So the rain finally went away. Sigh. Would it be a good day today? Those thoughts crossed my head as I woke up at 3 am, anxiously anticipating the upcoming events of the day. I haven't run a 10k in awhile, and I would be trying to beat my PR for the distance. What was on today's race menu? The highly-anticipated Mizuno Infinity Run, touted by some to be even bigger than the industry benchmark Condura Run. Did it live up to the hype? Let us see for ourselves as the events of the day unfold.
Emeperador - 1, Tito Caloy - 0
The day started with a text message from running buddy/part-time uncle/full-time tomador Tito Caloy. In essence, he had gone drinking and obviously couldn't join the race. Oh great. That's 300 bucks lost off the bat. If he ever pays me, I'll treat you guys for taho. Promise! (don't keep your hopes up). So I ventured off to BHS alone, the silence of the sleepy metropolis an unwilling replacement to Tito Caloy's incessant pre-dawn chatter. I got there relatively early for the 10k check-in, rambling thoughts passing through my head as my anxiety level was rising by the minute.
Oh man I'm alone. No one's here yet. Hey is that.... okay maybe not. Hmm they said it would be bigger than Condura? Maybe? Tito Caloy exchanged me for alcohol. I'm sleepy. Why do people wake up this early anyway? He'll never pay me. Wow they moved classes to the 22nd. I don't like this swine flu thing at all. Are people in this world really evil? Can I break my PR? I'm hungry and...
The requisite hi/ hello/good luck from Takbo.ph regulars Edu and Rodel jarred me back into consciousness. By this time, the rest of the Takbo.ph gang began to file in. Nearly all of them were running the 15k. Looks like I would be waging another solitary battle here. As the 15k gun went off, the 30 minute countdown towards the 10k start seemed like an eternity. By virtue of me being really early, I was somehow stationed right in the front of the corral, a circumstantial, undeserved spot to say the least. Ansty and nervous at the same time, I attempted to strike some sort of coherent conversation with the runner next to me. Here' s the honest-to-goodness accurate transript of our conversation :
Me: "Sir, buti tumigil ung ulan no?"
Runner X : "Nga eh."
Me: "Um, ano sir ung target ninyo ngayon?"
Runner X: " Mga 40, ok na."
Me: "Um, aaaah good luck sir!"
Running on Empty
While that went well, the gun went off. I was in 70's mode for the entire week, so the leadoff song on my iPod was Sumayaw Sumunod. While disco was blaring in my ears, I assessed how I would be approaching this. If the prevailing goal was to break 50 minutes, I would have to work around the 4:30 zone. With a mere 20 km worth of mileage this week, that ain't happening. I started out at 4:29, hitting 5:03 at the 3k mark. I was feeling gassed. Lack of mileage right there. I should buy a treadmill. Or be a member at these fancy gyms so I could use one.
Anyway, at the Kalayaan Flyover I ran into Boggs, one of our students from UA&P and a speedy T2 regular. I asked hm what his target was, the response was sub-50. Can I pace with you? The answer was in the affirmative. 2km later he was about 400m from me already. I was zapped. Not happening. Not today. Nice kid though. You'd like him too.
The Alchemy of Blood, Guts, and Condura Memories
Past the turnaround point and going back up the Kalayaan Flyover, the route quickly evoked memories of the Condura Run. My first major race ever. I remember walking up the steep gradient of the killer flyover. I remembered wanting to quit. I remembered just plain quitting, the heat overpowering my psyche. This is so stupid. Maybe I can just go back to playing poker. At least I'll earn some cash. It's sooooo hot. My feet are killing me. Ayoko na. But if I quit now, I'll never live it down.
So I soldiered on. I remembered digging deep within myself just to finish.The pain in my legs was excruciating . I was running on empty. I could hardly breathe. As I was fast fading at that very same flyover last Sunday, those powerful memories were flashing through my head at warp speed. Was I biting off more than I could chew? Am I way over my head in doing this? Does competitiveness have its limits? Is it a sin to strive to be the best at each and every thing you do?
Fight or Flight
My legs were on fire, the lungs all but out of it. I wanted to give up. But as I descended the Kalayaan Flyover while struggling my way into a 5:50 split, I realized that I only had about 3-4 km to go. Only 3-4 km of pain and sacrifice to go. I thought, just survive a couple more minutes of total exhaustion and you'll feel terrific about exorcising your demons for the rest of the week. I think that right there is the microcosm of "push" - when your body has absolutely nothing more to give and you unabashedly ask it to give more than it ever had.
I ran that last 2km stretch, that very same area where I had walked not too long ago, like my life depended on it. I take pride in putting a premium on passion in my everyday travails, in leaving your heart out there on the playing field. It's fight or flight, and I chose to fight. Before I knew it, I could see the chute. Powerful Takbo.ph big man Mond passed me over the final 400m, I could give no more. But even as my body gave out its last hurrah, the clock glanced 51:30. Oh my. I had did it. Getting to the end of the chute, my 305 stopped at 51:38. I pumped my fist and was overjoyed at a blood and guts victory over the most daunting opponent of all.
The Aftermath
Truly, the whole team was blessed that day. Nearly everyone I talked with set a new PR. Among others, head honcho Jinoe took a new 15k PR, and Bong Z. hit his sub 55 target. I'm so happy because everyone is rapidly improving across the board. As with most of the runners, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a finisher's singlet instead of the advertised shirt. And it fits!
In addition, Mizuno saved the biggest surprise for last, announcing that the race was actually a time trial in preparation for next year's event dubbed 1.10.10. The winners would be contingent on how much one had improved from this year's time. Truly, another coup from Mizuno, one that we would all be eagerly awaiting. Afterwards, the group went straight to Mcdonald's Net One for some much needed refueling, the place slowly becoming our favorite post-race BHS breakfast jaunt.
A sea of White, Black, Yellow, Blue.... and Orange?
Ellen and Doc Roy with Migz lurking
Natz, Doc Lyndon and Rico
Matinee idol/speedster Bong with Pepsi and Ms. Morrison
The "Hard Core" Takbo.ph team
Me with Second Wind proprietor/ultramarathoner Hector
Running Couple Neil and Rach at Mcdo Net One
Chillin' out after a messy Mcdo Breakfast
So there. When all things were said and done, numerous PR's fell, sunny skies and even sunnier smiles abound. Despite the anxiety and sacrifice, despite the blood and guts spilled on the road and the overpowering urge to quit when you were beaten down to the ground......
It turned out to be a good day after all.
Tito Caloy Quote of The Day :
" Di ako makakasama sayo, ako'y niyaya, napilitan, napainom, napasubo"
- On choosing Emperador over Mizuno
Congrats on your new PR. Train more, run fit, it's bound to be broken. See you again.
LUISSSSSSSSSSS......
Don't worry about your mileage too much the week before the race. It's supposed to be low so you could rest your muscles, but the intensity (speed) should be the same. They call it "tapering". So I think you should learn that what you did is right/correct, and may have helped you with your PR. I'm just worried you may overtrain yourself a week before an important race when you try to attack your 10K PR again.
You have a good description of the pain you've endured during your climb of the Kalayaan flyover. I'm also scared of that hill, always had bad experience when I run it. I find it more difficult than Skyway. They should demolish it so we could have faster PR's. :-)
P.S. Congrats nga pala bro... konti nalang sub50 na...
hey luis, congrats bro! i also dread the kalayaan flyover. i agree, it should be demolished hehehe
funny naman si tito caloy =)
jetpaiso.blogspot.com
woww... great run!
I envy you guys... you can maintain your body and are always up for every running events.
I've been wanting to join Takbo.ph since October last year, but I haven't met any member yet, hehehe!
Add my blog to your blogroll please, thanks :)
Luis, congratulations on the PR. A sub-50 is right around the corner. Great post with the photos as always.
Definitely, I'm going to have to meet Tito when I return to the Philippines.
Keep on running my friend! Take care and say hello to the takbo.ph group for me!
Congrats! I liked reading about your thoughts during the race. I realized I had those same thoughts when I was doing the Earth Run 16k (but forgot to put it in my blog lang), 'yung, "Why am I even doing this?"
Puwede din bang i-add, "Ang hirap hirap nito eh, bakit ako nagbabayad para mapahirapan.. dapat ako ang bayaran!" Hahaha, joke lang!
Seriously, after the Mizuno race, and reading up on how people are able to pace themselves, I now officially want my own GF. As in.. Up till now my paces during races are just guesswork, I base them on how my body feels and how I push it. :)
Idol Vener, thank you! It was nice to see you last Sunday along with your family. Yes, more training! :) See you at the races!
Natz, I believe you're right in the sense that the lack of mileage served inadvertently served as a taper week for my PR attempt. Yes, and I agree that they should take it down haha. Although you don't seem to have too many problems with it judging by your time hehe :)
Congrats on your 10K PR! How about an inuman session with Tito Caloy sometime? Wash down the Emperador with Red Horse. Wahehehe
Next item on my list is Makiling Challenge 8 10K.
My goal...zero walkbreaks. :)
Hehe hi Jet! Yeah, it's really a tough climb, specially when you're running at race pace, it sorta sets you off tangent and sudddenly the mind games begin. Congrats on your run man!
Ekxodus, we're a long way off haha that's why we keep on running. Hey just approach us during the races, the group is easy to spot! Try to visit our boards and get to meet the gang online as well. :)
There, I added you already :) Nice blog by the way, it's always nice to see more bloggers around, it's a testament to how much our sport is growing here in the country. It fuels the fire my friend. Good luck and hopefully see you at the races :)
Thank you Wayne! I need to get over that hump! What do you suggest? More tempo runs? :) Take it easy man! :)
Hey, we should grab a drink with Tito Caloy when you come over here :)
Haha nice Ria. :) Great to have met you last Sunday, did you bring along your husband? For a strong "newbie" runner such as yourself, I highly suggest you get a Garmin so that you could monitor your pace and distance. It's our must-have :) Thanks for dropping by, and see you at the races soon!
Mond, strong run man! Lupet! You were at least 25-30 seconds ahead of me. Sub 50 na yan! :)
Inuman na with Tito Caloy in the works hehe. :)
tagay pa!!! *hik* =)
Luis, tempo runs are okay. Sometimes, a fartlek run where you take a small part of your run (maybe 400-600-800 meters) and pick up the pace a little. Then bring the pace back down to what you ran originally. Living here in SF, I'll normally run a couple of hills instead of a fartlek. It helps with the knee lifting and the arm movement. You might want to discuss it with Pojie. The thing that's important here is that you're enjoying the running and the races.
I'm not a great believer of someone running (intervals) on the track when a runner is in their first year. What they call base training (getting in the mileage) is important.
San Miguel is my favorite!
" Di ako makakasama sayo, ako'y niyaya, napilitan, napainom, napasubo"- wenner talaga itong si tito caloy!
have you introduced him to our resident tanggero/LCLP host/master bongZ? for sure, they will be good friends hahaha
nice PR too! as always, a good read my friend. no more training wheels, full speed ahead!
see yah!
Woot, woot, another PR from Gingerbreadman.
Keep running and blogging.
The quip from Tito Caloy is a nice, comedic touch by the way.
Rod, hehe ayos man tagay na to! We can talk business over it hahaha :)
Thanks for the tips Wayne! I am fortunate to live in an area where there are several hill routes to choose from, so maybe I'll concentrate on that :)
I likey San Miguel too ahaha :)
Tito Caloy likes anything :)
Hehe glad you liked it Tim :) All the way na to! Training wheels off! Congratulations on your aid-free run buddy :)
Thanks Boss Rix! :) Glad you like the Tito Caloy segment, I'm not sure if he'll like it as much as you do ehehehehee :)
Congrats Luis! galing-galing!! :)
Wazak si tito caloy!! hehehe