Rizal Day 32K Run: maximizing potentials

yesterday, dec. 30, rizal day, was my last run/race for 2009.

it also was my first run more than 26K. ideally it was supposedly a 32K run, but to most of the garmin users, the distance was only 30K. i don't mind.

From Bald Runner's top ten, here are my reasons why i chose to run this race:

5. Bald Runner is the Race Organizer & Race Director. He is not fond of “distractions” or “frills” in road races, he wants everybody to simply run and have fun!

• where else can you see a race with elite runners handing out free beer as early as 5AM (even before the race started), and after the race, you'd be welcomed by ICE COLD beer? :) add to that ice cream also :)
• given that BR is a well-respected running authority among runners, we know that he wouldn't let the runners down. no major corporate sponsors, just runners organizing another run for the runners. just like the tagline of Team Hardcore, "No Frills, All Thrills." - nuff said?

this was what was waiting for you at the finish line.

with the almost summer heat during the run, who wouldn't want an ice-cold beverage? :)

3. Running inside Camp Aguinaldo for almost 5X will test the mental toughness of runners.

• one of the things i dissuade from is running in circles (figurative and literal), but despite the race having to go around 4 times, the time that one would take up would make them "forget" that they are going round and round :) the repetitiveness of the route would also help me in my training for condura, as it would enable me to be tough mentally. kasi nga boring umikot eh, with the 42K, i think it would be a long and boring run, lalo na towards the latter part of the race, kasi pagod na and init pa, so this is a good training ground also.

2. The 32K distance is a perfect LSD run for Cebu Marathon, Condura Marathon & 2010 BDM 102. There is no cut-off time for this run!

• when i saw that this race did not have a cut-off time, i was more determined to run this race. why? because as part of my condura training, this would provide the needed distance and at the same time eliminate the pressure of having cut off. this meant training run talaga, no pressures. (pero deep inside, i was targeting to finish a conservative 4hour 32K finish).
  

1. Burn those calories accumulated for attending Christmas Parties and a reason to eat & drink some more on New Year’s Eve!!!

• same reason why we had the Pre-Noche Buena Run, and another one on New Year's Day Run. to burn off those extra calories gained during the holidays, and at the same time, being running addicts that we are, we just want to have fun (before, during and most specially after running).

Pero seriously, the Rizal Day Run was really a test for myself.

it was a test if i can finally do a full mary. i initially intended to run this race first before i register for the condura full marathon. as was previously mentioned by Sir Jovie's top ten reasons, the 32k run would be a good gauge on how well i need to improve on (running strategy, technique, hydration plan, etc) and at the same time, give my body an glimpse of what to expect.

the race was able to achieve my goals, to have a long run, and at the same time, to test my body's capabilities with running a longer distance.

"TIM" galloway (earl, docmarvs, me, carina, tracy)
photo courtesy of brando losaria

using the Galloway method with Carina, Tracy, Doc Marvs & Earl, we were able to finish our run injury-free and with enough energy after (to go the boodle fight, yehey!). initially, our "target time" was a conservative 4hour run for the 32k, but we were able to finish it at an average time of 3:34-3:36 (as the group dissolved after a certain point of the race).

this race was also a test for my shoes.

given that this race would be my longest so far, i intended to "break in" my shoes again for distances longer than 15-21K. after using my kayano 13 during the phil star celebrity run and the UP pre-noche buena run, this would be another opportunity for the shoe to prove itself, na it's a good buy, and that it can very well carry me until the end of the run.

there were some points where the weight of the shoes were "bothering" me as i can hear myself dragging my feet, pero ok naman sha. there was some time also where the forefoot gel of the right shoe felt harder than the left forefoot gel, but i didn't mind it. it wasn't really that of a factor why i had to slow down so i just brushed it off :)

realizations from the race:

1. never underestimate yourself

there were times before when i thought that i can't run that long. i thought that i may stop in the middle of the race/run and just quit, but i had to prove to myself otherwise. in this race, i just did that. for most of the run, i was doing well, i was ahead of my pace group (itago na lang natin sa pangalang TIM Galloway, hahaha) but on the 4th round, i felt a bit tired. i felt that i might not be able to finish the run with the group (as there were 2 other members of the pack that were left behind) so i had to slow down a bit. pero towards the end part, i was able to pick up my pace, and eventually come close to the head of our group's pacers (carina & doc marvs) to finish with a decent time.

ayan kasi, nag loloko, kaya na ubusan sa dulo!
go team galloway!

2. to each his own/ listen to your body

there have been small "talks/debates" within takbo.ph members regarding methods used in running. for the hardcore runners, they insist that one shouldn't stop running; others say that its better to be a positive splitter (faster start, slower finish), others naman say that it's best to conserve your energy from the start to have a stronger finish (negative split). during this race, i used the run-walk method. initially i wasn't very fond of this style as i thought that it would hamper my start (i was always IDEALLY trying to be a negative splitter), pero given the "shocking" review from the non-galloway followers, (na tipong pag andyan na ang galloway runners eh natthreaten sila kasi may walk nang kasama ung takbo, eh nakakahabol pa rin i.e. Jinoe during the rizal day run kahapon), i was made to believe that for long distances such as 21K above, this is the way to go.

yesterday's race/ long run proved to be the best opportunity to test this method. for most of the race i was doing well with this method. as mentioned earlier, i was most of the time at the head of my pace group, but towards the latter stages, i felt my left ITB starting to act up, so i had to slow down a bit. after a while, the discomfort went away, and i proceeded with my run. after a few minutes of continuous running, i now started to feel the discomfort on my right ITB. wow, an impending double whammy, double ITBS? this i would not allow to happen so i decided to finally slow down a bit (not to mention take a bladder break). this break would then be the start of my longest walk break during the race, as i started to feel slight discomfort also on my right forefoot, and i was preventing my left AND right ITB from acting up again. I don't want to sabotage my Condura Full Mary dreams during this training run. i then told pepsi (who i asked to pace me at the last round) that i needed to have a long walk break, and then after that continuous slow run-jog na til the end. in fairness my strategy worked naman, as i was able to mount a "strong finish" upon reaching the gates of camp aguinaldo's stage area. i was able to sprint siguro the last 500m ba yun? or shorter, basta hindi ako gapang pagdating sa finish line.

and ang catch, eh i felt good afterwards. not much body aches, sore feet, or what. i even felt i can still add mileage that day, tipong i can still run a few more KMs. in my mind, i have proven that the galloway system works for me. i'm not that tired after the run, and i can still muster enough strength to sprint the last few meters. also, my time from those who ran continuously was not that far behind. :D

after the race, while conversing with other takbo.ph peeps, i mentioned that it was my first time to see my tights with sweat marks. they said that i was already dehydrated. hmmm, must be one of the reasons why i had to slow down? my body's own way of saying i had to slow down or else i might suffer from dehydration, and be left in the middle of the race? haha :)

other pictures to follow as most, if not all, the takbo photographers have not yet uploaded their pics :)

abby jocson & the kenkoyrunner
oist abby ang bilis niyo ni luis ha ;)
takbo.ph gang captured by Sir Jovie's camera

more pics to follow as soon as the takbo.ph cameras have been uploaded :)


part 2: takbo.ph's boodle fight at El Kapitana's office :) COMING SOON!

thanks to Luis (the gingerbreadman) and Sir Jovie (bald runner) for the images placed here from their blogs/ facebook accounts.