Sorry blogger...

but i'm now transferring to tumblr. just because.

Bar Chronicles: 3rd Day Funk

This is a nice habit, writing about the day before it ends. Even though, I guess, I'll be saying the same things. :P

So, third day's the charm, and it's a Sunday so there are some nice extras. Started the day with a morning race, with running buddy and fellow bar aspirant Jam. I bested my 10k record, great way to start the day. Then a quick breakfast, cool shower and an hour's nap before I started studying.

I discovered Brand's essence of chicken, have been taking it since yesterday and I noticed that I focused for longer hours, much like the effect of gingko biloba (I'm a sucker for supplements with no proven therapeutic effects). Now, how would I describe its taste? A bit like sebo (as in cold bulalo soup) with chicken broth cubes' after taste. I prefer to take it with a big glass of cold water. And ice, to prevent nausea. haha.

My room is outfitted for studying now, problem still is the bed which looks inviting every break time. The solution is just to threaten myself every urge of crawling unto the covers. But I still napped once despite that. A reasonable quick nap.

Bar Chronicles: Nothing Like the First

The month of March was tortuous (and tortious?).  I had to rest for 2 weeks from running, accompanied by sessions with the physical therapist, but that rest time was extended to a (gulp) more than a month (i lost count). The final, final exams spanned 3 weeks of my final year in law school and therefore i had limited my running too, and then the last exam was immediately succeeded by a 4-day trip. Wow. that was a really long break.

Yesterday I found myself walking the final 500 meters of a 4.4k run. Ugh. And so now, I vow to inject a running sched in my bar study sched.

Anyway, today I started reviewing because I realized that my revised schedule will not give me adequate time. In a state of panic, I revised my schedule for a third time and found out that I can only have two readings. gulp.

So today was the first of many days of review. I found it daunting, hard, and eq-depleting. But I sustained it and am happy. Tomorrow is another day and I hope it would be less and less straining. 

Century Superbods Run 2010: The Forbidden Fruit

After Condura, I was left with only 9 toenails and an aching shin. But my body is used to battery (hello, 8 years of taekwondo) so i recovered quick. With a newborn toenail (hehe!) and an all better leg, the Sunday before Century Superbods was just perfect for my first long run post-Condura. 

...Oops...spoke too soon. After 12k, my inner ankle and shin was hurting a bit. Then on the next training run, I had to stop at 5k because the pain was getting worse. Uh-oh!

So basically, the Century Superbods Run was my forbidden fruit, not only because of the...umm...eye candies prancing around, but because I obviously needed to rest my feet.

Next Superbods run, bring rice for the ulam.

The original plan was to join the 10k even while wearing the yellow bib, but pride took over me and joined the 21k instead and just walk the rest when the pain becomes alarming. I promised to take my time. ...but then again, no flyover or skyway here...Hmmm. 

An hour or so later, there goes the 10k mark...That was the first time I asked myself why I was still running.

At 16k, it was still uneventful and the pain was still tolerable, at a level of discomfort merely. 

Fast forward to 18k. Maybe the reason why I couldn't remember anything eventful before this point is because the pain had started to become so terrible that it overwrote on all the good stuff which happened before. "OMFG. WHY DID I F***ING RUN TODAY? MY ANKLE WILL FALL OFF ANY TIME SOON." But, with 3k to go, who's pride could endure a DNF? And a look at the watch told me I can make a pr if I didn't walk. Pride: Nakamamatay.

Crossing the finish line at 2:37, it was a pr indeed. Still pathetic time though hehe. But the funny part comes: the ankle was now swelling and I had to seek medical help. Ice it at least. Oops, medic didn't have ice. great. And I had to spend 30 minutes lining up before I can really rest my legs. Oh well, Derek Ramsey and the yummy food made up for it. :)

I saw Grace, my taekwondo bud for the first time in months while I was limping along.

Thereafter, I was prescribed physical therapy for 3 weeks (at least). Obviously, no running for a while. I feel pain even just walking around at school and while doing the flexing exercises during PT. For now, I'd have to settle for swimming (hmm, I smell an aquathlon/sprint). Next week, I will have a sports taping tutorial. yey...hehe.

As a final note, I impart this wisdom: stay away from the forbidden fruit in whatever form.

No "Rent" for Me

I'm so sad I won't be able to watch Rent. February is too busy. I couldn't even plan for a decent Valentine's date or gift for that matter. :(

http://rentonfeb.blogspot.com/

Condura Run 2010: The First 21km Story

It was a few months ago that I decided on running a half marathon. At first I targeted a December race but the 21ks were scarce and...umm...the kms logged were likewise scarce. Hehe. The announcement came that Condura will be held on the February 7th and so, as it was a more feasible goal for me, I started running seriously come the last weeks of November. Too serious perhaps, as I injured myself with 2 weeks remaining, and hence an earlier, and longer, taper period.

At Sunday of T minus 2weeks, I was scheduled for a 16k long run. But the shin acted up so badly, even at a really easy pace at that! So I stopped at 15k. Next day, went to the doctor to hear what I already knew: Rest it for a week; next time don't run too much hills and stretch before and after!

Confidence dwindled as each day passed without running, so instead, I did everything I could to recover fast while maintaining endurance: leg sleeves compression, therapeutic massages (oh, it's a valid excuse!), anti-inflammatory medication and cross-training. I enjoyed it, actually. Thursday prior to Feb 7, did a final easy run just to boost the confidence, although there was still some minor pain.

That's the story of my training.

Fast forward to the Condura Run. The festive air was so encouraging, but all I could think of was I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO RUN BEYOND 15K. Oh Sh*t.... It had to boil down then to strategy just to finish. And with strategy (and faith....and sometimes, force, threats and intimidation...:P) i do accomplish some unexpected things. The strategy for this feat: music, hydration planning, compression and a pace chart. Haha! :O

Upcoming Race Events: Condura Run for Dolphins, Century Super Bods

January was not a good month for me. First, I wasn't able to join any race. The circumstances differ. PSE Bull Run: can't find a registration booth. Jan 31 races: well, the main reason is i'm prohibited from running (injured!), the other reason is, not interested.

February should be a good month. I have 2 hearings on the line...boo....but I also have 2 races to look forward too. Yey!

FEBRUARY 7: CONDURA RUN FOR DOLPHINS
The first question is if I'd be hard headed enough. After overcoming that, the next question is how long it will take me. I'm having funny thoughts...malas yata ako sa Condura?! Last year, I was injured while running it, this year I was injured training for it. I peak at the wrong time it seems...Maybe I should target an earlier race, December perhaps.  Anyway, everyone is talking about this race. Potentially the best race of the year. If the doctor permits, this would be my 21k debut. Hopeful that I could because the route traverses the Skyway. :)

FEBRUARY 21: CENTURY SUPER BODS
This is my back up plan in case a 21k on Feb 7 is prohibited. If you check out the 21k route, it would make you dizzy! Lots of turns. It would be impossible for me to remember lest i draw a map on my arm. Hopefully the logistics will be as fine as other RunRio races I've ran. The icing on the cake is Derek Ramsey in short shorts. :D In the event that I can run both Condura and this, I might opt for a shorter distance.

So many contingencies...arte.

First bike "commute"; Throng of runners make UP an unenjoyable bike route

I only had to traverse a small amount of road to get to UP so I decided not to bring my bike in my car which is very tedious (bike rack set up, lock, etc) so off I went from our home to UP. The scariest part was cp garcia: a long road with surprise elements. Going there, the surprise element was broken glass.

I was early so no cars yet at that time and I enjoyed the cool january breeze. I also enjoyed the acad oval without the throng of runners. Later on as the sky brightened, so did the people thicken. Nakakainit ng ulo. Seriously, there's no place which is biker-friendly now, even in UP. Although today is a car-less day, the runners are everywhere and so un-careful. Who runs side by side in 4 files? With blaring music in their earphones?

*Photo by: Inigo Rudio (newskoday.net46.net/sipat/likemotherlikechild.jpg)
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Hilarious mockery of the hyped triathlete

Running Injury No. 2: Shin Splints

Running Injury No. 1 was hamstring tendinitis (read about it in my multiply acct), a knee injury which was caused by a sudden spike in physical activity after around 3 years of dormancy, plus the tendons have been weakened by 8 years of taekwondo varsity training previous to that. In short, overuse and misuse.

After that I became careful: warm up and stretch first, cutting short the distance when there's some unusual pain, etc. Last week I felt pain brewing again, this time in the shin (See related entry). Didn't ignore it this time around so I did the RICE method and even bought Zensah leg sleeves from Second Wind, J.Vargas Ave. This morning I went to see our family orthopedic surgeon (haha) and confirmed that it was shin splints indeed, but to rule out stress fractures, I should rest for one week first. What a drag....:(

But on the bright side, I could still cross train but constrained to activities which are not stressful to the shin muscles (bike for example). I guess I can use the elliptical at the gym, or take out the bike (at night?). Anyway, the goal is to keep the endurance up until this subsides. Good luck. Doctor says, in the future, don't run so much hills (guilty) and stretch more before and after a work out (guilty). Happy resting!

Brewing an injury

My left shin has been experiencing minor pain the last four runs. The last run, it wouldn't go away until i've ran 3k at an easy pace (7:30), wherein previously it goes away after 15 mins of the same pace (1.5 to 2k). I'm getting worried because this week and next week i'm supposed to peak on the mileage but had to restrain some 10kms and speed drills because i don't want to run Condura with an injury. (As advised by every running book or site, the right way to treat this is to completely stop running.)

Anyway, the game plan is, next week i'll have to restrain on mileage too but a must-do is a 2.5 hours long run to be confident on race day. What a drag...But that's subject to the results of my doctor's check up. Could it be shin splints or stress fractures? Abangan...

Taping techniques:

KT technique: click here

Point of pain technique:

Its been a while...

Since the last time i posted I ran 216k and rode 61k, including Botak Paa-bilisan (15k) and SCSM (10k).

I bought a bike too, so i can pursue my triathlon dreams and redeem the effing slow sprint time. I named it/her barbie girl, because its bar tape is barbie pink, plus the pedals are keo elles, girly girly.

Bought some gear along the way like fuel belt, 2xu elite compression tights, a pair of sporty shades (which matches my helmet) and newton lady isaac (to replace the nb which just retired)...you see, i motivate myself by buying stuff. So far, they work...especially the newton shoes.

I keep track of my training using dailymile.com now, which is why i seldom write here, and also because I am in the process of writing a legal research paper...too much writing might be bad for me.

And lastly, I've been increasing weekly mileage since xmas vacation. Training for what? My first 21k in Condura. Target time, secret. Haha. But i'm not expecting a good time, nutrition and sleep deprived, and was set back one week due to an asthma attack a week ago. The legs are becoming stronger but I'm not so sure if i can maintain a good pace for more than 2 hours. Also, I'm constraining myself to one race per month because by racing it means I should miss a sunday bar review session. That's the boring life of a bar candidate.

Well, that's all for now. Until Condura. :)

P.S. This entry is boring because I'm too lazy to frill it up.

My favorite pair just retired... :(

NB 1025. After 300k, this great find has to rest now. The shoe is not available here in Manila....so this is sad. They were very dependable during most of my training runs and some races. Significantly saved my knees (used it while I was heeling from hamstring tendonitis).

The heel part was abused and reduced 'til half of the "N" (in "Ndurance", under "ABZORB"). Kudos to New Balance for a great shoe.

I'm thinking of replacing it with another NB (1063 perhaps?) or try the lunarglide from nike. Or, a highend shoe (newton trainer or asics) but in any case, December ang next buying time since i still have an adidas and an asics here, although the former is a race shoe (not for long distance training) and the latter tinitipid ko (ie, races only). Haha!.

I can't believe 6 months lang life span sa akin ng running shoes...ang gastosss.