2014 - The year of the bike

2014 - a good year for fitness.  Yes, I have struggled a bit in my target running mileage for the year but this wasn't a complete loss as I added road-cycling in the mix!  Yes, I have been bitten by multi-sport and for a year now, I'm loving it!

Just to cap off the year with the races I have joined.  So far quite a few and slow compared to 2013:

RACE	Chip-time / Distance	GPS-time / Distance
Yakult (Mar)	1:35:31 / 16k	1:34:52 16.02k
Petron (June)	58:38 / 10k	No time
RUPM ( June)	1:00:58 / 10k	1:01.04 / 10.37k
38th Milo (July)	2:09:31 / 21k	2:09:38 / 21.62k
RSC F&F (Aug)	1:22 / 10k	No time
NB (Nov)	2:36:11 / 25k	2:36:12 / 25.77k
Domination (Nov)	1:59:40 / 21k	1:59:43 / 21.35k
Takbo Mo (April)		57:02 / 10.42k
Alaska Cycles (May)		1:24:29 / 40.83k
RUPM2 (June)		2:09:44 / 21.27k
RSC F&F (July)		1:09:06 / 10.04k
NB (Nov)	2:42:20 / 25k	2:42 / 25k

Key points:

• Managed to run a measly 779km this year, but a good 1,693km bike ride for 2014

• Managed to run a 2:42 pace on a 25k race without formal training (instead some weekday 5k and weekend bike rides)

• Couldn't sustain run-bike training early this year with the injuries, so I had to slow down on running (and also since biking is a more enjoyable!)

• Sinus Bradycardia - I have a big heart! (and slow heart rate) - I reckon i got this from being active (didn't get to have this medically-checked though)

• Lesser run-race as I find them expensive and difficult to enter (expensive in the sense that I'm still paying off my bike and there's a lot of upgrade plans!)
• First fun-ride under Alaska Cycles Philippines

New Gears:

• Road Bike - Yes!  A Raleigh Revenio 2.0 road bike.  Got this last February and improved its fit and look as much as I could.  It fits me well now.

original bike when I bought it

Current state of the bike

• That's it!  (the bike maintenance and upgrades are too much already) I'm in need of new running shoes as my Saucony is already past its due.

Moving forward:

I have managed to quit smoking.  Actually I don’t smoke at home, and the long holiday vacation somehow got it started without any effort  I just continued it to work (as of writing there’s been 2 weeks in, and still doing it, or not-doing it)

One trigger point was the New Year’s trail ride that I did with the office mates, we got lost at one point and had to climb back up with our bikes.  It was hard but I managed it.  My cardio was good - and I thought that if I stopped smoking I would improve more.

Third try at Antipolo - 70km

So far I have targeted a 1,000km mileage for this year.  I think its manageable.  To-date, I have been consistent with the work-week 5k’s and weekend 10k’s.  I will try to do at least 1 long runs per month, just to maintain fitness.  And I would want to be prepared for when I get a sponsored kit! :)

I will also increase my saddle time and mileage along with it.  I was able to reach the 70km mileage last weekend at Antipolo.  I’m getting there. 

Duathlon?  I’m not sure - race entries are expensive!

What’s for sure is that I will continue being active.  I will try to do “quality” runs while increasing efficiency on the bike.  Nutrition is important and I think the elimination of smoking in the equation will help in the long run.  Blogging - yes, blogging.  I will try to do more of this!

2014 pics below...

 

New Balance 2015 - the birthday run

Fail to plan then you plan to fail - almost always what I live by.  Not quite with running though.  I enjoyed biking so much that I let go of my long runs.  (Un)Fortunately my favorite brand, Devant, gave me a second opportunity to run the New Balance Power Run 2014 25k distance. 

 

I didn’t have any plans of joining any races so I am off to maintenance runs.  A couple of 5k morning runs on weekdays and a weekend bike ride was all I had coming in to this race.

So I decided to push through with my 2^nd-birthday race this year (even with total disregard on my fitness level) – in consideration of starting something long-term for running.

Race prep

The week prior to this race I had my longest bike ride at 60km.  Felt like a long run as I was #laspag (wasted) on that ride.  I had one morning 5k run that led to taper.

Last year’s chip time was 2:36 – this coming off a 6-week average mileage of 30 km.

This year’s time was 2:42 – this coming of a measly 10k average running mileage (with a lot of weekend bike rides instead of the long runs!).  I wanted to do a 6:30/km pace to be safe.

Race

Gun start was at 4am.  I was at BGC at around 3:30am, picked up my race kit at the timing booth and went in line along with the 5,000 runners!

Started out slow at around 7-minute pace.  Its okay, there are quite a lot of us and hard to dodge runners.  It started to clear at around kilometer-3.

It was a smooth run and alternated water stations.  Took gel at km-9, and km-14.  Banana break on km-19 and a lot of hydration stops after km-22.  I felt tired from km-21 onwards.  Had to walk a bit longer on water stops and declines, but I conquered inclines!

Post-race

Stretched a lot!  There was none of the soreness and blisters that I felt from the previous races that I ran.  I ate another banana and took a lot of liquid and went home.  Didn’t stay for the raffle or for anything, I just went there for the run.

So what did the extra 6 minutes cost?  It was the enjoyable weekend bike rides, lesser body aches, a lot of sleep and more quality family time. J  If you look at it this way, it doesn’t seem bad at all.

What’s next?

I have some new developments with my bike – new cockpit color scheme, optimized shifters and a newly packed wheelset from Betok (no real upgrade though).   

While for running, I have the worn-out Saucony Virrata shoe that already has 925km of mileage over a year of ownership (isn't it unfair?!)

 

I did manage to run a 10k over the weekend which left me with the chest cold and made me miss my weekend bike ride.  But the bike was given its due time with a few, small visual improvements.

So I guess that’s it – more bike rides and a few runs to get it going.  For now I’ll build up the bike mileage with a few long rides and sceneries – up next would be the Antipolo visit and hopefully a Tagaytay ride if I can. J  Cheers to that!

The “road” much traveled

After skipping a lot of (blogging and) workout due to bad weather, time-off to recover and gain a bit more weight, tooth extraction, I came back to my Sunday ride and weekday run strong. Strong and fulfilled!  So it looks like I’m back to beating myself up again.

But if there’s one thing that gave me the boost in coming back on the road is that I enjoyed doing it again.  No time-chasing, no heavy-breathing, just pure run-bike pleasure!

I felt good with my bike that I’m rethinking of selling it.  It seems that I do not have to spend for a new bike anymore just so I could get the fire back.  And not spending is very much welcome (at least for now, hahaha!)  Well, eventually a part’s gonna give, and spending for a “better” replacement part IS inevitable.  Okay, so that would be the wheelset, then the groupset – maybe spend a little like 27k for it, hmm, it’s like buying a new bike!

No need to over-analyze it.  Whatever comes first would be fine. Although aside from the new saddle and jersey I just bought last week and the new drop-bar I got this week, it looks as if I’m taking the road to upgrade.  I’m not sure if it’s called “upgrade” as what I’m buying are those relatively cheap and is aimed at getting a better fit (probably lowering the weight a bit as well as stock parts are heavier compared to after-market).

Will I be this kid on my birthday?

So I it’s the “upgraditis” that got me - pretty much the same road where every enthusiast takes.  The last purchases I made seem to give me a buyer’s remorse.  So I’m thinking that there will be an end to this “upgraditis” really soon.  My official mechanic and friend is trying to move out my bike though, so it might be a good idea to keep my bike the way it is for the moment.  Though my birthday is coming near and there “may” be a little surprise on the way but let’s see. 

A bit too much of the things we love...

Since my MSO crashed and there’s a 15-minute "checking for problem" pop-up that I had to wait out (that is now on its 40-minute mark – hooray for Win XP!), I decided to maximize my waiting time to write about my running (or lack thereof) and biking.  Timely as well as blogging has taken the back seat of the bus right now.  Getting it back to the backseat of the car would have to take a lot of time.

The last blog I made was last July 30, and it is a late post of the Fit and Fun Buddy Run. So its either I write late, or don’t write at all.  Which seem to translate to my running now – either I run my morning 5k lazily or I don’t run at all.  But that don’t mean that I do not like running anymore, its just that I seem to be always too tired to do more.

My physical shape has significantly dropped from doing the run-bike routine.  I have been doing an average of 20km runs and 35km bike rides per week for 9 weeks and it really burns a lot.  Recovery didn’t seem to be as fast as when I was only doing running.  Rest was there but I think it’s the nutrition and strength training that I need to look in to.

Now I’m further cutting down on mileage and eating a lot to put on some weight back.  I would like to completely stop for two weeks to reset, but running has become a habit so I squeeze in a few, light morning runs.  I still wake up at 5am but I just sleep it off.  But I do have my running gear in place for times that I feel like it.  So it’s good to know that I still have the urge to run.

Right now this is where I am.  My multi-sport plans would have to be put on hold until I get back on track.  I don’t have a timeline for this but for now I’m taking it easy and listening (and looking) at my body.  I do hope that I can be back in a month’s time.  Otherwise would have to accept that I am not capable to train for multi-sport, rather just do it for the love of it, or just stick to one discipline.  I do not want the latter.  I’ll work on it.

The Robinsons Supermarket Fit-and-Fun Wellness Buddy Run 2014

Having attended 3^rd straight year now, I can say that the Fit and Fun race is truly one of my highly-anticipated race events. 

Pros

• Very affordable (subsidized) race kit
• Distance is just right so no need for intense training preps
• Gun-start time is just right
• Loot bag is great!

Cons

• Requires a running buddy
• Staging area is too small to accommodate the crowd

with my running buddy, Sir Leo

I was lucky enough to win a slot in the raffle for a subsidized race fee.  From the original 1,500/pair rate for 10k distance, I only paid 250/pair!

The Fit and Fun Buddy Run has a 5k and 10k distance.  Those are very casual-runner friendly distances.  This year’s route is a bit harder than the previous as it involved Kalayaan flyover.  Not all runners get to train for hills.  But the experience should make them aim better at it.

I arrived, just-in-time for the event, and the parking lot I know was 3 blocks away!  The Fit And Fun Run starts at an unusual location in BGC, unlike most of the other runs in that area.  Anyway, that meant no pre-run stretches, but the 3 blocks became my warm-up.  I didn’t find my running buddy when I got there, and I got to stand up for about a minute after starting just so I he can see me.  Fortunately, he did - Mr. Leo, my 2014 running buddy!

On the first two kilometers, we were doing fine, dodging the crowd just to get a good space.  It was up to the Kalayaan flyover that my buddy slowed down to pace himself.  He was not used to hills.  We made it fine and after a water break, we were back to running.

On the way back up the bridge, we slowed down, and even walked a little.  It was a steep climb and I can imagine how hard it is for him to run it.  From there, we went to a jogging pace.  We were still overtaking other runners even at the pace.

We finished at 1:09 (less the wait I did at the startup) – still a good time considering my buddy wasn’t used to running hills.  Official time was 1:12.

A lotta loot!

At the finish line, we were excited for the loot bag.  It was solid and had a good weight on them.  This was the highlight of the run for most runners (as I heard from one of my running buddies).  Loot was filled with usable and premium goodies (beats any of the “Rio” runs for a whole year!)

To end this, it was a pretty good and enjoyable run with friends.  Even with the low-mileage, no-pressure maintenance runs that I do lately, its enough to finish the Fit-and-Fun run.  So I guess I’ll run again, next year. :)