Making up for running isn't as hard as it is for something else

The previous post I made was a rant of the lack of focus in running as work gets in its way.  For the past work week I thought that I would never get back on track – this with the opening of our branch at Pulilan; it was a Friday – scheduled for a morning 5k run to prep for a Saturday long run, but instead, had to wake up 5am to be at the office by 7am to travel.

Basically it was a day full of tiresome standing/walking and road trips as we visited 2 stores in the north – Marquee Mall and S&R Pampanga.  I enjoyed it as well as I got to visit the two stores.  But what excited me more was seeing R.O.X. shop at Marquee Mall.  Unfortunately I didn’t get to go inside it as I had no time.  So I just waved goodbye at it as we passed by (also saw R.O.X. when we went to CDO this Monday, but again didn’t get to go inside).  Would’ve gotten myself a visor had I gone inside.

 Dubia colony - kinda cute

Anyway, yes that day was a tiring day that I never thought of running in the morning.  But I got this text message late in the day that I could get the feeders of my spiders in Monumento area at 7:00am the next day.  Since I really needed those feeders, I decided to run and get it at the same time.

As it is with “all” spider/feeders hobbyist that I happen to come across with, they’re late!  By 7am I was already at the meeting place after having ran 7km.  I managed to run at least 3km more while waiting for him to arrive.  Anyway after having met him, 30 minutes after the agreed time and knowing that he forgot to bring my order (but he gave me another set that’s of bigger value for my inconvenience, thank you) I finally got to run back home for an additional 3.5km.  It was around 8am this time so the sun was waaaay up high.

It was amazing to see that I have managed to run 13.5km that day.  Although the run-walk-rest in between while waiting for the delivery boy could’ve been a factor why I got to run that long without the heaviness.

Since it bothers me that much thinking that I have “cheated” my way to 13.5km that day, I decided to run the next day again.  I decided to just run a 5k that day, just to be sure that I maximize mileage without injuring me.  But on the 3.5km mark, it felt easy – so I just ran until I got to my starting point, and it was 8km.

Around 55 miles for April

So there it was, running a good 13.5k plus 8k on a weekend that I thought would be nothing more of a R&R weekend, and I felt my calf and quads stiff.  I applied cold compress on those stiff muscles (while I got to sleep 3 times yesterday).  They’re not that sore when I woke up this morning – which is a very welcome thing!

Overall, I reached the 90km mileage for April, a little down from the 106km last March (where there was a long weekend plus a 10-miler race I joined).  Not bad at all, coming from a week where I thought would be a disaster for my target mileage.  I might add another 5k tomorrow for my morning run.  Making up for running isn’t as hard as making up for other things - Its quite enjoyable actually. 

When it hits you - too tired to run

Looks like its going to be a very conservative mileage this month of April.  This week I've been finding it hard to get up in the morning to do a run.  For the past 3 days I felt tired, not just physically but mentally.  Work has been hitting me a lot lately with all the deadlines and all.  I have been getting the headaches and migraines for the past 3 days now.

Yesterday was supposed to be an easy morning run, right after a speed session the day before that.  This morning was no different either as it really was soooo hard to get up in bed.  I really feel that there's something wrong with my body.  Its unusual for me to give-in this easy. 

Not running was a result of me listening to my body and its a good thing.  But there's a feeling of guilt again that this will affect my training.  Last month I clocked a pretty good mileage.  At the rate I'm going now, I'll be back to my mileage 2 months ago!

I'm adjusting today with my intakes, and will get enough rest tonight (meaning no more candy crush and bookworm!) to feel good enough to run in the morning (and the day after that) #mindset

New running goal

Yesterday I was able to watch the Barefoot & Thompson World Triathlon in Auckland in Solar Sports.  I wasn’t planning on watching it, I just happen to come across to it while flipping the channels.

I was amazed watching it.  Although it was a redundant sequence of biking, changing places, running, changing places, being able to understand a bit of the pain in keeping up with that pace amazed me.  I don’t know any of them, and it was in reading the report online that I came to know those very famous names and ranks (no worries as I think I won’t be following any of them so it’s no concern to know them more)

It’s the first time for me to see elites run, their form and style.  Watching them run for 10km after the bike, from the start of it where they are changing places, to the stretch where you can see who outlasts them all.  The winner Javier Gomez didn’t start the run in first place but ended up leading the pack as the race went on.  It was amazing how he gave a high-five to one of his team mates and the crowd as he approached the finish line.  He did have the luxury of doing it as the next runner was way out of sight.

While I won’t be doing any triathlon attempt (I don’t know how to swim); duathlon may be possible (but I don’t have a bike); its more of an attempt to get improve my running form.  I saw in slo-mo how he swayed his arms while running the pace.  I’m no expert on running form, but I really did like how synced his form was.

If I am to research about him and know how and when he started, I’m pretty sure that its really passion and dedication to the sport that gets him there.  I’m no where near to that level, but it was enough to make me speed run this morning’s 5k run.  It was exhausting, pressured my heart beat much that tunnel-vision was close to getting me (yeah, I pulled back a little when I felt that).  Running goal is to push myself more to being fast around 5:30ish per km, while getting the 30k/week mileage.  Just hope my body can be able to cope up with the change in running technique – don’t want to get injured again, that’s for sure.

Minor running setback

Yeah, I know, its been a long time since I blogged.  It’s not enough that my blog don’t have that much readers, it doesn’t have anything new to read at all!

After a good 33k/week - slump to 15k due to work and a head cold

Case in point, the first week of April isn’t run-friendly with the two main factors:

A little something to excite me in
running in the heat

1. Work – was too much as I had to work on timelines that always seem to be adjusted due to factors uncontrollable.  Just when I thought that things are running as planned, there will always be issues that would pop-up and had to be worked on
2. Heat – it’s a very hot summer.  I would run 5:30 in the morning and yet the sun is up, humidity adds up on it.  I got the headcold after the toxic store opening - travelling in the heat lowered my immune system.

My usual Powerade spout bottle don’t cut 10k or more km so I bought the Ultimate Direction FastDraw Plus hydration bottle to improve on it.  So far it works fine during the last long run I made.  Just a little nuisance on the baby-bottle-like spout, had trouble drinking through it, but finally got the hang of it after 3 use.

There is a third issue but really must be considered before running – domestication.  My two sisters gave birth, 2 months in between them.  Baby Chael and Baby Miles, girl and boy, respectively.  Currently Baby Miles is staying with us, and with the C-section, they sleep in my room.  So I had to transfer to another bedroom upstairs where the bed is sooo not comfy for me.  I have the stiff-neck for a week already.  And for some reason, my body seem to make it hard to get up in the morning (airconditioning is better in the room upstairs).

Nursery's open for viewing from 3 to 5pm

This aside from the extra work I have to do around the house to make it more baby-friendly.  Its really a very domesticated life I’m living now, but I enjoy seeing my nieces together with my baby.  

Charlie enjoys posing with her cousins

Running seems to be at the backseat now.  Its really hard to squeeze running due to travels and work; I am too tired to wake up in the morning from it; the heat limits me from doing long runs; and the house duties keep me occupied.  These usually happen one at a time, but since its happening all together, I might need some time to adjust.  I don’t like it when I find reasons to stop running, it just isn’t right.  Although I try, like 11k this non-working Tuesday, and another 5k interval this morning.  I needed a lot of effort to do it though.

But with the domestication thing, its just fine.  I enjoy being around the babies at home.  As I said, enjoy the little things. :)

Hitting 100k and long weekend stuff

Happy Easter!

The four-day holiday was a blast, with enough time to run and take a breather from work.  Here’s a rundown of running activities and updates.

Got the 33km mark this week

Yeah!  More free days more runs!  Two work-week day runs of 5k each and a 10k & 13k on the non-working days made me find my potential to go further.  I know I can sustain this coz I’m injury-free today.  Although the 10k run was a bit of a drag due to the heavy heat and sun that morning.  If there’s one thing that would keep me from running the distance it would be the summer heat.  At 6:30 in the morning its already sunny and hot!  Although this may be a good time to heat train as I know its going to get worse. Hydration and proper gears will be improved on and checked.

Losing a gear

Lost this one :(

The Thursday run didn’t end with the drag, but left me without my Adidas cap.  I was at my usual post-run corner doing my stretching when I took off my cap to let my head breath.  I really felt hot after that run so I removed it.  While I was cooling off, I told myself not to forget my cap and I kept looking at it.  Might have had my “senior moment” so I still forgot about it as I left.  Only found out about it late in the afternoon as I was preparing my gears for washing.  Good thing that my friend gave me a Reebok running cap last Christmas day so I still have one with me.  But I felt bad for three days on losing it (the P600 I paid for it is what’s bothering me, actually)

Running the 13k after a 10k run

So even after doing a sluggish 10k two days before, I decided to do a long run on that Saturday morning.  I felt good when I woke up that morning.  So I just put on my shoe, got my water bottle and gel and went on.  Warm up was a good one and I immediately felt that this would be a good one.  Until I got to my main route - at that early, the sun is shining bright already.  And since I lost my Adidas cap the other run, I didn’t bring another one.  I pushed on anyway as I didn’t want a small detail ruin my momentum.

So I pushed on.  Getting to km7 I was still running quite well and on pace.  Took a gel and continued on.  I was on my way back to complete a 10k run when I turned to go another round.  Sun was shining high that time but still pushed on.  By km10 I felt the ground getting too hot and the sun shining brighter.  And km 11 to 13 easily became a drag.  Also I’m out of water.  As my watch gave me the 13k mark, I immediately got into cool down mode.  I really am hot!

The 100km mark for the month

The recent post I made that I’m planning to get the 85km mark for the month of March was reached.  I also said that that won’t include the 10-miler Yakult run.  This ended up in a 100km for the month, well above February’s 78km mark.  Thanks to the holidays and extra weekend this March, I got to race to this distance.  However, I missed today’s run.  I’ll just treat it as an extra recovery day to prepare for the 25km run this week.

Moving forward & enjoying the little things

After that 13k run, I wanted to continue cooling down so I played with water a little and decided to give my shoes its 1^st washing (yeah, I just use it and dump it –  icky but true)

Family went to MOA that day just to roam around and for us to enjoy the holiday.  And as I’m planning to do my heat training, I decided to go to Toby’s Arena to shop for a good hydration bottle.   They only have this small “sprint” hand-held bottle available for P495.  It was too small compared to the Powerade energy drink bottle that I’m currently using with 500mL capacity.  I’m looking at getting the handheld water bottle that has a bigger capacity.  I ended up buying 2 GUs instead. 

I ended my activities on Black Saturday, we just relaxed for Sunday to prepare us for work again.  I had a hard time telling my daughter that we'll be back to the office again as she really enjoyed the vacation with us (as I did too).  That's the reality, really can't just run and go out and have fun all the time.  But it really was a fun weekend to rememeber.  

Enjoying the little things in life and in family, I hope you'll start doing it too: