And the running goes on...

Because it's been raining the past few days, I decided to go running in Moro Lorenzo instead. They have an indoor 200-meter track oval which is perfect for rainy days like today.

I was able to go a total of 7 rounds, in half an hour. Intermittently. But still, that's 7 rounds, or more than a kilometer. I would have wanted to go for a full hour but my past experience, where my legs almost buckled from the pain, told me not to. Yes it pays to be prudent! My legs shall repay me for this kindness on my next running session.

Still, the fact that I am not progressing as well as I would like is not lost on me.

Let's see... 5 rounds in a 200 meter oval is equal to one kilometer. So in order for me to cover 5km, which is the distance I'm gunning for, I would have to run.... 25 times around the oval.

25?!

Pfft.

No problem....

I started running first week of April. Since I started running, there's only been one full week where I didn't run, because my legs hurt so much. I think I've come a long way since I started, considering I hated running before. Now I can run around the Bellarmine field and I can run 600 meters non stop.

I swear one day I would like back on these posts and I will laugh.

Running progress

I am happy to report that I can now run around the whole Bellarmine field in Ateneo non stop.
It's exhilarating, especially for a newbie like me who can't even run for longer than a minute before.
So I think my next goal is to run around Bellarmine field TWICE non stop. Then after that, THRICE non stop then so on and so forth.

I like that I can run longer, that I breathe better, that I no longer have side stitches and most of all, I like that my legs don't hurt as hell anymore.

Thank God.

Day 3: Lost keys!

Day 3 was an off-day.

I ran for a minute, walked for three, ran for another minute, walked for three, then ran half a minute, then walked for five. So on and so forth. My legs still hurt from the other day. Tsk tsk.

The worst part was, I lost my car keys! Engots. I put my keys in the pockets of my shorts and when I went to feel if they were still there.... NO KEYS. My first thought was, where could I have lost it?! Second thought was, I don't have a choice but to call home and ask for back up keys.if I don't find it. Then my third and most annoying thought was, my phone's inside the car. Oh Lord!

I retraced my steps and didn't find the damn thing. I just dropped by my old office in Ateneo, Pathways to Higher Education where I was able to call the guards to check on my car and where I was able to call home to ask for back up keys.

Hassle hassle hassle. Thank God for Ate Mae and Solvie, God Bless them.

I was able to do a few more sprints before heading home. Although I must say, the 3rd day of my running program was blech.

Now, the big question is, what should I do about keys?

I could hang them onto my neck on an ID tag but it would bump bump bump into my chest as I run which I wouldn't want. Or a bracelet, but I wanna keep my hands free as much as possible.

So that leaves.....

Nike arm wallet

Great for your phone or MP3 player, energy gel, or keys. Secure neoproene velcro pocket and adjustable elasticated strap for fit and comfort.

... Or I could just scrap the whole thing off and pin my keys on my shorts. Piso lang for a safety pin.

Day 2

I got myself a running program. Hopefully in two months I can run 3 miles or 5k already. Goooood luck.

I now have the profoundest respect for Katie Holmes, who finished the New York Marathon. My gaaaad. Kala ko kasi naisip lang nya one day na, "Hey I think I'll go join the New York Marathon!" Haha apparently, you just don't wake up one day and think "feel ko mag marathon today. Go na!" I don't know why I even thought of that. I thought it would be like, I'll join it and I'll finish it at my own leisurely pace. Whether that's in 45 minutes, or in 45 hours, ganun din yon. Haha.

Go Katie! Anyway kung ako din naman na alam kong nag hihintay sa kin si Tom Cruise sa dulo eh mapapatakbo din ako.

Speaking of the program, I stuck to it as best as I could. Yehey!!! I feel like I definitely had a better session than the other day, na 30 seconds palang eh hingal na hingal na ko. This time I was able to go one minute! Oh my gad. Napaka pathetic!!! Pero so what. I'll get there.

Here's my from couch-to-5k-in-two-months running program

Day 1

March 31, 2008

I broke in my new rubber shoes today! Yahoo! Went jogging around Ateneo. May I just say, I was so excited I think I overextended myself. I swear, at one point I felt like puking my guts out. Masusuka na ko now na! So I'm like, ah hell, I'll just enjoy the friggin scenery that was the Ateneo campus.

So yun, I jogged/walked for an hour. Hayluvet. I always said late afternoons are my favorite part of the day. Ang saya saya. I caught the final rays of the sun. I shall jog again but this time I'll make sure I actually run more than I walk. Har har.

The proper breathing made all the difference. I disliked jogging, as my friends all know. I hated the bobbing up and down and the subsequent pain at the side. Apparently, I was breathing the wrong way. Malay ko ba there was a right way to breathe. How hard is it to inhale exhale? But no, there's a correct form of breathing so you don't hurt yourself. A friend told me that a good way to breathe is to exhale as your left foot hits the ground, after about three to four steps, if it's just an easy-paced run. I shall try the breathing through the mouth, with the whole diaphragm, instead of the in-through-the nose, out-through-the- mouth thing next time.

I can't believe I was actually planning to join the Mizuno Infinity Run. Nyahaha feelingera. What the hell was I thinking?! Wala pa ko one round around the Bellarmine field at nasusuka na ko. Good luck naman. My stamina and endurance levels are down to a big fat ZERO. I swear, what a weakling. Ugh! There are other races though, so yey!! I can train for that. Kahit last place, basta kumpleto. In the meantime, I shall focus my energies on my trip to Boracay. I have two weeks to lose this extra stomach that has annoyingly begun to protrude. Oh Lord. Fight na talaga to.