Back when I was a struggling 5 km runner (sorry Brian, really have to borrow this line hehehehe)…. I was stucked in 183lbs body made of flesh and bone. Me at 183lbs. First race- Condura 2009 5km I was a clueless runner then. I have no watch to time myself, was using wrong shoes, wrong apparel and wrong source of electrolyte for my runs. I was using those “colored beans”. And it left a nasty color on my tongue

Last year, I never joined any trail run. Why? I just believe a trail run is for tough people with tough legs with an even tougher shoes. I’m not a tough person with tough legs, but now I have a trail shoes called Mizuno Ascend and hopefully use it for this Mizuno sponsored trail run. As I just recovered from an injury, I believe trail running is a lot easier on my legs. Running on the road subjects you to continuous jarring that often results in constant re-occuring injuries. The trail is a much softer, more runner-friendly surface that will actually do a better job of strengthening your core muscle groups and making you a stronger runner in the long term. Additionally, I’m sick and tired of usual race roads in Manila, hopefully this will eliminate the monotony of running the same road routes all the time and makes it easier to motivate myself to get out. In such a soothing environment such as this one, your mind can wander; contemplate the meaning of life (!!!!!) or just enjoy the solitude. Running should be fun and enjoyable rather than an obligation

Please go to Globe Run For Home 2010 website to see the result. The Kenyans ruled 21km and 15km races (male).  I understand they’re robbing off potential income for some of our elite athletes but I guess they also help in such a way they “level-up” our own athletes abilities. I just hope that in the future, these Kenyans be allowed to run in “International” races only (e.g SIM, PIM, Condura etc)

I ran in the Globe Run For Home race yesterday. I was not suppose to join this race at all, hence the race bib I got was not registered under my name. I plan to make this my comeback race, with the real intention of beating my previous 21km PR of 1.56 from Phil Star Celebrity Run. I must admit I felt confident on this race, I did some serious speed session 1 week after my 102km BDM race.  Yes folks, one week after running an ultramarathon I was already hitting the oval at 5am doing my intervals. To make matters worst, I did some speed runs in a treadmill a few hours before this race for that MiCoach device.  Think about careless. I didn’t win, but got that signature glow in the dark yellow Adidas singlet  for free

Confusion and Desperation….. Looking at my right knee, I couldn’t see anything wrong. Yeah the muscles felt hard but definitely not sore, or at least that was what I would like to think. After doing some stretches again, proceeding with walk-run strategy, I figured out there was no way I could continue it as the pain every time I bend my knee was unbearable. I sent a frantic text message to Dhenz and asked him if I could still finish the race within cut-off time even if I walk the remaining distance, the reply several minutes later was “yeah I think so.” Ronnie finally caught up with me and I told him of my predicament. He shared that he suffered the same fate last Subic International Marathon, he finished the entire 42km of it, albeit walking almost 38km. He left me several minutes later and I kept on thinking what he had just said. I was left on my own, with no one to talk to while pondering the idea of doing an “ultrawalkathon”. Soon enough, runners were starting to overtake me which just added another demoralizing effect on my being. Hoping that my right knee might finally cooperate after almost an hour of walk, I tried running again. The result was unsatisfactory, the right knee won’t bend and I thought quitting