From 0 to 5- hopefully not back to zilch again!

MPG reunion run @ Hataw Pilipinas Run

After 3 months of zilch running, crazy work hours and tight weekends, I got back on the road again to do a 5km run with MPG pals. This was the Hataw Pilipinas Run at the UP Acad Oval a couple of weeks back.

It felt good to be breathing race air again! Didn't take too long to relive some distant memory of bubbly pre-race chit-chats, and drooling at the longer distance race bibs. On that last bit, I could actually hear my old running self shouting, "Huwaat?! I'm doing 5km?? Should be in the 10km category at least!" *gulp*gulp*

race = practice
And here we go again. The usual no-running-homework-made-before-the-race story. Well, this was just5km anyway. Promised myself to run at an easy pace. Plus, it's UP. No surprise uphill challenge or anything.

After the first 2 kms, I could already feel the additional 10lbs I've put on weighing down on me... plus the heavy calves and all.

That brought me to my normal gameplan: whatever you lack from inadequate practice, you make up for with sheer will (no pun intended on Mr Sheer Will!). JUST DO IT! Sabi nga ng Nike. Kaso nag-switch nako sa Mizuno. Ano nga ulit ang tag line ng Mizuno? May tag line nga ba sila? At bakit sabi ni Julius of Runnr, mas bagay daw ang Wave Creation 10 sa "heavyweights"? Does my pair not work for me?

My thoughts have obviously drifted now like they always do whenever I run. Not really a fan of towing in music when running to keep my head preoccupied. With my body wanting to stop already, apart from thinking about my shoes, I tried to focus on the trees, runners to outrun (hehehe), and counting the not-so-few racers who decided to walk in the middle of the road! tsk, tsk... sana maalala nilang tumabi, noh? Did not remember how many I counted though. Must mean it's no big deal really- just trying to make an issue here! haha.

so-so run, but happy nonetheless
In the end, I did get to finish line with an unglamorous time of roughly 40 mins for the almost 5.5 km route. But hey, I was still ahead of the MPG pack :-) We were all run-less for the past months though- even Cathletic herself succumbed to busyness.

The juicy part of the race was- of course- after the race! It was a despedida run aferall for Ms. Bandana Runner who is exchanging the Manila races for Boston's :-( And now we have to keep up and save for it, too (per Ms Prezzie's order)! All the best for you, Carla! You will be missed...

with Bandana Runner

Then there was my honey's birthday breakfast blowout at Something Fishy. Too bad, couldn't maximize the bottomless breakfast as I had to rush off to my 8.30am church service.

It was a happy run despite the organizers' glitches, which I'd rather not mention. Cha and Pao, thanks much for registering us in. To the MPG barkada, what would running races be like without you guys? Awww...

mandatory jump shot of the MPG ladies

Back to reality racing. I gotta find a way out of this crazy work sched. I cannot be dragging my gym bag to work every other day only to be bringing it home with the contents untouched...

Neutral, Heel Striker

After walking and running in the rain with me, pressing in the crowd and climbing a truck just to get a glimpse of President Cory's remains as it passed by Nichols, my honey's Nike running shoes finally gave up on him.

And that is how we ended up in Runnr, a newly-opened running shop at the Fort.

Quick scan of the items: pricey!

BUT BUT, they do have seasoned-runner consultants and free(!) running gait and foot analysis. Ryan had his first and was advised to buy a yellow Nike stability shoes (I forgot the exact model).

Then it was my turn. The judgment? Neutral gait, but with too much heel strike. I used to be an underpronator so in that aspect, my Wave Creation seemed to have helped me become neutral. As for the heel strikes, I will have to consciously work on shifting to midfoot. Any suggestions on drills that could help?

One comment from the shop's ultramarathoner-consultant that really got me thinking is that my shoes are supposedly designed for heavy people. And since I am not heavy enough (at least NOT YET!), the heel support built into the shoes is not fully maximized.

Hhhmmm... should I be happy that at least I am not that heavy yet to need my pair's heel support or should I be sad that I'm not maximizing my shoes? Hmmmm....