I now achieved my 3rd and last short term goal - run a 10K race. Compared to my first 5K race - the Century Tuna SuperBods Run 2010, I had more fun with this one and it really felt like a major achievement.
I was a bit apprehensive about this run because I wasn't able to do my target 10K long run the previous week. The most I could do that day was 8K. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish my first 10K race.
So, I added another race day strategy - to run a slower more comfortable pace than my normal training pace (as if my training pace was not slow already).
Before the start of the race, I told my wife and son, who both joined the 3K race, to meet me at the finish line after 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours - my estimated finish time, considering my slow pace, my previous long-runs, my 4 min run:1 min walk run-walk-run strategy and the Buendia-Kalayaan flyover.
When the starting horn blared, I started with my planned slow pace. Hordes of runners of all shapes and sizes were passing me. But I didn't let it bother me, I left my ego in the car and stuck to my strategy. After the first 4 minutes I already took my first 1 minute walk break, and even more runners passed me. Even after Greenbelt, runners were still passing me, but I stuck with my pace and my planned walk breaks - except when there were Photovendo photographers, I'll cut short my walk break :).
At the dreaded flyover, people were still running up. I walked up the ramp and only started running when I reached the top. I did the same thing on the way back. When I got back down to Buendia, I thought to myself, "I survived the Buendia flyover!" My legs were still fine and my heart rate was still in Zone 2 and there were less than 3 kilometers left!
At the last water station, there was a big sign that said "LAST KM." Reading that sign gave me a big boost. After I drank my Powerade, I was able to run all the way to the finish line. I even passed a number of people walking (I never pass people running, only people walking. I was that slow. During training, some people walking even pass me). And, I wasn't spent yet, at the Buendia corner Makati avenue, I was still able to pick up the pace a bit, no runners passed me this time.
At the finish line, a surprise greeted me. I couldn't read the clock for the 10K race until I was about to cross the finish line. And it said 1:35! I never paid attention to my stop watch display for the most part of the race - I only looked at the heart rate reading. My stop watch also said 1:35! So, I wasn't reading the wrong clock.
I know 1:35 is a slow time for a 10K. But for someone, who is running it for the first time (in decades), who's not sure if he'll finish it, who's expecting a 1:45 finish if everything goes well, a 1:35 10K made me very happy that day (and a few days after that). I was all smiles at the finish line. Definitely a very memorable 1st 10K.
My next target race - the Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 10K on April 11 ...
I was a bit apprehensive about this run because I wasn't able to do my target 10K long run the previous week. The most I could do that day was 8K. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish my first 10K race.
So, I added another race day strategy - to run a slower more comfortable pace than my normal training pace (as if my training pace was not slow already).
Before the start of the race, I told my wife and son, who both joined the 3K race, to meet me at the finish line after 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours - my estimated finish time, considering my slow pace, my previous long-runs, my 4 min run:1 min walk run-walk-run strategy and the Buendia-Kalayaan flyover.
When the starting horn blared, I started with my planned slow pace. Hordes of runners of all shapes and sizes were passing me. But I didn't let it bother me, I left my ego in the car and stuck to my strategy. After the first 4 minutes I already took my first 1 minute walk break, and even more runners passed me. Even after Greenbelt, runners were still passing me, but I stuck with my pace and my planned walk breaks - except when there were Photovendo photographers, I'll cut short my walk break :).
At the dreaded flyover, people were still running up. I walked up the ramp and only started running when I reached the top. I did the same thing on the way back. When I got back down to Buendia, I thought to myself, "I survived the Buendia flyover!" My legs were still fine and my heart rate was still in Zone 2 and there were less than 3 kilometers left!
At the last water station, there was a big sign that said "LAST KM." Reading that sign gave me a big boost. After I drank my Powerade, I was able to run all the way to the finish line. I even passed a number of people walking (I never pass people running, only people walking. I was that slow. During training, some people walking even pass me). And, I wasn't spent yet, at the Buendia corner Makati avenue, I was still able to pick up the pace a bit, no runners passed me this time.
At the finish line, a surprise greeted me. I couldn't read the clock for the 10K race until I was about to cross the finish line. And it said 1:35! I never paid attention to my stop watch display for the most part of the race - I only looked at the heart rate reading. My stop watch also said 1:35! So, I wasn't reading the wrong clock.
I know 1:35 is a slow time for a 10K. But for someone, who is running it for the first time (in decades), who's not sure if he'll finish it, who's expecting a 1:45 finish if everything goes well, a 1:35 10K made me very happy that day (and a few days after that). I was all smiles at the finish line. Definitely a very memorable 1st 10K.
My next target race - the Mizuno Infinity Run 2010 10K on April 11 ...
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