2011 Year End Run

Apparently, I became a running addict over December.

I originally planned to join only Animo Run 2011 for my monthly fun run but I also ran Sunset SunPiology Run, Run for Change and Rescue Run in addition to other long distance runs.

Animo Run 

Animo Run 2011 from Cath

On December 4, I ran 10k in the 9th Animo Run. I originally planned to solely run this event but things came up and my plan to slack off the rest of December didn't push through. Despite the lack of hydration, route planning and marshalls, I still finished this run.

SunPiology Sunset Run

 On December10, I ran my first 3k event in SunPiology Sunset Run. I wanted to run fast in this event but I had a heavy meal so that slowed me down. It was also the first time that I ran a gun run event by myself so I only had one picture.

That's not my name :(

Also since I got a free kit my certificate didn't have my name. I had to edit it to have a decent souvenir for this run.

LSD in La Union

In December 26, I finally rose up and ran for 45 minutes. It was the holiday and I fought the holiday laziness by getting up and running slowly for about 45 minutes. I am not familiar with the place so I just ran straight until it was already 20 minutes and headed back in the other side running straight. The road was so flat that even if I originally planned to run for 30 minutes I ran longer.

 Flat roads of Barangay Biday, SFLU

Anyway as I was heading back, I realized I was lost. I apparently made a wrong turn as there was a crossroad in the road I ran. I didn't notice it as the road was really perfect for a slow morning run. I had to find a tricycle to bring me back to our provincial home and I had the driver wait as I ran to get money from our family room. The driver was friendly so he didn't mind and I had a funny story to tell at the breakfast table.

PRC Holiday LSD

Given that I will be running 21k in January 15 at Go Natural Run 2012, I had to run 16k before the actual event so I asked PEx Running Club to join me on doing a Long Distance Run session. CJ mapped a run from Makati to Manila but since I think running to that part of Makati is scary. We ran from Makati to Taguig instead. From my condo, we walked to Salcedo Street and ran from Legazpi Street, two rounds in Ayala Triangle then ran all the way to McKinley Parkway and did a round in the road going to Kalayaan and headed back.

Our photo later on the day. No photos during actual LSD.

We did a total 14k before we had breakfast in Chowking Insular.
 
Rescue Run (Race for Sendong victims)

The day after our 14k run I decided to join this charity run since our family will be having lunch later in the day so I didn't have to commute to QC on the 30th. The running community supported this run and Team Titans got recognition from having the most team members participate in this run.

 Titans to the Rescue from Titan runner

In this race, I ran with Team Titans. They were really fast. Good thing that the fellow new members ran at my pace so I still got to be part of team pictures as we were running.

Some of my PRC fellow members volunteered as marshals so we still had breakfast after.

Afternoon Rush: Run, Race, Run at SunPiology Sunset Run (My First 3k)

SunPiology Sunset run is an afternoon fun run held to raise fund for Piolo Pascual's and Sunlife Philippines' favorite Charity, Hebreo Foundation (a non-profit organization committed to bringing scholars to school)

 

SunPiology banner

My First Free Race Kit

This is the first time I ran a race for free. I was just browsing through my facebook notifications when I found one of my friends had posted his information in the Timex Sports Philippines FB Page. So, I went to that page and discovered that they are holding a promo for free kits to Milo Finals and Sunset SunPiology Run. I posted my information as well and 2 days after they announced me as one of the winners of the free kits for Sunset SunPiology Run.


Pre Race

Since I was only running 3k (but my first 3k in an actual race), I decided to do other things. In the morning, I did house chores. Then after lunch, I went to ABAP for my boxing session with Coach Mitch. The race day was on December 10 and it was already the start of the Christmas season. So when I arrived at ABAP, the advanced students was already prepping for a Christmas salu-salo which I was surprised to run into. It was really awkward to just watch them eat so the advanced members invited me to eat with them. I had a hefty serving even if I already had lunch since the buko pie and the cookies was really heavy for the tummy. It was great to get to know some of them, especially I will be joining them once I get used to the basics of boxing. But this blew my schedule out of plans since I had to start my lesson at 2pm instead of the usual 1pm schedule which left me little rest time to prepare for the race.


Race and Run

As I arrived back at the condo, I just grabbed things I needed and headed out to hail a cab to the Fort for the race. I was almost tempted to blow the race off but it was only 3k so it won't hurt me that much. The venue of the race was at Mercato Central which I had never gone too. I arrived in the venue just at the time the 10k runners started running. As I was trailing to the registration area I even saw Team Leader Drew of ANR Ortigas running at a relaxed pace. Since I had won the race kit, I had to find the Timex people first before running my first 3k race.

The muddy assembly area

Lucky for me, I was able to get the race kit, leave my stuff in the baggage area and make my way to the front of the line (feeling elite runner lang) in time for the gun start of the 3k. My strategy for this run was to run as fast as I can since the distance was only 3k. Unfortunately, the weight of the Christmas Salu-salo from ABAP weighed me down and I was forcing myself to finish 3k instead of sprinting. I continued running despite of the difficulty and finished at 18 to 19 minutes.

The only proof I was at SunPiology

This was also the first race that I ran alone so the post race stuff was pretty boring. I got my photo from Canon and headed to the booths for free flyers and left before the program started. I even missed seeing Piolo Pascual finished 10k sub-60. I tried contacting TL Drew but I later found out he left the race early too.

 

Get the lootbag full of flyers!!

Overall, it was still a nice experience but I would rarely be participating in afternoon fun runs.