Nike+ Human Race Participants Enjoy 10% at R.O.X.

All those who participated in the Nike+ Human Race can enjoy 10% discount at R.O.X. from August 31-September 15, 2008. Just bring your race bib (or maybe your free photovendo shot) as proof that you indeed participated. 🙂

TikTakBo and some thoughts on Running Gear

I just finished my longest run ever… tik takBo 18k. We’ll, to most, it’s not that long but I found it challenging. The route was repeated almost 4 times and it kinda got really boring. Secondly, it was hot… I wish the race started earlier, like 5:30 am instead of 6am (actually, it was later since the race did not start on time). Third, I wish there were more water stations and with cold or cooler water instead of water a troom temperature.

My new dri fit running socks did their trick. My feet were kept dry and when I felt my feet getting wet, the socks snug to my feet, preventing me from forming blisters again.

I wasn’t able to get my time. Someone told me I came in around 1hour 40 minutes but I doubt its accuracy. I really need to get myself a new watch. TImex would do but I’m still wishing for a Garmin so that I can also measure my distance.

Speaking of gear, I recall this email conversation I had with other runners. At first it was hilarious, but then I now realize the wisdom behind the wise-cracks.

Passion Runner:

“Hi everyone!

I’m just curious. What running gear/equipment can I get that isn’t that expensive. I’ve heard and read about the Garmin Forerunner but it’s expensive at around $300. The Nike+ apparel where you have a sensor and a receiver that you connect to your ipod, well… works only with Nike. And if you’re a person who changes shoes every time he runs, that’s gonna be a problem. I’d want to be able to monitor my mileage and pace at the same time. Heat Rate would be a bonus, but not a necessity.

Unless there are people out there who want to sell their garmins 🙂 Hehe

ERIC”

Andrew

“ako — inuna ko yung shorts , shirt and then kung may pera na ako ng konti pa — sapatos. my next target is a pair of socks.

every now and then I get a GU .

I think my times are better now than I was in college.

drew”

Now… Andrew is a successful lawyer based in New York and I didn’t believe a word of what he said… Priority are shorts, shirt, then with a little more money, shoes, followed by socks. He’s a crazy fellow, this Andrew, but reading his email once more, it makes sense… and I think I unwittingly followed his advice. I first bought myself a pair of running shorts, the short skimpy kind… hehe! After that, I got myself some dri-fit socks. His advice, though seemingly in jest, was actually helpful. After I got my race/running shorts, it was so much easier for me to run at a faster pace. With my new dri-fit socks, I got to run a lot faster too without worrying about blisters.

But I think I now have to invest on a Garmin. I need a way to measure my pace and maintain it. I also need to measure my distances. Garmin… just wait for me, I’m coming to get you! hehe!

Subic Run

The last time I was in Subic, I participated in the 1st Subic International Marathon. It was a memorable event for me since it was what triggered my running addiction. I ran 10k with an official time of 01:15:26. It was my first 10k and after that, I got hooked.

This weekend, I was there for a planning seminar and I couldn’t stand the idea of not being able to run. As I got into SBMA, I was already thinking of where I would run. Would I use the same route as the Subic International Marathon or make a new one altogether? I also had flashbacks of our experiences last time I was there, like miscalculating the distance and going full speed from Petron, only to find out that we don’t turn at Remy Field but instead take a turn 2 blocks after… miscalculating the last segment by over 1km… Haha! I was waaaaay off! Explains why I found myself slow jogging to the finish line.

As we headed up to the Biniktikan cottages and Subic homes, I measured the distance. From the “guard house” where the golf course starts, I measured 4.5km until reaching Brent International School. So doing a turn around, that would be 9km. Good enough for my Sunday run.

We got to Subic Saturday morning at around 10am, looked for accommodations and went shopping. I finally got myself a pair of Nike running shorts! I got them for only P732 when they normally cost at least P1,295. We had our planning the entire day and ending up at 2am of Sunday. I felt it was going to be difficult to be able to wake up… true enough I woke up 7 hours later at 9am. Nevertheless, I decided to run still.

That Sunday morning, from Grand Seasons Hotel and Casino (where we ended up staying) I took a walk to Petron to have breakfast. I think it was a good 2.5 kms. It was already 10am by that time I did my warm-up jog from Petron to the Golf Course, I think that was another good 2km. Then ran up to Brent International School. That was 4.5km. By the time we got to the 5km mark, it was already high noon.

I found out that there was no public transportation inside Subic. Either that or I just didn’t chance on any. With about 9-10km back to the Hotel, there was no way I’d run all the way back under the heat of a the high noon sun… I walked my way back. (Should’ve woke up at 5am and ran at 6am… hehe)

All in all, the run was good, but it could’ve been definitely better.

Thinking about Running Men’s Health

Men’s Health is holding an All Terrain bike and trail run this coming June at Timberland Heights. [See schedules page]. It seems interesting and I feel like I want to try it out. It’s either that or run Bald Runner’s AFP Half-Marathon. No way I’m going back to 5k runs… sayang sa pera at palagi na ako bitin. (Naks naman! haha! 😛 ) .

I have some friends who went trail running a couple of weeks ago at the La Mesa Eco Park. I wasn’t able to join them since I had joined a race on the same date, I just forget which one…

Anyway, I’ve been asking around whether I should get trail shoes since I hear normal running or road running shoes will make you slip and fall on your behind… or flat on your face if you’re on your way down.

Then someone emailed me a link to this site that talks about screwing shoes. At first I thought he was being sarcastic with the subject line –> “SCREW SHOES PARA TIPID.” I thought that he was telling me to forgo shoes and go barefoot to make things cheap… when apparently, he meant literally screwing shoes, yes… screw, as in tornillo. Take a look