21K - -K!
I ran my first ever 21K long-distance run last Sunday, March 22, 2009. I almost wasn't able to participate in Condura's Run for the Whale Sharks because i wasn't able to register but Janz - -always my guardian angel- -couldn't make it so she gave me her slot instead. I decided to sleep early at 9PM Saturday evening to give my body ample time to rest, but I barely slept a wink that night mainly because i was afraid i won't be able to get up in time for the race. Of course my excitement/nervousness was also a factor. So when I woke up at 3AM i decided to get ready and just go to the race venue ahead of schedule.
I arrived at The Fort at 4:30. There was no traffic, no lines to the parking lot, and more than enough parking spaces to choose from. So when i parked a convenient distance from the starting line, i found myself a bit nervous. My god, this is like my nth race and yet here i am feeling like a fun run virgin all over again. Thoughts begin to play around in my head - -"what if i DNF? (Do Not Finish)", "What if I injure myself?", "What if i collapse?", "What if my iPOD acts up and leave me running without music for the whole 21K?" Gawd, JC! Mag-stretch ka na lang nga!
So i went out of my car, did my warm-up stretches and started psyching myself for the race ahead. JC remember your personal running tips - -1) Hydrate! 2) Don't forget your nutrition - -one poer gel 15 mins before the race, one after 10K, and one last pag mamamatay ka na.3) Run at a pace that you can sustain. Don't run at full speed or else ubos ka agad. 4) Walking is not an option. 5) Quit and you die. And my most important motivation 6) Maghanap ng cute na mabilis tumakbo tapos habulin mo hanggang finish line!. Having enumerated my personal running tips i felt more confident. So when the race finally started i was more than ready.
And after running for 2:09:50, i was able to finish my first 21K run. Ibang klase din ang experience na ito, and it's something i will definitely do again. Kaya ko naman pala. With the right training and conditioning, our bodies talaga can do amazing things. Of course it also helps when you put your mind into it. Ang pagtakbo kasi di lang physical, contrary to popular belief. Aside form the physical preparation, a big chunk of joining a race is the mental preparation. Kaya congrats sa lahat ng fellow runners ko who ran their first 21K. Next na ang 42K. :-)
P.S.: Isa pang realization - -mas maraming gwapong sumasali sa 21K.
Mahirap mamili ng isa lang na hahabulin. Shyet, nakakawala ng focus.
Hahaha. Next time, magsusuot na ako ng side-blinders.
I arrived at The Fort at 4:30. There was no traffic, no lines to the parking lot, and more than enough parking spaces to choose from. So when i parked a convenient distance from the starting line, i found myself a bit nervous. My god, this is like my nth race and yet here i am feeling like a fun run virgin all over again. Thoughts begin to play around in my head - -"what if i DNF? (Do Not Finish)", "What if I injure myself?", "What if i collapse?", "What if my iPOD acts up and leave me running without music for the whole 21K?" Gawd, JC! Mag-stretch ka na lang nga!
So i went out of my car, did my warm-up stretches and started psyching myself for the race ahead. JC remember your personal running tips - -1) Hydrate! 2) Don't forget your nutrition - -one poer gel 15 mins before the race, one after 10K, and one last pag mamamatay ka na.3) Run at a pace that you can sustain. Don't run at full speed or else ubos ka agad. 4) Walking is not an option. 5) Quit and you die. And my most important motivation 6) Maghanap ng cute na mabilis tumakbo tapos habulin mo hanggang finish line!. Having enumerated my personal running tips i felt more confident. So when the race finally started i was more than ready.
And after running for 2:09:50, i was able to finish my first 21K run. Ibang klase din ang experience na ito, and it's something i will definitely do again. Kaya ko naman pala. With the right training and conditioning, our bodies talaga can do amazing things. Of course it also helps when you put your mind into it. Ang pagtakbo kasi di lang physical, contrary to popular belief. Aside form the physical preparation, a big chunk of joining a race is the mental preparation. Kaya congrats sa lahat ng fellow runners ko who ran their first 21K. Next na ang 42K. :-)
P.S.: Isa pang realization - -mas maraming gwapong sumasali sa 21K.
Mahirap mamili ng isa lang na hahabulin. Shyet, nakakawala ng focus.
Hahaha. Next time, magsusuot na ako ng side-blinders.