1st back-to-back [run] part 2: busko challenge

It was a day of a lot of firsts.  It was my first time to run a 42-k relay. It was my first time to travel to Tarlac just to run.  It was also my first time to run back-to-back two days straight.

After the bull session in Nuvali, Chris, Edward and I headed back to Chris' house in Cavite to rest and to prepare for travel to Tarlac. It was a very long drive but thank god for highways, we got to Hacienda Luisita just a little after 4PM.  Honorable Lyle, the director of the race, met us there to bring us to our hotel.  He billeted us at L Square Hotel, a posh new place along the highway. I have to say, Hon Lyle really knows how to take care of his guests. He took care of dinner and the accommodations, and even paid for the run's registration fee. Wow! Another free run! (Salamat Lyle!).  After dinner, he showed us the race route: where the forks in the roads would be, the turns, dark scary-looking places. After the tour, we went back to the hotel to rest.

The gun start for the 42k relay was at 4AM.  We got to the starting line by the municipal hall a few minutes before the start of the race. Only a few people joined the 42k relay.  There were about 10 people at the starting corral including myself.  I couldn't help but to feel out-of-place.  All of them looked like serious veteran runners. It was clear to me and my relay team that we were just there for the experience and the training. I'm used to running with big crowds. It makes me feel invisible; me and my pace unnoticed. I guess most newbie runners like me are insecure about their pace. This time it was different. I was visible. That was another first.

gopher with the other serious veteran runners

(photo credit: Busko Challenge FB)

It was still dark when we started running. I told my team, I'll probably finish by 2 hours. They went back to the van to get some more rest. Meanwhile, I was running in the dark. During the first part of the race, I had a motorcycle escort. I overheard them talking that I needed one because I don't have reflectorized gear and might get hit by the few vehicles passing by.  My motorcycle escort left me after I crossed the bridge over Tarlac river. The road was more lit by that time.  I was pressured by the presence of the escort, instead of my usual 2:1 run-walk pace, I did a 5:1. Haha.  By the time the escort left, I changed back to 2:1.

It was a good thing, Hon. Lyle already showed us the route.  It made the unfamiliar road less intimidating as I watched out for the landmarks that were pointed out to us the night before.  It was also fortunate that I brought my hand-held flashlight.  There were areas that were still dark. Midway to the 7km turn, it started to rain. By that time, I could no longer see the other runners.  It was scary and lonely running alone in the dark, in the rain and in an unfamiliar place.  There were dark areas with clumps of high grass and big trees along the side of the road. I found myself chanting tabi-tabi po as I went past them.  Not sure what I more scared of, coming across supernatural beings or NPA's that were rumored to be occasionally roaming the area. Anyway, I ran on.  I needed to go back in two hours for the team.  When I reached the turn, I noticed that there were runners behind me.  Initially, I thought, "Wow! I'm not the slowest".  Only when they ran past me did I realized that they were probably the 2nd runners of the other teams.  Oh well.

 42k-relay teammates

The sun had already risen when I reached the finish line. I finished 14k in 2 hours and 12 minutes. That's an average of 9 mins and 4 sec per kilometer, a minor improvement still worth celebrating ! Yey! Edward was our second runner and he was off the second I crossed the finish line.  Since it took me 2 hours to finish my part of the relay, Edward was already running with the 3rd runners of the other groups.  The cut-off time was 4 hours for the relay. Thirty minutes or so after Edward started, Hon. Lyle told Chris to already start running. He allowed this since we were not aiming to win anyway.  Edward finished his 14k after 1 hour and 40 mins. By the time Chris came back, the organizers were already finished awarding the winners and were already packing up. Again, it was clear to us that we joined the race just for the experience and what an experience it was!  Running on tired legs; running in the the dark while raining in an unfamiliar place; I was not sure how I was able to finish the race. Haha.  But I did. It was a test of physical endurance and mental will. This is a run I will not likely to forget. Fun run number ten!

After checking out of the hotel, Hon. Lyle, ever the gracious host, brought as to Monasteryo de Tarlac for sight seeing. A perfect way to end a tiring, challenging but fun weekend. Thanks again Honorable Lyle and congratulations! Hope to run in your event again if there will be one next year :)

  

ever gracious host, Hon. Lyle, touring us at the Monasteryo de Tarlac

1st back-to-back [run] part 1: bull session at nuvali

As part of the bull university training for the TBR Dream Marathon on February, the TBR team organized several long slow runs for the TBR dreamers called Bull Sessions. The runs were progressive in nature in terms of time and distance, and well-spaced in between the start of the training and marathon itself.  I have missed the first two bull sessions but I was able to join the third one in BGC. Running with the TBR community is  a wonderful experience.  I got to talk to the other dreamers and got inspired by their stories. I also learned a lot for the pacers and the coaches.  That particular bull session was also special because it was converted to One Run: walk/run for the victims of typhoon yolanda (Teachincally, my 7th fun run!). Donations in cash and kind were collected during the event. We got to train and help people at the same time. That is why I promised myself that I would not miss the December bull session set in Nuvali, the actual course of the marathon.

during the 3rd Bull Session at BGC

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

 running with the 1:1 pace group

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

Early this year, Royson, Edward and I were invited by Honorable Lyle to participate in a 42k relay in Tarlac he was organizing.  Hon. Lyle is a friend from college and a veteran runner.  He was actually one of the people who encouraged us to join TBR and run our first marathon.  We said yes to Hon. Lyle to join the 42k relay without consulting our schedule. It turns out, the 42k relay in Tarlac was the day after the Bull Session in Nuvali. Yikes! We couldn't choose which run to prioritize so we decided to run both. Crazy idea! Later on I read in a running blog that running on tired leg is part of a marathoner's training. Running two days back-to-back was not a crazy idea after all.  We realized that this would give us the opportunity to feel what it's like running the latter part of the marathon when all your muscles are already tires and aching.

The Busko Challenge organized by Hon. Lyle and his HS batch

(photo credit: Busko Challenge FB)

Near the race day, Royson begged off because he had to fly to Bacolod for a speaking engagement.  He was replaced by Chris, a fellow TBR dreamer, for the 42k relay.  Chris lives in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Since we would be using their van to transport us to Nuvali and later on to Tarlac, we decided to stay over their house in Cavite the night before the Nuvali run. We left their house at 3AM and arrived at Nuvali a little after 4AM.

4th Bull Session Announcement

(photo credit: The Bull Runner)

By 4:30 Coach Lit assembled the group for briefing and then we were off. During the last bull session I was part of the 1:1 run-walk group.  This time I joined the big 2:1 group.  Quickly, I found myself at the trail end of the group. I couldn't keep up with the rest. No matter, it was still an improvement and by the first hour I got into my groove.

Nuvali is such a challenging route.  I had difficulty with the all the uphill runs and uphill/downhill turns.  But the place was so peaceful and quiet.  It was also well lit. I had no use for the hand-held flashlight that I bought. It's good that I go to experience Nuvali now.  I know what to expect come race day.

By the second hour, I was completely separated from the 2:1 pack.  All I can see were the other 2:1 runners that, like me, were part of the group's trail end.  I also lost all sense of direction. I was confident that by after 120 minutes we were running towards the starting area.  Only when I got to the uphill loop at the end of the route did I realize that I we were running away from the starting area and still had to run back. Haha. Twice, I had to stop to stretch my left gastrocs. It was threatening to cramp on me. Fortunately, I got back to assembly area without incident after 3 hours.  The group were already doing cool-down stretches.  Edward and Chris were already there waiting for me.

According to the other dreamers we talked to, we ran a total of 16 km.  Frankly, I thought we already hit the 20 km mark. All those uphill runs must have messed my judgement. Haha. We went back to Chris' house to rest for a while before traveling to Tarlac for the other run.  Not-so-crazy idea. Haha.

The last bull session will happen in January. That will be the last time we get to practice in Nuvali before the marathon.  Next time I'll be more ready. :)

pace 2:1 doing a group wave for the camera

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

gopher near the start of the wave line

(photo credit: Photo-Ops)

getting back on track

Classic ningas kugon! After two blog entries, there was complete silence.

Due to an extremely busy schedule with work and graduate studies, my weekly jogs and occasional fun run participation, just like my blogging have taken a back seat.

I'm now back to my original weight (booo!) and I have lost some of the cardiovascular endurance I have gain (boooo again!).

But I'm now trying to get back on track. Here are a few things that I have been doing to gain what I have lost:

• Two months ago, I've enrolled in a gym. I do the weights and all but my primary reason for joining is to use the cardio equipment.  In the gym, I can still run even if the weather is bad.

• I've registered in next year's Bull Runner Dream Marathon.  Yup! By February next year I will be running in a marathon! 42 kilometers Whew! So far, I've been (trying to be) faithful with the Bull University's training program and I have joined 1 bull session, that's a long slow run with the other TBR dreamers, and I plan to join the future sessions to get ready for the big day.

• I have a December full of weekend runs! Last week I joined the Nike We Run 10k fun run.  Today, I just got home from the St. Luke's Run for Wellness 10k fun run. Next Saturday, I'll be joining another Bull Session. We will be running for 2 and half hours in Nuvali. This will be followed by a 42-k relay in Tarlac for the Busko Challenge. I am to run the first 14 km.  I hope my legs don't fail me.

Although, I'm still not back to my previous weekly routine, at least I am not completely stagnant.  I hope to end this year and start next year right.  I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

Expect more run stories soon!