What I Listen to When I Run

It's important for me to listen to something while I'm running. I use them to motivate myself on my runs. Without it, I'll be bored out of my wits! But that's the multi-tasker in me, I guess. For other runners, this isn't a necessity since they say they need to concentrate on their run and listen to their breathing. To each his own.

When I started running, I didn't create a playlist on my ipod especially for running just yet. I wanted to experiment on different genres each time I ran just so I could figure out which ones I liked best. A friend suggested Latin music since it worked wonders to keep her energy up but I couldn't say the same for me. Surprisingly, it was the 80's beats that I enjoyed the most, followed by Pop and R&B.

For my longest run to date (Corregidor 10 mile), I decided to finally make a playlist. These run the gamut of genres I like listening to during my runs - 80's, House, Pop, R&B Dance. My ear candy, so to speak.

Anyways, here’s a gathering of the songs (I call it my "power playlist") that I listen to during my runs that I want to share with you. You'll notice that some are slower than normal but it doesn’t really matter as long as something I like is playing.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

After a few runs I eventually got bored listening to this playlist. I have yet to update it come 2010 with sick new jams. Any suggestions?

So, now I've been listening to audiobooks. I started with "New Moon". Hehe! I'm gonna limit my audiobooks to chick lit since I still like to leaf through pages of great books.




On other runs, I also listen to podcasts such as "Good Times with Mo" (Funny as hell!), "Morning Coach" (Motivating), "Nike Running" (Interviews of Elite Runners), and "Joel Osteen Ministries"(My Spiritual Fix).



Evidently, I will not survive a run without my ipod. Especially if it's a long one!

Last night, for the first time ever, I ran with a group of people at Bonifacio High Street and McKinley and didn't feel the need to turn on my ipod.

Truly, nothing beats a good conversation when you're running with friends.♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Share|

My Cute Running Buddy

His name is Marshall and he's a Shetland Sheepdog or Sheltie, for short. No, his name is not Lassie and he is not a Collie. Shelties are herd dogs like Collies but they're like the smaller version.



I have four other dogs. A Shih-tzu, a Yorkshire Terrier, a Chihuahua, and a Mini Poodle. All of them are small breeds. A Sheltie is also considered a small breed but Marshall is the biggest among the 5 fur babes. Which makes him the best choice for a running buddy. Shelties make good running partners because they are herd dogs.

So, today, I woke up early and took Marshall with me for my recovery run.


I don't really run in the morning but I thought this would be the best time to take my dog with me since there will be no cars at this time. It just finished raining when we stepped out so the weather and pavement was pretty cool. Perfect!

Dogs are suppose to walk/run on our left side. That's how it's suppose to be and that's how he was trained. On our first few meters, I could feel Marshall's excitement. He was 2 steps ahead of me. I tugged on the leash and said "heel". (Heeling is when your dog walks calmly on your left with his head next to your left heel. He will not be trying to run ahead or off to the side, and he will not be yanking as hard as he can at the leash to pull you along). I believe I had to do this twice only and he immediately remembered his training.

When we hit 1.5K, I felt he was getting tired already so I handed him back to our helper so he could rest and have his breakfast. I need to help him build his endurance; break him in slowly, just as I did when I started running. Will give it another go this weekend.

I have to say, that was fun! And I'm pretty sure Marshall had a swell time too. Let me state the obvious. Dogs love to run. There is no doubt about that.

I would suggest having a dog as a running partner to everyone who owns a canine. But before you grab his leash, here are some more tips for running with your dog:

• Make sure that your dog is built for running. Dogs that are bred for work or sport are physically well suited to running. Examples are Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Dobermans, German Shepherd, Collies and Shelties. Dogs like pugs and bulldogs may have a hard time breathing and short-legged dogs like Basset Hounds and Dachshunds may have a hard time running. Make sure he is at least a year old or full grown. Running when he's still growing can do some damage to his bones and muscles.

• Take him to the veterinarian and have him checked (his heart, lungs, joints, for other orthopedic problems, etc.); making sure there are no conditions that would limit him.

• Even if your dog is obedient or trained to run unleashed, still, keep him leashed. If is for his protection (and yours). Your dog may suddenly want to "greet" another animal or person. In high traffic areas, your dog might get hit by a vehicle.
  



• Start out slowly and build up endurance with short distances. Warm him up by walking first, followed by a short jog. Let him cool down with a walk at the end.

• Mind the ground you're running on. Your dog can't wear Nikes like us humans. He is running on his own pads. His pads are part of his perspiration system. Your dog cools down by panting and sweating through the pads. He won't be able to cool down as much if the ground is too hot. Also, if he's been spending his time mostly indoors, the pads will most likely be soft. Let pads toughen up by gradually increasing his mileage per week. If you do too much too soon, his pads may crack and bleed. Ouch! =(
  

• Keep a close eye on his level of fatigue. Dogs are eager to please. They'll ignore or even be unaware of pain. If he shows signs of excessive over-heating or discomfort, (excessive panting, vomiting, drooling) slow down and walk or stop and let him drink some water and pour cool or tepid (not cold) water on his body and pads.

Marshall: "My mommy knows what she's saying".

Be sensitive to your dog's needs and comfort just as well as your own. Train him gradually just as you had to start slowly with short distances. Do this and both of you can share kilometers of happy running together.

♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Share|

Phil. Star Celebrity Run

The Celebrity Run was my last race for 2009. My intention was to make it a good one with the hopes of beating my 1st 10K time of 1:10. Unfortunately, my right ankle failed me again.

I felt fine until I reached 6K. On the first uphill after the 6K mark, I felt that familiar sharp pain on my right ankle again. The same one I felt a few weeks ago at the Corregidor race. And i was like, "$#@%...no"! I slowed down my pace but I felt the pain gradually building up.

So from then on, it was run... walk... run... walk for me. So much for beating my last 1:10 time. I promised Pat I would stop running when my ankle started to hurt. Evidently, I didn't listen to him. I would only technically stop, "running". Hehe! Whenever I felt the pain I would walk a couple of seconds and as soon as it was gone, I would run. However, the pain would only disappear for a couple of seconds as well. After running, say around, 20 meters, there it was again.

I should've just signed up for 5K. Duh!

Anyway, there were 2 consolations for me yesterday on my "injured running day"...

1. My babygirl (not really a baby anymore but I still call her as such) was with me that day. She participated in her first 3K run. She finished in 30 mins. She's not really the athletic type and this was just something we wanted to do for our Sunday mommy-daughter bonding day.

Our race results! (click for larger view)

2. It was raining. It wasn't some kind of torrential downpour. Just the light-pang-MTV-kindda rain. Well, yeah I had a this fear of my iPhone getting soaked but I welcomed the rain. I just love love love running in the rain! The raindrops feel good on your face and it makes me feel all hardcore. Naks!


Other than my injury, another thing I didn't like so much and noticed was that the race wasn't so organized. Was it just me feeling this? I heard the 21K turned out to be 22K+! And there was a mix up at the 5K route. Runners were getting lost! What the...?!! I wasn't so affected by this though. Just a vibe I felt and later on confirmed after the race. Nonetheless, there's always a silver lining for me. It was another chance for me to run. So not much to complain about other than my dumb ankle.

That being said, my Christmas wish is for me to have an injury free 2010. That's it pancit!

Merry Christmas to all the fabulous runners on the planet!

Merry Christmas from The Hoff! hehe! =D

More pics from the Celebrity Run HERE.♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

♥.•:*¨*:•.♥ FOLLOW ME: ♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Countdown to Condura 2010

I was ecstatic to see the Condura Website finally up! I was waiting since the 14th and have been going back to it every few hours to check. Excited much?! Haha!


Well, there is much to be excited about...

1. This is The premier running event of the Philippines.
- Organized by runners for runners.

Condura Run brothers, Ton and Patrick Concepcion.
*pic from http://condurarun.blogspot.com

2. The half and full marathoners will pass through the SKYWAY.
- Is that cool or what?



3. There will be a finisher's medal for ALL race categories.
- Now who doesn't want one of these?



4. We're running for a good cause: The DOLPHINS!
- P50 pesos from the race fee shall go to help save the Dolphins of Bohol. OK, cow not included. Maybe next year we can do it for the cows.



5. And...this will be my very first "Half Mary" (Half Marathon: 21K)
- Please God, help me to at least meet the cut-off time!


Well at least these are the top 5 reasons why I am all giddy with excitement. I registered yesterday at Runnr. Yes I braved the holiday traffic and registered 21K for me and 5K for my friend and her son. My babygirl is still deciding if she will join us or not. She has yet to finish a 3K run this sunday (Phil. Star Celebrity Run).

What?! I wasn't the only one who was THAT excited. There were at least 3 other people at Runnr who were registering. Haha! Well, there was an important note in the site that said:

"We are limiting the number of participants and some race categories may close out earlier than the registration deadlines once they hit their quota. We are encouraging participants to register NOW and to also make sure that they enjoy all the inclusions that come with a regular registration."

You see. they said, "register NOW". =D


Anyway...

So far, my training has been slowly progressing since I'm still recovering from my ankle strain from Corregidor. Thank you my takbo.ph peeps for guiding me always in my training. You guys are the bomb! Hope I'll be ready by Feb. 7. ... *Gulp!

Well that's all for now. What are you still doing here? "register NOW"!!! Hahaha!

♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" (A Book Review)

"Never cared that much if I beat others or lost to them. I'm much more interested in whether I reach the goals that I set for myself"

That’s one of the reasons why the book, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running"... struck me so strongly. The quote above is something I always say to myself every time I hit the pavement. This charmingly unassuming little book got me hooked from start to finish! It is inspiring, a quick read, and reaffirms everything I love about running.

It is a memoir of renowned Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami. In the book, he also tells us about a jazz club he used to run and describes his life as a novelist; his writing process, how his first novels were written, published and was well received. He is 59 years old and has competed in more than 20 marathons. He started running when he was 33. But before that, he was a 3-packs-a-day smoker, which he almost instantly and "naturally" gave up when he started to run. Later on in the book, triathlons start to interest him. And even if he considered biking as his weakness, he has no intention of quitting. No, no, no! Quitting was never an option for this marathon man.

Murakami is an outstanding writer, who vividly and sincerely explains his experiences and passion for long distance running, triathlons...and writing. There is so much here that runners, marathoners, ultramarathoners, and triathletes will surely relate to and understand. I find myself nodding in agreement with almost everything he said. It was like as if he was part of our running clique. His insights are the kind that runners often talk about. He understands the pain, the training, the hard-work, the "runner's high", etc. He says in his book,

"There are things that only runners understand and share. I truly believe that".

Will non-runners enjoy it as well? I believe so. In fact, it was my non-runner friend, Pam, who recommended this book to me! =)

To my fellow Runners, I hope you get a copy of this book. It captures the true essence of running and why we love to run. I guarantee you can finish this in one sitting. If anything, this book inspired me and will help me stay motivated.♥.•:*¨*:•.♥


♥.•:*¨*:•.♥ FOLLOW ME: ♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Tips for Washing Your Running Shoes

Since, I'm off training and running for the next few days, I decided it's time to give my running shoes a bath. And here's where the domestic diva side of me comes out. Well, you don't have to be Martha Stewart to be able to do this.





Here how to wash and keep 'em smelling good...


1. Remove laces and inserts from the shoes. Rinse the shoes with water inside and out. Throw in the laces with other clothes in the washing machine or hand-wash them. Allow the inserts to air out. Air-dry the laces. I don't advice tossing them in the washing machine since some running shoes can't withstand the harsh cycles of a washing machine.


2. Mix up a solution of mild soap and water. Using a soft old toothbrush, scrub every part of the shoes, including liners and insoles with the mild soapy water mixture inside and out. Rinse the shoes thoroughly with clean water.



3. Gently try to squeeze out any excess water and wipe off with paper towels or a rag. Stuff the shoes with paper towels, dry rags or newspapers to soak up excess moisture and preserve their shape. Allow them to drip-dry.

4. Allow shoes to dry in a well-ventilated room.
Air drying will allow shoes to dry without it being damaged and to prevent it from shrinking. Do not put under direct sunlight. And a never toss it in the dryer. Machine washing and the use of a dryer is inadvisable because it can weaken the support structures in the sole. I leave mine on a shaded area in our balcony.




5. Replace the paper towels/rags/newspapers as soon as they become soaked. Replace the inserts and laces when the shoes are completely dry. You may apply clear shoe polish to white leather parts and black polish to black leather.



6. Put the laces and the inserts back into the shoes once all the parts are completely dry.Baking soda is a deodorizer. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda inside the shoes. Remove the powder from your shoes after a few hours by going outside and shaking the powder out, clap the soles of your shoes together a few times to get rid of any excess powder. (*another alternative: baby powder or a dryer sheet in the shoe works just as well.)



And voila! ... You've got clean and fresh smelling shoes!

Wash the shoes, save the cat!♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Share|

"Brisk Walking My A%@"!

...to quote the funny response of Doc Eire to me at the SB today.

Quick Backstory: I injured my ankle last Sunday at the 10-Mile Corregidor Race. Julius said it's coz I didn't train for uphill runs before the race. Duh! Stupid Julie, stupid!

I've been glued to my bed the last 2 days. Only doing some mat Pilates yesterday in an attempt to do something physical. There's nothing worse than being injured. Yes, other than the pain, it just simply sucks not to be able to RUN! 2 days of no running for me was pure torture! I bonded with my bed. If I allowed that for one more day, I swear I'd slip into a freakin' coma!

So this afternoon, I told the folks at the takbo SB that I will just be "brisk walking" today. Hence, Doc Erie's response.

I knew I was lying. They all knew! LOL! Hey I did brisk walk for 1.3K then started jogging. Just short strides. Concentrating on my breathing, engaging my core, landing carefully on my mid-foot, and praying to high heavens.

The moment I would feel even the slightest hint of pain, I'd stop and brisk walk again. According to my Nike + sportband I ran 4.23 km on 12/9/2009 at 6:33 PM with a pace of 8'07"/km. See. I was a good girl. *bats eyelashes"

I Didn't feel any pain anymore. Thank you God! I am tempted to run again tomorrow but I really shouldn't push it. I just plan to do some Yoga and some Elastic Band exercises for muscle toning and to strengthen my ankles (see pic below. that is not me, ok?).

*pic taken from http://mcr.coreconcepts.com.sg/exercises-for-ankle-sprain/. Click the link for more Ankle sprain exercises.

Another lesson learned the hard way. Train, train, train.♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

Share|

Conquering Corregidor a.k.a. "The Rock"

I wasn't supposed to join this race. I wanted to but I was already late for registration (so what's new?). But I think God wanted me to do this race so He sent an angel named Eire D. (my good friend) to tell me just a couple of days before the race that her friend won't be able to make it so she's selling her race bib. Yes, it was meant to be.

I met new runner friends from takbo.ph. A group of wonderful
people who welcomed me into their clique with open arms. You guys rock!

The race started about an hour late. First time for me to experience a late gun start. And so I was informed by my new friends that, "yes, it happens". Gun start was suppose to be at 8am. I thought that was already too late. Oh dear, the heat! The sun! I avoid it like the plague!



People at the starting line at the Malinta Tunnel, were getting restless. Over in the front they were cheering and clapping, making all sorts of noises as if to say, "Hello? Let's go! What are we waiting for?" To this day, I wonder what took them so long.

Finally, the gun went off. And I thought I was gonna trip or fall on someone at the start of the race. It was sooo dark inside the tunnel! But I didn't. That would've been my karma for being so anal about the gun start. haha!

I can say that this race humbled me right from the start. It was truly the most difficult race of 2009. Just a few kilometers from the starting line, the very first and most unforgiving uphill faced me and as my muscles began to ache, I was asking myself what I got myself into. Does anyone know the incline on that hill? Calling all Garmin users!


What was I thinking?

1. My farthest run ever was 10K and it was just a week before at the New Balance Power Race.

and

2. I didn't have enough time to train for this grueling 16K!

I just pleaded to God to let me finish this race unscathed. Unfortunately, right after that morbid uphill my right ankle started to hurt. It was a sharp pinching pain which I tried so hard to ignore. But when I reached my 10K it really started to bother me. My body pleaded for me to stop but I just didn't want to give up. Ankles, don't fail me now!

As I struggled with the pain, a breathtaking view made me stop. Completely. I haven't seen anything this beautiful in a long time. I was lucky to see Earl behind me and I screamed and said, "Earl, picturan mo ako please!" Those benches looked really inviting. *snaps out of the spell*

Darn it! That photo op caused me a minute or two! Well, it was worth it. It already seemed like I was doing more of a "Picture Pace" since my injury was slowing me down.

I tried to distract myself. I took off my left earpiece so I can hear the cool breeze and the rustling trees, while I still listen to my playlist on the other end. It was nice to get away from the city. From all the busy streets, smog and pollution. To breathe fresh air and experience nature while running. Priceless.

My Nike Sportband said I just had 5K left until I reach the finish line. That's still a long way! My ankles are already about to surrender and break free from my legs and just bury itself somewhere in the forest. Yeah right about this moment, here on this trail, the pain was already unbearable. And the rocky terrain made it worse.

Thank you Earl for the pic, by the way. The first ever pic of me running. I wish to have one with me actually facing the camera. Hehe!


Anyway, I was just a few kilometers from the finishline, I couldn't believe I was looking at the same god-forsaken uphill again! Was I running around in circles?! Aaaargh! ... And so the "limp-running" started. So many service cable cars passed me with some runners on it (later on I found out that they were the ones who couldn't finish the race anymore). I was tempted, at this point, to call it quits. Seriously. Either that or someone will just pick me up from the pavement later on.

I couldn't care much about my ambitious goal of finishing within 2 hours anymore. I just wanted to FINISH. Period.

And I did.

Below are my colorful straws that they hand to the runners every 4 miles (i think).



My sportband says I finished at 2 hours and 21 minutes (see pic above). My runner friends said that it is a good time for a first timer on a 16K run. But it wasn't good enough for me. It wasn't my intention to compete against anyone in this race. I was in it to compete against my worst adversary...MYSELF.


Yes. I can say...

I Came. I Saw. I Conquered Corregidor.

But I promise to do better next year.

Kudos to the organizers! I'm sure you've heard about the other complaints already from the forums and blogs, so I will spare you since I couldn't care less about those issues in the event anymore. I was just happy to be a part of it. Thank you for the challenge! See you again next year! =)

p.s. Just wanted to share this funny pic from takbo.ph forum member, Jaypee. Told you it was a tough course. LOL!




More pics to HERE! ♥.•:*¨*:•.♥

*UPDATE: Race Results are out. Download it HERE. So, apparently I finished it at 2:24:39 =)

*photo credits: Caezar and Rodel


♥.•:*¨*:•.♥ FOLLOW ME: ♥.•:*¨*:•.♥