Gatorade Run 2015

Date: November 22, 2015
Location: Mall of Asia Grounds
Distance: 22km
Unofficial Time: 2:47:++
Average Pace: 7:34/km

Another chill run! 

Pinoyfitness 21Km Challenge 2015

Date: November 15, 2015
Location: Mall of Asia Grounds
Distance: 21km
Unofficial Time: 2:30:35
Average Pace: 7:06/km

I'm getting slower! It's hard to think about it, when you already tasted how to be fast. The tendency is to aim for faster finish time. It's becoming addictive and depressing when you have not achieved your race goals.

New Balance Power Run 2015

Date: November 8, 2015
Location: Vista City
Distance: 25km
Unofficial Time: 3:14:++
Average Pace: 7:46/km

Got the race bib from a friend and spontaneously I will have to participate in this event.

The Coach is Back and We Ran Away!

Because I cannot come to my weekday training schedule, I have a new strategy - squeezing in my training in a 2-day and 2-part long runs during weekends. Is this cheating? I don't care, as long as I have a weekly run.

No Running Today, Lando is Here

I missed my workout today. Typhoon Lando has terribly hit the country with strong winds and rain. It didn't saddened me, actually. I just stayed home, do some chores and browse the internet aimlessly.

The Journey to Tokyo Marathon 2016: The Lottery

Tokyo Marathon is one of my race wishlist, but I didn't plan to join in 2016. I was just encouraged by my runner friend to join the 2016 lottery.So I signed up on the first few days of the registration, not thinking much about whether I want to get a slot to this race because of the burden of expenses.

Run + Travel: The 39th Milo Iloilo Leg

Date: September 20, 2015
Location: Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City, Ph
Distance: 10km
Official Time: 1:07:25

I aimed for a sub-1 and at least top 10 ranking in female division. But the girls here in Iloilo are running beasts!

34km of Uphills and Downhills Conquered at Caliraya 360

Unofficial Time: 5:23:55

I have not posted here in a while. Work has been bugging me around for the past two weeks. Yet I managed to do workouts, for at least once a week, just to shake off some stress and keep my sanity intact.

Interval Workout: Polen is Trying to Get Faster

Distance: 5km
Pace: 6:25/km
Duration: 00:32:07
Location: NBS Gym
Buddy: Myself

Interval: 800m x 200m
Pace: 6/km x 8/km

Core Workout: [3 sets]
12 reps knee crunches
12 reps obliques crunches
12 reps leg raises
12 reps pendulum
60 secs half front plank

Don't be fooled. I don't exactly know what I was doing.

Indoor Workout: Did the 3 Bodyweight Workout Routines For Runners

I found these routines via Competitor.com. And because it was raining since Wednesday, I did tried it a home. It looked easy but it was really challenging. I plan to practice these exercises more at home and combine it with treadmill workout in the gym. I did only 3 sets of each routine, one routine each in the morning, afternoon, and at night.

Recovery Run and Preparation for Caliraya 360

Distance: 16km
Pace: 7:30/km
Duration: 2:00:++
Location: MOA-Roxas Boulevard
Buddy: Myself

Finally after one week of inactivity, I'm back on the road!

I originally planned this to be a solo training and joining the Caliraya 360 34km run on September 13. But my running buddy also registered, she just missed this first day of training.

Asics GT-2170

What I basically looking forward to with this race is the view of Laguna lakes. I hope to get some good shots. I'm now enjoying running and sight-seeing together. It's adding more fun to running.

OMG Elevation!!!

So good luck to us and may we capture good photos and have a happy and safe run in Caliraya!

Training mode is on! :)

Run + Travel: Traveling to Siem Reap Tonight

No more training this week!

Work has been hell since Monday. But I'm glad that I was allowed to take a leave for my first out-of-the-country race - The Angkorwat Marathon! Weee.. I'm excited!

Lazy Not Allowed

This has been our last long-slow distance run for Angkorwat Marathon on August 9:

Distance: 15km
Pace: 8:00/km
Duration: 2:00:++
Location: BGC
Buddy: ajta

I finally got a hand strap for my GoPro and today I tried bringing it with me during our last long-slow distance training for Angkorwat Marathon on August 9. This marathon event is known for majestic views of temples as a very nice background in pictures while we run. I actually convince myself to buy GoPro for this purpose.

So today, I made a trial run with it with my running buddy as model. Apologies, as I do not know how to edit videos. But I still want to capture this once in a lifetime experience to run a full marathon in Angkorwat.

I'm excited now! (^_^)

Me a Running Coach?

My last gym workout this week, before Angkorwat Marathon on August 9:

Distance: 4km
Pace: 6:43/km
Duration: 26:53
Location: Treadmill
Buddy: Myself

Core Workout [3 sets]
High Plank with march 45secs
Knee Crunches 12x
Pendulum Leg Swing 12x
Bird Dog 30secs per leg
Half Plank 45secs

Yesterday was a busy day at work and receiving a message from an old friend asking about running really made my day. I get excited as someone dear to me is converting herself into a runner.

She wanted to run 21km in SG Standard Chartered Marathon in December. She asked me if she can do it, of course I encouraged her even without knowing her capabilities. But I honestly believe that she can because it's really possible with the length of training available. I gave her a simple workout guide for 18 weeks, based on my experience when I was starting with running.

And of course this not just a "You can do it!" encouragement kind of a way, because running 21km is no joke. I asked her to try it for a month and then she would give me a feedback every 2 weeks to assess how she progresses and address her challenges. I really hope that she will push through with this.

I'm not considering myself as a professional runner, much more as a running coach. Being regarded as someone knowledgeable and trusted on giving an advice about this sport felt really great. I hope that my friends who are becoming a runner will find running fulfilling as much as I do.

My Period Will Not Stop My Workout

Distance: 5km
Pace: 6:34/km
Duration: 32:52
Location: Treadmill
Buddy: Myself

Core Workout [3 sets]
Knee Crunches 15x
High Leg 15x
Pendulum Leg Swing 15x
Bridge with leg extension 30secs per leg
Half Plank 1min

Tonight, I was doing my usual gym routine as part of weekday marathon training. Though this is already the start of tapering weeks, I still have to push myself as there are few days left to the race day. 

This is one of many disadvantages of being a woman that I cannot avoid. I believe, like any muscle in our body, this is one aspect a woman should also include in her training - how to survive a workout and a marathon race even while having her period.

A lot of times that this happened to me, yet I can't say that I have mastered it. I actually avoid the situation when possible. But when it's not like today, I have to think very hard how I want to get into the body condition that I needed for the marathon, so I get my body follow what is being required. It will just be an hour in the gym that I needed to endure anyway.

I'm still alive!

Gloomy Longest Slow Distance for Angkorwat Marathon [August 9]

Distance: 28km
Pace: Never Mind
Duration: 4:3+:++
Location: BGC
Buddy: AJTA

The rain last night threatened this training to be cancelled. But in my mind, I am determined to run and push myself. My running buddy even said that she will not run the Angkorwat Marathon, if we will not be able to run this morning.

Here it goes again. The circumstances is telling me to quit real soon. I could have just look for another running buddy, but it's not that easy in real sense. And it's not something that can be planned.

I really don't know what to expect in Angkorwat and then after that race. What's my plan? Nothing at this point, except for 2 more races I will join in September. Other than that, all are just idea like joining Corregidor Half Marathon, Subic Marathon, and 1-2 Milo provincial race next year.

People who aren't runners say that running is "just a hobby". Because probably, they see it as something that doesn't make one successful in terms of universal definition of success. I cannot accept that statement, though everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. But honestly, it made me doubtful about my goal clarity. Am I just challenging the status quo because I do not like to be called a conformist?

Training 42Km (07222015) >> Angkorwat Marathon [August 9]

Distance: 8km
Pace: 6:57/km
Duration: 55:36
Location: Treadmill
Buddy: myself

I was dragging myself this morning to pack my gym clothes and the need to workout won. After a week of no activity, I finally made it to the gym.

Week after week, I am becoming more lazy with running. I felt like I am cheating on it. Yet, I don't want and have no plans of leaving it. Is it because I have already reached the peak of my craze about the sport? Or it is because of the threats that my running buddy often talks about retiring from marathon training because of her personal life projects? I know that I could not possibly train and motivate myself to run farther.

All of these things, honestly made me re-think about my life plans. I want to set aside marathon goals for a while, to do other things. But I am scared that I may never be able to come back to it and lose this only one thing that is making sense to me at this time.

Angkorwat Marathon will be my first out-of-the-country race, and I am not excited about it. Because this may be the end.

The Race: 21km Takbo.PH Runfest, July 12,2015

Unofficial Time: 2:28:++ [+4mins]

Last race, I challenged my running buddy to beat our PR by at least 1 minute. If one beats her PR and the other did not, the loosing runner will have to treat the winner a free breakfast. The goal is to motivate ourselves and to make our race more exciting. We both lose in this challenge.

I'd give my best to maintain my pace at around 6:30-7:00 in the first 12kms. But as usual, I drifted away from it. I reached 17km mark at 2hours, while my target was 18km. I'd think that I could still catch up, but come 19km, there was only 7 minutes left to beat my time. It was impossible. So I'd walked instead, as there is no sense in  stressing my legs more.

It was sad. But what to expect, I have not made a change in my workout to be faster. Life goes on and racing isn't my life. It's just one part which is adding spice to it. Anyway, there will often be another race.

For now, I'll be focusing to the Angkorwat race. It's just a month away from now. I am hoping to at least maintain my time. Workout schedule didn't work as expected so that's my minimum goal. While after that, I am thinking about focusing in improving finish time on half-marathons. Schedule will be tough, but I can't completely retire from running.

Photo by Get Out Dear

Run + Travel: 21km Milo Dagupan June 28, 2015

21km New PR: 2:24:06 [-6mins]

I continued with my training for Angkorwat Marathon in August. I just got lazy posting my workouts. Well, I am more lazy doing the training itself. My will-full spirit has not yet come back. I do not know when will it come back. I have lots of things to think about lately. I guess this is the reason that I cannot focus with my running. I am not even sure, where I would want to focus between running and my life goals.

But there is one thing that I have decided on; I cannot completely abandon this sport. Running fuels my will to succeed in my goals. I may just have to make a different goal in running after the marathon in August, that would be more fit with my other plans.

Anyway, it is surprising and I am very happy that I was able to finish 21km within cut-off here in the 39th Milo Marathon Dagupan qualifying leg. I have a new PR; 6 minutes faster than last time. My legs still remember how it should perform. This gave me more confidence, while I am emotionally low. This must be a reminder to me, to fight and give more. It must not yet be a retirement at all.

Photo by Get Out Dear

I'll be posting a separate article about this in my other site >> www.getoutdear.com

Training 21 Km (05122015) >> Milo Dagupan [June 28]

Distance: 5km
Pace: 6:50/km
Duration: 34:09
Location: Treadmill
Buddy: myself

Takbolts Training:

Stretching

1 Set - Side steps, Karioka, Butt Kicks, High Knees, Walking Lunges

3 Sets, 1min - Burpees with jump, Mountain climbers, Squat Jumps with Butt kicks

3 Sets, 20 secs - Rope (drum roll, outer circles, wave)

3 Sets, 20 secs - Ladder (Forward and Backward Half Scotch, In and out)

Core Workout: [3 sets, 1 min]

High plank + Marck

Plank with twists

Jack Knife Sit-ups

Criss Cross

half plank

I'm making the most out of the few days left, before I will head on to a trip this weekend.

Today was a 5km treadmill exercise, steady pace for 1km and then 1 minute walking. This was combined with Takbolts conditioning training, sponsored by our company's running group.

I'm not very sure about the names of the exercises. I just knew it is making me sore right now.