Bottle School Run ... my comeback!!!

It is amazing how much difference 4 months of NO running could make!

I am amazed at how much weight I gained. None of my singlets fit! Heck, even my trusty old Nike shoes don’t fit!

I am amazed at the extent of how much I bounced back downwards! It was not even “back to zero” for me … rather, it was way down to the negatives! My come-backing race was the Bottle School Run race, and my time was far far slower than my first ever 10K race way back in 2008! Yikes!

But what shocked me the most was the sudden increase in the number of runners! For races in the past, everyone sort of knew everybody else … or at least most of the runners were familiar faces. In this race however, I noticed that none of my “running friends” or those “familiar faces” were present anymore. I only saw Coach Rio and the Solemates Jun & Mariel, other than them … everyone was just unfamiliar.

This goes to show that indeed, the “Running Boom” keeps on exploding … with the number of runners and health buffs growing exponentially! Which is good.

I knew I was not ready for a 10K race. 2 days earlier, my assignment from coach was to run 8 kms around UP. However, around 6 kms, I could not push myself any further, so I had to stop. Hence, I was really hesitant about joining weekend races this soon … but then again, if I don’t start now, then when???

My goal was to finish and to run without stopping to walk.

Proudly, I accomplished both!

On my last 1.5 km approaching Serendra, “the hunny” was at the corner waiting for me. I was so tired and my 1^st and 2^nd metatarsals (aka talampakan) were hurting, thanks to my developing left foot bunion! I wanted to give up and walk, but “the hunny” ran with me and encouraged me to go on to the finish … “You were able to finish 26.2 miles! What is 6 miles to you?”

So off we ran together to the finish.