Up and Running for Home

I’m an on-again, off-again runner and I’ve never competed in a race, so I ponied up the cash and joined the Globe Run for Home race, a charity run to benefit Habitat for Humanity. There were 3k, 5k, 10k, and 21k events, but the closest I’d ever gotten to running 10 kilometers was doing 4 rounds on the UP Academic Oval (8.8km). So last Monday I timed myself on the gym treadmill: I clocked my 10km at 54 minutes 31 seconds (split time: 27 minutes and 52 seconds for 5km). I thought, “OK, good enough.”

in my race kit

I was up at 3am this morning getting ready for the race: nutrition, hydration, decoration (LOL! Of course you have to look good while running!). I’d even made a running playlist the night before.

Noelle’s Running Playlist
1. Tiesto – Elements of Life
2. Tiesto – Sweet Things
3. Black Box – Everybody Everybody (Benny Benassi Remix)
4. Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)
5. Tiesto – In the Dark
6. Da Hool – Meet Her at the Love Parade
7. Voodoo & Serano – Blood is Pumping vs. E-Samba
8. Justin Timberlake – What Goes Around… (Paul van Dyk Club Mix)
9. Freemasons – Rain Down Love (Funk Mobb Remix)
10. Booty Luv – Say It
11. Shapeshifters – Incredible (Denis the Menace & Jerry Roperos)
12. Fragma – Toca’s Miracle
13. Paul Oakenfold – Ready Steady Go
14. Tiesto – Do You Feel Me
15. DJ Visage – Formula One (The Schumacher Song)
16. Tiesto – Everything

I still underestimated the time I needed to get ready, so I found myself speeding at 90kph on EDSA just to get to Fort before assembly time at 5:15am. I arrived just as the 21k runners set off.

starting line

Since I was all by my lonesome, I had no one to talk to, or take photos with. But you know what? That’s exactly how I like my running: by myself, not trying to catch up to or wait for anyone else.

caught on a stranger’s phone cam

I started pounding pavement with more than 1,000 participants at 5:45am. The sunrise tinted the cirrus clouds red above us, but the air was still cool with dew. Our route led us up and over the flyover from the Fort onto Buendia, crossing Paseo de Roxas and Makati Ave. before looping back on itself at Ayala Ave.

10k route map

Normally the only treads on that flyover are made by tires. Today, I saw the marks of running shoes wet with water and 100-Plus drink on the asphalt. I started running ahead of the 5min30sec/km pacer and steadily increased my speed as I approached the halfway mark. The adrenaline kicked in as I made that U-turn for the long road back to the finish line, and at 1km to go, I started sprinting for it.

There were several digital clocks at the finish line showing the time elapsed for each event. I kept my eyes on the 10k clock as the seconds ticked by, and clocked myself at 52 minutes and 2 seconds at the finish line.

me at the finish line 40 minutes after I crossed it

“Incredible” was ringing in my ears, and it really was incredible. A wave of endorphins surged into my bloodstream as I slowed down, and for the first time I experienced a “runner’s high.” No wonder there are so many recreational runners out there who aren’t in it to win, but just to finish!

I took the photos in this post after my run and stayed around to find out how long it took for the top three runners to finish their 10k. I was aghast when I found out they had sub-45 minute times! Sigh.

Before I made my way to the Fitness First branch in Fort for a shower and steam bath, I popped in at Krispy Kreme for a doughnut and coffee. Apparently I wasn’t the only one with the same idea; other runners were also stuffing their faces as a reward for the morning’s exertions.

making calorie burning futile

Official race results and analyses will be up by July 23. ‘Til next time!