6:00-7:00 AM 25 May 2008 @ UP Diliman Campus

I usually wake up at 4:30 AM when a road race starts at 6:00 AM. It takes me at least 30 minutes to shave my head and face; force myself on the toilet bowl; take a bath; drink my hot coffee; eat at least 5 tablespoonful of oatmeal; drink 250 ml can of Ensure; apply Petroleum Jelly on my inner upper legs/crotch & inner parts of my upper arms; brush my teeth, and finally wear my running kit & shoes. At 5:00 AM, I should had left my quarters and proceeding to the venue of the road race.

My staff and I arrived at UP Campus at 5:30 AM and I immediately had my stretching exercises and slow jogging/warm-up run. After 15 minutes, I was already on my way to the Assembly area. I first met “the loonyrunner” who was having his warm-up run infront of the starting line and I told him about my latest trip to Baguio City and my observations on the proliferation of illegal settlers on areas adjacent to Camp John Hay. I had my initial impression on the loony runner, who was wearing an all-black running kit, that he was well-prepared for the road race as he is familiar with the route plus the fact that I was able to see in his eyes his determination to make good in this race.

A pose with MarkFB, my No. 1 visitor & commentator, five minutes before the start of the race.

After talking to the loony runner and as I was about to enter the Assembly Area, I met Mark and told him that I just bought the Sennheiser MPX 70 Sport Headphone which he recommended. I suddenly felt that I needed to take a “leak” before I enter the starting area and I excused myself from Mark. Mark & I entered the area and I immediately saw the “friends & visitors of Bald Runner”–runmd, nolan, passion runner, and officers and men from the Philippine Army. At this time, I saw at the digital clock that we still have two minutes to spare before the start of the race. I positioned myself at the middle of the pack together with the runners from the Philippine Army.

Then suddenly Coach Rio made the countdown and we started the race. The runners from the Philippine Army dashed away from me at a very fast pace while I maintained my slow pace for the first kilometer. The sky was cloudy and there was not much light from the sun and the weather was conducive to a good road race. I still used my sunglasses while running but I did not bother to glance the readings on my GF 305 from the start up to the finish line. The problem with me with the GF 305 when I am running is that I could hardly see the data on my watch while I am running! I need a “reading glass” to have a clear look on the time elapsed on the dial of the watch!

My running form at vicinity Km. 3, infront of the Oblation.

I depended much on “listening to my body” with regards to my pace and speed for this particular road race. My race pace was an even pace as seen from my time splits in every kilometer:

Km 1—5:21 mins              Km 6—5:09 mins

Km 2—5:00 mins              Km 7—4:54 mins

Km 3—4:47 mins              Km 8—5:12 mins

Km 4—5:00 mins              Km 9—5:10 mins

Km 5—5:02 mins              Km 10–4:55 mins

I know that I was having a slow pace and finish time as compared from the previous races I had at the UP Campus but I did not force my body to the extreme. However, I noticed that my heart beat reached up to 179 beats per minutes on my last kilometer without any feeling of hard breathing or dizziness or feeling that I was too tired and spent after the race. I could feel that my regular supplementary weight training and long runs had contributed this feeling of being stronger for endurance running.

My usual “raised arms” pose/picture few meters from the Finish Line.

I consider this race as part of my preparation for the longer distance road races in the future.

To my fellow runners, I hope to see you on June 15th DND-AFP Half-Marathon Race at Camp Aguinaldo.