My new New Balance 560

I was really excited to run again after my epic failure in Takbo Para Kay Gibo. I registered for the Condura Run for the Dolphins a week later at ATC with my girlfriend.

Five of my Gibo running mates were running the 21k of Condura. Just to be unique, I registered for 5k. :)) I knew for a fact that I couldn't go beyond 5k yet.

But for this run, I was bringing something special: new running shoes! With financial assistance from my ever loving girlfriend, I was able to get a New Balance 560 two days before the run.

I know getting new shoes a few days before the run is not really the bestest of ideas but my Yonex pair almost did not survive Gibo. Anyway, I tested it for a 500m sprint when I got home and another 2km the next day (day before the run).

It felt a bit weird at first, running with new shoes. I've had my Yonex for 3 years and I used it for almost everything - badminton, running, jumping, walking, lazy gyming, casual, semi-formal.

But I like the N-fuse technology that comes with the NB 560. It combines two foams with different densities, providing soft cushioning on top and support and compression set at the bottom. It's indeed a great basic running shoe for neutral runners. Of course I googled that bit. On a personal note, I say that it's a nice pair and they look good on me (says my girlfriend too). :D

While I'm at it, allow me a paragraph to say that I love the support that my girlfriend gives me for my running. Aside from the new kicks, she also got me a new pair of Nike socks and encouraged me to register for 10k in Century Superbods! [Talk about girlfriend pressure!]

Takbo Para Kay Gibo

My officemates invited me to join the 5K run for "Takbo Para Kay Gibo" (1/16/2010). It was an easy yes for me, not because of my political views, but because the registration was only 100 Php! I thought it was a bargain because you also get a shirt.



Also I had been running since August (after my 3 months of post-AMG Run recovery period) in my quest to lose enough weight so that I can make the upcoming team offsite the "offsite where the shirt finally comes off." (Although as if destiny does not allow my toplessness, the offsite was postponed twice and when it finally happened, I had to stay home to study for a certification exam).

I honestly thought that I was so fit enough that I can do sub-30. After what felt like 20km (I realized later that it was less than 2km), I was back to walking - already out of breath and half-limping. I think I walked most of the 2nd half, occasionally breaking into a 1 minute run, then going back to what I thought was brisk walking.

I was thrilled to see the water station after the first turn. I stopped to drink one plastic cup full of water, walked 2 steps, then downed another full cup. I was told later that that made me even slower and heavier, making the 2nd half (2.5k?) more unbearable.

It was definitely a bad run. But I was so frustrated that I afterwards downloaded training plans and read more about running. This was like a wake up call for me. Whatever the distance, I should come prepared.

Among our running team (my officemates and some friends), I was the last to finish. When I got to the finish line, it looked like they already had finished eating lugaw.

What made the run encouraging for me was seeing all those people running and the post-run reminiscing we did over Mcdo breakfast. This marked the beginning of (what I call) my running career. One week later, I registered for 5k of the Condura Run for the Dolphins.

Let me share a few photos from the event which include the famous "Superposition".

Here's one with Gibo.


Nahuli ng mga Pulis!


Check! [Notice that my shirt is different - instead of the "Takbo para kay Gibo" logo, mine is "Gibo Teodoro - Gilbert Teodoro for President". They said they ran out of stock of the other shirt design Man!]


And of course, the Superposition! (Yeah yeah yeah, I got the wrong foot up).

My First Run

I would like to say that I was really made for running, that I'm a prodigy, and that I was born to race. But I guess not.

The first ever organized run that I joined (that is, a run with bib number :)) was the AMG Fun Run at McKinley Hill, Fort for the benefit of BATA Foundation. That was last year in May. I joined just for the heck of it.

Two days before the run, I came from a wedding shoot (I'm a photographer) where I think I injured my left foot. So aside from the fact that I did not really want to run, I was even in pain. That made my first run horrible and very much traumatic.

Anyway, I did enjoy being there. I led the morning stretch, that was fun. That's me with the mic.

And yes, that's me. Stretching like there's no tomorrow.

I was the last one to start...

...and of course the last one to finish the very long course...

...of 3 km! (I did not bother to get my time).

I did not enjoy the run (or should I say walk) very much but in a way I felt that I accomplished something by finishing what I started even amidst the pain. I just kept thinking to myself that if I finish, I get a finisher's shirt (which was sadly exactly the same as the shirt I was wearing that day - the AMG BFF day shirt).

The result? I was injured for the next 3 weeks and I did not run for more than 3 months! I was wishing I did not run.

But that was last year.