Run Philippines Run!

I think our young (at-heart) runner-bloggers (a.k.a. Reinier, Rene, and Jovie) can attest to the existence of this (since I doubt my folks attended one when I was young):

Cool, right?

Found it while having dinner at Red Crab, T. Morato last night, among a collage of laminated posters from the past. Think Champoy, OG must be crazy, etc.

Doesn't ring a bell?

Man, I'm getting old.

Running Heals

"She credits therapy and long runs with helping her deal with the last nine months, and she also kept a journal of her thoughts and emotions."

---Associated Press interview on Elin Nordegren

Cobra 70.3 Camsur Race Results

Running a 1:25 21k might be easy for some....

....but add a 1.9km swim and a 90km bike ride, I doubt you'll ever get that run finish time.

Congrats to all who joined yesterday's Camsur 70.3! You are all awesome!

Btw, you can check out the race results here.

Yeah, I'm jealous of these ironmen/women. Triathlon seems to be a hard sport since you need to learn 3 disciplines. Training must be more intense than for a marathon?

Congrats again! I hope to do one (70.3) within the next 10 years.

Hmmm, how to swim on open water? And that bike's pretty expensive....

Rest and Recovery

As I crept back to bed from playing with my 1-yr old, my wife asked why I didn't run this morning. According to the Excel makeshift calendar I made, today was my rest day.

I made my own calendar to control my weekly mileage increase (something I've never done) to prevent me from reinjuring my left knee. I'm only allowed to increase my total weekly mileage to 10% as many have prescribed over the 'net. Although I did some VMO exercises this morning for my knees, today was a welcome break from running.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they'd say. I guess it goes the same for running.



Yup, I can't wait to run tomorrow morning.

Studying My Gait

The video below captures Ryan Hall (in his nyort-nyorts, hehe) in super slow-mo when he ran the 2010 Boston Marathon. It's amazing how elite runners like him could come up with such a perfect running gait/stride. When you think that he'll be heel-striking, at the last second he strikes the ground midfoot first, and cycles his foot back, way way up to complete the gait cycle. His lean is perfect as well, a straight line from the ankles to his head throughout.




Well I'll never run like that. But maybe, with the proper training, yes. For now, I'll be contented with watching this video I recorded one morning last week. With my trusty digicam and tripod on the other side of the street, I proceeded with recording my running gait using my new Newtons. A few clicks here and there with Windows Movie Maker, I am pleased to present, my current running gait:




A far cry from Ryan Hall's, right?

I have to admit, watching myself run has been mind-opening. All this time I thought I was running "by the book," but the video tells otherwise. It has helped me create my "need to improve" list. Based on what I've been reading and watching all over the Internet, the following are my observations:

- The Newtons had helped me run midfoot-strike, although my feet are still landing slightly before my hip (must be under according to Chi running).

- I am not lifting my leg up high enough to complete the whole gait cycle

- My arms are swinging too close to my body's midline. I've a really bad arm swing.

- Need to work on that lean (especially downhill)

- I need to loose weight! Camera added not 10, but probably 20lbs! Hahaha...

I encourage you guys to take a video of yourself running as well. Just don't do it with too many people around or you might get confused as an actor/actress filming the latest takbo.ph commercial. Hehehe...