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One year ago this month, I started running…and never looked back.

Last year:
– briskwalking for 30 mins on the treadmill was a great achievement for me
– 5km was a dream, 10km a long distance reserved for the elite
– “fun run” and “marathon” were synonymous
– “singlet” was, I would’ve guessed, a microphone a little bit smaller than the magic sing
– the only time I would sweat was when the aircon was off
– I would’ve opted to watch Paula Abdul rather than Paula Radcliffe
– I owned 1 pair of rubber shoes that were only worn with jeans
– I didn’t have any friends who ran (well, except for Mayi and Jamike who I bugged with tons of questions like “What do I wear to my first race?”)
– I only ate bananas when I had diarrhea
– Gatorade was a colored sports drink that tasted funny
– I would starve myself to lose weight (and it still wouldn’t work)

Since then, running has turned my life upside-down, inside-out, and transformed me into—what I would like to believe—a better, stronger, and happier me. Why didn’t I get into this sooner?

– My feet in my favorite Mizuno Wave Creations right before my first year anniversary run (taken ala E-rod)-

To celebrate my first year anniversary, Running and I took off for a 3-day stay in scenic Subic. I took the family along since my hubby might get jealous. (I’m kidding!) Every road we traversed in Subic beckoned me to run on them—near the airport, along the golf club, close to the bay—everywhere! Without any hint of my knee injury, I certainly had to give in to the beautiful roads’ whims. My hubby, a golfer who runs on the treadmill to maintain his fitness, decided to join in on the fun. (This was a wholesome threesome, mind you.)

We got up at 6 a.m., left the kids to my mom, and decided to go downhill from our place. A mere 5 minutes into our run, we reached a screeching halt. Two large dogs awaited us at the bottom of the road. At that point, it was a simple choice between rabies or to run uphill for our lives. We chose the latter.

We climbed up slowly but surely. I was wary of my knee while my hubby was getting his second taste of a ruthless road run he lacked training for. As soon as we reached the top, we plodded on exploring the vast new running course before us.

Barely catching our breaths from our close encounter with the dogs, we encountered yet another animal: a monkey closely watching us from the electric wires above. I was almost sure that monkey would pounce on me, grab my hair, and steal my Garmin (as discussed in our e-group) so I shut my eyes and ran forward.

Everything from then on went smoothly. We ran 6km at a modest pace and returned refreshed and invigorated. Soon after, we relaxed our tired feet along the sandy shores of Camayan beach and I fell asleep beside the photo of buddies Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey running half-naked in Miami. A great way to celebrate my 1st anniversary, don’t you think?

– Just one of the four back issues of Runner’s World courtesy of Hitme that accompanied me on the trip –

Whenever my 3-year-old daughter enters the car with me, this our dialogue:

Nia: “I need music, Mama.”
Me: “What song do you like?”
Nia: “Bad bad day. Number 18.”
Me: “Okay, You Had a Bad Day it is!”

Nia loves You Had a Bad Day by Daniel Powter.  My husband thinks the song is too negative, especially for a little girl to listen to on her way to preschool.  I like the melody so I never put much thought into it.  Until today…

Yup, I had a bad day indeed.

First, it took me two terribly long hours this morning to travel roughly a kilometer outside our village headed for my son’s school.  By that time, my son missed his school presentation and I was too pooped to complain.

Second, it’s been raining all day.  We have a trip planned for Subic tomorrow.  Will the weather have mercy on us and let the sun shine through?  Please.  Pretty please!

Last and definitely not the least, my knee is a bit sore again.  ARGH!  This time I am pissed.  In the beginning I was in panic.  Shortly after I was scared.  Now, I am just fuming.  (This bull is mad.)

Why am I not healed yet?!  I’ve been icing the injury thrice a day plus I got a massage last night.  I only ran an easy 5km all week.  (That’s a major sacrifice for me, you know?!)  I’ve been taking additional supplements that I’m hoping will help, but probably won’t make a difference such as calcium and vitamin B complex.  And, I’ve been religiously falling on my knees praying to the Saint-Who-Heals-All-Running-Injuries for a miracle.  Still, the meniscus irritablus knee problemus keeps on coming back like a nasty fly trying to land on your first post-race meal after a marathon.

So, next Tuesday, I have a date with my doctor to have this knee checked.  I’ll ask him if it’s actually feasible for me to run the marathon in February without asking for a wheelchair in the last 6 miles.  Pray for me, will ya?

For now, I shall continue to drown myself in my woes.  I shall continue to curse this wicked knee most especially for not allowing me to enjoy what would have been a beautiful long, slow run along the roads of Subic.  Sob sob.

This time it’s for real… I am back! My 7-day forced abstinence from running is officially over. I am healed!

– Annie and I after our run. We look so poised! You wouldn’t believe that we were laughing like noisy high school girls before this shot. It was a happy happy day. –

I ran 7.7 km at Ayala Alabang today at a conservative 6.22 pace and there was absolutely no pain. None whatsoever! Not even a hint of a tiny popping sound from the smallest cartilage of my left knee.  Woohoo!

Good riddance knee injury! Don’t you dare come back!

I made it to the Mizuno Run Club last night. But, disappointingly, I wasn’t there to run.

Shortly after I published the previous post yesterday, I headed for SM to run errands. As I swept through the department store purchasing everything on my list in haste, I noticed my knee popping again. And again. And again.

Damn it. The meniscus irritablus annoyus problemus was back. I knew I wouldn’t be able to run in Mizuno.

Desperate to get as close to running as I could get, I asked the kids after dinner: “Who wants to go to Krispy Kreme?!” To my delight, both kids answered a resounding “Yes!” (In case you’re wondering, the hubby has been out all week on a business trip.) So, with the kids in tow, I headed over to Bonifacio High Street eager to get a whiff of—no, not donuts—but some running energy.

As we entered High Street, I spotted one runner, then two, then the entire group running along our usual route. Aaaw, I wish I was one of them, I thought. Then, I got all sentimental, anxious, envious, and frustrated. When can I run again? How long will this injury last? Do I have to start cross training to maintain my fitness level? I was on the brink of craziness and depression.  (Hey, you would be too after six days of no running!)

I passed by Mizuno to quickly chat with Chanda, one of the club organizers, Ige, the coach, and exchange a few words with other faithful attendees like Totoy, Pablo, Renz, Gelo and Mandy. Drenched in sweat, they were obviously done with their laps. I so wanted to be sticky and sweaty and tired like them, but nope, all I could do was watch and pray that in two weeks I would be able to join the run again.

As promised, I took the kids to Krispy Kreme and Starbucks. As we gobbled our treats in the car on the way home while singing to High School Musical 2 out loud, I realized that things weren’t so bad. Despite the evil injury, I had a great life. My family is great; I have good and healthy kids and a loving hubby who I’ll be seeing soon. I work from home—a set up that is perfect for a hands-on mommy and addicted runner like me. And, I’m alive! It’s just a matter of time before I can run again.

Boy, those Christmas peppermint brownies from Starbucks sure can turn a bad day into a good one.

“By the power vested in me by the Holy Spirit, I command you evil injury to depart from this poor woman’s knee!” Nope, my attempts at exorcising the soreness out of my knee proved to be futile. So, over the past few days—FOUR long non-running days to be exact—I resorted to more sane alternatives such as ice, ice, ice, more ice, and rest.

During the first couple of days, there was still slight soreness in my knee whenever I walked. By Wednesday morning (yesterday), the pain was gone so I cleared my schedule for the grandest event of the week: my first easy 5km on the treadmill that afternoon (pathetic, I know!) As luck would have it, clients emailed in a heapload of work that left me glued to my laptop saying “This is unfair!” in the same exact tone as my 6-year-old would say it when I ask him to finish his dinner before dessert.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my 2nd dying toenail decides to “go towards the light” which, in his case, is any place as long as he is no longer attached to my toe. So, now my right foot is a gruesome sight with two nail-less toes. (Excuse me while I vomit.) I look forward to the day when, just like Rick, I will look down at my calloused and bruised feet and love them unconditionally. For now, I continue to flinch my eyes in utter disgust. Hopefully, strangers don’t do the same when they see me in my havaianas.

Thankfully, today is the complete opposite of yesterday; it is an awesome day to run. No pain in my knee. Work has been finalized and delivered. And, it is a Mizuno Run Club night. So, tonight, I shall make my way to Bonifacio High Street with two prayer requests in mind: 1) Holy Spirit, please protect me from that devil of an injury and 2) Lord God, please don’t let it rain!