Charge it to Experience...Lessons Learned

When we plan on doing something, especially an event that is very important to us, we usually have some kind of plan to meet our expectations and goals. There are times that the plans that we conjured up in our head works. Oftentimes, it just turns the unexpected route and we need to cope with it. Make a little adjustment here and there and go on with the rest of the event.

That was exactly what happened last Sunday (October 19) at the Botak Paa-bilisan Race Series. Prior to the race, I actually planned on squeezing myself to the frontline of the starting area, just so I will be able to start as the official timer starts. But fate would intervene and I was at a lost as to whether the runners of the 10K and 5K will start together or will the 10K runners start first. After more than a couple of inquiries, instead of getting a clear answer, I was even more confused because of the differing answers I got. With the race about to start, I then went to the checking area to get in the railings for the starting area, but I was stopped by the marshals because according to them, the 10K runners will run first, and so together with some of the 5K runners, we waited outside the starting area as we heard the starting gun for the race. Consequently, we tried to enter the starting area to get ready for the 5K start, but what we were hearing from the announcer alarmed us, they were calling on the 3K runners to go to the starting area and was asking the 3K runners not to go along with the 5 and 10K runners. Apparently, we missed the start of the 5 and 10K run. And so we were quite on a panicky mode when we squeezed ourselves between the bodies of the 3K runners who are getting ready to start their race.

Finally, we were already on our way, but the tail end of the pack was already about 200 meters away from us, so we needed to run really fast to catch up with them. I was actually out of focus until the first kilometer mark. However, I psyched myself and went back to the main reason why I was running in the first place. And so it went, I ran the remaining 4 kilometers, enjoying every minute of it while glancing at the stopwatch to take note of my pace and time.

Seeing the finish line from a distance pumped much needed adrenaline to my system. I was able to run according to my pace and my goal while enjoying every minute of it. Finally I crossed the finish line and upon checking on my stopwatch, my unofficial time was 27:35. Almost 2 minutes off my previous PB.

Lesson number one…You have to constantly remind yourself on the main reason why you started running. For it will surely help to gain your focus if there are unexpected incidents along the way. It will also prevent you from burn out and from being discouraged;

Lesson number two…You have to put “space for the holy spirit” in your plan. You cannot really follow your plan up the very last detail, no matter how you are well prepared for it. There are factors beyond our control, and we should not be controlled by it, a proactive way of viewing things;

Lesson number three…Be mindful of the people around you, they have such great stories to tell;

Lesson number four…At the end of the day, you just charge it to experience and hope that you will get out of the situation with enough lessons learned.

Unfamiliar Territory

There comes a time in one's life that you just decide to do something out of the ordinary. Most of us may have some reservations in doing things that we are not used to or are unfamiliar with. Understandable, since that you will be doing things that you don’t usually do (unfamiliar nga di ba?). You will be going out of your comfort zone, and that brings in insecurities to us.

I do not know how many are like me, (though I hope that there are legions out there who share my point of view) but I for one loves to try new things. New things that may or may not bring me fulfillment; new things that may or may not be a source of renewed strength; new things that may or may not encourage me to go on. But I know for fact that these new experiences will make me a better person.

Last Saturday is no exception for these “trying new things” thing. I ran the Adidas King of the Road 5K marathon at the Fort, together with my cousin, Nora del Rosario (who by the way won in her age category. You may read more about it on her blog at http://www.norberta.blogspot.com/). She was very instrumental on my joining the KOTR. Instrumental in every sense of the word, she convinced me to run; she calls me every now and then to remind me to register at any Adidas outlet; she gives me advice on the ins and out of running, for she has been doing it for quite sometime now; she’s texting me on the new developments. I have to admit it, that without her doing all those things, I could have been well in the middle of a dream in the early morning last Saturday (October 11,2008).

Insecurities Before the Race

Days before the KOTR, my whole being was enveloped by insecurities. Here’s why: (1) First, I don’t know if I will be able to finish the 5K marathon, probably I will end up lying in the middle of the road at the Fort waiting for a medical team or an ambulance to bring me to the nearest hospital; (2) Second, though I’ve been running around the UP Sunken Garden (with my officemate She’ Andes) for quite some time now and already timed myself, I didn’t know the exact distance of the whole oval; (3) Third, I don’t know if I will be able to wake up really very early in the morning of the race day, which brought morbid thoughts in my mind.

Probably you will understand me for feeling that way, I guess everyone experiences the same insecurities before doing things for the first time, but on differing levels.

Day of the Race
Pre-Race

Thank God, I was able to wake up really very early came Saturday morning without the help of my mom (come to think of it, that is also a first). Packed my bag and ate a couple of bananas. Left the house alone, because my nephews and sister are still sleeping very tight and they could not drive me to the Fort. Took a taxi and arrived at the Fort at 5:15 AM.

Seeing those runners in their Adidas singlet made me really nervous. It was a good thing that I don’t know any of them, I will be just a statistics in this race, one of the thousands of faces who registered for the KOTR.

Good thing also that I brought a camera with me, so I took some photos before the start of the race, just to have a feel of it, and to loosen out some stiff and still sleeping muscles. Here are some of the pre-race photos:
















While doing all of these, I was talking on the phone to my cousin, Ate Nora on where we will meet up. Finally, we saw each other and with our Auntie, Ate Ella at the assembly area for the 5K. With all the runners and on-lookers around, we managed to sneak in a photo op at the 5K entrance (you can see the photo at Ate Nora’s blog).

And so we went in the railings where the starting area is supposed to be, waited several minutes and finally, we heard the starting gun and off we went.


During the Race

It was quite a different feeling while in the race, I was not preoccupied by any thoughts or consciousness, I just enjoyed the run together with my cousin. At one point, I saw her talking with a runner whom she met before the start of the race and overheard them that they just want to finish the race injury-free. That was my cue, for after that, I continued on with my pace and chose one runner to tail who was quite fast in his pace.

Most of the time, I was lost in my thoughts for I did not know how far I’ve already ran. The only marker I knew was when we were given the pink ribbon. And so I thought that I was on the half way mark already. But still, I didn’t know how I was doing, for I didn’t have with me a stop watch. Still I ran and ran and ran. Upon reaching Market Market!, I realized that I was nearing the finish line already, so I increased my speed and was able to overtake several runners on the way to the finish line. I finished the 5K with an official time of 29:27, 40th on my age category, and 210 overall (thanks to the results from takbo.ph). Not bad for a first time runner huh.


Catching my Breath

It was after the race when I saw my officemate, She’ (she was supposed to be with me at the start of the race to take some photos). Went to her, introduced her to Ate Ella, and she took this photo of me at the finish line. It felt like I was relieved for finishing the race in one piece yet still yearning for more.





And so we waited a few more minutes and Ate Nora came. She finished the race with an official time of 31:45 (she won in her age category). A sight of two cousins completing a race is a happy sight indeed. Thanks to She’ who captured this moment.


After the Race

Because of tiredness and the eagerness to share the story with family and friends, I left the Fort, taking with me a memory that will last a lifetime, and an experience that will forever be mounted in the colorful walls of my life.

I knew right there and then that a new chapter of my life has been opened, the running chapter. And so, last Monday, I went to the Botak store at Kamuning to register for the Paa-bilisan on October 19.

Join me as the running chapter of my life unfolds.

To Ate Nora, thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of running, and congratulations knowing that all the hard work you’ve done paid off. Thank you also for inspiring me to share my stories through this blog. We’ll come to think of it, this is my first blog.