time while lining up, posing, and smiling at the Fort Victoria photo booth! Hahaha!

Been only running for at least seven minutes and I have the audacity to take a pit stop at the first water station despite the sweat and all that. Hahaha. Yuck. [6:07]

• THE ROUTE (Part 2) - I liked the route but I think the race didn't have enough marshals. It would be nicer if they were in official t-shirts or something like that, so they'd be easier to spot. And I think there weren't enough signs on how much longer we need to endure. Haha. Or even arrows that tell us where to go! It was frustrating.

Imagine the joy in my heart when I saw the finish line! [6:45 AM]

• POST-RACE FREEBIES - And so I finish, beating my personal best again, with 41 minutes! Woohoo! The lines were, as always, killer long. It was worth it, though, because the Gatorade was cold enough. My Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 finisher's shirt was a size bigger. I can't believe they didn't have enough XS. Oh, well, I had to settle for the small. Good enough. So anyway, all good!
  

Fourth place? Haha! Nah, far from it. Personal best: 41 minutes, woohoo! [7:05 AM]

The family that runs together, gets tired together! Hahaha! Flaunting the finishers' shirt when we got home after breakfast! [9:39 AM]