My Proudest 21 K

Of all the 21Ks I’ve ran, last Saturday’s run was extra special.

Last Saturday, I paced my wife Mayi through her first 21K!!! We ran a comfortable and steady pace throughout with only one 3 to 5 minute stop to do a quick banyo break and refill our hydration packs (the obvious setback having no water stations on route). We clocked in at 2-hours 35 mins. Not bad at all for her first time running that distance.


I’m really so proud of her. To think I couldn’t even convince her to run before on the road. She ran really well and performed better and more consistently compared to her first time running 10K.

Way to go Mayi!!! Congrats!!!

The True Measure of Fitness

It’s been a while since I last posted. In fact, I’ve past the one-year anniversary of my injury. A lot of things have happened in my road to recovery. I think it’s safe to say that my training has been met with challenges left and right. And although I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and that I was going to be a rollercoaster ride, I set a goal, bound by time and performance levels.

I said to myself that since my setback happened just before my 21K race last November, I should be able to run that same distance and clocking the same time as well. That then would be a perfect crown to my fitness goal.

But in my effort to do just that, I found myself suffering injuries left and right. I’m able to run the same distances with relative ease. But when I push my training to improve my time, BANG!, the injuries appear. Now on and off, I nurse hamstring strains and heel spurs.

I know my shortcomings. I know I have to be more religious with my strength/weight training and my stretching. I know I was taking short cuts to achieve my November goals. Now I’m suffering the consequences.

Now, I’ve shifted my mindset and have adjusted my goals. My focus now is to constantly work on improving my distance and stamina without getting injured. And when I know my body is ready, I will work on speed.

After all, fitness isn’t only measured through speed and distance but more importantly with the health of the athlete. ☺

Just Like The Movies

I’ve just returned from my trip to the US and Canada with my family. And as I promised Joar, my running coach, I squeezed in training runs even during my vacation.

Actually, I dreamed about running abroad (outside Manila and my usual routes) ever since being deprived of my opportunity to run in Melbourne. So I packed my running gear with me and took every chance I got to do my runs.

My first workouts were in Disneyland Hotel’s gym. This was nothing new to me as I did this the last time we were there in 2005. The gym still looks the same but noticeably equipped with new Cardio machines. More than what I can say for my gym in Manila. Hahaha. These workouts were fairly boring which I tried to make more interesting by running intervals at higher speeds and intensities.

From Los Angeles, we flew to Vancouver, Canada to board our ship for our Alaskan cruise. The cruise ship was a moving hotel and more. It literally had everything including a fully equipped fitness center on the very top which even offered pilates, yoga, and spin classes. Here, my runs were more interesting. I had to settle for the treadmills though as running open air on the deck was just too cold. The treadmills were situated facing the front of the ship, which offered a spectacular view of the ocean, the endless horizon, and at certain points mountains and icy glaciers.


On one instance, while I was on the bike, Mayi and the person next to her on the treadmill saw an Orca (Killer Whale) breach. Lucky lucky. Running on the ships treadmills though were equally interesting. It didn’t matter if you were just running flats, the bobbing ship constantly offered an inconsistent step and stride. It was like simulating a rolling hills run where you always had to mind your balance. Like I said, it was interesting and funny but quite challenging.

When our cruise ended, we docked back in Vancouver and stayed one more week with Whitey, my brother, in his house. He lived in a setting ideal for training. The sun sets at 9:30 pm and rises at 5:30 am, which gives you no excuse for not having time to exercise. His neighborhood is situated near a bike/run trail on a dike with a full view of the ocean and snow capped mountains on one side and pretty houses on the other.

While running, you feel a constant cool breeze and scents of pine and eucalyptus. Not to mention the occasional smell of steaks grilling on open barbecues of houses along the dike. You also come across bikers and runners throughout who greet and smile at you. Plus a bonus of seeing nesting eagles feeding their young.


On the very end of the trail, you end up in a park in a place called Steveston, a quaint community by the docks. There you'll see people just lying around doing their own thing from picnicking to Parasailing.


I tell you, I just breezed through my 10-11 km runs. It was runners’ heaven…exactly what you see in the movies.

The Hard Truth Continued

I just finished a training run this morning and am quite tired. During my recovery, a new realization popped into my mind and all I could say was..."Oh right, SHIT!!!"

So here it is. The latest addition to my list of Hard Realities I have to deal with.

Reality # 7. I've noted that I've been more focused on training for my run. And having come to realize the list of Hard Truths related to this, it occurred to me that I'll have to go through the same challenges and ordeal training for swimming and biking.

I tell you, the hits keep coming.

The Hard Truth

From my training sessions, I know my stride and technique has greatly improved but I also went face to face with some hard realities that I now know I have to deal with and work on.

Reality # 1. My stamina is shut and I’m a long, long, loooooooooooooong way from my fitness level before my injury.

Reality # 2. There is no short cut for building stamina. I knew this before, and I’m being reintroduced to it again. Shit!!!

Reality # 3. My goals should be refocused (in other words realistic. Hahahaha)
If I dare run races, I should not expect to clock in a good time.

Reality # 4. There is no escaping strength training. I know I’ll never get back if I keep putting off my weight training.

Reality # 5. No more excuses. I’m not injured anymore. I can train as hard as I need to train. It’s all up to me!!! Yikes

And last and maybe most important of all.

Reality # 6. I will have to do all of the above handicapped with the obvious reality that I will not give up my social life. To be more specific,...drinking and late night gimmicks with family and friends. Oh well, life goes on and the struggle continues.

All Clear

Like a good soldier and patient, I went to see George again for a check up last week, April 3, 2008. We agreed last Feb 28, that I should go back after a month so he can check my progress once more.

Finally, after months of rehab, George gave me my clearance, ahead of schedule. YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!! This means I can do anything I want including badminton.
It felt great! I was like last day of class….GRADUATION at last.

George reminded me though to continue my weight/strength training in the gym. He noticed that I was slacking with that part of my therapy and he was correct. I was going once a week instead of the recommended three times a week. It showed and honestly, I felt it too. My legs and knees would feel weak during more intense workouts and I would feel occasional pain and strain in my quads, hamstrings and knee. So I promised myself to be more disciplined and diligent on this aspect. I don’t want to be stupid and regret the consequences of my negligence and laziness. NO MORE DELAYS!!!

The Kind of Pain I’m Used To

Since having been allowed by George last month to proceed with training, I’ve enlisted the services of a running coach to put some structure on that particular discipline. So since March 5, 2008, I’ve included running drills and interval training to my tempo and long runs.

Having someone pushing you and challenging you does bring you to a higher level of training. Plus I get the benefits of an experienced and accomplished runner correcting my stride and my technique. I must admit that it’s quite exhausting at times but it’s the kind of pain I’m used to and the kind of pain I like. Pain is good when you know you’ve accomplished something or you’ve overcome a challenge.