5:38 PM 09 July 2008 at The Fort
If I did not forget to bring my Ipod Nano in yesterday’s afternoon run, the title of this post could had been “Singing In The Rain”.
The thick rain clouds at The Fort area was an indication that it will rain that afternoon. However, after two days of complete rest from Sunday’s Manila Half-Marathon, I became uneasy and sluggish for not running. I felt that I was able to recover last Wednesday and I did not let the day pass by without sweating it out for a long easy run.
I started my run at 5:38PM at the corner of the IS Road and the main road going to the old Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio. After running about 500 meters, there were flashes of lightning on the horizon and the afternoon became darker because of the rain clouds. I managed to run at least 4 kilometers, back and forth, along IS Road before the shower became rain. I had to take refuge at the back of the Every Nation Building and kept on jogging in place and used the stairs to do my “up and down” stair drill. It took me almost 12-15 minutes to wait for the rain to stop. When I noticed that the rain became weaker, I resumed my run even if there was still rain. The IS Road was full of rushing water on its edge and I had to run along the elevated sidewalk.
The vehicles along the IS Road would pass on the flowing water along the road and the water would make a splash on my legs and feet which made my legs and shoes to be muddy and wet. Well, two ladies aboard a Ford Expedition stopped near me and asked direction in going to The Fort Strip.
I was wearing a New Balance runner’s kit; Nike Zoom Explosion 2 Running shoe; and black Nike runner’s cap. I was entirely wet due to the rain and my sweat when I finished 5 times running along IS Road. I took the road fronting the British School Manila all the way to the waiting shed near the gate of the Department of Energy Building and turned right going to St Luke’s Hospital (under construction). Crossed the street towards the McDonald’s at 32nd Street and turned right back to Jollibee. From Jollibee, I went towards the old MacDonald’s and turned left at One McKinley and took one round on the block across the Fort Strip.
I was surprised that a male runner in blue attire passed by on my right side with a faster pace and immediately crossed my intended path infront of me even if we were the only ones running along the sidewalk. I just smiled and looked intently on his back and observed that he was still fresh without any sweat at all. He just ran ahead of me and went straight along the road that goes to Price Smart.
After going around the block, I went towards South of Market Building and turned left towards the Bonifacio High Street Loop. At this point, I was able to run a distance of 11 kilometers already. While at the BHS, I made an extended loop which had an average distance of 2 kilometers. After running for several rounds on my “extended loop”, a runner in black jogging pants and singlet overtook me and abruptly cut infront of my running path even if there was a lot of space along the sidewalf of BHS. I just smiled and kept on my pace and it was the first and last time to see the said runner as I was maintaining my run along my “extended loop”.
I really do not understand why runners would overtake another runner and abruptly cut somebody’s path even if there is a lot of space to run.
I just maintained my slow run around the BHS loop and I was able to see a lot of runners; young and old, wife and husband, male and female, and fast and slow runners. On my last round, I met Miake Acedilla, Pam, and friends doing their running workout at the regular BHS loop. Since I recognized Miake and Pam from their pictures with me after the Rush to Mizuno Run, I was the one who started to wave my hands to them and they greeted me in return.
After the run, while I was changing my running kit to my dry clothes, I started to feel the pain caused by a big rash on my left inner thigh. I thought the pain I was feeling while running was just a small rash but I was surprised to see that the rash affected a lot of portion on my inner thigh. I forgot to apply petroleum jelly on my thighs before the run. The rash will take at least one week to dry up and heal and hope to be able to run more kilometers this week. The New Balance running shorts’ edge had the tendency to stick to my legs when wet and it caused the friction with my skin.
These were the readings from my GF 305 after the run:
Distance—23.4 kms Time—2:39:28 hrs
Average Pace—6:49 mins/km Average Speed—8.8 kms/hr
Maximum Speed—13.5 kms/hr Total Calories—1,702 cal
Average HR—139 bpm Maximum HR—152 bpm
Total Ascent—826 meters Total Descent—765 meters
Bald Runner 
Hi Bald Runner!
I discovered your blog early May 2008 and I have regularly logged in to it. Your articles are very informative particularly for one who just returned to running. Your blog is among those that rekindled my passion for running! Please keep the articles coming.
I was in the BHS area last July 11. Too bad I did not bump into you. Perhaps my pace was still too slow. As we say in Ilocandia “nabuntog”. But I had a great time running in the rain.
I share your concern about runners who abruptly cut into the path of someone even there is ample space to run. I would consider that dangerous as it will make the runner who was overtaken abruptly change his pace. Injuries may result. Moreover such an attitude is rude and gives the message that “I am better than you are”, which is simply put “kalastugan”.
Anyway, I hope to meet you personally in some of the future race. In the meantime keep on blogging. Diyos ti agngina lakay!
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Hi BR, you’re still here!!! Thought you left for SF already last Sunday. I’m glad that you didn’t let the rains dampen your enthusiasm for running. I also did my long run last night at the Fort around 8:45 to 10:45pm, it was drizzling during the first hour of the run. I think I’m beginning to like running late hours, solo ko ang BHS 🙂 (although I did see a couple also running the BHS loop around that time as well). Running late hours, you won’t have a problem of other runners cutting you off 🙂
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Hi BR. I agree wholeheartedly with kinderdorf and levy about runners cutting people off. In our sport, however, it’s very rare when this happens. You handled it beautifully.
Will see you soon in SF!
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I do morning runs just before going to work. So my body knows if its going to rain or not since the cool weather makes me extend my sleep, thus missing my run. Haven’t tried running in the rain, but looking forward to it. I wonder how I will react since I tend to do funny things when drenched with water.
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I am not kidding everyone but I have found the edge I have needed for the lat 2 years! I was really struggling for motivation after my Freshman and Sophomore seasons wentpoorly (I run the 1500m). I could not force myself to go on the 3-4K endurance runs that used to be a piece of cake, quitting early or not running at all….Until my friend got me to try this new product he had been using. It’s made by a company called Canopus and offers motivation, concentration and has even boosted my desire (not something it claims!lol)
Anyway, I have left the link below so you guys, so long as you do not tell any other college 1500 runners, can try it for yourself!!
http://getabsolutecalm.com/sports/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=media&utm_content=Sports&utm_campaign=Blog Commenting
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kinderdorf, thanks for the visit and comment. there will come a time that we’ll see each other at the BHS and please call my attention. well, i know people who abruptly cuts your lane during running are still “rookies” in the sports of road races. i just maintain my pace and let them do their thing. you are right, these people are “lastug”. thanks, lakay.
levyang, i still had to meet some people to plan out running events in ilocos norte. anyway, i need at least two weeks to adjust there before the marathon date. best wishes on your running workouts at the BHS and your future road races. good luck. keep on reading my posts. thanks
wayne, thanks for those kind words. for being in the sports of road racing, i’ve learned to know the do’s and dont’s of running and it’s time to share these to other runners who are starting to love the sports. hope to see you in SFO.
jinoe, running in the rain is a nice experience and you have to try it. good luck on your runs and road races. thanks for the comment & visit.
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Hi BR. Are you joining the One La Salle run tomorrow?
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Hi BR, don’t worry. I’ll see you here and will make time to do it. I work normally 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday and have weekends off (normally unusual in retail). The bloggers there are expecting photos from me and I will deliver! I’m now running early mornings. My last long run will be Sunday and will attempt to get through the marathon.
I hope to see you when you get here! Take care.
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runmd, i will not be in the one la salle run tomorrow but the baldrunner’s booth will be there. pls get your sticker from capt espejo and maintain the booth as the meeting place of the runner-bloggers. good luck & keep on running!
wayne, i plan to see you before the start of the marathon. i don’t expect so much improvement on my time for the marathon this time but i have to finish the race with my kids. see you soon!
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