Yakult 10-Miler

March 27, 2011 - Cultural Center of the Philippines

 

 

 

My First 10k

My monumental first ever 10k run finally happened on a lovely Saturday morning via the Womens Health Athena All Womens Run. It was a step-up which took a long time in coming due to my (unwarranted ) fear of not being able to finish it and consequently humiliating myself. But after numerous 5k runs, I feel I needed a challenge. So after the PSE Bull Run last January I committed myself to do my first 10k run in June this year. But a month later, I found out about the All Womens Run of Womens Health and Athena Milk to be held in late March. I figured what better way to finally do my long-awaited 10k run but with an all womens run on women's month!

So I trained (and prayed) not so much on speed but for endurance. I vowed to cross that finish line no matter how long it takes. I ran and I walked through the whole course while listening to some upbeat music to help keep my andrenalin going. Instead of  focusing on reaching the finish line, I silently made mini goals like reaching the the next turn  or the next lampost or overtaking the runner ahead of me.

After 1hr 21mins and 28 seconds, I am officially a 10k finisher! I ranked 160th out of 213 women runners. It was nothing impressive but it was a personal achievement so it is nonetheless a cause for celebration. *woot! woot!*

Women's Health Athena Milk All Womens Run

March 19, 2011 - SM Mall of Asia

My sister and I thought we were queuing for the photobooth. So imagine our surprise when we realized we were actually queuing for a photoshoot with the great Coach Rio himself! 

I misspelled my own name during the electronic registration in Glorietta a month ago! So there, my race result for my first ever 10k run is under a false name, tsk tsk. 

Unilab Run United 1

March 6, 2011 - Bonifacio Global City

What got me started with running...

This was a piece I originally made as an entry for the Runners Runner newsletter where an excerpt was published in their March 4, 2011 newletter. http://www.runnersrunner.com/blog/running-reflections/what-got-you-started-with-running/

Now, here is the complete entry:

I started running back at a time when running events were not as big as they are now. They were few and far between. Registration fees were a lot cheaper. Timing chips were still probably under study. And Roxas Blvd was the premiere running venue.  

I was not one to participate in any sport but when my husband (then my BF) started joining runs, I got curious. I figured it might be a sport that an average Maria like me can handle, physically and financially. Physically because unlike team sports, I can run at my own pace without worrying about how to keep up with a teammate or an opponent. Financially because running is relatively a cheap sport considering all you need is a pair of running shoes (now you can even do without it if you're into barefoot running) and a track where you can run.

My first ever run was a 5km event in the 2003 Milo Marathon. The run left me tired but exhilarated. I felt a sense of achievement for being able to finish my first official run. The whole experience got me so inspired that I signed up for a few more runs in the next couple of years.

Then I hit my runner's block when family life and work started eating most of my time. Running had to be set aside for at least half a decade while I concentrated on other aspects of my life.

After 5yrs of sedentary living, I finally made my big comeback last Dec 2010 via the Milo Marathon, the event that had me started running in the first place. It was followed by the PSE Bull Run in Jan, Condura Run in Feb and now the Unilab Run United 1 in March. Also, I am currently training for my first 10k event in the Women's Health All Women Run by the end of March. 

Running has become a big part of my life right now and my personal reasons for staying on the track can be summarized in three points: 

1. to burn calories and thus give me the right to eat anything I want (LOL)

2. to relieve stress and keep me sane

3. to keep up with my 5yr old boy who, incidentally also loves to run

Keep on running!