My Timex Ironman 50-Lap Full

I just bought a perfect companion for running: the Timex Ironman 50 lap watch! I have been obsessing for an HRM and a GPS watch for so long (but i couldn't afford it) so i needed to set priorities on what i really need and not what i want for my runs.

hopefully, I got into the realization that what i need is just a timer (hopefully with lap memory function) and an interval timer to organize my training. Instead of needing to raise about 10,000 pesos for a Garmin forerunner 110, I just need less than half of that to buy a durable timekeeper. what savings! 

The moment I saw this watch, i fell in love with the reverse LCD. I love the yellow and black combination! The Timex Ironman 50 full is perfect for me; It sports a 100 lap counter with 50 lap memory to help me monitor my progress and two interval timers to bring order to my training regiment.  

Here's the detailed product features as stated in timex.com

• 99-Lap Counter
• Two Interval Timers
• Automatic Interval Repetition Counter
• Three Daily
• Weekly
• Weekday or Weekend Alarms
• Two Time Zones
• Built-In Setting Reminders
• Forward or Backward Setting
• Month
• Day and Date Display
• Durable and Lightweight Resin Case
• Stainless Steel Bezel
• Top Pusher for Easy Operation
• Co-Molded Resin Strap
• Reverse Digital Display
• 1 Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)

First 10k Event (POCARI SWEAT RUN 2011)

Heres the situation; i haven't run in weeks and i have to punish myself for that. You see, i could have trained in the gym but i didn't - I wasted my days staying up late and drinking most of the recent rainy day spree. I'm was making up excuses because i can blame it all on the rain.

I was window shopping in a sports shop when i saw this beautiful blue singlet on a registration table. I inquired and learned that this is for an upcoming event on July 17, 200 at Frontera Verde, Tiendesitas, Ortigas Center. I didnt even inquire about the organizers, freebies or whether-or-not there will be a timing chip available but i just signed up for the event.  

as I was filling up the form, i realized that running 5k would not be enough punishment for my being lazy so i forced myself to check the 10k on the category box.

now i have about 20 days to prepare for my very first 10k run. This will definitely be a challenge because the farthest i ever trained was only about 7.5km which i am covering in about 1 hour or more.

below are the pictures of the singlet, race map, race bib and the fugly "race kit"

 I love this blue singlet, though i find it a little small for me (i got a size S rather than an M this time)

Ready Get Sweat GO!

I'll be posting another more readable route diagram once im able to get a google map of the vicinity

 The kit is fugly, the singlet, map and bib were jammed in a brown envelop with a pasted print out of the event poster on the back. 

My Very First Race Singlet.

The Hyundai Run for A Cause was my first running event. 

Being my running de-virginizer,  I shall never forget the feeling i felt during the event -  The simultaneous assault of fear and excitement, and the Glory after crossing the finish line.

"kulang pa! Nabitin ako!" i remember saying to my friends after finishing, i felt at that time that i can  run another 5k or more. After recovery i trained harder than ever, pushing my mileage to the more than 30% distance increase per week (i know it's wrong but i was very very hyped then). 

As i now sit behind my desk, criticizing myself for not braving the bad weather these past few weeks, I think to myself that i should enroll to a gym as an alternative to road running.  :s

What about you? When and How was your first running Event?

call me 08807

Why I Wont Run tonight.

I have a thousand valid reasons why i shouldn't run tonight and only one small reason why i should.
Circumstances versus Will, the winner  of this fierce battle determine one's fate.
Are you gonna stay mediocre forever or strive to be better?

im off to run. rain or shine.

Some thoughts on running and being a better individual

THE RIGHT attitude is key

Whether we're going to remain mediocre or improving depends on our mental and emotional attitude. Our capabilities are limited only by our mental strength and will. Modern society is pampering us with the hypnotic "illusions of safety" that we deem every challenge beyond these "safe zones" as impossible feats.  

impossible IS NOTHING

There are a multitude of inspirational stories that features people doing feats that a common soul would think to be impossible. For example there is the story of  Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France 7 times while simultaneously battling cancer. 

"Without cancer, I never would have won a single Tour de France. Cancer taught me a plan for more purposeful living, and that in turn taught me how to train and to win more purposefully. It taught me that pain has a reason, and that sometimes the experience of losing things—whether health or a car or an old sense of self—has its own value in the scheme of life. Pain and loss are great enhancers."

The human body is proven to be capable of extreme feats as long as one pushes oneself diligently. Impossibility - the ultimate excuse, only exist in the mind of the weak - the mediocre while the strong continues to challenge and destroy status quo. 

Beating one's self

As an amateur runner, I have no championships to take in mind YET. Before i direct myself towards achieving medals and awards, i must first overcome the hurdle of laziness and lack of focus. I must first beat myself before i go run trying to beat other people. after all the greatest of battles are fought in one's heart

p.s.  Many people accuse Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs. I don't really know if it's true but one thing i know is that you can take PED's all you want but it wont give you a championship if you don't physically labor for it.

My Deuter Pulse Three

I was actually looking for a Nathan Speed 2, a two flask racing belt, but Toby's MOA only had the 1 flask version (i think it was the Speed 1). I was lucky though because the sales lady suggested that i try the Deuter brand on the far end of the alley and this baby caught my eye. It has a bottle holder and four pockets; two mesh pockets on each sides, a vertical pocket for shades and a fairly big utility pouch at the back.

Using this at my runs I could bring 2 cellphones, a shirt and mini-towel and a 1 liter water bottle (no, i don't actually run with bottle at my hip). 

below are more pictures of my Deuter Pulse Three

It has an elastic chord on the utility pouch and 3M reflective elements

pictures of the reflective linings on the mesh 

My Nike Lunarglide +2 (Chlorine Blue + Wolf Gray version)

I got this sweet pair of Nike stability shoes from RUNNR last March 27, 2011 as a preparation for my first 5k event which was the highly successful Hyundai Run For a Cause. Event photos are available here.

The first time i saw this chlorine blue shoes, i already fell in love with it. but, i thought that i should first at least have my Gait Analyzed to have the best running shoes based on my anatomy.

Luckily, the Lunarglide gave the best over-pronation correction of all the three shoes I tried (they let me try an Adidas and a Mizuno).

I am running with this pair for over two months and i have gone to love it so much to the point that i am using it as my daily walking shoes. My feet feels very pampered when i am using the lunarglide 2 because of its dynamic support and cushioning that my feet now gets sore whenever i use my "flat" walking shoes. I hope that this shoe will last torture these upcoming months as i am now training for longer races.

below are other pictures of my Lunarglide +2 

In conclusion of my first blog post i am leaving you guys with an inspirational running quote:

Life is short... running makes it seem longer.

Baron Hansen