10 k at PTAA, UP Diliman

It's my first time to run a 10 k in my alma mater. My 5 k runs here were always challenging. I don't know, but maybe because my feet are not of equal length, I could really feel the unevenness of the road. Anyway, the typical Runrio event, a loud emcee, with booths on the side, the works. I warmed up by running around 200 meters, and started to sweat profusely.

Positive Split

When I heard the gun shot, I said to myself I was going to do this fast, and just slow down after the 2nd half of the run. I was running with my former parents from Poveda, Rory and Ivy, they were much faster than I, but at that time we were all on the same speed. Until Ivy soared.

I was still running, imagining myself running fast, until my mizuno bullet water bottle fell from my hydration belt. This startled the runners behind me. I picked it up, losing my momentum, and then my eyeglasses fell. This altogether left me pissed, and frustrated. My positive split plan just became a split altogether.

After gathering my self, I decided to run again. But I tell you, it was just difficult for me to jog even. I lost touch with myself, getting pikon and telling reminding myself why I joined 10 k instead of only 5. I was slowly getting disappointed, watching all the other runners run or even walk past me.

For a long time, I could not recover. I just kept walking, drinking, holding my bottle, restrained. I felt bad because my eyeglasses really broke. (Much to Rod's dismay when he found out). I was thinking in my mind how this might be my last, pushing myself too much for this when I know I cannot excel.

The sad part about the route (which had changed last minute) was that I had no idea how many km's I had already run. I have not been to many races, but I have been to enough to see these posts, saying 4k, 5k, etc. I was kind of depending on them, to strategize my run in a sense that I was going fast in one k, and just take it easy in the other kilometer. Oh well,. So much for that. Following blindly, I walked/jogged till I reached 7 k, letting go of all the ambition to run fast.

Just giving up.


Slow Recovery

Like all episodes in my run, I started getting conscious about my journey. I figured, hey, my playlist was playing slow music, and I had to look for the "inspirational" ones. Well, no fail, Come On Eileen started playing and I started picking up, there at the university avenue, and then U2's All I Want Is You became pretty dramatic but intense. Then at the anti climactic turn, I started talking to myself.
And praying.
Why didn't I notice how beautiful the trees were? And why was I not enjoying this very blessing that God had given me?
Like the Meek Runner (who always inspires me with her humility and appreciation), I offered the last kilometer to God, and just surrendered myself.

And then I started running. Slowly at first, but steadily.

I left all the walking runners and just told myself, I had so much to give, but I will control. Control. Control. Like a long slow distance run that I always enjoy.

Runners, bikers started to occupy the oval. So many of them.

I was so near the finish line when I found myself smiling, almost crying in anticipation....

Ahhh.....finish line.....

The coaches from Nike Running Clinic greeted the finishers. And I was relieved. And happy.

Here's to a new pair of eyeglasses!!!! (I can see Rod's angry face now....)