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.