Race #3: Don't Stress Out On Running

Race #3

IWAS Stress Run

May 1, 2011

4K

Davao Mental Hospital
Davao City

“Dad? What did you do?”, I reacted. Somehow, my father “forced" me to join the IWAS Stress Run to help out my cousin who is a doctor (and on this particular occasion a race organizer). I has already planned (or should I say booked, as in “bought and paid for”) another fun run with my friends in a week’s time so I don’t really know if I can do it in two straight weeks. Nevertheless, I agreed to it, seeing that my dad already paid for it. Free singlet!! Yehey!

Early on race morning, I positioned myself near the starting line since I won’t have to worry about catching up or slowing down for anybody. That was a good idea. When the gun started, I ran at the same pace as the leaders. That was a bad idea, seeing that I slowed down considerably after 10 minutes. I didn’t really exert much effort after the initial burst and somehow made it to the finish. Well, even I get lazy sometimes… ^_^

When I finished at the assembly spot, there was a huge surprise waiting for all us runners. Several booths with different games and challenges await. Aside from that, there were also booths for food, drinks, and of course signing up for more fun runs. Basically, it was a carnival that is sort of our reward after our tiring endeavor. So, that’s what my cousin has been doing. I guess that’s why he wasn’t at any of the water stations. The “carnival” was a nice touch for what I thought to be a simple fun run.


>>> Race Time: 4K (50 min)

Race #2: Human Fireflies Powered by Energizer

Race #2

Energizer Night Race

April 16, 2011

3K

SM Davao Parking Area

Davao City

“What kind of insane idiot would run a race in the midst of traffic in the dead of night?”, I thought to myself as I saw some runners running in a night race on my drive back home. Running a fun run in the darkness of night? That is absurd. Little did I know that a few weeks later I, somehow, would join these lunatics by running the GMA Energizer Night Race. I took up my cousin’s invitation to join the Night Race but begged off on running the 5K (just a 3K for this one please…) as I am still a rookie at running and am coming off from work after all. (Ok, maybe there is also a part of me that is lazy running at night J).

When I got to the parking lot of SM at 7 pm, the place was already packed with people. You see aside from the run, there was going to be a concert after with the GMA Kapuso stars. Most of the people weren’t there to run, they were there to watch the TV stars, yet they also contributed to the festive atmosphere of the night race.

There were also booths with mini-games. I got a T-shirt from winning one of their games! Well, that made up for the expensive race fee. ^_^

After the warm-ups, the race finally started. My nephew Joshua really loves to run. At a young age, he took off like a light! What a sight on the road we must be as dozens and dozens of lights blurred the area known as Ecoland. Why was that? Our race kits included a “literal” head light designed for us to navigate through the darkness (actually it wasn’t even that dark, but who cares?). So basically, we were all like oversized fireflies running through the road.

I finished in about 27 minutes. The event was exhausting and although I might not run a night race again in the foreseeable future, I am glad I did this one. 


>>> Race Time: 3K (27 min) 

Race #1: My First Race

Race #1

Phoenix Araw ng Dabaw Fun Run

March 13, 2011

5k

Ateneo de Davao, Roxas Avenue
Davao City

Rrrrrrriinnnngg…….. rrrrriiiinnnngggg….. (wakes up and answers the phone). “Hello?”, I answered groggily. “Te, where are you? We are already at the starting line. The race will start in a few minutes.”, Ian answered. “What?!?! Ok, I will go right away.”, I replied.

I am about to be late for my first ever fun run race. How did I get into this mess? Oh yeah, a few weeks ago, I invited my friends to wake up with me at the crack of dawn to join the Phoenix Araw ng Dabaw Fun Run. For me not showing up at an event I invited (well, partially forced J) them to go, well, that would be embarrassing (not to mention dishonorable for not keeping my word). So I put on my workout gear and hurried out the road.

Arriving at about 20 minutes after the gun start, I dashed like a madman to catch up with Ian and Claire. Along the way, I saw my cousin and my nephew already coming back from their 3K run. Man, I really am running late. Running even faster, I took note of the landmarks on the way… Gaisano Mall… McDonald’s… Victoria Plaza… At last, I found my friends just before the turnaround point. 


There was a lot of interesting sights along the way. A lady with angel wings (and I mean really large angel wings) running a 5K. I guess she is going to win hands down for the “design your singlet” contest. There was also a girl carrying a little dog. Apparently the dog was very tired walking that long a distance. Taking a cue from the dog, I took a “rest” (meaning walking for almost the rest of the way back to the finish) as I exhausted myself in trying to catch up with them.

Phoenix Petroleum sure made this a large event not to be missed. Huge stage, loud music, and refreshments were presented for everyone who participated. The finish line was a sight to behold as we all made it to the finish in about an hour. To be honest, I had no idea that this was a less than decent time for a 5K (I figured that out much, much later), yet at that moment I didn’t care as I had finished my first ever race with a finisher’s certificate to show for it. Woo woo woo you know it!

>>> Race Time: 5K (1 hour 5 min)

The Road of a Rookie Runner

Konnichiwa… I’m Terence, a young (ok, maybe not so young) 20 something based in Davao. I am a Christian, I work at a business, and I am a newbie blogger. I like reading, watching movies, traveling, and writing just for fun. And of course, in the loose definition of the term, I am a rookie runner.

That was on March 2011, when I got the idea of joining my first fun run. No, it was not in the gym, or the road, or from family or friends (though they did a nice try, I just wasn’t convinced. ^_^). In the most unorthodox of all settings, I joined the run because a company I invested in sponsored it. So, I invited my friends, woke up at an eye-popping time (for me at least), just went out and ran. It was a great experience and I was hungry for more. Since then, I ran in the gym, on the road, and of course during Sunday Fun Runs. I have run a variety of distances from 3Ks to 21Ks and I am looking forward to more challenges in the future.

Yet in some ways, I am still a rookie. I have not really played a real sport in school and needless to say that I am not a natural athlete. Neither am I an expert to give the healthier running formula. (well, not yet) And while I have been to the gym a few times, I really haven’t taken it that seriously. I am a rookie and I'm proud of my mistakes (mishaps sometimes), such as… buying and wearing the wrong equipment, to running too fast (or not learning to slow down), to pushing myself too far (a.k.a. over-train), to sometimes being slow and lazy, and on some occasions to be too competitive haha. But it is in making mistakes does one learn. You can learn by making them yourself or learn from the mistakes from others. Either way, that’s how rookies (myself included) develop.

Inspired by Jamie's (a.k.a. the Bull Runner) blog, I am excited in writing my own. While I am not really aspiring to be some sort of fitness expert (believe me, just by looking at me, I am not ^_^), I am here wanting to share my story as well as showing the best races Davao has to offer. From reflections of past races to coverage of present fun runs to little insights and learnings that I have while running, I will write them down. This is running through my eyes. This is the road of a rookie runner.