Condura 21K: “De-training”

With the Bataan Ultra just a few weeks away, I’ve decided to start my tapering program for the run. I had to start de-training myself. De-training is my process of unlearning how I would usually run a race — trying to complete a race in the shortest possible time. For Bataan, where the goal is to finish 102 km, speed is not the priority. To do that, I have to discipline myself to rein in the speed demon in me. And the Condura Skyway Run was where I started to de-train myself.

Goals for the Run:

1. Running at aerobic pace (60-70% of my maximum heart rate – 6-6:30min/km pace) the whole length of the route;
2. Not feeling the need to catch up and overtake target runners; and
3. Not attacking the hills! – a really, really big sacrifice for me -

So did I attain my goals? Not completely… I was able to maintain running at my designated pace for the most part, but at certain points, I noted myself speeding up a bit. And the reason for that is though I was able to do goals 2 and 3 to a certain degree, the urge to go against them sometimes overcame me. But in the end, I think that I was able to rein in myself well enough that at the end of the 21 km, I still felt I had more in my tanks… and this I know would serve me well in Bataan.

- a lot of people were wearing this cool Ninoy shirt during the run -

- DATC… ran with him for the 1st half of the run -

- speed demons Jonel and Mark -

- The World Centre, Buendia — where my derma’s clinic is -

- Henry and Bards -

- with PassionRunner near the finish line (pic c/o MarkParc0) -