Crazy Bear

Breaking In the Brooks Ravenna

2010-11-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

Ok. So far I've logged in about 70+ kms in this baby and so far the feeling is great. For stability shoes I'd say this one is particularly light. During my first 10km test run, i felt no pain at all from the knees that had been bugging me for some time. So i suppose the support thing has been really working for me. The fit is quite snug so you don't have to worry about you foot jerking up and about causing your foot horrible blisters.

tallying my runabouts:

1st run 10km - no major pain, no blisters, ran with ease
2nd run 8kms - easy run, no major pain - shoe was very comfortable
3rd run 10kms - had a tiny blister on my right foot (im guessing from the socks), hard run due to sniffles
4th run 13kms - easy run, a bit fatigued after, blister in right foot resurfaced but easily subsided
5th run 10kms - hard run due to lack of sleep
6th run 16kms - right knee hurts a little after the 14th km mark, upper thighs feels sore after the run
7th run 8kms - hard run, knee still hurts a bit, had trouble breathing due to lack of sleep
8th run ??? - today we'll see how it goes.

Next Sunday I'm off to the half marathon. (wish me luck!) So far so good with this shoes, though I'm kinda scared since my knees started hurting after the 16km run (it doesn't hurt now, but we'll see later). Hope it doesn't happen on the race day. I might buy some knee band later just to be sure :)

My New Running Shoes - Brooks Ravenna

2010-11-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since my last entry. Things had been crazy at work. Good thing though is that i had been back on my training routines, now more focus than ever. Sadly my Nike Racers wasnt able to take the wear and tear that I have been giving her and decided to bail out on me. My last run with it was in the VeteRUN race - the impact i was getting in my knees from the repeated shock of the ground was unbearable that i had to stop before I get any major injuries. After examining the shoes, i found tear on both of them so this i guess is its way of saying I've had enough.

Now I know this is unthinkable, much to close to the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon, but i did bought a new pair of shoes that I will most prolly use in the race date. My worry is.. would there be enough time to break in to this new shoes.

The same day, Pao and I went to Runnr to buy me a new pair. After having done the gait test we proceed to choose my new running shoes. Pao wanted me to try Brooks but I of course being a Nike girl insisted on the oh so handsome Nike Eclipse. I decided to listen to him anyway and I tried the Brooks Ravenna, surprisingly the knees that were hurting so bad just earlier that day didnt bother me at all. Second, I put on the Nike Eclipse and then tried running on the thread mill to test the shoes but my knees were far too achy to run properly so i had to put that one aside. After that I tried the Zoot - I forgot the model but it was blue (hehe) and tried running with it as well. With the Zoot, the knees doesn't hurt as much but there was this pinching feeling in my arches that i kept telling the sales person assisting me, "kuya may tumutusok ata sa feet ko.." I was also suppose to try the Newtons like the pink ones BullRunner have but they were only in size 6 and I am size 8 1/2 so i passed. Lastly I asked the sales guy to let me try the Ravenna once more, I thought maybe it was because I was just off from rest thats why the knees doesnt seem to hurt. I gave it another go and boy was it consistent! No hurting feeling. Clearly I've made my choice. I bought the Brooks Ravenna. Hopefully this would help fix my heel striking habit as well. :)

THE BROOKS RAVENNA

Im not a fan of the Sun Orange - but the feeling was amazing and it was the only available color

Along with that I also bought a new CWX compression tights and some senzu beans (sports beans)

Christmas came early for me. :)

Pikermi Wall

2010-09-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

I started training for the SG Pikermi somewhere around June and even though my training had been derailed more that a couple of times due to flu, travel, etc, I somehow still managed to struggle through it. Now however that im nearing the last part of my training program, i feel like i've hit the wall... I normally run in the gym due to the restrictions of our working hours but lately going to the gym is becoming a chore. Running is still fun. Everytime im on the threadmill or im on the road, i still fell like im on fire and i could run forever but the actual travel to the gym or running spot is killing me. I dislike it so much to the point that i sometimes would rather miss the workout than wake up, take a shower, dress up and drive for 2 hours to the gym. Oh bummer, 2 hours to and fro, thats 4 hours of my life a day that i could have done something else... like maybe sleep.

I havent trained for 3 days mostly because i havent been getting much sleep lately. Partly because i feel so lazy and tired.

Ohhh inspiration please come to me... :(
===============================================

On a much lighter note:

I've just reserved a spot on Jamie's TBR Dream Marathon Run - This will be on March 20, 2011. (Yey! just after my birthday!) Hopefully the training they would do woul lift up my mood and help me break the wall. Let's hope they pick me to join the chosen few hehehe..

c'est la vie!

Takbo.ph Anniversary Run

2010-07-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Takbo.ph Anniversary Run - The Fort Taguig (5km/10km)

This race was held in celebration of takbo.ph 2nd anniversary and it proved to be another good run for my hunny and I.

We reached the fort an hour early before the race and we were greeted by a cold weather with a little hint that it was about to rain. A small group of runners gather which was always an omen of good vibes for me. (I generally don't like races that are too crowded). The event was inaugurated by the sound of the national anthem sung by the running diva followed by words from Jinoe (the takbo.ph owner) and a warm up session courtesy of Noelle de Guzman aka KikayRunner.

Before we know it gun start was fired for the 10km and the runners were off. We were right behind them like gerbils eager to fit into the small gate and get our bibs marked. It was a 10 min wait before the gun start and because it was a small crowd we didn't even bothered to squeeze our way into the front of the pack. We were right smack at the middle and from there i could very well see the beginning and the end of the piling crowd.

and then we were off... I started the race at a slow pace around 8min/km to allow my body to properly warm up. After all I wasn't really looking for a PR. I was just there to enjoy the race and show off my spanking new customized singlet (which everyone has!!! haha) So i continued the pace for about 5 mins or so before a picked up a bit to 7min/km.

I stopped at every water stations to have a small zip of water. My throat had been hurting due to colds and sore throat so i had to dampen my mouth with water whenever I could. Afterward I'll continue with the run.
I started picking up the pace to 6ish min/km after the 3 km marker. At the 4km marker I saw coach rio followed by a van. Shortly after that, I saw Patrick Conception.

There were no drama. No "Maalala-Mo-Kaya" Like finish. It was particularly hard to to weave through the packets of people walking after the 4km mark so i was not able to sustain a constant speed. Regardless, i think i was still able to finish strong and I reached the finish line just a few sec over 36 mins.

This was a very good race for me. It was very relaxed and enjoyable and as a bonus we also did have a picture taken with coach rio. He was so gracious to do the "superposition" with us. (too bad i wasn't there when they had a picture with running shield Patrick Conception)

Again I would like to say, Congratulations to takbo.ph for a successful event and of course... Happy Anniversary! :)

Pics taken during the event

Coah Rio doing the super position

The Gang

PAOZIE

Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 150

2010-06-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

"Whether pushing yourself towards a qualifying time or a new personal best, the new Timex® Ironman® Sleek™ 150-Lap watch allows you to access information without breaking stride, giving you the edge when every second counts.Buy the Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 150 Lap TapScreen watches in full and mid sizes:" - Triathlon Magazine.eu

I got this watch couple of months back as a gift from Pao. He had it ordered from amazon since the watch wasn't available locally during those time. It took some time before I could write the review but non the less here it is.

The Sleek 150 comes in a few different colors and styles. My watch is a mid sized violet which appeared to be pink in the catalogs. I found it comfortable to wear as my daily-wear watch and not just as a sports watch. I like the large number display and the Indiglo night light feature.

The watch set up is fairly easy but given the number of features, you might want to read the pocket sized manual first. be sure to keep it handy so you could look at your cheat sheet from time to time.

The touch sensitivity is adjustable so you could specify the amount of force needed to activate the functionality. This eliminates the chance of accidentally ending a lap especially in swimming when your hands are hitting hard into the water.

I've tried using the tap screen feature during my swimming laps and it proved to be much useful in swimming than in running. The fact that you just have to tap and not look at the buttons is so much useful when you are hurrying to catch that PR. Of course nothing still compares to our good old GPS watches but this one is pretty nifty itself.

The target time pacer can help you stay on target when you are training for a consistent speed. You set your desired time per lap, mile/km. Then when you tap the watch at the end of that lap or mile, it will give you a slow beep signal if you are going too slow, a single beep if you are on target, and a quick beep signal if you are going too fast.

The watch also has customizable alerts for when you should drink or snack on longer workouts. You can turn these signals on and adjust the time between signals. This is an excellent feature for those who forget to drink or who don't trust their thirst signal.

Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 150 Lap Tap Screen Product Specifications:

TAP SCREEN TECHNOLOGY Focus on performance, not buttons. Just a simple TAP to operate the CHRONO (start/laps) and TIMERS (start/stop).
150 lap memory recall Chronograph up to 199 hours
TARGET TIME PACER A built-in audible tracker beeps when laps are taken to advise if real pace was SLOW, FAST or ON PACE from your TARGET LAP time.
DATED TRAINING LOG with best lap, average lap, and total segment time. If the Target time pacer is ON there will be delta time feedback of SLOW, FAST or ON PACE information per lap.
LAP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Important times can be LOCKED into memory with a new management system. All workouts are saved and oldest training will be automatic deleted.
HYDRATION A LARMS With time as your most fierce competitor, it’s easy to loose track of your vital needs. Fuelling Alert timers remind you to re-fuel at regular intervals.
LABELED INTERVAL TIMERS Complex routines become automatic and effortless with 3 workout sessions withup-to 16 intervals each. Each Interval can be labeled according to pace intensity (I#, WARM, SLOW, MED, FAST and COOL )
SOUND LEVEL Loudest alarm in an IM watch– increased the level of chimes and alarms by 5 Decibels
ERGONOMIC SLEEK DESIGN complements the technical innovation and provides increased comfort with the open vents on the strap to minimize skin contact and increase breathability.
ENHANCED READABILITY Oversized curved face improves readability at a quick glance
3 alarms settable for daily/weekday/weekend/weekly with 5 minute back-up alarm
2 time zones for travel conveniences
INDIGLO night-light with NIGHT-MODE
Water Resistant to 100m

To sum it up the watch is pretty cool. Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 150 with Tap Screen Technology is as fancy as the name implies. Its casual enough to wear everyday and sporty enough to cater to your basic triathlon needs.

Pros

Tap screen for ease of recording of laps.
Full-featured Ironman sports watch
Well suited for distance training, marathon and half marathon pacing.

Cons

Doesn't upload data to your computer

Description

150-lap memory and training log
Tap the screen to record a lap.
Nine interval timers
Chronograph
Target pace timer with audible alerts for slow, fast, and on pace.
Drink and snack timers.

Getting Ready For My FIRST Half Mary

2010-06-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Having a goal in mind has always been the best motivation, hence to improve my running I made it a goal to run my first half marathon by the end of the year. I thought that this would be a nice way to celebrate my running anniversary, and with that in mind, I registered in the upcoming Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore. :)

Training of course is essential to every endeavor - and I'd like to show you guys my new training plan.

I made this plan through miCoach ♥

This is a 17-week long training program built to prepare me for the half marathon. This training plan is composed of 4 parts - long run, steady run, speed training and active recovery. Each of them with intervals to allow adequate rest and recovery.

LONG RUN - my long runs are scheduled every Sunday. I scheduled it such so that I could have the luxury of going out of town come time that I need to search for places to do my mileage run. As you can see, my training program starts at an easy 45 min run, incrementing 5 mins every week till it reaches about 2 hours something or so. It is composed of a 5 min warm up and a 5 min cool down - the remaining time of which is a straight green zone run. I try to strictly adhere to my training schedule, fighting the urges to run faster than I should or walk when my legs are hurting.

STEADY RUN - these runs are scheduled every tues. Its a constant 30 min program from the beginning of the plan to the end. It is composed of a 5 min warm up 20 min run and 5 min cooldown.

SPEED TRAINING - done every thurs, so that I'd have enough time to rest since I'm working from home.
This is where I am allowed to pump up my zoom! It is designed to change pace at certain intervals to train my heart to adapt with the changing stress. As of the moment i run 4min/km to reach the yellow zone. Maybe in time that could be faster. :)

ACTIVE RECOVERY - active recovery is the most important of all. Its a 30 min low effort run or fast walk program. This workout is designed to let my body heal while running and prepare me for the Sunday Long Runs. This is scheduled every Saturday. :)

So there you have it - My Half Mary training plan. I also do a lot of strength workouts in between runs. I try to keep it a balanced workout for both the upper and lower body. I alternate my workout to cater every muscle in my body. I especially am very strict with my core and ab workout. :)

In addition, I also use a lot of petroleum jelly during my long runs - the tale of kikay runner's 35km run gave me a scare. and i quote:
"I’ve been using BodyGlide as an anti-chafing balm ever since I experienced painful friction burns under my arms after Condura. However, it seems BodyGlide doesn’t work for me over distances longer than 21 kilometers. During my 35-kilometer run, I got a small burn on my chest area, and blood started oozing out into my shirt (!!!). I’m going to bathe in tubs of petroleum jelly on race day."
- kikay runner

I know I'm not running 35km, but just to be safe, I'm gonna bathe in petroleum jelly as well. lol

I guess that's it for now... ciao!!! :)

Up the Hills and Over the Mountains

2010-06-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

I wish I am telling the story of how I've overcomed the hike for Mt. APO or the trail of Mt something something, instead I will be sharing the story of my comeback run in AMG Fun Run 2 @ McKinley hills better known to me now as "Bulubundukin ng McKinley".

AMG Fun Run was organized by my office peers in HP. It was a charity fund raising event (as most running events are) for the benefit of PGH patients. My friend Tin was kind enough to pledge the donation for my run and since this was my first run after being rested for some time, I only registered for the 6km category. :)

I feared that it would rain on the race day, It was already raining when we left home, however considering that Mckinley is more than 21km away from my home it was expected that it wasn't raining there yet.

We arrived at the venue a couple of minutes late but since this is a non profit race it is expected of course that we would start late so I was just in time for the stretching.

The bang for the 9km category started a few moments later, followed by the 6km and then the 3km. I, belonging to the 6km mark was with a handful of eager-to-run HP folks. The signal was given and we dashed off... Much to my surprise I was in the front group leading the pack of the 6km runners along with 4 guys i don't know. The first stretch was a steep descend which was immediately followed by a steep climb. :P After about 2km of up and down my knees started hurting and I started walking. My breath was thin and my vision blurred as i walked in a very slow pace up the hills of McKinley. Everyone was passing me now and from the lead I was bumped into the middle of the pack.

I tried to run but after about 2 mins my chest started hurting - I muscled all my energy to run as I threw careless curses into the wind - blaming the hills for my hurting knee. 3KM passed. At some point during the course of the run Loogz caught up with me and we started walking together. I was panting hard having that feeling that I was about to faint - he said he had the same so we decided to just walk the remainder of the race route. The steep climb was harsh even when we were walking, perhaps it was the lack of practice or the cold legs - I just couldn't run anymore. I walked, I walked very slow until we got close to the 5km mark. At this point it already started raining - and presto! I now have a reason to stop running. :P

To sum it up i wasn't able to finish the race - I was too tired too soon. The run was again as excruciating as my first and i suppose the fact that we were running in such high inclination didn't help one bit. :(

Now I'm Back. I'm back to my training plans and Im hoping that the next run takbo.ph anniv run would be better. hopefully a sub 40 or sub 35 :)

here are some pics from the race.

almost flying

sooo tired (yes i've gotten a lot darker from the swimming lessons T_T)

gunstart

lap marker

One With The Water

2010-06-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned in my previous blog, I was on a running Hiatus for the whole of May to give way to my swimming lessons. Just to break the monotony of my running blog entries, i'd share the story of my summer swimming lessons.

I enrolled in Bert Lozada's swimming school (Ascott branch) last April for the May 2010 beginner's class. I have been afraid of the water all my life and I've decided that this may be a nice change for me. The first day of class was generally easy, as with the rest of the 5 years olds that were in the pool, we were taught the basics - floating and bubbles. lol After that the next thing we did was the glide - a move where we just floated and kicked and held our breath in the water.

Coach kept telling us not to be afraid of the water. He taught us the 4 swimming techniques, freestyle, breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly. In order of easiest to hardest, Id say freestyle is the easiest followed by breaststroke, butterfly then back stroke.

I know it may be a surprise for some that I tagged backstroke as the hardest, but it was particularly difficult for me since i was terrified that the water would creep into my nose and drown me from within. Breast stroke - or the froggie was so much fun to do - i just pretended that im a frog. :) Butterfly - i think, requires a lot of upper body strength because the constant slamming into the water did hurt for some time. It was also particularly hard to push myself forward. My favorite part of this technique is when I launch into the water like a mermaid. hehehe :) Last but not the least is freestyle - my favorite. By the end of the 10 sessions I was already capable of swimming the 2 laps (50m) straight using freestyle. That for someone who had been terrified of the water is a HUGE milestone. :)

Aside from swimming, one thing I've learned from this experience is the value of a good rest. My shins had been aching so bad since I use to run everyday at least 5-10km. After a month long rest from running, my shins recovered and the pain was gone. After that I immediately changed my training plans to allow adequate rest for my legs. I try to strictly follow my schedule now, Long run Sunday, moderate run tue, speed training thurs, active recovey sat - and weight trainings in between.

I find that returning to running is a bit hard after that month long rest but it did paid off since my feet and legs are not hurting anymore. This time I'll try to train wiser. :)

Bdw here are some pics from my swimming class :)

HELLO THERE!!! im a shy turtle - NOT!

with my classmate

my coach - thanks coach JC!

team picture

Running Hiatus

2010-05-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

For those who had been asking me, the answer is YES. I haven't been running lately, mainly because I've started to take swimming lessons and there was a problem with my gym membership. Supposedly tomorrow, rather today (its 12:10) would be my running comeback from a month long hiatus. Unfortunately though i had the worst case of cough and sniffles - so bye bye run rio leg 2 :(

I'm just happy though that i was able to donate a tree and that I've already used the singlet more than 5 times hehehe. I'm hoping to get back to my running routine by tues (sana talaga magaling nako by then) as we are starting the month of June and i could go to gold's gym again. I also hope to continue swimming (sana makahanap ako ng place) - i might enroll again for advance 2 freestyle and butterfly. :)

That's it for now. Ill upload swimming pics soon :)

Natgeo Earth Day Run

2010-04-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Yes i know, this write up is way over due. :P

Natgeo Earthday Run was held last April 18, 2010 for the benefit of DATE foundation or Defense Against The Elements. I believe this foundation aims to build a nation that will withstand the changing climate of the world.

For this race, i ran 5km. It was suppose to be an easy run given the distance but the heavy workout (i have been doing P90X and weight training the entire week) punished me to the point that i almost cried during the race. Every step i took felt like a hammer smashing to my abs. (and this is no exageration) but of course since its only 5k, i finished anyway. :)

Official time from http://www.natgeorun.com/ is a staggering 40:45 hehehe

There weren't a lot of freebies after the race (and we were hoping for some hehe coz the registration was very pricey). There were no timing chips no photo vendo - but i could say most of us enjoyed it anyway and again it was for a good cause. As a bonus we also got to hang out with our new buddy Raph Recasas. :)

Ohhh bdw noel got injured and had to wear crutches for some time and I'm really getting very sleepy so ill wrap this blog up. some pictures are posted below, the entire album is in my facebook account. Feel free to follow me on twitter as well ;)

ciao!!!

(L-R: Chaniel, Earl, Mils, Krizie, Noel, Raph)

(L-R krizie, earl, noel, mils)

(L-R: Chaniel, Raph, Mils, Krizie, Noel, Earl)

Run Rio Leg 2 Registration

2010-04-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

Registration details are finally here, and its opening soon! April 15 2010

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE

First it was Papa Piolo, then it was Papa Derek - now guys dont have to complain anymore that girls are the only ones who gets their share of eye candy, coz the celebrity partner for runrio leg 2 is Donna Cruz. (Shadam dadam..) Yes, and i wouldn't have guessed it! I thought it was going to be Maricar Reyes or Iza Calzado hehehe

EVENT DETAILS

Event: NATURE VALLEY RUN 2010 (RUNRIO TRILOGY LEG 2)
Race Day: May 30, 2010
Race Venue: 28th Street (beside NBC Tent), Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Distance Categories: 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K

REGISTRATION VENUES

Early Registration Period: April 15 to May 12, 2010

SM TIMEX Shops – North EDSA, South Mall, San Lazaro, Glorietta
Watch Republic – Robinson’s Galleria
R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Late Registration: May 13 to May 20, 2010

R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig ONLY

Online Registration: April 15 to May 12, 2010

www.runrio.com

REGISTRATION FEES

Race Category	Registration Fee	Race Features
3K	Php400	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
5K	Php600	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
10K	Php600	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
21K	Php750	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis, Finisher’s Medal, Finisher’s Shirt

ASSEMBLY AND GUN START TIMES

Race Category	Assembly Time	Gun Start
3K	5:30am	5:50am
5K	5:20am	5:40am
10K	5:00am	5:25am
21K	4:45am	5:10am

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Registration may end earlier than announced deadline. (Registration kits may run out before May 20.)
Singlets will be given to the first 7000 registrants. There will be no guaranteed size of singlets for late registrants
Disposable timing chips will be used by all participants during the race.
Medals and RunRio shirts will be given to all 21km finishers.
Nature Valley loot bags and bars will be given upon finishing the race.
For questions, contact the secretariat at (02) 703 1736.
For further details, visit www.naturevalleyrun2010.com

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER!

along with the celebration of easter - i also finished my 1st 100 KM today.

yey for me! :)

Takbo.ph Run - Registration

2010-04-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

If there's any upcoming race im really excited about - this one would definitely top the charts.

The reason: customized singlets

click on the image for more info or visit takbo.ph

and for that reason i did a mad rush to the New Balance outlet in Glorietta to register Pao and myself. :) We will both be running 5km.

Registration is still open for both 10km and 5km but only 3 thousand slots are available for the entire race. Im not sure how many are still available to date because there were already 200+ who registered on the first day (march 29th) in glorietta alone. So if you're interested in running HURRY and register. :)

Register at the following New Balance and Planet Sports Outlets
- Planet Sports Trinoma
- New Balance Shangrila
- New Balance Festival Mall
- New Balance Glorietta

Registration fee is 450 Php. This includes the customized singlet and race bib, race kit, accident insurance and delivery charges. Plus the sponsors will be providing freebies to the participants.
- Powerade and Viva Water
- 20% discount coupon for New Balance Shoes and Apparels
- Nature Valley products

So hurry up! Register and i hope to see you there :)

The Green Miles Run

2010-04-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

March 21 - just few days after my birthday was the date for the green miles run.

I was particularly excited about this run for a number of reason.

1. Its being organized by my co-alumni USTHS batch 88
2. It served as my birthday treat to my running mates as we'll be having breakfast after the race 3. Piolo Pascual is going to be there
4. Its my first time to run round mall of asia
5. Id like to run in my new shoes
6. Its my first 5k race

and for this number of reason i advertised and advertised this race, until finally it came.

Gun start for the 5km and i ran my heart out, i was targeting a sub-40 time for the records but i was thinking i could finish it sub-35. Well i did, i finished the 5km @ 31:58, the only problem is the race didn't stop at 5k. It went on for yet another km and another and another until we finally reached a distance close to 8.6km. Needless to say, I got lost. Myself, along with the many others that was ahead and behind of me ran a total distance of not less than 8km for the 5km run.

Regardless of that, i considered it to be a good run, the air was cool and the race wasnt as congested as the previous races. I was fortunate to bring along my sunglasses and visor coz the sun was already up when i reached the finish line. I finished at around 50 mins for the 8.6km. As i was already sprinting in between the 4-5km, i was already very tired in the succeeding ones.

After the race we went out to eat breakfast. All was good.

Few days later, we were waiting for the result of the race but none of them seems to be posted online. I believe it took a good week for the race results to be released, aside from being inaccurate due to the fact that many were lost, there were also a lot of missing names from the list - myself included. My number cannot be found even when i did surrendered my tag at the finish line. Majority of the runners were also tagged as "unknown finisher" which was a bit disappointing.

here are some pictures after the race:

and heres my review for the race:

PROS:
- very nice route
- water station ever 2km
- non crowded race

CONS:
- no timing chip
- no photovendo and runpix
- very few marshals
- race results were late
- few signs and directions
- not all runners are accounted
- few giveaways
- no food after the race

my rating: 3 paws - it could really use some improvement

Nike LunaRacer+ 2

2010-03-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

yey! another item review! :)

Because I like to spoil myself, you will often see gadget or item reviews in my blog. This time I'm going to review the new racing flats released by Nike - the lunarlite racer 2.

Ok so let's start!

I've been running for some months now, and i have been training with my trusty but heavy Nike Airmax 90 Trainers all this time. So far, the longest distance I've ran in those shoes is 5km. I am very happy with that cross trainer shoes that even when my feet hurts i still refuse to buy new ones. However while reading 'round the Internet, i stumbled upon an article that says i have greater risks of having injuries running on wrong shoes. So after a morning run at veteran's i head to the store to buy new ones.

I was suppose to buy a new balance shoes because the Unilab run offered 30% discount to all new balance items. That would mean that i could buy one for around 3k -ish, and save some for socks and other stuff i would have to buy. However by some stroke of fate, i entered the Nike store first.

What happened between lunarlite racer 2 and myself is simply magical. If there's such a thing as love at first run, then that's exactly how i would describe my racer 2 experience. The first glance at this shoe and i already knew that i wanted it. It featured the shocking pink color in the net but what i saw in the store styles the livestrong color of yellow and black. It was perfect. I fitted it and it was perfect. I was jumping around the store.. running around the store and it was perfect. I was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. I wanted it. I just found my perfect shoes.

The following morning I took the shoes for a test run. It was very light and cool on my feet. I think its one of the lightest shoe on the market right now. I ran 3km.. my feet are still fine. 5km passed... my feet are barely aching. Now on 7km.. i dont feel tired at all. 10km.. ok i should stop now, before i hurt myself from the sudden increase in milleage. The cool thing is i actually didn't feel tired at all, my feet was cool and my heels felt no pain from the run - to think that was my first 10km run. hehehe They're weren't kidding when they said that this shoes would make you feel like you could run forever. :)

The surprising thing in this story is not the fact that i was able to finish the distance, but how fast i was able to finish it. This is the data from micoach:

being the "Snail Runner" that i am, it was quite a surprise that i was able to finish at 1:11:45 on my first 10k run. I was AMAZED!

Here's what i could say about it:

Stability - same as the previous lunarlite models, lunaracer2 featured the same high-tech foam that Nike is so proud of. I found the lunaracer 2 to be very stable and comfortable on the heel with a 5k-10k run.
Cushion - This shoes also provides great cushion and though i've only tested it on a 10k run i feel like it would also do well on high millage runs.
Comfort - because of its soft interior, my feet didn't feel like it was trapped in a crowded MRT on rush hour. It was able to breathe quite well which i think allowed my feet to not get tired as quickly.
Weight: women's 157 g/5.6 oz, men's 187 g/6.5 oz
Price: P5600

I'm sure you've guess by now what my rating is.

Its 5 Paws for this shoes. Im truly inlove with it :)

RUN for Wellness

2010-03-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Unilab Run for Wellness was scheduled 2 weeks after my Century Tuna Run. Same venue, same route and i ran the same distance of 3km. So basically this was just a repeat of my Century Tuna Run, it was a chance for me to maybe correct my mistakes.

My Race Adjustments:

1. I didn't overeat before leaving the house for the race.

2. I arrived early w/c gave me enough time to do the stretches

3. I aready know the route so i know what to expect

4. I left my towel and bottle in the car

5. I rested well before the race

the result: I ran a bit faster than my first 3k Run :)

(Official Time) - 25:53
(Chip Time) - 23:26

If only my official time is the same with my chip time, I would have been in the upper bracket of the rankings. But since I was in the middle of the pack there was a noticeable 3 min delay. However I'm very happy with this run, and i did obviously improved a lot. :)

*after crossing the finish line still breathing hard from my adrenalin rush, someone tapped me at the back and said, "how was your run?". When i turned it was Coach Rio, beaming in his friendly smile and I politely answered, "It was great coach.." :)

Here are some photos from the RUN.

buying water before the race to hydrate

with my office friends before the run

My Photovendo Shot

having my picture taken with coach rio at the finish line :)
====================================
Just like the Century Tuna, i consider this one to be a well planned running event. The results were released a day after the run. The photovendo and runpix were also released the same week.

My Rating: Just like the century tuna this race is awesome! specially since i got a really good photovendo shot hahaha!

I'm giving this race 5 Paws

MiCoach Pacer

2010-03-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

mic

Because every runner is different and every heart is unique.

I did not finished my C25k, because before i finished the 9 weeks i got this nifty device as a pre birthday gift. True enough as the Ad say's this device caters more specifically with your personalized running needs.

First let's off with the parts:

image courtesy of stuff.tv

The package comes with a heart rate monitor and strap, a stride sensor and the micoach pacer, a USB connector and an audio connector. It also have an included one piece earphone, in case you don't already have one.

Getting Started:
First you'd need to register an account in the micoach website: http://www.micoach.com/

..then plug the device to your computer via USB - charge it for 2 hours. The website is very user friendly, and contains clear instructions on how to set up and use the micoach pacer.

You will choose a training plan to fit your specific needs; whether you just want to relax, get fit or improve your time for a full marathon.

After choosing your Training Plan micoach will then ask you to take an assessment workout. This will gauge your current fitness level and automatically calibrate your heart rate zones.

After the assessment workout, you may review your performace like the one we have below. Drag the little marker to check you stats for the specific time.

You may review your training plan and adjust it accordingly by clicking on Manage > schedule. Then just drag the workouts around

Then you're all done, just head out and enjoy the run and your training program. :)

===========
Item Review
===========
PROS:

- Its very easy to use, the website is user friendly and the instructions are clearly layed out.

- the battery for the pacer is rechargeable via USB, and since i got it 2 months ago i haven't purposely charged it yet except for its initial charge.

- it involves different easy to follow training plans

- it can be used with any kinds of shoes

- it's easy to calibrate both the heart rate and stride sensor

- you could move around your schedule depending on your availability

- battery for the stride sensor and heart rate monitor is replaceable.

- it can be used with any type of mp3 player

- it caters to a wide array of languages

CONS:

- it has lots of pieces which could easily be misplaced so i got a pouch specifically for micoach.

** there's news that micoach will very soon incorporate the ability to make your custom workout from scratch. :)

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Sennheiser MX85 Sport II

2010-03-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

ITEM REVIEW

I bought the Sennheiser MX85 sport II as a reward for finishing the Century Tuna Race. Safe to say, I'm happy with this earphone.

The design is a little weird and takes a bit of getting use to. It features a little extension that fits right in the folds of your ear. Its very comfy round the edges, but it could also make your ear hurt if worn incorrectly. It includes ear adapters of different sizes so you could adjust accordingly.

The earphone is sweat proof and water proof. Perfect for sports and in my case running.

Bass is decent and not too overpowering. If you're looking for the BUM BUM BUM feeling in your ear then this might not be the one for you.

The earphones however is a bit pricey. It costs $60 from apple store. Other than id say that its a very good buy.

Note on the sweat proof feature: so far it hadn't corroded yet, considering that my sweat is very acidic. What i noticed though is the slight discoloration of the chord because i wear it on my inner shirt. Other than that, its still in tip top shape. :)

my rating: 4 paws

The Race to be Fit

2010-03-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

My first race is the Century Tuna Superbods Run.

I finished the four weeks of my C25k program which would then say that i am now capable of running for 5 mins in a slow controlled pace. I thought it would be enough, i would run for 5 min walk 3 mins (or til i catch my breath again).

So there i was, in the middle of the two thousand -ish or so 3km runner's, anxiously waiting for the gunstart. Alas! we heard the signal that the race had begun and I dashed away. I was sprinting like mad to keep up with my friend's pace that i could already hear my heart pounding through my throat. It was beating so loud and so fast that before i even reached the 1km mark, i already felt like I was going to faint.

"So much for my training", i said to myself, as i chugged down half of the contents of my water bottle. My head was pounding, and the veins in my forehead felt like overstretched rubber tubes ready to explode any minute - and this was only the 1km mark.

I walked for the next 300m or so before i started running again. I was holding my bottle on the left and my towel on the right and my arms are already getting numb from all these. I ran slow.. very slow this time. til i reached the 2km mark. After reaching that, I walked again.

I was very tired at this point, and I kept asking myself why i even bothered to join. My calf was cramping and i could feel it rising up to my thighs. Suddenly i heard the marshal yelling "1KM nalang!!! PUSH!! 1KM NALANG!" and in that moment i started running again. Halfway into the curve, I walked. Everyone was passing me at this point but heck, who cares? I'm near finishing this race. I WILL FINISH THIS RACE. My eyeballs ready to pop out of its socket, i got a glimpse of the finish line... and i sprinted away.

I finished. yey! and though it was only a 3km run (a run that most people would call "dog walker's category") I was very proud of myself and i considered it a great accomplishment. :)

Official Time: 00:26:13
Chip Time: 00:25:39

My Photovendo Shot (while feeling that my eyeballs are about to drop hehe)

My Race Mistakes

- i sprinted way too soon instead of keeping the slow pace as i practiced
- i was carrying way too much
- i didn't stretch enough before running
- i wasn't breathing enough
- i kept telling myself its hard
- i was clutching my hand too tight

=====================
RACE REVIEW
===================

PROS:
- There were food after the race
a hefty amount of food and drinks was provided to all runners finishing the race
- The high-tech chip timer allowed fast release of the race results
- The finishing arch allowed runners to see their official time right then and there
- There were so many giveaways
- A lot of activities after the race
- friendly marshals
- water stations are strategically placed
- photovendo and runpix

CONS:
- There were so many people that it takes a while to reach the starting line
- It takes soo long to get the freebies due to the very long line

All in all i give this race 5 paws - It was really really good. :)

C25k - couch to 5k

2010-03-27T15:46:00.001-07:00

Im testing out the new iphone app to blog so "bear" with me hehe..

This is the c25k program i followed which was actually great for beginners like me who doesn't have a background in running. The program encouraged me to let go of the speed and focus on the time first to build my endurance and cardio. I hope it will do good for you too. :)

The C25k Training Program

The Beginning...

2010-03-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

I have been an asthmatic all my life and frankly speaking the only sports I've ever participated are those in the comfort of my wii console. I love to eat, (the luxury of not gaining weight much) and when stressed i eat double of what i normally can. I love desserts, chocolates and ice cream and cakes and everything in between. So there, i guess you could safely say that though i am not fat i am definitely not fit. I used to go to the gym quite often before but with the new induced stress of my work and the change of lifestyle i embraced as i got older, i started to lunge deeper and deeper into the couch potato syndrome.

My lifestyle was sluggish and in the hopes of getting fit and having my waist a bit trimmer, i enrolled to the gym and started doing cardio workouts. The poison of choice was taebo, then turbo jam then pilates.

After a while, i noticed that my friends in the office were turning a hype about running a race sponsored by one of our local presidential candidates. I wasn't interested, mainly because i am barely surviving the taebo, to let alone put myself into an excruciating run. I passed on the challenge because i just plainly thought i can't. A month later, my office friends were having a mumble again about joining the condura half mary which of course i didn't join, because well, i am not yet capable to run 3k so how on earth will i be able to run a 21k? Another race passed but i continue to do my gym workouts.

During those months i also heard about the continuous ads airing on TV about the century tuna superbods run. I thought to myself, "maybe i could do this..." (and maybe i could have my picture taken with derek as well hehehe) so i told my dad that i wanted to join the race, and he told me I'm not in the condition to run. However being the hard headed girl that i am, i went against his advice and registered anyway.

I downloaded an iphone application called c25k - couch to 5k. It's a 9 week program designed to help me train from being a couch potato to running 5k races. I said, "hey this could be cool" and tried it in my next gym workout.

I was barely running on the 1st week, walking 1 min running 1 min but it was ok. It went on like that for couple of days and gradually increased as time went by. I was doing great, slow but great. I couldn't run fast, my heart was buzzing like a humming bird whenever i try to step up the pace, so i decided to just stick to my walking program. Only problem is... i only have 4 weeks to go before the century tuna Run.

How did i do on my 1st 3k race? find out on my next blog. :)