Aboitiz Race to Reduce: Going Green

 

2am and it was raining cats and dogs. It didn't matter though, a fun run won't be cancelled on account of rain and a 21k was an event not to be missed. At least for those running the 34th National Milo Marathon Cebu elimination leg 21k on September 5th. Today's race was a gauge for runners hoping to finish their 21k in 2:30 or less-- and that included me.

Weeks of training for my second half marathon has come 2 weeks ahead of schedule. So treating this as one long run, I signed up for Aboitiz Race to Reduce planning to run this at 6:45 minutes/km pace to finish well within the 2:30 cut-off set by Milo.

Aboitiz had promised to plant a tree for every runner registered today. Despite my preference for yellow, today I am Green!

A friend of mine, Gifford, invited me to run with him at 6:30 pace but I declined knowing I could not maintain that pace (yet) for that great a distance.

I met Gifford and his brother Harrold at the preliminaries. I also met Salvdian and Jerry, a fellow dailymiler. We trooped to the starting line. We saw many runners in Vibrams Five Fingers, running shoes that mimick barefoot running so popular these days.

Without so much as a countdown, a shot rang through the air and off we went. I kept reminding myself to stick to my strategy, slowing down when I was running at 6:00/km pace and picking up the pace when I strayed near the 7:00/km pace.

You could tell runners who were prepared for long distance runs and runners who weren't (like me 3 months ago). These runners had heavy footfalls, breathed noisily and was streaking past other runners. Soon enough, you'd see them taking a hike.

The run through SRP was breathtaking. I wished I could have brought my camera with me but running and shooting just don't mix. The stillness of the ocean magnified the sunrise hidden behind a blanket of clouds. It was peaceful and I was reminded of the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire in which Eric Liddell explains to his sister on why he runs, "I feel His pleasure."

I kept ultrarunner Haide Acuna in plain view. She was about a hundred meters ahead of me. We were probably running at the same pace because neither she nor I gained distance from each other. If only I could keep up with Cebu's most famous running personality, then I would be ok, I thought.

Near SM at about 7 km+, Kenyan runner and missionary Simon Losiaboi was already on his way back, his nearest competitor a good 1 or 2 minutes behind. Unbelievable pace and stamina. I just wish our Cebuano sports writers could write an article about him-- how he trains, how he keeps up with his training, etc.

The real challenge was the climb from SM to the University of Southern Philippines. The distance to the 21k turning point was almost 2 km and there was no let up in the incline.

At Mabolo, we converged with some of the runners from the Silliman University Run. I saw my cousin, Van, one of the City Prosecutors, running this one and waved him on. Turning back at some point near IT Park, I saw Twinkle Ignacio struggle with her tree-inspired costume. I also met fellow Cebu Doc alumni Sander.

Lots of people recognized Haide on sight. The ABS-CBN broadcaster was still picking up the pace. As we entered SRP for the last 3 or 4 km, I realized I was nearer the ultrarunner now thinking I must have been running too fast. A check on my GPS showed I was on pace and I realized she was slowing down. I passed Haide and said a customary, "Good morning" and proceeded to tackle the bridge.

Right now, a stiffness on my ankles began to emerge but with just a few km to go, I ignored it and dug in deep. The last 800 meters seemed to take so long. I could not sprint it even if I wanted to. Salvdian, a friend of mine who I passed on top of the bridge struggling with cramps that started near SM, recovered his pace and easily passed me back.

There were cheers a few hundred meters to the finish line and you could not find a better cheering squad than Ungo runners egging you on. I did it! 2:23 unofficial time on my Garmin, well within the cut-off time of 2:30 (The official time from the timing chips will be published in tomorrow's Sun Star paper, according to the CebuRunning Facebook page). Thank God for the weather, thank God for great race organizers and thank God no injuries!

The real challenge is yet to come. Let's bring it on!

Running: The Newbie Runner

2010 came out with a blast as 2009 was a disappointment. This will be my first, and certainly not my last post, on a new interest I have undertaken. Running. 

I have just come to realize not only for the health benefits but the similarities of F1 racing and running-- its heart and passion that drives one that is similar be it a V8 2.4-liter Mercedes or a 4-chambered piece of soft cardiac tissue.

Every year there is a new resolution to break but I feel this year is going to be different. I feel it's going to bring luck to a recipient of a Tiger year, no matter what the soothsayer says. Tigers won't be lucky on a Tiger year. (But wearing a red underwear will surely bring fortune-- Chinese expert. I'm thinking...)

I started the year running. Huffing and panting, I must have been an embarrassment to look at on my first day. The sun was out and the need for speed got the better of me.

But out on the track, the hard pavement and my seeming inability to run a few meters without gasping like an asthmatic jolted me to reality. I must persevere or so I said.

I did it twice a week, never mind the wet socks and blisters and I gradually did it thrice a week running 3 and 4ks. The persistence was inspired by a childhood friend of mine, who I last saw more than 25 years ago, running his first marathon on the highly successful Sinulog Run last 01-10-10 in Cebu. (We still haven't seen each other yet due to our busy and conflicting schedules but we have each other's numbers.)

I am setting my own course for December this year to run a half marathon at an acceptable time-- 21k in 2 hours I gather.

6 weeks into running since January, together with a newbie runner friend of mine, we bravely registered and joined the 5k Fun Run organized by the Cebu Dental Society last February 14.

We clocked at 41:06, an acceptable time perhaps for newbie runners like us. We ran 5-7 minutes and walked 1 minute. We would have wanted to finish in 35 but the ascent to JY Square was a killer. The time, however, was an improvement of the 43:36 I clocked in one of my practices here.

Now I am setting my sights earlier than December on a 21k ambitious half marathon come April 18-- The Great Lapu-Lapu Run. To accomplish a 2-hour finish more or less, I need to train a total of 12 weeks running a combination of 8, 10, 12 and 15k weekends. Wow! The sheer running mileage is intimidating.

I'm not worried though. If I won't be able to maximize my training until then, there is the 10k I will backtrack to which I plan to run in less than an hour... hopefully.

I don't have the luxury of 12 weeks but I have 10 until April 18 and day 1 begins tomorrow. Hope the sun comes out.