I missed blogging. But for the past 3 months or so, I just lack the energy to write. I didn’t bother to read other running blogs, because it just frustrates me. Imagine the pain I have to go through of not being able to run, while seeing your friends enjoying each race and blogging their experience.  A major factor for this lack of energy to update this blog or get into running groove is my injury. Some of you knew that I have this injury called heel spur. I went through several doctors, the last from St. Luke’s BGC which told me to try four things:

1. Heel Cap
2. NSAIDs (e.g anti-pain medicines)
3. Orthotics
4. Physical Therapy

I tried heel cap, I used it when I ran that Yakult run at Roxas Bldg months ago. It was useless. I also tried NSAIDs during one of my easy run; I went home with swollen face and abnormal palpitation of my heart beat. It was then I realized I can never take any NSAIDs again. I bought a gel-based Orthotics from Runnr store, it cost php700+ (can’t remember the brand). I bought  2 pairs, one for walking, the other one for running. I can say that did this trick plus physical therapy; I can now train sensibly without having the fear of recurring pain.  I’m doing fine now, starting to regain my fitness and my speed. The tempo run I did this morning had me running 5km in 25 minutes. I did that in a treadmill, I have no idea how this translates when I start hitting the paved road. Soon I will know if I’m fully healed.

I’m looking forward for exciting things to come.

I ran Unilab race last Sunday (March 6) at BGC with the goal of at least finishing it at 2h:15m. Sad to say, my official time tells me that I finished in in 2h:21m. Same old reason, plantar pain on my left foot triggered the problem. I knew at km 15 (where I reached it in 1h:30m), I was already done. I end up utilizing most my right leg to push myself forward while my  left leg was just there so that I could remaing standing. Its painful and excruciating, hence my right leg paid dearly for it. I was attacked by cramps on my right calf 200 meters from the finish line, I ended up standing for few minutes on the side-line while a friend named Carly looks on. Hahahahaha!

It looks like all my impending serious training will not materialize unless I address this issue first. Could it be the shoes? Also, I noticed after the race, a portion of my plantar near the inner side was swollen. So my theory is my feet is expanding but the shoes is too tight for me. Why does shoes don’t come in widths here in Pinas! I might go for a bigger shoes or do more convincing to buy a heat-moldable custom insoles from Runnr store.

I know its going to be a harder and longer road to recovery for me.

Road races nowadays are very expensive. My say on this is that runner always have an option. There are always cheaper races available (see Kikay’s list–> http://kikayrunner.com/2011/03/march-2011-races-spotlight/) I just hope that companies will help promote running among the madlang people by shouldering part of the registration cost, anyway its for their marketing effort naman. And hopefully, some entrepreneur-runners can organize races themselves like Team Endures Aquathlon (contact Rico of http://sheerwill.blogspot.com/ for details). Finally, some runners don’t want the medals,singlets,lootbag and all other marketing hype. As for me, I only need a race to have the correct distance, better security/marshalls and sufficient hydration! If any race organizers can get these three right, I guess he/she don’t need to jack up the cost of race registration!

Cheers!

In his book Between a Rock and a Hard Place (the movie version is 127 hours starring James Franco) Aaron Ralston described being trapped for several days against a canyon wall with his forearm crushed by a giant boulder. Using his own knowledge (he’s a mechanical engineer), he tried to device a lift to get rid of the huge stone. He also tried to hack parts of the giant boulder using his dull knife, thinking that it would crack on its own where he could break it apart easily. Unsuccessful and with no rescuers around, he thought he would die soon and so he decided to write an epitaph showing his birth date and his assumed date of death. With limited resources, he was also forced to drink his own urine. Finally on the 5^th day, upon realizing that it would take time before rescuers could find him, he cut his own arm using a dull knife to set himself free.

The decision to cut his arm clearly saved his life as he was able to escape the deep canyon border and was rescued by the authorities. The question is, what triggered him to do it? Read the rest of this entry »

As of this writing, a couple of friends are already doing their ultramarathon – the famous Bataan Death March 102km…while I’m watching and reading live updates via FB from the sideline. It sucks to know that I could have been one of those runners vying to etch his name in the history of BDM 160km (I already did BDM 102km last year). Still plugged with injury and with an unusually long recovery time, pain in plantar would still flared up from time to time. Its one of those frustrating feeling when you thought you’re OK but come the D day, you’re still lacking something. I guess I only have to blame myself, every time I sense a hint of recovery, I would hit the road like a raging bull, doing hill sprints,intervals,leg strengthening at gym etc. Anyway, I shall be more patient and more disciplined this time. Still thinking what cross-training I shall participate into without damaging my wallet. I told you, I really tried that biking activity, after an hour of doing so, I swear my crotch felt numb for few minutes I thought I just damaged the family’s jewel.  I told myself that I will never be into triathlon. Next I will try, swimming Read the rest of this entry »

Several months ago, a runner joined Adidas King of the Road in 21km category. He was full of confidence that he will be able to beat his previous PR of 1hour and 56minutes. He got there very early to make sure he will not have issues with parking. He checked his splits, 5km sub 25 minutes, 10km sub 56minutes, 15km sub 1h:23minutes so on…at 17th km along Lawton Avenue……..he just lost it. He didn’t feel any injury, didn’t encounter any untoward incident, he just lost his running mojo. He didn’t finish the race, he went straight to the parking lot, didn’t bother with other runners nor socialized with friends, he just drove away his car….away from it…..away from everyone. He was surprised at this random event, as he never encountered this previously. While driving, his mind was asking “what the hell just happened”. He didn’t bother to over-analyzed the situation; he went on to sleep with that question still unanswered. The next few moments of his life would be characterized with less than enthusiastic training, lousy finish times on road races and worst, a heavier weight, injuries and so on…THAT runner was me. Read the rest of this entry »