Posts Tagged with: "Running"

Just two more days till Pasig. As the say in the local vernacular, dalawang tulog na lang! It will be a big day for most Filipino runners, especially those who are running the full 42.195 km.

I will not join the race due to the injury. Initially, I was planning to support Annie, my running buddy who I trained with months ago for this marathon, but I decided otherwise for fear that seeing this super strong athlete suffer in the last 10km might cause me to abandon any future marathon dreams. So, as I’ve told Annie, I will be there in spirit for her and all you runners out there.

To Annie, Patrick, Taki, Baldrunner, Totoy (?) and others who are embarking on the exciting journey of this marathon, good luck! Stay strong and enjoy the ride!

Note:  I posted this on the 22nd and was surprised to find it back in my unpublished drafts.  Hmmph…It was bad enough that I couldn’t join the race and now my blog is playing tricks on me!

The Pasig Marathon is over and Annie finished strong with an unofficial time of 4:07!  Patrick and Taki, how did you do?  Read about Bald Runner’s Pasig experience here.

Sport Beans, made by popular jelly bean maker Jelly Belly, are not your typical jelly beans. These yummy little babies are packed with electrolytes, carbohydrates and Vitamins B1, B2, B3 & C—basically what your typical athlete or sport enthusiast needs during long periods of exercise or activity. It’s like having your Gatorade in candy form—my dream come true!

Last week, before watching a late night movie, my hubby and I stocked up on snacks at Nuts About Candy in Alabang Town Center. As I filled my bag with loads of my favorite neon worms (er, I’m carbo-loading for a future race), I spotted the Sport Beans on display. Uhm, actually they were all over the store—as I’m sure they are as well in all other branches of Candy Corner and Nuts About Candy. My sister had told me about this last year and I’m glad that it’s finally available here in Manila.

I had a difficult time choosing my flavor: it was a toss up between Fruit Punch and Berry Blue. I ended up getting Fruit Punch because it was the closest to my favorite jelly bean flavor, Cotton Candy. (Can you tell I know my candies?) It tastes like your normal jelly bean although a bit on the sweeter side so it may be tough for some people to consume after a long run. It is also slightly softer than the regular jelly bean but I like it. It’s still a delight to eat and a refreshing change from the regular sports drink. Costs P59.75 for a 1 oz pack.

It has been one month to this day since I last ran.

This kind of long-lasting injury can easily lead an obssesed runner like me to jump off the skyway, rob a bank, or watch Wowawee all day. But, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I could easily keep my composure—or better yet, my sanity despite the absence of a run. The farthest I had gone to relieve myself of this pent up anger and frustration was to gorge on Lay’s potato chips all day.

Lucky for me, I was too busy the past month to get too depressed about this hellish situation. How could I even find the time to mope? I got into so many new activities—swimming, weights, yogilates, therapy—just to strengthen and stretch these leg muscles so that I could run again. Work also poured in enough to keep me busy with nary a time to shed a tear about my lost marathon goal.

For now, my objective is to run for 15 mins. straight without feeling any tightness or soreness thereafter. Just last week, I walked for 10 mins. on the treadmill and felt soreness in my knee again. The pain was not intense but it bothered me nonetheless. It got me wondering when this knee would ever heal. What was taking so long? Was I doing enough? How could I speed up recovery?

I continued with my drills, swimming, and weights and fortunately my work paid off. This morning I attempted the treadmill again for a 10 minute walk. The results were more encouraging. I felt no pain, nada, nothing. It may be too early to tell that things will progress from here on but I’m certainly more hopeful about it now. Please let this be the start of better days ahead.  I don’t know how much longer I can wait.

I was planning to pay the doctor a visit yesterday but I decided otherwise. You see, I was simply planning to bombard the doctor with all the unanswered questions in my head such as “What am I going to do now? I’m gaining weight by the second!” or “Why did you tell me to run when I ended up limping after Clark?” But, after Monday’s therapy session, I pretty much got my enlightenment from the gracious therapist who answered all my queries.

This is what I learned about my injury from my therapist:

– My doctor did not stop me from running since, like I said, I only need strengthening and stretching exercises. But, since the pain seems to worsen after a run or even a treadmill walk, the therapist told me to resist the temptation until we’re sure I am fully recovered. As a mature, disciplined woman I nodded in agreement (but that’s after I dreamed of slapping her in the face. Kidding!)

– Those 5-minute bike warm-ups at the gym aggravated the injury (so that’s why I would limp my way out of the locker room everytime! Duh!) I was advsied to do none of the cardio machines at the gym: treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical. I can take that. They kinda bore me to death anyway.

– The only cardio I’m allowed to indulge in is (drum roll please): swimming.

Somehow, that last therapy session helped pull me out of the confused, injured state I was in and gave me a clearer vision of what I should be doing to get out of this rut. I’m a lot more hopeful now. Plus, I’m feeling great since I have felt no pain for the past couple of days.

Yesterday, I pretty much laid out my game plan for the month to help me stay fit despite the injury.

CARDIO: Swimming (4x a week)
STRENGTH: Weights at the gym (2x a week)
STRETCHING: Yogilates at home (2x a week), Squats plus other exercises ordered by PT (daily)

If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what will. Here’s to a wet and wild month ahead!

To all those joining the Subic Marathon this weekend, I bid you farewell.  May the spirit of the running gods be with and carry you on his wings to make you run, nay soar, like an eagle in flight.  I shant be with you but I shall keep you in my prayers.  Let you not stumble on a rock, fall prey to faster runners, or worse suffer in pain from an evil injury.

So much drama.  I was just carried away by the excitement of this all even if I can’t make it to Subic.  All I wanted to say was GOOD LUCK!  Looking forward to hearing stories from you all.