Running for Deodorant and a new PR for a pikermi

It's me already!

I think I already mentioned that my first fun run was with Runrio through the Century Tuna Superbods Run in Feb of 2010. This year I didn't have a race through runrio so I saw it fitting that the last fun run I'm going to join is one that is organized by Coach Rio. I was to sign up for Yamaha in early July but I ran out of slots. Aside from the race singlet and race bib, registrants also get the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the Great Wall of China. How cool is that?


It felt surreal to be back on a really big mainstream race of 10,000 plus registrants. I felt weird while waiting on the start area where I am surrounded with 1,000 other strong 21k runners. I just got used to joining races where I was to run with only a few hundred people. 


Anyway, after the pleasantries, we were off to run around Mall of Asia to somewhere in Manila and back.


I just got back from a 60K ultra road race the week before and my right knee hurt a lot after. After a few days, the pain lessened but I could still feel it whenever I run. So I think one thing I did consciously while running was to pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. I was praying that my knee won't hurt. That I would make it to the finish line uninjured.


I also got to finish the race without music. While it's comforting to listen to my favorite ditties while running, I found it more quintessential to train doing long runs where I could listen well to my body. 


I was gunning for sub-2 finish. With all the fear of being injured, I thought I wouldn't bag it. I was gallowaying for the first 13kms with a ratio of 6:1. Then decided to run straight to the finish line. And the last line just made it sound easy when it's not. I was a buzzer beater with my finish of 1:59:39--mere 21 seconds less than 2 hours. But it's all good. I remember finishing the race all wet as I doused myself in the latter part of the race in almost all aid stations we pass by.


The race was well organized as expected of a Runrio race. My only complaint was the long queues in the activity area. Imagine running kilometers and kilometers of road and then being baked under the sun just to register for their activities like wall climbing, reverse bungee, zipline, etc. Then, queuing again for each activity booth. It was great to have these post-race activities but the sponsors should have took into consideration the number of registrants they were expecting who'll try these activities.


Anyhow, it was a great race for me. So that's all that matters.