Want to race faster?

Lose your job.

Lose your job…

It’s true. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, during the current recession, more americans are submitting running faster times during races. This year alone, the article reports that 4.6% of all marathoners have ran times that would qualify them for the 2010 Boston Marathon, which is an amazing 39% more than in 2008!

Less work = more training = faster runs.

The inverse has been true for me. Now that I’m busy with work, I’m training less… hence I’m running slower. I guess you just can’t have everything… Lose your job…

It’s true. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, during the current recession, more americans are submitting running faster times during races. This year alone, the article reports that 4.6% of all marathoners have ran times that would qualify them for the 2010 Boston Marathon, which is an amazing 39% more than in 2008!

Less work = more training = faster runs.

The inverse has been true for me. Now that I’m busy with work, I’m training less… hence I’m running slower. I guess you just can’t have everything…

Exhausted

I am exhausted.

I ran portions of the Milo Marathon Manila leg this morning. I ran about 30 km, which is the farthest I’ve run in almost 3 months.

I haven’t been this tired since bataan… and it just feels great!

Back to Basics

Ran yesterday without my garmin… actually, I didn’t even bring a watch. It felt a little bit disconcerting at the start not knowing how fast or how far or how long I’ve already been running. I just ran it by feel. If I felt I was breathing too hard, I’d slow down. If it felt too easy, I’d pick up the pace. If I felt I can go further, I took another step.

In the end, running without the distraction of trying to maintain a certain pace or trying to reach a certain distance was quite liberating.

It was just me, the road, and my surroundings… just as how it was in the beginning.

Its Been Awhile…

Its been awhile since I’ve really done a training run and here are some of the changes I’ve noticed…

… I get winded running 5 km…

… I can’t maintain a 6min/km pace over 3 km without eventually walking…

… I’ve lost my singlet tan lines.

Yep, my torso is now an even colored kayumanggi color…

I guess this just means I have to go attack the roads again so I can re-earn my stripes…  see you on the road!

No Running = No Blogging

Will be back soon…

Bataan 102 Finisher’s Pic

Got this from last night’s party. Thanks to BR and photovendo!

Postscript to the Bataan Death March UltraMarathon

After my brain could think more clearly, and after what I did completely sunk in… It made me realize how cruel man can be to their fellow men. I was able to cover the distance of the Death March with the best support, and yet I had a very, very difficult time. I couldn’t fathom how all those soldiers were made to do this in the worst conditions possible. They were battle-scarred, hungry, sick, exhausted… Still they were forced to do this. For those soldiers, quitting had meant death.

I would like to thank…

• all the brave soldiers, past and present, dead or living – who have fought, or are continually fighting, for our freedom allowing me to join a race such as the Bataan 102;
• to BaldRunner – for sharing to us his dream; and
• to Jonel Mendoza – who if not for his company and support team, I would never had a chance to survive and finish.

Mabuhay Kayo!