According to Jeff Galloway…

… after a run/marathon, you should be:

1. standing upright;
2. smiling; and
3. wanting to do it again…

- at around km 41, 2011 Condura Skyway Marathon -

*photo courtesy of Vener Roldan*

Pineapples and Knee Pain

Can eating pineapples help decrease knee pain? It seems that it does.

I read in an article in the January 2011 issue of Reader’s Digest Asia that pineapples contain bromelain, which is an enzyme that “causes the body to produce substances that fights pain, swelling and inflammation… (and that they) may be a possible alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen).”

So after a run, eat some pineapples! I think it’s a great post-workout snack. Aside from bromelain, it also contains vitamin C (helps in muscle repair), electrolytes (such as calcium and potassium), sugars (replenishes glycogen stores), and fiber (aids in digestion). You just have to eat the core of the pineapple though, as most of the bromelain is contained there and not in the flesh.

Condura Skyway Run 2011 Results

The partial, unofficial results are out! Check out the Condura Run website by clicking here.

Oh, beep or no beep… I’m on the list!

Condura Skyway Marathon

I finished the Condura Skyway Marathon this morning with an unofficial time of 5 hours 14 minutes. It’s almost the same finishing time I had in the QC International Marathon last Dec 5.

Anyhow, I’m not sure if my actual time would be registered this morning. I didn’t always hear a bleeping sound everytime I passed a mat. Even my running partner (Ilo) noticed the absence of the bleep. I think I followed the instructions on how to apply the D-tag properly. Anyway, even if I’m not on the list, I know what I’ve accomplished and for me, that’s all that matters.

My Old Shoes

My shoes are old.

I’ve had them for over a year. I’ve ran in them for countless kilometers. They used to be white but they now have a permanent gray color. They don’t provide much cushioning anymore. When I use them, my feet and legs hurt. That’s why a few weeks ago… I was set to replace them and get new ones. But before I went shopping, I decided to use them for a farewell run. It was to be my last run using my old shoes.

While out running, I was continuously thinking I’m not enjoying my run because I hated my shoes… and it would be a great relief that I was finally going to replace them. After a few minutes, I heard footsteps behind me. It was another runner running at a faster pace than I was. As he passed me… I saw his face for a split second. He looked happy. He even seemed to have a bounce in his step.

Unlike me, he was clearly having fun with his run. As he sped away, it was then that I saw his shoes… they were tattered! They definitely looked older than mine and I was honestly surprised the soles of his shoes didn’t break off evey time he took a step. (I’m not even sure those were running shoes he was wearing.)

We were both running and yet our level of happiness were so different. Here I was hating my run because I thought my shoes were old and yet here was another runner who was enjoying his… inspite of his shoes being in a worse shape than mine!

Its now been a few weeks and I’m still using my old shoes. (And I’ll keep on using them until they completely breakdown!) They still lack cushioning, but in a way, I think they’ve made my legs stronger. Even when I run with my old shoes, my feet and legs don’t hurt anymore. And when they do, it was because I either ran for a longer time, or a farther distance, or a faster pace.

That runner made realize I had forgotten the true essence of why I run… that it is never about the shoes… but it’s all about the joy I get from running.