Finally got my hands on the result of the Adidas King of the Road 2013. I am, naturally, disappointed with how I fared. But it wasn't that surprising, really. I have nothing else to do but to train harder if I want to proceed and increase my running distance to 21K by October.

Here are the fast facts as posted in Pro-active's website:

You burned approximately 1044.29 calories during your 168k run.

You finished the race in 02:42:21

Your rank is 0 out of 3,617 runners in this category. Your rank percentile is 100%

Your rank is 6,852 out of 7,098 runners in this event. Your rank percentile is 3.47%

You ranked 2,246 out of 2,366 runners who are the same gender as you. Your rank percentile is 5.07%

Your average speed is 6.21 kph

Your average time per km is 9m 39s

My running buddy Shiela finished her 16.8K with 2 hours and 5 minutes. But I couldn't find Mike's. Task compeleted.

And so... I conquered 16.8 kilometers. And that is all there is to say.

Adidas King of the Road 2013 was a good run. Some would say Adidas was making up for the mishap it caused runners during the distribution of the singlet. Sorry guys but I can't say that I share your pain since it was my running buddy who picked up our singlet. Maybe I should ask her! Nope, I didn't have to ask her because she complained about it from morning til dusk! Lol.

Anyhow -- whether that was the reason or not -- I find this year's KOTR as one of the best runs I have ever had. The weather was good, the trail was perfect and challenging at the same time. (YES! I didn't know that Kalayaan Flyover was THAT long and steep!)

Hydration was okay too. But they could have provided more trash cans. BDO Race for Life did and I noticed that most runners during that run really made an effort to shoot their plastic cups in the bins.

But most of all, I really loved how they handled the security. They were awesome! I felt safe while running, even while crossing big intersections along Ayala. I am proud to say that I was obedient to the marshals, especially when they would ask us to stop for 10 seconds or so to give way to passing cars. I didn't mind. Others did, however. And I found it too selfish and stupid.

Sorry, but I'd rather lose my momentum for a while than get into a vehicular accident. Period.

I'm still waiting for the official result of the run. But I finished the run roughly at 2 hours and 42 minutes. One proud Tikgirl here. Cheers to my longest run so far!

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.

We knew it would end up in chaos but we signed for it anyway.

After the 7-11 run, the first thing Mike and Shiela asked was when are we going to run next. On that same day, Mike found out about Cafe France Run for Good Health. We signed up nearly a week later.

Mike said the staff from Karate Kid, where runners can sign up, didn't know a single information about the run. As for the racing kit, very few information was there. There was no website dedicated for it -- aside from the details posted in SwimBikeRun.ph. He warned me that it could turn out to be "chaotic."

We had to wait for more than an hour in the CCP complex for the program to start. The racing kit says we have to be there by 4:00 a.m. but we were told to gather near the arch by past 5:00 a.m. In between, no emcee or any staff from the Cafe France informed the participating runners what time it would start.

The emcee turned out to be stressful. He reminded (no, scolded) the 10K runners for 10 times, both in English and in Filipino, that they need to pass on their second loop in the left side of the road -- not through the Gatorade arch.

It was also difficult to run during the start of the race. We were standing next to each other, shoulder-to-shoulder unlike the 7-11 run, where we were reminded persistently that we needed to be at least one-arm-raised apart.

Everything went well during the run itself. Staff were all around the route guiding the runners which way to go. BRAVO!

But what I didn't like most was the crowd control in the finish line. Runners who finished early were all standing there, blocking the timer. As a result, I didn't get my official time. My watch tells me though that I finished the run somewhere between 42-44 minutes.

Despite this, I am very happy that we joined and finished the run. It was very fulfilling. Plus, I got through Junjun Alas. Hehe.

Task completed.

I wanted to run this morning. It was, however, raining. But who am I to complain, right?

Many Filipinos lost their homes because of the recent strong rains that brought about heavy flooding in various towns and cities in Mindanao.

Photo grabbed from swimbikerun.ph

Not to mention that most of them were also heavily devastated by Typhoon Pablo last December. The town of Cateel in Davao Oriental is once again under state of calamity.

As far as I know, victims of Typhoon Pablo received a lot of donations both from local and international donors. But, at least based from news I am getting, it seems that victims were not able to get it. They held a protest action the other day but government officials called it as mere propaganda. Yeah, right.

My prayers are with you. Hope these people won't be victimized twice by natural and man-made disasters such as these.

I really hope this gloomy weather will end soon. Of course, aside from my prayers for my fellow Filipinos, I also want to start training for my 5K run on Saturday. I just got my singlet earlier this evening. (Disclaimer: Sorry, I'm too lazy to take a photo of it so I just grabbed the photo above from a site. Hehe.)

I am so excited. Task completed.

It's out! It's out!

The result of the 7-11 800 run is out! And my stats are not that bad for (technically) a first timer.

That's me, Shiela and Em-em in our
finisher's shirt. Proud moments.
(Photo grabbed from Shie's Facebook)

My official time is 42:20. And I ranked 567th out of the 1216 participants in the 5K Beginner category.

I am also relatively faster compared to other women who joined this category. I ranked 175th out of the 512 women.

And, my overall pace is 8:22 per kilometer.

As for my friends Shiela and Em-Em, their official time is 37:37 and 44:43, respectively.

Boyfriend Mike, on the other hand, got 39:17. See, he's just three minutes ahead of me! I remember how he couldn't believe how he was just a few minutes ahead of me, saying I was fast. Whoa. Well. Well. Well.

As for me, task completed.

This is not the first time that I joined a 5K fun run. My very first was during the kick-off ceremony of St. Scholastica's College centennial anniversary. It was traumatic -- I had no preparations for the run. And, because I thought it was going to be purely "fun," the moment I lost sight of my friends, my interest to finish the run was gone too.

So what did I do while running alone? I turned in the 3K's route. What a shame, I know.

My singlet! Super proud of myself!!!

But the 7-11 800 run was different. I spent two weeks running everyday for about an hour with my partner-in-crime Shiela. At first, it was really difficult because I never really challenged myself this hard -- physically, that is. I don't play any sports and don't know one too.

So in my first few days, I would run for about a minute and walk for at least three or even more. But as days passed by, Shiela noticed I was improving. But not as fast as she is, though. She's very quick.

And you probably know what happened right?

I DID IT! I finished the run!

It was liberating. There were moments when I wanted to stop running but I knew it would be all the more difficult for me if I stop. My legs would "lock," says boyfriend Mike, if I stop running. So I didn't. I ran and ran and freed myself of all my worries. Before I knew it, I was almost at the brink of finishing it.

At that time, I felt that there was nothing else that I couldn't do. I know I've been berating you with my me-losing-my-will-to-do-this-self-imposed-healthy-living-shit for the past few weeks but my views changed.

I am more determined now. And I am proud to say that it's task completed.