Last Sunday’s race was a good way to cap off a very fruitful week. The race was the very much awaited very much postponed New Balance Power Race and it proved to be a great one.

I woke up early that Sunday to prepare for the race. I was already up at around 4 am to do my morning rituals and I was out of the condo by by 4:30. I quickly made a pit stop at Mini-Stop to get some goods. Got My self two bananas and a bunch of Gatorade for my hydration belt. Bananas are working for me lately and it’s great because they’re instant source of energy. I used to have a power sandwich for my breakfast for races and ave now switched to bananas. Looks like the basics really work best.

I got to Fort Bonifacio at around 5 am. I had just enough time to finish my two bananas and fill up my hydration belt. I headed straight to the starting gates and I could feel the sheer excitement in me. I planned on finishing a sub 2:20 in the race and I was already psyching myself up. I managed to bump into the very inconspicuous Takbo.ph peeps and was able to chat with them just before gun start.

It was another 3,2,1 ready set go kind of start and it kind of surprised me but nonetheless, I ran my heart out. The first half of the 21 kilometer route was flat. I managed to complete the first 10 kilometers in 61 minutes. I was able to match by personal best for 10 kilometers at that pace. I could have ran faster but took it a little more conservatively. I didn’t want to run out of steam towards the end of the 21 kilometer route.

Runners made their way down through Lawton road for the other half of the 21 kilometer race. Passing through Lawton meant passing through Bayani Road and the dreaded Mckinley Hills. Having been conservative in the first 10 kilometers really helped. I had just enough strength to get through the dreaded twosome hills of Bayani and Mckinley.

I was out of Mckinley at around 1 hour 50 minutes and I was happy with my pace. I paced faster to get a better time because at that point, I knew I had sub 2:20 in the bag. I pushed. I ran harder. I ran a little bit faster. I could already feel my calves tightening up and I didn’t want to slow down just yet. I could really feel how tired my legs were last Sunday in the final stretch. I was trying to pace faster but my legs felt so heavy.

I finally reached the Bonifacio High Street perimeter and the finish line was in sight. It was a quick 100 meters or so dash to the finish. I made a quick dash to the finish but midway, my shoelaces came undone. In the fear to doing a Jinoe, I tried to manage my stride and not trip on myself. I clocked in at 2 hours 13 minutes 58 seconds.

It was a great run. It was a great cap to a very fruitful weekend. It was brand new PR. Check out stats of my run here at Nike+, just don’t mind the distance, that this is bloody as hell inaccurate.

Here’s me goofing off after the race.

That’s me bloated.

Banana Man!

Thanks Rodel and Carlo for the photos!