La Mesa Dam Ecopark Trail

Why yes it's another post on running! When this running shenanigans started, someone mentioned that we should run the trail at the La Mesa Dam Ecopark. I wasn't excited about it because I was not entirely fond of running on the road, much more a trail. But, peer pressure prevailed and since we are all still gung-ho about running, we made plans.

The trail run finally pushed through yesterday. I woke up at around 5AM to bone-chilling temperature. We got to La Mesa at around 6:30AM and had a light breakfast of hardboiled eggs, bananas and Fita crackers. A guide is required for P200 per head. At 7AM, we set off, and it was still cold so I had my hoodie on. It eventually got hot so I had to take it off.

The trail we ran was around 9KM. From then on is a 650meter walk back to parking but my friends decided we proceed to the Bangkalan Rest Station which was overlooking the dam/reservoir. After resting, we hied back to parking, which was another 3KM. My Nike app recorded only 10KM because I turned it off when we were already walking haha.

The trail is indeed more challenging than the road. It was a bit narrow with trees, shrubs and dried leaves around. There are ups and downs and curves.There were also groups of bikers that we had to give way to. A couple of times, hubby deviated from the path to take pictures and I was alone and I felt certain that I would get lost in the forest. Very Hunger Games, especially when from time to time, something would make kaluskos in the shrubs.  At the last stretch, hubby was coaxing me to keep running and I was dragging my feet that I told him to literally push me forward. I still can't believe I ran-walked 10km!

We then went to UP Village to have breakfast. C suggested Ally's on Malingap Street, an all-day breakfast place. I had the beef tapa set with the iced tea changed to coffee which cost P160-180. Yummy tapa and yummy coffee (or maybe I was just too hungry? haha)

Our group is still planning to join more runs so expect more running posts!

7-Eleven Run 1000

I'm alive! I'm blogging! I survived my first organized run - 7-Eleven Run 1000. Yeah, yeah, it was only 5KM, but I ran (well slowly) around 80% at that time. The downside I think to running in these things is the sheer number of people. Even if you wanted to run fast, you can't because of the sheer number of people. There were 5,000 of us in our wave, and there are thousands more running the 21k, 16k, 10k and 3k. In fact, we spent more time lining up to claim our loot bag and medal than the actual run. Toinks.

However, since I bought an armband and hydration belt for this, I better go and join oh, about five runs hehe.

For posterity, my first organized run!

 

Run 2014

So, my law school friends and I have decided to join the running bandwagon. During my birthday dinner, the name of a batchmate came up, and another quipped that that person has gained a lot of weight. This is a bit mean, but we have dubbed it "The _____ Doctrine." So we made plans to join marathons. I guess hubby is happy that I will no longer be sleeping in the car during his runs.

Funnily, when I bought an armband for my phone (yes, career ito!), the saleslady remarked that they've been selling a lot of armbands. I told her, "Ate, January kasi, New Year's resolution nila magpaka-healthy!"

We had our first practice run at UP last January 5 but I didn't set up my Nike app properly. Boo. The following Saturday, hubby and I ran again and here are my "stats."

Yeah, I'm slow. I don't want to rush myself and get injuries. Last Wednesday, I ran round and round the parking lot for 5km, but I'm lazy to upload that pic now hehe.

On Sunday, my friends and I will run at 7-11's Run1000. Hubby's running 21k, a couple of friends are running 10k, while another friend and I will run-walk the 5k. So help us God. Haha. 

1-4-14

I'm not big on celebrating my birthday because it's just a few days after New Year's. Hence, everyone's pooped from the holidays. The celebration, along with my birthday present, is usually lumped with Christmas. Back in college and law school, I was almost always traveling back to Manila before or on my actual birthday.

This year I wanted to try something different because of the unique date, 1-4-14. What I had in mind was the indoor archery range in Makati. However, when we arrived, it was fully booked until closing time. Pffft. So we just got a massage and had dinner at BGC. Reading that, it sounds like my birthday is depressing. Haha. Maybe I should stop celebrating then.