Running

[dungeonbaby]

I've started incorporating easy yoga and pilates into my workouts and I feel more centered and balanced on the treadmill now even when I'm tired from intervals. But road runs feel exactly the same.

[markspencer]

Run United 21K din ako sa June 17. kita kits!

[SaintPeter5858]

Where will be the Run United Bro?

[Droidz1979]

Read this article for sometime already, just want to share it here :

 

Running and savoring the Boston Marathon

By Leica Carpo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 13:25:00 06/10/2009

 

KNOWN to break seasoned runners, the Boston Marathon (BM) has a daunting reputation as the oldest and most famous 26.2 miles in the sport.

 

Its significance is measurable by the numberof press credentials issued (more than 1,500 from over 350 organizations) for a one-day event, second only to the Superbowl.

 

To enter, one must meet a qualifying time. You will find yourself runningalongside weekend warriors' most probably former college track stars, Navy seals, Iron Man age-group champions, college, state and national contendersfrom the world over, Olympic hopefuls and, if you're lucky, some of the world's running legends.

 

For one week in April, Boston welcomes the elite of the running world.Conversations about the marathon aren't so much on finishing but moreon PBs (personal best times from previous races) that have earned participants a bib number.

 

The marathon prides itself on accepting runners based solely on verified qualifying times from 'chip-certified' marathons (e.g. males aged 18-34, 3:10 times;females 18-34, 3:40; males aged 80 and above, 5:00). Exceptions are rare andfar between. In 1996, there were roughly 30,000 rejection letters sent to non-qualifiers.

 

I felt like fish out of water or Alice falling through the looking glass when Ifound out my 3:40 time (NYC Marathon) had qualified me for the113th BM.

 

My thrill changed to semi-panic as race day, April 20, neared. How would training on Antipolo hills and the downhill roads of Tagaytay compare to this grand daddy of courses.

 

I entered the Runner's expo two days before the race to register and pick up mybib number. The place teemed with people who looked like they ran for a living.Rock-solid calves, sculpted cheek bones and shoulder blades jutting out of necklines were the order of the day.

 

Running Boston is almost anti-climactic after qualifying for it. Until you get thereand realize the runners breathe a different air. For most, it's not about finishing the race (a feat in most cities). It's about how many times you've run it and what wave you are in.

 

There are two waves: Wave One is for runners who average sub 3:20, and Wave Two arefor runners who average sub four hours. Those not worthy, please exit on the left.

 

It's a runner's elite club; until you earn the right to wear the overpriced windbreaker you are buying as souvenir, it's best to keep your comments to yourself.

 

Solid dinner

 

Everybody says the meal before race day will determine how well you run. So a solidpre-race dinner is the key.

 

Avoiding shellfish, just in case, and eating more than the average, my family and I found ourselves a delicious little Italian bistro in Boston's North End (Little Italy). For dessert, despite feeling stuffed and sleepy from carbo-loading, wetrudged over to Mike's Pastry (famous for its cannolis) and had a bite of the Godfather's Special.

 

At 6 a.m. the next day, I woke up and immediately worked to stuff two breakfast meals down my throat (waffles, banana, chocolate covered raisins, coffee,cereal, protein bars).

 

I met up with my sister Amanda at Boston Commons where we lined up with 26,000other runners to board the buses that would take us to the race start in Hopkinton.

 

Thew eather report predicted rain, which had me in panic. The preferred outfit of most, consisting of a runner's singlet, shorts, arm warmers and knee-highs,were not enough for me, based on my experience. For someone used to running intropical weather, the sub-40-degree temperature, overcast day with winds from 15-50 miles per hour felt downright icy!

 

I wore everything I owned and then some. My layers: sports bra top, long-sleevedmandatory base layer (UnderArmour), Polo Tri vest (for branding purposes), armwarmers (Sugoi), windbreaker with removable sleeves (which I kept on the wholerace), knee-highs (Sugoi, a must buy), compression tights (Skins) and woolsocks (The Sock Guy), watch (Nike), head beanie and gloves. I figured I couldalways strip them off during the race.

 

Theweather got darker the further away we drove from Boston, the fog started tosettle in, and old-timers (three-time to nine-time Boston runners) gave newbies(myself and my sister Amanda) the lowdown on what to expect pain.

 

Weentered into the runner's holding pen, a public school an hour away from Boston. Here we cooled our heels literally for two hours, waiting for the race to start.

 

No technical runner

 

You've heard that marathons are about the last 10K. This is true for most races, butfor Boston, the race starts from the beginning and does not let up until you cross the finish line. It's a hilly and windy course,so you should run it mile by mile to maximize the areas where you should surgeor rest.

 

I found this out in retrospect. I am not a technical runner because I don't wear an HRM (heart rate monitor) or look at splits. I just go by how I feel. In thisrace, it pays to be a little technical because when you have the urge to push,it's best to be aware what lies in store for you in the next corner.

 

The minute the gun goes off, you are on, unlike most races where you can zone outand take time to get into your comfortable run mode. Everyone starts running simultaneously in a seemingly pre-determined steady warm-up pace.

 

It seemed slow for me in the beginning because I was caught in a sea of people,but I was running at a steady 5.1 per km pace. A few people I could see weredoing breakaways and cutting through the crowds. They were braving getting elbowed or cursed by other runners.

 

Running may not be a gentleman's sport like golf, but there are common courtesies that people follow.

 

Right off the bat, everyone stripped off their throwaway sweats to reveal six-packsor the gaunt lean frames of seasoned runners. I was too cold to even take mygloves off until 4K into the race.

 

For nutrition, I brought five packs of Gu gel and one Pria bar. I consumed threepacks, most of the bar and alternately drank Gatorade and water. There was aRed Cross aid station and water and Gato station every mile.

 

Tightship

 

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) runs a very tight ship. The goalwas to get the bodies moving as quickly and efficiently as possible througheight towns and into Boston. Don't expect big city brass bands or fireworks.

 

Although the crowd cheering us on was fewer in number than New York City, they were noless enthusiastic. Besides, Boston runners do not seem to need the distraction.They were focused and ready to do the distance needing no incentives.

 

At Mile 5, I looked at the endless sea of runners and thought about what it took to get me to that point in the race? the hours of training, the early morningwake-up calls, the blisters, the aches and pains. And I imagined that each ofus had our own stories to tell, probably similar to my own. Suddenly I realized I was taking part in Boston marathon history. This was a moment to savor.

 

Before you know it, you have reached the halfway point, Mile 13, where you will literally get deafened by the Wellesley girls' screams. Goosebumps rise as you feel their energy pumping you up for the battle ahead.

 

From here the pace picks up all the way until Heartbreak Hill, composed of threehills that are not as steep as they sound but sloped enough to make your heart jump a few notches closer to your throat.

 

By the time you pass Boston College, you will have conquered Heartbreak Hill, andthis is where the going gets really tough.

 

Mile 22 is called the "Graveyard" for a reason. This was where I found my firstcheerleader; my sister Margaret was suddenly running alongside me, followed bymy stepfather, who unfurled the Philippine flag with my mom and my boyfriend,Martin, carrying a huge sign with my name on it.

 

Seeing them seemed to put wings on my feet as I felt lighter and faster after theirexcited cheering. This high carried me to the next 5K.

 

Worst,best part

 

For me, the last 5K was the worst and best part of the race. As your systems startto go into shutdown mode, this is the part where you dig deep and hope to find more. This is where you ask yourself: How much gas is left in the tank??

 

And if you do decide to gun it, be very aware that the last few miles to the finishcould potentially be the most painful and memorable of your running career.

 

This last bit is also one of the most picturesque portions of the course. The pretty tree-lined avenues with million-dollar mansions lead you to Commonwealth Ave.,the main street a la Ayala Avenue. From here, it's a straight flat road perfectfor a sprint finish if you still have it in you.

 

As I crossed the finish line with 3:42, I was happy to have finished the race, and initially disappointed with my time because I wanted to break 3:40.

 

Running down the last 1K stretch, I could see the digital clock ticking the time away.I usually have a sprint left in me regardless of distance, but in this race I was emptied as my legs (quads), now trashed by the relentless course, felt heavy and started to stiffen.

 

I knew then that I should have pushed harder in the beginning when I could have,and not later in the race when I no longer had the legs for it.

 

Yes, I still owe Boston another go, this time with more faith that my legs have itin them to go the extra miles. I may not have done a PB, but as I wore that50-cent finisher medal around my neck, I felt I was worth a million bucks.

 

Postscript

 

Right after I crossed the finish line, I ran into a nearby hotel to defrost and got achance to meet running legend Bill Rodgers, who was talking with Kara Goucher (who finished third overall,women). I somehow got included in their conversation as a fellow finisher andfound myself chatting about how nasty the weather was and how the wind played a factor in making the race tougher than usual.

 

Much later, I realized how Rodgers was totally on a different running stratosphere from me. Running still amazes me because it has a way of equalizing people.

 

My Boston stats: Overall place: 11115 of 22849; Gender place: 2968 of 9302; Agegroup place: 481 of 1644

 

Rodgers' stats: He had originally qualified for the 1976 Montreal Olympics with a 2:11in the trials. He finished 40th with a 2:25. The winner, an East German, won with a 2:09 (55), an Olympic record. He held the world record in 1975 with 2:09(55). He did not get his revenge in the next Olympics due to the US boycott, sohe posted his best time ever in 1979 with 2:09 (27).

 

At the 113th Boston marathon, looking fit at age 61, he finished with 4:06. He was a little disappointed not to do a sub 4.

Edited May 25, 2012 by Droidz1979

[SaintPeter5858]

Thanks for that Carpo article Master

[Turk]

Run United 21K din ako sa June 17. kita kits!

 

 

Wow kita kits nga tayo.... I'll also run 21k on June 17

 

Ppdd will also run too

 

 

@St. Peter.... MOA ang run united...

but the 21k will start at BGC and will finish at MOA

 

 

 

[Droidz1979]

I know this quote may be snobbish by nature but one simply can't deny the fact that it's funny :

 

 

So after starting my run at our subdivision and arriving at Hollywood Terrace, I opted to take a detour and try out if indeed the terrain going inside to Blue Mountain Subdivision is indeed steep. I thought it was gonna be easy and it was not that long, after all the terrain from Sirruna to Cloud 9 in itself is very steep with a greater distance so I assumed that none could top that nearby and I was glad to be proven wrong. It also has a nice view along the way and a site of quarrying wherein it shows how we've destroyed the very nature that we've lived into and probably suffered the fate that we've deserved from all those natural calamities that has hit this country. And to the manong's (there were 3 of them) who nodded when I went past them as they were either about to start their run and then showed me how to handle the terrain by letting me eat dust afterwards, kudos to you guys! Guess it's never really that healthy to underestimate any terrain and that home-court advantage thus count. On the positive side, I did not get burned and finished my run without stopping irregardless of the speed of my run Hopefully i'll get better next time when I get to familiarize myself with the terrain more and explore it further (thanks to dungeonbaby for the tip).

[SaintPeter5858]

Do we have fun run activities this June?

[SaintPeter5858]

What's the latest about Marathon?

[BrightestStar]

It seems to me that they're running out of sponsors for some fun-run activities.

[Turk]

Good luck to those joining races this weekend!

 

Hope you post your fr on the races and also your race time...

 

Good luck!

[dungeonbaby]

I know this quote may be snobbish by nature but one simply can't deny the fact that it's funny :

 

 

So after starting my run at our subdivision and arriving at Hollywood Terrace, I opted to take a detour and try out if indeed the terrain going inside to Blue Mountain Subdivision is indeed steep. I thought it was gonna be easy and it was not that long, after all the terrain from Sirruna to Cloud 9 in itself is very steep with a greater distance so I assumed that none could top that nearby and I was glad to be proven wrong. It also has a nice view along the way and a site of quarrying wherein it shows how we've destroyed the very nature that we've lived into and probably suffered the fate that we've deserved from all those natural calamities that has hit this country. And to the manong's (there were 3 of them) who nodded when I went past them as they were either about to start their run and then showed me how to handle the terrain by letting me eat dust afterwards, kudos to you guys! Guess it's never really that healthy to underestimate any terrain and that home-court advantage thus count. On the positive side, I did not get burned and finished my run without stopping irregardless of the speed of my run Hopefully i'll get better next time when I get to familiarize myself with the terrain more and explore it further (thanks to dungeonbaby for the tip).

 

good for you! and you're welcome

 

now, would you recommend it for hill repeats? will take note of your progress and maybe try it myself after the rainy season.

[Droidz1979]

good for you! and you're welcome

 

now, would you recommend it for hill repeats? will take note of your progress and maybe try it myself after the rainy season.

 

The weather was great yesterday since it did not rain and it was sunny irregardless if i started my run late so i explored the place further and you were indeed right that the subdivision leads you to the road going to Cogeo. What do you mean by hill repeats by the way? If you meant that you go up and down on the same hill then i'd probably say no since the terrain is too steep and it's bad for one's knees, ankles and what not's. Might be better to find a longer route and have that leg as your finale. For my part, am revising my usual routine and making it as my final leg instead of going further to Pork barrel since the terrain is way steeper and there are less cars that traverses on its road.

[Turk]

Unilab Run United 2 - June 17, 2012

BGC to SM Moa (21km)

 

The weather is not good, it was raining very hard when it started at 4:30 AM at BGC... Runners are soaking wet, and due to 5,000 runners who attended they started in waves....

I did ran soaking wet with my cap on... not every kilometer has a marker, but when I reached approximately 8km the rain subside. The weather became cool but the road are still wet...

There are plenty of hydration station, water and powerades are up for grabs... Plenty of marshalls along the routes and a lot of timing marker (not just on every u turn)

The post race was also good, with lots of fun in the area, and Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Alambis also performed after the race... Which regards to post race kit... not too good, but the finisher's shirt is definitely nice!

 

I rate this race: 4/5

 

My time for 21k .. 2hrs and 8mins

[dungeonbaby]

good time, Turk! congrats!

 

so while looking for updates on adidas' kotr, i saw that there's going to be a part 2 to the zombie apocalypse. a 5k zombie-infested night run!i can't wait!

Edited June 29, 2012 by dungeonbaby