My 21k Condura Run Experience

Whoo hoo! I just want to share how great I feel after running the 21km route of the Condura Run for the Whale Sharks. Like many others, this was my first 21k and I wasn't sure how I would do because I had never before ran that kind of distance before. Usually, on my Sunday runs at the UP Academic Oval, I would get tired have sore feet after 7 or 8 rounds. For this race, I forgot about my previous runs and just ran for it.

The night before I drank a glass of Gatorade and had a heavy dinner. Right before the leaving my house, I ate 2 donuts and drank the blue variant of Vitwater. I got to The Fort at around 5 A.M., but I was only able to park after 15 minutes. After quickly stretching my lower legs, I ran to the assembly area, which was already packed with runners. I found it somewhat difficult to find the 21k check-in area so right when I got in, I barely had time to look around for running friends when I heard the gun go off signaling the start of the race. I was at the back and by the time I crossed the starting line, around 35 seconds had already gone by. Actually, there were so many people that I felt it was still so crowded after 2 kilometers into the race and I had to watch out lest I bump into someone or trip on somebody's foot. It was only upon reaching Buendia that I felt that I could really run without having to worry about other runners so much.

Unlike many others races, I was pretty familiar with the race course so I knew I had to save my strength for the inclined portions such as the Kalayaan Flyover to Buendia and the Skyway on-ramp. It was only upon running on the Skyway that I realized that the Skyway itself had portions that were going up and down. To keep myself from tiring out quickly, I made sure to drink enough at each water station since I am the type that perspires a lot. From time to time, I'd check if I was still perspiring to make sure I would not dehydrate. I also brought two packs of raisins just to help me keep going. I took one pack right after making it to the Skyway and the second pack right before getting off the Skyway.

The Skyway portion was just great! I made sure to look around and savor the experience. There were even times when I'd run backwards for short periods just to see all around me. At one point, sponges with ice-cold water were given away. At another, runners could cool off under a shower provided by what I think was a fire engine!

I began to feel tired as I passed Reposo on the way back. One thing I noticed was that there weren't as many water stations going back to the Kalayaan Flyover. My legs were like rubber by the time I got to the flyover that I had to take a 15 second walk on the ramp upward. I made sure I ran as soon as I could because I feared that it might be harder to start running again if I walked to long.

I finished with a time of 2:15 (unofficial). Not so good, but then not so bad either for a first timer. As I entered the finishers' chute, a lady put the finisher's medal around my neck and another lady gave me my loot bag. I immediately went to the nearest water station and then I looked for my friends for our usual photo session.


The Condura Run for the Whale Sharks was a great race indeed. The mood was festive and everyone I saw looked happy. I also met a number of friends I didn't know were also into runnung. To the organizers, congratulations! I hope we raised enough funds to help the Whale Sharks and the Children. Hmmm... I wonder what race to join next... Cheers!

Looks Like I Need A Cap

Nowadays, even when running at the UP Academic Oval, there are stretches where the sun shines so brightly at 7 A.M. such that I'm forced to look down at my feet and the ground right in front of me. Looks like I need to get a cap or a pair of shades.

My main problem with a pair of shades is that it will probably keep sliding down my nose just like my glasses. The problem with a cap is that, as most curly and wavy-haired people know, the moment I take it off, my hair becomes flat. Between the two problems, I figure that the second option is more practical.

With that, I think I'll take off during my lunch break today to buy that cap I've been looking at.

Respect the Summer Heat

Summer's here! I've been trying to get used to running for 2 hours straight and I realized that one of my limitations was that after an hour and a half of running, I needed to rehydrate myself. It's been getting warm lately and even in UP where there are many shaded areas, I noticed that it get's relatively warm by around 7:30AM. It was with these thoughts that I decided to prepare myself for my run yesterday around the academic oval.

I got up at 530AM to have a light breakfast and drink a sports drink. I was at the UP academic oval by around 630AM and after around 10 minutes of brisk walking and some stretching, I was running. For hydration, I decided to carry with me a sports drink, 500 ml.

By my 6th round around the oval, I finished my bottle. By 8AM, my legs started to get tired so I decided speed up and finish my run on my 7th round. I also noticed that I wasn't perspiring as much. I had planned another round but I did not want to risk an injury a few weeks before the Condura Race.

After my run, I drank another 500 ml of sports drink and a bottle of water in UP and I continued drinking water when I got home at around 10AM. Normally, I would feel hydrated enough before noon. What concerned me was that after all that I had drunk, not once did I go to the bathroom and I was developing a headache. I figured that I was still dehydrated so I kept on drinking until I finally did go to the bathroom.

I think this is an important lesson here. I tend to perspire a lot so I need to pay attention to how my body performs when running. I also realized that the heat of the summer sun is something to be respected.