Own it 42K!

It’s been 2 weeks and 3 hours since I crossed the 42.195km finish line and I am still on high. Does endorphin from running really last this long? I guess it does. With all the hard work of weekly running, LSD (Long Slow Distance), strength training, reading magazines and online articles on what are the do’s and don’ts of running your first marathon, I believe I am allowed to savor the moment as long as I want to.

Race Day.

I woke up hours before my alarm went off. I was already in the bathroom when it rang. I let it ring as my husband and my pacer are still sound asleep (I am so jealous that they get to sleep). I showered and changed in to my marathon gear. I was surprisingly calm and not nervous on what will happen in the next 9 hours. I was however scared that I might need to use the portalet for aside from peeing while on the race course. I ate my banana and had my vitamin water for breakfast. I wore my #teamguttom Tri-Shirt uniform for the race because of the 3 pockets at the back which I filled with 6 GU energy gels ( 1 for every hour on the road- as I was targeting to finish sub7), shades, arm sleeves (that I was not able to use), simple hydration bottle, my patellar strap (just in case my knees hurt during the run) feminine wipes and mobile phone. Boy, I have a lot of baggage (literally!) But I am the kind of person who does not leave anything to chance. Everything has to be planned. It could also be the reason why I was not nervous as I approach the start lane because as the Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizarro, said herself, if you did the training plan religiously, there is no reason to be scared of not finishing your first marathon. I know in my heart and mind that I will finish it, whatever it takes. But I have never prepared myself to what happened after I finished the 1^st half of the race course. I expected it to be hard...

I was all set, hours before race day

1km to 21km.

It was pretty fun, running towards 21K mark. I have done this 9 times so it should be a walk in the park. As planned, me and my pacer, Arlyn, followed the 1:30 interval which was the same interval we did for our LSD 30km prior to race day. We want to preserve our energy for the 2^nd half of the race and plan to do 2:1 interval on our 2^nd loop. Just so you know, I was diagnosed to have sinus bradycardia, and so I am monitoring my heart rate, in my not so young age of 38, I have to keep my heart rate to a maximum of 182 bpm. I had to slow down around 4km-5km as my heart rate spiked to 190-200 bpm. ( I remember my boss telling me ..” Do not die, okay?!” when I told her that raceday is this weekend.). Once I had my heart rate back to 140bpm, I got back to our running rhythm. Keeping in mind what I learned from the bull sessions and bull circle to stop at every water station and sip not gulp on Gatorade, we did just that and did the same on every Pumped Up Station that had bananas, chocolates, muscle spray, chips, mallows, etc.. I heard myself say..”Yehey! Chippy!” when a dream chaser offered me some. Smiled at every camera that we came across and cheered other runners that we see, even if I only knew them by face and not by name, it’s such a nice feeling and a boost of energy.

Finally we came to our first H-loop. I remember my pacer said, “half way there mum!”.

on the left, at the end of the 1st H-loop at 21K mark. on the right, between 24K-25K

22Km-29Km.

We crossed the 21K mark at 3:08:02. I am on track. I thought “I can make it to my sub7 target finish”. We decided to keep the 1:30 interval instead of our original plan to change to 2:1 interval in the second half. However, I started to feel my calf muscle tighten up between 24km and 25km so I started to stop at every hydration station to do some stretching and for the first time I had medic spray muscle relaxant on my legs. I had my fair share of cramps in some of my 21km race which usually happens at the last 2 remaining kilometers where I end up walking to the finish line. But for this race, I am like “this is not happening now; I am so far away from the finish line… I won’t make it to my target time if I walk from here on… and the sun is almost showing up his mighty rays”. We kept running and kept our mind off the anticipated pain in the next kilometers by taking selfies and taking pictures of Nuvali’s sun rise. While we are at it, I get extra boost and inspiration as I read proverbs and inspirational quotes provided by The TBR Dream Team along the route… its like Jaymie herself were saying those words to me.

30km-42.195km.

The sun is here. Weekend bikers shared the road with the marathoners 

Words to ponder when you are in pain

As we approach Miriam College for the second time, not only that my legs felt so heavy, my hips started to ache as well. And by the 30^th kilometer, my body wants to give up. But my mind and my heart had other plans. I told Arlyn that I am so tired, every part of me is aching… but her pacer-on-duty took over and kept on saying “konti na lang” 12km to go. I started to pray “ Lord, give me strength”… I was so tired to talk so I just repeated this prayer again and again and again in my head. I just talked when I need to tell Arlyn that I’m stopping for a muscle spray or stopping for a drink. The heat of the sun was an added challenge as I easily got dehydrated so I didn’t sip Gatorade and water anymore, I gulped them, a cup at a time (sorry Jaymie, I know you said no gulp just sip). As we are approaching the end of the T-loop ( 34km- the longest I have run), my throat was burning for water. When I saw the pump up station, I could open my mouth to say the word “water” so I just made a sign language and a dream chaser gave me a cup. It was like the best tasting water ever!

8km to go and I’m so decided to walk to the finish line. But Arlyn didn’t let me fall into that trap of giving in to the pain. She said we’ll run 1:1 interval to the finish line. I agreed but told her I can’t run anymore… so I made a deal that instead of Run, she’ll say Jog (hahaha! Seems like there’s no difference but for me, “jog” has less pressure than “run”). It was the longest 8 kilometer of my life. As we approached the “uphell” before the the rotunda (I thinks that’s about 5K to the finish line), my phone started to ring, I know it was my hubby and if he is calling me, it means that he has crossed the finish line. I should be happy for him and I am (don’t get me wrong) but I am struggling here you know… and I just can’t phantom to say a “yehey, I am so proud of you for finishing your first marathon”. I was already walking backwards to use other muscle group of my legs to avoid cramps. I gave my phone to Arlyn because I am so tired to speak. As we approach the H-loop, the final 2.195Km of this race. I hear someone say, Go Shiena! And as I search for the voice, I saw Allan de Dios who was a TBR Alumnus and a former officemate. Dream Chasers shouting “konti na lang” as we pass through. I saw friends from #TeamGuttom cheering “go mumshens!” The last 1Km was a struggle. Really. So near yet it seem so far… Then a dream chaser ran towards me with a mirror and told me “dapat maganda ka sa finishline photo mo” so I looked at myself in the mirror while jogging (I couldn’t make myself stop as I’m afraid to feel the pain when I stop jogging) I was laughing and gave him a thumbs up, “okay na? “ he said. I left the final Dream Chaser Station with a smile on my face. Then I saw my hubby coming towards me in the last .195km and he ran with me and Arlyn to the finishline. Before reaching the finishline. I hugged Arlyn and tears just fell. They say that I don’t need a pacer to finish the TBR Dream Marathon, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.  

I shouted "Achieved!!" for my finish line pose.
As a true-OTWOLISTA who missed JaDine's concert because I'm running a Marathon

As I ran toward the TBR Smart Dream Marathon ribbon, there was one thing that on my mind… Lord, Thank you for the strength.

Thank you very much TBR Dream Team for making my dream of becoming a marathoner come true. Indeed, You’ll never forget your first.

…And then I saw coach Francis, with his open arms… the hug was a great bonus! :-)

P.S. Cramps!!!!  hit me as I hugged coach Francis and can’t straighten my leg. That would explain the photo above. Me, hanging like a monkey on coach Francis haha!! Sorry Coach! (yes, its my most embarrassing moment to date.)  

got this cool medal to boot too!

After crossing the finishline, you just want to eat.. where's the buffet breakfast?

My Team Guttom, we started as strangers, trained as friend and finished strong as a family. This is what TBR really is,
A Family of runners who pays it forward.

Gain not just the title as a Marathoner, but more importantly, I gained  more running friends, L-R: Me, Faith Chong, Czarinna Cucueco-Lansang and Arlyn Simbahan

my running buddy and hubby

So the question is, will I do it again? Run 42.195Km, Hell yah! see you in 2017 TBR Dreamers!

Until our next run... see you on the road!

XOXO,

S

The day before I became a Marathoner

When I woke up last Saturday, Feb 20, 2016, like it was an ordinary day. My son had classes that day so the usual grind happend, preparing breakfast, getting his school uniform ready, take a bath and took him down our building to wait for the school bus. Then I got ready to attend the LSM-PTA Lenten Recollection for Parents at my son's school which we have been blessed to have participated in. From 8am-12nn I was not thinking about the race at all. I was focused on the recollection at hand.

At St. Francis Theater, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong for the Lenten Recollection 

By 12:30pm we had lunch at Italiannis at Shangrila Mall and was joined by my Pacer, Arlyn who had a small rolling luggage in tow that feels like she'll be running a marathon in another country. We already did our Marathon Planning and Strategy Meeting the previous day, and yes it was over some delicious Xiao Long Bao of the famous Michelin Star Din Tai Fung (we are serious about carbo loading haha!), So we did not talk anything about marathon or running during lunch. Soon our food arrived as well as two of our friends who are riding with us going to Nuvali, Arnie and Ariel.

my pacer, arlyn with her traveling runner luggage

Lunch is served @ Italannis Shangrila Plaza Mall

Nuvali here we come!!

We left Manila around 2pm and arrived in Seda Hotel Nuvali around 4:30pm. I chose this Hotel because its near the start/finish of the race course. The week after I receive the great news that I got accepted to join TBR, I researched on which hotels are near the vicinity and having read that Seda Hotel Nuvali was one of last year's hotel partners, I immediately booked a room even on their best regular price and not on a discounted TBR price because at the time of my booking, no agreement has been penned yet between the organizer and the hotel management. But since I am by nature, a person that loves to plan and don't take anything by chance. I negotiated to get the TBR Discount once its finalized but I will already reserve the room at regular rate. And it was such a relief that they agreed on this arrangement (great customer service Seda Hotel!).

But wait! back track a little bit, So while on the way to Nuvali, I was checking my facebook and reading the posts in the TBR Batch 2016 fb group and I got a tag from Lauren in one of the posts, when I opened and read the post, I squealed in excitement because Jaymie choose my entry on for the TBR Smart online contest  (In Max of 2 sentences, HOW TBR SMART DREAM MARATHON CHANGED YOUR LIFE SO FAR...)

I won a 40-day Urban Ashram Pass!!! I haven't done any yoga for like 10 years and I miss it. It was like destiny because earlier that day, Hubby bought each of us a yoga mat since I cannot find my old one and he needs one for the Triads' drills. It was like the prize was really meant for me :-)

my winning 2 sentences on how TBR Dream Marathon changed my life so far.

Okay, Now back to when I saw Seda Hotel in front of me, that was the only time I had the OH MY GOD! THIS IS IT! MARATHON RACE DAY NA! feeling. This is it, I am about to run a marathon in a matter of hours!!! I went to check us in and I was advised that the hotel is fully booked and instead of the Deluxe room that I reserved, they have upgraded my room to Premier Room (WOW!! This is so unexpected - it nice to check in late when its fully booked!) I had to contain my excitement and just smiled and thank the front desk lady (if she could just see me doing summersault in my head haha!) Another plus points for a great Seda Hotel Customer Service.

The happy Hubby tried the day bed of our (upgraded) Premier Room

So giddy to see a kitchenette and a microwave (we won't be eating a cold pizza tonight!)

beautiful view from our hotel room

This day is such a blessing after blessing after blessing... and that's not all, Rhea, one of our running friends from #TeamGuttom is staying right across our hotel room with her family... What a coincidence :-)

So its less than 10 hours before race starts and I am now having race gitters, While Arlyn and Hubby went for a swim, I decided to have my nails done. Yes, to calm my nerves I had a mani and pedi... the possibility of ruining my nail polish after the run is the least of my worries I told a friend. after an hour, we went to the supermarket to get some vitamin water and some bananas for our pre-race breakfast. 

Knocked at the room across ours and its Rhea!

Team Guttom reprezent here in Seda Hotel Nuvali

Mani-Pedi to calm my nerves before raceday at Bench Fix

Back in the Hotel, we ate our take away pizza and salad from Italiannis and we are ready for bed by 8pm. I couldn't sleep immediately so I called my son and check up on him before I went to sleep, that was around 8:30pm. I was tossing and turning and took me forever to fall asleep. I was anxious and felt that the alarm did not go off so when I checked the time, its only 10:45pm. WHAT?! thats like 2 hours sleep I tried to go back to sleep but its useless, I got up around 11:30pm to do what I trained my body to do for the past week (which was very successful) but today... it just didn't go as I hoped it would. And then I heard the alarm. its 12 am, Sunday, February 21. RACE DAY!

Seda Hotel Nuvali Welcomed the Dreamers

Check out my next post for the Raceday Story :)

XOXO,

S

TGIF Gratitude List 2015

Its Christmas time again and our Bible study group in the office, TGIF (Thank God its Friday), is having its annual Christmas Lunch party with the rest of the employees. We have invited one of our Mentors in faith Del to talk about Gratitude as it is the theme for this year's Christmas Party.

I was tasked to contribute a testimonial as a regular member of the group to inspire others to be open to possibilities of having a deeper relationship with God. I was reluctant at first because what shall I talk about? I'm still in the process of getting to know Him. But with God's grace and the help of Anni who shared with me the OMW - One Minute Witness Template, I was able to make one.

Project Gratlist : printed 200 of top 10 Gratitude list of 2015 from ricaperalejo.ph

There was a time in my life when…

I was a worrier (how can I hit my target,  my son’s yaya left, pano na? ..)

I was a jealous and suspicious wife.

I was an impatient parent.        

Attending TGIF in the past was because our GM asks me to attend. It was actually out of obedience towards Grace that I attended. “Nakakahiya if I say NO”, “baka ma-OSDA ako”. I also used to go because of  my friends. Carol, Nica, Erben, Jen and Abi – we became the “Crying Ladies” because we usually cry when there’s a  breakout sessions. Except for Abi and I, everyone has moved on to a different country or a different company. It was then, I realized it was no longer because of Grace, no longer because of friends that I attend TGIF, its now because I want to know more about God’s love. I want to have a personal relationship with Him.

I’m still in the early stage of getting to know Him. But he has already done amazing changes in my life. I no longer worry about my sales targets because He solved that already, He moved me to corpcare which does not have sales targets –but have an equally tough responsibility – zero complaints?! – mas mahirap yata yun kaysa sa sales targets!

But seriously, I no longer worry about life because I trust his word that He will take care of all my worries. Whatever it is, however difficult it is, He will handle it.

^{1Peter 5:7 Give all your worries to HIM , Because he cares about you.}

He does not look at what religion you belong to, what he sees is what’s in your heart.

So in my Gratitude List of 2015, TGIF is one of my Top 10.  Because, without the help of TGIF, I would still be a worrier, a jealous wife and an impatient parent. I am still a work in progress so I need to continue building the foundation of my relationship with God through TGIF.

I hope to see you next year at TGIF.

My Top 10 Gratitude List

TOP 10 Gratitude List of 2015

1.     Family

2.     Good Health

3.     My Job

4.     Andre’s Good grades

5.     TGIF Group

6.     Our Travels in SG, MY, Coron

7.     Quality Time with Family and Friends

8.     Safety

9.     No scam complaints for the past 3 months

10.  OTWOL- James Reid

The Bull Runner Dearm Marathon 2016: 1st Bull Session

The Bull Session (Clinic) and Bull Circle (Talk) is what makes The Bull Runner Dream Marathon different for any other marathon events out there (sorry if there are other similar events like this, but this is based from experience and what I know :-) ). This event was founded for all first-time marathoners and 2nd-time marathoners who would like to (1) make their dream to run a marathon a reality (2) finish strong. I have done four (4) half marathons in a span of 6 months but until know I still dread even hearing the word Forty-Two. The Bull Circle and Bull Sessions are done once a month until race day to prepare the participants in what's to come and teach them what the dos and dont's of running a marathon. I have not yet attended any of the Bull Circles (there were already 2 last Sept and this month) due to tutoring priorities with my son. So hubby gets to go and shares with me what he learned. But he promises to let me attend the next one (yahoo!!) which will be on November and the topic will be "A Marathon Ready Body" - Strength Conditioning for Marathoners and Injury Prevention. So I'm looking forward to that... but in the meantime..... Let's talk about the First Bull Circle.

Before the Bull Session starts, we found the wallflower, Czarinna and our new friend Roma "Oms". We represent Mandaluyong TBR Dreamers!

Photo Courtesy of New Balance FB Page

Jaymie "the Bull Runner" Pizarro, the TBR Dream Marathon Founder,
making her opening speech

The Bull Circle is a running clinic where in Coach Lit Onrubia shares some running insights with the participants. Its open to all (friends and relatives of the participants are welcome), So since my 9 year old son wants to run and join us in training, I asked him to come with us. After the proper intro of The Bull Runner herself, Jaymie Pizarro, and the short Talk of Coach Lit and the warm up. We all gathered to join our chosen interval pacers. We have the Run All the way, the 4:1 (4 mins run: 1 min walk), the 3:1 and the 2:1. There's also the fast 4:1 and the slow 4:1. Me and hubby chose the 3:1 interval as we use this during our half marathons and training. 

Coach Lit Onrubia taking about safety, route and loosening our shoe laces
(our shoes won't run away so it shouldn't be tight)

3 Minutes Run : 1 Minute Walk around BGC, Taguig

My son is so competitive (all kids are I suppose) that he wants to be in front, running along side with the pacers. I was a mother and pride myself as I see my son able to run the same pace as the certified marathon finishers (our pacers are from TBR BATCH2015). Ang galing lang... I was slowly being left behind as my steps are getting smaller and I am starting to get tired. In 4.5KM I saw my son's face is already rosey red. I asked him if he was tired and I told him that we can just walk going back to Track 30th where we started the run. So we walked for the next .5K and finally reached our finish line and saw that he finished his FIRST 5K run/walk today.

My son AJ, pacing the 3:1 interval group

3 Minutes Run : 1 Minute Walk around BGC, Taguig

The Bull Session closed with a group pic of the runners and selfie photos with Jaymie "the Bull Runner" Pizarro and more groufies with the other participants who we became more acquainted with as we met previously at the Subaru Run and regularly exchange messages in Viber and FB Messenger. Thanks to this session, I was able to meet and put a face of the names that I see on Viber and FB.

Until our next Bull Session. Ciao!

XOXO,

S

Selfie with the Bull Runner herself

Stretching after the 45 minutes LSD 

Runners come together with only one goal in mind.... FINISH STRONG!

TBR Dream Marathon Batch 2016

All this craziness and chaos

Compression Leg Sleeves : Why do I need them?

I remember when I started running (the accidental 10K run), 500m to the finish line I felt my muscle cramps at the back of your lower leg. I started to skip and run just to reach the finish line. It lasted a few minutes and then I was fine. I did some stretching to ease the pain. On my next run, I did finish the 10K race without any hiccups but while walking back to the parking lot, the sudden pain stopped me at the side street and it was too painful to talk. I had to stop at the sidewalk and stretched my leg. When I came home. I had ice pack all over my legs.

So aside from proper training, how do I avoid having muscle cramps? Compression Technology is the answer. And as a serious runner you have to really invest in either a compression tights to leg sleeves. So in my first 21Km run, It was a good decision to bought a Compression Tights (from New Balance, priced at P1,950) and it made a lot difference in my long distance run. I did not feel any muscle cramps at all.

So yes, I do recommend them. I also want to get a compression leg sleeve but those in store are really expensive. So I seeked the advise of one of my running idols, The Bull Runner herself, Jaymie Pizarro. In one of her instagram posts, she was wearing a compression sleeve so I ask which is a good brand. As they are really expensive. Jaymie said:

" I wouldn't recommend buying cheap brands. I would go for  Zensah, Compressport, 2XU or CWX. Pricey but you are paying for the compression technology." 

And so as I search for these compression leg sleeves (there are available online too) I found Zensah at Runnr Store in BGC (priced at P1,995) and pick out the xs/s as this fits those in the height that ranges from 5'3" and below.

Wore it for the first time in Coron during our runcation

Training for TBR Bream Marathon 2016.. 23 weeks to go

Before I got into serious running, I thought that running is the most less expensive sports because you only need the road and a rubber shoes. But no... to be safe and injury free in this sport, you need to invest, know your feet (get a free gait analysis) and know your body. As for me, I've invested on Stability Shoes (for training and race day), compression tights, compression leg sleeves, dryfit and anti-chafing shirts, sports bra and a good pair of socks. Not to mention other essential accessories to runners like cap, hydration belt and a Garmin watch. But all these were acquired on a budget and had been carefully saved for...for those practical runners, go and shop during sale season or visit our secret shop (the Surplus Shop).

Happy Shopping :)

xoxo,

S