Miles of Smiles

This is a four kilometer fun run organized by the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy Student Council. It aims to raise funds for a project - for children with cleft palate. It was held on January 20, 2013 at McKinley Hill, Taguig City. 

PSE Bull Run 2013

The first big running event for the year! I enjoyed it, route was a reverse of the usual ones held in BGC. Even though there was a merging with another event, Ten Moves Run, which was held in central business district of ayala. They managed to handle the running traffic well. Though I saw this guy who was wearing a Ten Moves singlet passed over the designated U-turn for the said event. I think he was totally unaware that he is already quite far from his designated route. 

The event was covered by the Running Photographers. I saw some of them Kuya Jobert, Ate Jonah and Ate Ynny. Thanks in advance for the pictures :P

The logistics of the event were quite irritating, the first 2 or 3 electrolyte drinks(Pocari Sweat) where stationed approximately in the first 3 kilometers. First one was around 800m from the starting line. And their staff were filling the TALL, yes TALL, paper cups to the brim! What a waste! Its not even advisable and most runners know that if they to drink that much or they will get side stitches. Whenever I pass through a Pocari station, I would tell the staff "Kuya pahingi po nung konti lang" but they would always fill at least half full. As a result I would throw most of the liquid away, and i think most of the runners did what I did too.

The bananas yes, the bananas! They are very strategically placed, very well thought of. Placing it at the 18th kilometer? What were the organizing committee thinking? They should have placed it around halfway the course, who need bananas when approaching the finish line? And by the way, there was a banana at the finish line, sigh..

And this is the best! It made my day. I asked of some pain killers/liniment from a medic who was helping out in giving hydration cups. "Ate pahingi naman po ng pain killer o kaya kahit anong pampahid". Guess whats her answer, "Nasa ambulance po" and I asked her where was the ambulance "Nasa finish line po". With those answers I was laughing and pissed at the same time so I responded with "Okay, thank you po :( [literally with a sad face]". She has this big big belt bag with I don't know what "first aid materials" it contained. Maybe, just maybe some cough and colds syrup, vitamin c perhaps and probably glutathione too(some runners might actually be skin conscious).

Anyways I enjoyed my run, got a new personal record which was way way faster than my previous one. I also got a free breakfast from a friend at Grams Diner which was quite near the finish line! Hopefully she will treat me again next time :P

Running the Skies!

Mile High Radar Run 2
December 30 2012, was a good day for running, no rains and good temperature. Arrived quite early at the starting line, because didn't exactly know how far will it be from the city proper. There were about 170 participants most were a group of friends and some elites in training.

The good news? The event was a green race, there were no cups on the route, only water jugs to fill up the hydration bottles/backpacks of the participants. The bad news? I forgot to bring my hydration belt/bottle :(

The event started somewhere in Marcos Highway going up the road to Mount Santo Tomas, one of the highest mountains near Baguio City if I'm not mistaken. It was one experience I will never forget, I was literally running above the clouds!

There were points where the visibility is almost ZERO! We were only to stare on the road around us and the clouds. The time where the sun was slowly rising upon the horizon was the climax of the route! It was such a scenic view, I was astonished by its beauty. Too bad I forgot to bring a camera with me to document it.

I ran only about 50% of the race, the rest was walk. I am not accustomed to running uphills. Tried to push, but my legs cant really handle it so I decided to  change my plan, from a 5:1 run-walk interval to 5:1 walk-run interval :) The moment I crossed the finish line I decided to run home which was about 10 miles away. Just had a brief rest, ate a boiled egg and hydrated and vrooom!

There I go, the second 5 miles was quite easy since it was all downhill, maintained a easy pace to avoid heel striking and accidental overshooting the curves (I dont want to fall over the cliff :P, safety first). The latter 5-mile journey home was more or less the same with the first 5 miles, there were uphills and a few gradual downhills.

This great experience, will be the stepping stone of my first ultra-marathon dream! Baguio city, I shall return!