A bit of a pain and a new pair of shoes

I felt this after last Friday’s run at the office where I ran it at 10k under an hour.  A slight pain on the inside of my left ankle; googled it and found it looks like PTT.  I’ve read a couple of threads, looked at pictures of how and why it occurs and yes, it seems I’m on that path that lead to PTT.

To identify what I’m doing that’s probably causing it:

1.  Last Wednesday when I did my 5k morning run, I felt it again.  I adjusted my form to counter it.  I do feel the difference when I change my form, so that’s one down.

2.  Another would be the pace that I’m running.  I have ran 10k races every 2 weeks intervals (third would be this Sunday for the Robinsons Supermarket Fit and Fun Buddy Run), alongside that I am now running at 10k pace on my training days and do hills and intervals whenever I run.  So its running TMTS that’s another culprit?

But I’ll be running the HM on Milo Run this July 28, so I really need to push it!

Yeah, been there when I was transitioning from 10k to the HM last year, been a disaster as I was sidelined for at least a month!  And eight months after that happened, I’m doing it again.

So while the two reasons above is my fault, another would be the SHOE – reading about PTT some comments seem to be about the footwear that “may” help correct this.  Or do I just want a new pair of running shoes?

I’m currently a New Balance Minimus Road Zero user, been in it for about 7 months now.  So far I think I’ve adjusted well to the semi (if not none) cushioned, zero drop shoe by now.  Yet I’m still having those blisters under the ball of my right foot (had this the 2^nd time now) although I haven’t really invested yet in running socks, and I guess its cheaper to buy running socks than shoes.

I guess if I’m buying a new pair of shoes, it would be when I reach the 500 mileage.  Right now I’m at 350+.  Another 2 months and I’ll be at 500.  I’m gearing at the Saucony Kinvara Series 4.

Today I foregone with my morning 5k run as I still feel the PTT and my shins acting up.  I’ll be backing up a little until it dies.  Come this July I’ll be back training for the Milo HM, so the pain have to die down.

Running on rain

Or is it (no)-Running this rainy season?  The whole work-week after my good Petron 10k run has been nothing but a sleep fest.  I haven’t done any runs the past week due to both work and rain and a little bit of sinus issues.

Last Friday, while my wife is off to a relaxing night at the spa, I got to run with my running buddy for the Robinsons Supermarket Fit and Fun Run here in the office grounds.  It was a lot of firsts for me – first to run at night, first to run at the office grounds, first to run (this year) on the rain.  Even with the whole list of firsts that should’ve made me think of doing it, I still did it!  Missing a whole week run did it for me.

At first, getting dressed for a run at a place where people dress for work was odd, so I had to wait a few minutes until most of the people that matters got out of the office.  Good thing it was a Friday, a bit of rain so people were quick to go.  So we got out of the door and the rain greeted us.  It wasn’t that heavy and kind of refreshing actually.

After a few stretching, we started to run.  First was at a 6-minute pace that continued to up to 2km.  Rain stopped by this time, and the night sky cleared (or my vision adapted).  My buddy took some time off running so he had to do the run-walk routine.  Me, having missed running for a week decided to push on to a speed session.  I kept looking at my watch to see how I’m doing, and I didn’t want to go over speeding enough that I would get a bloody knee again hurt myself, and I saw myself running to up to 4:45/km pace and I’m doing quite fine.  I slowed down and paced with my buddy whenever I see him running.

I was just targeting to run at most 8km, but due to the taper I done that week, I had the energy to do a 10k and I ended up running at 59:30.  It just rained again at that point so I had to back out.

I didn’t get sick or injured during that night run, but the next morning gave me this pain in the inner ankle.  Had it going for up to 2km so I decided to call it a day and did just 4km.  Iced it immediately and felt fine in the afternoon and in the morning.

I did another run the next morning, but this time my right shin is acting up.  I ended up doing just 6km as I didn’t want to force it - although I did intervals in this session so I guess I still forced it. :)

I guess it’s the speed that I’m doing it right now that’s harassing my body.  I don’t usually do a 10k at race pace, but I have a 21k run on July-end so I have to up my training. Too bad that it’s on rainy season that I’m doing this.  Its good that I’m focused as well, otherwise I might end up sleeping rather than running.  Anyway, I'll try to continue upping my training to be faster, just have to control it a bit to give my body a chance to catch up.  Be safe rain-runners!

Aiming to go faster & Petron Run For Safety run

(Big thanks to Shaw for the opportunity to run this race)

The Petron Run for Safety held June 16, 2013 at the Ortigas Center, Pasig was the most challenging 10k race I have ran so far.  Two (2) flyovers plus an uphill road proved to be a challenge for me.  I definitely did not have that much uphill during any of my previous practice runs or actual races. 

This is my first run outside of the usual MOA, Roxas Boulevard and BGC and based on what I know about Ortigas Center, parking and the run itself will be tight.  I didn’t get much trouble though in getting a parking slot as the only parking area I know wasn’t full yet.  And the travel time to Ortigas from my place is a very quick and easy one.

Pre-race

There were only 4 portalets available in the site, 2 for the women and 2 for the men.  So there was a queue to get your morning discharge that took me 15 minutes.

I was there 30 minutes before the 5:30am gunstart so I had time.  Although the 15 minutes I spent on queue wasn’t enough for my race kit to arrive.  So after 2 phone calls and another 5 minutes, my sponsor and I met up and gave me my race bib.  5:20, we just heard the “GO” signal and the race has commenced.  I haven’t done my pre-race stretches and my Soleus hasn’t picked up signal yet, and we had to start as the 5k wave is said to start in a few minutes.  So we ran.

The race

This was the first time that I didn’t get to use GPS to pace me.  It was as if I’m running blind.  Got to hate the Soleus on this, the whole race I was waiting for it to get a lock on a GPS signal but up to the end I didn’t get any.  I didn’t also see the race clock as I couldn’t find it.  There also were no markers in course so I’m really running blind.

First part of the race I felt the need to run fast as I saw the huge crowd way ahead of me (I started probably around 2 to 3 minutes after gun start).  Julia Vargas was downhill so I picked up an early pace.  Turning right to C5 though we had to stop and wait for the traffic to give way to us.

C5 is not conducive for running.  I can feel the heat under me as I ran, and it was not yet 6:00am!  Although the pavement is quite alright with almost no bumps or cracks.  First uphill/downhill was the Kalayaan flyover, I managed to pull this off quite fine.

Going back to where we turned right, 5k and 3k has started and immediately the Pasig flyover you can see a flock of runners.  Running up has been a series of dodges.  For the longest time I have managed to completely run a course without walking.  But 75% up the Pasig flyover, I had to walk to catch my breath.  It really was a long way up.  Going down was enjoyable, and I got to bump only one runner on my way down (we both were dodging walkers).

On the way back to the finish line from Julia Vargas, Its at the mid-point that I remembered that it was downhill in the start, so going back to the finish line was an uphill climb again.  I walked to take a breather again (with the smoke coming out of the vehicles that were stopped at the half of the road).  Upon seeing a photog, I started to run (don’t want to get caught walking, haha!)  But I went on to run to the finish line.

I really have no idea as to how long I ran that course, but I’m sure that its within an hour.  So I looked for the official clock and I saw 1:03:xx.  Not bad as I knew that I had my share of walks in between.

Post-race

Post race there were lots of booths.  I got to try one of the ice pops – brand name didn’t register.  Got my loot bags filled with flyers, mouse pad, flyers, snickers bar, flyers oh, and some more flyers!  One good thing though, the Magnolia water bottles were overflowing!  Fell in line for the photo booths (yeah, I’m collecting these) but it was sooo slow that I bailed.  The snickers bar along with the banana I brought were my post-race snack.

The official result

Since I had no GPS measurement for this race, I was really excited to see the results.  And the results were out fast!  Emi one of my runner friends shared a distance of 10.3km total distance (?).  Official chip time says its 58:38 – let me add this to the previous chart I made:

GPS time @ 10k – 58:50:10 (10k RUPM2) VS. 1:00:01 (10k NBPR)

Official race time – 58:38 (Petron) VS. 1:00:54 (10k RUPM2) VS. 1:02:41 (10k NBPR)

It was a 2-minute PR, although too bad that I didn’t have my GPS time so could validate it.  Although if the course was really 10k flat, its near the GPS time I got during the RUPM2.

Now on the 59th slot

Anyway, I’m still happy with this run as this really pushed me hard.  Also I’m happy that I got a new pic to add to my run-collage.  RUPM2 I found one, but its so blurred!

My next run would be this June 30 for the Robinsons Supermarket Fit and Fun Buddy Run.  I made it to the lottery and paid just 250 for 10k; although I’m not sure if I can do a PR here as I have to look after my buddy.  We’ll just probably enjoy the view.

My first (paid) HM – going for 21k in the Milo marathon

This morning I didn’t think, I just clicked – registered for the HM for the Milo Marathon this July 28 at the MOA.

Why am I stressing this?  For every planning I make on doing the 21k, I keep on having these considerations such as “I have a store opening on this province” or “I will be attending an event on this weekend” or “I wouldn’t have time to do a series of runs due to rainy season” and on and on.  While July 28 is the birthday of my sister – I’ll just attend to both no matter what happens.  And that’s a period.

Also, I have been seeing a lot of 21k and 32k runners that aren’t really that prepared for it.  I’m not against them nor do I condemn those finishers who walked it just to get a medal (‘nuff said, I talk too much).  But I’m sure that I already done enough that I can run a 21k at my planned pace.

Also, the race fee is very much attractive, compared to most 21k runs.

If all scheduled runs will fall as planned, I have the following at hand:

June 9 – RUPM2 – 10k (sponsored, done)

June 16 – Petron Safety Run – 10k (sponsored, but do not have the kit yet)

June 30 – RSC Fit and Fun Buddy Run – 10k (waiting for the lottery result)

July 7 – Adidas KOTR – 16.8k (waiting for sponsorship or if I can manage to pay 1,300)

July 28 – MILO – 21k (paid)

It is a busy running season this mid-year.  The RUPM2 10k run awaken my running passion, thanks to the errors I made in it.  Yesterday’s Independence Day training run I managed to run 10k:1hour.  And I felt really good in that run, even without using a gel.  (I just ate Nutella as to fill up my tank that morning).

I’m now focused on my running again – would be hydrating and training to run faster and longer.  The 10k races would be my pre-race gauge to check how I’m doing.  Hopefully I can be able to sustain this focus – go for the 2:03 21k!

Running the RUPM2

Took some time after the Yakult run last March before I could manage to run a race again, and thanks again to Devant for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I managed to run a race again, and just when it seems that my long runs have made me improve on my running, it just didn’t materialize that much.  Although – my Soleus clocked me at 1:01:04 on a 10.37k distance – this still translates to a 58:50:10k time!  So my personal best as measured by my own means is still a personal best (hey, running is also a challenge to one’s self, right?)

Official result says that I finished it at 1:00:58, still a feat from my previous New Balance Powerrun at 1:02:45 on a 10.43k distance for a translated 1:00:01 10k time.  It’s a little hard to understand this with all the words so I’ll break it down below to include official times from both runs (I’m a numbers freak):

GPS time @ 10k – 58:50:10 (10k RUPM2) VS. 1:00:01 (10k NBPR)

Official race time – 1:00:54 (10k RUPM2) VS. 1:02:41 (10k NBPR)

I’m happy with the time I got from the RUPM2 just the same.  I'm now on the 3rd page of the result page, looking forward to be on the 2nd page next time. :)

Although (here we go) I felt there were a few lapses I made that made me end up with this figure.  And like the previous post-run reports I made, I’ll list them again. 

1. Lack of race preparation –

It seems like I tapered when I did not do my usual weekly run, but I was mostly out and tired with travel to Davao with work.  I had a night of heavy drinking and a couple of late night outs.  I didn’t do much hydration as well.

2. Pre-race chat with the sponsor –

Given that we were given free race kits (kit was given to me on the day itself), I had to do a little chit-chat with them when I got there.  Didn’t get to do some planning and pre-race preps (I did my “disembarkation” of excess “load” on-site as well 15 minutes before gun time).

3. Not a good place to start –

Since I did a lot of unnecessary pre-race activities, I ended up starting near the end of the pack – almost 2 minutes difference from gun time!  And I had to dodge around early race-walkers.  First km was at 6 minutes.

4. Unplanned race –

Basically I didn’t check the map, hydration stations and all.  It seems like it was a regular 10k run to me that I didn’t really thought about it.

 

To account my times –

KM1      6'00 – Dodging the early walkers

KM2      5'48

KM3      5'52

KM4      5'53

KM5      5'50

KM6      5'42

KM7      5'53

KM8      5'55

KM9      5'55

KM10    6'05 – Found that the route was more than 10k, found myself tired

KM.300 2'11 – Blah!

And so I finished the race.

But wait, there’s more!  I had to go directly to the photo booth while there are still a few people, and I went straight to my sponsor to do another set of chit-chat that I didn’t do my post-race stretching!  It was only when I got in the car when I noticed.  Also didn’t know that I have a loot bog even if my bib is for the 500m dash (there was no stub).  So dehydrated myself.

Basically it was a running disaster.  All the running was purely out of my legs and without any effort from me, you get what I'm saying?

Good thing though, the race was a realization for me to not just train, but to prepare for race-day as well.  Imagine if I was to run my first 21k then, I would’ve been crushed with how I’d end it.  Just one of those learning the hard way situation. :)

I'm not in the pic nor do I know them; thanks Devant!