So Now, I'm part of a TEAM?

Whew! Just finished running my first 10K race last Sunday. For someone who had no inkling of running 3 months ago, I have come a long way. Not to say that I am a good runner.... just finishing the race was enough for me ( for now). I did not get to train for the whole week before the race. Maybe I was lazy, tired, busy or all of the above~ who knows???

My time, if you want to know was 1 hour 19 mins. I enjoyed the first 4k and I  was running at a pretty good pace. But when we got to the SKYWAY, (the elevated highway).. wow.. it really pushed my knees to the limit. ( the age was showing a bit...), but with no training, I finished in the top 30% of my race category. I even finished ahead of another friend who HAD trained that week for the run.

The race was for the benefit of the Dolphins and but what I was curious about is that the freebies were put inside PLASTIC BAGS (what the??? and this is for conservation?~ )

It is the only race that courses thru the main overpass highway in the business district. (that's why most people want to join).. I was thinking if I got stuck on the highway without finishing, will I get run over when they opened it again?? LOL

Honestly, I was struggling after the first uphill. I had to walk to get my wind back. There were water stations every 1.5kms and I went for one by the time I reached the 4.5 km mark. Thank goodness for the bananas. I really needed the food. Although I only managed to eat half of the banana that I swiped off the station. (imagine running and eating a banana at the same time. I was about to puke the banana)

The sponges at the end were a big help too. Cold water on your head when you feel you can't possibly finish helps you regain some strength. (there were TWO uphills for the race course). Everyone who finished got a medal. So I have my very first running medal!!!

So, the big news is.... WOULD YOU BELIEVE?  Me and my husband just got to become a member of a race TEAM. sponsored by SOLEUS WATCHES. We will be running on every run SOLEUS is sponsoring. (Can you imagine me with the soleus team shirt?)--- AND it's colored black... w/c compliments me!! yey! Dont ask me how this came about... I am still in shock at the revelation!

Problems is... I don't have a SOLEUS watch... I use GARMIN.... hehehe
Maybe they will sponsor our watches too!!! (hello soleus!)

For a so-so runner... being part of a running team seems so HUGE.... (It just makes me want to train now... OMG!)

5K- run united

I ran 5k last sunday. Nov. 21. It was my first. 

Was I prepared enough? I don't think so. 

Did I try to prepare? A little bit, when I had the time and energy.

The run was organized by United Laboratories, a big pharmaceutical company. The singlet was nice as was the freebies.

My goal was to finish near the time my husband finished. about 38 minutes. I wanted to be able to sustain my pace for the longest possible time without stopping to walk. Here is how it went:

When the race started at 5:40AM, my husband and friend was already going ahead of me. (they have longer legs..) I told them to leave me behind. There were 4400 people racing in the 5k and it was difficult to run. I knew they had water stations every 1.5km so I guessed it was a good marker for me to guess how far I had to go.

I clocked 6 something minutes my first kilometer. The second kilometer, about 7 minutes. At the first station, there were CROWDS of people standing taking a drink.. (I skipped that station) I  kept going... quite proud I was still running strong (by my standards anyway). By the third kilometer, I clocked in at 22 mins (better than my first try- 28 mins).

It was a little bit past the 3k that I was losing steam. I found my legs straining to keep my pace. (the under training showing I guess). I walked a little and tried to jumpstart my pace every so often.

When I reached the sign "last 1k" I suddenly had a surge of energy. I wanted to finish strong. Besides, it is where most of the photographers were stationed and I wanted an action picture.. hahahaha. I kept looking for the big arch that was the finish line. How come it felt like the longest 1k of the whole race?

I finished a decent 38:15. It was better than my expectations.  We are planning another 5k in december. Hope to do a better time- The funny part is, I never imagined myself ever getting into running at all.. Now, both me and my husband are buying "running stuff"- watches with laptime (wish list is the TIMEX ironman watch with GPS, heart rate monitor and individual laptime),

no pictures of me running yet... (you don't realize how big you are until you take a picture.)