Registered. No backing out now for my first 10K in Adidas KOTR!

Called up Podium to ask if they still have race bibs for 10K and medium-size singlets for women.  NONE.  Asked when the next deliveries are coming.  THEY HAVE NO IDEA.

Oh, forget Podium now, Cathy!  They’re not much of a help to you now, at least now.

Called up Adidas in SM Megmall.  LUCK FLASHES A SMILE ON ME!  They have 10K race bibs and medium-size singlets for women.  The saleslady on the phone added, “wala na pong small for women…”  And I thought, OK lang, ang liit na kaya ng medium-size nyo, ga’no pa ba ka-small yang small na yan…

Rushed to get an FX to bring me to Megamall.  Found Adidas and saw a couple of other runners – in office attires though – registering for their groups.  One guy had over 12 names in his list.  I thought to myself, it’s gonna be a huge race… plenty of ‘yayaans’ among office people, I noticed everyone in his list are doing just 5K.

I thought I’d be be waiting in line for a long time since the girl ahead of me was also registering for her officemates.  Good thing she decided to take lunch first and just come back after getting her stomach fill.  So I was promoted to second in the line.  After two minutes, it became my turn to claim my race bib and get my singlet.  Haaay!  FINALLY.

I so like my Adidas singlet.  This shall be my promotion running gear on the 11th.  So how can I not love it?

Down with those side-stitches!

I had a bad run last Friday morning.  Today, I already finished running a 4K distance before I read a sign that something was coming up again to make my otherwise-good-run this morning a bad one.

SIDE-STITCHES!!!

I don’t know if it’s a runners jargon, but my guess is that it is.  I only got familiar of the term after about two months of being a newbie runner.  So my best guess is that it is.

It’s the bad, bad thing that aches right down on your stomach –  left or right but mostly right -  on that part of the abdomen just below the rib cage.  It’s one of the pains in running that can hit you really bad sometimes you get no other option but to slow down and walk - or worse, decide to call it a day and head home.

It’s been bothering me for sometime now so I’ve been devoting some minutes everyday researching about it over the net.  It turns out to be a common problem especially among newbies in running.  I am not alone in this dilemma.  As if that was supposed to console me.  Nah!

I’d like to share this link which to me has proven to be the best read in terms of understanding the side-stitches problem in runners: http://www.makeithappen.com/wis/readings/sidest.html  The problem is tackled and the solution demonstrated in a rather simple and clear cut way.  DO CHECK THIS OUT AND GET YOURSELF A BETTER RUN -  DOWN WITH SIDE-STITCHES!!!

Building my PR database.

I should be ashamed to show this.  But there’s nothing better than sincerity.

I have just decided to keep track of my personal record (PR).  ‘Thought of starting with my race baptism last Aug. 3 in the Davies run even if I surely have ran a few times before that running event as prep.  What’s consistent in all of these is that I average on finishing a 5K run in 40 minutes.  That doesn’t distinguish me far from the joggers society of the world.  Then again I have the nerve to join races while they don’t.  Bwahahaha!  ;D

TIME	DATE	DURATION	DIST       (KM)	RACE/ LOCATION	TOTAL (KM)
6:00 AM	AUG-03-2008	34:00:00	5.0	DAVIES 5K UNITY RUN, THE FORT	5.0
8:20 PM	AUG-28-2008	41:00:00	4.4	UP ACAD OVAL	9.4
8:35 PM	SEP-04-2008	38:00:00	4.4	UP ACAD OVAL	13.8
9:05 PM	SEP-12-2008	42:00:00	4.4	UP ACAD OVAL	18.2
6:00 AM	SEP-14-2008	45:00:00	5.0	MAKILING CHALLENGE 7	23.2
8:45 PM	SEP-19-2008	38:00:00	4.4	UP ACAD OVAL	27.6
5:25 AM	SEP-20-2008	85:00:00	10.0	UP ACAD OVAL	37.6
5:42 AM	SEP-22-2008	36:00:00	4.0	UP ACAD OVAL	41.6

The THICK line between ‘jogging’ and ‘running’.

A good friend and I was in a sort of SMS marathon one afternoon.  He said, “uy, hobby mo pala talaga ang jogging…”

I knew he meant that comment well.  And whichever angle you look at it -  even minus the fact that I find my running pace slower than what I would have wanted it to be -  there seems to be nothing wrong with the comment.

But I beg to disagree.  And that’s because ‘maangas ako’.  Heck, I can’t find any valid reason to add to that! 

THERE LIES A THICK LINE BETWEEN ‘JOGGING’ AND ‘RUNNING’.   And I say this when everyone else would think otherwise, which is just right.

See, most of runners start from being joggers.  And to this I raise my hand bravely as being one of them.  Yes, I call myself a ‘runner’.  Wala lang ule, angas lang…  If there are stories of runners ending up as joggers, they must have been those who unfortunately injured their ankles and knees really badly that they had needed to be demoted – just kidding, folks!

I started as a jogger so I know what difference it made in me when I became, which is also my current status now, a newbie runner. 

Jogging is aimless, for the most part; running is complicated it makes you a complicated person.   In jogging…

you don’t time your runs,

you never compute your speed,

you don’t research about running techniques and running shoes technology, 

you don’t feel as much pressure to buy good quality running gear,

you don’t need to carefully plan your run trainings shifting from short runs and long runs alternately (and you don’t even need to know the difference!),

and most of all - 

YOU DON’T NEED TO WAKE UP 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING JUST TO JOIN A RACE! 

In jogging, all you have in mind is to get to the bouncing motion while advancing in distance – however, whichever, whenever –  and sweat out those excess fats from the body. 

Now I know plenty of joggers are gonna hate me from now on.  Whew!

Dear Santa, I want this GARMIN Forerunner 50 as birthday & pre-X’mas gift!

I want this.  I want this.  I want this.

                    Dear garminforerunner50, I’m dreaming of you tonight. 

I’ve been looking for a sports device to help me in my run trainings.  Most of the time, our PR monitoring of our practice runs become pure guesswork.  “We’ve covered two rounds of Acad oval…  that’s 5K … great we’ve done 5K … right, we’ve already done 5K … how many minutes?… roughly 35… or 38… 40…”   It’s comfortable to guess.  Because in guessing it’s even more convenient to polish your PR and make it appear like you did well, when you didn’t. 

Somewhere I’ve read (and heard too) that 2 rounds in UP acad oval makes a 5K distance; somewhere I’ve read it doesn’t, just about 4.4K.  Which is which?…  This gadget shall solve my problem.  And the bonus is, I like its looks – humble and suave lang.  Not too catchy to the eye.  And a plus!  Perhaps because it’s not GPS, its price doesn’t scream too loudly at $99, that makes around P4,650 (assuming Forex rate at P47/$). 

For the serious part, here’s the device’s features:  (from https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10527#)

Jump start your training with Forerunner 50. This sleek sport watch is ideal for running, cycling¹ and other fitness activities, and is available with a wireless heart rate monitor or foot pod or both. Plus it automatically transmits workouts to your computer so you can analyze, store and share data using our online community, Garmin Connect™.

Get the Data You Need

Train inside or outdoors. The affordable Forerunner 50 provides you with instant workout data including training time, pace, distance, lap pace, lap time, lap distance, average and best pace, calories, maximum and average heart rate.² It also records both lap and detailed data. Available in 3 different versions (see versions tab), Forerunner 50 comes bundled with different accessories to help you track your progress for whatever moves you.

Listen to Your Heart

Forerunner 50 with wireless heart rate effectively tracks and records your heart rate while you work out, providing instant feedback about how hard your heart is working. The included digital heart rate monitor continuously tracks heart beats per minute which is wirelessly transmitted to the Forerunner 50. Even train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level. And well after your workout is done, Forerunner 50 is still working, wirelessly transmitting your training data to your PC.

Measure Speed and Distance

Forerunner 50 packaged with Garmin’s wireless foot pod lets you track your running speed, distance and calories burned while on the treadmill or pavement. Just snap the foot pod into a clip on your shoe laces, and it’s ready to send data to Forerunner 50 as soon as you start moving. After your workout, Forerunner 50 automatically transfers your data to your computer when within range.

Track Your Ride

When paired with an optional speed/cadence sensor, Forerunner 50 tracks the speed and distance of your cycling workouts. The wireless speed/cadence sensor attaches securely to your bike and measures your pedaling cadence and wheel speed as you ride. You can even use it to train indoors because the sensor attaches to your rear wheel.

Run, Sync, Store and Share

You’ve logged the miles and now you want to store them. With Garmin’s innovative optional ANT+™ wireless technology, your workouts are automatically transferred to your computer when your device is within range. No cables, no hookups. The data’s just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through our online community, Garmin Connect, or our Garmin Training Center® software.

¹Bike mount and speed/cadence sensor are available as optional accessories”

 

Haay, find me Santa please…

Running shoes and High-heeled shoes.

I just discovered today one of my strange quirks as a newbie runner.

I am a very feminine runner. 

After coming from a practice run and parking my running shoes, I would decide to wear a high-heeled shoes to work.  I would feel a strange assertion of my femininity after sweating it out on the street trying to mimic the strength of a man’s legs while armed with that boyish running shoes.   

Today, I had my first ever weekday morning run in UP (on weekdays, I usually run late nights).  Now, I am wearing high-heeled sandals to work.  The tito and tita in the boarding house could not help but air their side-comments, seeing me already tall but still wearing tall shoes.  Tito said, “Alam mo malaki din ang kita sa pagmo-model, subukan mo nga…”  And Tita seconded, “Oo nga, yung mga ganyan kapayat, di ba dapat model?”

I didn’t react anymore.  I don’t know how to reply to that.  ;D  Sige na nga, model na lang ng high-heeled running shoes?  Wahahahaha!

MPG Singlet: Soon to be launched!

This is what happens to someone when she thinks she’d better be out running somewhere instead of trying so hard to analyze company performance data (as at the back of her mind something shouts, “We can’t beat Globe and Smart!  Ano bah!!!)  Actually the CEO’s not that stupid naman to think that we will, at least not yet.

To be out in the market soon:  (And the market size is just about 11 newbie runners, hahahaha!)

… the most gorgeous thing in town!

I know I have plenty of explanations to do.  But I’ll reserve that for my next post.  I’ve just written too many things today.  And the last statement is writing down what’s too obvious.  Harhar!

Fully loaded October.

October is always a special month for me.  It takes not much neurons dying to guess why.  October is my birthday month.  Sometimes we just can’t avoid being egotistic, even in our choice of ‘favorite months’ of the year…

Now that I’m into running – and I hope running is also into me (!) – this year’s October will take on an even more special meaning:  IT SHALL BE A RACE-LIKE-CRAZY MONTH for me, granting that all my race plans push through.

Here’s the race plan/ wishlist:

OCT  11 -   Adidas KOTR (King of the Road) – GK Run @ Fort Bonifacio  (if all things shall go well, this will be my introduction race to the 10K category, and I’m all eager to get this promotion)

OCT  19 – Botak Paa-bilisan 10K Road Race  @ Global City

OCT  26  -  OctobeRUN Festival 3k/5k/10k, also at The Fort

These are three consecutive weekends.  So it’s easy to guess what one does in between those weekends.  Anything, except run!  Of course I should be kidding.  Come November, a-now-defunct cartoon character would have become my new idol:  Roadrunner.  Do you even know who the heck Roadrunner is?…

How my upcoming first 10K affects me…

Real bad!

I am nervous to do it.

I plan my running practice days more carefully – and more seriously – these days.

I will have to do more long runs these days.

I promise to have a better horizontal training (a.k.a. sleep) set-up from now on.

I will have to forego my supposed – Bicol visit/ vacation next weekend to be able to practice more. (But of course there are other reasons, a.k.a. “excuses”)

I have been bugging my running buddies to at least help me do the long run practices as they won’t be around in the actual race (silent ‘hmp!).

But for now…

I will just write more about these tensions and try my best to stay calm. 

EXAG ako minsan sa reaction noh!  I get like this when it comes to personal sports goals in life…

Philo & Sports

Allow me to do a little philosophy here.  One of the very few things I learned from the Philo 1 class in college is that,

While a=b, it is not necessary that b=a, so that it’s possible that b is NOT = a.

Now you say, ‘how can she afford to be talking of too many nonsense stuff in a post?’

Anyhoo, I just realized yesterday that,

While SPORTS is for EVERYONE, NOT EVERYONE is for SPORTS.   

In my office, the only ones I know to be really sporty are the bosses -  my own boss who is an AVP, the other VPs, and the CEO.   My lady boss has been bugging me to join their Sunday runs in UP.  I feel that I don’t like to.  They’re not my age group.  He he he.  Because sports, like running, is largely a social activity too, we are always gonna talk (chat big time!) during these running sessions.  I am sure I will not be able to relate to their generation’s concerns.  Not that I don’t want to.  But my parents will share more laugh trips with them for sure.

Going back to ‘not everyone is for sports’… I am about to give up now encouraging a few friends in the office to also try doing sports.  They’re just not for it.  I bet you’ll have to lure them of daily free lunches for a whole week before they agree to play volleyball with you or join an upcoming race.  Sometimes, you just wanna think, come on man, it’s for your own sake – so that you’ll get used to a healthier lifestyle!  But you don’t decide for them. 

“Don’t bug me, Cathy.  You see, I’ve already ran miles… in my dreams…”

I’ve given up asking my bestfriend to join me in practice runs and in races.  She laughs it out and says, “Are you kidding?” when she knows I wasn’t.  Turnout is pretty good, I’ve made new friends who are also sports addicts like me.  The process has become simpler and neater.  You tell them, “let’s go do practice run tonight!”, and they reply, “okay, what time?”

I am not really a fan of homogeneity but somehow, sometimes, this stuff makes some things in the world a whole lot simpler.