Edsa Run

 

To be honest, I was disappointed about the singlet/souvenir shirt for this event, given that I paid P400+ for the 5K. It was a flimsy, yellow cotton shirt. Didn't even use it since I doubted it could absorb sweat. Yeah, the run was a fundraiser to build classrooms, so I understand they had to skimp on some expenses, but I joined similar fun runs with fees raging from only P150-P200, and we were provided decent singlets. It would've been nice to be provided wearable "souvenir" shirts because the design wasn't bad at all, and it was wasted on poor material.

They'd better build lots of good classrooms, or I'm gonna be real angry.

In any case, I think I've been doing the right thing with my new training program. Been concentrating on doing lots of intervals instead of tempo runs, and I slashed about two minutes from my leg time. I didn't go all out as I was testing my stamina, given that the route around Temple Drive had a lot of uphill slopes. By the last kilometer, I could still go faster. My time was about 28 mins, and I ended up in 8th place (women's category, of course). I might have done better if I wasn't held up by the wall of runners at the starting line. Should've lined up earlier so I wasn't stuck at the back.

In my next 5K race (still choosing one), I'm hoping I can make 26 mins, which is a bit closer to my time when I was in college.

Running, Racing

Last year, I got it into my head to get back into running. Not that I left it behind somewhere along the way; it was just that I'd treated it more as a recreational activity than an avenue for competition. It's been years since my last big competition, and I was still with the team then. I've always done mid-distance sprints, but last year I thought "why don't a try a full 42K marathon?"

After graduating, I had loads of time for myself. When I wasn't writing, I didn't know what to do with the extra time I had, so I thought, what the heck? Why don't I try? I had a running buddy who was very much into the longer distances anyway, so I was pretty confident that I could do it (till I found out there are really what they call 'endurance monsters' out there).

I started by making a running program for myself. I was like a crazy chef, taking Googled ingredients from here and there. Got hold of the basics first: Intervals, Tempo runs, Easy runs, and of course, the dreaded Long run.

While I was working my way up to doing 3-hour long runs (that was around 4 months into my 5-month long program), I burned out. I was like, "I'm not made for long distance running." I don't know how my running buddy did Camsur in 5 hours, because I felt that it would be impossible for me to even finish that full 42K stretch. Because I didn't have the confidence to join the Quezon City International Marathon's 42K, I settled for half that distance, the 21K. Sadly, I trained for that event, only to be let down by my work, which kept me hanging about in Pasay until 2am for consecutive days prior to the race. I was in no condition to compete, so I just settled for the Grand Fiesta Run's 10K.

This year, I'm not sure if I'll just concentrate on the 5K and 10K distances, which are easier for me to stomach given my busy work sched and the fact that I'm still not used to long-distance running. I usually run really early in the morning. I'm putting my makeshift plan below (not that I always follow it, but at least I kinda have to stick to it since I made it). I excluded a month's worth of running since I already finished those to prepare for the Edsa Run this week.

All this is time-based since I don't have time to go to a track and measure the distances I run. I'll be crossing out/adjusting the workouts as I go along, depending on how I do, and my mood.
Got the races from takbo.ph.

Program
Week	Mon	Tues	Weds	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	Feb 21: Rest	Tempo: 10-10-5	45 min easy	4min x 5	45 min easy	Rest	5K Race: Edsa Run
2	Feb 28: Rest ran 35 mins	Tempo: 15-10-10 Rest	55 min. general aerobic run	5min x 5	45 min easy	Rest	Long Run: 1 hr 45 min
3	Mar 7: Rest XT	45 min 35 min. easy	Tempo: 15-15-10 became 10-10-10, reduced rest to 3 mins per set instead of 5mins	3min hills x 7	45 min easy	Rest	Long Run: 2 hrs
4	Mar 14: Rest	Tempo: 15-15-15	45 min easy	6min x 4	30 min easy	"5K Race? Try Athena Run: March 19, 2011, Sat SM MOA Grounds (Register at Planet Sports, Trinoma)"	45 min easy
5	Feb 28: Rest	Tempo: 15-10-10	45 min easy	5min x 5	45 min easy	Rest	Long Run: 2 hrs 10 min
6	Mar 21: Rest	2min x 12	45 min easy	40 min. Fartlek	1 hr. easy	Rest	Tempo: 20-15-15
7	Mar 28: Rest	5 (hard)-5 (slower tempo)-10 (normal tempo)-5(slower)-5(hard)	30 min easy	4min x 5	30 min easy	Rest	"10K Race: April 3, AACE'S The G.O.O.D Run Bonifacio Global City (Register at Planet Sports, Trinoma)"

Odd Nightmare

Dreams can be really baffling. Sometimes, they show you normal aspects of everyday life, like say, work. You feel as if you've gone through a day at the office, only to wake up and find that the day is just beginning. You have to go through the whole 9-to-6 drill all over again.

Sometimes they're plain nonsense. Once, I dreamed I could fly if I shook this branch of a mango tree in my hands.

Last night, I had a nightmare. When I told my mom and friends about it, it seemed funny. But in the dream realm, it was awfully unpleasant. I was doing my groceries. I was filling up the basket with stuff. I didn't even seem to care what I was tossing in. A bunch of nameless, plastic-wrapped things. When I was about to pay at the counter, I found that the grocery basket was no longer in my hands. I scurried off, somehow knowing where to go. Met some friends (dunno why they were in my dream, but it seemed we all happened to be in the same store). They told me to go to the meat section to get my basket. Found it. Lost it again. Chased the guy who snatched it from me. Found it. Lost it again.

The cycle went on like this. It felt like hours. Until my mom woke me up. I'd forgotten to turn on the alarm. I posted this awful dream in my FB stat. One of my friends, Leslie, pointed out that the dream might be symbolic of something I'm searching for in my life, a something that keeps getting wrested from my hands.

And so...I've decided to look up a possible interpretation of my dream, because yes, I feel as if I don't know what I want these days. I told myself I'd like to simplify my life from now on, avoid the perfectionism that's been driving me to depression for so long. And yet, the simplicity that I seem to have achieved proves to taste paltry compared to the achievements I so long for.

Shopping Cart

To see or use a shopping cart in your dream, indicates that you are reaping the rewards and benefits of your hard work. Alternatively, to push a shopping cart in your dream, suggests that you need to search out more options for some aspect of your life. Remember that you have choices and you do not need to settle. If the shopping cart is empty, then it suggests that you are coming up empty in some endeavor or plan.

I like the part about searching out more options. Perhaps, it's time to move on...from many things. Among people I've been holding on to, perhaps it's time to stop clinging, find my center once more. Among the things I thought I'd be doing forever, perhaps it's time to look for a new hobby. Writing fiction has been pretty tiresome these days. Perhaps it's time to find something else I'm good at, for now.