Tag Archives: libis

Running: A Punishing Friday Run

Posted on by dimsumandsiomai
2

I took vacation leave last Friday because I needed some time off from work. I needed to rest. I needed to make some time for myself. I needed time to relax because the next two weeks ahead of me would be a monstrous one. I filed my leave form last Thursday in the hopes of getting some well deserved rest but come Friday, I did the exact opposite.

I woke up at around 7 am. Tricia messaged me that she wanted breakfast so I obliged and brought some to bring up the condo. I was up at the condo by  7:15 and I was able to finish my morning breakfast by 7:30. Took a bath and I was out on the road by 8. I could feel the cool breeze even at 8 am and I loved it.

friday run 1

I wanted to do a long run that day and I ended up going from Libis to C5 – Fort Bonifacio to Mckinley Hill and then back. I was a slow easy pace run that really helped my build my endurance. I had run running it because of the cold weather. I wasn’t even able to wear my cap anymore because of the cool breeze.

friday run 2

The first 5 kilometers were somewhat the hardest. There was this part of me that wanted me to turn to Julia Vargas so that I would have a hard time going back and there was this part of me that wanted to go up until Fort Bonifacio just to encounter a different route. It was more of a battle of familiarity against exploration. It was a good thing the adventurous one in me won that Friday.

It was amazing to see how busy the cars are. I pass that road everyday going to work and I never actually notice how aggressive drivers are other than myself though. It’s funny to see them hustle and bustle in the streets trying to out drive one another when they could, just like me, run to their destination. They could get there longer but they’d be a lot healthier.

friday run 3 Going into Kalayaan intersection and into Fort Bonifacio was quite testing. I had to go up the pedestrian overpass so as not to become roadkill and not become a big jaywalker. When I got close to the vicinity of the elevated U-turn slot, there were no sidewalks. Flargh, I said to myself. It was this small strip of road where a car would exactly fit in it. If I was running on the road when a car passed, I would surely get sideswiped. I made sure that when I ran the small strip of road that there weren’t any cars behind me. I also made sure I ran it fast. It was a slight burst of speed from me. Shortly after that, I was in Fort Bonifacio and everything was familiar again. I was able to run more comfortably again.

friday run 4

I made my way to Mckinley Hill and just like Bonifacio High Street, everything was familiar again. Total distance going there before making that U-turn at the end of Enderun was 11.5 kilometers. Went back the same way to complete a very long 23 kilometer 3 hour long run. Check out my nike+ stats here. Check full map here.

It was a tiring and punishing Friday that was meant to be my rest day. Ironically, one would have been able to rest over the weekend, I gained a slight fever which really meant I needed to take a break. I guess that punishing run forced me to take that rest after all.

Running: 10 Kilometers Over Ortigas

Posted on by dimsumandsiomai
1

10 kilometer routeI ran a lot last Sunday. It was a very good and easy 10 kilometer run over 80 minutes. Not a good time but a good run for a very good SLSD, Slightly Long Slow Distance if there ever is a term.

The route was Libis, all the way up to Julia Vargas avenue. The long stretch of road seems so long when you run it but by the time you plot it in Google Maps, you’ll find out that it’s only just about 2 kilometers. I turned right to Julia Vargas avenue and I somehow felt better. I was able to escape the long Libis road. Had trouble breathing in Libis because of all the cars passing by. Going into Julia Vargas was easy and fun. I was in a residential area which meant a little less cars compared to Libis and definitely a little less pollution. Jogged along Julia Vargas until I turned left at Lanuza. Going up that road which led to PhilSports arena was torture. If you thought that that last stretch going out of  Mckinley Hills  into Lawton/5th avenue was hell, you’ll be surprised to see how that PhilSports road is like. Mckinley would have been a walk in the park compared to PhilSports road. I’m glad I run a very slow jog up it with out any walks. The road eventually led me to Meralco avenue where I turned right and eventually, it led me to Julia Vargas again. Turn right for my steady run back home. Went down Julia Vargas Avenue literally. The slight down hill of the road was a very welcome rest and the rest I had was very welcome in my jog back home. Turn left at Lanuza and it led me to Ortigas.

Turn right at Ortigas and after running a very short distance on the road, I turned left into Greenmeadows Drive. I had trouble going through this road. It was long and there were some parts that were rolling. The sidewalks were under construction and the walls were urinating. I don’t know why they were urinating but the walls we just spitting out watter and it really made the sidewalks slippery. I eventually got back to Libis and it quite an easy run from there going back to Eastwood.

Aside from the urinating walls, the run was very good! I had more fun this time compared to the scary one I had in Marikina. I guess running at night in the busy Metro streets will always be scary and dangerous.

Running: Bordering on Stupidity

Posted on by dimsumandsiomai
3

A lot was at stake. I haven’t ran for the past two days and the idle time hasn’t been kind, lest, fortunate, to my body. For one, I am slowly gaining back the water weight that I always brag about losing. Every morning, after a good night’s sleep from a run, I always weigh myself and the results always manage to put a smile on my face. Second, not running for the past two days has been detrimental to my endurance and my “training plan” for the ever nearing Subic International Marathon that I plan to join this October. I should be running at least 40 kilometers a week. The idle time last weekend resulted in me not reaching my weekly average.

I should be running again. I should be running again. I should be running again.

I said it three times just as hard and determined as Dorothy would say when she really yearned to go home back to Kansas. I was getting ready to jog and head out of the house when I realized I didn’t have my hydration belt with me. Having the belt with me was crucial. It was a reason for me not to go home. I could always run five kilometers with out any hydration but for safety’s sake, I need water in my system. Not having that hydration belt would have meant that I would need to go home after the gruelling five kilometers to drink and recuperate. Going home to get water wouldn’t be the best of options for me though as the “I’m too lazy to run again” bug would bite right in the ass and render me glued to the floor. That wouldn’t be a nice sight.

I left my hydration belt in the condominium. The condominium was in Eastwood City. I lived in Marikina, Cinco Hermanos Subdivision to be exact. The distance from the two was just a mere 30 minutes in travel time.

What went on in my mind for the next 30 seconds would have been the biggest mistake I would have made if ever something bad happened to me. I thought to myself. I can run 30 minutes straight without stopping. I can run fast. I’ve been training for it. I bet I can make it to Eastwood just before it gets to late to get my hydration belt, fill it up at 711, and then run back to Marikina for a very easy yet dangerous one hour run. It was getting late. It was almost 8 pm and I should leave for Eastwood I want wanted to get back in one piece by 9 pm.

Running along Major Dizon in Marikina was a sweat. But it was dark. I was hard to see where I was going. I felt like I was going to hit a tree. Thank you Marides C. Fernando for making the streets for Marikina walkable. I made a right to head of to the Riverbanks road the led to Libis. Passing by the banks for the river was a welcome change except for the stray thoughts of being mugged. I reached Libis and a multitude of cars welcomed me. It was better than being mugged. I got to the condominium in exactly 30 minutes. My guesstimate was correct for once.

Went up, got my hydration belt, filled it up at 711, and went back home, the same way. Eastwood was my turn around point if you wanted to put in racing terms. Going back was easier. I knew what I was facing so I was a little bit more complacent of my surroundings. Got back ahead of schedule and managed to do negative splits. Got back at my house after 27 minutes. The fear of getting mugged must have pushed me even more.

It was getting late.