I was craving for some sinigang last night. I’m so pinoy and pasta is not the way to carboload for me. I had my heart set on steaming rice swimming in sinigang soup.
I finally found some at C2. Crispy Ribs Sinigang. I ordered some for take out. Thinking that the folks might not be home yet I called the waitress back and added rice to my order. She looked a bit hesitant and said, “But ma’am our rice is good for 2.” I smiled and said, “Perfect.” I was tempted to get 2 orders but that might give her a heart attack.
Signing off now and going to be try and chill before Milo tomorrow. I wish I could cut and paste the great weather we had this morning. But sunny, raining, thunderstorm, party cloudy, partyly sunny… ay kahit snow pa you will see me at the starting line.
T2 girls will rock and roll tomorrow.
Before I finally zonk off, special thanks to the T2 boys for their support!
The Twins – my Wave Rider 10s – are both loaded with over 500kms already. I needed to get new trainers. I was considering the Adidas Supernova Glide, Mizuno Wave Rider 12 and the Nike Lunar Trainer. I am familiar with the Wave Rider so I was leaning towards getting them and sticking to something familiar. But the Adidas Formotion pitch also sounded interesting. I tried on the shoe and was impressed with the cushioning and arch support. Equally interesting was Nike’s Lunar technology plus Javy even dedicated a blog entry to this shoe. It looked clunky and McDonaldish but it felt really stable. I thought that the mesh uppers would make it wobbly but it didn’t. I didn’t get to run around in it but I was seriously considering them because I felt it offers the best support for my arches.
Sole searching is such a delightful exercise.
However, before I could make a decision, I received an invitation to test Nike’s latest running shoes – the Nike LunarGlide+. Thanks Eric!
The pitch
A shoe engineered for a woman’s foot and needs. I liked the pitch.
How was the ride?
The test run was deferred a couple of times due to bad weather. Before I got to the actual test run, I managed to log over 60kms on the Glides.
The pitch mentioned a last that is specific to woman’s foot.When I first slipped on the Glides, I was concerned that they’d be too narrow for me. It is fair to say that it was not love at first step between me and the Glides. I had my doubts about the shoe but I agreed to test it so I went for a run. After 60kms, I’m really very surprised that the fit is just right for me. So when it comes to the Glides’ last, first impression does not last.
Bouncy. They mentioned good cushioning. But like the other bloggers, I find the Glides too bouncy, a bit distracting. But but but … I figured if you are a new runner this might actually work for you. When I started running, I couldn’t go running for long because my feet just feels all beat up. The pounding makes you want to stop. Going back for more felt like torture. After a few kms, I found my rhythm, the bounce kinda fades into the background.
Arch Support. I slipped on the shoe, adjusted the arch support and thought, “I like the Nlock system better.” I still do. The arch support strap is adequate but I think its positioning could be improved. I need it a bit more to the middle of my arches.
Rides high. This is probably the one thing I don’t like about Nike trainers. They are way too high for me. I need to be a little closer to the ground.
Heel counter was engineered to provide more support and adapt to different heels.WitchKittywho runs (really fast) on LunarTrainers mentioned that she had a problem with blisters on the ankles on this shoe. The Glides has a softer heel tab. I actually find the heel counter too roomy. I adjust the shoe laces to make it more stable.
Rounded midsoles for smother transition.I didn’t notice much difference here. What I did notice was that it is easier to maintain a midfoot landing on this shoe. The Glides makes it easier to channel Paula (land with feet pointed downwards) .
No stitch overlays.Nice. But i wish it had an extra overlay for extra support on my pinkie toes. Maybe in the next generation of the Lunar.
Speaking of next gen … it might not be a good idea to get attached to this pair. Unlike Mizuno and New Balance, the Lunar technology has changed drastically and the previous one is nothing like the LunarGlide+. The next gen might be totally different shoe without the features you liked. You can of course always start hoarding … but at Php5990ish price its going to be a pricey move.
Outer sole. Looks a bit more durable than Mizuno outer soles. We will see …
Durability. I have logged under 100kms on the Glides. Let’s see how many kms we can log on this pair.
The Verdict
It was not love at first run. But check out my shoes at the test run. Yup, I was wearing the grubbiest pair.
After running tempo, long, easy and interval on the Glides, I am satisfied with it’s overall fit, cushioning and arch support . I am pleased to say that I found my new trainers. Well, I need to wash them first, then we start training again.
How about for races?Ahh … for races, I’m sticking to my Newtons.
I was walking along BHS when I saw this poster. I read the mechanics and decided that I will not mind if I get a DNF in this race.
If you are recovering from Milo, seeking to do a 5K PR, racing the following Sunday, need an excuse to down 6 doughnuts … then this is the race for you.
I’m definitely joining this one. Bringing my hydration belt too. Filled with my favorite iced latte. See you at the finish line, after I finish my dougnuts.
REACH Fun Run
Run, Eatand Help CHange the world
REACH puts the “fun” back into fun run!
Open to all serious runners, not-so-serious runners, moms, dads, senior citizens, teens, tweens, kids, babies and all those who believe that helping others should be fun and enjoyable.
Lots of prizes to be given away! Bring your friends and family and have a good time Running, Eating And helping to CHange the world!
Race mechanics:
1) 1ST LEG: Run 2.5 kilometers from the starting point to the REACH challenge zone;
2) CHALLENGE: Eat six (6) Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts;
3) 2ND LEG: Run, or walk, 2.5 kilometers from the REACH challenge zone to the finish line
* You don’t have to eat all the doughnuts, but only those who complete both legs of the fun run and consume all six (6) doughnuts will be eligible to receive the GRAND or SECOND prizes.
Registration details:
landline: 9852540 | 823 6159
Speak to any of our representatives, who will run you through the details.
But wait, there’s more! I think they are planning to give tshirts to the first 100 registrants! Way kewl!
Update: Here’s the race reg form. Print and send. Bring a copy on race day. Okay folks, don’t start grumbling. Only our stomachs are allowed to rumble and grumble on race day. Hala, reserve a slot and dont forget a copy on race day.
GU so good. When you find someone selling Gu one week before a marathon, you know your day is going to start on a good note. I met up with Johnny early this morning to get my stash – one box of my favorite vanilla bean. He sold it at Php1280 per box. Cheap. Sorry folks, it’s sold out na. Click here to checkout his blog for updates.
Heat Training. Those who can’t run as fast just trains to endure the elements. Next Sunday’s run will without a doubt start on time. But even with the 430am gun time, I can still see myself battling traffic and glorious morning sun before I cross the finish line. To prepare for next Sunday, we started running at 8:30am today. It was hot but a bit windy. Great day for strolling on tree lined streets. That’s what we ended up doing. I think the plan tomorrow is to try running up and down Roxas Blvd. We are familiar with the route around The Fort area but Roxas will be a relatively unfamiliar area. I may have an evil plan or two for the TinS. Shhh…
Garmin is Alive. When my charger died a few weeks ago, I ended up with a very nice 405 paperweight. Thanks to my Ate Ann, I can use my garmin again to its full potential. The replacement charger I ordered finally arrived today. Yey!
Thanks Ate Ann!
I picked the package from Johnny Air cargo at Megamall. Speaking of Johnny Air, I saw a sign that says you can have your goods delivered to their US address and they can ship it to your Philippines address. I think this is a cheaper shipping option for us.
Back to the Garmin, I’m super excited to run tomorrow. I miss my virtual run partner. I’m also curious to see what is the “easy” pace that Keti and I have been doing lately.
The Medal. The medal story starts with two fast runners. There are 2 female runners I’m always drafting at races … Candy Lee and Bernadette Tan. I don’t know them personally but I always see them so I wave and say hi when I see them at practice runs and at turnaround points. Oh and yes … I know their finish times too.
Last week, at FF Fort Shiela introduced me to them. After a bit of chika, Bern or was it Candy mentioned that they were able to claim their Botak medal and prize money. Candy finished 3rd in her age category and Bern finished 2nd in our age category. Based on the race results, I came in 3rd in our age category.
Curious and excited with the possibility of getting a medal, I asked how they were able to get it. Candy gave me the number of Franco Atienza of Botak. I texted Franco to check if I could still get the medal and maybe the prize too. I still feel bad about missing out on the Krispy Kreme GC from Airspeed. He texted back and said that I can go to their office and pick it up. Yey n Wow! A medal for a marathon. Never mind the finish time.
I went this morning to the Botak office in QC. Franco Atienza and Rowena Viesta (Chief Accountant) released my medal and Php1000 prize money.
As I was leaving their office, Franco introduced me to Mr Cesar Guarin. I wished them both luck for tomorrow’s 100km race and left with a silly grin. I have a marathon medal and it’s not just a finisher’s medal. Woohoo!
They said it was 85% trail and they didn’t lie. What they forgot to tell us was that it was a long, winding and rolling trail to the finish.
After the starting gun was fired, we only had about 500m of paved road before we hit the trail. I saw the pictures during the press launch. I knew we would be running in a path cleared for the event but I really thought it was going to be a straight path. Surprise. The trail twisted and turned. Sometimes it snaked up and sometimes it snaked down. Planning was out of the question for me. I just kept on running. Garmin was still out of commission but I figured I was hitting 630ish.
I knew I should be cutting corners and running straight but I just couldn’t. It was a snake run for me. I was just laughing to myself. I felt silly and dizzy.
After a couple of kms, I set a goal. I wanted to overtake at least one female runner. I was able to overtake 3 but lost ground during the last 3kms and 3 female runners easily passed me. Hay! As I told Ysmael, my mamon breakfast was only good for 13km.
Love/Hate the race this morning. Loved the route, hated that I lost steam at Km13.
I had a hard time this morning but now that I’m out of the kugon trail, have showered and about to get a foot massage, I can say that I really had fun this morning.
Congratulations to MensHealth and Finishline.ph! Looking forward to your next race.
Only downside to this race was the security. Camera equipment was stolen from the car parked beside us. Lapse on security, yes. But fellow runners, let’s also keep our stuff safe. Leaving valuables on your car seat is an open invitation for the thieves out there. Ingat na lang next time.
Quiz: Can you guess my women’s category ranking in this race?
Are your friends little dots in front of you at races? Are they blurs that pass you after the turnaround?
At training runs, do you find yourself panting and gasping for air just to keep up with them? Do you just fall back and find yourself walking after running 2Km with them on your long runs? Or do they end up running backwards on uphills just so you can run side by side?
Different runners run different paces but it doesn’t mean you can no longer train together (and survive).
As you progress from a walk/run to a 30 minute straight run and on to 1 hour runs, you should start considering including quality runs i.e. tempo, various speed repeat distances and long runs. This is where you can start training with your faster friends without them sacrificing their own training days. Best combo for slow-fast friends buddy run is the tempo-easy run combo. The slower friend can run their tempo while the faster friend is doing their easy run. A definite win-win!
Hatched: Another scheme to get faster
Keti and I came up with this scheme while we were out on one of our Monday runs. Mukhang Guilty, runMD and AmJ are really fast runners. If we can schedule our tempo runs with them, we are guaranteed to get our lazy legs turning over a tad faster.
TheScheme: Wagi!
A lot of factors came in to play when I ran the Mizuno Infinity Run 2009. However, I have to admit that my 2 Saturday tempo runs gave me the confidence to push myself harder. Running tempo with other runners makes the training run a little easier and more fun. The goal is to stick to your pacer and not worry if you are hitting your target pace. That’s their job. You just have to trust that they will run on pace and not try to kill you. During these 2 training runs, I ended up focusing more on my form and making little adjustments to comfortably run on pace rather than obsessing about the pace.
End result: Mizuno 5:51 min/km pace.
Thanks to Rene, Mukhang Guilty and runMD.
Next Target pacer: MiSH. Then, when I’m feeling suicidal, I will try and trail Mari around Ultra.
Btw, being slow isn’t so bad. You are guaranteed to have great pictures as you cross the finish line. Just keep on running and have fun.
They said : It’s a newly opened trail. 85% of the route will be trail. Relatively flat. Good for beginners. You have 3sumthing hours to complete the course.
I thought : Interesting…
Looking back, I don’t know how I got from being mildly interested to actually signing up to do another trail race. Dehydrated na naman.
Then last Friday, somewhere around Km 29 and 30, I started thinking about Sta. Elena and the pictures of Men’s Health ATR and I started leaping and bounding over puddles, roots and lubak along McKinley. It was past 11am and I was getting strange looks from the cars passing by. I didn’t care, I was suddenly excited to hit the trail again.
I’m looking forward now to Sta. Elena. Will I test my limit or easy run with picture-picture on the side? I still haven’t decided. I’m still anxious about trail running but I’m eager to spring from one foot to the other and jump over puddles, rocks etc. Well, maybe not up and over a cow.
Oh no! I think I’ve been bitten by the trail running bug.
05July2009 - 5:05. Opps. Sori, its 5:06:06 pala. Thanks to Ria and Emer. Harry and Vince. Vicky. Lito, Torio, Robert, Angel and Ging. Dindo and Joe. Congratulations to all who braved the starting line today. And a big woohoo to T2 Girls - Mesh, Kathy, Beni, Tin and Kristine. Plus one more time real loud WOOHOO to Mesh for placing 7th and qualifying. Post later.
I was craving for some sinigang last night. I’m so pinoy and pasta is not the way to carboload for me. I had my heart set on steaming rice swimming in sinigang soup.
They said it was 85% trail and they didn’t lie. What they forgot to tell us was that it was a long, winding and rolling trail to the finish.
05July2009 - 5:05. Opps. Sori, its 5:06:06 pala. Thanks to Ria and Emer. Harry and Vince. Vicky. Lito, Torio, Robert, Angel and Ging. Dindo and Joe. Congratulations to all who braved the starting line today. And a big woohoo to T2 Girls - Mesh, Kathy, Beni, Tin and Kristine. Plus one more time real loud WOOHOO to Mesh for placing 7th and qualifying. Post later.
