Running a 5-K in four consecutive sundays

January 8, 2012 – RUN WITH ME @ ADMU

This was my first 5-Kilometer run. I invited my cousin Abbey to join me in this race and made a deal with her just to accompany me in this run. I presented myself to shoulder half of the price of her registration fee that costs 500.00. So I paid her 250.00.

This run was organized by Management Engineering students of the Ateneo de Manila University.The 5-K route is just inside Ateneo campus starting from the Blue Eagle Gym going to the High School then at the Seminary Road back to the Blue Eagle Gym. During this run, It seems I became a pacer of Abbey since she runs slight slowly than me. Imagine, this was my first run which I did it continously and finished it in 29 minutes. In fact, the 5-K route is not on its actual measurement. It’s something like 4.5 Kilometers.

I finished the race strongly and did not experience any injury. Thanks to my cousin Abbey who joined me in this run. She was my motivator actually.

JANUARY 15, 2012 – GO NATURAL RUN & Bonifacio Global City

This was my 2nd 5-K Run after Run with Me. This time, I was accompanied by Alden (elder brother of Abbey) He’s my cousin too. Abbey was not able to join because what her coach had promised her did not push through. She was offered a free race kit from her running coach. So it ended up Alden and me to join the race.

This was my first time to join a running event organized by the famous running athlete and organizer, Rio dela Cruz. He is the famous organizer of the biggest running events in the Philippines.

So then, I registered for 5 Kilometers along with Alden. I registered online so my race kit was delivered to me at home.Yey, I had another singlet. I’m now starting to have a goal, which is, to collect singlets. (Laughs)

The night before the race, I went along Alden and Abbey in Paranaque where Alden resides. Abbey and I slept at Alden’s apartment. On the race day itself, we woke up at around 4:30 am. We prepared our running gears and gadgets and readied ourselves for the race. We headed to Bonifacio Global City by a cab. Our gunstart is 5:30 am.

I managed to finish the race in 32 minutes while Alden finished it slightly faster. He was ahead of me in 2 minutes. For a first time runner like me, I experienced a sidetich during this run that made me walk for few minutes. During that walk break, I started to feel pressured because a lot of runners were passing by. I prayed a bit and asked God to heal my sidestich so as to get along at the finishline. Oh Thank God, He listened to my prayer.

One thing that made me addict in running are those freebies we got after crossing the finishline. You have all what it takes, the great feeling after you finished and the freebies that will comfort you after.

Lastly, this was the race in which I’ve got to know a running group, the We Love Running Group. Abbey asked me to join them. Some members of the group welcomed me wholeheartedly and I really find them healthy and accomodating. Thanks to you guys! I’m now addicted to running. I’m happy too because I run for a cause. I am not also helping myself but I’m also helping others too. This is what running all about, helping others survive.

JANUARY 22, 2012 – TIMEX RUN @ Bonifacio Global City

This was another RunRio organized-run. This time I went solo. At Riovana Katipunan, I registered for another 5-K Run. I invited some of my friends to join the race as well but all of them declined. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. This will not stop me to join another race.

I’ve got to know a new term in running, which is PR (Personal Record). This time, I had a new goal, i.e., to break my previous 5-K run personal record at Go Natural Run. But I failed to break it because I did the same mistake in running. It was more worse because I finished it in 33 minutes, a bit slower. Still, I’m not observing the proper way of running though I’m reading a lot of tips in the internet as well as listening to my group’s advice.

Still, I finished the race with a big smile.

JANUARY 29, 2012 – NO SPEED LIMIT RUN @ AdMU

This run was for the benefit of the special students of Batino Elementary School. I was planning to register at the 15K Category. But, I have doubts if I can do it or not. But I ended registering at 5K category still. I’m afraid to fall down and get dehydrated if I’ll be doing the 15-K run. It was the 15K medal that made me consider the 15K Category.

Nikki and Yuan also joined this event. We were all in the 5K Category. For the first 50 finishers, they will be gettting a fiinisher shirt. I was lucky then because I made it to the top 50. I was able to obtain a finisher shirt. “Lucky me.”

I promised to myelf after doing 5K with this run, I’ll be upgrading my distance for my upcoming races. I know it’s time to do a 10-K Run.

Again, thanks to my new running friends, Yuan, Nikki as well as Bro Eguy of LHS.

Time to upgrade distance! Let’s go!

The Race that started it all

Can you look at me from head to foot? You may just simply say that I’m just an ordinary person with limited things to do. It is given even before the world has begun that I am thin, not physically fit. Yes I am thin. Definitely, I am really thin. Maybe the world has cursed me, I’m not pretty sure of that. But, you may be surprised and stunned to things (extraordinary things) I can do. I’ll buy you out. I’m just kidding. Watch out!

Before running has come to a passion or became my addiction perhaps, I’m not into any sport activities. I’m not a sport-minded person in other words. But let me tell you that I am a certified writer/journalist, maybe a singer and a travel enthusiast. I thought these things would be enough to spice up life. I realized that I lack lots of things. Do I really looked bored? I am not.

It was last year (November 2011) that I was introduced to the sport of running. My cousin Abbey Claire asked me one time if I want to run. I said I can’t do that. I only know how to swim. (That time, I have just started also a new sport, which is Swimming sometime first week of September 2011. Mr. Jun Roque, one of my colleagues in Ateneo convinced me to try swimming.)

I was about to register for the Ateneo-organized run which is the “Rundividual 2011” just to test myself if I could run. I was also invited to the “Run for Pasig River” but I also declined. I did not even think of having a training. All I know is to run. Never mind what they say training. Nothing push through because I have lots of doubts to myself. That time, I was thinking of running 3 kilometers was very hard to finish. Yes, I did not register. Instead, I tried to make my first run one Thursday morning with my roommate Melvin inside the Ateneo campus. I just did 3 rounds (equivalent to 5.28 kilometers) You know what? It was difficult to start running. I felt tired easily. I experienced severe pain too. What I have that time is an ordinary rubber shoes (not intended for running). I run twice a week during those days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) after office. During Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, I’m into swimming. Abbey introduced to me the site (www.pinoyfitness.com) which has the list of running events in the country most especially in Metro Manila.

One time, I checked the pinoyfitness.com website. I registered for one event that took place last December 11, 2011 which is the “Takbukid”. I registered for the 3-Kilometer Category which is only pegged at P250.00. The race took place at the University of the Philippines Academic Oval. I encouraged my friend Obrien to join me in the race. On the race day itself, I’m excited running my first ever race. There are only hundreds of runners in all categories. We were the ones who started first (3K Category). Oh God, It’s very hard to run. I had a lot of walk breaks. Obrien did it fast. I just let him go ahead. At kilometer 1.5, I’m starting to feel pain both on my ankles. It’s as if I am going down the road. Despite struggling too hard, I finished the race. You know what I felt finishing the race? I felt so great. The feeling is unexplainable.

I don’t have a goal when I ran my first race. What I have in mind is to try it and wear a singlet. That’s it. Since finishing my first ever race, I did not imagine that this is the start of my running addiction. Starting January of this year (2012), I joined several races.

 

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
-Earl Weaver

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