Finally the result of the Nike We Run is out. Though I already know -- more or less -- how I fared in the race, nothing beats the joy of doing a screenshot of the official result and posting it here on my blog.

I must say that I am a bit disappointed that this is the only thing I found in the results page. You may access yours by clicking here.

The race used D-Tag for runners and it was hard to believe that the only thing I'll find here is my gun time and chip time. Last time I joined a race that used a D-Tag, which was during the third leg of this year's Run United, the results page had loads of geeky stuff I really loved. Check out my post here.

I hope that this is not the end of it. And that people are still working on our stats, not that mine is so good, but it's still my stats.

Other runners are also complaining that the ranking should have been based on the chip time, not the gun time. It is, they said in a web forum, unfair for those who were part of the second and third wave of the race. I must say that I agree with them.

But to be honest, it is hardly my concern. My take on this, and may I remind everyone that I am entitled to my own opinion,  is that I am not running to compete with others. First of all, I don't stand a chance. Secondly, I only need to beat my personal record. I don't need their official ranking. I just need to check my previous blog entries.

It wouldn't hurt, however, if I get my stats on the percentage of male runners I managed to leave behind. It gives me a sense of girl power. So please, please Nike people! Give us more stats!

Task completed.

Well, look who's back. But not in mint condition.

Photo is not mine. Courtesy of We Run for Good Health 

I must admit that I did not train for this run. It felt like -- hey, I already survived 21K why train for 10k? And of course I needed reminding that I was wrong during the race itself. I felt really really great during the first five kilometers. As soon as we hit the 5K marker, I checked my watch and could not believe my eyes because it said 35 minutes. That was one of my best 5K run, ever. I finished my first 5K run with 7-11 in 42 minutes.

But the next 5K turned horrible.

I was still doing relatively good until my seventh or eighth kilometer of the race. But I thought I would faint during my last kilometer. I thought I was going to die in my last 250 meters of the race. If there's anything I need to be thankful about is that Nike We Run is a buddy race and the self proclaimed Project Tikboy did not leave me during the entire race (even if he can).

With the self-proclaimed Project Tikboy.

As I have said, I admit that I did have time to prepare for the run. Three weeks ago, Typhoon Yolanda hit several provinces in the Visayas Region. And I volunteered to cover the aftermath of the storm. (There are no words to describe the devastation.) When I returned to Manila, I had to write the reports, among others, leaving me no chance to train for the race.

Another factor is that it was too hot during the race. While running, I could hear other runners complain of the humidity. I don't think I was hydrated enough for that kind of humidity. On normal days, I can run at UP Academic Oval for 11 kilometers without stopping, without the need for hydration in the middle of the run. But not last Sunday. I stopped twice during the run to refuel.

I also had difficulties with route. Though I appreciate that it was a new route and that the cheers of the children somehow rejuvenated me, many parts of the route was too narrow for the number of runners. We bumped on each other a lot. I was part of the second wave and a lot of participants started walking after a minute or so.

Enough said. It still boiled down to my lack of training. So to all my fellow running enthusiasts, please don't follow my footsteps. It's not a healthy one and it could even lead to a more serious situation, which, as of the moment, I don't even want to discuss.

Best 10K run so far

That being said, I must say that I'm still happy that I finished the 10K run in 1 hour 25 minutes. I am waiting for the official result and will post them here, of course.

Kudos to Nike for organizing the run. Too bad we did not join the after party. There were too many people and the humidity is not making the atmosphere any more favorable. Looking forward to my next run and I swear to the highest form of being that I would never join a marathon ever again without proper training.

For now, task completed.

Without Limits posted more photos in their Facebook page! And guess who I found? ME!!! Lol.

Below is my "Before Photo," taken while sending off my beloved Mike.

Photos grabbed from Without Limits' Facebook page. Visit here. 

Task completed.

It wasn't that long ago since we last joined a running event but it definitely felt that way. Maybe because I've not been practicing enough and -- as you can see -- it reflected on the result of my last 10K run for BDO's Race for Life.

In my Runrio and the need for motivation post, I said that I only had the chance to practice once days before the Unilab run. My official time was 1:25:32. This time, I got to practice thrice and got 1:26:12. What is happening to me?

Of course, I can always put the blame to a lot of things. For one, the race did not provide enough hydration station and that celebrity Xian Lim distracted me during my run -- not one, but twice. Hehe. But it would always boil down to one thing: I am not trying hard enough.

I need to push myself harder, most especially if I want to join a 21K run this July. If this laziness and lack of will continues, I won't be able to meet my goal. And that sucks big time.

Generally, I'm happy with how Without Limits organized the event. Kudos to you guys. Though it would have been better if you provided the runners with more hydration station, especially when we're running under this terrible, terrible hot day.

And before I forget, I remember smiling at every photographer I saw during the run. But none of it was on their Facebook page. Sad. But this guy down here got TWO photos!!! Haha.

Bawal umiyak. Bawal gumulong. LOL. Mike during his 21K run
last Sunday for BDO's race for Life.
(Photo grabbed from Without Limits Facebook Page)

I ranked 419th out of the 527 runners. Boyfriend Mike and his boss Tito, who joined the 21K run, ranked 302 and 299 out of the 394 runners, respectively. The rest of the race results for BDO's Race for Life is available here.

Got this for making it to the first 500 runners of the 10K category! Woot!

Task completed.


P.S.
I am Janess, not James.

Our run last Sunday, sponsored by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines, turned out as one of the best running events I have ever attended.

I know I said in my previous blog that I didn't like how Takbo.ph organized the ProFriends Run last February 17. (Read: ProFriends and security for runners) But this time, it turned out to be a great one.

At first, I was a bit frustrated because we can't find our way to the venue. We were not alone. We met fellow runners who also can't find their way. First of all, we are not really that familiar with the place. Secondly, the landmarks in the map they provided are not really "landmarks." Maybe, it would have been easier if they indicated Bonifacio High Street or Serendra as a point of reference -- since it's one of the few places most first time runners at the Bonifacio Global City are familiar with.

Then, it started to rain shortly after I arrived at the venue. I am not worried that I may need to run under the rain. I was more worried that the organizers would cancel the event. No! And they didn't.

I enjoyed running while it was drizzling. It was also cooler though Mike insists that it turned out to be more humid (because he said our sweat can't evaporate, which would normally give our body a cooling effect -- whatever Mr. Einstein!)

Aside from superb security and efficiency of the organizers' team, I also enjoyed my new route at BGC. Kudos to AmCham and Takbo.ph.

Here's our official time:

This kind of run -- is exactly what I needed the most. It was a "dark" period in my life. So I'm super thankful that this run helped me mend my heart and keep up the promises I have made nearly six years ago.

Photo courtesy of Shiela Coo. Task completed.

I knew it would come to this. And I wasn't prepared for it. I am getting more and more impatient on why -- and I must admit now -- I am not losing significant amount of weight despite my efforts to stay fit. It leaves me wondering what am I doing wrong.

I won't deny, however, that it is partly my fault too. I don't run that much anymore.

Well, I still do. But not almost everyday like when I first started. I'm afraid that I'm slowly falling into the trap of my New Year's Resolution Syndrome, which I never would want to happen. Maybe that's why I'm blogging it, hoping somewhere around the world I'll get a holler and boost my confidence and will to do this.

Hays.

Moving on. I finally found the result of the ProFriends Run.

You can view the rest of the result here.

I need to beat my 10K record in my next run on March 3, which will be sponsored by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines. They are giving away medals for the first 100 finishers for every distance category. Judging by how I fared in the ProFriends run, I have a lot of preparation and training to do to land in the Scholarun 2013's first 100.

And for those who are interested, my weight is down to 138.25 lbs from 142.2 some three weeks ago. Task  completed.

My first 10K run wasn't that bad. My official time is 1 hour, 26 minutes. WOOT!

Aside from the fact that this is my first time to do a 10K run, it's also my first time to join a running event organized by Takbo.ph. Our route is similar to our Cafe France run. But since I was doing a 10K run, we had to do the 5K route twice.

The first loop went well. But my second was disastrous. Members of the events organizers were already hiding from the sunlight. So many left their posts, leaving the Pasay City traffic enforcers to do the job alone. Well, if you check how bad the traffic flow is in Buendia and in Libertad, you would know they're not the best there is.

As a result, I was nearly hit twice -- by a taxi and a private SUV -- during my second loop. Pasay traffic enforcers allowed some of the cars to pass and cross the event's route. And since they were caught in "heavy traffic," the drivers were not very cooperative in waiting patiently until no participants were in sight.

It was good thing that I'm not the kind of runner who wears headphones and plays loud music. So my attention was fully concentrated on the run and on my safety. Otherwise it would have been my fatal end.

I believe this is a big lapse in the security. Just last year, triathlon athlete Sandra Araullo Gonzales and husband Peter was hit by a car in a running event in Cebu. Both of them suffered multiple injuries and were brought to a hospital. This should serve as a lesson to all organizers, but apparently not for this event.

Overall, the run was still a success. I finished it without losing or breaking my limb.

And, most of all, I am happy because my friend Shiela won first place in the female 10K category. What's even more amusing is that she won without even trying at all. For her, it was her "normal" pace. Well, not for me. Haha. Her official time is 1 hour 5 minutes. Very good!!!

For now, task completed.