Going the distance … the longer distance.

Be it in life, in running or in a relationship, going the distance requires courage and preparation... a lot of preparation that needs to be coupled with patience, tenacity, and endurance. Courage- for there might be unfamiliar paths to thread upon, unfamiliar things, character or traits that didn’t show up before that may come up along the way and patience to deal with all of these. To endure and to keep on moving even at times when you don’t want to go on, one has to have tenacity to remain on track. Enduring hardship (like waking up early or having the patience to wait) is a discipline which will later on bring the fruit of one’s labor. The motivation will always starts from within one’s own self and losing that “will to finish” the distance, then you lose sight of the end and all the joys that could possibly come from it.  As my sister said, “Life has a lot of “huhus” but God will keep pouring on “hahas” so keep your sight on focus and pray, always pray…because when all else fails, He will be the one who will carry you through it all and He will be the one who will remain”.

Running under the rain

I love running in the rain.

This is one unexpected rainy afternoon. Me and my running buddy- Olive, went to ULTRA for our usual after shift run. The skies were dark already but we thought it’s just because it’s already past 4pm. We did our warm up and got started with our walk-run-slow pace when the cool wind started to blew. We look at each other and we have the same thought in our mind-looks like it’s going to rain. We smiled and thought, “The heck! Let’s just keep running and experience it. It’s been a while since we bathe in the rain anyway”. We we’re laughing at our craziness, and the rain poured harder as if it wanted to envelope us with such joy and thrill we are experiencing that time. We ran faster as if we’re racing with the raindrops, laughing at the same time, when the guard whistled at us and told us to stop and take shelter. We did as we saw other runners already stopped. We've talked about how we could prevent getting sick (like taking Bioflu right away, doubling our in-take of vitamin C for the next days and drinking lots of water, and taking a lukewarm bath when we get home) since we wouldn’t want to miss work and have people talking. When the rain stopped, we did our cool down stretch, headed to the den, changed our clothes and got ready to go home. 

My ultimate high from running in the rain is when you run with your friends. It brings back lot of happy memories from my childhood…when we used to wait for the rain to pour harder, find which neighbor has a great gutter to shower from, form mud city, do paper boat race at our handmade canals  and sling mud at each other . When I run alone, I get to think more. I get to admire the green-ness of the surrounding. Everything felt so alive around me. I am amazed how God takes care of us by sending rain to make sure that we will have ample supply of water so we’ll not be thirsty, so the land will not be that dry to produce food for us and how even an abandoned plant is really not that abandoned because God still looks after its welfare. When I’m on my pace already and have covered some distance, I feel light and not that tired as I normally do, and when you start to feel your sweat and the raindrops dripping from your skin at the same time, its unexplainable exhilarating… It just feels great!

 

By any chance I miss the opportunity to do this on one rainy afternoon…oh well, I always tell myself there’s always the next rainy day.

Morning Runs at UPD

This has been my training ground.

I started running during my college years, that semester that I shifted from being a BioChem Educ Major to Health Ed-Psych.it was a big turn-around for me and I started living within the campus again. I ran every afternoon to relieve the stress from not graduating on time and from having a heavy academic load to catch up while at the same time, I’ve also worked as a research assistant and student assistant to support myself (this was the start of my Curacha day) and my studies. I made it a point to run an hour every afternoon, every after work so as to unwind and recharge before I study again in the evening. There was a time I became bulimic for the fear of being fat in spite of my small frame and for having a crush who’s having a crush with somebody who’s petite and skinny only to realized that no matter what I do, I’ll never be that petite or skinny because my bones are big and my body build is like this. Running made me appreciate myself more and it helps me sort out my thoughts and feelings, the things and experiences I have experience throughout the day, even how the lecture or my acads is going. Thanks to Ace, he was my dormate who painstakingly took me under his wing during those afternoon runs. He introduced me to the mountaineer’s route in the campus, made me run uphill and thread even on the heartbreak hill, and to watch over what I eat. He taught me to do the warm up and cool down stretches, and to always, ALWAYS HAVE A STRONG FINISH (which I keep in mind even to these days) in a race or even just to cap your run. I didn’t notice that this has become part of my daily routine and I feel like missing something when I was not able to jog for a day.

Leaving the campus, having a breakdown and being on medication, then switching jobs and residence put my running on rest as well. But not for that long…I guess when it’s in you, it will always be there, and it stays. You may not be engaged on it for a time but the passion doesn’t die down, it remains and is buried deep down inside of you waiting to grow and go out again.

I’ve meet people at F1 who runs and then one meeting led to another and the cycle begins once more. We’ve decided to run in UP one morning and it’s like homecoming for me. It’s been awhile since I was on campus and it’s been awhile since I’ve run here. We agreed to meet around 6:30a.m and I woke up early today and ran at the park already when I headed to Diliman to run with them. Some we’re not able to come because they’re coming from the shift but it went okay with Shural heading us. I heard we’re going to have a running club at work and it made me feel more ecstatic. I am excited to be a part of it and to learn more about running. I am looking forward to run with friends and to share not just the habit, my passion but the entire experience of being a part of a marathon, more so running for a cause.

Juni, Shural, Minette and me lounging at UP College of Music parking lo after our run

Today, I’ve learned from Shural about stride, Chi Running, how you run in synch with the gravity, lolo/matander run, less noise=better footing=not so tiring, having a conversation while running, how important hydration and preparation for running marathons, sports drink(Gatorade, Pocari, 100Plus and how it differs from plain water), running shoes, running clinics, calories from what we eat, PR (personal record), PB (personal best), pace (like 1km=7mins), posture (not slouching) and how important mind set is for a runner especially if you’re going to run long distance. Whew! That’s a lot for one run…I wonder what I’ll learn next time.^^

For now, I am just enjoying the run and I am just glad to be back.

My First Official Marathon Run in 2010

Yesterday’s Chase the Sun Neutrogena Run was my first official marathon this year.

We gathered at the starting line at 5:25 a.m. for the group warm up stretching exercise and got ready for the 5km gun start at 5:55, exactly just as the sun was rising in the east. It was a beautiful summer Sunday to chase the sun.

Approaching my 2^nd kilometer, I thought I would not last this one because it’s been a while since I’ve run long distance. In those instances that I’ve wanted to walk, I settle for a slow-brisk walk-stride as I approach and leave the water station. I was advised by my coach to keep my pace and not fully stop when the urge to do so comes, to prevent having cramps. I am 5km Runner 2516. My chip time registered a 35mins:48 seconds finish. Whew! Not bad for a start.

I have braved this one…my first one…alone. I thought my friend would be able to accompany me but he was racing in Nuvali for another event. In result, I only have a number of pictures on this event and was not able to enjoy the post race gathering. =( I guess what’s more important more than the pictures and the freebies is that I was able to gauge myself in an actual race. I’ve learn about stride as I run with other runners, my own pace, my endurance, about myself as a runner. I was able to have such confidence to approach other people to have my photo taken for documentation and talk about the run with other runners in line as we get our finisher’s kit. Marathon could also build one’s socialization skills.^^,

I have definitely enjoyed this one and am looking forward for the trail run next month! ^_^

On running and exercise

This is me after my jog today.

I stopped jogging in the last two weeks and have found myself gaining weight so fast (+4kls since then). Whew! This is what eating a lot and being sluggish could do to me. I woke up feeling heavy but I need to shake myself from that feeling if I really want to achieve my goal- which is being fit and healthy. People have different reasons why they exercise, from socialization to being able to able to wear and look good on that beautiful tiny dress (tight shirts and skinny for guys), to showing a good body in the beach or the pool, to building those muscles and eventually showing them off (wink! wink!).  There are those who engage for medical and health reasons, apart from it being a passion or obsession. (yes, there are people who’s obsessed and passionate about exercise in one form or another) I belong in this group of people. I do not want an unstable state of mind so apart from my medication, I have to help myself. Running is one of the things that helps me have a regular doze of serotonin in my system without relying on my maintenance medication, the result is a lower intake of those, more normal me. It is one of the therapy that I am engaged. I keep on it and I have lesser visits with my doctor, lower dosage of medicine results to a cut on their cost, too.

Running is the exercise I chose because it is not that costly. All you need is a pair of rubber shoes and a place to run. Working on it to be a habit requires one’s conscious effort with your goal in mind. Having a work-out buddy or a running mate is also good so as to have someone cheer you on and check with when you are lagging on your work out. It is also important that one inhales and exhales properly while doing the activity to achieve maximum oxygen intake. Warm-ups, correct posture and form during the execution (when you are stretching, lifting weights, running, swimming, etc. as it applies to all sports and exercise) helps avoid injury.  Eventually, one could decide to invest for the proper and comfortable work out outfit and gears.

 I have not done much investing yet on my running. I am blessed to have a park in front of the place I’m staying at with my very supportive aunt. Seeing it in the wee hours of the morning, with the dew and first sun rays of the day is already enough to get me in the mood for running. It has become my quiet time with my Maker, the time that I am also at peace with myself. Adi, my Adidas running shoes and trustworthy partner over the years, a comfy top and non-sweat- sticking shorts is already enough for me for now.

 

I am back on my running pace though it is as good as it was already a couple of weeks ago, it is not a good one yet. I am sure that if I keep running regularly I will be able to gain my pacing again. I just have to keep my mind on it, make smart food choices and be conscious on my food intake and eventually everything else will follow, including that balanced state of mind and ideal weight for my small frame. (04292010)