Running for a free pizza

I signed up for the Jimmy the Greek Maine Mall 5K Race for Lyme Disease this year again. However, proceeds of the event this year will be donated to the Boston Marathon Victims instead of the Research for Lyme Disease.

  

I love this race because the route is easy and I am so familiar with it - the Maine Mall area. wink*** But no, I didn't go shopping after the race like I did last year and I am so proud of myself for the strength and self-control.

I finished in 23:46 and I was over-the-moon in happiness until I realized just now that the race wasn't actually 5K. The distance that we ran wasn't actually 3.10 miles but 1.9 miles. That explained why my PR is almost 10 minutes less than usual. Hayzzzz!!!

So yes, I ranked 243rd out of 362 participants with  a 12:31 pace time. And with that result, I couldn't rejoice knowing that most of those who crossed the finished line after me were walkers. Another hayzzzzz!!!

Oh well, I cannot brag about it since deep in my heart I know too that I didn't deserve to run faster than the speeding bullet because I didn't train or did anything at all to prepare myself for the race. But just crossing the finish line gave me the pride I need to sign up for more races. And yes, I whole-heartedly line up to get my free pizza right after I crossed the finish line. Why not? That was the main reason why I signed up for this race in the first place. LOL.

Then headed straight to Weight Watchers for the weighting in with a slice of pizza on my hand.

Home Run

My 7-week vacation is over and I'm back to home base. It was such a wonderful vacation despite the 4 storms that the Philippines had during the duration of my stay. I had a wonderful time with my family especially with my 3 nieces and a nephew whom I love to pieces.

I also had such a wonderful time with my brother Japol who brought me to different places. But I didn't get the chance to run a race which we originally planned because of the storms and Japol's hectic itinerary for me. Oh I love him so much for all his efforts to entertain me. So blessed to have a brother like him.

I really wished I had a chance to run because 7-weeks of non-stop pigging out on my favorite foods [that I have not eaten for 5 long years] and no exercise took a great toll on me. I gained 15 lbs. back at the end of my vacation.

Though I had one opportunity to run on the first day I was home with Toby [my Nephew], but that was all about it. It didn't even make me sweat because people I passed by along the road would stopped me and chat. So I just ended up buying more food in the market instead. wink*

Good thing, Japol once came home during one of his day off and we ran from Liliw [my hometown] to Nagcarlan [the next town where I went to High School] and met up with my former High School friend, Aida and her HS sweetheart, Allan.

Japol and I got the chance too to walk with Allan and Aida from Nagcarlan town proper to Sinipian... a well-known Barrio which is frequented by devotees during 1st Friday of the month. And yes, it was First Friday that day.

And of course, a visit to Sinipian will not be complete without buying and pigging out on those yummy treats which I believe is one of the reasons too why people go to that shrine in the first place. wink*

 

YUMMY indeed!


NOTE: Photos all courtesy of  JAPOLogy. Thanks a bunch Japs. Love you.

Y Race?

Why do I join races? One good reason I can think of... I have to entertain myself. I need to think of a thing to do that will not involve getting bored. And I need a thing to do to stay away from food. But that is another story.

I started racing at the age of... ehemmmm... [clearing my throat here]... 46. Yeah, I'm a late bloomer.

I started joining races when I got jealous of those runners and figured out that I can do the same. And I was right. I have ran more than a dozen races to date.

The YMCA Fit Fest 5k race is another race I ran with Heather. And yes, we were not late. We came just in time. It was a fun race aside from doing a good cause for the YMCA. I work for the Y in Sanford so the affiliation is the same.

The route is awesome and picturesque. I did a great job I guess since I did not stop jogging/running through the entire race. I clocked in 36:08 at 11:21 pace placing me 461st over 701 participants. That included the walkers too. LOL.

But the best part of this race is the post race where Heather and I went antiquing. LOL we spent the rest of the day at Brunswick flea market and yard sales. I brought home some antique silver wares. Love it.

What's not 2 LUV?

It was a chilly early spring morning. By this time, I'm more comfortable driving down the Back Cove because this is my 5th [I guess] time I've been there. Three out of five times were races that I joined. And this time this is the 2nd time I did Luv2Run Series, which is the 1st of the 3 Series for 2012.

It was nothing very spectacular except the view. Nothing worth noting but the freezing cold weather. And nothing too special but keeping with my running routine.

The race was small, simple and uncomplicated. It was pure fun and achievable. I clocked in 37:32 with 11:14 pace. I wasn't too impressed though but hey, I did it despite the cold weather. I place 63rd out of 72 participants. And I had a blast shopping afterward. And that - is worth noting... that is spectacular and that is special, indeed. wink

Pre-5k Itch

Ok, I am scheduled to run again tomorrow and I don't know if I will survive it. LOL. The other day, instead of running I decided to go for ice cream with my step-son. I had strawberry cheesecake. Yum. Then we headed down the beach on our way home and cool off a bit.

Well, we are battling "heat wave" here so I'm hoping that it will not be too hot and humid tomorrow. Yesterday, I went for my regular 3-mile run and boy, I thought I would die right there on the road. It was so hot and the breeze was like the air coming out from the dryer's vent.

I should have went down the river instead. But I know it will not cool me off either. The entire planet felt like a huge outdoor sauna. It was indeed not the smartest decision I made yesterday. So now I just stayed home the whole day drinking gallons of ice-cold water and planning to carbo-load a little later. Thinking of Chinese again. hayyyy

Tomorrow will be my 3rd 5k race and just like the first two, I have no expectations. I just want to run and have fun. I will not look for anybody unassuming to run with to spare myself from the humiliation. I still not over the last experience I had with that awesome old lady during my 2nd 5k in Gray last May. This time, I will be running with Heather, my step-daughter. I am just so glad that finally I will run with somebody I know and will not feel so alone.

And tomorrow... after the race - Heather and I are planning to go shopping for - yes, SHOES!

Sore Knees

The trophy of a runner - sore knees.

Yes, I am sore right now. I don't know if it is because of the race or shopping. lol

I didn't work-out the following day of the race. Yesterday, after my AM shift I went straight in town where I had my Mammogram. After the Mammo, I went to check out some stuffs in a running store in Forest Ave. Then I went to the Mall and bought a few stuff to reward myself for doing a great job. wink*

When I went home my knees were still okay.  I felt a little sore but nothing like I cannot handle. I applied my magic ointment and I felt better.

Today, I worked out but nothing too intense. I just walked for 10 minutes on the treadmill at a pace of 2.5 then pumped iron for 30 minutes. Did some stretching afterwards then hit the sauna for 15 minutes. After that, I had my power snack then headed to the whirlpool and soaked my aching body for 10 minutes. I spent another 2 minutes in the sauna before I finally hit the shower.

It was a relaxing day indeed. But as of this writing, my knees are sore again so I need to take the sneakers off [and no-no for stilettos] and let my toes breathe. And most importantly, it's time for my magic ointment again.