My 1st 21K

After the Nature Valley Run I was convinced by my mentor Coach Roy to join my 1^st 21k run at the Freedom Run.

Since I had ample time to prepare also I envied the guys who finished the 21k in the Nature Valley Run because of the better loot bag, medal, finisher shirt and most of all the prestige of finishing a half marathon. I joined but I was a late registrant.. thus I had no singlet!

I prepared for the run by doing at least 5k everyday and increased my long runs from 10k to 16k on weekends. Also during that time coach taught me how to run using the short stride method to conserve energy and lessen the strain on my knees. He also told to me to Load up on Carbs 5 days before the race because I will need my body reserves -- it would take longer than 2h. he told me to buy Hammer Gel for extra energy while running. I learned lessons  from the past runs so I rested the whole day before the race and for the 1^st time I was early before the race (a tactic that I still employ). 

So race day came.. we met coach before the start of the race and gave me some more tips to better prepare for what’s ahead also his big brother was there Kuya Remus, who would play a very big part for me to finish the run. Coach told me to take the gel every hour during the race.. I had 2. I asked him where he keeps his gel…he told me he has a pocket on his short I was Shit! Where should I put mine because the shorts I used back then had no pockets, now if you can use your imagination…where did I stash my 2 Hammer Gel???LOL.

The race started and as for coach he would position himself in front because he is fast! While I positioned myself at the back because to tell you frankly I didn’t know what the hell I was doing there! I started with a comfortable pace…slow yet comfortable a pace that I know I will finish it without stopping or having walk breaks. I was left out by a lot of people but It didn’t bother me (but now it does!) I just continued with my pace until I saw the 1^st water station and remembered what my mentor told me---- to stop at all water stations and drink even if you’re not thirsty, so I did. I continued then somebody gave me a tap from behind, it was Kuya Rem, he over took me because he was faster. So I went along running at my own pace after a while I felt comfortable and told myself “wow, this is easy!”

Boy was I wrong! I used a different setting on my pacer instead of Km I used miles instead. So I thought I have gone further than I really did..

About  20m – 30m from the 1^st U – turn I caught up with Kuya Rem and gave him a tap, he asked if I was doing ok I told him yes and asked him if it would be ok if I join him because it was my 1^st 21k. From then on, we became running buddies J

After going around GreenHills to La Salle and back again we went through little Baguio.. there I realized what it meant to be mentally tough. Before the race I already told myself the no matter what happens I’ll finish the race… even if I have to crawl I would finish the race…little did I know that I would use every drop of resolves in my body to finish. Little Baguio started out ok because it was flat but when we reached the residential area it was like a maze because you have to go through one path then go around it, I didn’t know how many runners got lost but I’ll bet my yagbadoodles a lot of them did.

Kuya Rem asked the marshalls which way to go and I followed him, if it weren’t for him I was lost, I was 100% sure I would have been lost. He also told me to conserve energy downhill so I’ll have more energy uphill (BUT the place was all uphill! I was cursing all the time). Kuya Rem told me to watch the pattern and pace of the runners in front of us and instructed that my pace should be a bit faster than them to be able to catch up within 5m. Lo and behold we did (smart man! Good thing I was with him). 

After the hardship of all those uphill routes we finally came to GreenHills.. to our surprise, we had to go around it again. With tired legs we managed to keep running. There was even a point where we weren’t talking anymore because we were so tired. All I can think about is the medal that I’ll be getting the prestige of finishing a first 21k run (not all people can do it, physically or mentally not all people can do it)

I also thought I can’t go home to my son without finishing it, he was my sole inspiration. Thanks Basti.

After what felt like an eternity Kuya Rem and I went inside GreenHills for the final kilometer stretch. I summoned whatever strength I can squeeze out…whatever determination and resolve to continue and that was enough to get my tired legs going!

I finished the race with a time of 2h27m13s a second slower than Kuya Rem. I got my first medal and a lousy loot bag but who cares I GOT MY MEDAL!

I wore my medal till I got to the car where my wife was waiting for me. I was so happy she made it better by being there! I placed the medal around the rear view mirror so everyone can see that Kardio Man finished his first half marathon!

RUNROY.com

If you’re a running enthusiast I’m sure you’ve heard of Coach Rio, The Afroman.  He’s the one the organizer of the RunRio events and the one who coaches celebrities how to run. Well, I have my own coach. Actually the number of his “disciples” is growing! If they have Coach Rio then we have Coach Roy.

Roy is a good friend; godfather to my son Basti. He was the one who encourage me to run during the Slimmers Run and I was hooked from there on. He taught me the dos and donts, how to run properly, the techniques and the strategies. He taught me how to  use the short stride technique which is my running style now (ala kung-fu different styles!) Was also advised not to go all out and burn yourself… that you should run with a pace to make you finish whatever the distance is.

Coach Roy, big thanks!

2ND Run: Nature Valley

Fort Global City, Taguig

By this time, I already have a new pair of running shoes and my own pacer. My practice runs were getting better and with the new pacer I knew exactly how my training was going.. Confidently, I registered for the Nature Valley Run while all of my friends were joining the 21k.. I joined yet again the 10k run (in retrospect I should have joined the 21k that day) though confident enough, I wasn’t yet mentally prepared for a 21.

 It was my most prestigious event so far and as usual I didn’t get a good sleep the night before. Also went to Serendra the day before (big mistake! Day before any run one must rest regardless whoever it is who wants to go out). I prepared myself by running 5k each day and long runs during the weekend  from 10k to 12k. In my mind I was well prepared and was expecting a very good performance of sub 1h for the event. Race Day came, I arrived 5m before the gun start (not a good idea! A runner should be at the site 1h before the run so he warm up, stretch and whatever it is he or she wants to do before the race). I placed myself in the middle of the pack then I heard the gun start and finally.. there I went! It took me more than 2m before I reached the starting line, there was really a lot of people who joined (it was my 1^st Rio event and my most prestigious so far) I was surprised by the number of people who were there.

So there I was trapped within the sea of people who joined.. I did my best to achieve my goal of sub 1h but alas! I didn’t! Due to not getting a good sleep, not getting any rest the day before.

I was huffing and puffing by km 8 and was barely able to do a 6m30s per K pace but still I told myself whatever happens I’ll finish the race. And I did with the time of 1h2m45s. It was a 2m improvement from my 1^st run a month and half ago but still 2m46s short of my goal.

I learned a lot that day.. that I am supposed to be at the site an hour before the race , that I am supposed to rest. Also I found out that joining the 21k is way better that the 10K because you have a medal (which I really want), a finisher shirt (also want), and Haagen daz (which my wife wants). I also learned that though Rio events is a little expensive it’s all worth it because they give good loot bags and hydration stations are sufficient with both water and sports drink.

Things I needed

During my 1^st run I realized a lot of things. Things that I lacked and things that I need to improve on. At the top of the list is a good pair of running shoes! I used a Nike Metro Plus  during my 1^st run and realized that I can’t do the job that I want it to do with the old pair so I needed to buy a new pair of shoes. During a family trip to Calamba, we made a pit stop on one of the gasoline stations on the highway and they have a Nike Depot Store. So I went in with my wife and son hoping I can find a pair that I can use to replace the Metro that was making my feet hurt with every step when running.

I was looking at the stock that they have when my wife called my attention to look at pair of blue Nike Air Max Moto 7, it was love at first sight! Good buy at 2,500, mall price is around 5,000. Next thing I needed was a Nike pacer – luckily, the shoes I bought is Nike Plus model. All I had to do is buy a Nike Plus kit. I asked my friend who introduced me to running how reliable is his Nike Plus sports band and how much it was – 3, 200. Good thing I had an  Ipod Nano that I can use like the sports band and also the kit is way cheaper 1.8K. A week after.. I was ready to practice on the road (I practiced once on Amoranto without a pacer. One lap is 400m so that means I need to do 25 laps… problem is if I lose count, I needed to do extra laps just to make sure I did 25). I also bought a pair of running socks (never in my wildest imagination that a pair of socks would cost 500php but I needed it that’s why I bought it). I also needed a pair of running shorts but I only realized that during my 1^st 21km race.

There goes my list of expenses, haha.

KARDIO MAN

It all started here…

I love basketball! I would play as much as I can… against guys who are way faster, bigger and better than me but still find a way to at least at par with them. I’m a competitive person I don’t like playing with guys who I know aren’t any better than me. All I can think about is basketball until I was introduced to running and it all changed!

I used to run about 3km to 5km, 4 to 5 times a week to support my basketball so that even if most guys play better I’ll have a better cardio for and edge and be at par with them. Then a friend suggested that I join our gym’s running event. I was skeptical and anxious about it.. mind you the distance was only 10k. Eventually he successfully convinced me since another friend was joining and we’ll just be at the “same running level”. I joined because I won’t be alone running that 10km stretch. I thought I had ample time to train and increase my treadmill time substantially so I’ll be prepared for the event.

Time passed and the event came.. I was so excited I wasn’t able to sleep the night before (little did I know that it would be an SOP to every major event) but still come early morning I was full of energy. I came to the site just a little over 10mins before the gun start. Luckily I was already in my Nike Metro Plus (my 1^st running shoes if it is a running but either way that was the one I used for my 1^st run) I saw my friends , joined them stretch… which I thought back then was just a waste of time. Until I was taught the error of my ways.  After stretching.. was the GUNSTART! We began our 10km run… thinking to myself I practiced long and hard enough so it would be easy. Boy was I wrong,but still managed to finish with a time of 1h 3m 8s Not bad for my 1^st run. Plus I discovered a lot of things that I would use in all of the runs. Bottom line is.. I just dumped Ms. Basketball for Ms. Run.  Kardio Man just found his new love.