21K

2 Earth Runs In 2 Weekends Sharing My Best PR

It’s not coincidence because it happened exactly 1 week apart. But what’s common between this 2 consecutive weekend earth runs is that, I completed both of it at a record of exactly 1 hour, 50 minutes and 22 seconds (chip time). I’m talking about the Solar Earth Run last April 15 and the NatGeo Earth Run last April 22, 2012. That’s amazing.

I got my personal (10K) best during the Solar Earth Run and after a week, I wanted to break it during the NatGeo Earth Run. I started strong. I refused to look at my watch because I don’t wanna be distracted. I was confident on my pacing. I felt faster than the week before. Maybe a hundred meters from the finish line, I saw the clock and it was already 1:51… I was surprise. I still have the strength and if I only new it on the last 2Km, I should have pushed for it more. Too late for me to catch up with remaining distance. I was a bit disappointed but my goal is always to finish a race strong. I’m happy with it.

When the result was published, my chip time clocked exactly the same. That made me happier. I may not have beaten my PR that moment but I was able to achieve a rare experience I think one in a million runner could luckily achieve.

Earth Run 2012 — A PR Validated by Rest

I think rest made this possible. I beat my PR for 21K at the recently concluded Earth Run 2012 held on April 15 at BGC. I finished at 1:50:22 (chip time). That’s 7 minutes faster than my previous record at the Condura Skyway Marathon last February.

I felt my feet were tired during Holy Week, but I still ran a steep 10K all-uphill/downhill road in Tagaytay and played some street soccer as well. The following week, I decided to reduce my workout. On the dawn of Thursday, April 12 — 3 days before the race — I experienced a cramp during my sleep. It was weird because I had never experienced cramps before. That was the first time, and it happened while I was sleeping. The next day I felt some sore muscles on that area of my left calf, so I decided to cancel my short morning runs up until race day.

I was late to start because I went to the restroom three times before the gun start. It’s not wise to drink 500ml of water straight an hour before the race. That made me start without even having a warm-up. I just paused several times in the first kilometer to do some quick stretches. But in spite of it all, I felt strong and my legs felt fresh — the Buendia flyover felt just like a flat road, back and forth.

I know the importance of rest during training, but this experience is a strong and quick validation of it. This week, I just ran 30 minutes on Tuesday. On the dawn of Thursday, I felt a little cramp in that same muscle again. I don’t know what’s causing it. I played 2 hours of indoor soccer that night, and that’s it for the week. I’m ready for another run — this time for NatGeo this Sunday — and I hope to finish strong again, below 1:50, to set another 21K record.

2 Earth Runs In 2 Weekends

Earth Run – April 15, 2012

I’m glad I was able to have the chance to join the Earth Run happening this Sunday, April 15. I forgot about the registration and when I realized, it was already late and the registration was already close. I posted my phone number at pinoyfitness.com and luckily got a text message yesterday from one runner who would not be able to attend so he was selling his race kit. So I got in even though my name is not really on the official list.

I’m looking forward to adding this medal on my collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(images courtesy of pinoyfitness.com)

I’m sure this will be a good race. The registration is very affordable. Only Php 350.00 for both 16 and 21K.  The benefits will go to the Greenpeace Organization.

NatGeo Earth Day Run 2012: This Is Who We Are – April 22, 2012

Last year I also joined in this event. That was only my 2nd fun run. I joined the 10K category then. This year I registered at 21K. This is the first time I registered online for a running event and I’m expecting my race kit to arrive after 5 working days.