THIS BLOG IS MOVING.

I’m a weird blogger. When I’m interested in something, I create a whole new blog to write about it. I currently have more than five blogs dedicated to different subjects and I realize that this isn’t really very nice especially when it comes to maintaining each of them. So, with the suggestion of a fellow blogger, I’m moving Running Since July to my personal blog, Odee:Blah.

Some posts will be re-published to Odee:Blah and any new posts about my runs will now be posted there.

I would like to thank everyone who read and commented on any posts I’ve written here at Running Since July. Hope to hear from you guys on Odee:Blah, too!

See you there! ^_^

The best advice on “your first 10K” I’ve ever read.

As you all know, my name’s down for 10K this coming August 21—my first ever running event since I started running just this month. I have regrets and fears, but what’s done is done and the only thing to do now is move forward.

Anyway, I stumbled upon this site about training for your first 10K, and it’s the most encouraging piece I’ve read among the many results Google offered. I’m reposting some parts to keep me motivated. :)

---

The 10K is a race full of legend and lore, heartbreak and triumph. And because it’s a moderate distance, it offers challenges for both novice and expert runners. If you’re setting out to run your first 10K, understanding the obstacles you’ll face will help you not only complete the race, but cross the finish line with a grin instead of a grimace.

So you don’t have to consider yourself a runner to complete a 10K. You don’t really have to be in great shape, either. Some modest, short-term workouts will help you complete the race.

For your first 10K, though, it’s best to keep things simple and to focus on the experience of completing a race of more than 6 miles for the first time in your life. It’s an accomplishment you won’t soon forget.

To avoid psyching yourself out, focus more on each preparation run instead of dwelling on the race. Complete your training regimen in a disciplined manner and learn to enjoy the challenges and rough spots as much as you do the highs of easy, pain-free runs. In short, just enjoy the journey of the training process.

…Don’t get too wrapped up in finishing in a certain time, especially if you’ve never run 6 miles before. You can worry about training for a specific time goal after finishing this race. Your first 10K result will provide a baseline performance that you can use to establish future goals.

---

This article taught me to stop crying over spilled milk. I know I can finish 10K. It may take 2 hours, but I can, and that’s the only thing I want.

Hell yeah.

PEDALING DAY 3: Full gear on the machine!

July 29, 2011 (Friday)

Still raining outside so I have no choice but to settle once again on the Navigator. Because I had made a PR on it yesterday, I thought I’d only do an easy one today. Expecting a lot of sweat as always, I decided to put on a full gear—dry-fit shirt and cycling shorts. And then I thought, why stop there? So I also put on my ankle supports and running shoes. Running (or pedaling) apparel, check!

Yesterday, the numbers say 50:41 minutes, 166.4 calories, and 13.14 kilometers. Today, it’s 35:28 minutes, 129 calories, and 10.19 kilometers. It wasn’t in my original plan to spend more than 30 minutes on the pedals because it’s supposed to be my rest day today and I’d just do an easy one. But I got really worked up ‘cause I have my running shoes on; it didn’t feel hard to pedal compared to my last two sessions with the Navigator. :)

Steady, steady. I’ll get to where everyone’s at someday. ^_^

PEDALING DAY 2: Bring in the numbers!

July 28, 2011 (Thursday)

Yesterday, I told you that I found a new way to train indoors, and that’s by pedaling on our old exercise machine called the Navigator Orbitack (photo on my pedaling day one). The difference between the Navigator and an ordinary stationary bike is that you can pedal with the Navigator even while standing up, which makes it kind of like a treadmill alternative.

Earlier today, I got on the Navigator again with a few new goals:

• because I’m already on my 4th week of running—I just started last July 4th—maybe it’s time to go beyond my 20-30 minutes of training and add up more time.
• yesterday, I pedaled for 10 minutes non-stop and that’s it. Today, I’ll alternate on sitting pedaling and standing pedaling, kind of like my version of walk-run respectively.

Almost an hour later…

I’m done and I’m sweating a lot. According to the Navigator’s mini screen, I pedaled for 50:41 minutes, burned 166.4 calories, and took my bike 13.14 kilometers. Cool, eh? Here’s the breakdown:

5 minutes sitting pedaling, warm-up
8 minutes standing pedaling / 2 minutes sitting pedaling, 4 sets= 40 minutes
5 minutes sitting pedaling, cool down

Total minutes = 50; 32 minutes standing pedaling and 18 minutes sitting pedaling

Yeah, I know running’s a whole lot different than riding a stationary bicycle, and I’m sure I’m not going  to reach 10K in 60 minutes on foot. But even so, I like how my numbers for today look :)

Training on the Navigator.

I’m supposed to be running at QC Circle today but the weather’s a bitch and my mom won’t let me run under the rain. But while it may sound better to think that my feet will have a rest for pounding the pavement, the figures “10-K! 10-K!” shows up in my head, and I know that I’d rather be running there than resting here.

And then, an idea so obvious, I wonder why I never thought about it before—the Navigator!!!

<<< We have this Navigator Orbitack stationary bicycle / treadmill alternative for years, but we never use it much ‘cause kicking those pedals makes us feel that we’re using twice as much energy than running outdoors. However, I’m kinda operating on a “train now or perish on the 10K” mantra, so I gave the Navigator another shot.

I started my warm-up by doing a 5-minute pedaling while sitting and raising up and down a 3-pound little dumbbell in each hand. After that, I stood up, clicked my stopwatch, and just pedaled while standing for as long as I could.

I lasted for 10 minutes non-stop. I know many of you won’t call this a feat, but every minute of progress matters to me. The last time I tried the Navigator—years ago, by the way—I didn’t even make it for 3 minutes.

Anyway, after the 10-minute mark, I sat again and cooled down by pedaling for another 5 minutes, dumbbells in tow. By the end of the whole thing, I was sweating and it felt really good! :D >>>

I don’t know how long this storm’s gonna last, but I know I’ll be training—this time, indoors—anyway. :)

Something to mull over. >:)

“10k! Kaya mo ba talaga yan?!”

The honest answer: no.

10K is a great distance, and I’m not going to trick myself into thinking that a newbie runner who just started 3 weeks ago is gonna conquer it in an hour. I am not expecting myself to finish at a remarkable time, but here’s one thing I can tell: I am going to finish it, no matter how long it’ll take me.

It’s my first race and I’m NOT gonna run for time or PR. I’m gonna run for distance, and I know I’d still chalk it up as an accomplishment whatever the results may be. :)

RUNNING DAY 10: Twelve minutes.

July 25, 2011 (Monday)

I’m definitely improving!!! :D

Wala akong kasama today, maaga kasi pasok ni Shiel for tonight’s shift kaya kailangan niyang matulog ng mahaba. Nung umaga nga medyo tinatamad na ‘ko tumuloy na ako lang kasi makulimlim sa labas. Alam niyo naman, masarap magbabad sa kama pag ganitong weather. :) Pero naalala ko, syet, nasa 10K nga pala pangalan ko!

Kaunti na lang tao sa Circle nung dumating ako, para kasing uulan saka 8:30 AM na rin nun. As usual, I started my routine with a 5-minute walk, followed by a quick stretching. Honestly, hindi ako masyadong nagtatagal sa stretching. Oo, alam kong papagalitan niyo ‘ko, pero kasi—boring mag-stretch eh! Lalo na ‘pag mag-isa ka lang!

Anyway, moving on. Since this is already my 4th week of training, I decided to “level up” by eliminating the 30-second run time in my walk-run-walk program. This is how I did my run today:

2 minutes run / 3 minutes walk, 5 sets= 25 minutes
1 minute run / 2 minutes walk, 4 sets= 12 minutes

Total minutes = 37; 12 minutes running and 25 minutes walking

I think the only downside of this program is that my walking time is more than twice my running time. I actually had a debate with myself if I will reduce the 3 minutes walk to just 2 minutes after every 2 minutes run, pero  naisip ko rin na hindi ko bibiglain yung katawan ko kahit feeling ko kaya ko. Saka first day ko pa lang sa program na ‘to eh…

‘Di bale. Sana sa mga susunod kong runs kaya ko nang patagalin yung running time at bawasan ang walking time ko. :)

Oh ghulay, my first race for 10K!!!

Anak ng tinapa, napasubo yata ako. OH UHM GEE.

I’m supposed to run for 3K ‘cause it’s my first race. At nakakahiya man e aaminin kong hindi ko parin kaya tumakbo ng lagpas ng dalawang minuto na hindi feeling aatakihin sa puso. Pero I already have three people who told me na mabibitin lang daw ako sa 3K so I should skip it and do a 5K instead.

So bakit ako nasa 10K ngayon?

The long and short story of it is naubusan ng 5K bib ang registration desk sa Planet Sports Trinoma nung nagpunta ako last Friday. And it’s not easy for me to just shrug my shoulders and promise to go back the next day; I’m hailing from Antipolo City and it isn’t a quick ride. Kelangan kong makapag-register now na—it’s that day or never.

I know I could’ve registered for 3K as originally planned, but I’m running with friends at hindi na option ang 3K after we set our minds out to that 5K. Pare-pareho narin kaming walang oras bumalik sa ibang araw. Sige na nga, 10K na! Kaya natin yan, chill-chill lang tayo! Lakad nalang pag ‘di na kaya, madami naman tayo eh!

And that’s how I got my race bib that says 10K.

I have 4 weeks before the race; four weeks to prepare, kahit hindi naman na ‘ko nag-eexpect na I’ll finish it with a decent time. I just want to finish it, no matter how long it will take me to do so. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I’m simply going to enjoy every run I do, whether it’s practice or training for my first race or being on the race itself.

Saka ayan oh, may mga free vitamins naman na kasama eh hee hee hee! :D

*****

WHERE AM I IN MY TRAINING?

To be honest, not very far.

I’m running three times a week, MWF, at QC Circle. Currently, i can’t last more than 2 minutes of non-stop running. The longest training I’ve done was exactly 30-minutes of combined walk-run-walk. I’m having no leg pains anymore since after my 3rd practice run. I’ll be on my 10th tomorrow.

‘Nak ng tokwa, bahala na. Bonggang-bonggang mental powers ang kailangan ko dito. See you guys at Run United 2!

---

This is my first Tagalog-English post. OK ba siya, o mas trip niyong 100% English ‘tong blog ko?
Comment naman! Maraming salamat! ^_^

RUNNING DAY 9: Three’s a crowd.

July 22, 2011 (Friday)

It’s the last running day for the week, but I’m all fired up because I have not only one, but two running buddies today! Say hello to my best friend Shiel and college buddy Darren! :D

It was a indeed a fun run. With more friends running beside me, I felt less exhaustion. We’re still on the walk-run-walk program, but all of us could feel the energy to run further even if the timer is already beeping.

I lost count again on how many times we did the alternate running and walking; I’m guessing it’s less than what we’re supposed to do. But hey, we rode the bike for an hour, so that’s also like training, right? :D

Here’s more photo madness of our day. Cheers, girls!

All photos were taken by Dah’s cell phone camera. Her 5 MP has better quality than my poor Nokia C3. :-(

Shiel in her “baby bike”! LOL she doesn’t know how to ride a single bike so we got her on
this one instead. Aww pity! ;)

Cold treats! We love dirty ice cream!

Dah and Shiel enjoying the flavors as well.

Lakad, takbo. See? Even QC Circle agrees with our run-walk program! ;D

See yah again on Running Day 10! Wow, time sure flies fast, eh?