#94 in the Poland Springs 5-miles Kick-off race

Despite jet lag and warnings to taper off, I joined the 5-miles (or 8-km) Poland Springs Marathon kick-off race this morning. My bib number was # 94. Man, its a major fluke! I made a mistake of putting my pace down to 6 min per mile; duh - dyslexic--i meant 6 min per kilometer; because of this, I placed in the first corral (#1-999) among champions and elite runners. I loved my spot though because I was next to the stage and saw everyone from Mayor Bloomberg's rep, the Poland Spring (sponsor) exec and an actor who sang the national anthem (and ran too and will run next Sunday).
There were 8,000 runners (40,000 are expected in the marathon). Of course, everyone was overtaking me including the runners with numbers 2000 (2nd coral), 3000 (3rd coral) and so on. I think the Philippines' race organizers should learn from the Americans. The whole 5-mi course was so organized with volunteers cheering us on, visible signs per mile, water stations with lots of water and portalets stationed along the way. I didn't push myself since I'm still jet lagged with the nagging fear that I won't be able to walk after. I should actually be resting and saving my legs for the big day.
Saw Jeremy Pivens in "Speed the Plow" on broadway yesterday afternoon. He plays the same Entourage character in the play - neurotic, fast talking producer. The play just opened Thurs and got raving reviews in the New York Times. Will check out Miller's "All my Sons" sometime this week which stars Lithgow, Wiest and Katie Holmes.

Survived my first 21-km!

I was so surprised that I didn't vomit or crawl to the finish line on October 11, 2008 at the Adidas King of the Road race at the Fort in Taguig. For someone who just started marathon training in July, got injured for a month from over training, then resumed training mid-August - -I am very very happy, thrilled that I completed the 21-km distance (i.e. Fort-Buendia-South Super-Buendia-Heritage Park-Fort), finished in 2 hours 17 mins (note: arrived late and started running 4 mins after flag-off)... and didn't experience any pain that day! Note though that I felt the tightness in the thighs (lactic acid build-up) and some muscle twitches the next day and on the third day after 48-hours, feverish and deadweight. My therapist called it delayed onset of fatigue.
Anyway, a lot of things contributed to this 21-km milestone! First of course is the training. After the heel spur and plantar facitis fiasco that kept me off the track for a month, my coach (Mario Canjas - 0919 657-5124) resumed training slowly. He focused more on endurance and gradual building up the workouts in terms of time instead of mileage. He reduced the training from the previous 6x a week schedule to 5x a week with Sun-Wed as rest days. The weekly workout consisted of 2x speedwork, 2x fartlek and a long run on Saturdays where the length is increased each week by 30 mins. Plus 1x-2x Core training with Pilates instructor Cecile Sicangco. At the last 5km when I felt like I was about to hit the wall, I just tucked in my tummy and remembered her saying to use core muscles.
I still had to contend with my prevailing heel and foot injury and mind you, had additional injuries - like the shin splints on my left leg and patella femoral pain syndrome on my right knee. The plantar actually disappeared when I started wearing my specially moulded orthotics (from Ortho Frey 634-2705). The second factor is therapy. My weekly therapy sessions with Sante's acupuncturist Dr. Butch Ong was increased to 3x a week and also with intuitive nerve therapist Miguel del Prado. Note that Jo the healer left for Russia and found instead Miguel.
Third is nutrition and rest. I started taking Timelab's Endurance Fuel during training and Whey Protein after (both available at Health Express) and the chinese herbs presecribed by Dr. Ong. I also started taking a lot of carbs - pasta and bread. And most of all, sleep. I'm in bed at 10pm!!!
Lets see how I fare in New York on Nov 2!! Wish me luck.

Clark debuts @ Gweilos Bar

The whole family trekked to Gweilos Bar and Restaurant in Legaspi Village, Makati last Monday night to watch my 14-year old nephew Clark and his friend perform. They were the front act in Kitchie Nadal's gig (in photo - moi, the dad, Tita Flor and mom).
When Clark was younger, he joined Kitchie's band and jammed the song "Bulong" in concerts in Taiwan and Alabang. apprently he now competes in his school's Battle of the Bands (i.e. La Salle Zobel). It's actually my first time to see him perform in public. I remember that he used to be nudged and forced to play at home when there were guests. I was in fact shocked that he can belt out a tune! Well, I know he is a soon-to-be guitar legend but didn't know that he can also sing.
My other nephew, his brother, 8-year old Enzo (in the photo) was shy at first when he was called onstage to play the lead of "Smoke in the Water" by Deep Purple and he had to be pulled out later to stop playing to give way to Kitchi's show.
Clark will perform again next Monday on August 25 at 8:30pm in Gweilos Bar.

watch Clark perform:

Rehab madness

Pain is a way of our body reacting from physical stress and telling us to stop and rest. Well, last July 24, after a 5-km warm up, i had to tell my trainer Mario Canjas that my left heel really really hurts. He normally tells me not to baby the pain, mind over matter.. But its the same pain I had before I left for New York which was relieved by following Dr. Bengzon's advise to do RICE - Rest, Ice, Comrpess and Elevate.
This setback is a major disppaointment since I'm training for the New York Marathon (NYM) this November 2008 and I am already doing mileage build up of 30-40 km a week.
I rushed back to Dr. Bengzon. The xray (photo) indicated a heel spur (bone outgrowth) and plantar fascitis and recommended this time, to do rehab. I went to see Dr. Bonifacio Rafanan (Medical City, tel 706-3649) who prescribed daily rehab for two weeks (tens, laser, heat packs, ultrasound, stretches and 20-min eliptical).
This is the third week of not runnig. Dr. Rafanan yesterday confirmed what my dorn therapist (Jo, the healer at 0918-9110035 or contact AWHAI at 753-1468) said - my left leg is LONGER than my right which caused the heel spur, My left leg was trying to compensate the imbalance. Plus, my left hip is higher due to childhood scilosis. He added MORE rehab exercises to address the lower back, hip and strengthen knee, soleus muscles, achiles heel. Total rehab protocol is now two hours long. The good news is, he said I can do the NYM!!! Aside from 3x a week rehab, I can now run on treadmill and hit the oval next week for 30-minutes light jog.
I'm trying to accelerate healing ... Polo-Tri Ria V recommended miracle ortho/acupuncturist Dr. Butch Ong (tel 435-8014) of Sante Center in 7 Masaya St. in Quezon City who has cured several triathletes and also nerve healer Miguel del Prado (who's now in Spain with polo team).
All in all.. I'm doing 3x a week rehab in Medical City, 30-min treadmill everyday, dorn therapy with Jo the healer, pilates with Cecile Sicangco (to strengthen CORE), 2x a week weights with Jocel, lets see how many times with Dr. Ong who I'm seeing on Saturday... this is madness!