Posts Tagged with: "Races"

See that race route above? That’s the 10km route for Nike+ Virtual Human Race on 08.31.08. That is the same route I ran yesterday morning along with Coaches Rio, Jo-Ar, John, and Roel as well as other running friends Annie, Ben, Joms P., JunC, sisters Lala and Inang, Joms, new acquaintances Philip (ForeignRunner) Prometheus Cometh and Marvs, as well as a couple of other runners who I wished I could have chatted with longer.

– Jun C., Coach Rio, Ben, Coach Jo-Ar, Joms, & Coach Roel –

Call it an ocular visit or a reconnaissance mission. Whatever it was, our task, upon Coach Rio’s orders, was to run the exact route of the Nike+ Human Race in preparation for the actual event next week.  

Phew. I had mixed feelings about this run. I was excited over running just my 2nd 10km run since I succumbed to my injuries last February. (Gawd, has it been that long?!) But, I was also worried about pushing myself too far or too soon. I guess, after one gets injured, you’re forever paranoid over falling into another injury pit again.

Off we went at exactly 6:10 a.m. I ran alongside Annie who was attacking McKinley Hill as if it was her worst enemy. I reminded her repeatedly that I couldn’t keep up with her pace (which at its peak hit 4:30 min/km climbing uphill) so when she showed no signs of slowing down, I allowed her to go ahead while Coach Jo-Ar swung by to run by my side. We ran at a 5:30 to 6:00 min/km pace going downhill through Bayani Road and up again before we hit C5. My body was fine all throughout the run, but my mind was playing tricks on me; my inner bull might have been sleeping at that time because I just wanted to slow down in order to prevent any injuries. 

We entered Heritage Park to run 2.5km around the area and this was a welcome treat. The sun was beating down on us by this time, but the roads here were flat and there were absolutely no jeepneys to bother us. Chatting with Prometheus Cometh and Jun C. about white ladies, shoes, and snow, believe it or not, actually helped to make things feel a bit easier.

Once we exited Heritage Park, the course was uphill all the way. We climbed Bayani Road then then took a right towards Lawton Road which was another slight ascent. By this time, I was worried about surpassing my strict 10km quota (no more, no less for each run this week according to my own TBR recovery training program. Don’t ask me for a copy please because I just invented it!) 

True enough, after a few more minutes of running, we were back at McKinley Hill and ended the run at exactly 11 km. When Coach Rio returned, we learned that the extra mileage was due to our group’s wrong turn at the C5 intersection (we should’ve u-turned before that). That’s what we get for not studying the race route before we actually tested it. Actual race course is 10.5 km according to Coach Rio.

We ended with a time of 1:07. My pace was 6:04 min/km. Based on my calculations, at that pace, I would end the 10km run at exactly 1 hr—not bad but that ain’t too good either. For now though, I know I should just be thankful I can run another 10km race again. If I run it fast, then that’s just a bonus.

How about you? Are you ready for this one?

“What do you call breastfeeding moms running together?  Mommy Milkshake!”  Get it?

– with my sister (no, we don’t usually wear matching outfits!) –

Janice Villanueva, co-owner of Mommy Matters Nursingwear and director of Creative Juice Communications (who also happens to be my sister), heard this joke on the radio a couple of years ago and almost instantly the idea for a fun run for nursing moms was born.

– I’ll be in one of these in the next race.  PR, baby! –

Today was the 2nd year for Mommy Milkshake Marathon.  Along with 300 other moms and their families as well as serious runners who joined in on the fun, I showed up at Bonifacio High Street along with my hubby and son for a short 2k fun run (which turned out to be 2.6km as advised by organizers prior to the race).  

Knowing full well that my son would walk more than run, hubby and I arrived early for our usual training run.  I ran 6k with fartleks inserted somewhere in there.  Oooh, I felt strong and pain-free the entire time; it was a marvelous experience.  But, I’m trying my best not to get too excited about it.  I’m taming my inner bull, chewing on my fingernails, and repeating this line over and over “Endurance, endurance, endurance.  Forget about speed for now.”

After our pre-race run, there was just enough time for a quick costume change (we were advised to wear pink, remember?) and, after a brief speech by my sister and her partners, we were off.

– 3…2…1… –

Under the sweltering 8 a.m. heat, we ran along with moms and strollers, dads with babies in slings, a preggy woman and a pup, and other faces one doesn’t quite expect in a run.  Of course, we also saw veteran runners and serious runners, plus other runner bloggers like RunMD and Bards, enjoying the easy run.  My son was soaked in sweat yet he plodded on trying to keep his pace.  

– Cool preggy mommy-to-be with her pooch and friend –

– Daddy and baby runners –

– Mommy Lennie and her daughter –

– Bards and RunMD squeezed MMM into their long run –

– Happy Feet Joms and Abbey.  Aaaw, you should’ve signed up at Buddy Wellness Run –

We ran 1.6km, a full loop around Bonifacio High Street, when we went ahead towards the finish.  We decided against taking the 2nd loop as the heat was too intense for my little boy who looked absolutely exhausted.  As we neared the finish line, however, he saw his cousins and sprinted towards the end.  Strong finish, I must say.  (We might’ve fooled a lot of folks there!)

– My two boys –

– with Happy Feet girls, Vimz, Roselle, and Gigi and kids –

– Girl Power! –

Last night, I received a series of senseless comments posted on the two posts I published regarding the Takbo Bayani race.  The commenter created fake email addresses such as tbrtbrtbr@yahoo.com or dumbrio@hotmail.com just to send comments which meant absolutely nothing.  There were six of them but they basically looked like this:

zfD FVearo mr QIEO ,[[ /RG

or

bullswWUEb chitshitbulljFHWcyneek mq’PEQ

Why was I sent this?  Who was this from and what was the point?  I have no idea.  Am I being attacked by a Bayani Fernando loyalist or a disgruntled reader?  Hmmm…your guess is as good as mine.

My question is: WHY?  All I questioned was the exclusion of women in the half marathon. A move which was and forever will be admonished by decent and right-minded citizens of this world.  And, by discussing the issue in the blog, I would think that it helped to raise awareness and move the race organizers to correct their mistake while it was still early.  Something the organizers did yesterday.  (A very wise decision!)

I wish that the person using his/her Smart Bro account with the IP address 203.87.196.250 from Cainta, Rizal had just voiced his/her opinion on the matter in the proper way with just a single comment. That way I could respond properly.  Honestly, what would I do with six sets of jumbled letters except throw them in my virtual trash bin?!

Anyhow, I’m moving on. The issue has been fixed and the race is pushing through with women participating in all distances.  Below is the registration form and race route in case you’re interested in joining…

Click here to download registration form.

Race Route for 5k

Race Route for 10k/ 21k

* Thanks to RunMD for the warning!  And to Bards for the info.

Finally.  Someone (or maybe all of us—haha) knocked some sense into them.  The Takbo Bayani half marathon is now open to women.  I’ll pass.  I’ve lost all interest in this race.

After last year’s successful event, the Mommy Milkshake Marathon is all set for its 2nd run (no pun intended.)

DATE: August 10, 2008, Sunday

DISTANCE: 2KM

ASSEMBLY AREA: Back of NBC Tent

REGISTRATION: 6:30-7:30am

RACE START: 8:00am

The Mommy Milkshake Marathon is a fun run for the whole family to promote the advocacy of breastfeeding.  Pregnant women (with their OB-gyne’s go signal), moms, dads, and kids are all invited to join this event. This is truly going to be a “fun run” without competition against other runners (unless of course you feel like it, heehee) and there are no cash prizes to be given away (although I heard there are freebies).

If you’ve got a pink shirt, wear it for this event.  Runners are encouraged to wear pink.  Yes, even the men.

Registration and participation is free but pre-registration is a must. Call the Mommy Milkshake Marathon secretariat at 780.9898 or 713.8144 or email mommymilkshake@gmail.com to pre-register. 

I’ll definitely be there with my two boys.  Who else is coming?