21K LSD in the City

Running is more challenging where running in the middle of the fast paced vehicles, dogs running after you, inhaling the smoke from the vehicles and lastly running for your life. Last Wednesday on our aNR Ortigas Session 16 - 21K LSD, we braced ourselves to the most craziest running routes in the Metro that any runner would challenge themselves.

aNR Ortigas Team
photo credit from Luis Arcangel

It all started with a kilometer of jog for warm up and we hit the road along Escriva and Pearl Drive. Things got crazy when were off to the main roads, we ran In Julia Vargas Ave, Pasig Boulevard, the deadly C-5 up to QC area and to the peaceful Green meadows Ave. So, had navigated two cities in the metro that night, Pasig and Quezon City.

Running to those roads is a bit challenging. The route has GBM's training ground and for me as well since I'm just near in the vicinity. That was a bit different compare to my Sunday runs. First, I wasn't able to run for a week and my legs were stressed out due to Les Mills' RPM 47. Then, I wasn't able to rest that much, I slept only three hours since I did some errands that day as well. So, powered up by a couple bars of granola crunch, bananas and Pocari sweat and Gatorade, I ran with my supportive group and coaches.

During the first few kilometers, energy was strong and I'm a bit worried how can I sustain the energy up to KM 21. A sudden law flash to mind, it's the elementary science law; the law of conservation of energy which states that energy may neither be created nor destroyed. Since it's a bit nosebleed to us all, I came to a conclusion that the more energy that I give out, the more that I give in as well. So I run freely and I made sure that I maximize my energy for that night.

Upon reaching KM 11, I felt my knee throbbing, runner's knee as they say. I still ran I made sure not to run fast but rather run slowly but surely. I listened to my body and I felt the pain and I said to myself that I need to be in pain for I am learning. As the old saying no pain no gain. During latter part, I'm a lot of intervals, run then walk the run and walk again. It's recovery. In recovery, my muscles needs to rest and recover and it's like a reward for myself.
On the end of day, I felt differently. I proved to myself that I can make it! Career high! I learned a lot of things on crazy night.  Enjoy running and listen to myself more, when we need rest, recover, breathe in and out. Be cautious to the road, C5 is deadly, so be careful. Hydrate. Thanks GBM, Kowtz Abby and the gang.  See you in the Takbo.ph Runfest.