Why Bananarunning

Hi I’m Bards. I started running to lose weight (click here  to read my weight loss story ) and now I’m hooked. When I started, I usually run in the gym so my earlier entries were about my hamster workouts. Back then, I only run outside for my long runs.

After I recovered from the Subic Half Marathon,  majority of my runs have been outside. I still do my easy runs in the gym but I have now moved my quality workouts outside.

I usually run with a crazy bunch of runners collectively called T2. We go crazy when we are not training for something.

So why Bananarunning? Wala lang … I joined a fun run and they gave us banana. After working out in the gym, they usually have free banana. The healthiest food option at 7-11 is a banana (but now they dont have it every day and when they do its a bit mushy and spotty). Still, it’s the best pre and post run snack for me. Prevents cramps too.

Pero come to think of it … parang i was thinking about Bananarama when I started this blog. 

My first race was a 2K fun run called Mommy Milkshake Fun run in support of breast feeding. There were kids in the race and when the starting gun went off, I sprinted after them and learned my first lesson in running and road racing. Run your own race at your own pace.  I ended up gasping for air after the first kilometer and walked a fair distance.

My first goal race was the Subic Half Marathon which I finished in (2:52:50 by my watch … official time is 2:47:41). After nearly 10months of running, I finally managed to complete a subhour 10K last Sunday at the Runnex@25 held at UP. *dance of joy*

I ran my first marathon last 7Dec08 in Singapore. I finished. The time was was 5:51. It was a very tough race for me but the thought of quitting never entered my mind. I was just a bit saddened that I didn’t even get close to my goal time. That Sunday, I learned that as long as you don’t give up and keep on putting one foot in front of the other you will get to the finish line.

Update 7Aug09. Ran a couple more marathons since SG. I ran Botak in May and finished in 5:22. Then I ran the Manila Elimination of Milo in July and finished in 5:06. I missed the 5 hour curfew. A few weeks before another goal race, I ran the Quezon City International Marathon and finally clocked in sub5 hour marathon – 4:54:59.  I called this my redemption marathon already. I thought this was the best I can do. 

Update 08Nov2009: Flew to New York 2 weeks later to race the 2009 ING New York City Marathon. I had high hopes. I got my slot through lottery  -approx 43,000 out of 100,000 got it. T2 would have killed me if I opted not to join. It ranks now as the best race ever in my books. Months of training finally paid off. I finished in 4:37:51. 

I look back at all the miles I logged to get to my redemption and smile. It was worth it.

However … I was so drained after the race. I woke up with a smile the day after the race but the desire to run was gone. I got a bit worried but not enough to suit put and run. Was I just slacking off or have I gone on vacation mode or horror of horrors has the running bug left me?

I rested. 

This afternoon while waiting for Marionette Theater to open I started scribbling.

Plotting. Planning. Pwede! 

I have a new training program! I needed the one week full rest to completely heal and recover from the stress of training and racing. I feel energised and excited to train again. Ready to hit the road again.

Dream. Believe. Survive!